Abstract: A system for flexible operation for wind energy storage, and a related method, the system including a wind turbine having a rotor disposed thereon, a rotor shaft extending from the rotor and rotatable therewith, an electrical generator disposed in communication with the rotor shaft, a power generation/regeneration system, which may include a fluid power system, is disposed in communication with the rotor shaft, where rotation of the rotor shaft rotates the electrical generator to produce generator power (Pg), where, when the fluid power system is in a power generation mode, aerodynamic rotation of the rotor shaft produces fluid power (Pf) at the fluid power system, at least a position of which is stored as energy in an energy storage, and where, when the fluid power system is in a power regeneration mode, energy is released from the energy storage and converted by the fluid power system to fluid power (Pf) that can be combined with aerodynamic rotor power to drive the electrical generator.

Abstract: To provide high stability at low cost, a ring-based floatation system for a floating vertical-axis wind turbine is proposed. The system uses a buoyancy torus with a finite shell thickness, which can be sealed to prevent water from leaking inside the torus. This torus shape has an outside and inside diameter on a horizontal plane while having a circular cross-section in a vertical plane. This buoyancy torus serves as a floatation tube to provide buoyancy at a large maximum radial extent to enhance platform stability in terms of both inertia and metacentric height. The torus shape (or a similar faceted shape made of several cylindrical tubes connected in a circle) also provides high radial asymmetry and high structural robustness. This buoyancy torus supports rotating wind turbine blades which are affixed to a rotation ring, where the torus and the rotation ring have the same axis of revolution and where the blades and the rotation ring rotate about this axis of revolution.

Abstract: The disclosure presents systems for near-isothermal processes for gas compressors and/or expanders using an internal liquid approach with spray and/or novel porous elements for reciprocating systems. Furthermore, it presents approaches for compressed air energy storage using isobaric reservoirs for onshore wind turbines using an underground pressurized reservoir coupled with a compensating surface water reservoir, and for offshore wind turbines using the monopile for the pressurized reservoir.

Abstract: Systems and techniques for compressed air energy storage and regeneration thereof are described herein. A compressor for compressed air energy storage and regeneration thereof can include a housing, a actuator, and a heat exchanger. The housing can define a volume. The actuator can be operable to expand the volume and compress the volume. The heat exchanger can be located at least partially within the housing. The heat exchanger can be configured to compress when the actuator compresses the volume, expand when the actuator expands the volume, and transfer heat with a working fluid.

Abstract: A system for increasing power capture comprising a turbine having a rotor, a generator having a rated power limit, and an energy storage system, wherein the rotor generates a super-rated power above the rated power limit of the generator and the super-rated power is stored in the energy storage system before the generator converts the super-rated power into electric power.

Abstract: An inlet duct for a gas turbine engine includes a particle separator, a scavenge duct, and a layer of material having a low coefficient of restitution. The particle separator including an outer wall spaced, an inner wall, and a splitter located radially between the outer wall and the inner wall. The scavenge duct is coupled with particle separator. The layer of material is located on at least one of the outer wall, the splitter, and the scavenge duct.

Abstract: An inlet duct for a gas turbine engine includes a particle separator, a scavenge duct, and a layer of material having a low coefficient of restitution. The particle separator including an outer wall spaced, an inner wall, and a splitter located radially between the outer wall and the inner wall. The scavenge duct is coupled with particle separator. The layer of material is located on at least one of the outer wall, the splitter, and the scavenge duct.

Abstract: A downwind morphing rotor that exhibits bending loads that will be reduced by aligning the rotor blades with the composite forces. This reduces the net loads on the blades which therefore allow for a reduced blade mass for a given maximum stress. The downwind morphing varies the amount of downstream deflection as a function of wind speed, where the rotor blades are generally fully-aligned to non-azimuthal forces for wind speeds between rated and cut-out conditions, while only the outer segments of the blades are generally aligned between cut-in and rated wind speeds. This alignment for large (MW-scale) rated turbines results in much larger downstream deflections of the blades at high wind speeds as compared to that of a conventional rigid single-piece upwind turbine blade.

