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Method and apparatus for increasing lift on wind turbine blade — General Electric Company (US8303250B2)

General Electric Company · Google Patents

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generalelectriccompany

patent, google patents, intellectual property, US8303250B2, General Electric Company, Omer Mohammed, en, 2012

ABSTRACT

Abstract

A lift generating apparatus for a wind turbine rotor blade comprising a first sidewall and an opposing second sidewall coupled together at a leading edge and at a trailing edge. The lift generating apparatus includes at least one forward blade extension coupled to the rotor blade to define a first airflow channel between the forward blade extension and the rotor blade. The lift generating apparatus also includes at least one aft blade extension coupled to the rotor blade to define a second airflow channel between the aft blade extension and the rotor blade.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter described herein relates generally to wind turbines and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for increasing lift on a wind turbine blade.

Wind turbines convert the kinetic energy of wind into electrical energy. Wind turbines include one or more blades that rotate when oncoming wind strikes the blades. The flow of wind over the wind turbine blades generates lift and provides torque to generate power. As such, the amount of energy that a wind turbine can extract from the wind is directly related to the lift generated on the blades. The amount of lift generated on the blades depends on a number of factors. These factors include a speed of the wind, a lift coefficient of the blades, a planform area of the blades, and an air density of the wind.

One technique that is used to increase lift, and thereby increase energy extracted by the wind turbine, is to increase the planform area of the blades. However, larger blades are more expensive, and may present structural issues in the wind turbine due to their greater weight. An additional technique for increasing lift is to pitch the blades such that an angle of attack is increased, thus increasing the lift coefficient. However, increasing the angle of attack above a critical angle of attack may result in air flow separation over the blades, thus stalling the blades. When stall occurs, lift generated by the blades decreases significantly and a large component of the torque is lost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a lift generating apparatus for a wind turbine rotor blade comprising a first sidewall and an opposing second sidewall coupled together at a leading edge and at a trailing edge is provided. The lift generating apparatus includes at least one forward blade extension coupled to the rotor blade to define a first airflow channel between the forward blade extension and the rotor blade. The lift generating apparatus also includes at least one aft blade extension coupled to the rotor blade to define a second airflow channel between the aft blade extension and the rotor blade.

In another embodiment, a wind turbine is provided that includes a tower, a nacelle coupled to the tower, and a rotor rotatably coupled to the nacelle. The rotor includes at least one blade including a first sidewall and an opposing second sidewall coupled together at a leading edge and at a trailing edge. The rotor also includes at least one forward blade extension coupled to the blade to define a first airflow channel between the forward blade extension and the blade and at least one aft blade extension coupled to the blade to define a second airflow channel between the aft blade extension and the blade.

In yet another embodiment, a method for assembling a wind turbine is provided that includes coupling at least one forward blade extension to at least one blade having a first sidewall and an opposing second sidewall coupled together at a leading edge and at a trailing edge, to define a first airflow channel between the forward blade extension and the blade. The method also includes coupling at least one aft blade extension to the blade to define a second airflow channel between the aft blade extension and the blade, and coupling the blade to the wind turbine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary wind turbine.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of an exemplary nacelle suitable for use with the wind turbine shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary rotor blade suitable for use with the wind turbine shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a portion of an exemplary lift generating apparatus suitable for use with the wind turbine shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the lift generating apparatus shown in FIG. 4 .

FIGS. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views of alternative forward blade extensions suitable for use with the lift generating apparatus shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 .

FIGS. 8 and 9 are cross-sectional views of alternative aft blade extensions suitable for use with the lift generating apparatus shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments described herein provide an efficient device for increasing lift for wind turbine blades. A forward blade extension is coupled to or near a leading edge of a wind turbine blade, and an aft blade extension is coupled to or near a trailing edge of the wind turbine blade. A first airflow channel is defined between the forward blade extension and the wind turbine blade, and a second airflow channel is defined between the aft blade extension and the wind turbine blade. The forward blade extension directs air through the first airflow channel to provide additional lift to the wind turbine blade and to reduce airflow separation that may occur along a suction surface of the wind turbine blade. The aft blade extension directs air through the second airflow channel to provide additional lift to the wind turbine blade.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary wind turbine 100 . In the exemplary embodiment, wind turbine 100 is a horizontal-axis wind turbine. Alternatively, wind turbine 100 may be a vertical-axis wind turbine. In the exemplary embodiment, wind turbine 100 includes a tower 102 extending from and coupled to a supporting surface 104 . Tower 102 may be coupled to surface 104 with anchor bolts or via a foundation mounting piece (neither shown), for example. A nacelle 106 is coupled to tower 102 , and a rotor 108 is coupled to nacelle 106 . Rotor 108 includes a rotatable hub 110 and a plurality of rotor blades 112 coupled to hub 110 . In the exemplary embodiment, rotor 108 includes three rotor blades 112 . Alternatively, rotor 108 may have any suitable number of rotor blades 112 that enables wind turbine 100 to function as described herein. Tower 102 may have any suitable height and/or construction that enables wind turbine 100 to function as described herein.

