Abstract: A rotor blade of a wind turbine, wherein the rotor blade) includes a suction side, a pressure side, a trailing edge section with a trailing edge, and a leading edge section with a leading edge is provided. The rotor blade furthermore includes an air duct at the trailing edge section which provides a flow path from the pressure side to the suction side. The air duct includes an inlet portion) and an outlet portion, and the air duct is configured such that at least a portion of the airflow from the leading edge section to the trailing edge section is permanently guided through the air duct.

Abstract: A rotor blade of a wind turbine with a raked tip portion is provided. The tip portion is raked, i.e. curved, in a rotor blade plane comprising the tip base chord and a line which is parallel to the pitch axis of the rotor blade. Additionally, the orientation of the chords with reference to the chord at the tip base changes between the tip base and the tip. In other words, the trailing edge of the tip portion is twisted. Optionally, the tip portion is additionally swept out of the rotor blade plane, which is characterized by a cant angle.

Abstract: A power producing spinner (28) for a wind turbine (10), the wind turbine (10) having a plurality of blades (18) interconnected about an axis of rotation (30) by a hub (20). The power producing spinner (28) includes an aerodynamic shape (34) extending radially outward from the axis of rotation (30) to define an upwind airfoil portion (40) disposed upwind of an inboard portion (42) of each blade (18) of the wind turbine (10). The power producing spinner (28) is effective to extract energy from an air flow (44) flowing over the spinner (28) and to increase an aerodynamic efficiency of the blades (18).

Abstract: A power producing spinner (28) for a wind turbine (10), the wind turbine (10) having a plurality of blades (18) interconnected about an axis of rotation (30) by a hub (20). The power producing spinner (28) includes an aerodynamic shape (34) extending radially outward from the axis of rotation (30) to define an upwind airfoil portion (40) disposed upwind of an inboard portion (42) of each blade (18) of the wind turbine (10). The power producing spinner (28) is effective to extract energy from an air flow (44) flowing over the spinner (28) and to increase an aerodynamic efficiency of the blades (18).

Abstract: A blade for a wind turbine includes a total backward twist of between approximately 6 degrees and approximately 15 degrees between an outer approximately 1 percent to approximately 10 percent of a rotor radius of the blade; and a total normalized chord change of between approximately one percent and approximately two percent between the outer approximately 1 percent to approximately 10 percent of the rotor radius of the blade.

Abstract: A blade for a wind turbine includes a total backward twist of between approximately 6 degrees and approximately 15 degrees between an outer approximately 1 percent to approximately 10 percent of a rotor radius of the blade.

Abstract: The present invention includes a rotor blade (20) having a blade body (30) with a leading edge (26) and a trailing edge (28) and opposed first and second surfaces (34, 36) extending there between defining an airfoil shape (32) in cross-section. A passageway (42) extends through the blade body (30) between the first and second surfaces (34, 36). A flexible member (60) is sealed over one end (50) of the passageway (42). Advantageously, the flexible member (60) is passively responsive to changes in a differential pressure between the first and second surfaces (34, 36) to move between a deactivated position (62) and an activated position (64) where the flexible member (60) extends away from the airfoil shape (32) to function as a load mitigation device (40) for the wind turbine rotor blade (20).

Abstract: The present invention includes a rotor blade (20) having a blade body (30) with a leading edge (26) and a trailing edge (28) and opposed first and second surfaces (34, 36) extending there between defining an airfoil shape (32) in cross-section. A passageway (42) extends through the blade body (30) between the first and second surfaces (34, 36). A flexible member (60) is sealed over one end (50) of the passageway (42). Advantageously, the flexible member (60) is passively responsive to changes in a differential pressure between the first and second surfaces (34, 36) to move between a deactivated position (62) and an activated position (64) where the flexible member (60) extends away from the airfoil shape (32) to function as a load mitigation device (40) for the wind turbine rotor blade (20).

Abstract: A blade for a wind turbine includes a total backward twist of between approximately 6 degrees and approximately 15 degrees between an outer approximately 1 percent to 10 percent of a rotor radius of the blade; and an approximate planform distribution within the following ranges r/R c/R(LE) c/R(TE) .96 0.60 to 0.65% ?1.42 to ?1.34% .968 0.54 to 0.59% ?1.31 to ?1.34% .974 0.39 to 0.58% ?1.36 to ?1.22% .9806 0.13 to 0.57% ?1.45 to ?1.06% .9856 ?0.23 to 0.56%?? ?1.56 to ?0.74% .9906 ?0.76 to 0.55%?? ?1.74 to ?0.24% .9956 ?1.44 to 0.54%?? ?1.99 to 0.23%?? 1.00 ?2.17 to 0.54%?? ?2.27 to 0.44%?? where “r/R” is an approximate normalized distance outward from a center of rotation of the blade along a span of the blade; and “c/R(LE)” and “c/R(TE)” are approximate relative positions of a leading (LE) and trailing edge (TE) of a chord “c” expressed as a percentage of a distance outward from the center of rotation at each r/R.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade that includes integrated erosion, lightning and icing protection for a leading edge. The leading edge includes a frontal surface with an erosion shield positioned external to the frontal surface. An internal lightning conveyance path is provided with an electrical connection from the erosion shield to the internal lightning conveyance path. A heat-generating element is positioned between the erosion shield and the frontal surface and a heat conduction path is provided from the heat-generating element to the erosion shield. Further, a structure is provided for connecting the heat-generating element to an energy source within the blade.

