Abstract: A rotor blade assembly is 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 extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade further defines a span and a chord. The rotor blade includes a skin layer that includes the exterior surfaces. The rotor blade assembly further includes a passive spoiler assembly operable to alter a flow past an exterior surface of the rotor blade. The spoiler assembly includes a spoiler feature movable between a non-deployed position and a deployed position. Movement of the spoiler feature from the non-deployed position to the deployed position is caused by a change in an applied force to the spoiler feature by the skin layer.

Abstract: A rotor blade assembly is 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 extending between a tip and a root. The rotor blade further defines a span and a chord. The rotor blade includes a skin layer that includes the exterior surfaces. The rotor blade assembly further includes a passive spoiler assembly operable to alter a flow past an exterior surface of the rotor blade. The spoiler assembly includes a spoiler feature movable between a non-deployed position and a deployed position. Movement of the spoiler feature from the non-deployed position to the deployed position is caused by a change in an applied force to the spoiler feature by the skin layer.

Abstract: A rotor blade assembly and a method for adjusting a loading capability of a rotor blade are disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having 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 spoiler assembly operable to alter a flow past a surface of the rotor blade. The spoiler assembly is incrementally deployable from the surface along one of a length or a width of the spoiler assembly.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade includes a porous window defined in the suction side of the blade. The porous window includes a plurality of holes defined therein. An air manifold within the internal cavity of the blade is in airflow communication with the porous window. An inlet air passage in the pressure side of the blade is in communication with the air manifold. A deployable cover member is configured adjacent the porous window and is variably positionable from a fully closed position wherein airflow through the holes in the porous window is blocked to a fully open position wherein airflow is established through the holes in the porous window.

Abstract: A rotor blade assembly and a method for adjusting a loading capability of a rotor blade are disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having 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 spoiler assembly operable to alter a flow past a surface of the rotor blade. The spoiler assembly is incrementally deployable from the surface along one of a length or a width of the spoiler assembly.

Abstract: A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine and a method for modifying a load characteristic of a rotor blade in a wind turbine are disclosed. The rotor blade assembly includes a rotor blade having 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 includes a body defining at least a portion of the pressure side, the suction side, and the trailing edge, and a nose feature movable with respect to the body. The rotor blade assembly further includes a controller operable to move the nose feature.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade includes a porous window defined in the suction side of the blade. The porous window is permeable to airflow from within an internal cavity of the blade through the suction side. A deployable cover member is configured with the porous window and is variably positionable from a fully closed position wherein airflow through the porous window is blocked, to a fully open position wherein airflow is established through an entirety of the porous window. An actuating mechanism is disposed within the internal cavity of the blade and is configured with the cover member to move the cover member between the fully closed and fully open positions in response to a control signal.

Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind turbine is disclosed. The rotor blade may include a blade root, a blade tip and a body. The body may include a base portion extending from the blade root and a winglet extending from the base portion to the blade tip. In addition, at least a portion of the winglet may be configured to be pitched independent of the base portion.

Abstract: A wind turbine includes a plurality of rotor blades, with each blade having a root portion connected to a rotor hub and an airfoil portion extending radially outward from the rotor hub. The airfoil portion further includes a main foil section and a winglet pivotally connected to the main foil section so as to pivot from an in-line position wherein the rotor blade has a first sweep length to an articulated position wherein the rotor blade has a second sweep length. In the articulated position, the winglet may pivot to not more than 90 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the main foil section. A deployable sleeve may be connected to the winglet so as to extend between the winglet and the main foil section in the articulated position of the winglet. The sleeve is stowable within either or both of the main foil section or the winglet in the in-line position of the winglet.

