Abstract: The disclosure relates to a support structure of a wind turbine, in particular a main frame. An object is to develop an ideal load distribution and stiffness distribution of the main frame with a least possible use of material. The main frame is intended optimally to fulfill the requirements with respect to the operating and extreme loads and the stiffness for the given space conditions inside the nacelle. The main frame has a top, bottom, front and rear side, and includes a circumferential annular wall between the bottom and the top side. The main frame includes two lateral portions of the wall that extend between the front side and the rear side of the main frame. Additionally included are two lateral flanges on the top side of the main frame, a plurality of arms being arranged inside the wall. The arms are connected to the wall via a box profile.

Abstract: A fluidic structure configured to be mounted onto the hub of a fluidic turbine comprising a hub that rotates about a center axis, aligned to a main shaft that contributes torque to the main shaft of the turbine via the principle of lift and/or drag. The fluidic structure can be rigid or have some flexibility. The structure has two or more curved fluidic elements that extend from an upstream tip that aligns to the center axis of rotation, to a downstream end at some further radial position away from the center axis, and rotates about the center axis, wherein the two or more curved fluidic elements contain chord sections that are generally more wide at the upstream position and general more narrow at the downstream position.

Abstract: A wind turbine comprising a pod and an aerodynamic rotor having a rotor head or a spinner. The rotor head or spinner is arranged in that case in the afflux flow direction of the wind in front of the rotor blade plane. Provided in or at the rotor head or the spinner of the rotor is a mist eliminator which rotates with the rotor head or spinner. The mist eliminator has an end which is in the form of an opening in the rotor head or the spinner. Air can enter through that end and flow through the mist eliminator in such a way that substantially water droplet-free air is present at the outlet of the mist eliminator, and can be used for cooling the generator.

Abstract: A power generation system includes an aircraft that includes a propulsor and a platform attached to a structure and configured to support the aircraft. The propulsor is configured to generate electrical power via a wind rotating the propulsor while the aircraft is supported by the platform. A method for using a propulsor of an aircraft to generate electrical power includes positioning the aircraft such that the aircraft is supported by a structure and generating the electrical power via a wind rotating the propulsor while the aircraft is supported by the structure.

Abstract: A wind harvesting assembly for a wind turbine, having: a Venturi tube having a hollow interior having a first air pressure; an open top end having a first diameter; an open bottom end having the first diameter; a tube length spanning between the open top end and the open bottom end; and a constricted section located above the bottom end, the constricted section adapted to increase a velocity of air passing through by having a second diameter smaller than the first diameter; a plurality of vertical wind turbine blades arranged around the Venturi tube, wherein each vertical blade of the plurality of vertical wind turbine blades is associated with permanent magnets.

Abstract: A wind turbine includes a main shaft rotatable around a rotation axis. The main shaft includes a first piece axially extending along the rotation axis, at least a second piece axially extending along the rotation axis, the second piece being axially adjacent to the first piece, a plurality of connections for fixing the second piece to the first piece.

Abstract: A nacelle for a wind turbine extends along a longitudinal axis between a front side where a wind rotor is rotatably attachable to the nacelle for rotating about the longitudinal axis and a longitudinally opposite rear side is provided. The nacelle includes an outer surface delimiting an inner volume of the nacelle, a cooling path for circulating a cooling flow in the inner volume. The nacelle further includes a pressure source for generating an overpressure inside the inner volume of the nacelle, the pressure source including an inlet at the outer surface for receiving the cooling flow and an outlet for delivering the cooling flow in the inner volume, at least one heat exchanger provided in the outer surface for receiving the cooling flow from the inner volume.

Abstract: A mastless vertical axis wind turbine that comprises a plurality of sails that rotate about a vertical axis under the influence of wind. A platform is connected to and in tension with the plurality of sails at one or more points about the bottom of the plurality of the sails. Also, an external frame is connected to and in tension with the plurality of sails at one or more points about the top of the plurality of the sails. The external frame itself comprises a plurality of legs that converge above the plurality of sails at a central point about the vertical axis of rotation and extend beyond the path swept by the plurality of sails. A coupling mechanism connects one or more of the plurality of legs to the plurality of sails and allows the sails to rotate about the vertical axis of rotation while the legs remain stationary.

Abstract: A method of using a bagged power generation system comprising windbags and waterbags integrated with drones and adapting drone technologies for harnessing wind and water power to produce electricity. An extremely scalable and environmentally friendly method, system, apparatus, equipment, techniques and ecosystem configured to produce renewable green energy with high productivity and efficiency.

