Abstract: A wind turbine blade includes a root portion, a tip and a body extending between the root portion and the tip. The body has a pressure side and a suction side. The body further has at least one winglet. Each winglet has a spanwise extension towards the root portion of the rotor blade and that ends at the tip to form a winglet having a substantially C-shaped or substantially open P-shaped geometry.

Abstract: In one aspect, a method for controlling a wind turbine based on an identified surface condition of a rotor blade may include monitoring an operating parameter of the wind turbine to obtain parameter data related to the operating parameter as an operating input of the wind turbine changes, analyzing the parameter data to identify a roughness state of the rotor blade and performing a corrective action in response to the identified roughness state.

Abstract: A method for operating a horizontal axis wind turbine is provided, the wind turbine including: a rotor including a rotor blade, wherein the rotor is rotatably coupled to a nacelle, and the rotor is rotatable about a horizontal rotor axis extending through the nacelle, and the nacelle is rotatably coupled to a tower, the nacelle rotatable in a yaw plane about a yaw axis. The method includes determining a wind direction; determining a yaw angle setting, wherein the yaw angle setting deviates from an alignment of the rotor axis and the wind direction in the yaw plane; yawing the nacelle to the yaw angle setting; and operating the wind turbine for example to generate electricity.

Abstract: A wind turbine is provided. The 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 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: Rotor blade assemblies for wind turbines and methods for reducing rotor blade noise are disclosed. A rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having external surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade further defines a span and a chord. The rotor blade assembly further includes a tab. The tab includes an inner surface, an outer surface, a forward end and an aft end. The inner surface is mounted to one of the pressure side or the suction side. The outer surface has a cross-sectional profile configured to modify an operational value of the rotor blade at the trailing edge. The forward end is disposed within the chord.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade includes a root portion, a tip and a body extending between the root portion and the tip. The body has a pressure side and a suction side. The body further has at least one winglet. Each winglet has a spanwise extension towards the root portion of the rotor blade and that ends at the tip to form a winglet having a substantially C-shaped or substantially open P-shaped geometry.

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.

Abstract: A device for measuring fluid pressure, includes at least one flexible layer having a first surface adapted for fixing the layer to a structure, and having a second surface having at least one recess; at least one pressure sensor, provided in the at least one recess; and at least two wires connected to the at least one pressure sensor for connecting the at least one pressure sensor to a signal receiving unit. Further, a method for measuring fluid pressure is provided.

Abstract: A noise reducer for a rotor blade of a wind turbine and a rotor blade assembly are disclosed. The rotor 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 tip and a root. The rotor blade further defines a span and a chord. The rotor blade assembly further includes a noise reducer configured on the rotor blade. The noise reducer includes a plurality of rods each having a body extending between a first end and a second end. The body of each of the plurality of rods contacts and extends parallel to the body of a neighboring rod of the plurality of rods when the noise reducer is in a stable position.

Abstract: A noise reducer for a rotor blade of a wind turbine and a rotor blade assembly are disclosed. The rotor 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 tip and a root. The rotor blade further defines a span and a chord. The rotor blade assembly further includes a noise reducer configured on the rotor blade. The noise reducer includes a plurality of rods each having a body extending between a first end and a second end. The body of each of the plurality of rods contacts and extends parallel to the body of a neighboring rod of the plurality of rods when the noise reducer is in a stable position.

Abstract: A device for measuring fluid pressure, includes at least one flexible layer having a first surface adapted for fixing the layer to a structure, and having a second surface having at least one recess; at least one pressure sensor, provided in the at least one recess; and at least two wires connected to the at least one pressure sensor for connecting the at least one pressure sensor to a signal receiving unit. Further, a method for measuring fluid pressure is provided.