Patent Application
20110164975
The invention relates generally to wind turbines, and more specifically to wind turbine rotor blades including controllable depressions.
Wind turbines are environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternate sources of energy that convert wind energy to electrical energy. A wind turbine typically includes a wind rotor having multiple rotor blades. The rotor blades are primary elements of the wind turbines for the conversion of wind energy into electrical energy. A rotor blade generally includes a suction side and a pressure side. The suction side is a side of the rotor blade that is in a low pressure region in comparison to a pressure of a region of the pressure side.
Typically, wind turbine rotor blades experience two major aerodynamic forces, namely a lift force and a drag force. The lift force primarily acts to rotate the rotor blades, whereas the drag force primarily resists rotation of the rotor blades. In operation, wind flows along the pressure side and the suction side of a rotor blade resulting in a pressure difference between the pressure and suction sides. Consequently, a lift force is generated from the pressure side towards the suction side of the rotor blade. Thereby, the lift force rotates the rotor blade.
Furthermore, during rotation each of the rotor blades has a relative motion to the incoming wind flow to the wind turbine. The angle of attack is defined as the angle of relative motion between freestream wind velocity with respect to a rotor blade and the chord of the rotor blade. The chord is the linear distance between the leading edge and a trailing edge of the rotor blade.
Accordingly, rotor blades are aerodynamically designed to operate with maximum lift force and minimum drag force to enable maximum efficiency of the wind turbines. For example, a pitch angle and a rotational speed of a rotor blade are controlled to facilitate rotation of the rotor blade at an optimal angle of attack. However, due to the turbulent nature of wind, the angle of attack experienced by the rotor blades fluctuates rapidly. At a high angle of attack, separation of the flow over the rotor blades may result in generation of wake and pressure differences. The wake and pressure differences leads to increased drag force. Furthermore, the fluctuation in the angle of attack leads to recursive transitions from an attached flow to separation flow of the rotor blades, or vice versa. The recursive transitions thereby nay result in increased noise and fatigue loads on the rotor blades.
Hence, it is highly desirable to develop a control system that controls rotor blades to minimize drag force and maximize lift force. Furthermore, it is desirable to develop a control system that controls surfaces of the rotor blades to increase efficiency of wind turbines.
In accordance with an aspect of the present technique, a wind turbine system is presented. The wind turbine system includes multiple rotor blades operationally coupled to a control system, at least one of the rotor blades includes an active surface fabricated on the rotor blades. Further, the control system is configured to generate control signals for formation of one or more depressions at an optimal frequency and at a number of optimal locations on the active surface based upon multiple wind flow parameters, and transmit the control signals to the rotor blades for the formation of the one or more depressions at the optimal frequency and at the number of optimal locations on the active surface.
In accordance with a further aspect of the present technique, a method for formation of one or more depressions on a rotor blade of a wind turbine is provided. The method includes generating control signals for the formation of the one or more depressions at an optimal frequency and at a number of optimal locations on an active surface based upon multiple wind flow parameters, and transmitting the control signals to multiple rotor blades for the formation of the one or more depressions at the optimal frequency and at the number of optimal locations on the active surface.
In accordance with still another embodiment of the present technique, a method of assembling a rotor blade is provided. The method includes forming multiple modules of the rotor blade, forming an active surface on one or modules of the rotor blade, or portions thereof, and successively coupling the modules to form the rotor blade.
In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present technique, a method of manufacturing a wind turbine system is provided. The method includes providing multiple rotor blades, providing an active surface on at least one of the rotor blades, providing a control system operationally coupled to the rotor blades, wherein the control system is configured to generate control signals for formation of one or more depressions at an optimal frequency and at a number of optimal locations on the active surface based upon multiple wind flow parameters, and transmit the control signals to the rotor blades for the formation of the one or more depressions at the optimal frequency and at the number of optimal locations on the active surface.
