A resistive heater system comprising a braided and flattened electrical lead connected to a heating blanket or coating at one end of the lead. The braided and flattened electrical lead comprises a folded-over section that forms an angle in the lead of 70 to 110°. The invention also includes an aircraft comprising the heater system. Nonlimiting examples of aircraft include helicopter, drone, and airplane.

A structure adapted to traverse a fluid environment exerting an ambient fluid pressure is provided. The structure includes an elongate body extending from a root to a wingtip and encapsulating at least one interior volume containing an interior fluid exerting an interior fluid pressure that is different from the ambient fluid pressure. A method of retrofitting a structure adapted to traverse a fluid environment exerting an ambient fluid pressure, the structure comprising an elongate body extending from a root to a wingtip and having at least one interior volume is also provided. The method includes sealing the elongate body to encapsulate the at least one interior volume containing an interior fluid; associating at least one valve with the at least one interior volume; and modifying interior fluid content via the at least one valve to produce an interior fluid pressure that is different from the ambient fluid pressure.

A first aspect of the invention provides a wind turbine blade comprising an electro-thermal heating element, the electro-thermal heating element comprising a sheet of electrically resistive material which is folded so as to provide a plurality of heat zones, each heat zone comprising one or more layers of the sheet, wherein at least two of the heat zones have a different number of layers of the sheet.

A first aspect of the invention provides a wind turbine blade comprising an electro-thermal heating element, the electro-thermal heating element comprising a sheet of electrically resistive material which is folded so as to provide a plurality of heat zones, each heat zone comprising one or more layers of the sheet, wherein at least two of the heat zones have a different number of layers of the sheet.

A wind turbine blade comprising an electro-thermal heating element with a tapering width. The electro-thermal heating element comprises: electrically resistive sheet material; a first electrode which is in electrical contact with the sheet material and positioned at a first end of the element; and a second electrode which is in electrical contact with the sheet material and positioned at a second end of the sheet material. An electrically conductive strip extends across a width of the element. The sheet material has a first part on a first side of the strip and a second part on a second side of the strip. The strip is in electrical contact with the first and second parts of the sheet material. The first part of the sheet material has a first width, and the second part of the sheet material has a second width which is different to the first width.

A wind turbine blade comprising an electro-thermal heating element with a tapering width. The electro-thermal heating element comprises: electrically resistive sheet material; a first electrode which is in electrical contact with the sheet material and positioned at a first end of the element; and a second electrode which is in electrical contact with the sheet material and positioned at a second end of the sheet material. An electrically conductive strip extends across a width of the element. The sheet material has a first part on a first side of the strip and a second part on a second side of the strip. The strip is in electrical contact with the first and second parts of the sheet material. The first part of the sheet material has a first width, and the second part of the sheet material has a second width which is different to the first width.

The invention relates to a method for the application of heating mats (10) on a wing/blade of a wind power station or other devices for the purpose of achieving deicing also during operation when necessary. Temperature measurement and de-icing take place by means of pulsed current to the heating mat (10). The invention also relates to an arrangement.

The invention relates to a method for the application of heating mats (10) on a wing/blade of a wind power station or other devices for the purpose of achieving deicing also during operation when necessary. Temperature measurement and de-icing take place by means of pulsed current to the heating mat (10). The invention also relates to an arrangement.

A wind turbine rotor blade is provided comprising a rotor blade root region, a rotor blade tip region, a pressure side, a suction side, a front edge, a rear edge and at least one web along a longitudinal direction of the rotor blade. Furthermore, a deflecting unit is provided comprising at least two deflecting bends between one end of the at least one web and the rotor blade tip region.

A wind turbine rotor blade is provided comprising a rotor blade root region, a rotor blade tip region, a pressure side, a suction side, a front edge, a rear edge and at least one web along a longitudinal direction of the rotor blade. Furthermore, a deflecting unit is provided comprising at least two deflecting bends between one end of the at least one web and the rotor blade tip region.