Abstract: Provided is a method for detecting the operative status of an aerodynamic device for influencing the airflow which flows from the leading edge of a rotor blade for a wind turbine to the trailing edge of the rotor blade, the aerodynamic device being movable by an actuator between a first protruded configuration and a second retracted configuration. The method includes the steps of measuring a temporal course of an operational value of the wind turbine, comparing the measured temporal course of the operational value with a desired temporal course of an operational value, and deriving an operative status of the aerodynamic device.

Abstract: Provided is an arrangement for controlling inflow and outflow of a fluid into and out of an expandable container arranged to change a state of an adaptable flow regulating device installed at a wind turbine rotor blade, the arrangement including: an inflow valve arranged to control fluid inflow into the container; an outflow valve arranged to control fluid outflow out of the container; wherein the inflow valve and the outflow valve are configured to prohibit fluid flow into and/or out of the container in case of safety stop event.

Abstract: Provided is a wind turbine, including: at least one rotor blade, at least one aerodynamic device for influencing the airflow flowing from the leading edge section of the rotor blade to the trailing edge section of the rotor blade, wherein the aerodynamic device is mounted at a surface of the rotor blade, a pneumatic actuator of the aerodynamic device for actuating the aerodynamic device at least between a first protruded configuration and a second retracted configuration, a pressure supply system for operating the actuator by a pressurized fluid, a centrifugal device rotatable about a rotor axis of the wind turbine, the centrifugal device including an air inlet of receiving a flow of the pressurized fluid including humidity from the pressure supply system and a water outlet for letting a flow of condensed water to exit the centrifugal device.

Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling a pitch angle of at least one blade of a wind turbine by use of a hydraulic system, the hydraulic system including at least one reservoir configured to store a hydraulic fluid, and at least one pump configured to supply the hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to at least one accumulator, if a hydraulic fluid pressure in the accumulator falls below a lower threshold value and till the hydraulic fluid pressure in the accumulator exceeds an upper threshold value. The accumulator is configured to store the pressurized hydraulic fluid supplied by the pump and to supply the pressurized hydraulic fluid to at least one pitch control cylinder of the hydraulic system via at least one output valve of the hydraulic system. The pressurized hydraulic fluid in the pitch control cylinder drives at least one piston to change the pitch angle of the blade.

Abstract: Provided is a safety stop valve arrangement of a hydraulic blade pitch system of a wind turbine, including an accumulator arrangement connected over a hydraulic line to a piston of the hydraulic blade pitch system; a redundant set of safety valves arranged between the accumulator arrangement and the piston; a small-orifice restriction nozzle arranged to determine a first rate of hydraulic fluid flow in response to a safety stop input; at least one speed-select valves arranged; and at least one large-orifice restriction nozzle arranged to determine a second rale of hydraulic fluid flow in response to a positive rotor acceleration input, wherein the second rate of fluid flow is faster than the first rate of fluid flow. A safety stop assembly of a wind turbine with hydraulic blade pitch systems and a method of performing a safety stop sequence is also provided.

Abstract: A wind turbine including: at least a rotor blade including an aerodynamic device for influencing the airflow flowing from the leading edge section of the rotor blade to the trailing edge section of the rotor blade, wherein the aerodynamic device is mounted at a surface of the rotor blade, an actuator of the aerodynamic device for actuating the aerodynamic device at least between a first protruded configuration and a second retracted configuration, a pressure supply system for operating the actuator by means of a pressurized fluid, an acoustic receiver for measuring an acoustic signal in the pressure supply system, and a diagnostic unit connected to the acoustic receiver and configured for deriving an operative status of the aerodynamic device based on the acoustic signal, is provided.

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for a wind turbine is provided. The hydraulic circuit includes: a fixed displacement pump including a suction input and a delivery output, a pump motor for driving the fixed displacement pump, a pressure line hydraulically connected to the delivery output of the fixed displacement pump for delivering an output flow and/or an output pressure generated by the fixed displacement pump towards at least a consumer circuit, a bypass valve including a valve input hydraulically connected to the delivery output of the fixed displacement pump, wherein the bypass valve includes a variable opening for controlling the output flow or the output pressure delivered by the fixed displacement pump towards the consumer circuit(s).

