Devices and methods for mitigating vibrations in wind turbine blades
AssigneeLm Wind Power A/S
InventorsAndreas Herrig, Satya Mohan Vamsi Andalam
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Abstract
The present disclosure relates to devices for wind turbine blades and methods for reducing vibrations in wind turbines. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to devices for mitigating vortex induced vibrations and stall induced vibrations, wind turbine blades comprising such devices, and methods for reducing wind turbine vibrations when the wind turbine is parked, especially during wind turbine installation and/or maintenance. A method for mitigating vibrations of a parked wind turbine comprises arranging a device in an inactive state with a wind turbine blade; and causing the device to transition to an active state in which the device grips the wind turbine blade more strongly than in the inactive state.
Claims14
A device (300) for mitigating vibrations of a parked wind turbine (10), comprising:
- one or more airflow modifying elements (310, 370, 430),
- wherein the device is configured to transition from an inactive state to an active state,
- wherein the device is configured to grip a wind turbine blade (22) more firmly in the active state than in the inactive state,
- wherein the device is configured such that the one or more airflow modifying elements (310, 370, 430) extend circumferentially around the wind turbine blade (22), and
- wherein the device is configured to grip the wind turbine blade (22) along a spanwise length of the device in the active state, wherein the device (300) comprises a shape memory material, and the device is configured to transition from the inactive state to the active state in response to activation of the shape memory material.
A method (500) for mitigating vibrations in a parked wind turbine (10), the method comprising:
- arranging (510), with a wind turbine blade (22), a device (300) in an inactive state, wherein the device (300) comprises one or more airflow modifying elements (310, 370, 430);
- and
- securing (520) the device (300) to the blade (22) by causing the device (300) to transition from the inactive state to an active state, wherein the device (300) grips the wind turbine blade (22) more firmly in the active state than in the inactive state,
- wherein the one or more airflow modifying elements (310, 370, 430) extend circumferentially around the wind turbine blade (22), and
- wherein the device (300) grips the wind turbine blade (22) along a spanwise length of the device (300) in the active state, wherein causing the device (300) to transition from the inactive state to the active state comprises stimulating a shape memory material of the device (300).
A device (300) for mitigating vibrations of a parked wind turbine (10), comprising:
- one or more airflow modifying elements (310, 370, 430),
- wherein the device is configured to transition from an inactive state to an active state,
- wherein the device is configured to grip a wind turbine blade (22) more firmly in the active state than in the inactive state,
- wherein the device (300) comprises a shape memory material, and
- wherein the device (300) is configured to transition from the inactive state to the active state in response to activation of the shape memory material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.