Abstract: A combination of a visual warning cue and a conspicuous auditory warning cue acts synergistically to reduce bird strike frequency against a man-made structure. Methods and systems are described for providing said combination of warning cues when a bird is within a warning zone. The auditory warning cue entails at least two separate sonic pulses within one second when the bird is within the warning zone, and is defined by an intensity-weighted frequency average of between 6 kHz and 18 kHz, and an intensity at a location within the warning zone of at least 70 decibels.

Abstract: A rotor rotating device includes at least two rotating units; a movable end of a telescoping cylinder in each rotating unit is provided with a pin; the pin is releasably secured on a rotor. A control method for the rotor rotating device includes: dividing the at least two rotating units into two groups; first removing pins of a first group of rotating units from the rotor, and then re-securing the pins at another positions on the rotor; and after the pins of all the rotating units are re-secured, changing the state of the telescoping cylinders of all the rotating units, and driving the rotor to turn relative to a machine base. In this way, all the rotating units are sequentially unlocked, moved to a next working station, and re-locked on the rotor. A control device, and a rotor rotating system are further provided.

Abstract: A vortex generator for a wind turbine blade includes a plurality of main fins disposed on a surface of the wind turbine blade; and at least one first sub fin having a fin chord length and a fin height which are smaller than those of each of the main fins, and disposed on the surface of the wind turbine blade along a first virtual line extending from a first end portion of a main fin row at a side of a blade tip or a blade root of the wind turbine blade. An expression d?dmax is satisfied, provided that d is a distance between the main fin row and the first sub fin disposed next to the first end portion of the main fin row, and dmax is a maximum distance between an adjacent pair of the main fins in the main fin row.

Abstract: A wind turbine power generating system and method includes a tower, a hub, a plurality of blades connected to the hub, and a rotor connected to the hub. A superconducting generator is coupled to the rotor and includes a plurality of superconductive coils. A nacelle is mounted atop the tower, with the superconducting generator housed within the nacelle. An automatic ramp-down system is configured with the superconducting coils and includes an automatically activated energy dump circuit for current withdrawn from the superconductive coils in a ramp-down process prior to a quench. The energy dump circuit includes one or more heat dissipating loads, wherein each of the heat dissipating loads is mounted in thermal communication with one of the tower or the nacelle that act a thermal heat sink for dispersing heat from the loads.

Abstract: A wind turbine tower is supported on a transition piece that connects the tower to a foundation and that defines a space beneath the lower end of the tower. Electronic components positioned within a removable module in the lower portion of a wind turbine tower may be removed through a lower end of the tower for service or replacement.

Abstract: A method for controlling a gearless wind turbine, wherein the wind turbine comprises a generator having a stator and a rotor and an air gap therebetween which has an air gap thickness, wherein the generator is designed as an internal rotor, with the stator as an outer part and the rotor as an inner part, or the generator is designed as an external rotor, with the rotor as an outer part and the stator as an inner part, said method comprising the following steps: detecting a temperature of the outer part as an outer part temperature, detecting a temperature of the inner part as an inner part temperature, calculating a temperature difference as the difference between the outer part temperature and the inner part temperature, and controlling the generator according to the temperature difference such that a reduction in the air gap thickness by thermal expansion of the generator is counteracted.

Abstract: The detecting a shadow is determined by a modeling of at least a portion of a wind turbine. First and second sensors are arranged relative to the model such that the first sensor detects a light and the second sensor detects a shadow during the conditions where the shadow would be produced.

Abstract: Device for applying in a pavement for collecting mechanical energy from a vehicle passing over said pavement for actuating an electromechanical converter for generating electrical energy, said device comprising: an electromechanical converter; a mechanical or mechanical-hydraulic system comprising a crank-linear slide or crank-piston; a base structure for supporting and fixing the device to the pavement; a cover displaceable in vertical axis translation caused by the vehicle passing over, wherein the cover is arranged to actuate the crank-linear slide or crank-piston; a rack-pinion, or a hydraulic cylinder and respective hydraulic circuit having actuator, arranged for converting linear displacement of the linear slide or the piston, respectively, into rotation of a shaft of the electromechanical converter; wherein said cover has a non-horizontal surface profile having a first elevation at a first end and a second elevation at a second end, wherein the first elevation is lower than the second elevation.

