The current invention relates to a fairing for arrangement on a wind turbine blade or rotor blade, and to the use of said fairing at wind turbine blade testing and in particular at wind turbine blade fatigue testing.
According to one example a blade fatigue test to a wind turbine blade or a wind turbine rotor blade may comprise the following steps:
A common concern related the above described tests, is the amount of power consumed during testing. Hence, there is a desire for reducing the energy consumption at wind turbine blade fatigue testing.
One object of the invention is to overcome or at least alleviate the above described problems. In particular, it is an object of the invention to reduce the energy consumption at wind turbine blade fatigue testing.
One way of achieving this object is by means of a fairing adapted to be mounted on a wind turbine blade, wherein the outer surface of said fairing is arranged so as to reduce, when mounted on the blade, the aerodynamic drag in a flapwise direction of the blade.
a, closer described below, schematically illustrates one example of a fairing which is mounted on an elongated wind turbine blade. In relation to this invention, the term “longitudinal direction” of the blade corresponds to the x-direction as illustrated in
The term “chord direction” of the blade corresponds to the y-direction as illustrated in
The term “flapwise direction” corresponds to the z-direction as illustrated in
The term “direction of motion of the blade” refers to one of the flapwise directions in which the blade is moving or intended to move during the test.
According to another aspect thereof, the invention also relates to the use of a fairing according to any one of the claims 1-11, at fatigue testing of wind turbine blades.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention are presented in the attached dependent claims. More details about the above aspects will be given below. What is stated in relation to one of the above aspects normally applies to all of them.
When providing equipment for blade testing it is important that the design of the equipment is such that the equipment does not significantly affect the properties of the blade, which are of interest to measure. These properties include e.g. ultimate strength, fatigue strength, natural frequency of the blade in the flap wise and edge wise direction, and laminate strength.
In essence the inventor has found a way of reducing the energy consumption at blade testing, without substantially affecting the properties of the blade, which are subject for measurements. This achieved by providing a fairing, which reduces the air-resistance or the drag of the blade in the flap wise direction of the blade. The lowered air-resistance of the blade is achieved by attaching a fairing to the blade which makes the cross-section of the blade more stream-lined in the flap wise direction, i.e. in the direction the blade is moving during the test, which direction is substantially orthogonal both to the longitudinal direction and the chord direction of the blade.
Lowering the air-resistance or drag of the blade in the flapwise direction is related to several advantages. As already mentioned it reduces the power consumed for performing the flapwise testing, as the force needed for moving the blade is lowered. In other words, the exciter power requirement in flapwise testing is reduced. Further, as the force needed for moving the blade is lowered, the wear of the equipment used for moving the blade is also decreased. Additionally, there is also a reduction in the amount of wind generated around the blade during testing. In other words, if the tests are performed indoors, it will be less windy inside the testing facility during the tests.
The use of a fairing as described in this document may enable the use of a smaller motor in the blade motion inducing equipment, since a reduction of the air resistance of the blade is achieved.
Moreover, according to a preferred embodiment the fairing is inflatable and sealable in an inflated condition. This is advantageous as a deflated fairing is less bulky and therefore easier to store and handle, compared to a rigid one. The inflatable fairing may be arranged of a strong light-weight or heavier material, preferably durable, such as a rubber or PVC coated fabric.
According to one example, said fairing comprises a sealable air inlet, preferably arranged for engaging with a high pressure air nozzle. This is advantageous as it allows the fairing to be filled with by means of high pressure air generators available in most testing facilities.
According to one example the density of said fairing is less than 90% of said blade, or less than 75% of said blade, or less than 60%, or less than 30% of said blade. This is advantageous since the influence by the weight of the fairing on measurements in a blade fatigue test will be limited. Where the fairing is inflatable it will in its inflated condition provide a low density structure.
In relation to this invention the term “density” refers to the density of the whole fairing including e.g. air-filled cavities. Further it relates to the density of the fairing in use or in a mounted condition, i.e. for an inflatable fairing the term “density” refers to the density of the whole fairing in its inflated state including the gas filled volume. In relation to this invention, the blade density refers to the density of the blade including e.g. air-filled cavities.
