WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE

Abstract

Provided is a wind turbine rotor blade with a rotor blade shell, which envelops an internal volume, and at least one vortex generator in the internal volume.

Claims

1. A wind turbine rotor blade, comprising: a rotor blade shell that envelops an internal volume, and a first vortex generator in the internal volume.

2. The wind turbine rotor blade according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of second vortex generators arranged on an interior surface of the rotor blade shell and in the internal volume.

3. The wind turbine rotor blade according to claim 2, comprising: at least one web in the internal volume and extending along a longitudinal direction of the rotor blade, a plurality of third vortex generators arranged on the at least one web.

4. The wind turbine rotor blade according to claim 1, comprising: first and second webs in the internal volume and extending along a longitudinal axis of the rotor blade, and a first air channel between a leading edge of the rotor blade and the first web, a second vortex generator in the first air channel.

5. The wind turbine rotor blade according to claim 4, comprising: a second air channel between a web and a rotor blade trialing edge, a third vortex generator arranged at least partially in the second air channel along the longitudinal direction of the rotor blade.

6. The wind turbine rotor blade according to claim 4, comprising: a third vortex generator in a third ventilation channel between the first and second webs.

7. The wind turbine rotor blade according to claim 1, further comprising a rotor blade heating system at a rotor blade root of the wind turbine rotor blade, wherein the rotor blade heating system is configured to generate heated air, and convey the heated air into the internal volume of the rotor blade.

8. The wind turbine rotor blade according to claim 1, further comprising a cross sectional constriction for narrowing a free cross section of the internal volume.

9. A wind turbine comprising: a tower, an aerodynamic rotor, and the wind turbine rotor blade according to claim 1 coupled to the aerodynamic rotor.

10. The wind turbine according to claim 9, further comprising: a rotor blade heating system configured to generate heated air and convey the heated air into the internal volume of the rotor blade.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] Advantages and exemplary embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing.

[0025] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a wind turbine according to the invention,

[0026] FIG. 2A show a schematic cross section and a schematic and 2B longitudinal section of a rotor blade according to prior art,

[0027] FIG. 3A shows a schematic cross section of a rotor blade according to an aspect of the invention, and

[0028] FIG. 3B shows a schematic longitudinal section of a rotor blade according to FIG. 3A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a wind turbine according to the invention. The wind turbine 100 has a tower 102 and a nacelle 104 on the tower 102. Provided on the nacelle 104 is an aerodynamic rotor 106 with three rotor blades 200 and a spinner 110. During operation of the wind turbine, the wind imparts a rotational motion to the aerodynamic rotor 106, which thus also turns a rotor or runner of a generator, which is directly or indirectly coupled with the aerodynamic rotor 106. The electric generator is arranged in the nacelle 104, and generates electric energy. The pitch angles of the rotor blades 200 can be changed by pitch motors on the rotor blade roots of the respective rotor blades 200.

[0030] A rotor blade heater 500 can be provided in the area of a rotor blade root for purposes of rotor blade deicing. As an alternative thereto, the rotor blade heater 500 can be provided in an area of a rotor hub or on a rotor blade connector. The rotor blade heater 500 generates hot air, and then conducts it into the interior of the rotor blade to deice the rotor blade or prevent icing.

[0031] FIG. 2A shows a cross section of a rotor blade, and FIG. 2B shows a longitudinal section of a rotor blade. The rotor blade 200 has two blade shells 210, 220 each having an interior side 211, 221, which envelop an internal volume 203. The rotor blade 200 further has a rotor blade leading edge 230 and a rotor blade trailing edge 240. Webs 231, 232 can be provided between the blade shells 210, 220, so that the internal volume 203 can be divided into various portions or channels 250, 260 and 270 (first channel 250 between the leading edge 230 and first web 231, second channel 260 between the trailing edge 240 and second web 232, and third channel 270 between the first and second webs 231, 232). For example, the web 231 can be longer than the web 232.

[0032] Deflecting arcs 600 can optionally be provided at the free end of the webs. According to an aspect of the present invention, vortex generators can be provided in or on the deflecting arc.

[0033] At least one vortex generator 400 can be provided inside of the rotor blade, i.e., on the interior side of the rotor blade shells and/or on the webs 231, 232. The vortex generator 400 can be placed in the entire internal volume of the rotor blade. For example, the vortex generators 400 can be placed in the first, second or third channel 250, 260, 270 on the interior sides 211, 221 of the rotor blade shells 210, 220 and/or on the webs 231, 232. Providing the vortex generators 400 makes it possible to positively influence the air flow inside of the rotor blade. In particular, turbulences can be generated. As a result, a heat transfer of heated air generated by the rotor blade heater 500 to the rotor blade shells can be improved.

[0034] Several vortex generators 400 can be provided along the length of the rotor blade 200.

[0035] FIGS. 3A and 3B show a corresponding cross section of a rotor blade as well as a longitudinal section of the rotor blade according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. While the channels 250, 260 and 270 with the vortex generators 400 are shown unchanged in the rotor blade according to FIG. 2A and 2B, at least portions of the channels according to FIGS. 3A and 3B are provided with cross sectional constrictions 310 in the first channel 250, with second cross sectional constrictions 320 in the second channel 260 and/or optionally with third cross sectional constrictions 330 in the third channel 270. In addition to the vortex generators 400, cross sectional constrictions 300 can thus be provided.

[0036] FIG. 3B shows the distribution of the cross sectional constrictions 310, 320, 330 along a longitudinal axis of the rotor blade.

[0037] Both the cross sections of the cross sectional constrictions and their distribution along the longitudinal axis of the rotor blade can differ from the cross sections and longitudinal distributions shown on FIGS. 3A and 3B.

[0038] The cross sectional constrictions result in a higher flow rate of the air flowing through the rotor blade heater 500 into the interior (into the channels 250, 260, 270) of the rotor blade.

[0039] The cross sectional constrictions in combination with the vortex generators can help improve the rotor blade heater.

REFERENCE LIST

[0040] 100 Wind turbine

[0041] 102 Tower

[0042] 104 Nacelle

[0043] 106 Rotor

[0044] 110 Spinner

[0045] 200 Rotor blades

[0046] 203 Internal volume

[0047] 210 Blade shells

[0048] 211 Blade shell interior side

[0049] 220 Blade shells

[0050] 221 Blade shell interior side

[0051] 230 Rotor blade leading edge

[0052] 231 Webs

[0053] 232 Webs

[0054] 240 Rotor blade trailing edge

[0055] 250 Channels

[0056] 260 Channels

[0057] 270 Channels

[0058] 300 Cross sectional constriction

[0059] 310 Cross sectional constrictions

[0060] 320 Cross sectional constrictions

[0061] 330 Cross sectional constrictions

[0062] 400 Vortex-generator

[0063] 500 Rotor blade heater

[0064] The various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of the above-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the claims are not limited by the disclosure.