Flexible flap arrangement for a wind turbine rotor blade
View Patent ↗A flap arrangement for a wind turbine rotor blade, which includes a leading edge, a trailing edge and a chord line between the leading edge and the trailing edge, is described. The flap arrangement includes a support portion and a flap portion which is passively moveable with respect to an angle between a surface normal of a surface of the flap portion and the chord line. The support portion and the flap portion are positioned relatively to each other such that the support portion provides a limit to the movement of the flap portion. Also described are a wind turbine rotor blade including the flap arrangement and a method of enhancing the aerodynamic performance of a blade.
1. A flap arrangement for a wind turbine rotor blade, comprising a leading edge, a trailing edge and a chord line between the leading edge and the trailing edge, the flap arrangement comprising:
a support portion adapted to prolong a suction side of the wind turbine rotor blade; and
a flap portion adapted to prolong a pressure side of the wind turbine rotor blade and passively moveable with respect to an angle between a surface normal of a surface of the flap portion and the chord line,
wherein the support portion and the flap portion are positioned relative to each other such that the support portion provides a limit to the movement of the flap portion.
2. The flap arrangement as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the support portion comprises a pressure side surface and a suction side surface, and the suction side surface of the support portion prolongs the suction side of the wind turbine rotor blade, and wherein the flap portion comprises a suction side surface and a pressure side surface, and the pressure side surface of the flap portion prolongs the pressure side of the wind turbine rotor blade.
3. The flap arrangement as claimed in claim 2 ,
wherein the suction side surface of the flap portion and the pressure side surface of the support portion faces towards each other.
4. The flap arrangement as claimed in claim 1 ,
the support portion and/or the flap portion is connectable to a wind turbine rotor blade at the trailing edge of the blade or at a portion of the blade close to the trailing edge, and/or at a position between the tip of the blade and one half of the span length of the blade measured from the tip.
5. The flap arrangement as claimed in claim 1 ,
the flap portion comprises a flexible or hinged flap connection for connecting the flap portion to a wind turbine rotor blade.
6. The flap arrangement as claimed in claim 1 ,
wherein the flap portion comprises a flexible sheet.
7. The flap arrangement as claimed in claim 1 ,
the flap portion and/or the support portion comprises a serrated trailing edge.
8. The flap arrangement as claimed in claim 1 ,
the flap portion and the support portion are made as one piece or several pieces.
9. The flap arrangement as claimed in any claim 1 ,
the support portion comprises a vortex generator.
10. The flap arrangement as claimed in claim 1
the support portion has a bend shape.
11. A wind turbine rotor blade comprising a flap arrangement as claimed in claim 1 .
12. The wind turbine rotor blade as claimed in claim 11
wherein the support portion comprises a vortex generator.
13. The wind turbine rotor blade as claimed in claim 11 ,
a plurality of flap arrangements are mounted next to one another along the trailing edge of the blade.
14. The wind turbine rotor blade as claimed in claim 11 ,
support portion is an integral part of the blade.
15. A wind turbine comprising a wind turbine rotor blade as claimed in claim 11 .
16. A method for enhancing the aerodynamic performance of a wind turbine rotor blade comprising a trailing edge, comprising:
connecting a flap arrangement as claimed in claim 1 along the trailing edge of the blade.
17. A flap arrangement for a wind turbine rotor blade, comprising a leading edge, a trailing edge and a chord line between the leading edge and the trailing edge, the flap arrangement comprising:
a support portion adapted to prolong a suction side of the blade; and
a flap portion adapted to prolong a pressures side of the blade and passively moveable with respect to the support portion and with respect to an angle between a surface normal of a surface of the flap portion and the chord line,
wherein the support portion and the flap portion are positioned relative to each other such that the support portion provides a limit to the movement of the flap portion, and wherein in a first state the flap portion is in contact with the support portion and in a second state a gap occurs between the flap portion.
18. The flap arrangement as claimed in claim 17 ,
wherein the support portion comprises a pressure side surface and a suction side surface, and the suction side surface of the support portion prolongs the suction side of the wind turbine rotor blade, and wherein the flap portion comprises a suction side surface and a pressure side surface, and the pressure side surface of the flap portion prolongs a pressure side of a wind turbine rotor blade.
19. The flap arrangement as claimed in claim 18 ,
wherein the gap in the second state occurs between the pressure side surface of the support portion and the suction side surface of the flap portion.
20. A wind turbine rotor blade comprising a flap arrangement as claimed in claim 19 .