Abstract: In a first aspect, a nacelle assembly for a wind turbine is provided. The nacelle assembly is connected to a wind turbine tower through a yaw system and comprises a front region coupled to a rotor comprising a rotor hub and at least one rotor blade. The nacelle assembly further comprises a nacelle having a cover structure to house wind turbine components and an add-on wind flow deflector system. The add-on wind flow deflector system is coupled to an outside of the cover structure to guide wind flowing to the nacelle for reducing a drag of the nacelle when a wind direction is misaligned with respect to the longitudinal wind direction in a yaw system failure event.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a blade sleeve for a blade tip of a rotor blade of a wind turbine. The blade sleeve includes a rapid-prototyped body having a pressure side, a suction side, a first open span-wise end, a closed leading edge, and a trailing edge. Further, the body is slidable onto the blade tip of the rotor blade. In addition, the blade sleeve includes at least one additional rapid-prototyped feature integral with the body.

Abstract: A jointed wind turbine rotor blade includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint line. Each of the blade segments includes a pressure side shell member and a suction side shell member. A sealing tape is applied over the shell members so as to bridge across the chord-wise joint line. The sealing tape includes side edges that are aligned parallel with airflow over the shell members at the chord-wise joint line at a defined load and operational condition on the jointed wind turbine blade.

Abstract: A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine includes a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a blade tip and a blade root. The rotor blade assembly also includes at least one noise reducer adjacent to the trailing edge. The noise reducer(s) includes at least one serration extending beyond the trailing edge in a chord-wise direction of the rotor blade. The serration(s) also includes a suction side surface and a pressure side surface. The suction side surface defines a first radius of curvature in the chord-wise direction and the pressure side surface defines a second radius of curvature in the chord-wise direction. Further, the first radius of curvature may be larger than the second radius of curvature such that the suction side surface is flatter than the pressure side surface or vice versa.

Abstract: A wind turbine includes at least one blade having a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge that define an airfoil-shaped profile. The suction side and/or the pressure side has a morphable region. The wind turbine also includes a control system configured to activate the morphable region to alter the airfoil-shaped profile and reduce negative lift generated by the blade when the blade is oriented at a negative lift angle.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of the blade segments having a pressure side shell member, a suction side shell member. The blade further including a coupling component extending spanwise and structurally connecting the first blade segment and the second blade segment. A thermal actuation component is coupled to the coupling component and passively actuated in response to a change in thermal conditions so as to provide for aeroelastic tailoring and pitch control to the wind turbine blade.

Abstract: A method to reduce noise and vibration between separate blade segments of a jointed wind turbine rotor blade includes determining an actual offset at a chord-wise joint line between the shell members of the first and second blade segments at a load condition on the jointed wind turbine rotor blade, wherein the offset is any one or combination of a flap-wise offset, a twist-wise offset, or a yawl-wise offset. The method defines a modified configuration of the joint structure at a no-load condition on the wind turbine rotor blade that compensates at least partially for the actual offset at the load condition, and the first and second blade segments are connected with the modified configuration of the joint structure.

Abstract: A jointed wind turbine rotor blade includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint line. Each of the blade segments includes a pressure side shell member and a suction side shell member. A sealing tape is applied over the shell members so as to bridge across the chord-wise joint line. The sealing tape includes side edges that are aligned parallel with airflow over the shell members at the chord-wise joint line at a defined load and operational condition on the jointed wind turbine blade.

Abstract: A rotor blade assembly of a wind turbine includes a rotor blade having an aerodynamic body with an inboard region and an outboard region. The inboard and outboard regions define a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge. The inboard region includes a blade root, whereas the outboard region includes a blade tip. The rotor blade also defines a chord and a span. Further, the inboard region includes a transitional region of the rotor blade that includes a maximum chord. Moreover, a chord slope of the rotor blade in the transitional region ranges from about ?0.10 to about 0.10 from the maximum chord over about 15% of the span of the rotor blade.

Abstract: A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine includes a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a blade tip and a blade root. The rotor blade assembly also includes at least one noise reducer adjacent to the trailing edge. The noise reducer(s) includes at least one serration extending beyond the trailing edge in a chord-wise direction of the rotor blade. The serration(s) also includes a suction side surface and a pressure side surface. The suction side surface defines a first radius of curvature in the chord-wise direction and the pressure side surface defines a second radius of curvature in the chord-wise direction. Further, the first radius of curvature may be larger than the second radius of curvature such that the suction side surface is flatter than the pressure side surface or vice versa.

