Abstract: A horizontal axis wind turbine comprising a rotor having a plurality of blades, the rotor having a radius of at least 80 meters, the blades comprising: a root end and a tip end; a leading edge and a trailing edge; a shoulder between the root end and the tip end where a chord length defined between the leading edge and the trailing edge is at a maximum; wherein: Solr is at least 0.0140 at 0.7R; Solr is at least 0.0116 at 0.8R; Solr is at least 0.0090 at 0.9R; Solr being the combined radius specific solidity of the blades.

Abstract: A bushing (42, 92) for connecting a wind turbine blade (20) to a rotor hub (18) of a wind turbine (10) including a main body (44, 94) defining a connecting end of the bushing (42, 92) for receiving a fastener (130) for securing the blade (20) to the rotor hub (18), a tubular extension (46, 96) extending distally from the main body (44, 94) and defining a tip end of the bushing (42, 92) and a central bore (52, 102) extending from the connecting end to the tip end of the bushing (42, 92) and defining a central axis (94, 104) of the bushing (42, 92). The tubular extension (46, 96) includes one or more tapered or cylindrical sections (74,124) and a tip section (76, 126) distal of the one or more tapered or cylindrical sections (74, 124) and adjacent the tip end. The tip section (76, 126) includes an outer surface and an inner surface that are substantially parallel to each other and substantially parallel to the central axis (94, 104) of the bushing (42, 92).

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a modular wind turbine blade comprising first and second blade modules connectable together to form at least part of the wind turbine blade, each blade module comprising an outer shell defining a pressure side and a suction side of the wind turbine blade. The first blade module comprises a first spar cap, and the second blade module comprising a second spar cap. The first spar cap has a tapered end portion in which the thickness of the first spar cap decreases towards the end of the first spar cap. The modular wind turbine blade further comprises an elongate connecting element for connecting the first and second blade modules together. The connecting element has a first tapered end portion in which the thickness of the connecting element decreases towards a first end of the connecting element. The first tapered end portion is configured for bonding to the tapered end portion of the first spar cap.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade comprising a leeward shell portion and a windward shell portion, each of the shell portions extending in a chordwise direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the wind turbine blade; a leading reinforcement arrangement comprising at least a leading leeward reinforcement structure engaging the leeward shell portion and a leading windward reinforcement structure engaging the windward shell portion; and a trailing reinforcement arrangement comprising at least a trailing leeward reinforcement structure engaging the leeward shell portion and a trailing windward reinforcement structure engaging the windward shell portion. The trailing windward reinforcement structure has a first stiffness in the lengthwise direction and the trailing leeward reinforcement structure has a second stiffness in the lengthwise direction, wherein the first stiffness is greater than the second stiffness at a chordwise plane of the wind turbine blade.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a wind turbine blade extending in a spanwise direction between a root and a tip, and in a chordwise direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge. The wind turbine blade has a spar cap comprising a plurality of strips of fibrous composite material. Each strip extends in the spanwise direction between a first end and a second end to define a length of the strip, and each strip has a width and a thickness, the width being less than the length, and the thickness being less than the width. Each strip has upper and lower major surfaces defined by the length and width dimensions. Each strip has side surfaces defined by the length and thickness dimensions. The plurality of strips includes a first strip and a second strip. The first strip has a tapered end portion in which the thickness of the first strip decreases towards the first end of the first strip.

Abstract: There is provided a wind turbine blade having a root end, a tip end, a blade shell, a lightning protection system and an integrated web-down conductor. The integrated web-down conductor comprises: a down conductor forming part of the lightning protection system: electrical insulation surrounding the down conductor; and a web that surrounds the electrical insulation so as to enclose the down conductor and electrical insulation and is coupled to the blade shell.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for stabilising a wind turbine blade (106), the method comprising, attaching (S2) an air blowing arrangement (201) to the blade, detecting (S4) an oscillation of the blade, and operating (S5) the attached air blowing arrangement to provide a thrust to counteract the oscillation.

Abstract: In a first aspect of the invention there is provided a bondline structure for bonding a shear web to a wind turbine blade shell. The bondline structure comprises an elongate inner core made from a deformable material, and one or more outer layers comprising reinforcing fibres at least partially surrounding the inner core. The inner core and/or the one or more outer layers comprise an adhesive.

Abstract: A shear web for a wind turbine blade includes a lower flange, an upper flange and a web structure extending between the lower and upper flanges, wherein at least one of the lower flange, upper flange, and the web structure includes an open lattice structure having a plurality of elongate fibrous composite spindles intersecting each other at multiple nodes of the structure. A method of making the shear web using a continuous fiber-reinforced additive manufacturing method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade comprising a leeward shell portion and a windward shell portion, each of the shell portions extending in a chordwise direction between a leading edge and a trailing edge of the wind turbine blade; a leading reinforcement arrangement comprising at least a leading leeward reinforcement structure engaging the leeward shell portion and a leading windward reinforcement structure engaging the windward shell portion; and a trailing reinforcement arrangement comprising at least a trailing leeward reinforcement structure engaging the leeward shell portion and a trailing windward reinforcement structure engaging the windward shell portion. The trailing windward reinforcement structure has a first stiffness in the lengthwise direction and the trailing leeward reinforcement structure has a second stiffness in the lengthwise direction, wherein the first stiffness is greater than the second stiffness at a chordwise plane of the wind turbine blade.

