Vortex generator for a rotor blade

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10087912-B2
Application number	US-201514610041-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 30, 2015
Priority date	Jan 30, 2015
Publication date	Oct 2, 2018
Grant date	Oct 2, 2018

Abstract

Universal vortex generators for wind turbine rotor blades and methods of manufacturing same are disclosed. The vortex generator includes a base portion configured for attachment to at least one of a suction side surface or a pressure side surface of the rotor blade and at least one airflow modifying element extending from the base portion. In addition, the airflow modifying element includes one or more discontinuities configured therein so as to increase flexibility of the vortex generator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rotor blade of a wind turbine, the rotor blade comprising:
a suction side surface and a pressure side surface; and
at least one vortex generator configured on at least one of said suction side or said pressure side surfaces, the at least one vortex generator comprising a base portion being generally parallel to at least one of said suction side or said pressure side surfaces and a rib extending substantially perpendicularly from the base portion and at least one of said suction side or said pressure side surfaces, the rib comprising a top surface and a bottom surface separated by a thickness,
wherein the bottom surface of the rib comprises one or more discontinuities formed in the rib so as to increase flexibility of the vortex generator, the one or more discontinuities extending partially through the thickness of the rib and terminating before the top surface.

2. The rotor blade of claim 1 , wherein the one or more discontinuities comprises an opening such that a gap is created between the rib and the rotor blade.

3. The rotor blade of claim 2 , further comprising an airflow limiting component configured to block at least a portion of the gap so as to limit air flow through the gap.

4. The rotor blade of claim 3 , wherein the airflow limiting component comprises at least one of adhesive, sealant, tape, foam, cork, one or more flaps, or a plurality of tines.

5. The rotor blade of claim 1 , wherein the at least one vortex generator further comprises a plurality of ribs.

6. The rotor blade of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of ribs are arranged in pairs, and wherein each pair of ribs are arranged at opposite angles with respect to each other.

7. The rotor blade of claim 5 , wherein each of the ribs comprises a substantially trapezoidal cross-sectional shape.

8. A method of manufacturing a vortex generator for a rotor blade of a wind turbine, the method comprising:
providing a mold of the vortex generator, the mold of the vortex generator having, at least, a base portion and a plurality of rib-shaped protrusions extending substantially perpendicularly therefrom, the base portion being generally parallel to at least one of a suction side surface or a pressure side surface when mounted to the rotor blade;
forming a sheet material to the mold so as to form the vortex generator, wherein the rib-shaped protrusions of the mold form a plurality of ribs in the vortex generator, each of the ribs comprising a top surface and a bottom surface separated by a thickness; and
forming a plurality of discontinuities into the bottom surface of at least one of the ribs and adjacent to the base portion so as to increase flexibility of the vortex generator, the one or more discontinuities extending partially through the thickness of the rib and terminating before the top surface of the rib.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein forming the plurality of discontinuities within at least one of the ribs further comprises at least one of: forming the plurality of discontinuities into the rib-shaped protrusions of the mold or machining the plurality of discontinuities into the ribs after forming the sheet material to the mold.

10. A vortex generator for a rotor blade of a wind turbine, the vortex generator comprising:
a base portion configured for attachment to at least one of a suction side surface or a pressure side surface of the rotor blade, the base portion being generally parallel to at least one of a suction side surface or a pressure side surface of the rotor blade when mounted thereto; and
a rib extending substantially perpendicularly from the base portion and at least one of said suction side or said pressure side surfaces when mounted to the rotor blade, the rib comprising a top surface and a bottom surface separated by a thickness,
wherein the bottom surface of the rib comprises one or more discontinuities so as to increase flexibility of the vortex generator, the one or more discontinuities adjacent to the base portion, the one or more discontinuities extending partially through the thickness of the rib and terminating before the top surface.

11. The vortex generator of claim 10 , wherein the one or more discontinuities comprises an opening in a lower portion of the rib such that a gap is created between the rib and the base portion.

12. The vortex generator of claim 11 , further comprising an airflow limiting component blocking at least a portion of the gap so as to limit air flow through the gap, wherein the airflow limiting component comprises at least one of adhesive, sealant, tape, foam, cork, one or more flaps, or a plurality of tines.

13. The vortex generator of claim 10 , wherein the one or more discontinuities comprises a plurality of apertures spaced apart along a lengthwise axis of the rib.

14. The vortex generator of claim 10 , further comprising a plurality of ribs.

15. The vortex generator of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of ribs are arranged in pairs, and wherein each pair of ribs are arranged at opposite angles with respect to each other.

16. The vortex generator of claim 10 , wherein the rib comprises a substantially trapezoidal shape.

17. The vortex generator of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of apertures extend through a width of the rib.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Tobin James Robert
• Herr Stefan
• Riddell Scott Gabell
• Booth Michael Christopher

Classifications

• F03D1/0675 Primary

  of the blades · CPC title

• F05B2240/311

  flexible or elastic · CPC title

• F05B2240/30

  Characteristics of rotor blades, i.e. of any element transforming dynamic fluid energy to or from rotational energy and being attached to a rotor · CPC title

• F03D1/0633

  of the blades · CPC title

• F03D13/10

  Assembly of wind motors; Arrangements for erecting wind motors · CPC title