Wind turbine blades with controllable aerodynamic vortex elements
First Claim
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1. A wind turbine blade, said blade comprising:
- a suction side surface and a pressure side surface;
a plurality of dynamic vortex elements formed on at least one of said suction side or said pressure side surfaces between leading and trailing edges of said blade;
said vortex elements activatable to either of a first retracted position that is inwardly recessed relative to a neutral plane of said surface or a second extended position that is outwardly protruding relative to said neutral plane of said surface;
a depression in said surface at the location of each of said vortex elements, said vortex elements comprising a flexible material sheet disposed completely over said depression, wherein said material sheet conforms into said depression in said first retracted position and expands outwardly over said depression in said second extended position; and
an activating mechanism configured with said material sheet to move said material sheet between said first retracted position and said second extended position.
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Abstract
A wind turbine blade has a suction side surface and a pressure side surface. A plurality of dynamic vortex elements are formed on at least one of the suction side or the pressure side surfaces. The vortex elements are activatable between a first retracted position that is inwardly recessed relative to a neutral plane of the surface on which they are formed and a second extended position that is outwardly protruding relative to the neutral plane of the surface.
39 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A wind turbine blade, said blade comprising:
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a suction side surface and a pressure side surface; a plurality of dynamic vortex elements formed on at least one of said suction side or said pressure side surfaces between leading and trailing edges of said blade; said vortex elements activatable to either of a first retracted position that is inwardly recessed relative to a neutral plane of said surface or a second extended position that is outwardly protruding relative to said neutral plane of said surface; a depression in said surface at the location of each of said vortex elements, said vortex elements comprising a flexible material sheet disposed completely over said depression, wherein said material sheet conforms into said depression in said first retracted position and expands outwardly over said depression in said second extended position; and an activating mechanism configured with said material sheet to move said material sheet between said first retracted position and said second extended position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A wind turbine, said wind turbine comprising a plurality of turbine blades, at least one of said turbine blades comprising:
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a suction side surface and a pressure side surface; a plurality of dynamic vortex elements formed on at least one of said suction side or pressure side surfaces; said vortex elements activatable to a first retracted position that is inwardly recessed relative to a neutral plane of said surface and a second extended position that is outwardly protruding relative to said neutral plane of said surface; a depression in said surface at the location of each of said vortex elements, said vortex elements comprising a flexible material sheet disposed completely over said depression, wherein said material sheet conforms into said depression in said first retracted position and expands outwardly over said depression in said second extended position; and an activating mechanism configured with said material sheet to move said material sheet between said first retracted position and said second extended position. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification