Wind Turbine Conduit and Recirculation Passage for Turbulence Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines face inefficiencies due to high turbulence in incoming airflow, which reduces the conversion of wind energy into mechanical energy.
Innovation Solution
The wind turbine system incorporates a flow consolidating conduit with a decreasing cross-sectional area and multiple flow partitions that subdivide the airflow into multiple paths, gradually merging them into a single path to reduce turbulence and increase flow coherence. Additionally, an air driven rotor assembly with an annular pre-rotor flow recirculation passage directs airflow radially inward to enhance energy capture.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a conventional wind turbine directly captures wind airflow, then the structure is simple, but the airflow turbulence is high which reduces energy conversion efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The flow consolidating conduit is divided into multiple flow paths by flow partitions, with each partition having a different partition length. This segmentation allows the airflow to be divided into separate streams that gradually merge, reducing turbulence and improving flow coherence before reaching the rotor assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow consolidating conduit uses a three-dimensional structure with varying cross-sectional areas along its length. The conduit transitions from a larger cross-sectional area at the upstream end to a smaller cross-sectional area at the downstream end, creating a gradual compression effect that consolidates airflow in multiple dimensions.
2Speed
If the cross-sectional area of the conduit is reduced to increase airflow velocity, then the kinetic energy conversion is improved, but the turbulence increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conduit is segmented into multiple flow paths with partitions of different lengths, allowing gradual merging of flow streams. This segmented approach enables velocity increase through area reduction while maintaining flow coherence by preventing abrupt turbulence from sudden compression.
Solution Approach 2:
The flow consolidating conduit features a dynamic cross-sectional area that gradually decreases along the flow direction. This dynamic geometry allows the conduit to adaptively accelerate airflow while maintaining laminar flow conditions through its gradually changing profile.
3Stability of the object's composition
If flow partitions are used to reduce turbulence, then the flow coherence is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow consolidating conduit incorporates multiple flow partitions that divide the airflow into separate paths. Each partition extends to a different downstream position, creating a staggered merging pattern that gradually consolidates flows while minimizing turbulence and improving overall flow coherence.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the conduit length is increased to allow gradual flow merging, then the turbulence reduction is improved, but the space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The flow consolidating conduit utilizes three-dimensional space efficiently by varying the cross-sectional area along its length. The gradual area reduction from upstream to downstream end allows for compact design while maintaining sufficient length for gradual flow merging and turbulence reduction.
Solution Approach 2:
The conduit employs a dynamic cross-sectional geometry that changes along its length, allowing for a more compact overall design. The varying area profile enables gradual flow consolidation in a shorter distance compared to a uniform diameter conduit, reducing the required space while maintaining turbulence reduction effectiveness.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration enhances the efficiency of wind turbines by reducing airflow turbulence, increasing flow coherence, and improving the conversion of wind energy into mechanical energy, leading to increased electricity generation and reduced costs.
Implementation Method 1
The three or more flow paths gradually merge into a single flow path at the consolidating conduit downstream end
Implementation Method 2
The efficiency of a wind turbine refers to the effectiveness of the wind turbine in converting kinetic energy of wind into mechanical energy
Data Source
AI summary
A wind turbine system is disclosed. The wind turbine system includes a flow consolidating conduit and an air driven rotor assembly. The air driven rotor assembly includes a rotor housing, a rotor within the rotor housing, and an annular pre-rotor flow recirculation passage defined between the rotor housing and the rotor. The rotor has a plurality of air driven blades distributed around a rotor rotation axis. The rotor has a radially inward entry direction. The recirculation passage surrounds the rotor. The recirculation passage extends from a recirculation passage upstream end to a recirculation passage downstream end. The recirculation passage downstream end is open ended and provides fluid continuity from the recirculation passage downstream end to the recirculation passage upstream end. The recirculation passage has a passage cross-sectional area that decreases gradually from the recirculation passage upstream end to the recirculation passage downstream end.