Wind turbine rotor blade having a spoiler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9267491-B2
Application number	US-201313933549-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2013
Priority date	Jul 2, 2013
Publication date	Feb 23, 2016
Grant date	Feb 23, 2016

Abstract

A rotor blade for a wind turbine is disclosed. The rotor blade may generally include a shell having a pressure side and a suction side. The shell may define an outer surface along the pressure and suction sides over which an airflow travels. The rotor blade may also include a spoiler having a fixed end and a free end. The fixed end is connected to the outer surface so as to enable a hinge action, such as a living hinge. The free end includes a top flange and a bottom flange configured to engage opposite sides of the shell and is pivotal relative to the fixed end between a recessed position and an elevated position. The free end has a range of motion limited by contact of the top flange and the bottom flange with the shell. Further, the spoiler is configured to separate the airflow from the outer surface when the spoiler is in the elevated position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A rotor blade for a wind turbine, the rotor blade comprising:
a shell having a pressure side and a suction side, said shell defining an outer surface along said pressure and suction sides over which an airflow travels; and,
a spoiler comprising a fixed end and a free end, said fixed end connected to said outer surface so as to enable a hinge action, said free end comprising a top flange and a bottom flange configured to engage opposite sides of said shell,
wherein said free end is pivotal relative to said fixed end between a recessed position and an elevated position,
wherein said free end has a range of motion limited by contact of said top flange and said bottom flange with said shell, and
wherein said free end is configured to separate the airflow from said outer surface when in said elevated position.

2. The rotor blade as in claim 1 , wherein said hinge action comprises a living hinge.

3. The rotor blade as in claim 2 , wherein said living hinge comprises a laminate material.

4. The rotor blade as in claim 1 , wherein said spoiler further comprises a wedge portion, wherein said wedge portion tapers from a front face defined between said top flange and said bottom flange to said fixed end, said front face configured to separate the airflow from said outer surface when said spoiler is in said elevated position.

5. The rotor blade as in claim 1 , further comprising an actuator disposed within said shell, said actuator being configured to pivot said free end between said recessed position and said elevated position.

6. The rotor blade as in claim 1 , wherein a top side of said spoiler defines an aerodynamic surface generally corresponding to an aerodynamic profile of said outer surface, and wherein said outer surface comprises one or more recesses configured to position said spoiler such that said top side of said spoiler is generally aligned with said outer surface when said spoiler is in a recessed position.

7. The rotor blade as in claim 1 , wherein a height is defined between said top flange and said outer surface when said spoiler is in said elevated position, said height ranging from about 1% to about 4% of a chord defined at a span-wise location of said spoiler.

8. The rotor blade as in claim 1 , wherein said spoiler is disposed a chord-wise distance from a leading edge of said shell ranging from about 10% to about 50% of a chord defined at a span-wise location of said spoiler.

9. The rotor blade as in claim 1 , wherein said spoiler is disposed a span-wise distance from a blade root of said rotor blade from about 50% to about 90% of a span defined by said blade root and a blade tip.

10. The rotor blade as in claim 1 , wherein said fixed end is affixed to said outer surface by an adhesive.

11. The rotor blade as in claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of spoilers spaced apart along a span of said rotor blade.

12. A rotor blade for a wind turbine, the rotor blade comprising:
a shell having a pressure side and a suction side, said shell defining an outer surface along said pressure and suction sides over which an airflow travels; and,
a spoiler comprising a fixed end, a free end, and a wedge portion, said fixed end connected to said outer surface so as to enable a hinge action, said free end comprising a top flange and a bottom flange configured to engage opposite sides of said shell,
wherein said free end is pivotal relative to said fixed end between a recessed position and an elevated position,
wherein said wedge portion tapers from a front face defined between said top flange and said bottom flange to said fixed end, and
wherein said front face is configured to separate the airflow from said outer surface when said spoiler is in said elevated position.

13. A wind turbine comprising:
a tower;
a nacelle mounted atop said tower;
a hub coupled to said nacelle; and
a plurality of rotor blades extending outwardly from said hub, at least one of said plurality of rotor blades, each blade comprising:
a shell having a pressure side and a suction side, said shell defining an outer surface along said pressure and suction sides over which an airflow travels; and,
a spoiler comprising a fixed end and a free end, said fixed end connected to said outer surface so as to enable a hinge action, said free end comprising a top flange and a bottom flange configured to engage opposite sides of said shell, wherein said free end is pivotal relative to fixed end between a recessed position and an elevated position, and wherein said free end has a range of motion limited by contact of said top flange and said bottom flange with said shell, and wherein said free end is configured to separate the airflow from said outer surface when in said elevated position.

14. The wind turbine as in claim 13 , wherein said hinge action comprises a living hinge.

15. The wind turbine as in claim 13 , wherein said spoiler further comprises a wedge portion, wherein said wedge portion tapers from a front face defined between said top flange and said bottom flange to said fixed end, said front face configured to separate the airflow from said outer surface when said spoiler is in said elevated position.

16. The wind turbine as in claim 13 , further comprising an actuator disposed within said shell, said actuator being configured to pivot said free end between said recessed position and said elevated position.

17. The wind turbine as in claim 13 , wherein a top side of said spoiler defines an aerodynamic surface generally corresponding to an aerodynamic profile of said outer surface, and wherein said outer surface comprises one or more recesses configured to position said spoiler such that said top side of said spoiler is generally aligned with said outer surface when said spoiler is in a recessed position.

18. The wind turbine as in claim 17 , wherein a height is defined between said top flange and said outer surface when said spoiler is in said elevated position, said height ranging from about 1% to about 4% of a chord defined at a span-wise location of said spoiler.

19. The wind turbine as in claim 13 , wherein said spoiler is disposed a chord-wise distance from a leading edge of said shell ranging from about 10% to about 50% of a chord defined at a span-wise location of said spoiler, and wherein said spoiler is disposed a span-wise distance from a blade root of said rotor blade from about 50% to about 90% of a span defined by said blade root and a blade tip.

20. The wind turbine as in claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of spoilers spaced apart along a span of said rotor blade.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Vossler Alexander William
• Yarbrough Aaron A
• Caruso Christopher Daniel

Classifications

• F03D7/0252 Primary

  with aerodynamic drag devices on the blades · CPC title

• F03D1/0675

  of the blades · CPC title

• F05B2240/31

  of changeable form or shape · CPC title

• F03D7/022

  Adjusting aerodynamic properties of the blades · CPC title

• F05B2240/3052

  adjustable · CPC title