Abstract: A split wind turbine blade includes a connection joint for coupling a first and a second blade portion together. At least one of the blade portions includes electrically conductive material, and a hole formed in an end surface of the blade portion. A portion of the electrically conductive material is revealed on a surface of the hole. The connection joint includes a metal insert embedded in the hole such that the metal insert 10 forms an electrical path with the electrically conductive material revealed on the surface of the hole.

Abstract: There is provided a wind turbine blade having a root end, a tip end, a blade shell, a lightning protection system and an integrated web-down conductor. The integrated web-down conductor comprises: a down conductor forming part of the lightning protection system: electrical insulation surrounding the down conductor; and a web that surrounds the electrical insulation so as to enclose the down conductor and electrical insulation and is coupled to the blade shell.

Abstract: A modular nacelle (16) of a wind turbine (10) includes a main nacelle unit (22), an auxiliary nacelle unit (24, 26) releasably connected to the main nacelle unit (22), the auxiliary nacelle unit (24, 26) having a wind turbine component (68) with a first liquid volume (VC,A), and a liquid containment system (100) for containing liquid spillage in the nacelle (16). The liquid containment system (100) includes a liquid spillage container (70) in the auxiliary nacelle unit (24, 26) and having a first container volume (VA), a liquid spillage container (50) in the main nacelle unit (22) and having a second container volume (VM), and a flow channel (102) providing fluid communication between the auxiliary liquid spillage container (70) and the main liquid spillage container (50) in response to liquid spillage in the auxiliary nacelle unit (24, 26) exceeding the first container volume (VA). A method of containing liquid spillage in a modular nacelle (16) is also disclosed.

Abstract: A wind turbine tower evacuation tool is provided including an object end for attachment to an object or a person and a roller end configured for connection to a surface of a wind turbine tower by magnetic attraction. The roller end includes at least one magnet body arranged for rotation around a rotational axis of the roller end. The wind turbine tower evacuation tool further includes a rope element connecting the object end to the roller end.

Abstract: A transmission which may find particular utility in wind turbine application, but may also be used in other applications. The transmission comprises a fixed gear ring, a first drive member rotationally supported within the fixed gear ring, the first drive member defining a plurality of radially arranged apertures or bores, each of which accommodates a tooth element. The tooth elements have a tooth tip and a tooth base, and the first drive member further comprises a radially outer face and a radially inner face, and wherein the tooth tips of the tooth elements engage a corresponding gear profile defined by the fixed gear ring. A second drive member is rotationally supported such that it extends within the first drive member, and defines a cam profile which engages the tooth base of each of the plurality of tooth elements.

Abstract: A tool assembly (1) for tensioning tower bolts (12) of a wind turbine tower is disclosed. The tool assembly (1) comprises a connecting arrangement (2, 13, 14) configured to connect the tool assembly (1) to a part of a wind turbine tower, and a tool holding part (3) arranged to hold a tool (5) for tensioning tower bolts (12). The tool holding part (3) is attached to the connecting arrangement (2, 13, 14) in a rotatable manner, thereby allowing the tool (5) to be rotated between at least a first orientation and a second orientation. The connecting arrangement (2, 13, 14) may retain the tool assembly (1) relative to a tower wall by means of a magnet (17).

Abstract: A tower section for a wind turbine is provided. The tower section includes a tensioning arrangement having at least one tensioning device attached to three or more attachment points associated with the tower section. The attachment points are located proximate to an end of the tower section. The or each tensioning device is under tension and provides radial stiffness to the tower section. A method for assembling a tower for a wind turbine is also provided. The method includes providing a tower section, attaching a tensioning arrangement including at least one tensioning device between three or more attachment points associated with the tower section and located proximate to an end thereof, and applying tension to the at least one tensioning device so as to provide radial stiffness to the tower section.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a root ring for a wind turbine blade comprising winding metal sheet material onto a mandrel to form a metal section proximate a hub end of the root ring. Sheet fibre material is also wound onto the mandrel to form a fibre section of the root ring proximate a tipwards end of the root ring. The metal sheet material is interleaved with the sheet fibre material to form a transition section of the root ring between the metal section and the fibre section.

Abstract: A method of inspecting a wind turbine blade having an electro-thermal heating element and a surface protection layer. The method includes: exposing a test point of the electro-thermal heating element; contacting the test point to establish an electrical connection between the test point and a sensor; and electrically connecting the sensor to the surface protection layer. The sensor is operated to measure a resistance value indicative of an electrical resistance between the test point and the surface protection layer. The resistance value is analysed to determine a condition of the wind turbine blade. The invention provides a method of inspecting a wind turbine blade which enables damage or defects to be detected which may be difficult to detect by visual inspection or traditional non-destructive testing techniques.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a wind turbine blade extending in a spanwise direction between a root and a tip, and in a chordwise direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The wind turbine blade has a spar cap comprising a plurality of strips of fibrous composite material. Each strip extends in the spanwise direction between a first end and a second end to define a length of the strip, and each strip has a width and a thickness, the width being less than the length, and the thickness being less than the width. Each strip has upper and lower major surfaces defined by the length and width dimensions. Each strip has side surfaces defined by the length and thickness dimensions. The plurality of strips includes a first strip and a second strip. The first strip has a tapered end portion in which the thickness of the first strip decreases towards the first end of the first strip.