Abstract: A blade for a wind turbine includes a chord of length “c” positioned with a leading edge tip chord angle and trailing edge tip chord angle of between approximately 45 and 75 degrees; a tip having a shear web plane radii distribution in the ranges of L/c (%) R/c (%) ?0-10% 1.03-3.68% 30-40% 2.91-5.79% 60-70% 1.77-2.5%? ?90-100% 0.229-.350%? where “L/c” is a range of an approximate normalized location along the chord line expressed as a percentage of the chord length from a leading edge of the blade; and where “R/c” is a range of an approximate normalized shear web plane tip radius expressed as a percentage of the chord length, for each normalized location L/c.

Abstract: A blade for a wind turbine includes a chord of length “c” positioned with a leading edge tip chord angle and trailing edge tip chord angle of between approximately 45 and 75 degrees; a tip having a shear web plane radii distribution in the ranges of L/c (%) R/c (%) ?0-10% 1.03-3.68% 30-40% 2.91-5.79% 60-70% 1.77-2.5%? ?90-100% 0.229-.350%? where “L/c” is a range of an approximate normalized location along the chord line expressed as a percentage of the chord length from a leading edge of the blade; and where “R/c” is a range of an approximate nornalized shear web plane tip radius expressed as a percentage of the chord length, for each normalized location L/c.

Abstract: A blade for a wind turbine includes a total backward twist of between approximately 6 degrees and approximately 15 degrees between an outer approximately 1 percent to 10 percent of a rotor radius of the blade; and an approximate planform distribution within the following ranges r/R c/R(LE) c/R(TE) .96 0.60 to 0.65% ?1.42 to ?1.34% .968 0.54 to 0.59% ?1.31 to ?1.34% .974 0.39 to 0.58% ?1.36 to ?1.22% .9806 0.13 to 0.57% ?1.45 to ?1.06% .9856 ?0.23 to 0.56%?? ?1.56 to ?0.74% .9906 ?0.76 to 0.55%?? ?1.74 to ?0.24% .9956 ?1.44 to 0.54%?? ?1.99 to 0.23%?? 1.00 ?2.17 to 0.54%?? ?2.27 to 0.44%?? where “r/R” is an approximate normalized distance outward from a center of rotation of the blade along a span of the blade; and “c/R(LE)” and “c/R(TE)” are approximate relative positions of a leading (LE) and trailing edge (TE) of a chord “c” expressed as a percentage of a distance outward from the center of rotation at each r/R.

Abstract: A blade for a wind turbine includes a total backward twist of between approximately 6 degrees and approximately 15 degrees between an outer approximately 1 percent to approximately 10 percent of a rotor radius of the blade; and a total normalized chord change of between approximately one percent and approximately two percent between the outer approximately 1 percent to approximately 10 percent of the rotor radius of the blade.

Abstract: A blade for a wind turbine includes a total backward twist of between approximately 6 degrees and approximately 15 degrees between an outer approximately 1 percent to approximately 10 percent of a rotor radius of the blade.

Abstract: A multi-section blade for a wind turbine comprising a hub extender connected to a hub of the wind turbine is provided. The blade includes at least one pitchable outboard section. The hub extender can have a pitch bearing located near the interface between the hub and hub extender, or the hub extender and outboard blade section. The hub extender can be configured to pitch or not pitch with the outboard blade sections. An aerodynamic fairing is configured to mount over the hub extender and is configured to not pitch with the outboard blade sections.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade that includes integrated erosion, lightning and icing protection for a leading edge. The leading edge includes a frontal surface with an erosion shield positioned external to the frontal surface. An internal lightning conveyance path is provided with an electrical connection from the erosion shield to the internal lightning conveyance path. A heat-generating element is positioned between the erosion shield and the frontal surface and a heat conduction path is provided from the heat-generating element to the erosion shield. Further, a structure is provided for connecting the heat-generating element to an energy source within the blade.