According to one example the fairing is made of light-weight material, such as composite, plastic or structural foam. As the fairing is made of a light-weight material, it does not add any substantial mass to the blade, i.e. it neither significantly increases the energy consumption due to its weight, nor significantly effects the measurement results.
Preferably, the fairing is adapted to cover, at least along a portion of the blade in the longitudinal direction of the blade, the entire blade from the leading edge to the trailing edge of the blade.
Preferably, the fairing is adapted to provide a shape that is more streamlined in the flapwise direction than the blade itself. This can be obtained by the fairing providing a curvature that is, as “experienced” by air passing the fairing, larger than the curvature of the blade trailing and leading edges.
Preferably the fairing, when mounted on a blade, presents an outer surface which, as seen in a cross-section taken in parallel with the chord direction and the flapwise direction of the blade, is tapered from the blade towards respective ends being distal to the blade. Thereby, the fairing may be rounded, pointed or arc shaped in the flapwise direction.
Moreover, according to one example, the fairing, when mounted on a blade, presents an outer surface which, as seen in a cross-section taken in parallel with the chord direction and the flapwise direction of the blade, is convex.
Moreover, according to one example, at least a portion of said outer surface, as seen in a cross-section taken in parallel with the chord direction and the flapwise direction of the blade, substantially describes at least a portion of a triangle or an arc of an ellipse, arc of a cartenoid, arc of a parabola or arc of a hyperbola. As seen in said cross-section, and referring to a polar coordinate system with a center in the mid-chord location of the blade profile, the portion of said cross-section describing at least a portion of an ellipse, cartenoid, parabola, hyperbola or triangle, may cover at least 70° or 80° of said outer surface, or at least 160° or 170° of said outer surface, or at least 340° or 350° of said outer surface.
According to one example, said fairing preferably reduces the air resistance of the blade by making the outer cross-section of the blade more circular, pointed or arc shaped in a flap-wise direction of the blade.
According to one embodiment an outer surface of the fairing, as seen in a cross-section taken in parallel with the chord direction and the flapwise direction of the blade, substantially describes at least a portion of an arc of an ellipse, said ellipse being defined by a first semimajor axis and a second semimajor axis, said first axis of said ellipse preferably being arranged substantially in parallel with the chord direction of said blade, and the ratio of the length of said axes is between 0.5 and 1, or between 0.65 and 1 or between 0.8 and 1.
Every ellipse has a major axis and a minor axis, at right angles to each other and passing through the centre of the ellipse. The distance between antipodal points on the ellipse, or pairs of points whose midpoint is at the center of the ellipse, is maximal where the major axis cuts the ellipse and minimal where the minor axis cuts it. The length of the semimajor axis is one half of the length of the major axis, the line segment from the centre, through a focus, and to the edge of the ellipse. Likewise, the semiminor axis is one half the minor axis, the line segment from the centre to a nearest point of the ellipse.
According to one example, the length of said first axis of said ellipse is longer compared to the length of said second axis of said ellipse. In other words, said first axis equals the semimajor axis of said ellipse and said second axis equals the semiminor axis of said ellipse. According to another example, said first and second axes are substantially equal. According to a third example said second axis is longer compared to said first axis.
In relation to this invention, the term “said first axis of said ellipse being arranged substantially in parallel with the chord of the local cross-section of said blade” corresponds to said first axis deviating from said chord with a maximum of 20 degrees, or with a maximum of 10 degrees or a maximum of 5 degrees.
In relation to this invention, the term “the ratio of the length of said axes is 0.5” comprises both that said first axis is twice as long as said second axis, and that said second axis is twice as long as said first axis.
According to one example the length of said first axis is substantially equal to the chord length of the local cross-section of said blade.
In relation to this invention the term “said first axis is substantially equal to the chord length of the local cross-section of said blade” refers to that the length of said axis deviates from the length of said chord by less than 15%, or by less than 10%, or by less than 5%, or by less than 3%.
Preferably, the fairing presents, when mounted on a blade, an outer surface which, as seen in a cross-section taken in parallel with the chord direction and the flapwise direction of the blade, is substantially circular.
