Abstract: A rotor blade assembly having an access window and methods for assembling a rotor blade are disclosed. The rotor blade assembly may generally include a first shell component and a second shell component. The first shell component may be secured to the second shell component. Additionally, an access region may be defined in the first shell component and/or the second shell component. The access region may generally be configured such that an access window is defined in the rotor blade assembly. The access window may be configured to provide access to the interior of a portion of the rotor blade assembly.

Abstract: A rotor blade assembly having an access window and methods for assembling a rotor blade are disclosed. The rotor blade assembly may generally include a first shell component and a second shell component. The first shell component may be secured to the second shell component. Additionally, an access region may be defined in the first shell component and/or the second shell component. The access region may generally be configured such that an access window is defined in the rotor blade assembly. The access window may be configured to provide access to the interior of a portion of the rotor blade assembly.

Abstract: A turbine blade includes at least two blade segments. Each blade segment includes first and second shells joined together, a base region, at least one joint region including a mating face. Each of the first and second shells includes an outer skin, a base spar cap attached to an inner surface of the outer skin in the base region, a joint spar cap attached to the inner surface of the outer skin in the joint region and adjacent to at least a portion of the base spar cap. The joint spar cap includes holes in the mating face of the joint region. The turbine blade further includes fasteners within the holes for securing the at least two blade segments together.

Abstract: A wind turbine includes a plurality of wind turbine blades attached to a rotor positioned atop a tower affixed to a tower foundation. At least one blade pitch sensor is configured to measure blade pitch angles for one or more of the wind turbine blades. A rotor/generator speed sensor is configured to measure the rotational speed of the wind turbine rotor, a corresponding wind turbine generator, or both. A wind turbine nacelle yaw sensor is configured to measure the nacelle yaw, while at least two tower-base bending sensors are configured without use of adhesives, cements or bonding agents to provide large-area measurement of tower deflection. A controller is configured to adjust the pitch angle of one or more of the wind turbine blades in response to the measured one or more blade pitch angles, the measured rotational speed, the measured nacelle yaw and measured tower longitudinal deflection.

Abstract: A turbine blade includes at least two blade segments. Each blade segment includes first and second shells joined together, a base region, at least one joint region including a mating face. Each of the first and second shells includes an outer skin, a base spar cap attached to an inner surface of the outer skin in the base region, a joint spar cap attached to the inner surface of the outer skin in the joint region and adjacent to at least a portion of the base spar cap. The joint spar cap includes holes in the mating face of the joint region. The turbine blade further includes fasteners within the holes for securing the at least two blade segments together.

Abstract: A wind turbine includes a plurality of wind turbine blades attached to a rotor positioned atop a tower affixed to a tower foundation. At least one blade pitch sensor is configured to measure blade pitch angles for one or more of the wind turbine blades. A rotor/generator speed sensor is configured to measure the rotational speed of the wind turbine rotor, a corresponding wind turbine generator, or both. A wind turbine nacelle yaw sensor is configured to measure the nacelle yaw, while at least two tower-base bending sensors are configured without use of adhesives, cements or bonding agents to provide large-area measurement of tower deflection. A controller is configured to adjust the pitch angle of one or more of the wind turbine blades in response to the measured one or more blade pitch angles, the measured rotational speed, the measured nacelle yaw and measured tower longitudinal deflection.

Abstract: A method of assembling a wind turbine blade comprises providing a first blade segment comprising at least two first spar cap segments; providing a second blade segment comprising at least two second spar cap segments; inserting the second blade segment into the first blade segment wherein a spar cap cavity is formed between each set of corresponding first and second spar cap segments; injecting an adhesive into the spar cap cavities to bond the blade segments together, wherein a scarf joint is formed between each set of corresponding first and second spar cap segments.

Abstract: A method includes joining an integral bulkhead and a blade shell to form a blade and separating the blade into two blade segments at a location including the integral bulkhead such that each blade segment comprises a portion of the integral bulkhead and a portion of the blade shell.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and method for noise cancellation for an apparatus such as an electric motors or generator. The system may comprise a plurality of actuators, a plurality of phase controllers, each phase controller receiving an input signal representing a movement of an apparatus and outputting an output signal based on the input signal and at least one predetermined phase shift, and a plurality of amplifiers, each amplifier receiving an output signal from one of the phase controllers and outputting an amplified signal to drive one of the actuators. The method may comprise the steps of generating a first signal representing a movement of the apparatus, generating at least one second signal based on (a) the first signal, (b) at least one predetermined phase shift, and (c) at least one predetermined amplitude, and driving at least one actuator with the at least one second signal.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a system and method for noise cancellation for an apparatus such as an electric motors or generator. The system may comprise a plurality of actuators, a plurality of phase controllers, each phase controller receiving an input signal representing a movement of an apparatus and outputting an output signal based on the input signal and at least one predetermined phase shift, and a plurality of amplifiers, each amplifier receiving an output signal from one of the phase controllers and outputting an amplified signal to drive one of the actuators. The method may comprise the steps of generating a first signal representing a movement of the apparatus, generating at least one second signal based on (a) the first signal, (b) at least one predetermined phase shift, and (c) at least one predetermined amplitude, and driving at least one actuator with the at least one second signal.