These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
As discussed in detail below, embodiments of the present invention include multiple rotor blades. An active surface is fabricated on each of the rotor blades. As used herein, the term “active surface” may be used to refer to a surface fabricated on rotor blades that may be controlled to form depressions. The depressions, for example, may include cavities, dimples, bumps and the like. The active surfaces of the rotor blades may be controlled in real time to form the depressions at optimal locations of the rotor blades and at an optimal frequency. As used herein, the term “optimal locations” may be used to refer to locations on rotor blades that may be used to form depressions on the rotor blades resulting in an increased efficiency of the rotor blades. More particularly, the term “optimal locations” may be used to refer to locations on active surfaces fabricated on rotor blades that may be used to form depressions. Accordingly, the optimal locations may be locations on rotor blades that are optimal for the formation of depressions on active surfaces to minimize drag force. The formation of depressions at the optimal locations results in minimizing the drag force by delaying separation of wind flow over the rotor blades resulting in increased efficiency of the rotor blades. Also, as used herein, the term “optimal frequency” may be used to refer to a frequency of formation of depressions on active surfaces fabricated on rotor blades that increases efficiency of a wind turbine. More particularly, the term “optimal frequency” may be used to refer to a frequency of formation of depressions on active surfaces of rotor blades due to variation in wind flow parameters. As used herein, the term “wind flow parameters” may be used to refer to parameters that may be used to determine the effect of wind on efficiency of a wind turbine.
In operation, rotor blades of wind turbines are generally affected by two aerodynamical forces including drag force and lift force. While an increase in the lift force generally increases efficiency of the wind turbines, an increase in the drag force generally decreases efficiency of the wind turbines. The lift force and the drag force fluctuate depending upon conditions of wind flow acting upon the rotor blades. The conditions of wind flow may include, for example, wind speed, wind turbulence, angle of attack, and the like.
Furthermore, one of the significant reasons for an increase in drag force that leads to decreased efficiency of the wind turbines is separation of wind flow over the rotor blades. The separation of wind flow over the rotor blades may increase drag force. The increase in drag force increases resistance against the rotation of the rotor blades, thus adversely affecting the efficiency and output of the wind turbines. It is, therefore, desirable to develop wind turbines coupled to a control system, wherein the control system is configured to form depressions on rotor blades of the wind turbines in real time. The formation of depressions on the rotor blades can delay separation of wind flow over the rotor blades, thereby decreasing the drag force resulting in increased efficiency of the wind turbines. The formation of depressions may also increase drag force.
Referring now to
In an exemplary embodiment, the wind turbine 100 includes rotor blades 102, 104, 106, a tower 108, a nacelle 109 and a hub (not shown in
Furthermore, in one embodiment, the sensing devices 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124 may generate sensor signals 126 representative of multiple wind flow parameters. The wind flow parameters, for example, may include wind speed, wind direction, rotations per minute, stress, temperature, generation winding, vibration in blades, vibrations in tower, power measurement, twist in power cable of a generator of a wind turbine, load conditions, a rotor blade angle, speed of the multiple rotor blades, a yaw angle, an angle of attack, turbulence, gusts, wake interactions, and the like.
Moreover, as illustrated in
Furthermore, the controller 128 may be configured to determine a torque setpoint for the wind turbine 100 based upon the wind flow 101. As used herein, the term “torque setpoint” may be used to refer to a potential torque that may result in a desired efficiency of a wind turbine based upon wind flow. Accordingly, the controller 128 compensates for varied conditions of the wind flow 101 by varying the pitch angle setpoints of the rotor blades 102, 104, 106 and the torque setpoint of the wind turbine 100.
Moreover, in certain embodiments, the control system 128 may be configured to receive the sensor signals 126 from the sensing devices 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, 122, 124. The sensor signals 126 may be representative of the wind flow parameters. The control system 128 is further configured to process the sensor signals 126 to determine optimal locations for formation of depressions 130, 132, 134 on the rotor blades 102, 104, 106. The control system 128 determines the optimal locations based upon the sensor signals 126. In one embodiment, the control system 128 may form the depressions 130, 132, 134 based upon the sensor signals 126 and the pitch angle set points and the torque set point of the rotor blades 102, 104, 106. In certain embodiments, the control system 128 determines the optimal locations based upon the wind flow parameters. The optimal locations for the formation of depressions 130, 132, 134 on the rotor blades 102, 104, 106 may vary based upon the wind flow parameters. Furthermore, the depressions 130, 132, 134, for example, may include cavities, dimples, bumps, and the like. The formation of the depressions 130, 132, 134 on the rotor blades 102, 104, 106 results in delaying or promoting the separation of the wind flow 101 over the rotor blades 102, 104, 106 during rotation.
