Abstract:
A blade member includes a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a blade body extending therebetween. The blade member also includes a dovetail, a transition region, and a transition relief. The dovetail includes a dovetail chord line extending between an axially forward face of the dovetail and an axially aft face of the dovetail. The dovetail chord line has a dovetail chord length. The transition region is formed between the blade body and the dovetail. The blade body and the transition region form a blade body transition chord line at the interface of the blade body and the transition region which has a blade body transition chord length. The transition relief includes a geometric relief in at least one of a forward and an aft end of the transition region and the dovetail. The dovetail chord length is less than the blade body transition chord length.
Abstract:
A deployable aerodynamic component configured to be mounted to a wind turbine. The wind turbine includes at least one rotor blade. The deployable aerodynamic component configured to be positioned in front of an inner portion of the at least one rotor blade, and is structurally configured to cover a substantial portion of the inner portion of the at least one rotor blade in a wind direction during deployment of the deployable aerodynamic component and to allow the passage therethrough of an incoming wind when non-deployed. Further described is a wind turbine including the above-described deployable aerodynamic component and method for aerodynamic performance enhancement of an existing wind turbine, wherein the method includes mounting the above-described deployable aerodynamic component to a wind turbine.
Abstract:
An apparatus and system for a propeller assembly are provided. In one aspect, marine propeller assembly includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced blades that each include a dovetail having a radially inner surface. The marine propeller assembly also includes a hub including a plurality of circumferentially-spaced dovetail receiving portions configured to receive a corresponding dovetail of the plurality of blades. At least one gap is formed between the radially inner surface and at least a portion of the dovetail receiving portion.
Abstract:
A composite article including composite component mounted on a spar including a shank extending heightwise from below component base up into composite component. Tab at an upper end of shank substantially or fully embedded in the composite component and at least one ply surface pattern of the composite component contacting and generally conforming to at least one spar surface pattern on the tab.Spar surface pattern may include spaced apart spar surface protrusions with spar surface spaces therebetween and spar surface protrusions extending outwardly from spar and disposed between tows in ply surface pattern. Tows may be layed up in spar surface spaces. Spar surface pattern may include continuous or segmented spaced spar surface protrusions and spar surface spaces therebetween with tows in ply surface pattern disposed in spar surface spaces. The composite article may be a composite blade or vane including a composite airfoil.
Abstract:
An aerodynamic dome structure that is placed in front of a wind turbine hub includes a plurality of arcuate panels. The arcuate panels are interconnected to form a dome-shaped structure. A plurality of arcuate radial spar supports may be employed to support the arcuate panels.
Abstract:
An aerodynamic dome component that is placed in front of a wind turbine hub includes an outer ring, a central axle disposed relative to the outer ring, a plurality of radially extending tensioning members and a skin-like covering. The plurality of radially extending tensioning members are coupled to the outer ring at a first end and to the central axle at a second end. The outer ring, the plurality of radially extending tensioning members and the central axle together form an underlying dome support structure. The skin-like covering is configured to envelop at least a portion of the underlying dome support structure to form at least a portion of the aerodynamic dome component and define a front dome portion. The skin-like covering enveloping at least a portion of the underlying dome support structure may further define a rear dome portion, wherein the rear dome portion is configured downwind from the front dome portion.
Abstract:
A propeller assembly includes a central hub including a first forward-facing end, a second aft-facing end, a hub body extending therebetween, and a plurality of channels spaced circumferentially around the central hub. The propeller assembly further includes blade wedges configured to be inserted into and to retain blades within the channels of the central hub. Each blade includes a blade dovetail including a dovetail face configured to engage a respective channel sidewall and/or a respective wedge sidewall. The dovetail face includes a bearing portion that engages the respective channel sidewall and/or the respective wedge sidewall and a clearance portion that is spaced from the respective channel sidewall and/or the respective wedge sidewall by a clearance gap during a first loading of the propeller assembly and that engages the respective channel sidewall or wedge sidewall during a second loading, the second loading greater than the first loading.
Abstract:
A deployable aerodynamic component configured to be mounted to a wind turbine. The wind turbine includes at least one rotor blade. The deployable aerodynamic component configured to be positioned in front of an inner portion of the at least one rotor blade, and is structurally configured to cover a substantial portion of the inner portion of the at least one rotor blade in a wind direction during deployment of the deployable aerodynamic component and to allow the passage therethrough of an incoming wind when non-deployed. Further described is a wind turbine including the above-described deployable aerodynamic component and method for aerodynamic performance enhancement of an existing wind turbine, wherein the method includes mounting the above-described deployable aerodynamic component to a wind turbine.
Abstract:
A composite article including composite component extending heightwise from a component base to a component tip and lengthwise between spaced apart component first and second edges. Component plies having widthwise spaced apart ply first and second sides and ply edges therebetween. Component mounted on a spar which includes a shank extending heightwise into the composite component, tab at upper end of shank and substantially or fully embedded in the composite component, and tab tip. Ply edges of at least a first portion of the plies directly or indirectly contacting or pressing against the tab. Ply edges of at least a second portion of the plies may directly or indirectly contact or press against the tab tip. Ply edges of first portion may press against one or more indented or recessed surfaces in the tab. The composite article may be a composite blade or vane including a composite airfoil.
Abstract:
An apparatus and system for a marine propeller assembly are provided. In one aspect, the marine propeller assembly includes a plurality of circumferentially-spaced blades that each include a dovetail having a radial inner surface. The marine propeller assembly also includes a hub including a plurality of circumferentially-spaced dovetail receiving portions configured to receive a corresponding dovetail of the plurality of blades. At least one gap is formed between the radial inner surface and at least a portion of the dovetail receiving portion.