Rotor blades 112 are spaced about hub 110 to facilitate rotating rotor 108 , thereby transferring kinetic energy from wind 114 into usable mechanical energy, and subsequently, electrical energy. Rotor 108 and nacelle 106 are rotated about tower 102 on a yaw axis 116 to control a perspective of rotor blades 112 with respect to the direction of wind 114 . Rotor blades 112 are mated to hub 110 by coupling a blade root portion 118 to hub 110 at a plurality of load transfer regions 120 . Load transfer regions 120 each have a hub load transfer region and a blade load transfer region (both not shown in FIG. 1 ). Loads induced to rotor blades 112 are transferred to hub 110 via load transfer regions 120 . Each rotor blade 112 also includes a blade tip portion 122 .

In the exemplary embodiment, rotor blades 112 have a length of between approximately 30 meters (m) (99 feet (ft)) and approximately 120 m (394 ft). Alternatively, rotor blades 112 may have any suitable length that enables wind turbine 100 to function as described herein. For example, rotor blades 112 may have a suitable length less than 30 m or greater than 120 m. As wind 114 contacts rotor blade 112 , blade lift forces are induced to rotor blade 112 and rotation of rotor 108 about an axis of rotation 124 is induced as blade tip portion 122 is accelerated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The subject matter described herein relates generally to wind turbines and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for increasing lift on a wind turbine blade.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary wind turbine.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of an exemplary nacelle suitable for use with the wind turbine shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an exemplary rotor blade suitable for use with the wind turbine shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 4 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a portion of an exemplary lift generating apparatus suitable for use with the wind turbine shown in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the lift generating apparatus shown in FIG. 4 .

FIGS. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views of alternative forward blade extensions suitable for use with the lift generating apparatus shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 .

FIGS. 8 and 9 are cross-sectional views of alternative aft blade extensions suitable for use with the lift generating apparatus shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A pitch angle (not shown) of rotor blades 112 , i.e., an angle that determines the perspective of rotor blade 112 with respect to the direction of wind 114 , may be changed by a pitch assembly (not shown in FIG. 1 ). More specifically, increasing a pitch angle of rotor blade 112 decreases an amount of blade surface area 126 exposed to wind 114 and, conversely, decreasing a pitch angle of rotor blade 112 increases an amount of blade surface area 126 exposed to wind 114 . The pitch angles of rotor blades 112 are adjusted about a pitch axis 128 at each rotor blade 112 . In the exemplary embodiment, the pitch angles of rotor blades 112 are controlled individually. Alternatively, the pitch angles of rotor blades 112 are controlled as a group.

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view of nacelle 106 of exemplary wind turbine 100 (shown in FIG. 1 ). Various components of wind turbine 100 are housed in nacelle 106 . In the exemplary embodiment, nacelle 106 includes three pitch assemblies 130 . Each pitch assembly 130 is coupled to an associated rotor blade 112 (shown in FIG. 1 ), and modulates a pitch of an associated rotor blade 112 about pitch axis 128 . Only one of three pitch assemblies 130 is shown in FIG. 2 . In the exemplary embodiment, each pitch assembly 130 includes at least one pitch drive motor 131 .

