Title:
A WIND TURBINE BLADE DE-ICING SYSTEM BASED ON SHELL DISTORTION
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2011/161442
Kind Code:
A3
Abstract:
The invention relates to a wind turbine blade de-icing system in which one or more actuators are used to apply a force to the blade interior to flex the blade surface into a curvature that can no longer support ice. While ice adheres quite easily to blade surfaces, it is brittle in comparison to the materials from which blades are typically made, and can be made to shear off from the blade surface if the surface flexes or distorts sufficiently. As blade surfaces are designed to flex a great deal before damage to the blade occurs, the ice can typically be dislodged without undue stress to the blade. Actuation can be achieved through a pressure source, or by mechanical actuators. Webs can be provided in the blade interior to increase the curvature of the surface as it flexes, and to divide the blade into regions that can then be independently controlled according to the propensity of ice to build up in those regions. Hinge lines in the blade surface or an ice-phobic surface can be used to increase the efficacy of the system.
Inventors:
HANCOCK MARK (GB)
HIBBARD PAUL (SG)
HIBBARD PAUL (SG)
Application Number:
PCT/GB2011/051153
Publication Date:
July 26, 2012
Filing Date:
June 21, 2011
Export Citation:
Assignee:
VESTAS WIND SYS AS (DK)
HANCOCK MARK (GB)
HIBBARD PAUL (SG)
HANCOCK MARK (GB)
HIBBARD PAUL (SG)
International Classes:
F03D11/00
Domestic Patent References:
| WO2000034651A1 | 2000-06-15 |
Foreign References:
| DE29822003U1 | 1999-04-01 | |||
| US6247669B1 | 2001-06-19 | |||
| EP0595244A1 | 1994-05-04 | |||
| EP0590553A1 | 1994-04-06 | |||
| US5314145A | 1994-05-24 | |||
| EP0235542A2 | 1987-09-09 | |||
| US5427332A | 1995-06-27 |
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