Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120027588 | ROOT FLAP FOR ROTOR BLADE IN WIND TURBINE - A rotor blade assembly and a method for reducing the separation region of a rotor blade for a wind turbine are disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having exterior surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending in a generally span-wise direction between a tip and a root. The rotor blade assembly further includes a flap extending in the generally span-wise direction from the root towards the tip. The flap includes an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface conformingly mounted to at least one of the pressure side, the suction side, or the trailing edge, the outer surface and at least one of the pressure side or the suction side defining a generally continuous aerodynamic surface. | 02-02-2012 |
20120134815 | BLADE EXTENSION FOR ROTOR BLADE IN WIND TURBINE - A blade extension for a rotor blade and a rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine are disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having exterior surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge each extending in a generally span-wise direction between a tip and a root. The rotor blade assembly further includes a blade extension including a first panel and an opposed second panel. Each of the first panel and the second panel includes an interior surface and an exterior surface each extending between a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of each of the first panel and the second panel is spaced apart from the rotor blade in a generally chord-wise direction in a standard operation position. | 05-31-2012 |
20120134836 | BLADE EXTENSION FOR ROTOR BLADE IN WIND TURBINE - A blade extension for a rotor blade and a rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine are disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having exterior surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge each extending in a generally span-wise direction between a tip and a root. At least one of the leading edge or the trailing edge has a modified aerodynamic contour. The rotor blade assembly further includes a blade extension including a first panel and an opposed second panel. Each of the first panel and the second panel includes an interior surface and an exterior surface each extending between a proximal end and a distal end. The distal end of each of the first panel and the second panel is spaced apart from the rotor blade in a generally chord-wise direction in a standard operation position. | 05-31-2012 |
20120141278 | ROTOR BLADE ASSEMBLY AND METHOD FOR MODIFYING LOAD CHARACTERISTIC OF ROTOR BLADE IN WIND TURBINE - A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine and a method for modifying a load characteristic of a rotor blade in a wind turbine are disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade further defines a span and a chord. The rotor blade includes a body defining at least a portion of the pressure side, the suction side, and the trailing edge, and a nose feature movable with respect to the body. The rotor blade assembly further includes a controller operable to move the nose feature. | 06-07-2012 |
20120141281 | WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE ASSEMBLY WITH ROOT CURTAIN - A wind turbine rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending in a generally span-wise direction between a tip and a root. An edge extension is attached along either or both of the leading edge or trailing edge in a generally span-wise direction from adjacent the root towards the blade tip, with the edge extension having a contoured outer surface that defines a generally continuous aerodynamic surface. The edge extension has a terminal end that is spaced from root. A curtain is attached to the edge extension and extends in a span-wise direction from the terminal end t to the root. The curtain is formed from a pliant, flexible material that accommodates connection of the root to a rotor hub, as well as pitch movement of the rotor blade relative to the hub. | 06-07-2012 |
20130209264 | WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE ASSEMBLY WITH ROOT EXTENSION PANEL AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLY - A wind turbine rotor blade assembly and associated method include a rotor blade having a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending in a generally span-wise direction between a tip and a root. An edge extension panel is attached along either of the leading edge or trailing edge (or along both edges) in a generally span-wise direction from adjacent the root towards the tip. The edge extension panels include a cured and hardened viscous material continuous core formed onto the leading or trailing edge with a contoured generally aerodynamic outer surface. | 08-15-2013 |
20140093380 | NOISE REDUCTION TAB AND METHOD FOR WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE - Rotor blade assemblies for wind turbines and methods for reducing rotor blade noise are disclosed. A rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having external surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade further defines a span and a chord. The rotor blade assembly further includes a tab. The tab includes an inner surface, an outer surface, a forward end and an aft end. The inner surface is mounted to one of the pressure side or the suction side. The outer surface has a cross-sectional profile configured to modify an operational value of the rotor blade at the trailing edge. The forward end is disposed within the chord. | 04-03-2014 |
20140271213 | AIRFOIL MODIFIERS FOR WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADES - In one aspect, a rotor blade for a wind turbine is disclosed. The rotor blade may include a body extending between a blade root and a blade tip. The body may define a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. In addition, the body may define a chord line extending between the leading and trailing edges. The rotor blade may also include an airfoil modifier coupled to at least one of the pressure side or the suction side of the body. The airfoil modifier may define an end surface disposed adjacent to the trailing edge. At least a portion of the end surface may extend at a non-perpendicular angle relative to the chord. | 09-18-2014 |
20140294595 | ROTOR BLADE ASSEMBLY FOR WIND TURBINE HAVING LOAD REDUCTION FEATURES - Rotor blade assemblies for wind turbines are provided. In one embodiment, a rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having exterior surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge each extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade further defines a span and a chord. A span-wise portion of the pressure side includes along a chord-wise cross-section a plurality of inflection points. The plurality of inflection points include a first inflection point and a second inflection point, the first and second inflections points positioned within approximately 50% of the chord from the leading edge. | 10-02-2014 |