Guiding lightning to a lightning receptor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016138570-A1
Application number	US-201514806719-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 23, 2015
Priority date	Nov 13, 2014
Publication date	May 19, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method of guiding lightning to a lightning receptor of a rotor blade for a wind turbine, wherein the method includes the following steps: Generating a vortex of airflow by means of a vortex generator, the vortex generator being located at the surface of the rotor blade; attracting the lightning by the vortex; guiding the lightning to the lightning receptor is provided. Furthermore, the invention relates to a rotor blade for a wind turbine, wherein the rotor blade comprises a vortex generator for generating a vortex of airflow, the vortex generator being located at the surface of the rotor blade, and a lightning receptor for receiving an electrical current from the lightning. The vortex generator and the lightning receptor are arranged such with regard to each other that the lightning is guided to the lightning receptor by the vortex which is generated by the vortex generator.

First claim

1 . A method of guiding lightning to a lightning receptor of a rotor blade for a wind turbine, wherein the method comprises the following steps:
generating a vortex of airflow by means of a vortex generator, the vortex generator being located at the surface of the rotor blade, attracting the lightning by the vortex, and guiding the lightning to the lightning receptor.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein
the generated vortex is located at the tip section of the rotor blade, the vortex) which is generated by the vortex generator has a first rotational direction, a tip vortex which is generated by the shape of the tip section of the rotor blade has a second rotational direction, and
the first rotational direction and the second rotational direction are substantially equal.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the vortex generator is retrofitted to the rotor blade.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein
the lightning receptor is retrofitted to the rotor blade, the lightning receptor is arranged and prepared for receiving an electrical current from the lightning, and the lightning receptor is connected to a lightning conductor for transmitting the electrical current to the ground.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the vortex generator additionally increases the efficiency of the rotor blade, in particular by increasing the lift to drag ratio of the rotor blade.

6 . A rotor blade for a wind turbine, wherein the rotor blade comprises
a vortex generator for generating a vortex of airflow, the vortex generator being located at the surface of the rotor blade, and a lightning receptor for receiving an electrical current from the lightning, wherein the vortex generator and the lightning receptor are arranged such with regard to each other that the lightning is guided to the lightning receptor by the vortex which is generated by the vortex generator.

7 . The rotor blade according to claim 6 , wherein the lightning receptor is connected to a lightning conductor for transmitting the electrical current to the ground.

8 . The rotor blade according to claim 6 , wherein the lightning receptor is located downstream of the vortex generator.

9 . The rotor blade according to claim 6 , wherein the vortex generator is located at the suction side of the rotor blade.

10 . The rotor blade according to claim 6 , wherein the vortex generator and the lightning receptor are closely spaced to each other.

11 . The rotor blade according to claim 6 , wherein the distance between the vortex generator and the lightning receptor is smaller than fifty centimeters, in particular smaller than five centimeters.

12 . The rotor blade according to claim 6 , wherein the vortex generator comprises an electrically conducting material, in particular steel.

13 . The rotor blade according to claim 6 , wherein the vortex generator and the lightning receptor are connected by an electrically conducting material.

14 . The rotor blade according to claim 6 , wherein the vortex generator is arranged on top of the lightning receptor.

15 . Use of a vortex to attract lightning, wherein
the vortex is generated by a vortex generator, which is located at the surface of a rotor blade for a wind turbine, and the lightning is subsequently guided to a lightning receptor by the vortex.

Assignees

• Siemens Ag

Inventors

• Enevoldsen Peder Bay
• Olsen Kaj
• Schibsbye Karsten

Classifications

• 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

• F05B2240/122

  Vortex generators, turbulators, or the like, for mixing · CPC title

• F05B2260/96

  Preventing, counteracting or reducing vibration or noise · CPC title

• F05B2280/1071

  Steel alloys · CPC title

• F03D80/30 Primary

  Lightning protection · CPC title