Abstract: A solution to optimally manage those requirements ensuring on the one hand, that the requirements set by the grid operators are appropriately and accurately accomplished at a point of interconnection (POI) and on the other hand, preventing the wind turbines from over fulfilling the requirements, for example, by remaining connected at voltages levels higher or lower than the ones required which, although possible, may cause higher loads and currents in the wind turbines than needed to fulfill the requirements.

Abstract: Traction air device with multiple wing contours for a wind power generation plant and wind power generation plant utilizing the air device.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for generating electricity using stored kinetic energy of a flywheel. The apparatus has a generating mechanism, an air passageway, a heating chamber and a heating mechanism. A wind turbine rotates a drive shaft and a pair of flywheels that are independently and selectively rotated by the drive shaft. Input air flowing in the passageway rotates the wind turbine. While one flywheel rotates with the drive shaft to build up kinetic energy, the other flywheel rotates free of the drive shaft to use kinetic energy to drive an output shaft and generate electricity. A heat exchanger heats air in the heating chamber to produce convective air flow to draw input air through the passageway. A thermal energy storage tank stores heat for the heat exchanger. The system includes a source of electricity to power a pump. The method uses the apparatus to produce electricity.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method and a system for repairing a wind generator based on weather information. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, it is possible to effectively calculate a repairing time of the wind generator based on weather information.

Abstract: A rotary electric machine includes an armature unit including an annular rotor configured to be rotatable around an axis and a stator disposed on a radially outer side of the annular rotor; an input or output shaft coupled at a first end thereof to an external device and extending along an axial direction of the annular rotor in a central space defined in a central portion of the annular rotor; and a coupling device disposed closer to a second end of the input or output shaft than an end of the annular rotor adjacent to the external device in the axial direction of the annular rotor and connecting the input or output shaft and the annular rotor so as to be able to transmit a torque.

Abstract: A fluid mass movement electrical energy generation device and system may comprise a modular and scalable array of stationary tube-shaped modules containing small rotating turbines. Tube-shaped modules may be easily installed by anyone, almost anywhere fluid mass flow is present (including many locations not suited to conventional wind turbines) and may efficiently, safely and quietly capture energy from turbulent and inconsistent fluid flow patterns.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for dismantling a wind turbine and erecting a wind energy generating system, wherein the wind turbine comprises a tower placed on a foundation on a wind turbine site and a nacelle with a rotor mounted on the tower. The method comprises the steps of removing the rotor from the wind turbine, mounting an airborne wind energy system for generating electrical power on a part of the remaining wind turbine via a cable, and electrically connecting the airborne wind energy system to a power grid via a power transmission line.

Abstract: A multi-rotor, multi-axis wind turbine where the rotors are in relative motion to one another to maximize the energy captured and thus generated, where there is a primary rotor axis and direction and one or more secondary rotor axes, where each rotor rotates about a different axis, and the rotors can operate in either a horizontal or vertical axis orientation or some orientation in between, and there are at least two rotor axes operating in different directions such that the relative motion of the primary rotor drives at least one secondary rotor into the surrounding air increasing the relative net vector velocity of the secondary rotor with respect to the wind velocity and surrounding air which increases the amount of energy captured at a given location for a given wind velocity over the prior art.

Abstract: A wind turbine control system comprising at least one control module configured to output a control signal for a control mechanism of a wind turbine, and a gain calculator for calculating a gain parameter associated with the control module, wherein the gain parameter is calculated based on a computerized real-time blade model using a determined wind turbine operating point as an input. The blade model may be a blade element momentum model. In another aspect, the invention may be expressed as a method of controlling a control mechanism of a wind turbine.

Abstract: Provided is a foundation building system for an offshore wind turbine, whereby a monopile is configured to be placed on the seabed, having an upper portion with a first attachment interface for attaching a foundation platform unit, at least one internal, second attachment interface in an interior cavity of the monopile for attaching at least one electrical platform unit, and a third attachment interface for attaching a tower of the offshore wind turbine atop the at least one electrical platform unit, wherein the upper portion is to be placed at least partly above sea level, the foundation platform unit providing at least one foundation platform extending around the tower when installed, and the at least one electrical platform unit comprising at least one platform for electrical equipment for guiding and/or connecting of an connection cable for connecting the offshore wind turbine.

