Enhancing Wind Turbines' Weather Durability Solutions

A blade made of layered composite material is better resistant to delamination and detachment failures when exposed to fluid flows, especially fluctuating loads. The blade has skins with overlapping layers that extend from body portions between the skins towards the trailing edge. The internal layers have body portions and skin portions that form the skins. This integral layer arrangement prevents delamination by providing overlapping connections between the skins. The idea is that adjacent layers of the composite material overlap rather than join at the spar, skins, or leading/trailing edges. This keeps the layers connected along the blade instead of having detached sections.

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A wind turbine blade with a lightning protection system that improves the protection of electronic components, especially communication devices, located within the blade from lightning strikes. The system includes receptors, down conductors, and grounding to conduct lightning current safely outside the blade. It also uses separate signal-carrying structures like coaxial cables and waveguides to isolate and protect the communication devices from lightning currents.

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Connection and fastening unit for lightning protection system components like receptors in wind turbine blades. The unit has a closable cavity integrated into the blade wall. Connectors inside the cavity are used to attach the lightning receptor and other components.

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An actuator device for a wind turbine rotor blade that is less susceptible to lightning strikes compared to electrical actuators. The actuator has an actuator component with photoactuator layers that change strain/stress when illuminated with light. The photoactuator layers are excited using light guided by an exciting layer. A light source and light guide control component connect to the exciting layer. This enables the actuator to be driven optically without electrical connections.

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Wind turbine blade tip assembly can provide lightning protection for wind turbine blades while reducing the risk of blade damage from lightning strikes. The blade tip assembly includes a conductive blade tip module with a coupler to attach to a lightning-down conductor. An insulating member encases the coupler to attract lightning strikes to the conductive blade tip rather than internal blade components. This helps direct electrical energy from strikes safely away from the blade.

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A wind turbine blade tip assembly that protects the blade from lightning strikes. The assembly has a conductive blade tip that attracts lightning away from the blade and a coupler to connect it to a down conductor. An insulating layer encases the coupler to prevent lightning from striking internal blade components.

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Wind turbine blades with an improved lightning protection system that reduces erosion and wear at the blade tip. The blade has a replaceable conductive blade tip module that fits over and protects the tip of the main blade. The module overlaps the blade tip to shield the junction from weathering and electrical heating during lightning strikes. This reduces erosion and damage at the critical junction between the blade and the lightning receptor. The module can be replaced if worn or damaged, extending the life of the blade.

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A lightning protection system for wind turbines allows static charge to discharge to the ground safely and prevents build-up that can cause electrical breakdown and noise. The system routes lightning strike currents from blades to the ground like normal. But for the static charge, it provides separate discharge paths from blade conductors to the ground via resistors connected to non-conductive parts like brush brackets. This avoids voltage build-up and breakdown.

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A fully insulated lightning protection tip for wind turbine blades. The tip comprises an electrically conductive internal part that is embedded in insulating material. The only exposed conductive parts are an outer tip and a cable. The internal conductors, receptors, and connections are all covered. This prevents lightning from striking internal conductors and damaging receptors. The insulated cable provides a path for lightning to discharge safely.

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Wind turbine blade design to prevent lightning damage to carbon fiber blades. The design provides potential equalization between the lightning protection system and carbon fiber layers. It uses a dissipating element with transverse connectors that penetrate through multiple fiber layers. This dissipates lightning strike energy evenly throughout the blade instead of concentrating it at the interface.

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Surface mounted lightning receptor for wind turbine blades that reduces damage and improves lightning protection. The receptor uses current carriers around the mounting bolts that contact the blade. The carriers allow the majority of lightning current to pass through them rather than the bolts. The carriers are insulated from the bolts and have plugs to cover the bolt heads. This protects the bolts, prevents damage, and allows easier replacement.

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Wind turbine sensors that can prevent ice accretion on the sensors, thus avoiding issues with accuracy. The sensors are equipped with a heating system using optical fibers to transmit electromagnetic radiation to heat the sensor. This prevents or reduces ice from forming on the sensor. By irradiating the sensor with light, ice formation is prevented.

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Wind turbine blade with a lightning protection system that conducts lightning strikes safely to ground. It uses a lightning receptor at the tip that is connected through the blade interior to a down conductor running to the root. Bushings isolate the conductor from the blade shell. An external conductive element at the root provides a path to ground. This avoids drilling through the blade shell.

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Ice-resistant paint for wind turbine blades that prevents ice formation while maintaining durability. It contains hydrophobic functional nanoparticles dispersed in a high-solid polyurethane paint. The nanoparticles are functionalized silica that resist ice buildup. The paint is made by mixing the nanoparticles with the paint components. Applying this ice-resistant paint to wind turbine blades helps prevent ice formation during cold weather without sacrificing the protective properties of the paint.

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A receptor assembly for a lightning protection system for a wind turbine blade that reduces the risk of damage to the receptor during lightning strikes. The assembly has conducting current carriers that surround the mounting bolts without electrical contact. This ensures the majority of the lightning current passes through the carriers instead of the bolts. The carriers have contact surfaces for electrical connection to the receptor bases. The bolts are concealed within cylinder-shaped carriers with plugs covering the bolt heads. This protects the bolts from lightning strikes while allowing easy replacement if damaged.

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Permanent magnet direct-drive wind power generator with internal airflow to dry and cool the generator components. The generator has air holes in the stator support, tooth pressing plates, and an airflow passage through the iron core. The holes and passage allow an internal air source to flow through the stator interior. This creates a positive pressure environment to resist external airflow intrusion and protect insulation. An internal air source system can be connected to the holes for drying and cooling.

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