As shown in FIG. 2 , rotor 108 is rotatably coupled to an electric generator 132 positioned within nacelle 106 via a rotor shaft 134 (sometimes referred to as either a main shaft or a low speed shaft), a gearbox 136 , a high speed shaft 138 , and a coupling 140 . Rotation of rotor shaft 134 rotatably drives gearbox 136 that subsequently drives high speed shaft 138 . High speed shaft 138 rotatably drives generator 132 via coupling 140 and rotation of high speed shaft 138 facilitates production of electrical power by generator 132 . Gearbox 136 is supported by a support 142 and generator 132 is supported by a support 144 . In the exemplary embodiment, gearbox 136 utilizes a dual path geometry to drive high speed shaft 138 . Alternatively, rotor shaft 134 is coupled directly to generator 132 via coupling 140 .

Nacelle 106 also includes a yaw drive mechanism 146 that rotates nacelle 106 and rotor 108 about yaw axis 116 (shown in FIG. 1 ) to control the perspective of rotor blades 112 with respect to the direction of wind 114 . Nacelle 106 also includes at least one meteorological mast 148 that includes a wind vane and anemometer (neither shown in FIG. 2 ). In one embodiment, mast 148 provides information, including wind direction and/or wind speed, to a control system 150 . Control system 150 includes one or more controllers or other processors configured to execute control algorithms. As used herein, the term âprocessorâ includes any programmable system including systems and microcontrollers, reduced instruction set circuits (RISC), application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), programmable logic circuits (PLC), and any other circuit capable of executing the functions described herein. The above examples are exemplary only, and thus are not intended to limit in any way the definition and/or meaning of the term processor. Moreover, control system 150 may execute a SCADA (Supervisory, Control and Data Acquisition) program.

Pitch assembly 130 is operatively coupled to control system 150 . In the exemplary embodiment, nacelle 106 also includes forward support bearing 152 and aft support bearing 154 . Forward support bearing 152 and aft support bearing 154 facilitate radial support and alignment of rotor shaft 134 . Forward support bearing 152 is coupled to rotor shaft 134 near hub 110 . Aft support bearing 154 is positioned on rotor shaft 134 near gearbox 136 and/or generator 132 . Nacelle 106 may include any number of support bearings that enable wind turbine 100 to function as disclosed herein. Rotor shaft 134 , generator 132 , gearbox 136 , high speed shaft 138 , coupling 140 , and any associated fastening, support, and/or securing device including, but not limited to, support 142 , support 144 , forward support bearing 152 , and aft support bearing 154 , are sometimes referred to as a drive train 156 .

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of rotor blade 112 and a plurality of cross-sectional profiles 200 of rotor blade 112 . In the exemplary embodiment, rotor blade 112 includes a first sidewall 202 that forms a suction surface 204 and an opposite second sidewall 206 that forms a pressure surface 208 of rotor blade 112 . First sidewall 202 is coupled to second sidewall 206 along a leading edge 210 and along an opposing trailing edge 212 to facilitate forming a substantially airfoil-shaped cross-sectional profile 200 . Leading edge 210 and trailing edge 212 extend from blade root portion 118 to blade tip portion 122 . During operation, pitch assembly 130 (shown in FIG. 2 ) positions rotor blade 112 such that leading edge 210 is substantially directed towards wind 114 , and trailing edge 212 is substantially directed away from wind 114 . A chord line 214 is defined between leading edge 210 and trailing edge 212 , and a width of rotor blade 112 is equal to a chord length 216 of chord line 214 . A thickness 218 of rotor blade 112 is defined by measuring the largest cross-sectional distance between first sidewall 202 and second sidewall 206 with a line 220 perpendicular to chord line 214 .

A cross-sectional shape of rotor blade 112 changes as rotor blade 112 extends axially from blade root portion 118 to blade tip portion 122 . More specifically, at or near blade root portion 118 , rotor blade 112 has a substantially circular cross-sectional profile 200 and chord length 216 is substantially equal to blade thickness 218 . In a transitional area 222 , rotor blade 112 has a substantially expanded airfoil-shaped cross-sectional profile 200 . As rotor blade 112 extends towards a lift maximizing area 224 and further towards blade tip portion 122 , the cross-sectional profile 200 of rotor blade 112 generally tapers into a narrow airfoil-shaped cross-sectional profile 200 having a decreasing chord length 216 and blade thickness 218 . Moreover, as shown in FIG. 3 , blade thickness 218 is generally largest near leading edge 210 , and reduces in size radially towards trailing edge 212 . As used herein, the term âaxialâ or âaxiallyâ refers to a direction along or substantially parallel to pitch axis 128 . As used herein, the term âradialâ or âradiallyâ refers to a direction substantially perpendicular to pitch axis 128 and substantially parallel to chord line 214 .