Abstract: A wind turbine includes a plurality of rotor blades, with each blade having a root portion connected to a rotor hub and an airfoil portion extending radially outward from the rotor hub. The airfoil portion further includes a main foil section and a winglet pivotally connected to the main foil section so as to pivot from an in-line position wherein the rotor blade has a first sweep length to an articulated position wherein the rotor blade has a second sweep length. In the articulated position, the winglet may pivot to not more than 90 degrees relative to a longitudinal axis of the main foil section. A deployable sleeve may be connected to the winglet so as to extend between the winglet and the main foil section in the articulated position of the winglet. The sleeve is stowable within either or both of the main foil section or the winglet in the in-line position of the winglet.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade includes a porous window defined in the suction side of the blade. The porous window is permeable to airflow from within an internal cavity of the blade through the suction side. A deployable cover member is configured with the porous window and is variably positionable from a fully closed position wherein airflow through the porous window is blocked, to a fully open position wherein airflow is established through an entirety of the porous window. An actuating mechanism is disposed within the internal cavity of the blade and is configured with the cover member to move the cover member between the fully closed and fully open positions in response to a control signal.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade includes a porous window defined in the suction side of the blade. The porous window includes a plurality of holes defined therein. An air manifold within the internal cavity of the blade is in airflow communication with the porous window. An inlet air passage in the pressure side of the blade is in communication with the air manifold. A deployable cover member is configured adjacent the porous window and is variably positionable from a fully closed position wherein airflow through the holes in the porous window is blocked to a fully open position wherein airflow is established through the holes in the porous window.

Abstract: A method for braking a wind turbine including at least one rotor blade coupled to a rotor. The method includes selectively controlling an angle of pitch of the at least one rotor blade with respect to a wind direction based on a design parameter of a component of the wind turbine to facilitate reducing a force induced into the wind turbine component as a result of braking.

Abstract: Second stage turbine buckets have airfoil profiles substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth Table I wherein X and Y values are in inches and the Z values are non-dimensional values, from 0.05 to 0.95 convertible to Z distances in inches by multiplying the Z values by the height of the airfoil in inches. The X and Y values are distances which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z. The profile sections at each distance Z are joined smoothly to one another to form a complete airfoil shape. The X and Y distances may be scalable as a function of the same constant or number to provide a scaled up or scaled down airfoil section for the bucket. The nominal airfoil given by the X, Y and Z distances lies within an envelop of ±0.160 inches in directions normal to the surface of the airfoil.

Abstract: First stage turbine buckets have airfoil profiles substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth Table I wherein X and Y values are in inches and the Z values are non-dimensional values from 0 to 1 convertible to Z distances in inches by multiplying the Z values by the height of the airfoil in inches. The X and Y values are distances which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z. The profile sections at each distance Z are joined smoothly to one another to form a complete airfoil shape. The X, Y and Z distances may be scalable as a function of the same constant or number to provide a scaled up or scaled down airfoil section for the bucket. The nominal airfoil given by the X, Y and Z distances lies within an envelop of ±0.055 inches in directions normal to the surface of the airfoil.

Abstract: First stage turbine buckets have airfoil profiles substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth Table I wherein X and Y values are in inches and the Z values are non-dimensional values from 0 to 1 convertible to Z distances in inches by multiplying the Z values by the height of the airfoil in inches. The X and Y values are distances which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z. The profile sections at each distance Z are joined smoothly to one another to form a complete airfoil shape. The X, Y and Z distances may be scalable as a function of the same constant or number to provide a scaled up or scaled down airfoil section for the bucket. The nominal airfoil given by the X, Y and Z distances lies within an envelop of ±0.055 inches in directions normal to the surface of the airfoil.

Abstract: Second stage turbine buckets have airfoil profiles substantially in accordance with Cartesian coordinate values of X, Y and Z set forth Table 1 wherein X and Y values are in inches and the Z values are non-dimensional values from 0.088 to 0.92 convertible to Z distances in inches by multiplying the Z values by the height of the airfoil in inches. The X and Y values are distances which, when connected by smooth continuing arcs, define airfoil profile sections at each distance Z. The profile sections at each distance Z are joined smoothly to one another to form a complete airfoil shape. The X and Y distances may be scalable as a function of the same constant or number to provide a scaled up or scaled down airfoil section for the bucket. The nominal airfoil given by the X, Y and Z distances lies within an envelop of ±0.160 inches in directions normal to the surface of the airfoil.

Abstract: The life of a downstream part disposed in a hot gas stream having a cooling medium injected into the stream through multiple orifices in a first upstream part is enhanced by changing the location, configuration or direction of flow of the cooling medium through the orifices. This change alters the temperature distribution of the flow field, affecting the second downstream part thereby enhancing its life. Properties of the cooling medium may also be changed, i.e., temperature and/or mass flow, to alter the temperature distribution of the flow field affecting the second downstream part to enhance its part life.