Abstract: An airflow management system is utilized to manage airflows of a data center system, which has an efficient airflow arrangement, simplified and modularized building design, and high efficiency. The cold air and hot air are segregated. With wall supply and wall return mechanisms, the air flow is concentrated, distributed, and then concentrated again with simple management. The system substantially eliminates significant amount of air duct requirement and no return air plenum is needed. High efficiency results in less blower power consumption due to less airflow resistance and hot air recirculation is greatly reduced. The cold aisles and the hot aisles are completely separated as operators can enter and leave the cold aisles and hot aisles with minimal impacts. The system can be implemented in a modular manner and it is easy for heat recovery or reuse solution deployment in the hot air room.

Abstract: An accelerator and water turbine assembly is provided for mounting in a tidal stream having a water turbine (12) and a water flow accelerator for providing a turbine driver current having a speed greater than that of the uninterrupted ambient tidal stream in which the accelerator has an accelerator body member (11) having a water flow facing front face (13) and side faces (14) depending therefrom around which the water flows adjacent each of the side faces as a turbine driver current and in which the water turbine (12) is mounted to be at least partially shrouded by the accelerator body member from the accelerated turbine driver current flowing adjacent and relatively close to a side face of the accelerator where the water flow achieves substantially maximum velocity and in which the accelerator is laterally spaced apart from the turbine driver current modifying effect of any other flow obstruction.

Abstract: A powertrain, such as a vehicular electric powertrain, includes a cycloidal speed reducer configured to reduce a speed of an output of a traction motor. The cycloidal speed reducer includes an input member configured to couple with the output of the traction motor. A cycloidal disc has a main body made of a first material and defining a plurality of circumferentially-arranged holes extending through the body. The cycloidal disc has a plurality of inserts each extending through one of the holes. The inserts are made of a second material. A plurality of circumferentially-arranged pins are each disposed in one of the holes and contacting one of the inserts. The inserts provide reinforcement in contact areas between the disc and the pins.

Abstract: A combined omnidirectional flow turbine system includes rotors that are disposed in a vertical position and enclosed in a motionless structure that receives air flows from any external direction which are manipulated by an airfoil to cause the rotors to rotate. The motionless structure is a hollow body and it is formed by a support structure and cover, being said interior space adapted to store electronic components, which can be directly supplied by the energy, produced. On its outer surface, air particles and pollutants filters can be installed, taking advantage of the aerodynamic shape of the motionless structure, which promotes air flow adhesion along its surface, making possible to capture particles along their preferred path.

Abstract: Provided is a method for feeding electric power into an electricity supply grid having a grid voltage at a grid frequency having a grid nominal frequency. Feeding the electric power is performed by a converter-controlled feeding-in device, which may be a wind farm or a wind turbine. The feeding-in device feeds in an infeed current as electric AC current having a frequency, a phase, an infeed voltage and a fed-in power. The infeed voltage may be set. The method includes estimating a converter proportion in a grid section of the electricity supply grid that represents a ratio of power fed in by way of converters to overall fed-in power and controlling the infeed of the electric power depending on the estimated converter proportion.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a bank of ultracapacitors configured to power an alternating current (AC) pitch motor of a pitch system in a wind turbine is provided. The method includes obtaining, by one or more control devices, data indicative of a voltage associated with the bank of ultracapacitors. The method includes conducting, by the one or more control devices, a test operation of the bank of ultracapacitors at predetermined intervals of time to determine a capacitance associated with the bank of ultracapacitors. The method further includes performing, by the one or more control devices, one or more control actions based, at least in part, on the capacitance or the data indicative of the voltage.

Abstract: A connecting structure for a steel tube truss and a tower barrel of a lattice wind power generation tower, a prestressed polygon wind tower provided with a circular box girder for a direct fan on the top of the tower, a wind power generation tower, and a wind tower having a prestressed anti-fatigue structure, which relate to the technical field of wind power generation towers, can simplify the connection mode between the tower barrel and the lattice tower frame, resolve the stress problem, enable the force transmission of a transition section to be direct and save materials.

Abstract: An embodiment includes sensor data representative of an amount of gas in a storage tank and a speed of wind driving a wind turbine. The embodiment also includes identifying a favorable capacity condition of the storage tank by comparing the amount of gas in the storage tank to the tank's capacity. The embodiment further includes identifying a favorable wind condition by comparing the wind speed to a cut-in speed of the wind turbine. In addition, the embodiment includes receiving wind direction data indicating a direction of the wind driving the wind turbine and identifying a valve position update for a valve that controls gas flow from the tank towards the wind turbine. Finally, the embodiment includes instructing the valve according to the valve position update.