According to one example the fairing has a plane of symmetry, which in use coincides with the longitudinal direction and the chord direction of said blade. According to one example the fairing has a plane of symmetry, which in use coincides with the chord direction and the flap-wise direction of said blade. According to one example the fairing has a ratio between the width of said fairing and the height which is between 0.3 to 3.
According to one example, the length of said fairing covers in use at least 10%, or at least 15% of said blade, or at least 20%, or at least 30% of said blade. This is advantageous, as the larger surface of the blade the fairing covers, the more of the air resistance or drag is reduced.
According to one example, the fairing is arranged for being mounted closer to the tip than the root of the blade. A greater reduction of air resistance or drag is achieved the closer to the tip the fairing is arranged on the blade, as it is at the tip portion the movement of the blade is the largest.
Preferably, the fairing comprises at least one fairing portion adapted to be positioned on a pressure side of the blade and at least one fairing portion adapted to be positioned on a suction side of the blade.
According to another embodiment, the width of the fairing corresponds to the tapering of the blade in the longitudinal direction towards the tip of the blade. Further, the ratio of the width of the fairing and the chord length of the blade may be substantially constant, i.e. the deviation is less than 10% along the longitudinal direction of the blade when said fairing is in its mounted condition.
The fairing normally comprises fastening means or fasteners for attaching or fastening the fairing to the blade. The fastening means are preferably arranged such that the fairing is held in a substantially fixed condition during the testing of the blade. In other words, when flapwise testing is performed the fastening means are preferably arranged such that the fairing is held in the same position through the whole movement of the blade.
According to one embodiment the fairing consist of one unitary part, which in its mounted condition encircles the blade or encircles substantially the whole of the blade. In other words, in the case of an elliptical cross-section, said portion of said arc of said ellipse covers at least 340 degrees of said ellipse, continuously or discontinuously. Preferably, the coverage is at least 350 degrees of said arc, or at least 355 degrees of said arc.
Alternatively, said fairing comprises two portions, each in their mounted condition covering only one side of the blade. In other words, in the case of an elliptical cross-section, said portion of said arc of said ellipse covers at least 160 degrees of said ellipse, continuously or discontinuously. Preferably, the coverage is at least 170 degrees of said arc, or at least 175 degrees of said arc.
According to one example said fairing comprises 2 self-contained structures, which each covers substantially half of the outer surface of said blade. In their mounted condition said structures preferably encircles substantially the whole cross-section of said blade, i.e. at least 340° or 350° of said cross-section is covered by said fairing.
According to one example said fairing comprises 4 self-contained structures, which each covers substantially a quarter of the outer surface of said blade. In their mounted condition said structures preferably encircles substantially the whole cross-section of said blade, i.e. at least 340° or 350° of said cross-section is covered by said fairing.
According to one example said fairing comprises at least a first and a second fairing portion, wherein said first part is arranged for being mounted on a first surface of said blade and preferably covers substantially the whole area thereof, and the other part is arranged for being mounted on a surface of said blade which is opposite to said first surface, and preferably covers substantially the whole area thereof.
Further, at least said first and second fairing portion each comprises fastening means or fasteners for cooperation with threading means, clipping means and/or zipping means such that two of said fairings are attachable to each other by means of tying, clipping and/or zipping, respectively.
Said fairing may also be provided with fastening means for cooperation with threading means, clipping means and/or zipping means such that said fairing may be secured to said blade.
A fairing may also be provided with a tongue portion, wherein said fastening means are arranged, in order to facilitate the securing of said fairing.
Further, two fairing portions may each be provided with a tongue portion, wherein said fastening means are arranged, wherein in use said tongue portions extend towards each other.
According to a more detailed example, said fairing is fastened to said blade by means of tying, buttoning, zipping and/or clipping. In other words said fairing may comprise cooperative means or devices for tying, buttoning, zipping and/or clipping said portions to each other.
In more detail, clipping means may comprise devices for buttoning, hooking, grasping and/or clamping two items together.
These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from, and elucidated with reference to, the embodiments described hereinafter.
a schematically illustrates a perspective view and a cross-section of one embodiment of the invention.
b schematically illustrates a cross-section of a different embodiment of the invention.
