Abstract: A wind turbine generator comprising a rotor, a stator and an air gap between a gap-delimiting region of the stator and a gap-delimiting region of the rotor; wherein the rotor and/or the stator are deformable under operational loads and configured in such a way that the air gap resulting from the presence of operational loads is more uniform than the air gap in the absence of operational loads. A method for optimizing an air gap between a gap-delimiting region of a stator and a gap-delimiting region of a rotor of a wind turbine generator, said rotor and/or said stator being deformable under operational loads and said optimization consisting in that the air gap resulting from the presence of the set of operational loads is more uniform than the air gap in the absence of the set of operational loads.

Abstract: System for stabilizing an offshore horizontal axis wind turbine having a tower, the system comprising sensors for generating signals representing detected movements of the tower, and gyroscopes. Each gyroscope has a spinning axis, an input axis and an output axis, and a flywheel rotatable about the spinning axis. The system further comprises an actuator for each gyroscope, said actuator being arranged with its related gyroscope in such a way that this actuator can apply a torque about the input axis of the gyroscope. The system also comprises a control unit for receiving the signals representing detected movements of the tower, and for providing the actuator with suitable control signals for said actuator to apply a torque about the related gyroscope input axis, said torque about the input axis producing a torque about the output axis of the same gyroscope that at least partly dampens the detected movements of the tower.

Abstract: Wind turbine rotor comprising a hub, a plurality of blades and at least one pitch system for rotating a blade substantially along its longitudinal axis. The pitch system comprises a bearing, a gear and a pitch drive. The pitch drive is arranged on a flange and has a motor and a pinion which meshes with the gear. The flange is provided with a hole and an intermediate support is concentrically arranged with respect to the hole. The intermediate support comprises an off-center opening with respect to a central axis of the hole and the pitch drive is mounted through said off-center opening. The position of the off-center opening is such that the intermediate support can be arranged in a first and a second position in which the drive pinion meshes with a first and second section of the gear respectively.

Abstract: Yaw brakes for wind turbines are proposed, the wind turbines having a tower, a nacelle and a yaw system for rotating the nacelle with respect to the tower. The yaw brakes comprise a locking part, having a toothed profile at a side facing a toothed profile of an annular gear of the yaw system. The locking part of the yaw brakes is movable in a radial direction relative to the annular gear, between a brake position and a non-brake position. Brake discs and callipers may be eliminated.

Abstract: A floating offshore wind turbine comprises a rotor with a plurality of blades, a nacelle and a nacelle support structure having a central longitudinal axis. A plurality of tuned mass damping configurations is arranged around the central longitudinal axis of the nacelle support structure to dampen vibrations in all 6 degrees of freedom.

Abstract: Wind turbine auxiliary drive system comprising a motor, a drive pinion, a bearing and a lubrication system, the bearing comprising an outer bearing ring, an inner bearing ring and, between these two bearing rings, one or more rows of rolling elements which allow both bearing rings to rotate relative to each other, the inner bearing ring having an inner side comprising a gear which meshes with the drive pinion, wherein a height of the gear in an axial direction is smaller than the height of the inner bearing ring such that a gearless portion is defined, and wherein at least one lubricant inlet and/or at least one lubricant outlet is arranged on said gearless portion.

Abstract: A method of real-time monitoring of the operation of a wind turbine in an operational region of theoretically constant power coefficient is disclosed. The method comprises measuring the electrical power generated by the wind turbine, a representative wind speed, and an ambient temperature. The wind power available to the wind turbine for a given moment in time may be calculated based on the measured ambient temperature and measured representative wind speed. The aerodynamic power captured by the wind turbine at the same moment in time may be determined based on the measured electrical power generated. And the practical power coefficient may be calculated by dividing the aerodynamic power captured by the calculated available wind power.

Abstract: It includes a rotatable hub carrying blades and a device for attaching a portion of the blades to a portion of the hub. The attaching device includes bushings inside of which corresponding studs can be secured. At least some of the bushings are provided with at least one securing end adapted for providing the stud with a degree of rotation relative to the bushing. Bushings may include an inner receiving member for receiving a corresponding end of the stud. The receiving member can be rotated inside the bushing around an axis.

Abstract: Wind turbine rotor comprising a hub, a plurality of blades, at least one pitch system for rotating a blade substantially along its longitudinal axis and at least one pitch retention system, wherein a pitch retention system comprises a cam profile and a cam follower, and one of the hub and a blade comprises said cam profile and the other of the hub and blade comprises said cam follower, and wherein the cam follower comprises a pushing member and a contact member, wherein the pushing member is arranged to push the contact member towards the cam profile, and the cam profile comprises a local depression, and wherein the cam follower and cam profile are arranged such that when the blade is in a pitch position at or below nominal wind speed, the contact member can be retained in said local depression.

Abstract: Generator rotor comprising a rotor rim and a plurality of permanent magnet modules arranged at one of an inner and outer circumference of said rotor rim, wherein the rotor rim comprises a plurality of rotor rings separated by gaps between them, and attached to each other via a plurality of axial strips fixed to the other of the inner and outer, the permanent magnet modules comprise a base and one or more rows of magnets mounted on a top surface of said base, and wherein the permanent magnet modules are fixed to the strips by a plurality of fasteners extending through the gaps between the rotor rings.