Abstract: An air-inlet duct includes an outer wall, an inner wall, and a splitter. The splitter cooperates with the outer wall to establish a particle separator which separates particles entrained in an inlet flow moving through the air-inlet duct to provide a clean flow of air to a compressor section of a gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A downwind morphing rotor that exhibits bending loads that will be reduced by aligning the rotor blades with the composite forces. This reduces the net loads on the blades which therefore allow for a reduced blade mass for a given maximum stress. The downwind morphing varies the amount of downstream deflection as a function of wind speed, where the rotor blades are generally fully-aligned to non-azimuthal forces for wind speeds between rated and cut-out conditions, while only the outer segments of the blades are generally aligned between cut-in and rated wind speeds. This alignment for large (MW-scale) rated turbines results in much larger downstream deflections of the blades at high wind speeds as compared to that of a conventional rigid single-piece upwind turbine blade.

Abstract: An air-inlet duct includes an outer wall, an inner wall, and a splitter. The splitter cooperates with the outer wall to establish a particle separator which separates particles entrained in an inlet flow moving through the air-inlet duct to provide a clean flow of air to a compressor section of a gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A wind turbine for generating electricity having a turbine assembly mounted on an inner support positioned within an aerodynamic fairing. The turbine assembly has an electrical generator positioned on the inner support and having a rotor shaft rotatable by a rotor blade. The aerodynamic fairing reduces the drag and wake created by the inner support.

Abstract: A coating and related methods useful for reducing insect residue on moving surfaces, such as turbine blades or aircraft. The coating can include alternating layers of a perfluorinated acrylic copolymer and silicon dioxide nanoparticles that have been infused into one another via thermal annealing processes. The coating may be super-hydrophobic and exhibits desirable durability characteristics.

Abstract: Methods and systems for providing self-lubricating icephobic elastomer coatings (SLICs) can include forming the coatings from a three-component composition of a silicon elastomer, silicone oil, and a solvent, such as xylene. The coatings can provide ultra-low ice adhesion and high durability levels for a variety of applications operating in harsh icing environments, such as in aviation. In an example, the coatings or SLICs can be used in combination with a localized heating component to provide a Coating Heating Ice Protection (CHIP) system to minimize ice adhesion on the surface of an aircraft component, such as an airfoil or fan blades. Methods and systems for evaluating the ice release performance of the coatings can include high speed impaction of supercooled droplets on rotating fan blades to evaluate the coatings under conditions more representative of in-flight ice conditions, as compared to traditional testing methods.

Abstract: An air-inlet duct includes an outer wall, an inner wall, and a splitter. The splitter cooperates with the outer wall to establish a particle separator which separates particles entrained in an inlet flow moving through the air-inlet duct to provide a clean flow of air to a compressor section of a gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A downwind morphing rotor that exhibits bending loads that will be reduced by aligning the rotor blades with the composite forces. This reduces the net loads on the blades which therefore allow for a reduced blade mass for a given maximum stress. The downwind morphing varies the amount of downstream deflection as a function of wind speed, where the rotor blades are generally fully-aligned to non-azimuthal forces for wind speeds between rated and cut-out conditions, while only the outer segments of the blades are generally aligned between cut-in and rated wind speeds. This alignment for large (MW-scale) rated turbines results in much larger downstream deflections of the blades at high wind speeds as compared to that of a conventional rigid single-piece upwind turbine blade.

Abstract: A downwind morphing rotor that exhibits bending loads that will be reduced by aligning the rotor blades with the composite forces. This reduces the net loads on the blades which therefore allow for a reduced blade mass for a given maximum stress. Also provided is a pre-aligned configuration rotor whereby the rotor geometry and orientation does not change with wind speed, and instead is fixed at a constant downwind deflection consistent with alignment at or near the rated wind speed conditions. Also provided is a twist morphing rotor where the airfoil-shapes around the spars twist relative to the wind due to aerodynamic forces so as to unload the rotors when there is a gust. This can help reduce unsteady stresses on the blade and therefore may allow for reduced blade mass and cost. The twist morphing rotor may be combined with either downwind morphing rotor or pre-alignment rotor.

Abstract: An air-inlet duct includes an outer wall, an inner wall, and a splitter. The splitter cooperates with the outer wall to establish a particle separator which separates particles entrained in an inlet flow moving through the air-inlet duct to provide a clean flow of air to a compressor section of a gas turbine engine.

Abstract: A wind turbine for generating electricity having a turbine assembly mounted on an inner support positioned within an aerodynamic fairing. The turbine assembly has an electrical generator positioned on the inner support and having a rotor shaft rotatable by a rotor blade. The aerodynamic fairing reduces the drag and wake created by the inner support.