Kristian Robert Dixon

Title: Innovations by Kristian Robert Dixon

Introduction

Kristian Robert Dixon is an accomplished inventor based in Boulder, Colorado. He has made significant contributions to the field of wind energy through his innovative patents. With a total of two patents to his name, Dixon's work focuses on enhancing the efficiency and durability of wind turbine blades.

Latest Patents

Dixon's latest patents include a method and apparatus for the reduction of fatigue and gust loads on wind turbine blades. This invention features an adjustable lift regulating device located on the inboard portion of a wind turbine blade. The device is designed to reduce lift on the inboard section by causing flow separation on the suction side of the blade. To compensate for the lost lift, the blade pitch is increased to a running pitch that facilitates stalling on the outer portion of the blade during gusts. This innovative approach allows for passive reduction of fatigue and extreme loads from gusts while maintaining full power production under non-gust conditions.

Another notable patent is related to the control of a wind turbine rotor blade. This invention involves equipping the rotor blade with an air chamber that routes a modulation beam out of the blade, altering the air current along its surface. The design aims to change laminar flow into turbulent flow, achieving both detachment and recreation of the laminar current. Control can be executed via electrostatic actuators using a learnable control strategy based on neural forecasts. This method takes into account the complexity of the non-linear system and various influencing factors. The result is reduced stress on the rotor blades, leading to longer service life, lower maintenance costs, higher efficiency, and quieter operation.

Career Highlights

Kristian Robert Dixon is currently employed at Siemens Aktiengesellschaft, where he continues to develop innovative solutions in the field of wind energy. His work has garnered attention for its potential to improve the performance and reliability of wind turbines.

Collaborations

Dixon collaborates with notable colleagues, including Siegmund Düll and Per Egedal, who contribute to the advancement of his projects and innovations.

Conclusion

Kristian Robert Dixon's contributions to wind energy through his patents demonstrate his commitment to innovation and sustainability. His work not only enhances the efficiency of wind turbines but also addresses critical challenges in the industry.