Abstract: In a first aspect, the present invention provides a method for detecting a wake situation in a wind farm comprising a plurality of wind turbines theoretically distributed according to a theoretical layout, one or more of the wind turbines having one or more load sensors. The method comprises obtaining, for one or more of the wind turbines with load sensors, load measurements from the load sensors during a predefined time interval. The method further comprises obtaining a qualified layout by qualifying in the layout each wind turbine for which load measurements have been obtained as overloaded or non-overloaded according to its load measurements. Finally, the obtained qualified layout is used to detect the wake situation.

Abstract: A method of operating a wind turbine having a rotor with a plurality of blades, and one or more pitch mechanisms for rotating the blades including a sub-nominal zone of operation and a supra-nominal zone of operation for wind speeds above the nominal wind speed wherein the sub-nominal zone of operation includes a first, a second and a third operational range. The first operational range extends from a cut-in wind speed to a first wind speed, wherein the rotor speed is kept substantially constant at a first value. The second operational range extends from the first wind speed to a second wind speed, wherein both the rotor speed and generator torque are varied as a function of wind speed.

Abstract: It comprises at least one shell portion for forming a shell segment of a wind turbine tower and a flange portion attached to the shell portion. The flange portion comprises flange sectors separated from each other by corresponding spaces defining a discontinuous flange portion. The shell portion includes apertures formed in correspondence with the spaces between adjacent flange sectors. The flange sectors are formed with at least one base portion extending from at least one face of the shell portion at an angle to the shell portion. The base portion may have a varying thickness.

Abstract: Wind turbine rotor comprising a hub, a plurality of blades and at least one pitch system for rotating a blade substantially along its longitudinal axis. The pitch system comprises a bearing, a gear and a pitch drive. The pitch drive is arranged on a flange and has a motor and a pinion which meshes with the gear. The flange is provided with a hole and an intermediate support is concentrically arranged with respect to the hole. The intermediate support comprises an off-center opening with respect to a central axis of the hole and the pitch drive is mounted through said off-center opening. The position of the off-center opening is such that the intermediate support can be arranged in a first and a second position in which the drive pinion meshes with a first and second section of the gear respectively.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of operating a wind turbine having a rotor with a plurality of blades, a system for determining one or more loads on the wind turbine, a historical register of data on the wind turbine operation, and a control system for controlling one or more operational parameters of the wind turbine. The method comprises determining the loads on the wind turbine, and storing the determined loads on the wind turbine in the historical register. The method further comprises obtaining, from the historical register, a characteristic indicative of the loads on the wind turbine accumulated over time, and determining one or more wind thrust limits depending on the obtained characteristic indicative of the loads accumulated over time. One or more operational parameters of the wind turbine are controlled to keep the wind thrust on the wind turbine within the determined wind thrust limits.

Abstract: Wind turbine rotor comprising a hub, a plurality of blades and at least one pitch system for rotating a blade substantially along its longitudinal axis, the pitch system comprising a bearing, a motor and a gear system, said gear system comprising a driving pinion operationally connected with the motor, an annular gear arranged to mesh with the driving pinion, and additional gear teeth, the additional gear teeth being arranged to mesh with other parts of the gear system at least in a predefined blade position for wind speeds at or below nominal wind speed, and arranged such that upon movement from said predefined blade position, the additional gear teeth come into contact with said other parts of the gear system before the driving pinion comes into contact with the annular gear.

Abstract: Method of operating a wind turbine having a tower, a rotor with a plurality of blades arranged on the tower, one or more pitch systems for pitching the blades, a system for determining an instantaneous representative wind speed, and a system for determining a distance between a blade and the tower. The method comprises determining the instantaneous representative wind speed, and determining the distance between the tower and one of the blades when said blade is in the shadow of the tower. The method further comprises determining a tower distance pitch adjustment depending on the determined distance between the tower and the blade in the shadow of the tower and on the determined instantaneous representative wind speed. The method still further comprises the one or more pitch systems applying the determined tower distance pitch adjustment to at least the next blade to be in the shadow of the tower.

Abstract: Systems for providing electrical power to one or more wind turbine electrical components is provided comprising an electrical grid and an auxiliary power source for providing electrical power, and one or more wind turbines. Each of the wind turbines includes a wind turbine generator, one or more electrical components, a main voltage transformer for connecting the wind turbine generator to the grid and a switchgear arranged between the main voltage transformer and a point of connection to the grid. One or more switches for alternately connecting either said electrical grid or said auxiliary power source to the switchgears of the wind turbines are provided. The switchgears comprise a switchgear voltage transformer, the switchgear voltage transformer includes primary and secondary windings, the primary windings receiving power from the electrical grid or auxiliary power source, and the secondary windings delivering electrical power to the wind turbine electrical components.

Abstract: Pitch drive system for a wind turbine comprising a motor, a drive pinion operationally connected with the motor and a gear arranged to mesh with the drive pinion, wherein a first plate is provided on one side of the drive pinion, the first plate comprising one or more channels adapted to provide a lubricant to a tooth of the drive pinion that is in meshing engagement with teeth of the gear. The disclosure further relates to a wind turbine rotor.

Abstract: Wind turbine auxiliary drive system comprising a motor, a drive pinion, a bearing and a lubrication system, the bearing comprising an outer bearing ring, an inner bearing ring and, between these two bearing rings, one or more rows of rolling elements which allow both bearing rings to rotate relative to each other, the inner bearing ring having an inner side comprising a gear which meshes with the drive pinion, wherein a height of the gear in an axial direction is smaller than the height of the inner bearing ring such that a gearless portion is defined, and wherein at least one lubricant inlet and/or at least one lubricant outlet is arranged on said gearless portion.