Abstract: A method and system is provided for determining a wind velocity field on a wind farm having of a plurality of spatially distributed wind turbines (10). The method and system acquires data via measurement instruments (20, 22) that convey energy along respective paths (30) between selected pairs of turbines (10) and acquire data from the conveyed energy. From the acquired data, a wind velocity field is determined.

Abstract: A system (1) for monitoring aerodynamic flow conditions over an aerodynamic member is provided. The system (1) includes a cantilevered arm (16) having a first conductive lead (18) configured for movement relative to a second conductive lead (20) for selective contact therewith in alternative response to a presence or absence of a turbulent air (22) flow thereover. In addition, the system (1) includes a circuit (24) comprising the first conductive lead (18) and the second conductive lead (20). A continuity condition in the circuit (24) between the first conductive lead (18) and the second conductive lead (20) is indicative of the presence or absence of the turbulent air flow (22).

Abstract: A swept wind turbine blade (20) includes a blade body (24) extending along a length between a root (26) and a tip (28) of the blade (20). A pitch axis (36) extends through the root (26) of the blade (20). A reference line (48) defines a deviation from the pitch axis (36) and corresponds to a swept shape of the blade (20) along its length. The reference line (48) has a zero sweep at the root (26), a zero slope at the root (26), and a positive curvature (66) along a segment within 25% of the length from the root (26) to the tip (28) of the blade (20).

Abstract: A power producing spinner (28) for a wind turbine (10), the wind turbine (10) having a plurality of blades (18) interconnected about an axis of rotation (30) by a hub (20). The power producing spinner (28) includes an aerodynamic shape (34) extending radially outward from the axis of rotation (30) to define an upwind airfoil portion (40) disposed upwind of an inboard portion (42) of each blade (18) of the wind turbine (10). The power producing spinner (28) is effective to extract energy from an air flow (44) flowing over the spinner (28) and to increase an aerodynamic efficiency of the blades (18).

Abstract: The present invention includes a rotor blade (20) having a blade body (30) with a leading edge (26) and a trailing edge (28) and opposed first and second surfaces (34, 36) extending there between defining an airfoil shape (32) in cross-section. A passageway (42) extends through the blade body (30) between the first and second surfaces (34, 36). A flexible member (60) is sealed over one end (50) of the passageway (42). Advantageously, the flexible member (60) is passively responsive to changes in a differential pressure between the first and second surfaces (34, 36) to move between a deactivated position (62) and an activated position (64) where the flexible member (60) extends away from the airfoil shape (32) to function as a load mitigation device (40) for the wind turbine rotor blade (20).

Abstract: A system (40) for damping motion of a wind turbine (10a) is provided. The system (40) includes a sensor (42), a movable mass (44), an actuator (58), and a controller (46). The sensor (44) is operable to provide a signal representative of a motion of the wind turbine (10a) in one or more degree of freedoms. The movable mass (44) is associated with the actuator (58) and is disposed on a blade (24a) of the wind turbine (10a) and is configured for movement along a length of the blade. In response to the sensor (42), the controller (46) is operable to direct the actuator (58) to move the movable mass (48) along a length (50) of the blade (24) to a degree effective to dampen motion of the wind turbine (10a) in one or more degree of freedoms.

Abstract: A system (1) for monitoring aerodynamic flow conditions over an aerodynamic member is provided. The system (1) includes a cantilevered arm (16) having a first conductive lead (18) configured for movement relative to a second conductive lead (20) for selective contact therewith in alternative response to a presence or absence of a turbulent air (22) flow thereover. In addition, the system (1) includes a circuit (24) comprising the first conductive lead (18) and the second conductive lead (20). A continuity condition in the circuit (24) between the first conductive lead (18) and the second conductive lead (20) is indicative of the presence or absence of the turbulent air flow (22).

Abstract: The present invention includes a rotor blade (20) having a blade body (30) with a leading edge (26) and a trailing edge (28) and opposed first and second surfaces (34, 36) extending there between defining an airfoil shape (32) in cross-section. A passageway (42) extends through the blade body (30) between the first and second surfaces (34, 36). A flexible member (60) is sealed over one end (50) of the passageway (42). Advantageously, the flexible member (60) is passively responsive to changes in a differential pressure between the first and second surfaces (34, 36) to move between a deactivated position (62) and an activated position (64) where the flexible member (60) extends away from the airfoil shape (32) to function as a load mitigation device (40) for the wind turbine rotor blade (20).