Patent · US Active

Customizing a wind turbine for site-specific conditions

US9422915B2 · kind B2 · utility

6Cited by
6References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 8, 2014
Grant dateAug 23, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 2, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10T29/49776
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

After establishing a design environmental condition (26, S1) for a wind turbine blade, and engineering a coefficient of lift and a corresponding optimum blade tip speed ratio (TSR 21) that maximizes annual energy production of the wind turbine when operating under the design environmental condition, determining a site-specific condition (28, S2, S3) that changes a wind loading condition on the blade compared to the design environmental condition, and providing an add-on device (49, 50, 60) for the blade that maximizes annual energy production of the wind turbine under the site-specific condition by changing the coefficient of lift and optimum TSR of the blade. Site specific conditions may include reduced RPM (28) for noise curtailment and/or specific mean wind speeds (S2, S3). The add-on device may include a flap (49, 60) and/or vortex generators (50).

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.