FIG. 4 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of a portion of an exemplary lift generating apparatus 300 that includes a forward blade extension 301 and an aft blade extension 302 . FIG. 5 shows a side cross-sectional view of lift generating apparatus 300 including forward blade extension 301 and aft blade extension 302 . While FIGS. 4 and 5 show forward blade extension 301 and aft blade extension 302 coupled to a portion of rotor blade 112 having a cross-sectional profile 200 similar to a cross-sectional profile 200 near transitional area 222 (shown in FIG. 3 ), forward blade extension 301 and/or aft blade extension 302 may be coupled to any suitable portion of rotor blade 112 . For example, forward blade extension 301 and/or aft blade extension 302 may be coupled to root portion 118 (shown in FIG. 1 ), transitional area 222 , and/or to lift maximizing area 224 (shown in FIG. 3 ). Moreover, rotor blade 112 may include a plurality of forward blade extensions 301 and/or aft blade extensions 302 . For example, separate forward blade extensions 301 and/or aft blade extensions 302 may be coupled at a plurality of locations along or near blade leading edge 210 and/or blade trailing edge 212 . While FIG. 4 shows forward blade extension 301 and aft blade extension 302 extending axially across a portion of rotor blade 112 , forward blade extension 301 and/or aft blade extension 302 may extend a greater distance or a lesser distance axially along rotor blade 112 as desired.

As used herein, the term âverticalâ or âverticallyâ refers to a direction substantially parallel to line 220 of rotor blade 112 . The term âupwardâ refers to a vertical direction viewed from pressure surface 208 towards suction surface 204 . As used herein, the term âdownwardâ refers to a vertical direction viewed from suction surface 204 towards pressure surface 208 . An intersection of chord line 214 and line 220 defines a center 303 of cross-sectional profile 200 . As used herein, the term âoutwardâ refers to a direction away from center 303 of rotor blade 112 , and the term âinwardâ refers to a direction towards center 303 .

In the exemplary embodiment, forward blade extension 301 includes a first sidewall 304 that defines a suction surface 305 and a second sidewall 306 that defines an opposing pressure surface 308 . Alternatively, forward blade extension 301 may include any suitable number of sidewalls that define suction surface 305 and/or pressure surface 308 . In the exemplary embodiment, first sidewall 304 and second sidewall 306 are coupled together along a pressure edge 310 and along a trailing edge 312 . Suction surface 305 extends upward and radially outward from pressure edge 310 to a leading edge 314 of forward blade extension 301 . At leading edge 314 , suction surface 305 extends upward and radially inward to an apex 316 of forward blade extension 301 . Suction surface 305 extends past apex 316 downward and radially outward towards trailing edge 212 of rotor blade 112 . Suction surface 305 ends or terminates at trailing <figure-callout id="312" label="edge" filenames="US08303250-20121106-D00000.png,US08303250-20121106-D00004.png" state="{{state}}"

CLAIMS

Claims ( 16 )

1. A lift generating apparatus for a wind turbine rotor blade comprising a first sidewall and an opposing second sidewall coupled together at a leading edge and at a trailing edge, said lift generating apparatus comprising:

at least one forward blade extension coupled to the rotor blade to define a first airflow channel between said forward blade extension and the rotor blade; and,

at least one aft blade extension coupled to the rotor blade to define a second airflow channel between said aft blade extension and the rotor blade,

wherein the rotor blade has an airfoil-shaped aerodynamic profile, the second sidewall of the rotor blade defines a pressure surface, and the aft blade extension is positioned such that at least a portion of a suction surface of the aft blade extension extends along the pressure surface of the rotor blade,

wherein the first sidewall defines a suction surface, said forward blade extension extends along at least a portion of the suction surface, and

wherein said second airflow channel comprises an inlet and has a cross-sectional width that is substantially constant from said inlet to the trailing edge and the rotor blade has a cross-section and a centerline of the cross-section, said forward blade extension extends along the suction surface past the centerline and towards the trailing edge.

2. A lift generating apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said forward blade extension, said aft blade extension, and the rotor blade together form a substantial airfoil-shaped aerodynamic profile.

