A wind turbine comprising a tower, a pod, at least one smoke detector in the region of the tower and/or in the region of the pod, at least one fan arranged in the tower and/or in the pod, and a control unit which detects a fire situation or smoke development in the wind turbine by means of the smoke detectors and activates the fans disposed in the tower and/or in the pod in order to suck away the smoke produced.

A wind turbine comprising a tower, a pod, at least one smoke detector in the region of the tower and/or in the region of the pod, at least one fan arranged in the tower and/or in the pod, and a control unit which detects a fire situation or smoke development in the wind turbine by means of the smoke detectors and activates the fans disposed in the tower and/or in the pod in order to suck away the smoke produced.

A dispenser tool (42) is provided with multiple cartridges for dispensing viscous material onto the surface (5′) of a wind turbine blade (5). The dispenser tool (42) is advantageously part of a robot system used to work the surface (5′) of the blade (5). The system is configured for bringing the nozzle of a selected cartridge into the vicinity of the surface (5′) and orienting the dispenser tool (42) relatively to the surface (5′) such that the nozzle (46) of the corresponding selected cartridge (44) is at the surface (5′) for providing viscous material onto the surface (5′) from the selected cartridge (44) while moving the nozzle (46) along the surface (5′).

A dispenser tool (42) is provided with multiple cartridges for dispensing viscous material onto the surface (5′) of a wind turbine blade (5). The dispenser tool (42) is advantageously part of a robot system used to work the surface (5′) of the blade (5). The system is configured for bringing the nozzle of a selected cartridge into the vicinity of the surface (5′) and orienting the dispenser tool (42) relatively to the surface (5′) such that the nozzle (46) of the corresponding selected cartridge (44) is at the surface (5′) for providing viscous material onto the surface (5′) from the selected cartridge (44) while moving the nozzle (46) along the surface (5′).

A wind turbine system able to withstand up to 150 mph winds, comprising the electricity generating components moved from the nacelle to the top of the tower, positioned vertically, and comprising: a main-shaft bearing; a gearbox; a brake assembly; a high-speed shaft; a generator; and an electrical control cabinet. The purpose of positioning in the tower is to protect the components from high winds, tornados, etc. and to regulate the rotation of the propellers to make more electricity. The turbine can be easily repaired onsite by removing covers on the upper tower; and with snap in replacement parts. Drone, which are stored in the top horizontal housing, can surveil and protect the turbine and the surrounding area. And, solar panels on the sides and/or cover of the top horizontal housing provide energy to the turbine in low and no wind conditions.

A wind turbine system able to withstand up to 150 mph winds, comprising the electricity generating components moved from the nacelle to the top of the tower, positioned vertically, and comprising: a main-shaft bearing; a gearbox; a brake assembly; a high-speed shaft; a generator; and an electrical control cabinet. The purpose of positioning in the tower is to protect the components from high winds, tornados, etc. and to regulate the rotation of the propellers to make more electricity. The turbine can be easily repaired onsite by removing covers on the upper tower; and with snap in replacement parts. Drone, which are stored in the top horizontal housing, can surveil and protect the turbine and the surrounding area. And, solar panels on the sides and/or cover of the top horizontal housing provide energy to the turbine in low and no wind conditions.

A method of retrofitting a wind turbine (10) having a wind turbine tower (12) and a first energy generating unit (14) includes rotating at least a portion of the wind turbine tower (12). The wind turbine tower (12) is secured to a foundation (16) and has a first position on the foundation (16). The method includes rotating at least a portion of the wind turbine tower (12) from the first position to a second position. In the second position, the portion experiences less stress when the wind turbine (10) is operated in the same prevailing wind. The wind turbine tower (12) may have at least two sections (12a, 12b, 12c) and wherein rotating includes rotating one section relative to another section. One section may be secured to a foundation (16). In that case, rotating may or may not include rotating the section secured to the foundation (16). Rotating the tower may occur after the first energy generating unit (14) is removed from the tower and may include rotating the wind turbine tower by an angle from 90°±15° relative to the first position.

A method of retrofitting a wind turbine (10) having a wind turbine tower (12) and a first energy generating unit (14) includes rotating at least a portion of the wind turbine tower (12). The wind turbine tower (12) is secured to a foundation (16) and has a first position on the foundation (16). The method includes rotating at least a portion of the wind turbine tower (12) from the first position to a second position. In the second position, the portion experiences less stress when the wind turbine (10) is operated in the same prevailing wind. The wind turbine tower (12) may have at least two sections (12a, 12b, 12c) and wherein rotating includes rotating one section relative to another section. One section may be secured to a foundation (16). In that case, rotating may or may not include rotating the section secured to the foundation (16). Rotating the tower may occur after the first energy generating unit (14) is removed from the tower and may include rotating the wind turbine tower by an angle from 90°±15° relative to the first position.

Systems and methods for building predictive and prescriptive analytics of wind turbines generate a historical operational dataset by loading historical operational SCADA data of one or more wind turbines. Each sensor measurement is associated with an engineering tag and at least one component of a wind turbine. The system creates one or more performance indicators corresponding to one or more sensor measurements, and applies at least one data clustering algorithm onto the dataset to identify and label normal operation data clusters. The system builds a normal operation model using normal operational data clusters with Efficiency of Wind-To-Power (EWTP) and defines a statistical confidence range around the normal operation model as criterion for monitoring wind turbine performance. As real-time SCADA data is received by the system, the system can detect an anomalous event, and issue an alert notification and prescriptive early-action recommendations to a user, such as a turbine operator, technician or manager.

A modular gearbox assembly for a wind turbine having improved up-tower serviceability includes a low-speed gear stage module, a separate, intermediate-speed gear stage module adjacent to the low-speed gear stage module, and a separate high-speed gear stage module adjacent to the intermediate-speed gear stage module. The gearbox assembly also includes a first flange removably connecting the intermediate and high-speed gear stage modules and a second flange removably connecting the intermediate and low-speed gear stage modules. Thus, the low-speed gear stage module converts a low-speed, high torque input from a rotor shaft of the wind turbine to a high-speed, low torque output for a generator of the wind turbine via the intermediate and high-speed gear stage modules. In addition, the first and second flanges allow for easy disassembly of the gear stage modules such that the various stages can be easily repaired, replaced, and/or inspected.