Retrofit winglets for wind turbines

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Authors
Miller, L. Scott
Matheswaran, Vijay
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Issue Date
2022-01-04
Type
Patent
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Citation
Miller, L. Scott; Matheswaran, Vijay, inventors. Wichita State University (Wichita, KS), assignee. Retrofit winglets for wind turbines. United States patent U.S. 11,215,161. 2022, January 04.
Abstract

A winglet is provided for retrofitting to a wind turbine. Aerodynamic and centrifugal forces for winglets having a range of configurations including winglet height, taper ratio, twist, and cant angle are modeled, wherein the winglet height, taper ratio, twist, and cant angle are used to define a grid in a Vector Lattice. An increase in a coefficient of power C.sub.p of each winglet design when applied to a predetermined main blade of the wind turbine can be determined. A winglet configuration can then be selected wherein the coefficient of power C.sub.p of the main blade and winglet is at least 2% greater than the coefficient of power C.sub.p of the main blade alone, and wherein a ratio of normal aerodynamic force generated by the winglet to centrifugal force generated by the winglet during rotation at a nominal rated speed is in a range between 0.75 and 2.

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Description
WSU inventors: L. Scott Miller, Vijay Matheswaran, Dept. of Aerospace Engineering, College of Engineering
Application No. 16/186,876 filed November 12, 2018. Patent No: U.S. 11,215,161 granted January 4, 2022
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United States Patent and Trademark Office
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