A streamlined shape is one with a contour that is itself a streamline, or its shape is such that its resistance to the flow of air, water, or another fluid past it is reduced. In other words, in order to streamline a body, the external contours are preferably smoothed out so that a streamlined flow over it is achieved and the flow's resistance to a motion of the body is reduced. This resistance may also be referred to as drag or form drag.
Calculations of the effect of a body's cross-section with respect to air resistance and drag, respectively can be found in aerodynamic reference tables. In general, the less of a body's surface that is oriented in a direction normal to the direction of the airflow, the smaller the air resistance and the drag.
The drag of a body with a constant square cross-section as illustrated in
When designing the shape of the outer surface of a fairing for a wind turbine blade to be exposed to a fatigue test, one should keep in mind that the blade will normally be moved in two directions. So the drag and air resistance should preferably be lowered in both flapwise directions or both directions of blade movement. In other words, conventional stream line shapes, usually non-symmetrical, designed for movement in only one direction, might not be ideal in this case of movement in two directions. According to one example, the object presented above is achieved by fairings which have a plane of symmetry in parallel with both the chord and longitudinal direction of the blade. However, there are fairings lacking the described plane of symmetry which also lowers the air resistance of the blade. One example is presented by a fairing which has an outer cross-section corresponding substantially to half an ellipse on one side of the blade, and an outer cross-section being substantially triangular or wedge shaped on the other side of the blade.
The term “fluid facing surface” of a fairing, refers to the portion of a fairing which is in contact with the fluid as the fairing moves in relation to the fluid. For the fairing illustrated in
The width of the fairing, i.e. its extension in the chord direction of the blade, may vary along the longitudinal direction of said blade.
As seen in
According to one example a first pair of fairing portions is arranged on a 50 m blade, such that is covers a surface portion between 34-37 m from the root of the blade, one fairing portion on each side of the blade. Further, another pair of fairing portions is arranged such that it covers a surface portion between 37-40 m from the root of the blade, one fairing portion on each side of the blade.
Alternatively, the fastening means 3a-3d may comprise clipping means fasten to one of the fairing portions, whereas another fairing portion comprises receiving means for interacting with said clipping means. For instance, at least two strings are provided and mounted on two different fairing portions, and each string is arranged with a clip. The pair of clips are brought to lockingly engage with each other before at least one of the strings is tightened. Moreover, the fastening means may also include zipping means or buttoning means, such as items which are locked together by means of a zipping action or buttoning action, respectively.
In other words, each fairing portion may comprise fastening means for fastening the fairing portion to another fairing portion arranged on the same side of the blade, and/or for fastening the fairing portion to another fairing portion on the opposite side of the blade. These fastening means may comprise receiving means for cooperation with threading means, as seen in
According to one example, a fairing portion is provided with a tongue portion which in use is directed towards a fairing portion arranged on the opposite side of the blade. Further, the tongue portion comprises fastening means such as to facilitate the fastening of one fairing portion to another. Further, the tongue portion may be arranged on only one of two opposite fairing portions or on both of them.
Further, the fairing portions may be secured to the blades by fastening means attachable to the blades, such as web loop tie off panels. In other words, the fairing portions can comprise receiving means for cooperation with threading means (e.g. ropes or cables) which are tied to fastening means present on the blade, such as weights 4a—or specially designed fastening means 4b which have been secured to the blade by means of e.g. bonding. Preferably at least one of the fastening means 4a is arranged towards the root end side of the blade, and at least one is arranged towards the tip end side of the blade 4b.
According to one example, the fastening means or tags or tie off panels are made of reinforced rubberised fabric and is e.g. about 500 mm long and 150 mm wide. It is bonded onto the blade surface in parallel with the blade axis using contact adhesive e.g. in 3 positions 4-5 m rootwards from the end of the fairing. The fairing is then tied off with e.g. polyester rope to strong loops on the tags to prevent movement towards the tip. Preferably, the fairing portions are provided with reinforced eyes which can accept the forces induced from these tie off ropes during testing.
a also illustrates a cross-section of two of the fairing portions 10b,10d, which cross-section is taken in a direction in parallel with both the chord direction and flapwise direction of the blade. The two fairing portions 10b, 10d are arranged symmetrically around the blade, i.e. there is a plane of symmetry in parallel with both the longitudinal direction and the chord direction of the blade. Moreover, according to this example the outer cross-section of the fairing portions is substantially circular. Each fairing portion describes an arc of a circle, and said arc covers at least 150 degrees of said circle. Further, the cross-section of said fairing is substantially constant over a major or greatest part of said fairing or over substantially the whole of said fairing.
