Abstract: Provided herein are duct support systems and methods for installing and supporting a flexible duct in an interior of a wind turbine blade. The system comprises a duct support including an eyelet and at least one bonding surface, wherein the bonding surface is glued to an interior surface of the wind turbine blade near a tip of the wind turbine blade, and a cable, wherein the cable is connected to a tip-most end of the flexible duct, the cable passes through the eyelet of the duct support, and the cable passes through the flexible duct, whereby the flexible duct can be retracted from or deployed to the tip of the wind turbine blade by pulling the cable in a respective direction.

Abstract: Wind turbine ice protection control systems and methods for controlling ice protection measures at a wind turbine are provided. The ice protection control system operates in multiple locations: the first being at least one remote wind turbine site and the second at least one offsite control office location. The ice protection control system includes sensors on at least one wind turbine at least one remote site for sensing internal and external environmental conditions and/or wind turbine outputs. The sensors output data which is received by a network at the wind turbine and then sent to a second network at an offsite location where it is analyzed to determine actions to be taken. In this way, multiple wind turbines at multiple wind turbine remote sites can be controlled by a single control system. Systems and methods for creating, retrieving, and storing sensor data within the ice protection control systems are also discussed.

Abstract: Wind turbine ice protection systems and methods are provided. An ice protection system for heating a wind turbine blade includes: a heater disposed in an interior of the wind turbine blade, the heater for heating air; a blower disposed in the interior of the wind turbine blade and for moving the air across the heater to generate a heated airflow; a duct disposed in the interior of the wind turbine blade, the duct for receiving the heated airflow and releasing the heated airflow into the interior of the wind turbine blade; and an electrical control subsystem disposed in the wind turbine for controlling one or more components of the ice protection system.

Abstract: Wind turbine bulkhead removal systems and methods are provided. The bulkhead removal system includes a bulkhead removal device and control subsystem. The bulkhead removal device includes a drilling subsystem with a drill for drilling at least one bulkhead within a wind turbine blade and an extension subsystem which is physically connected to the drilling subsystem and releasably securable to the wind turbine blade. The extension subsystem moves the drilling subsystem forwards and backwards along a length of the wind turbine blade to position the drill for drilling through each bulkhead. The control subsystem controls the operation of the drilling subsystem and the extension subsystem. The bulkhead removal system may also include a connection subsystem for connecting power and control components of the drilling and extension subsystems to a power source and to the control subsystem.

Abstract: A bulkhead removal device is including a bulkhead cutting system for cutting a bulkhead in a wind turbine blade, a positioning system for positioning the bulkhead cutting system, and a deployment assembly for moving the bulkhead cutting system inside the wind turbine blade. A method for cutting a bulkhead inside a wind turbine blade is also provided which includes moving a bulkhead cutting system inside a wind turbine blade, positioning the bulkhead cutting system, and cutting a bulkhead with the bulkhead cutting system.

Abstract: Wind turbine ice protection control systems and methods for controlling ice protection measures at a wind turbine are provided. The ice protection control system operates in multiple locations: the first being at least one remote wind turbine site and the second at least one offsite control office location. The ice protection control system includes sensors on at least one wind turbine at least one remote site for sensing internal and external environmental conditions and/or wind turbine outputs. The sensors output data which is received by a network at the wind turbine and then sent to a second network at an offsite location where it is analyzed to determine actions to be taken. In this way, multiple wind turbines at multiple wind turbine remote sites can be controlled by a single control system. Systems and methods for creating, retrieving, and storing sensor data within the ice protection control systems are also discussed.

Abstract: Wind turbine ice protection systems and methods are provided. An ice protection system for heating a wind turbine blade includes: a heater disposed in an interior of the wind turbine blade, the heater for heating air; a blower disposed in the interior of the wind turbine blade and for moving the air across the heater to generate a heated airflow; a duct disposed in the interior of the wind turbine blade, the duct for receiving the heated airflow and releasing the heated airflow into the interior of the wind turbine blade; and an electrical control subsystem disposed in the wind turbine for controlling one or more components of the ice protection system.

Abstract: There is a system and method for de-icing a wind turbine blade. The system includes a heater for heating air and for attaching to an interior surface of the wind turbine blade, a blower for moving air across the heater to generate a heated airflow, and a flexible duct for receiving the heated airflow and for releasing the heated airflow into the interior of the wind turbine blade. The method includes generating heated air in the interior of a wind turbine blade, moving the heated air into a porous duct within the interior of the wind turbine blade, and passing the heated air through the porous duct and into the interior of the wind turbine blade to heat a surface of the wind turbine blade.

Abstract: There is a system and method for de-icing a wind turbine blade. The system includes a heater for heating air and for attaching to an interior surface of the wind turbine blade, a blower for moving air across the heater to generate a heated airflow, and a flexible duct for receiving the heated airflow and for releasing the heated airflow into the interior of the wind turbine blade. The method includes generating heated air in the interior of a wind turbine blade, moving the heated air into a porous duct within the interior of the wind turbine blade, and passing the heated air through the porous duct and into the interior of the wind turbine blade to heat a surface of the wind turbine blade.