High torque wind turbine blade, turbine, and associated systems and methods

Abstract

A blade for a wind turbine can include an elongated and curved sheet having a curved root, a curved tip, a leading edge, and a trailing edge. The root and the tip can be rotated relative to each other such that the blade is twisted along its length. The root can include an edge having curved projections, the curved projections being distributed along a curvature of the root. A wind turbine can include a mounting element and a plurality of turbine blades. Each turbine blade can be attached to the mounting element closer to the trailing edge than to the leading edge such that an intersection of the leading edge and the root projects upstream from the wind turbine. A wind turbine generator assembly for converting wind into electrical energy can include a wind turbine and a generator. In addition, a support structure can support the wind turbine and generator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A wind turbine generator assembly for converting wind into electrical energy, the assembly comprising
 a wind turbine; and   a generator configured to receive rotational force from the wind turbine and convert the rotational force to electrical energy; wherein   the wind turbine comprises a hub and a plurality of turbine blades attached to the hub; and wherein   at least one of the turbine blades comprises
 a root positioned adjacent to the hub, 
 a tip positioned opposite from the root, and 
 a leading edge spanning between the root and the tip along a length of the blade, the leading edge having a length greater than a length of the root and a length of the tip, the leading edge positioned to face an incoming wind stream; 
   wherein the leading edge comprises a plurality of curved projections positioned to extend toward the incoming wind stream.   
     
     
         2 . The wind turbine generator assembly of  claim 1  wherein each curved projection of the plurality of curved projections has a relative amplitude with respect to a chord length of the at least one blade that is different from a relative amplitude of the other curved projections. 
     
     
         3 . The wind turbine generator assembly of  claim 1  wherein each curved projection of the plurality of curved projections has a relative amplitude with respect to a chord length of the at least one blade that is the same as a relative amplitude of the other curved projections. 
     
     
         4 . The wind turbine generator assembly of  claim 1  wherein a first curved projection of the plurality of curved projections has a relative amplitude that is approximately 15% of a chord length of the at least one blade. 
     
     
         5 . The wind turbine generator assembly of  claim 1  wherein the at least one blade comprises ten curved projections. 
     
     
         6 . The wind turbine generator assembly of  claim 1  wherein at least one of the curved projections is positioned such that the at least one curved projection has a widest point along the chordwise direction of the blade that is located at a distance from the hub that is at least thirty percent of the length of the blade, 
     
     
         7 . The wind turbine generator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one turbine blade comprises wood. 
     
     
         8 . The wind turbine generator assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one turbine blade comprises fiber-reinforced plastic material. 
     
     
         9 . A wind turbine comprising a hub and a plurality of turbine blades, each turbine blade comprising:
 a root positioned adjacent to the hub,   a tip positioned opposite from the root, and   a leading edge spanning between the root and the tip along a length of the turbine blade, wherein   the leading edge comprises a plurality of tubercles distributed between the root and the tip and positioned to extend toward an incoming wind stream.   
     
     
         10 . The wind turbine of  claim 9 , wherein each turbine blade comprises ten tubercles. 
     
     
         11 . The wind turbine of  claim 10 , wherein the ten tubercles are positioned at 30 percent, 45 percent, 52 percent, 62 percent, 70 percent, 78 percent, 85 percent, 91 percent, 95 percent, and 98 percent of the length of the turbine blade from the root. 
     
     
         12 . The wind turbine of  claim 9  wherein at least one tubercle is positioned such that its widest point along a chordwise direction of the blade is located at a distance from the hub that is at least thirty percent of the length of the blade. 
     
     
         13 . The wind turbine of  claim 9  wherein each tubercle has a relative amplitude with respect to a chord length of the blade that is different from a relative amplitude of the other tubercles. 
     
     
         14 . The wind turbine of  claim 9  wherein each turbine blade comprises wood. 
     
     
         15 . The wind turbine of  claim 9  wherein each turbine blade comprises fiber-reinforced plastic material. 
     
     
         16 . A blade for a wind turbine, the blade comprising:
 a root, a tip positioned opposite from the root, and   a leading edge spanning between the root and the tip along a length of the blade, wherein   the leading edge comprises a plurality of projections distributed between the root and the tip and positioned to extend toward an incoming wind stream.   
     
     
         17 . The blade of  claim 16 , wherein the plurality of projections consists of ten projections. 
     
     
         18 . The blade of  claim 16  wherein the projections are distributed between a first distance from the root that is approximately 30 percent of the length of the blade and a second distance from the root that is approximately 98 percent of the length of the blade. 
     
     
         19 . The blade of  claim 16  wherein at least one tubercle is sized to have a relative amplitude that is 15 percent of a chord length of the blade. 
     
     
         20 . The blade of  claim 16  wherein the blade comprises wood or fiber-reinforced plastic.