Serrated Noise Reducer for a Wind Turbine Rotor Blade

• US 20190316565A1
• Filed: 04/13/2018
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Wang, Guannan, Petitjean, Benoit Philippe Armand, Drobietz, Roger
• Granted Patent: US 10,767,623 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/0633 of the blades
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 1/0675 of the blades
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/30 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 Class Codes: F05B 2240/3042 Serrated trailing edge
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/3062 Vortex generators
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2250/11 triangular
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/96 Preventing, counteracting or reducing vibration or noise
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/962 by means creating "anti-noise"
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine. 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 blade tip and a blade root. The rotor blade assembly also includes at least one noise reducer secured at the trailing edge. The noise reducer(s) includes at least one serration having a base portion and at least one side edge feature extending from the base portion. Further, the base portion extends along a first plane. The side edge feature(s) extends out of the first plane so as to reduce vortices generated by the serration(s).

Claims

1. A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine, the rotor blade assembly comprising:

a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a blade tip and a blade root; and

,

at least one noise reducer secured at the trailing edge, the noise reducer comprising at least one serration, the at least one serration comprising a base portion and at least one side edge feature extending from the base portion, the base portion extending along a first plane, the side edge feature extending out of the first plane so as to reduce vortices generated by the serration.

2. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least serration further comprises opposing side edge features on opposing sides of the base portion.

3. The rotor blade assembly of claim 2, wherein the opposing side edge features are integral with the base portion.

4. The rotor blade assembly of claim 2, wherein the opposing side edge features are separately coupled to the base portion.

5. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one side edge feature extends toward at least one of the suction side or the pressure side of the rotor blade.

6. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the base portion of the at least one serration comprises a triangular cross-section.

7. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one side edge feature extends at an angle out of the first plane of the base portion equal to or less than about 90 degrees.

8. The rotor blade assembly of claim 7, wherein the at least one side edge feature extends generally perpendicular out of the first plane of the base portion.

9. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one side edge feature is curved.

10. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one side edge feature is tapered.

11. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one side edge feature comprises a generally arcuate cross-section.

12. A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine, the rotor blade assembly comprising:

a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a blade tip and a blade root; and

,

at least one noise reducer secured at the trailing edge, the noise reducer comprising at least one serration comprising opposing side edges, the at least one serration comprising a radius of curvature defined between the opposing side edges, the radius of curvature configured to reduce vortices generated by the side edges of the serration.

13. The rotor blade assembly of claim 12, wherein the noise reducer further comprises a base plate secured at the trailing edge, the at least one serration extending from the base plate.

14. The rotor blade assembly of claim 13, wherein the at least one serration is integral with the base plate.

15. The rotor blade assembly of claim 13, wherein the at least one serration is coupled to the base plate.

16. The rotor blade assembly of claim 12, wherein the radius of curvature faces at least one of the suction side or the pressure side of the rotor blade.

17. The rotor blade assembly of claim 12, wherein the at least one serration comprises a generally triangular cross-section.

18. A noise reducer for a rotor blade of a wind turbine, the noise reducer comprising:

at least one serration comprising;

a base portion configured for securement to a trailing edge of the rotor blade, the base portion extending along a first plane; and

,

at least one side edge feature extending from the base portion, the side edge feature extending out of the first plane so as to reduce vortices generated by the serration.

19. The noise reducer of claim 18, wherein the at least one serration further comprises opposing side edge features on opposing sides of the base portion.

20. The noise reducer of claim 18, wherein the at least one side edge feature extends toward at least one of a suction side or a pressure side of the rotor blade.