Furthermore, the optimal locations for the formation of depressions 130, 132, 134, for example, may include near roots of the rotor blades, ends of the rotor blades, near leading edges, near trailing edges, on leading edges, on trailing edges, the entire rotor blades, center surfaces of the rotor blades, and the like. In one embodiment, the control system 128 may also determine the optimal locations based upon geometry and radial position of the rotor blades 102, 104, 106. In addition, the control system 128 is configured to determine an optimal frequency of formation of the depressions 130, 132, 134 on the rotor blades 102, 104, 106. The control system 128 may be further configured to determine optimal shapes, optimal sizes, optimal depths, optimal breadths, and the like of the depressions 130, 132, 134. The control system 128 determines the optimal frequency for the formation of the depressions 130, 132, 134, and the optimal shapes, the optimal sizes, the optimal depths and the optimal breadths of the depressions 130, 132, 134 based upon the sensor signals 126. More particularly, the control system 128 determines the optimal frequency for the formation of the depressions 130, 132, 134, and the optimal shapes, the optimal sizes, the optimal depths and the optimal breadths of the depressions 130, 132, 134 based upon the wind flow parameters. Exemplary embodiments of the optimal locations, the optimal shapes, the optimal sizes, the optimal breadths and the optimal depths will be explained in greater detail with reference to
Moreover, the control system 128 is further configured to transmit control signals 136 representative of the determined optimal locations, the optimal frequency, the optimal shapes, the optimal sizes, the optimal breadths and the optimal depths of the depressions 130, 132, 134 to a wind turbine control subsystem 138. The wind turbine control subsystem 138 is configured to receive the control signals 136 transmitted by the control system 128. The wind turbine control subsystem 138 is further configured to facilitate formation of the depressions 130, 132, 134 on the rotor blades 102, 104, 106 based upon the control signals 136. More particularly, the wind turbine control subsystem 138 is configured to facilitate formation of the depressions 130, 132, 134 on active surfaces 140, 142, 144 fabricated on the rotor blades 102, 104, 106, respectively. The active surfaces 140, 142, 144 include surfaces that may be controlled to form depressions.
While in the presently contemplated configuration, the front sides of the rotor blades 102, 104, 106 are shown as including the active surfaces 140, 142, 144, in accordance with exemplary aspects of the present technique, active surfaces may be fabricated at the back sides of the rotor blades 102, 104, 106. In another exemplary embodiment, active surfaces may be fabricated on the front sides and the back sides of the rotor blades 102, 104, 106. The active surfaces 140, 142, 144, for example, may be of elastomeric material. More particularly, the active surfaces 140, 142, 144 may be of dielectric elastomeric material. In one embodiment, the dielectric elastomeric material may include electroactive polymer. In one embodiment, the active surfaces 140, 142, 144 may be configured to determine pressure fluctuations on the rotor blades 102, 104, 106. The active surfaces 140, 142, 144 may be fabricated on the rotor blades 102, 104, 106 using inkjet printing, and the like. In one embodiment, the active surfaces 140, 142, 144 may include electro-active ceramic actuators, such as, piezoelectric actuators, electrostrictive actuators, and the like. In another embodiment, the active surfaces 140, 142, 144 may include shape memory alloys, micro electromechanical devices, shape memory alloys, micro tabs, and the like. It should be noted that while in the presently contemplated configuration, the rotor blades 102, 104, 106 are shown as including the sensing devices 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120, in certain embodiments, the active surfaces 140, 142, 144 fabricated on the rotor blades 102, 104, 106 may include the sensing devices 110, 112, 114, 116, 118, 120.
Furthermore, as previously noted, the wind turbine control subsystem 138 is configured to facilitate formation of the depressions 130, 132, 134 on the rotor blades 102, 104, 106 based upon the control signals 136. In operation, the control subsystem 138 generates activation signals based upon the control signals 136. The activation signals activate at least a portion of the active surfaces 140, 142, 144. More particularly, the activation of at least a portion of the active surfaces 140, 142, 144 results in electrical stimulation of the active surfaces 140, 142, 144. The electrical stimulation of the active surfaces 140, 142, 144 results in application of voltages on the active surfaces 140, 142, 144. The application of voltages results in formation of the depressions 130, 132, 134. The formation of the depressions 130, 132, 134 may either delay or promote separation of wind flow with respect to an angle of attack, and therefore, also decrease or increase lift force. In one embodiment, formation of the depressions 130, 132, 134 may increase mechanical load on the rotor blades 102, 104, 106. In an alternative embodiment, formation of the depressions 130, 132, 134 may result in a decrease in mechanical load on the rotor blades 102, 104, 106. Also, formation of the depressions 130, 132, 134 may reduce mechanical loads on other mechanical components coupled to the rotor blades 102, 104, 106 of the wind turbine 100. In certain embodiments, formation of the depressions 130, 132, 134 may also result in reduction of noise by the rotor blades 102, 104, 106. More particularly, the formation of the depressions 130, 132, 134 may result in reducing noise created by tip of each of the rotor blades 102, 104, 106.