Abstract: A wind flow sensing system determines a first approximation of the velocity field at each of the altitudes by simulating computational fluid dynamics (CFD) of the wind flow with operating parameters reducing a cost function of a weighted combination of errors, determines a horizontal derivative of vertical velocity at each of the altitudes from the first approximation of the velocity fields, and determines a second approximation of the velocity fields using geometric relationships between a velocity field for each of the altitudes, projections of the measurements of radial velocities on the three-dimensional axes, and the horizontal derivative of vertical velocity for the corresponding velocity field. In the cost function of the CFD, each error corresponds to one of the altitudes and includes a difference between measured velocities at the line-of-site points at the corresponding altitude and simulated velocities at the line-of-site points simulated by the CFD for the corresponding altitude.

Abstract: A clip for attachment as an edge. The clip having two symmetric sides, each side composed of five arcs. A first arc of the side starting at the midpoint of the nose having a radius of 0.2476 inches and an arc length of 0.22395 inches. A second arc connected to the first arc having a radius of 0.5832 inches and an arc length of 0.0947 inches. A third arc connected to the second arc having a radius of 0.4636 inches and an arc length of 0.1682 inches. A fourth arc connected to the third arc having a radius of 0.3822 inches and an arc length of 0.2263 inches. A fifth arc connected to the fourth arc having an arc having a radius of 0.3291 inches and an arc length of 0.1917 inches. The fifth arc of each side forming the slot end on the clip.

Abstract: An electrical energy generator array generates electricity from at least one form of natural flow, the generator having a drive shaft driven by energy from a natural energy flow and connected to a drive mechanism. The generator includes an integrated electric motor and a plurality of individual generators disengageably connected to the drive mechanism. Each generator is connected via a series of ties to form a connected generator array, the array being rotated by the drive mechanism when connected thereto, or by the integrated electric motor when disconnected from the drive mechanism, to generate electricity. The generator may include an electrical storage device arranged to power the integrated electric motor. A method of generating electricity from at least one natural energy flow, for supply to an electrical storage device, for local use or for supply to an electric grid includes using an electrical energy generator array as described.

Abstract: Provided are a control method and system for enhancing an endurance capability to an abnormal voltage of a wind turbine generator system. The control method, includes; providing a doubly-fed wind turbine generator system connected to a power grid; detecting a voltage of the power grid, and determining whether the voltage of the power grid has a fault; when the voltage of the power grid has a fault, detecting a voltage of the DC buses, and determining whether the voltage of the DC buses exceeds a limit value; when the voltage of the DC buses exceeds the limit value, performing integrated system coordination control according to an abnormal operating condition mode; and when the voltage of the power grid returns to a normal range, performing integrated system coordination control according to a normal operating condition mode.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine comprising a plurality of individual yaw bearing units and a method of replacing a pad of such a yaw bearing unit. The yaw bearing unit comprises a caliper structure divided into an upper portion and a lower portion, wherein the lower portion can be dismounted without also dismounting the upper portion. An upper pad is provided between a flange providing support for a nacelle and a mainframe of the nacelle. A radial pad is arranged on a radial surface of the upper portion and contacts a stop element located at either ends of the upper portion. An adjustable lower pad is arranged in a through hole in the lower portion and can be replaced via a lower opening in the lower portion. The radial pad can be replaced in a sideward direction by removing one of the stop elements or replacing it in an axial direction by removing the lower portion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for inspecting utility scale wind turbine generator blades from the ground includes a digital camera and an adjustable polarizing filter on a stable platform. The camera is used to record multiple digital images with varying polarization angles using an artificial polarized or polarized solar illumination to produce images with the same or similar registration but different polarization angles, followed by image processing using subtraction or absolute difference routines to yield high resolution, high contrast images with reduced glare and excellent surface definition over the field of view.

Abstract: A wind turbine includes a wind turbine rotor and rotor blades mounted on the rotor, at least one sensing device disposed on the wind turbine for measuring a first signal representative of a first wind speed at a first distance from the wind turbine rotor and a second signal representative of a second wind speed at a second distance from the wind turbine rotor. The wind turbine system includes a blade pitch actuator for adjusting a pitch of the rotor blades and a generator controller for adjusting a voltage of a wind turbine generator. The wind turbine system also includes a control unit in communication with the blade pitch actuator and the generator controller, the control unit being used for controlling the wind turbine via the blade pitch actuator and the generator controller based on an induction factor derived from the first and second signals.

