Advanced wind turbine with lift-destroying aileron for shutdown

Patent · Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996

OSTI ID:870472

Coleman, Clint ^[1]; Juengst, Theresa M ^[1]; Zuteck, Michael D ^[2]

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1. Warren, VT
2. Kemah, TX

An advanced aileron configuration for wind turbine rotors featuring an aileron with a bottom surface that slopes upwardly at an angle toward the nose region of the aileron. The aileron rotates about a center of rotation which is located within the envelope of the aileron, but does not protrude substantially into the air flowing past the aileron while the aileron is deflected to angles within a control range of angles. This allows for strong positive control of the rotation of the rotor. When the aileron is rotated to angles within a shutdown range of deflection angles, lift-destroying, turbulence-producing cross-flow of air through a flow gap, and turbulence created by the aileron, create sufficient drag to stop rotation of the rotor assembly. The profile of the aileron further allows the center of rotation to be located within the envelope of the aileron, at or near the centers of pressure and mass of the aileron. The location of the center of rotation optimizes aerodynamically and gyroscopically induced hinge moments and provides a fail safe configuration.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: ZA-2-11295-2
• Assignee: Northern Power Systems, Inc. (Moretown, VT)
• Patent Number(s): US 5527151
• Application Number: 08/206,082
• OSTI ID: 870472
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

advanced
wind
turbine
lift-destroying
aileron
shutdown
configuration
rotors
featuring
bottom
surface
slopes
upwardly
angle
nose
region
rotates
center
rotation
located
envelope
protrude
substantially
air
flowing
past
deflected
angles
control
range
allows
strong
positive
rotor
rotated
deflection
turbulence-producing
cross-flow
flow
gap
turbulence
created
create
sufficient
drag
stop
assembly
profile
near
centers
pressure
mass
location
optimizes
aerodynamically
gyroscopically
induced
hinge
moments
provides
fail
safe
air flowing
turbine rotor
wind turbine
rotor assembly
air flow
bottom surface
stop rotation
flowing past
positive control
rotors featuring
fail safe
create sufficient
turbine rotors
aileron configuration
advanced aileron
advanced wind
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