Wind Turbine Blades with a Deeply Curved Front Surface

This patent describes a wind turbine blade designed with a deeply curved, concave front surface and a high camber ratio to potentially capture more wind energy.

What it covers

This patent details a wind turbine blade with a specific aerodynamic shape. The blade's front surface, which faces the wind (the "windward direction"), is designed to be "substantially concave in shape" (Claim 1). This means it curves inwards, like the inside of a spoon. Additionally, the blade's "camber ratio," a measure of its overall curvature, must be "greater than or equal to approximately 4%" (Claim 1), and can be as high as 50% (Claim 3). For example, a blade could have this concave front surface combined with a convex (outwardly curved) rear surface (Claim 2), creating a highly asymmetric profile (Claim 5) to optimize how the blade interacts with and captures energy from the wind.

What it doesn't cover

• —Does not cover wind turbine blades where the front surface facing the wind is not substantially concave.
• —Does not cover blades with a camber ratio less than 4%.
• —Does not cover blades whose primary design features are symmetrical airfoils.
• —Does not cover blades where the concavity of the front surface does not extend above the chord line within the specified range (Claim 27).

The clever bit

The novelty lies in combining a high camber ratio with a substantially concave front surface on a wind turbine blade. Unlike many traditional airfoils that might have a convex upper surface for lift, this design proposes a 'scoop' or 'cup' shape on the windward side to interact with the wind in a distinct way.

Why it matters

Wind energy is a crucial and expanding field in renewable power generation. Improving the efficiency of wind turbine blades, even by small amounts, can significantly increase the amount of electricity generated from the same wind resources. This patent focuses on a specific aerodynamic design choice that could contribute to more efficient energy capture, making wind power more competitive and sustainable.

Real-world examples

• 1.Large-scale utility wind turbines
• 2.Offshore wind farm turbines
• 3.Residential wind turbines
• 4.Experimental blade designs for improved efficiency