Patent ID: 8240993
Filing Date: 2012-08-14
Classification: F03D,F05B,F15D,Y02E

Abstract:
1. An air distribution system for manipulating a boundary layer of air across a wind turbine rotor blade, the wind turbine rotor blade having at least one sidewall defining a cavity therein, the sidewall extending between a leading edge and an axially spaced trailing edge and defining a chordwise axis between the leading edge and the trailing edge, said air distribution system comprising: at least one bleed flow assembly positioned within the cavity and configured to discharge air into the boundary layer to reduce a separation of the boundary layer from the rotor blade, each bleed flow assembly comprising: a bleed flow conduit coupled to an inner surface of the sidewall and oriented with respect to the chordwise axis between the leading edge and the trailing edge, said bleed flow conduit configured to channel air through the rotor blade; an inlet aperture extending through the sidewall proximate the leading edge to channel air into said bleed flow conduit; and an outlet aperture extending through the sidewall proximate the trailing edge to discharge air from said bleed flow conduit and into the boundary layer, and at least one bypass flow assembly positioned within the cavity, each bypass flow assemble comprising: a bypass inlet opening extending through the sidewall to channel ambient air into the rotor blade cavity; a bypass outlet opening extending through the blade sidewall to discharge air from the rotor blade cavity into the boundary layer; an inlet hatch coupled to the sidewall and positioned with respect to the bypass inlet opening, the inlet hatch movable to cover said bypass inlet opening in a first position and to allow air to be channeled into the rotor blade cavity in a second position; and an outlet hatch coupled to the blade sidewall and positioned with respect to the bypass outlet opening, the outlet hatch movable to cover the bypass outlet opening in a first position and to allow air to be discharged from the rotor blade cavity in a second position.