Vortex generator tape for a wind turbine blade and method of manufacture and attachment thereof
AssigneeLm Wind Power A/S
InventorJordy Hertel Nilsson Van Kalken
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vortex generator tape for installation on an outer surface of a wind turbine blade, the vortex generator comprising an elongate base part comprising an inner side configured for being adhered to the outer surface of the wind turbine blade, and an outer side arranged opposite to the inner side; and a plurality of protrusions each for generating vortices during the operation of the wind turbine blade, wherein each protrusion protrudes from the outer side of the base part and is spaced apart from every other protrusion along the base part; wherein the plurality of protrusions is formed integrally with the base part.
Claims17
A vortex generator tape for installation on an outer surface of a wind turbine blade, the vortex generator tape comprising:
- an elongated base part comprising an inner side configured for being adhered to the outer surface of the wind turbine blade, and an outer side arranged opposite to the inner side;
- and
- a plurality of protrusions for generating vortices during operation of the wind turbine blade, wherein each protrusion protrudes from the outer side of the elongated base part, wherein each of the protrusions has a first face and a second face, the first face being rectangular and extending from the outer side of the elongated base part, the second face facing away from the base part and at least partially sloping from the first face to the outer side of the elongated base part,
- wherein the plurality of protrusions is formed integrally with the elongated base part,
- wherein the vortex generator tape comprises a supply state and an uncoiled state, the elongated base part being flexible such that the elongated base part is coiled up in a roll in the supply state, and such that the elongated base part is uncoiled and flat in the uncoiled state,
- wherein the vortex generator tape is configured for being installed on the outer surface of the wind turbine blade in the uncoiled state,
- wherein the first face extends perpendicularly from the outer side of the elongated base part,
- wherein each of the protrusions has a third face and a fourth face, the third and fourth faces opposing each other and extending from the outer side of the elongated base part to the second face, and
- wherein the second face is convexly curved or concavely curved.
A method for manufacturing a vortex generator tape for a tip of a wind turbine blade, comprising the steps of:
- providing an elongated base part comprising an inner side and an outer side opposite the inner side;
- integrally forming a plurality of protrusions on the elongated base part so that each of the protrusions protrudes from the outer side of the elongated base part, wherein each of the protrusions has a first face and a second face, the first face being rectangular and extending from the outer side of the elongated base part, the second face facing away from the base part and at least partially sloping from the first face to the outer side of the elongated base part, and
- applying an adhesive layer to the inner side of the elongated base part to form the vortex generator tape,
- wherein the vortex generator tape comprises a supply state and an uncoiled state, the elongated base part being flexible such that the elongated base part is coiled up in a roll in the supply state, and such that the base part is uncoiled and flat in the uncoiled state,
- wherein the vortex generator tape is configured for being installed on the wind turbine blade in the uncoiled state,
- wherein the first face extends perpendicularly from the outer side of the elongated base part,
- wherein each of the protrusions has a third face and a fourth face, the third and fourth faces opposing each other and extending from the outer side of the elongated base part to the second face, and
- wherein the second face is convexly curved or concavely curved.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.