Abstract: A valve trim that is configured to abate noise in a control valve. These configurations may include a cage with a flow path that has interior and exterior openings. The cage may also have a bore to receive a closure member or “plug.” This plug can travel longitudinally to change parameters of flow through the control valve. In one implementation, the exhausts of flow paths with adjacent inlets are offset or spaced from another. In one implementation, the exterior openings vertically offset. However, other designs may adopt combinations of radial, helical, or angular offsets as well. This feature can prevent mixing of flow from jets that are in the same inlet plane. This feature, in turn, can reduce jet-to-jet interactions that may abate noise. Use of additive manufacturing may be useful (or even necessary) to create these parts within certain design envelopes because these techniques can create the unique flow geometry within a unitary or monolithic body.

Abstract: A horizontal axis wind turbine comprising a rotor having a plurality of blades, the rotor having a radius R of at least 80 meters, the blades comprising: a root end and a tip end, the blades extending in a spanwise direction from the root end to the tip end; a leading edge and a trailing edge, the blades extending in a chordwise direction along a chord from the leading edge to the trailing edge; a shoulder between the root end and the tip end where a chord length defined between the leading edge and the trailing edge is at a maximum; the blades being twisted between the root end and the tip end and the twist is defined by a twist distribution curve along the spanwise direction of the blades, each blade further comprising: an inboard region between the root end of the blade and the shoulder of the blade; an outboard region between a rotor radius 0.

Abstract: A valve trim that is configured to abate noise in a control valve. These configurations may include a cage with a flow path that has a spiral design or layout. This flow path can direct flow around a central bore. A plug may reside in this bore. This plug can travel longitudinally to change parameters of flow through the control valve. In one implementation, the spiral design can split flow inside of the cage. This feature can elongate travel of flow without any increase in dimensions of the cage (or the valve trim itself).

Abstract: A reinforcing structure for a wind turbine blade A reinforcing structure for a wind turbine blade (12) is described. The reinforcing structure comprises one or more pultruded strips (42C) having spanwise grooves (54). The grooves (54) impart transverse flexibility to the strips (42C), allowing the strips (42C) to conform to the curvature of a wind turbine blade mould (44). An associated method of making a reinforcing structure for a wind turbine blade (12) is described. The method comprises providing an elongate mould (44) extending in a longitudinal direction and defining a mould surface at least part of which is concave-curved in transverse cross section. One or more pultruded strips (42C) with spanwise grooves (54) are arranged in the mould (44) to form the reinforcing structure. The pultruded strip(s) are bent along the grooves (54) so that they substantially conform to the transverse curvature of the mould surface. In preferred embodiments the reinforcing structure is a spar cap (36).

Abstract: A telemedicine system comprises (i) medical devices that are each configured to generate patient datasets, and (ii) a remote web server. At least one of the medical devices is then configured to upload or send patient datasets to the remote web server, directly from an internet-connected app running either on the medical device or on at least one intermediary device. The remote web server is configured to generate a unique web-link that is associated with a specific patient dataset. The unique web-link enables a healthcare professional to review the specific patient dataset by selecting the web-link from within a web browser or from within any dedicated telemedicine application that opens web-links.

Abstract: A horizontal axis wind turbine comprising a rotor having a plurality of blades, the rotor having a radius of at least 80 meters, the blades comprising: a root end and a tip end; a leading edge and a trailing edge; a shoulder between the root end and the tip end where a chord length defined between the leading edge and the trailing edge is at a maximum; wherein: Solr is at least 0.0140 at 0.7R; Solr is at least 0.0116 at 0.8R; Solr is at least 0.0090 at 0.9R; Solr being the combined radius specific solidity of the blades.

Abstract: A horizontal axis wind turbine comprising a rotor having a plurality of blades, the rotor having a radius R of at least 80 meters, the blades comprising: a root end and a tip end, the blades extending in a spanwise direction from the root end to the tip end; a leading edge and a trailing edge, the blades extending in a chordwise direction along a chord from the leading edge to the trailing edge; a shoulder between the root end and the tip end where a chord length defined between the leading edge and the trailing edge is at a maximum; the blades being twisted between the root end and the tip end and the twist is defined by a twist distribution curve along the spanwise direction of the blades, each blade further comprising: an inboard region between the root end of the blade and the shoulder of the blade; an outboard region between a rotor radius 0.