Abstract: The present invention relates to a wind turbine enabling a cost effective and easy attachment/replacement of rotor blades and to a method of attaching a rotor blade to a hub of a wind turbine. The wind turbine in accordance with the invention comprises a tower resting on a base, at least one rotor blade having a blade connector portion, a nacelle housing a shaft to which a hub is attached, the nacelle being mounted atop the tower. Said hub of the wind turbine comprises a plurality of hub connection flanges, each hub connection flange being adapted to be detachably connected to a blade connector portion of a rotor blade.

Abstract: A system and method for automatically inspecting a lightning protection system on a wind turbine is disclosed. The system and method may include a wind turbine having a plurality of blades mounted to a hub, a lightning receptor on each of the plurality of blades, a lightning protection system extending from each of the lightning receptor to an earth grounding grid and a conductor that is part of a testing system extending from at least inside the hub, through the inside of at least one of the plurality of blades and connecting to the lightning receptor, the conductor completing a circuit extending from the lightning receptor to the earth grounding grid. A test current signal may be introduced into the testing system for a leg of the lightning protection system to be tested and an electrical continuity in the circuit using the test current signal may be determined.

Abstract: A braking system for a wind turbine is disclosed. The braking system may include a DC chopper connected to a DC bus and a super capacitor capable of being connected to the DC chopper through a switch. The DC chopper may be controlled by a control system to enable one of charging, discharging, idle or system off modes of the super capacitor.

Abstract: A wind turbine is disclosed. The wind turbine comprises a tower with a nacelle mounted to the tower. A hub, with a plurality of blades extending therefrom, is rotatably mounted to the nacelle. A main shaft rotates with the hub, and at least one generator system is operatively connected to the main shaft. The generator system of the wind turbine comprises a permanent magnet generator. The permanent magnet generator comprises a rotor and a stator for generating a high frequency alternating current (HFAC) power output from the rotation of the main shaft, and a magnetic flux diverter circuit for modulating the output of the permanent magnet generator. The generator system may further comprise a power transformation circuit for transforming the HFAC power output into a low frequency alternating current power output.

Abstract: A wind turbine control system operates a wind turbine and controls the amount of power output at maximum power output conditions to achieve the goal of emphasizing power generation in the present at the expense of power generation in the future. Because of the time value of money, a given quantity of electric power generated in the present is worth much more than the same quantity generated, for instance, 10 years in the future. Recognizing the time value of money impact on the net present value of installing and operating a wind turbine, the control system would optimize the net present value by producing more power in the turbine's early years than in its later years. The control system may also optimize return on investment by adjusting the power output based on the energy price during a current period versus the energy price forecast in a future period.

Abstract: A fire detection and suppression system for a wind turbine is disclosed. The fire detection and suppression system may be capable of independent operation without input from the wind turbine. The fire detection and suppression system may further be capable of generating and communicating a fire signal to the wind turbine for conveying a fire within the wind turbine. The wind turbine may take actions to shut down and put itself in a protected condition depending upon the location of the detected fire.

Abstract: A method for protecting wind turbine equipment in a fire event is disclosed. The method may include providing a wind turbine and a fire detection and suppression system capable of detecting a fire within the wind turbine, the fire detection and suppression system further capable of generating and communicating a fire signal to the wind turbine, the fire signal including a location of the fire within the wind turbine and taking one or more actions by the wind turbine in response to the fire signal, the one or more actions dependent upon the location of the fire within the wind turbine.

Abstract: A drivetrain for a wind turbine is provided. The drivetrain may include a first stage speed increaser adapted for low speed operations, and a second stage speed increaser adapted for moderate and high speed operations. The first stage speed increaser may include at least one drive wheel being rotatably driven by a main shaft of the wind turbine and at least one driven wheel in frictional communication with the drive wheel. The second stage speed increaser may include a gearbox coupled to each driven wheel and a generator coupled to each gearbox.

Abstract: A powertrain for a wind turbine is provided. The powertrain may include a first stage speed increaser and a second stage speed increaser in communication with the first stage speed increaser. The first stage speed increaser may include a first stage drive wheel being driven by a main shaft of the wind turbine, and at least one first stage driven wheel being driven by the first stage drive wheel through one or more roller drive chains. The second stage speed increaser may include a second stage drive wheel being driven by the first stage driven wheel, and at least one second stage driven wheel being driven by the second stage drive wheel through one or more inverted tooth drive chains.

Abstract: A low friction joint apparatus for chain links is provided. The apparatus may include a first link pin rigidly coupled to a first chain link, a second link pin rigidly coupled to a second chain link, a sprocket roller coaxially and pivotally disposed about the second link pin, a plurality of radial bearings radially disposed between the second link pin and each of the first link pin and the sprocket roller, and a plurality of axial bearings axially disposed between the second link pin and the first chain link, and between the sprocket roller and the second chain link. The second link pin may be coaxially and pivotally disposed about the first link pin. The sprocket roller may be rotatable relative to each of the first and second chain links.

Abstract: A transition structure for transitioning between two adjacent tower structures of a wind turbine is disclosed. The transition structure may include a plurality of vertical legs spaced apart from one another, a stub section positioned between an upper tower portion and a lower tower portion, a plurality of connecting members, each of the plurality of connecting members connecting one of the plurality of vertical legs to the stub section, and at least one torsion plate positioned between the plurality of vertical legs and the stub section.