Abstract: Vortex generators for wind turbine rotor blades having noise-reducing features are mounted within a laminar flow region on either the pressure side or the suction side of the rotor blade and have a base portion with at least one airflow modifying element extending therefrom. The base portion has a leading edge and a trailing edge extending in a first direction. Further, the base portion includes one or more edge features formed within either or both of the leading or trailing edges. Moreover, the edge features are non-parallel with respect to the first direction so as to reduce laminar boundary layer instability noise.

Abstract: A wind turbine includes a hub configured to rotate about an axis at a first rotation speed and at least one blade coupled to the hub. The wind turbine also includes a sensor assembly configured to detect at least one characteristic of wind flowing through the wind turbine. The sensor assembly is mounted to the hub. The sensor assembly includes a laser device configured to emit a laser beam and at least one optical element configured to direct the laser beam. The sensor assembly also includes a non-motorized mechanism configured to rotate the at least one optical element at a second rotation speed when the hub rotates at the first rotation speed. The second rotation speed is greater than the first rotation speed.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. The first blade segment includes a beam structure extending lengthways that structurally connects with the second blade segment at a receiving section, wherein the beam structure forms a portion of an internal support structure and includes a shear web connected with a suction side spar cap and a pressure side spar cap. The present technology also includes a joint rod located at a first end of the beam structure for connecting with the receiving section of the second blade segment to form a coupling joint about a joint axis. The coupling joint is coupled to an adjustable elastic support. The receiving section may further include a torque coupling positioned offset from the joint axis, such that a bending motion of the beam structure automatically induces a twist motion. A method of assembling the wind turbine blade is additionally disclosed.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade assembly includes a rotor blade having exterior surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge and a trailing edge, each extending between a blade tip and a root. The rotor blade additionally defining a span and a chord. The blade assembly further includes a plurality of micro boundary layer energizers positioned on a surface of the pressure side of the rotor blade. The plurality of micro boundary layer energizers extending one of above or below a neutral plane of the rotor blade. The micro boundary layer energizers are shaped and positioned chordwise to delay separation of a boundary layer at a low angle of attack. A wind turbine including the blade assembly is additionally disclosed.

Abstract: A method for providing visual identification of a flow field across one or more wind turbines includes releasing at least one tracer material from at least one predetermined location of the wind turbine. The method also includes synchronizing the releasing of the tracer material with at least one of one or more operating parameters or one or more wind parameters of the wind turbine. Further, the method includes monitoring, via one or more sensors, a resultant flow pattern of the tracer material from one or more uptower locations.

Abstract: A method for mitigating noise during high wind speed conditions of a wind turbine includes providing a backward twist to the outboard region of the rotor blade having an angle of less than 6°. The method may also include reducing a tip chord taper within at least a portion of the outboard region of the rotor blade. Further, the method may include increasing a local tip chord length of the rotor blade. In addition, the method may include increasing a torsional stiffness of the outboard region of the rotor blade. As such, a combination of one or more of the blade properties described above are configured to reduce noise associated with high wind speed conditions.

Abstract: A wind turbine includes a hub configured to rotate about an axis at a first rotation speed and at least one blade coupled to the hub. The wind turbine also includes a sensor assembly configured to detect at least one characteristic of wind flowing through the wind turbine. The sensor assembly is mounted to the hub. The sensor assembly includes a laser device configured to emit a laser beam and at least one optical element configured to direct the laser beam. The sensor assembly also includes a non-motorized mechanism configured to rotate the at least one optical element at a second rotation speed when the hub rotates at the first rotation speed. The second rotation speed is greater than the first rotation speed.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a blade sleeve for a blade tip of a rotor blade of a wind turbine. The blade sleeve includes a rapid-prototyped body having a pressure side, a suction side, a first open span-wise end, a closed leading edge, and a trailing edge. Further, the body is slidable onto the blade tip of the rotor blade. In addition, the blade sleeve includes at least one additional rapid-prototyped feature integral with the body.

Abstract: In one aspect, a winglet for a rotor blade is disclosed. The winglet may generally include a winglet body extending at least partially between a winglet origin and a blade tip. The winglet body may define a sweep and a pre-bend. The sweep defined between the winglet origin and the blade tip may range from about 0.5% to about 4.0% of a span of the rotor blade. The pre-bend defined between the winglet origin and the blade tip may range from about 1.5% to about 4.5% of the span of the rotor blade.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to vortex generators for wind turbine rotor blades having noise-reducing features. For example, the vortex generators are mounted within a laminar flow region on either the pressure side or the suction side of the rotor blade and have a base portion with at least one airflow modifying element extending therefrom. The base portion has a leading edge and a trailing edge extending in a first direction. Further, the base portion includes one or more edge features formed within either or both of the leading or trailing edges. Moreover, the edge features are non-parallel with respect to the first direction so as to reduce laminar boundary layer instability noise.