General Electric Company

General Electric Renovables Espana, S.l.

Jonathan Glenn Luedke

James Robert Tobin

Stefan Herr

Trevor Howard Wood

Todd Garrett Wetzel

Andreas Herrig

Kevin Wayne Kinzie

Thomas Michael Tucker

Gunnar Leif Siden

Scott Gabell Riddell

Edward Lee McGrath

Thomas Joseph Fischetti

Benoit Philippe Petitjean

Michael Christopher Booth

Megan Michela Wilson

Christian Aloysius Carroll

Saskia Gerarda Honhoff

Jing Wang

Drew Adam Wetzel

Kunal Upendra Sakekar

Ramesh Vedula

Vortex generators for wind turbine rotor blades having noise-reducing features are mounted within a laminar flow region on either the pressure side or the suction side of the rotor blade and have a base portion with at least one airflow modifying element extending therefrom. The base portion has a leading edge and a trailing edge extending in a first direction. Further, the base portion includes one or more edge features formed within either or both of the leading or trailing edges. Moreover, the edge features are non-parallel with respect to the first direction so as to reduce laminar boundary layer instability noise.

Vortex generators for wind turbine rotor blades having noise-reducing features

A wind turbine blade assembly includes a rotor blade having exterior surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge and a trailing edge, each extending between a blade tip and a root. The rotor blade additionally defining a span and a chord. The blade assembly further includes a plurality of micro boundary layer energizers positioned on a surface of the pressure side of the rotor blade. The plurality of micro boundary layer energizers extending one of above or below a neutral plane of the rotor blade. The micro boundary layer energizers are shaped and positioned chordwise to delay separation of a boundary layer at a low angle of attack. A wind turbine including the blade assembly is additionally disclosed.

Wind turbine blade with noise reducing micro boundary layer energizers

A surface cooler for turbomachines includes an inner layer and an outer layer disposed adjacent to the inner layer and including a metal foam, a carbon foam, or a combination thereof, wherein the metal foam, the carbon foam or a combination thereof is configured to augment heat transfer and enhance acoustic absorption. Further, the outer layer includes a plurality of fins, wherein the plurality of fins are configured to augment heat transfer and enhance acoustic absorption, and wherein the plurality of fins includes metal foam, a carbon foam, or a combination thereof.

Combined surface cooler and acoustic absorber for turbomachines

In one aspect, a rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine may generally include a rotor blade extending lengthwise between a root and a tip. The rotor blade may include a pressure side and a suction side extending between a leading edge and a trailing edge. Additionally, the rotor blade assembly may include a chord extender having an attachment portion coupled to at least of the pressure side or the suction side and an extension portion extending outwardly from the attachment portion beyond the trailing edge. The extension portion may extend chordwise between a first end disposed adjacent to the trailing edge and a second end disposed opposite the first end. The extension portion may include a surface defined between the first and second ends. The extension portion may further include at least one stiffening rib projecting outwardly from the surface.

Chord extenders for a wind turbine rotor blade assembly

A wind turbine rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending in a generally span-wise direction between a tip and a root. An edge extension is attached along either or both of the leading edge or trailing edge in a generally span-wise direction from adjacent the root towards the blade tip, with the edge extension having a contoured outer surface that defines a generally continuous aerodynamic surface. The edge extension has a terminal end that is spaced from root. A curtain is attached to the edge extension and extends in a span-wise direction from the terminal end t to the root. The curtain is formed from a pliant, flexible material that accommodates connection of the root to a rotor hub, as well as pitch movement of the rotor blade relative to the hub.

Wind turbine rotor blade assembly with root curtain

An outlet guide vane assembly for turbomachines is provided. The outlet guide vane assembly comprises one or more outlet guide vanes, wherein each of the one or more outlet guide vanes comprises a first surface and a second surface, and wherein the one or more outlet guide vanes are disposed between an inner wall and an outer wall of an engine and a surface cooler layer disposed on at least a portion of the first surface, the second surface, or both of the one or more outlet guide vanes, wherein the surface cooler layer comprises a metal foam, a carbon foam, or a combination thereof, wherein the metal foam, the carbon foam or the combination thereof is configured to augment heat transfer and enhance acoustic absorption.

Combined acoustic absorber and heat exchanging outlet guide vanes

Systems and methods for integrating heat exchanger elements of HRSG systems with gas turbine exhaust diffusers are provided in the disclosed embodiments. The systems and methods may include integrating heat exchanger elements, such as steam pipes, with various components of an exhaust diffuser. For example, the heat exchanger elements may be integrated with inlet turning vanes, exhaust frame struts, exit guide vanes, associated support structures, and other components of the exhaust diffuser. In addition, the heat exchanger elements may be integrated with multiple components of a single exhaust diffuser. Moreover, the heat exchanger elements may be integrated with the components of the exhaust diffuser within an airfoil, which may encompass both the heat exchanger elements and the individual component of the exhaust diffuser. The use of airfoils may help ensure certain aerodynamic properties of the heated exhaust gas flowing across the exhaust diffuser components.

Integrated gas turbine exhaust diffuser and heat recovery steam generation system

A wind turbine rotor blade includes a pressure side and a suction side. At least one airfoil passage is defined through the blade between the pressure side and suction side. A respective cover is configured over the airfoil passage at each of the pressure and suction sides. The covers are actuatable between a closed position wherein the cover is flush with the respective pressure or suction side and an open position wherein the cover moves to open the airfoil passage.

Growing community of inventors

Simpsonville, SC, United States of America

Jonathan Glenn Luedke