Abstract: A hybrid wind turbine tower includes at least one polygonal tower section with a polygonal cross-sectional profile connected to a foundation, at least one tubular tower section with a circular cross-sectional profile for connection to the nacelle, and a transition piece disposed between the at least one polygonal tower section and the at least one tubular tower section. The transition piece includes an upper portion having a circular cross-sectional profile connected to a lower end of the at least one tubular tower section, and a lower portion having a polygonal cross-sectional profile connected to an upper end of the at least one polygonal tower section. A method for assembling a hybrid wind turbine tower is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of trimming a production flange (52) from a wind turbine blade (10) during manufacture of the wind turbine blade (10). The method comprises mounting a self-propelled flange trimming apparatus (60) on the production flange (52) and using a drive system (64, 66) of the apparatus (60) to propel the apparatus (60) along the production flange (52). A directional control system controls the direction of the apparatus (60) and a cutting tool (81) cuts through the production flange (52) as the apparatus (60) travels along the production flange (52). Also, a self-propelled production flange trimming apparatus (60) comprising a carriage (61) with a drive member (64, 66), a directional control system, and a cutting tool (81) attached to the carriage (61). A system comprising a wind turbine blade moulding (50) and a trimming apparatus (60) mounted on the production flange (52) of the moulding (50).

Abstract: A wind turbine comprising, a tower, a nacelle mounted on the tower, and a rotor for harvesting wind energy by rotation of the rotor about a rotor axis extending in a vertical center plane. The nacelle comprises a main unit and two auxiliary units each housing a first and a second operative component. To obtain a combination of reuse of components and a good weight distribution, the first operative components in the first and second auxiliary units have the same distance to the center plane and the second operative components in the first and second auxiliary units have different distances to the center plane.

Abstract: A method for installing at least one damper unit in a tower section of a wind turbine tower is disclosed. The tower section is arranged with its centre axis in a substantially horizontal orientation, and a guiderail is introduced into the tower section. A trolley is mounted on a part of the guiderail extending out of the tower section, the damper unit is mounted on the trolley, and the trolley with the damper unit is moved along the guiderail to a position inside the tower section. The damper unit is positioned in an installation position being vertically offset from the centre axis of the tower section, wherein the positioning comprises elevating the damper unit, and the damper unit is attached to the tower section at the installation position.

Abstract: A testing device includes a drive unit and an output unit, which are connected together via first and second gearboxes. The testing device is configured to adjustably tilt and/or adjustably displace at least one of the first and second gearboxes for at least partially simultaneous testing of the first and second gearboxes.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine nacelle (2, 40) configured for mounting on a wind turbine tower (3), the nacelle comprising a top cover comprising multiple cover elements (41, 42, 43, 44), of which at least one is a dome cover element (44) comprising a dome-shaped part (45); wherein said nacelle has a second configuration in which said dome-shaped part (45) protrudes upwards and a first configuration in which said dome-shaped part (45) protrudes downwards.

Abstract: In a first example there is provided a method of servicing a wind turbine rotor blade. The blade comprises an outer shell defining an interior cavity, and the rotor blade is part of a rotor connected to a wind turbine. The method comprises arranging the rotor such that the 5 blade is in a first orientation, installing a work platform in the interior cavity of the blade when the blade is in the first orientation, and subsequently arranging the blade in a second orientation. The method further comprises using the work platform, when the blade is in the second orientation, to support a technician performing a service operation on the blade.

Abstract: A method of controlling airborne tonal noise which originates from a component of a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising a vibration control system comprising a plurality of actuators. The method comprising identifying a first operating state of the wind turbine; and selecting a first set of one or more of the actuators on the basis of the identified first operating state. Each actuator of the first set is operated to apply a vibration control oscillation to the component in phase opposition to a vibration of the component, thereby damping the vibration of the component and in turn reducing airborne tonal noise originating from the component. A change of the wind turbine to a second operating state is detected, then a second set of one or more of the actuators is selected on the basis of the identified second operating state.

Abstract: A horizontal axis wind turbine comprising a rotor having a plurality of blades, the rotor having a radius of at least 80 meters, the blades comprising: a root end and a tip end; a leading edge and a trailing edge; a shoulder between the root end and the tip end where a chord length defined between the leading edge and the trailing edge is at a maximum; wherein: Solr is at least 0.0140 at 0.7R; Solr is at least 0.0116 at 0.8R; Solr is at least 0.0090 at 0.9R; Solr being the combined radius specific solidity of the blades.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (100), a system (10) and a method for modifying the cross section of a tower section (1) of a wind turbine, wherein the tower section comprises a flange (4) located at an end (3) of the tower section having a plurality of through holes (5) spaced around its circumference for securing said tower section to another wind turbine section. The method comprises securing tensioning mechanism (14) to each of a pair of said plurality of through holes in the flange of the tower section, said pair of holes being generally opposed; and applying a tensile force between said pair of holes in the flange of the tower section.