3. A lift generating apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a leading edge portion of the suction surface of the aft blade extension is positioned between a trailing edge of the rotor blade and a centerline of the rotor blade.

4. A lift generating apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said first airflow channel comprises an outlet and has a cross-sectional width that is substantially constant from the leading edge to said outlet.

5. A lift generating apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein at least one of said forward blade extension and said aft blade extension is movable with respect to the rotor blade.

6. A lift generating apparatus in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the portion of the suction surface of the aft blade extension is formed in a shape that corresponds to the pressure surface of the rotor blade.

7. A wind turbine, comprising:

a tower, a nacelle coupled to said tower, and a rotor rotatably coupled to said nacelle, said rotor comprising:

at least one blade comprising a first sidewall and an opposing second sidewall coupled together at a leading edge and at a trailing edge;

at least one forward blade extension coupled to said blade to define a first airflow channel between said forward blade extension and said blade; and

at least one aft blade extension coupled to said blade to define a second airflow channel between said aft blade extension and said blade,

wherein said second airflow channel comprises an inlet and has a cross-sectional width that is substantially constant from said inlet to the trailing edge and said blade has a cross-section and a centerline of the cross-section, said forward blade extension extends along said suction surface past the centerline towards said trailing edge.

8. A wind turbine in accordance with claim 7 , wherein said forward blade extension, said aft blade extension, and said blade together form a substantial airfoil-shaped aerodynamic profile.

9. A wind turbine in accordance with claim 7 , wherein said first sidewall defines a suction surface, said forward blade extension extends along at least a portion of said suction surface.

10. A wind turbine in accordance with claim 7 , wherein said second sidewall defines a pressure surface, said aft blade extension extends along at least a portion of said pressure surface.

11. A wind turbine in accordance with claim 7 , wherein said first airflow channel comprises an outlet and has a cross-sectional width that is substantially constant from said leading edge to said outlet.

12. A wind turbine in accordance with claim 7 , wherein at least one of said forward blade extension and said aft blade extension is movable with respect to said blade.

13. A method for assembling a wind turbine, said method comprising:

coupling at least one forward blade extension to at least one blade having a first sidewall and an opposing second sidewall coupled together at a leading edge and at a trailing edge, to define a first airflow channel between the forward blade extension and the blade;

coupling at least one aft blade extension to the blade to define a second airflow channel between the aft blade extension and the blade to define the second airflow channel having a substantially constant cross-sectional width from an inlet of the second airflow channel to the trailing edge;

wherein and said blade has a cross-section and a centerline of the cross-section, said forward blade extension is coupled to the blade such that the forward blade extension extends along said suction surface past the centerline towards said trailing edge; and,

coupling the blade to the wind turbine.

14. A method in accordance with claim 13 , wherein the blade has a suction surface and a pressure surface, said method further comprises extending the forward blade extension along at least a portion of the suction surface.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14 , further comprising extending the aft blade extension along at least a portion of the pressure surface.

16. A method in accordance with claim 13 , further comprising:

coupling the forward blade extension to the blade to define the first airflow channel having a substantially constant cross-sectional width.

US12/649,682

2009-12-30

Method and apparatus for increasing lift on wind turbine blade

Active

2030-01-26

US8303250B2

( en )

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Priority Date

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US12/649,682

US8303250B2

( en )

2009-12-30

Method and apparatus for increasing lift on wind turbine blade

EP10194838.8A

EP2341245B1

( en )

2009-12-30

2010-12-14

Apparatus for increasing lift on wind turbine blade

DK10194838.8T

DK2341245T3

( en )

2009-12-30

2010-12-14

A device for increasing the buoyancy of the wind turbine blade

CN201010624639.9A

CN102116252B

( en )

2009-12-30

2010-12-30

Method and apparatus for increasing lift on wind turbine blade

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Method and apparatus for increasing lift on wind turbine blade

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Method and apparatus for increasing lift on wind turbine blade

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EP2341245A3

( en )

2014-01-08

US20110135477A1

( en )

2011-06-09

EP2341245A2

( en )

2011-07-06

EP2341245B1

( en )

2016-06-08

CN102116252A

( en )

2011-07-06

DK2341245T3

( en )

2016-08-22

CN102116252B

( en )

2014-08-06

Method and apparatus for increasing lift on wind turbine blade — General Electric Company (US8303250B2)

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