Abstract: Wind turbine ice protection systems and methods are provided. An ice protection system for heating a wind turbine blade includes: a heater disposed in an interior of the wind turbine blade, the heater for heating air; a blower disposed in the interior of the wind turbine blade and for moving the air across the heater to generate a heated airflow; a duct disposed in the interior of the wind turbine blade, the duct for receiving the heated airflow and releasing the heated airflow into the interior of the wind turbine blade; and an electrical control subsystem disposed in the wind turbine for controlling one or more components of the ice protection system.

Abstract: A centrifugal fan impeller structure includes a hub and a blade body set. The hub has an extension section. The blade body set has multiple blade bodies. The blade bodies outward extend from the extension section of the hub. Each two adjacent blade bodies define therebetween a flow way, an air outlet and an air inlet. The air outlet and the air inlet are respectively positioned at two ends of the flow way in communication with the flow way. The air outlets are arranged at unequal intervals so as to greatly reduce noise in operation.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a vertical axis wind turbine may be constructed to better survive wear and tear while being more energy efficient. A turbine blade may capture air movement to generate power. A blade arm may hold the turbine blade parallel to a rotating shaft. The blade arm may transmit torque from the turbine blade to the rotating shaft to drive a rotor of an electrical power generator. A moment-free connector may connect the turbine blade to the blade arm to transmit a stress maxima to a structural strongpoint of the turbine blade away from the moment-free connector.

Abstract: A vertical axis turbine and method of making same is disclosed. The device and method comprise a plurality of blades rotatably disposed around an axis of rotation at a plurality of blade locations, each blade being twisted at a first angle about its longitudinal axis, each blade having its distal ends located a predetermined distance from the axis of rotation, each blade being bent at one or more central locations along the longitudinal axis so the one or more central locations are the same predetermined distance from the axis of rotation as the distal ends, each blade having a foil cross section perpendicular to the axis of rotation for maintaining unidirectional rotation of that blade about the axis of rotation in a fluid flow, and each blade having its longitudinal axis tilted at a second angle with respect to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: An impeller for a centrifugal fan includes a hub, impeller blades, and struts for supporting the blades in a circumferential array spaced apart from the hub. The number of struts can equal the number of blades, each strut extended from the hub to support two blades while each blade is supported by one strut nearer to its leading edge and another strut nearer to its trailing edge. Another arrangement features two struts per blade, with one of the struts coupled to the hub and a given blade, and the other strut coupled between the given blade and an adjacent blade. The struts are recessed inwardly from the leading and trailing edges to promote smoother air flow. The blades and struts are provided with aerodynamic thickness profiles to further improve air flow.

Abstract: There is provided a vertical axis wind turbine comprising an upright rotatable shaft mountable on a support structure, a plurality of upright blades, and a plurality of prestressable supporting arms for attaching the plurality of blades to the shaft. The wind turbine may further comprise a shaft stabilizing assembly comprising a plurality of coplanar wheels having compliant outer layers, rotatably mounted on a support, for radially and rotatably supporting a rotatable shaft. The disclosure further provides a method of assembly of the wind turbine.

Abstract: Drive units for variable-length rotor blades are located so as to move mass closer to the center of a wind turbine rotor. In some cases, drive units are located within a root portion of a base blade of a blade assembly. In other cases, drive units are located outside of the blade assemblies. In some such cases, drive units are contained within separate couplers used to connect blade assemblies to a wind turbine rotor hub. In other cases, one or more drive units are located within a rotor hub.

Abstract: A rotor hub (10) of a wind power plant for a rotor, in particular with at least one rotor blade is provided, wherein a hub core body (12) and at least one hub outer body (16) are connected together by means of a flange connection (18). The rotor hub (10) is further characterized in that the flange connection (18) is constructed with a predetermined tilt angle (?) towards the rotational axis (24) of the rotor, wherein the tilt angle (?) of the flange connection (18) is constructed larger than the tilt angle (?) of the rotor blade connection surface of the hub outer body (16). Furthermore, a wind power plant may be provided with the rotor hub (10).

Abstract: A vertical axis turbine and method of making same is disclosed. The device and method comprise a plurality of blades rotatably disposed around an axis of rotation at a plurality of blade locations, each blade being twisted at a first angle about its longitudinal axis, each blade having its distal ends located a predetermined distance from the axis of rotation, each blade being bent at one or more central locations along the longitudinal axis so the one or more central locations are the same predetermined distance from the axis of rotation as the distal ends, each blade having a foil cross section perpendicular to the axis of rotation for maintaining unidirectional rotation of that blade about the axis of rotation in a fluid flow, and each blade having its longitudinal axis tilted at a second angle with respect to the axis of rotation.

Abstract: A wind driven power generator has a rotational shroud assembly for maximizing wind input and a turbine assembly with a shaft that rotates within the shroud assembly. The shaft end extends through the base of the shroud assembly. The turbine assembly has elongate arms attached to the top portion of the shaft of the turbine assembly. Each arm is essentially perpendicular to the shaft and has a vertical wind blade attached to each of the arm ends and spaced equidistance apart around the shaft of the turbine assembly. The shroud assembly covers approximately half of the turbine assembly during rotation and maintains a windward direction for maximum wind on the blade fronts while shielding the back sides of the blades from the incoming wind.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for harvesting fluid energy including a wave turbine consisting of a long shaft having pairs of buckets positioned at intervals along the shaft and rotated 90 degrees from each adjacent pair. Each bucket is connected at an offset angle with respect to a plane that is normal to the shaft. When adapted for harnessing wave energy, the shaft is elevated above water surface and positioned at an oblique angle to the prevailing wave fronts. Each bucket is positively buoyant, so that buckets capture both potential and kinetic wave energy.