In the presently contemplated configuration, the wind turbine control subsystem 138 receives control signals 212 from the control system 128. The control signals 212 are representative of the optimal locations, optimal frequency, optimal size, optimal breadth and optimal depth for formation of the depressions 210. In the presently contemplated configuration, the optimal locations include entire active surface 140 on the rotor blade 102 or portions thereof, and the optimal shape includes dimples. Accordingly, as shown in
Moreover, in one embodiment, formation of the depressions 210 results in delaying onset of flow separation with respect to an angle of attack. In other words, formation of the depressions 210 results in achieving the angle of attack before separation of the rotor blade 102 from the wind flow 101. Consequently, formation of the depressions 210 may increase lift force and power capture by the wind turbine 100. As used herein, the term “angle of attack” may be used to refer to an angle between freestream relative wind velocity with respect to a rotor blade and a chord of the rotor blade. Also, as used herein, the term “chord” may be used to refer to a linear distance of a leading edge of a rotor blade from a trailing edge of the rotor blade. In an alternative embodiment, formation of the depressions 210 may minimize dynamic load, such as, fatigue load or extreme load. In still another embodiment, formation of the depressions 210 may minimize dynamic fluctuations of loads. In yet another embodiment, formation of the depressions 210 may facilitate the wind turbine 100 to react to extreme gust events.
Turning now to
Moreover, each of the zones 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412 includes sensors 413. The controller 128 receives sensor signals from sensors 413. The sensor signals, for example, may be representative of one or more wind flow parameters, such as, wind pressure differences, load differences, and the like. The controller 128 selects points on the zones 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412 for formation of multiple depressions 414, 416, 418, 420, 422, 424. The points for formation of the depressions 414, 416, 418, 420, 422, 424, for example, includes optimal locations on the zones 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412 that are nearest to the respective actuators 415.
Furthermore, each of the zones 402, 404, 406, 408, 410, 412 includes multiple depressions 414, 416, 418, 420, 422, 424, respectively, that are different in optimal shape, optimal size, optimal depth, or optimal breadth from depressions at the remaining optimal locations. As shown in
Subsequently at step 504, the sensor signals are received by a control system. The sensor signals, for example, may be received by control system 128 (see
However, if it is determined that the formation of depressions is required, then the control is transferred to step 508. As depicted by step 508, optimal locations and optimal frequency of formation of the depressions are determined. Furthermore, at step 508 optimal sizes, optimal shapes, optimal breadths and optimal depths of the depressions are determined. The optimal locations, the optimal frequency of formation of the depressions, the optimal sizes, the optimal shapes, the optimal breadths and the optimal depths, for example, may be determined by the control system 128.
Furthermore, at step 510, control signals representative of the optimal locations, the optimal frequency of formation of the depressions, the optimal shapes, the optimal sizes, the optimal breadths and the optimal depths may be transmitted to a wind turbine control subsystem, such as, the wind turbine control subsystem 138 (
As depicted by step 512, the electrical stimulation of the active surfaces results in application of voltages at the optimal locations on the active surfaces. In one embodiment, the voltages may be applied by electrodes in the active surfaces. The voltages, for example, may be applied on the active surfaces 140, 142, 144 (see
Subsequently, at step 514, the application of voltages at the optimal locations results in formation of the depressions on the active surfaces. The depressions, for example, may be the depressions 130, 132, 134 (see
The various embodiments of the invention increase efficiency of wind turbines during varied conditions of wind. The invention increases efficiency of wind turbines by forming depressions on rotor blades. Further, the invention provides formation of the depressions in real time. The real time formation of the depressions may increase or decrease the lift force and the drag force. Furthermore, the various embodiments of the invention reduce fatigue loads on wind turbines. The reduction in fatigue loads results in reduction in wear and tear of wind turbines. Also, embodiments of the invention reduce noise of rotor blades during rotation.
It is to be understood that not necessarily all such objects or advantages described above may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the systems and techniques described herein may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. For example, the invention may also be used for water turbines. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.