According to one embodiment, the width of the fairing, i.e. its extension in the chord direction of the blade, is substantially constant along the longitudinal direction of the blade.
According to another embodiment, the width of the fairing corresponds to the tapering of the blade in the longitudinal direction towards the tip of the blade. Further, the ratio of the width of the fairing and the chord length of the blade may be substantially constant, i.e. the deviation is less than 10% along the longitudinal direction of the blade when said fairing is in its mounted condition.
Further, the cross-section of said fairing is tapered towards the top P of said fairing. The top is the point of said fairing 11 which in use is arranged furthest away from the blade in a flapwise direction. In other words, the distance from a point 12 on the outer surface of said fairing along the chord direction to a line 13, extending in parallel with said flapwise direction from said blade to said top of the fairing, is constant or decreasing as measured in a direction from said blade towards said top.
A can be seen in the Figure, the respective outer surface of said cross-sections is convex, the respective fairing does not cover the edge portions 14a, 14b of the blade, and the fairings 10b, 10d are fasten to each other by means of cables or ropes 3b. Further, the height of the faring, i.e. the distance from the blade to the top P along a direction parallel to the flapwise direction is substantially constant, i.e. varying by less than 10%, along a longitudinal direction of the blade. According to another example, the height of the fairing is constantly decreasing towards the tip of the blade. Further, according to one example, the ratio between the height of the fairing and the chord length of the blade may be substantially constant along a longitudinal direction of the blade.
A cross-section of an alternative arrangement of a pair of fairings is seen in
However, the fairing portions illustrated in
According to one example the fairing portions are made of a foam material, such as a structural foam with a density of 50-75 kg/m3.
According to an alternative embodiment, the fairing or fairing portions are inflatable, and e.g. made of a rubber material.
According to one example the following steps are performed for fastening a pair of fairing portions to the blade:
Further, for a fairing which is mounted on both sides of the blade, there is a leading and a trailing surface. According to this embodiment, the blade is mounted having a substantially horizontal first orientation 32, and is moved upwards to a second location 33 and downwards to a third location 34. As the blade is move upwards from said third to said second location, the leading outer surface 30a of the fairing is arranged on top of the blade, and the trailing outer surface 30b is arranged beneath the blade.
As the direction of motion of the blade is reversed, so are the leading and trailing outer surfaces of the blade. As the blade is moved downwards from said second to said third location, the leading outer surface 30b of the fairing is arranged beneath the blade, and the trailing outer surface 30a is arranged on top of the blade.
In other words, the leading surface of the fairing is the surface which is arranged in the direction of motion of the blade.
According to an alternative embodiment, instead of being arranged at substantially the middle of the blade as illustrated if
In general, the fairing may be arranged such that it covers the tip of blade. However, it might be easier to design a securely fasten the fairing if it does not cover the tip, so the tip may be left uncovered. As the tip is small, a covering of the tip may be of less importance when the total effect of different fairings is evaluated.
A person skilled in the art will, given the above teaching and description, be able to design a suitable fairing for any type of blade. He also realizes that the present invention by no means is limited to the preferred embodiments described above. On the contrary, many modifications and variations are possible within the scope of the appended claims. For example, in relation to the Figures a fairing comprising four fairing portions have been described. However, the skilled man readily understands that the fairing may consist of any number of fairing portions. The fairing may be just one self-contained unit, or a set of two, three, or four fairing portions etc. Further, the number of fairings arranged on one side of the blade, may be different from the number of fairings arranged on the opposite side of the blade.
In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. A single unit may fulfil the functions of several items recited in the claims. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measured cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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PA 2008 01794 | Dec 2008 | DK | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/EP09/67090 | 12/14/2009 | WO | 00 | 9/21/2011 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61138183 | Dec 2008 | US |