Abstract: A wind turbine blade assembly is provided. The assembly includes at least one wind turbine blade. The blade includes a blade root portion. The assembly also includes at least one blade root hub fitting coupled to the blade root portion. The blade root hub fitting is configured to couple to a rotatable hub.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vertical shaft wind turbine, and particularly to an installation method of blades that can effectively improve the efficiency of a vertical shaft wind turbine. A supporting plane is connected to vertical shaft and a blade is installed on supporting plane. The airfoil of the blade is an asymmetrical camber airfoil. The convex surface of blade is installed facing the vertical shaft. The blade rotary angle is in the range of 0-15 degrees. This invention represents a remarkable progress in the field of wind power generation and is applicable industrially.

Abstract: Embodiments of a bi-axial compliant bearing assembly and methods of assembling the bi-axial compliant bearing assembly are disclosed. A bi-axial compliant bearing assembly employs a transition bearing race. The transition bearing race comprises a cylindrical surface. The cylindrical surface is configured to rotatably engage a rotational bearing element and to slidably engage the rotational bearing element along an axis. The transition bearing race also includes a spherically-compliant surface. The spherically-compliant surface is configured to engage a spherically-compliant element and to enable the spherically-compliant element to rotate transversely to the axis.

Abstract: A vertical axis type wind power station and a blade manufacturing process, which can stabilize the turning motions of blades and can raise the power generation efficiency by lightening the blades to smoothen the turning motions of the blades; a structure and method for mounting the wind-driven device of a wind power station, by which the wind-driven device can be easily disposed at the upper portion of a building; and a windbreak wind power plant for breaking the wind by using the vertical axis type wind power stations or wind-driven devices arranged along the shoreline or the like.

Abstract: A vertical axis windmill in which a support frame is provided as a wind power dam to form a plurality of shaft-installation sections, and in which a plurality of vertically long blades each of which has a tilted part at the upper and lower ends respectively are disposed in multi-levels to improve wind-receiving power thereby providing a wind power generator with low installation cost and increased total power generation per a certain area.

Abstract: A windmill 10 includes a frame 11 and a rotor 12 provided rotatively around the vertical shaft center. The rotor includes bosses 23, 24 located above and below, plural transversal blades 25 extending radially from the bosses, longitudinal blades 26 held by the front edges of the transversal blades 25 of both above and below bosses. The frame includes bearing 19, 20 supporting the bosses 23, 24 of the rotor rotatively around the vertical shaft center, spokes 17 provided radially supporting the bearing, and legs 15 holding the spoke 17 away from the ground. In the lower bearing 20, a generator connected to the boss 24 of the rotor 12 is accommodated.

Abstract: An axial flow fan has a hub with a plurality of hub struts extending radially from the hub for mounting a blade on the end of each hub strut. Inner and outer studs extend in the axial direction of the fan on each of the hub struts. An air seal covers the hub struts, and particularly the space between the hub struts. The air seal has a generally round central sheet and a number of radially adjustable segments extending radially from the central sheet corresponding to the number of hub struts. Each of the segments is a generally trapezoidal sheet spanning the space between adjacent hub struts. Inner and outer slots along each of the radial edges of the trapezoidal sheet extend in a direction parallel to a radial line through the center of the sheet with each slot engaging a stud on a hub strut. This permits the segments to be adjusted radially to closely match the roots of the blades before nuts are tightened on the threaded studs.

Abstract: In an integrated vane 1 for use in wind or water, main blades 3 arranged around an axial shaft 2 of the vane and support blades 4 for joining the main blades to the axial shaft are integrally formed with light and high strength fiber material such as glass fibers and carbon fibers. The main blade is symmetrical or asymmetrical in its cross sectional view and the support blade is symmetrical in its cross sectional view. The upper support blade may be asymmetrical in its cross sectional view and the lower support blade may have an up-and-down reversed shape of that of the upper support blade. A mountain-shaped portion may be formed at the ends of the main blade for reducing noise. The strength of crossing portions between the main and support blade of the vertical axis vane for use in wind or water is thus improved.

Abstract: An airfoil assembly having a blade with a leading edge, a trailing edge, a root and a tip. The assembly rotates about a first axis. The blade has a planar windward surface parallel to a second axis which is orthogonal to the first axis. A third axis orthogonal with the first and second axes defines the general orientation of the blade viewed along the first axis; however, the blade is pitched at an angle relative to the third axis. The convex leading edge, convex tip, and concave trailing edge have similar radii, and the leading and trailing edges converge as they approach the tip.

Abstract: An annular connector for connecting a rotor and shaft, has an axial cross sectional profile which approximates a serpentine form. The shape defines only obtuse angles and curves, so that during rotation of the assembly, stress variations in the connector are reduced, as are stress peaks.

Abstract: A wind power plant for harnessing wind power includes a tower; a plurality of upright rotor blades spaced apart circumferentially and spaced radially from a rotational axis; and a supporting structure for the rotor blades leading from the tower to the rotor blades.

Abstract: Thermally actuated flow diverters for gas turbine engines are provided which include an arrangement of vanes in spaced overlapping array, which direct, e.g. coolant air flow to rotating engine components, each vane having 3 foil components joined at 3 hinge points. That is, a leading foil positioned on the suction side of the vane, a trailing foil pivotably mounted to a rearward portion of such leading foil at a first pivot axis and a third foil positioned on the pressure side of the vane connecting a forward portion of such leading foil and such trailing foil at second and third pivot axes respectively. Either the third foil or the leading foil is fixedly mounted to engine walls of the same material, the other of these two foils defining an actuation link that is expandable and contractable relative to such walls; the third foil having a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than that of the leading foil.