Abstract:
The invention pertains to the use of an ice-phobic coating layer for de-icing or anti-icing of technical aerospace equipment such as aircraft's carburettor(s), pitot tubes, engines and parts thereof, and the rotor blades and generators and parts thereof of wind turbines, and wherein said coating layer: a) exhibits sessile water drop contact angle of at least 75° and a difference in dynamic water drop contact angle of at most 30°, more preferably at most 25° (i.e. low wetting hysteresis), at ambient air conditions, said contact angles measured according to ASTM D7334-08; b) exhibits micro hardness of at least 200 HV (Vickers units) if exposed to fluid velocities lower than 50 m/s and/or micro hardness of at least 800 HV, preferably at least 1000 HV, if exposed to fluid velocities higher than 100 m/s (representing aircraft wing conditions), said micro hardness measured according to ASTM E384-08, and/or exhibits a micro hardness of Ra less than 0.5 μm; c) exhibits corrosion rate of less than 0.1 μm/year; d) is chemically inert; and e) has a mechanical strength in terms of pull-off force/surface unit of more than 10 MPa, preferably more than 20 MPa, measured according to ASTM D4541-09e1.
Abstract:
A blade for a wind turbine comprises a substantially hollow shell which comprises an opening which extends along at least part of the length of the blade, and a servicing unit displaceable along the blade shell, at least partly arranged inside the shell and comprising an arm adapted to project out of the shell through the opening.
Abstract:
The invention provides a wind turbine comprising a nacelle, a rotor comprising at least one blade attached to a hub, and an electrical supply structure for supplying electrical power from the nacelle to the rotor. The rotor is rotatably connected to the nacelle about an axis of rotation. The supply structure comprises a switch which has a connected mode in which the nacelle and the rotor are electrically connected, and a disconnected mode in which the nacelle and the rotor are electrically disconnected. Furthermore, the switch is adapted to change from the disconnected mode to the connected mode when the rotor does not rotate.
Abstract:
A method is provided which allows the facile deicing of a surface of a structure in general. Electromagnetic induction or IR/ Microwave radiation is used to heat up a layer or a coating on said surface of the structure in general whereby said layer preferably contains conductive particles such as carbon nano particles, such as graphite, carbon nano tubes, carbon nano cones, metal in powder form, metalized glass beads, carbon fibers, chopped or as woven structure, etc all collectively named Carbon Nano Tubes (CNTs) or cones or metallic particles at concentrations above 0,01 % by weight. Heat conductors such as boron nitride may be used to improve the heat transfer to the surface. Constructions are disclosed which shield the microwave emitters from lightning receiving elements, and which protect the complete structure during lightning events. Radiation can be supplied both from the inside of the structure as well as from the outside.
Abstract:
A method of operating a wind turbine system includes: determining, by an industrial process controller, if an actual wind speed value, received from an anemometer, of a wind at a location of the wind turbine system is less than a predetermined minimum wind speed value. If so, then calculating a command speed value that will cause a variable-speed drive to drive the motor / generator and a sail assembly at a speed that the sail assembly would turn if the actual wind speed value was the minimum wind speed value, such that the sail assembly turns and provides a visual effect. If not, then calculating a command speed value based on the actual wind speed value such that the variable-speed drive and the motor / generator will operate in a braking mode to recover a braking energy of a load of the wind on the sail assembly.
Abstract:
A wind turbine blade ice accretion detector 65 is configured to receive an indication of power generated by a wind turbine 67 and an indication of a plurality of environmental conditions of the wind turbine 69. It is also configured to receive an indication of an error relating to the operation of the wind turbine71. These indications are processed by the detector 65 to provide an indication of ice accretion of a wind turbine blade. In addition to or as an alternative, the wind turbine blade ice accretion detector 65 is configured to receive an indication of power generated by a wind turbine 67 in a plurality of different time periods and an indication of a plurality of environmental conditions of the wind turbine 69 in the plurality of different time periods; and to process these to provide an indication of ice accretion of a wind turbine blade.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method for detecting accumulation of ice and/or snow on a blade (108a, 108b, 108c) of a wind turbine (100), said method comprising the steps of: transmitting (S1) a first light beam (110) having a first wavelength and a second light beam (112) having a second wavelength in a direction towards said blade (108a, 108b, 108c) of said wind turbine (100), wherein light of said first wavelength is absorbed by ice and/or snow to a higher degree than light of said second wavelength; detecting (S2) a first intensity of reflected light (114) from said blade (108a, 108b, 108c) having said first wavelength; detecting (S2) a second intensity of reflected light (116) from said blade (108a, 108b, 108c) having said second wavelength; comparing (S3) said first intensity of reflected light (114) with said second intensity of reflected light (116); and determining (S4) a presence of accumulated ice and/or snow on said blade (108a, 108b, 108c) based on a relation between said first intensity of reflected light (114) and said second intensity of reflected light (116).
Abstract:
A wind turbine rotor blade is provided, comprising a rotor blade tip (11), a rotor blade trailing edge (12), a rotor blade root region (14) for fastening the rotor blade to a hub of a wind turbine and a rotor blade tip (13). The rotor blade extends from the rotor blade root region (14) along a longitudinal axis to the rotor blade tip (13). The rotor blade also has an air distributing unit (500) with an adjusting element (540) for directing an air stream into the rotor blade tip region (11) and/or a rotor blade trailing edge region (12).
Abstract:
Es wird eine Windkraftanlage (1) zur Energiegewinnung mit einem axial durchströmten, auf einer Welle (3) drehbar gelagerten, rotierenden wirbelbildenden Windkonzentrator (2) vorgeschlagen, der einen ringförmigen Außenmantel (4) aufweist, an dessen Außenseite auf 360° verteilt Leiteinrichtungen angeordnet sind und der zwischen der Welle (3) und dem ringförmigen Außenmantel (4) mit kreisförmig verteilten Konzentratorblättern (7) ausgestattet ist. Um vorteilhafte Verhältnisse zu schaffen, wird vorgeschlagen, dass die Leiteinrichtungen sägezahnförmige, gekrümmte Leitprofile (5) umfassen, die Randwirbel generieren, welche über den gesamten Querschnitt des ringförmigen Außenmantels (4) stromabwärts eine Wirbelspule bewirken.