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US 8,011,886 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for increasing lift on wind turbine blade
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsBalaji Subramanian, Kevin Richard Kirtley, Kevin James Standish
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lift device for a wind turbine blade. The lift device includes a first sidewall and an opposing second sidewall. The lift device is configured to be coupled to the wind turbine blade along a leading edge of the wind turbine blade, and to generate lift when airflow is directed across a surface of the lift device.
Claims16
A lift device for a wind turbine blade, said lift device comprising:
- a first airfoil comprising a first sidewall and an opposing second sidewall, said lift device configured to be coupled to the wind turbine blade along a leading edge of the wind turbine blade, and to generate lift when airflow is directed across at least one of said first sidewall and said second sidewall, wherein an axial profile of said lift device substantially conforms to an axial profile of a corresponding portion of the wind turbine blade;
- a second airfoil positioned proximate said first airfoil, said second airfoil having an axial length that is less than an axial length of said first airfoil;
- and,
- at least one coupling member for coupling said second airfoil to the wind turbine blade, said at least one coupling member comprising a curved sidewall configured to replenish a boundary layer of air proximate the wind turbine blade when a flow of air is directed across said curved sidewall and the wind turbine blade.
1 more element
A wind turbine blade, comprising:
- a first sidewall and an opposing second sidewall, said wind turbine blade defining a leading edge and an opposing trailing edge;
- a lift device configured to generate lift when airflow is directed across a surface of said lift device, wherein an axial profile of said lift device substantially conforms to an axial profile of a corresponding portion of said wind turbine blade, said lift device comprising a first airfoil and a second airfoil positioned proximate said first airfoil, said second airfoil having an axial length less than an axial length of said first airfoil;
- a coupling mechanism coupling said first airfoil to said wind turbine blade along said leading edge;
- and,
- at least one coupling member coupling said second airfoil to said wind turbine blade, said at least one coupling member comprising a curved sidewall configured to replenish a boundary layer of air proximate said wind turbine blade when a flow of air is directed across said curved sidewall and said wind turbine blade.
2 more elements
A method for assembling a wind turbine, said method comprising:
- coupling at least one wind turbine blade to the wind turbine, the wind turbine blade including a first sidewall and an opposing second sidewall, the wind turbine blade defining a leading edge and an opposing trailing edge;
- and,
- coupling a lift device to the wind turbine blade along the leading edge, the lift device configured to generate lift when airflow is directed across a surface of the lift device, wherein an axial profile of the lift device substantially conforms to an axial profile of a corresponding portion of the wind turbine blade, and wherein the lift device includes a first airfoil and a second airfoil positioned proximate the first airfoil, the second airfoil having an axial length less than an axial length of the first airfoil, wherein the second airfoil is coupled to the wind turbine blade with at least one coupling member having a curved sidewall such that a boundary layer of air proximate the wind turbine blade is replenished when a flow of air is directed across the curved sidewall and the wind turbine blade.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.