Noise reducer for rotor blade in wind turbine

Abstract

A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine is disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade assembly further includes a mounting plate and a noise reducer. The mounting plate is configured on a surface of the rotor blade. The noise reducer may include a base plate and a plurality of noise reduction features. The base plate is mounted to the mounting plate. The plurality of noise reduction features extend from the base plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine, comprising:
 a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root;   a mounting plate configured on a surface of the rotor blade; and,   a noise reducer, the noise reducer comprising a base plate and a plurality of noise reduction features, the base plate mounted to the mounting plate, the plurality of noise reduction features extending from the base plate.   
     
     
         2 . The rotor blade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate extends through a surface of the rotor blade. 
     
     
         3 . The rotor blade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate and one of the pressure side and the suction side are co-infused. 
     
     
         4 . The rotor blade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate is disposed between the pressure side and the suction side. 
     
     
         5 . The rotor blade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate is configured on the trailing edge. 
     
     
         6 . The rotor blade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the surfaces of the rotor blade further define a rotor blade interior, wherein the rotor blade further comprises a lightning protection device disposed at least partially in the rotor blade interior, and wherein the mounting plate is operatively connected to the lighting protection device. 
     
     
         7 . The rotor blade assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a conduction cable operatively connecting the mounting plate to the lightning protection device. 
     
     
         8 . The rotor blade assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one mechanical fastener mounting the base plate to the mounting plate. 
     
     
         9 . The rotor blade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the mounting plate includes one of a male fastening device or a female fastening device, wherein the base plate includes the other of the male fastening device or the female fastening device, and wherein the male fastening device and female fastening device are configured to couple the base plate and the mounting plate together. 
     
     
         10 . The rotor blade assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of noise reduction features are a plurality of serrations. 
     
     
         11 . A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine, comprising:
 a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root, the surfaces further defining a rotor blade interior;   a lightning protection device disposed at least partially in the rotor blade interior;   a mounting plate configured on a surface of the rotor blade and operatively connected to the lighting protection device; and,   a noise reducer mounted to the mounting plate.   
     
     
         12 . The rotor blade assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the mounting plate extends through a surface of the rotor blade. 
     
     
         13 . The rotor blade assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the mounting plate and one of the pressure side and the suction side are co-infused. 
     
     
         14 . The rotor blade assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the mounting plate is disposed between the pressure side and the suction side. 
     
     
         15 . The rotor blade assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the mounting plate is configured on the trailing edge. 
     
     
         16 . The rotor blade assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one mechanical fastener mounting the noise reducer to the mounting plate. 
     
     
         17 . The rotor blade assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the mounting plate includes one of a male fastening device or a female fastening device, wherein the noise reducer includes the other of the male fastening device or the female fastening device, and wherein the male fastening device and female fastening device are configured to couple the noise reducer and the mounting plate together. 
     
     
         18 . The rotor blade assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a conduction cable operatively connecting the mounting plate to the lightning protection device. 
     
     
         19 . The rotor blade assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the noise reducer comprising a base plate and a plurality of noise reduction features, the base plate mounted to the mounting plate, the plurality of noise reduction features extending from the base plate. 
     
     
         20 . The rotor blade assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the plurality of noise reduction features are a plurality of serrations.