A wind turbine blade comprising a system for monitoring the deflection of a wind turbine blade is described. The system comprises a wireless range-measurement system, having at least one wireless communication device located towards the root end of the blade and at least one wireless communication device located towards the tip end of the blade, the communication devices comprising antennas polarized substantially perpendicular to the suction side of the blade and substantially parallel to the leading edge of the wind turbine blade.

A centrifugal rotating machine includes a rotor in which impellers are attached to the axial ends of a rotating shaft that extends in the axial direction, said impellers rotating in a rotating direction around the rotating shaft so as to draw in fluid from an intake side in the axial direction and discharge fluid from the outer side thereof in the radial direction. According to this device for measuring dynamic characteristics of said centrifugal rotating machine, a cover for covering an impeller is attached to a region of the impeller other than an intake opening on the intake side thereof, and a magnetic force generator for vibrating the impeller by magnetic force is disposed so as to face the cover.

A method for identifying damage in a component of a wind turbine includes placing a conductive element onto at least one surface of the component of the wind turbine. The method also includes electrically connecting the conductive element into an electrical circuit. Further, the method includes monitoring a status of the electrical circuit to identify the damage in the component. In particular, when the status of the electrical circuit is open, damage is likely present in the component, and when the status of the electrical circuit is closed, damage is unlikely present in the component. Moreover, the method includes transmitting the status of the electrical circuit to a user interface for display.

A system that converts acceleration to rotational energy by using gravity to lower a ballast member and buoyancy to raise it when the ballast member is filled with compressed air. The ballast's initial ascent is controlled by a brake member. This ascent causes a rack assembly to rise that actuates a compressor to refill the intermediary tank with compressed air so the cycle can repeat itself. The initial phase begins with the ballast member containing compressed air so it can ascend up a liquid-filled silo, generating rotational energy along the way using a mounted cable that travels around a wire drum. Upon reaching the top of the silo, valves will open allowing water to enter the ballast thereby sinking it to the bottom, creating additional rotational energy.

A system that converts acceleration to rotational energy by using gravity to lower a ballast member and buoyancy to raise it when the ballast member is filled with compressed air. The ballast's initial ascent is controlled by a brake member. This ascent causes a rack assembly to rise that actuates a compressor to refill the intermediary tank with compressed air so the cycle can repeat itself. The initial phase begins with the ballast member containing compressed air so it can ascend up a liquid-filled silo, generating rotational energy along the way using a mounted cable that travels around a wire drum. Upon reaching the top of the silo, valves will open allowing water to enter the ballast thereby sinking it to the bottom, creating additional rotational energy.

A system and method are configured to monitor changes associated with an air gap in a brake assembly of a wind turbine yaw drive by: (1) receiving one or more sensor signals from one or more sensors that are indicative of changes associated with the air gap; and (2) comparing the changes associated with the air gap to certain thresholds to determine if the air gap is in need of attention. The system includes at least one proximity sensor arranged adjacent to the air gap, to monitor the air gap, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the sensor signal(s) indicative of the changes associated with the air gap. The controller also is configured to compare the changes associated with the air gap to one or more air gap thresholds, and to implement a control action based on this comparison.

An exemplary system for determining an operating condition for a wind turbine having a rotor, generator, and gearbox, includes a plurality of sensors mounted within the nacelle of the wind turbine. The system also includes a pair proximity sensors are mounted adjacent to the rotor for measuring rotor displacement. A first processor is connected to receive sensor data from the pair of proximity sensors and is configured to partition the received sensor data into predefined datasets, and a second processor configured to format the predefined datasets for transmission over a network to a processing computer.

Provided is a power generation system capable of reducing an outer diameter of a wheel with which an arm mechanism is brought into contact after a rotational speed of a rotation body increases to a first value by applying a large torque to the rotation body until the rotational speed of the rotation body increases to the first value. A power generation system 1 of the present invention is a power generation system in which a cam member 7 is rotated by hydroelectric power or wind power to bring a cam 6 into contact with an arm mechanism 3 and to rotate the arm mechanism 3, and the arm mechanism 3 comes into contact with either of wheels 42 and 41 of a rotation body 44 during the rotation of the arm mechanism 3 to rotate the rotation body 44. The power generation system 1 includes operation control means for transitioning to an operation in a second mode in which the arm mechanism 3 is brought into contact with a small-diameter wheel 41 in response to an increase in a rotational speed of the rotation body 44 to a first value during an operation in the first mode in which the arm mechanism 3 is brought into contact with the large-diameter wheel 42, and transitioning to the operation in the first mode in response to a decrease in the rotational speed of the rotation body 44 to a second value during the operation in the second mode.

A system for repairing dents in a wind turbine tower section may generally include a dent repair tool having a tool hub and a plurality of arms configured to extend radially outwardly from the tool hub towards an inner surface of the tower section. The tool may also include a linear actuator configured to linearly actuate a plunger of the actuator arm relative to the tool hub such that the plunger applies a radially outward force against the inner surface of the tower section at or adjacent to a location of a dent formed in the tower section. In addition, the system may include a load sensor configured to provide an indication of a load associated with the radially outward force applied against the inner surface of the tower section by the plunger and a controller configured to monitor the load based on signals received from the load sensor.

Systems and methods for monitoring wind turbine loading are provided. In one embodiment, a system includes a main shaft, a bedplate, and a gearbox coupled to the main shaft and mounted to the bedplate. The gearbox includes an outer casing and a torque arm extending from the outer casing. The system further includes an isolation mount coupled to the torque arm, and a sensor configured to measure displacement of the torque arm. In another embodiment, a method includes operating the wind turbine, and detecting displacement of a torque arm of a gearbox of the wind turbine. The method further includes calculating a moment for a main shaft of the wind turbine based on the displacement of the torque arm.