Abstract: A system for the structural monitoring of blades 1 on a wind turbine. Each blade 1 has respective optical fiber bragg grating sensors 5. The system has a number of input connectors, which connect to the strain sensors 5 of respective blades 1. A single output connector connects to a data processing device 3 which processes signals from the strain sensors 5. The input connectors each have a signal path to the output connector that is different in length to the signal path from the other input connectors, such that signals from a given blade 1 can be identified at the data processing device 3 by the time of arrival of the signals. The system has the advantage that the each of the blades 1, including the sensors attached to it or embedded within it can be identical and therefore interchangeable.

Abstract: A device for detecting lightning currents in a wind turbine comprises an inductive loop (1) for carrying a current representative of a lightning current and a sensitive element, such as a resistance or a piezoelectric element electrically connected to the inductive loop (1). The apparatus further comprises an optical fibre strain sensor mechanically connected to the sensitive element, such that, in use, a lightning current results in expansion of the sensitive element and the optical fibre strain sensor produces an optical signal indicative of the strain on the sensitive element due to the expansion. The device has the advantage that the optical signal from the optical fibre strain sensor can be processed by the same signal processing equipment that processes signals from other strain sensors provided on the wind turbine.

Abstract: A system for the structural monitoring of blades 1 on a wind turbine. Each blade 1 has respective optical fibre bragg grating sensors 5. The system has a number of input connectors, which connect to the strain sensors 5 of respective blades 1. A single output connector connects to a data processing device 3 which processes signals from the strain sensors 5. The input connectors each have a signal path to the output connector that is different in length to the signal path from the other input connectors, such that signals from a given blade 1 can be identified at the data processing device 3 by the time of arrival of the signals. The system has the advantage that the each of the blades 1, including the sensors attached to it or embedded within it can be identical and therefore interchangeable.

Abstract: An optical interrogation system 10 includes optical amplifying and gating apparatus, in the form of a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) 14 and an optical source 12, 14. Drive apparatus 22 (an electrical pulse generator driven by a variable frequency oscillator) is provided to generate electrical drive pulses (see inset (a)) which are applied to the SOA 14, to cause the SOA 14 to switch on and off. The optical source comprises a super-luminescent diode (SLD) 12, the CW output from which is gated into optical pulses by the SOA 14. The SOA 14 is optically coupled to the waveguide 16 containing an array of reflective optical elements (gratings G) to be interrogated. The interrogation system further includes an optical detector 18, optically coupled to the SOA 14, operable to evaluate the wavelength of a returned optical pulse transmitted by the SOA 14.

Abstract: An optical interrogation system 10 includes optical amplifying and gating apparatus, in the form of a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) 14 and an optical source 12, 14. Drive apparatus 22 (an electrical pulse generator driven by a variable frequency oscillator) is provided to generate electrical drive pulses (see inset (a)) which are applied to the SOA 14, to cause the SOA 14 to switch on and off. The optical source comprises a super-luminescent diode (SLD) 12, the CW output from which is gated into optical pulses by the SOA 14. The SOA 14 is optically coupled to the waveguide 16 containing an array of reflective optical elements (gratings G) to be interrogated. The interrogation system further includes an optical detector 18, optically coupled to the SOA 14, operable to evaluate the wavelength of a returned optical pulse transmitted by the SOA 14.