Wind Turbine Vortex Generator Placement for Site-Specific Air Density
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines operate with standardized parameters that do not account for site-specific environmental conditions, leading to inefficient energy production and increased loads due to varying turbulence classes.
Innovation Solution
Adapt the nominal rotor speed and blade angle of wind turbines based on site-specific turbulence classes and air density, using vortex generators to optimize performance and reduce loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If standardized operating parameters are used for all wind turbines regardless of location, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but energy production efficiency deteriorates and loads increase due to varying turbulence classes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by determining and applying site-specific operational parameters (nominal rotor speed, blade angle characteristics) based on the local turbulence class at each wind turbine location. Instead of using uniform standardized parameters for all turbines, the system tailors operational characteristics to match local wind conditions, thereby optimizing energy production while maintaining manageable complexity through automated determination methods.
2Ease of operation
If standardized operating parameters are used across different turbulence classes, then ease of operation is improved, but load on rotor blades increases due to mismatched parameters in high turbulence environments
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements parameter changes by adjusting key operational parameters (nominal rotor speed, blade angle characteristics) based on the determined turbulence class. The system automatically modifies these parameters to match site-specific conditions, reducing loads on rotor blades in high turbulence environments while maintaining ease of operation through automated determination without requiring manual parameter setting.
3Productivity
If site-specific operational parameters are determined and applied, then energy production efficiency is improved, but measurement and detection complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies feedback by using measured wind data (turbulence intensity, mean wind speed) to determine the turbulence class, which then feeds back into selecting appropriate operational parameters. This closed-loop approach automates the determination process, reducing the difficulty of measurement and detection while maximizing energy production through optimized site-specific parameters.
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
Enhances energy production and reduces loads by adjusting operational parameters to match local conditions, particularly in low-wind environments, ensuring efficient and yield-neutral operation across different turbulence intensities.
Implementation Method 1
several vortex generators are arranged on the rotor blades between the rotor blade root and the rotor blade tip
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a wind turbine (100) for generating electrical power from wind, wherein the wind turbine (100) has an aerodynamic rotor (106) with rotor blades (108) whose blade angle is adjustable and the rotor (106) is operated at a rotor rated speed (nA, nB), which is in particular adjustable, wherein several vortex generators (118) are arranged on the rotor blades (108) between the rotor blade root (114) and the rotor blade tip (116), characterized in that the number and positioning of the vortex generators (118), in particular their radial extent (DA, DB) extending from the rotor blade root (114) towards the rotor blade tip (116), is determined depending on a site-specific air density.