Abstract: It is proposed a wind turbine (10), comprising: at least one rotor blade (20), at least one aerodynamic device (30) for influencing the airflow (71) flowing from the leading edge section (24) of the rotor blade (20) to the trailing edge section (23) of the rotor blade (20), wherein the aerodynamic device (30) is mounted at a surface (28) of the rotor blade (20), a pneumatic actuator (33) of the aerodynamic device (30) for actuating the aerodynamic device (30) at least between a first protruded configuration and a second retracted configuration, a pressure supply system (52) for operating the actuator (33) by means of a pressurized fluid, a centrifugal device (60, 70) rotatable about a rotor axis (Y) of the wind turbine (10), the centrifugal device (60) comprising an air inlet (61) of receiving a flow of the pressurized fluid including humidity from the pressure supply system (52) and a water outlet (62) for letting a flow of condensed water to exit the centrifugal device (60).

Abstract: Provided is a wind turbine including: at least a rotor blade including an aerodynamic device for influencing the airflow flowing from the leading edge section of the rotor blade to the trailing edge section of the rotor blade, wherein the aerodynamic device is mounted at a surface of the rotor blade, a pressure supply system for providing a pressurized fluid for operating the aerodynamic device between a first protruded configuration and a second retracted configuration, a control unit for controlling the pressure supply system, a monitor unit for monitoring a pressure and/or a flow rate of the pressurized fluid, and configured for: receiving a measured pressure and/or flow rate signal in at least one section of the pressure supply system, deriving an operative status of the aerodynamic device based on the measured pressure and/or flow rate signal.

Abstract: Provided is an arrangement for controlling inflow and outflow of a fluid into and out of an expandable container arranged to change a state of an adaptable flow regulating device installed at a wind turbine rotor blade, the arrangement including: an inflow valve arranged to control fluid inflow into the container; an outflow valve arranged to control fluid outflow out of the container; wherein the inflow valve and the outflow valve are configured to prohibit fluid flow into and/or out of the container in case of safety stop event.

Abstract: A wind turbine including: at least a rotor blade including an aerodynamic device for influencing the airflow flowing from the leading edge section of the rotor blade to the trailing edge section of the rotor blade, wherein the aerodynamic device is mounted at a surface of the rotor blade, an actuator of the aerodynamic device for actuating the aerodynamic device at least between a first protruded configuration and a second retracted configuration, a pressure supply system for operating the actuator by means of a pressurized fluid, an acoustic receiver for measuring an acoustic signal in the pressure supply system, and a diagnostic unit connected to the acoustic receiver and configured for deriving an operative status of the aerodynamic device based on the acoustic signal, is provided.

Abstract: A wind turbine including: a pressure supply system for operating the actuator of at least an aerodynamic device by means of a pressurized gas, wherein the pressure supply system includes: a pressure generator for pressurizing the pressurized gas, a pressure supply line connecting the pressure generator and the pneumatic actuator for providing the pressurized gas to the pneumatic actuator, the pressure supply line including a pressure reservoir, a return line connecting the pressure generator and the pneumatic actuator for returning the pressurized gas to the pressure generator, the return line including a return reservoir having a negative relative pressure, is provided.

Abstract: Provided is a method for detecting the operative status of an aerodynamic device for influencing the airflow which flows from the leading edge of a rotor blade for a wind turbine to the trailing edge of the rotor blade, the aerodynamic device being movable by an actuator between a first protruded configuration and a second retracted configuration. The method includes the steps of measuring a temporal course of an operational value of the wind turbine, comparing the measured temporal course of the operational value with a desired temporal course of an operational value, and deriving an operative status of the aerodynamic device.

Abstract: Provided is a spoiler, in particular adaptable spoiler, for a wind turbine blade including: a main body including an airfoil shaped surface to be exposed to air flow; at least one stiffening element distinct from the main body and supporting the airfoil surface, wherein the stiffening element is in particular configured to enforce the shape of the airfoil surface during loading by wind during operation of the wind turbine.

Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling a pitch angle of at least one blade of a wind turbine by use of a hydraulic system, the hydraulic system including at least one reservoir configured to store a hydraulic fluid, and at least one pump configured to supply the hydraulic fluid from the reservoir to at least one accumulator, if a hydraulic fluid pressure in the accumulator falls below a lower threshold value and till the hydraulic fluid pressure in the accumulator exceeds an upper threshold value. The accumulator is configured to store the pressurized hydraulic fluid supplied by the pump and to supply the pressurized hydraulic fluid to at least one pitch control cylinder of the hydraulic system via at least one output valve of the hydraulic system. The pressurized hydraulic fluid in the pitch control cylinder drives at least one piston to change the pitch angle of the blade.

Abstract: A flow control circuit for an actuator is provided. The actuator includes a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the first chamber experiences a volume change that is larger than a volume change experienced by the second chamber upon actuation of the actuator. The flow control circuit includes a first port configured to be connected to the first chamber, a second port configured to be connected to the second chamber, and a flow control valve assembly including one or more valves configured to provide a flow of pressurized fluid from a pressurized fluid source to one of the first and second ports along a fluid supply path and further configured to provide a flow of fluid from the other of the first and second ports to a fluid sink along a fluid return path. The flow control circuit further includes a fluid bypass path comprising a bypass valve.

Abstract: A method for controlling the pitch angle of the blades including the following steps of: measuring an energy storage of the blades pitch actuation system at predefined values of a first blade pitch angle interval; comparing the measured values of the energy storage of the blades pitch actuation system with a predefined minimum value of the energy storage; if the measured values of the energy storage are all greater or equal than the predefined minimum value of the energy storage then enabling normal operation; if at least one of the measured values of the energy storage are lower than the predefined minimum value then: calculating a third pitch angle calculating a third blade pitch angle interval extending between a fourth pitch angle and the second pitch angle; and limiting the blades pitch actuation system to operate only in the third pitch angle interval.

Abstract: A method for controlling the pitch angle of the blades including the following steps of: measuring an energy storage of the blades pitch actuation system at predefined values of a first blade pitch angle interval; comparing the measured values of the energy storage of the blades pitch actuation system with a predefined minimum value of the energy storage; if the measured values of the energy storage are all greater or equal than the predefined minimum value of the energy storage then enabling normal operation; if at least one of the measured values of the energy storage are lower than the predefined minimum value then: calculating a third pitch angle at which the energy storage equals the predefined minimum value calculating a third blade pitch angle interval extending between a fourth pitch angle and the second pitch angle and limiting the blades pitch actuation system to operate only in the third pitch angle interval.

Abstract: A flow control circuit for an actuator is provided. The actuator includes a first chamber and a second chamber, wherein the first chamber experiences a volume change that is larger than a volume change experienced by the second chamber upon actuation of the actuator. The flow control circuit includes a first port configured to be connected to the first chamber, a second port configured to be connected to the second chamber, and a flow control valve assembly including one or more valves configured to provide a flow of pressurized fluid from a pressurized fluid source to one of the first and second ports along a fluid supply path and further configured to provide a flow of fluid from the other of the first and second ports to a fluid sink along a fluid return path. The flow control circuit further includes a fluid bypass path comprising a bypass valve.

Abstract: Provided is a hydraulic pump arrangement including a plurality of motor-pump units connected to a common confluence, wherein each motor-pump unit of the hydraulic pump arrangement includes a pump realized provide pressurized fluid at its outlet; a motor arranged to drive the pump; a bypass valve configured to relieve pressure at the pump outlet; and wherein the hydraulic pump arrangement further includes a controller configured to receive a feedback signal from each motor-pump unit and to actuate the bypass valve of a motor-pump unit on the basis of the motor speed of that motor-pump unit. Further provided is a method of operating such a hydraulic pump arrangement, and a wind turbine including a number of such hydraulic pump arrangements.