Abstract: A method for providing a normal operation of a wind turbine during unstable voltage events at an electric transmission grid using a ferroresonant transformer is disclosed. The method may include providing at least one auxiliary wind turbine component powered through a ferroresonant transformer. The method may further include providing a substantially constant output voltage to the auxiliary component(s) connected to the ferroresonant transformer in an event of an over voltage spike at the electric transmission grid and providing a substantially constant output voltage for a limited period of time to the auxiliary component(s) in an event of a low voltage at the electric transmission grid. The method may additionally include filtering damaging harmonic frequencies from the electric transmission grid during a normal voltage power supply.

Abstract: A tachometer for a generator is disclosed. The tachometer may include a plurality of filters configured to receive a plurality of generator phase signals, a plurality of zero-cross detectors, and a logic circuit. The filters may be configured to convert each phase signal into a corresponding filtered signal. The zero-cross detectors may be configured to generate pulse signals responsive to zero-crossings detected in each filtered signal. The logic circuit may be in communication with each zero-cross detector and configured to receive the pulse signals. The logic circuit may logically combine the pulse signals into a combined signal, and generate a tachometer signal based on the combined signal, wherein the tachometer signal corresponds to a rotational speed of the generator.

Abstract: A wind turbine is disclosed. The wind turbine may comprise a tower having a top and a base, a generator located near the top of the tower, a main shaft operatively connected to the generator, a hub operatively connected to the main shaft, a plurality of blades extending from the hub, and at least one electrical conductor connected to the generator, the conductor configured to carry electric power from the generator to the base of the tower. The wind turbine may further comprise a conduit enclosing the conductor with the conduit having a lower air inlet opening and an upper air outlet opening. The conduit removes heat generated by the conductor by inducing a chimney effect, causing the heat of the conductor to rise up the conduit and out of the tower through the upper air outlet opening, while drawing in air from outside the tower through the lower air inlet opening.

Abstract: A wind turbine with a passive pitch control system is disclosed. The wind turbine comprises a tower with a nacelle mounted to the tower. A hub is rotatably mounted to the nacelle. The hub has a plurality of blades extending therefrom with each blade rotatable around a longitudinal axis of each blade. A pitch control system is operatively associated with each blade. The pitch control system controls the pitch of each blade around the blade's longitudinal axis. In a preferred embodiment, the pitch control system comprises a flyweight governor and a preloaded spring biased against each other.

Abstract: A wind turbine with a thermal siphoning system is disclosed. The wind turbine comprises a tower of a wind turbine, the tower having a top and a base, and a thermal siphoning system for cooling heat generating components. The thermal siphoning system is located within the wind turbine tower and comprises a liquid coolant and at least one heat generating component located near the base of the tower. The heat generating component is adapted to receive the coolant through a coolant inlet port and adapted to discharge the coolant through a coolant outlet port. The thermal siphoning system further comprises a hot coolant tube connected to the coolant outlet port of the heat generating component.

Abstract: A wind turbine with a roller push belt drive train is disclosed. The wind turbine comprises a tower with a nacelle mounted to the tower. A hub is rotatably mounted to the nacelle. A plurality of blades radially extends from the hub, which is mounted to a main shaft within the nacelle. In one embodiment, the main shaft is mounted to a drive sprocket. A driven sprocket is mounted to a generator input shaft of a generator. The driven sprocket is proximally aligned in the same plane as the drive sprocket, but the drive and driven sprockets do not contact each other. A roller push belt transfers motion from the drive sprocket to the driven sprocket. The roller push belt comprises a guide track around the perimeter of the circumferences of the drive and driven sprockets and a plurality of roller elements arranged along the guide track.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling operation of a friction wheel drive train for a wind turbine is disclosed. The control system may include a system controller capable of regulating an output rotational speed of one or more generators driven by the drive train, at least one electrical sensor in at least indirect communication with the system controller for providing measurements thereto, at least one electrical contactor for establishing a connection between the one or more generators and a grid and an actuation system in at least indirect contact with the system controller and operating under command thereof to regulate the output rotational speed of the one or more generators.

Abstract: A wind turbine includes a vertically standing non-uniform tower adapted to support a horizontally oriented rotor. A fixed base portion of the turbine is adapted to support a separate rotatable tower having an upper rotor swept portion along the main body of the tower. The tower is adapted to be secured to the base for being rotatably yawed into the wind. A bearing system is housed between the base and lower tower extremity includes a pair of vertically spaced tracks situated on an annular support rail adapted to be fixed to a ground structure, for example a reinforced concrete foundation. The bearing system is further defined by pluralities of yaw bearing cartridge assemblies adapted to extend through flanged apertures of a skirt portion in the lower extremity of the tower.

Abstract: A wind turbine includes a vertically standing hybrid tower adapted to support a horizontally oriented rotor. The tower includes a fixed base portion and a separate rotatable upper rotor swept portion adapted to be secured to the base portion and rotatably yawed into the wind. The interface between the base and upper tower portions includes a bearing system defined by a pair of vertically spaced ring bearings adapted to encase and secure a downwardly depending spindle of the upper tower portion for rotatable support thereof within a vertically oriented cup-shaped opening in the base portion. Pluralities of contact rollers situated between inner and outer races of the ring bearings are each mounted on a single spindle and preloaded in angular orientation relative to the vertical axis of the tower.