Abstract: Omni M-VAWT is built upon and modified from Original M-VAWT to be omni directional to wind. Original M-VAWT, or Original Multi Axes-Vertical Axis Wind Turbine, is documented in U.S. Pat. No. 10,473,087 Patent granted on Nov. 12, 2019. Omni M-VAWT has significant improvements on power generation performances by having a new planet airfoil rotation and alignment assembly, a modified airfoil assembly, and the removal of Original M-VAWT mechanisms for orienting and pointing its planet airfoils persistently forward facing toward the wind. The new planet airfoil rotation and alignment assembly rotates planet airfoils fully extended and folded in rotations around their planet rotating shafts, either passively or actively within rotation limits. A modified airfoil assembly has particular modifications to shapes and sizes and rotation centers for paired planet and sun airfoils. Omni M-VAWT remains environmentally friendly to flying birds.

Abstract: A method for operating a wind farm connected to a power grid that demands a reactive power requirement that varies with active power includes monitoring a wind speed at each of the plurality of wind turbines in the wind farm. When the wind speed is within a cut-in wind speed range, the method includes determining a reactive power margin of the wind farm based on the reactive power requirement at an active power output corresponding to the wind speed and a reactive power availability of each of the plurality of wind turbines at the wind speed. The method also includes determining a lowest possible cut-in rotor speed for each of the plurality of wind turbines that satisfies the reactive power margin. Further, the method includes commanding each of the plurality of wind turbines to cut-in and begin to produce power at the lowest possible cut-in rotor speed that satisfies the reactive power margin.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger for an electrical machine. The heat exchanger comprises a housing and a tube bundle. The tube bundle comprises a plurality of tubes within the housing extending between a first end and a second end of the housing in the direction of the length of the heat exchanger. The housing comprises a top wall, end walls extending in the direction of the width of the heat exchanger and first and second side walls extending in the direction of the length of the heat exchanger and a bottom frame. Between a first side wall of the housing and a side of the tube bundle is a mounting space for receiving one or more cooling fluid circulating devices.

Abstract: An induction heating device includes: a rotor having a rotation shaft; a heating part disposed to be opposed to the rotor at a distance; a magnetic flux generating part provided at the rotor to generate magnetic flux for the heating part; a magnetic flux guide part provided on an opposed surface side of the heating part that is opposed to the magnetic flux generating part to guide the magnetic flux from the magnetic flux generating part to the heating part; and a flow passage provided in the heating part to allow a heating medium to circulate. The magnetic flux guide part includes magnetic substance parts. The magnetic flux guide part has a structure in which the magnetic substance parts and the insulator parts extend along a direction from the magnetic flux generating part to the heating part and are alternately layered along a circumferential direction of the heating part.

Abstract: An aerial vehicle having an arm for supporting an a lift generating means, the aerial vehicle being advantageously a multicopter, comprising an arm mount means for swinging an arm supporting the lift generating means between a retracted position and an extended locked and releasable position.

Abstract: The present invention is a vertical axis wind turbine contained in a housing designed to introduce turbulent flow to increase efficiency. One embodiment of the invention uses a three bladed propeller with deflectors mounted upstream of the propeller to increase the pressure on the trailing edge of the blades. In another embodiment, an electric generator is coupled to the vertical axis wind turbine to convert the kinetic energy of a moving fluid into electricity.

Abstract: A horizontal axis wind turbine which includes a plurality of blades that rotate at relatively low rpms and produce a high torque to rotate a generator is described. The wind turbine provides more power at low to moderate wind speeds than conventional wind turbines, produces more power at low wind speeds while still operating at high wind speeds, begins generating power at very low wind speeds, produces less noise, and reduces animal (e.g., bird and bat) collisions. The method determines the number of blades for the wind turbine based upon the desired rpm for the wind rotor and the generator configuration is based upon the estimated torque generated by the number of blades.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of reliability-based structural design optimization, and provides an integration method for accurate modeling and analysis and reliability-based design optimization of variable stiffness composite plate and shell structures. In this method, the first-order reliability method, two-point adaptive nonlinear approximation and second-order reliability method are applied into the efficient reliability-based design optimization of variable stiffness composite plate and shell structures. The fiber placement path of variable stiffness composite plate and shell structures is accurately modeled by non-uniform rational B-spline function. Isogeometric analysis is utilized for the variable stiffness composite plate and shell structures, including conducting linear buckling analysis on the variable stiffness composite plate and shell structures based on the isogeometric analysis method and deriving analytical sensitivity of design and random variables on the structural response.