A wind turbine blade, extending longitudinally root end to tip end, having a load carrying structure, a shell body and a lightning protection system is described. The load carrying structure is fiber-reinforced polymer in a plurality of stacked layers comprising electrically conductive fibers. The lightning protection system comprises a lightning receptor arranged freely accessible in or on the shell body and a lightning down-conductor electrically connected to the lightning receptor and is configured to be electrically connected to a ground connection. The blade further comprises a potential equalisation system providing a potential equalising connection between a number of the electrically conductive fibers of the load carrying structure and the lightning protection system. The system comprises a dissipating element made of an electrically conductive material which in turn comprises at least one transverse connector arranged to extend transverse through a thickness of the stacked fiber layers and configured to dissipate.

An apparatus for converting kinetic energy of a fluid into reciprocating motion includes a rod mounted for reciprocating motion along a substantially vertical direction, an airfoil mounted on the rod, and control surfaces for selectively moving the airfoil upwardly and downwardly in a fluid stream.

A method of making an elongate wind turbine blade is described. The wind turbine blade extends longitudinally between a root end and a tip end in a spanwise direction, and the method comprises: (a) providing an elongate mould tool (20) extending longitudinally in a spanwise direction; (b) arranging an elongate spar structure (40) in the mould tool, the spar structure (40) N extending longitudinally in the spanwise direction; (c) arranging core material (24) adjacent to the spar structure (40); (d) providing resin-permeable material (114) between the spar structure (40) and the core material (24); and (e) administering resin into the mould during a resin infusion process. The resin-permeable material (114) restricts the flow of resin between the spar structure (40) and the core material (24) in the spanwise direction and thereby substantially prevents lock-offs from forming during the infusion process.

An ice melting device for a blade, a blade and a wind turbine are provided. The ice melting device for the blade includes: a first heating portion; a first electrode and a second electrode, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are arranged at two ends of the first heating portion in a length direction, respectively; and a connecting conductor, wherein the connecting conductor extends in a length direction, a first end of the connecting conductor is connected to the second electrode, and a second end of the connecting conductor and the first electrode are located at a same side. With the connecting conductor, power leads connecting to the first electrode and the second electrode are allowed be located at a same side, thereby, in a case that an old blade is modified, an increase of a layer thickness caused by the power leads may be greatly reduced.

Among other things, the present disclosure relates to a wind turbine rotor blade that can be assembled at the site of its wind turbine. The blade includes an internal structure which may be pre-fabricated with connections to the shell skin prior to being transported to the site of its wind turbine. A filler material may be injected into the layers of fabric making up the shell skin at the wind turbine site and allowed to harden at approximately atmospheric conditions.

Provided is a wind turbine blade for a wind turbine, including a web extending along a longitudinal direction of the blade, an electrically conductive beam extending along the longitudinal direction of the blade and being connected to the web, a lightning conductor extending along the longitudinal direction of the blade and being attached to the web, and a ply including carbon fibers, wherein the ply is attached to both the lightning conductor and the beam to electrically connect the lightning conductor to the beam. This has the advantage that an extensive and a continuous electrical connection between the lightning conductor and the beam is provided and that a plurality of cables electrically connecting the lightning conductor with the beam may be substituted.

Systems and methods for hydro-electric power generation are disclosed. The system includes a frame or structure positioned in a waterway or channel, with one or more hydro-transition units secured to corners of the frame. The hydro-transition units include a body of reinforced fabric for redirecting water flow towards the inlet of the frame, effectively increasing the current of the water and allowing for turbines within the frame to generate power at an increased rate. Anchors and bracket systems may secure the hydro-transition units to both the waterway and the frame, thereby allowing the body of reinforced fabric to withstanding force from water-flow within the waterway. The system includes various failsafe mechanisms for disengaging or detaching the hydro-transition units from the frame and/or anchor for reacting to high water flow or volumes (e.g., flooding).

Provided is a method for manufacturing tapered root segment sections for a root segment of a turbine blade, in particular a wind turbine blade, wherein the method includes the steps of: (a) winding multiple layers of a fabric around a winding core in a way such that a multilayered structure from the fabric having a shape tapered transverse to a direction of the winding is obtained, (b) applying adhesive to the fabric, (c) curing the adhesive applied to the fabric of the multilayered structure wound around the winding core, so that a cured multilayered structure is obtained, (d) separating the cured multilayered structure from the winding core, and (e) cutting the cured multilayered structure into the tapered root segment sections. A method for manufacturing the root segment of the turbine blade and a method for manufacturing the turbine blade is also provided.

There is a system and method for de-icing a wind turbine blade. The system includes a heater for heating air and for attaching to an interior surface of the wind turbine blade, a blower for moving air across the heater to generate a heated airflow, and a flexible duct for receiving the heated airflow and for releasing the heated airflow into the interior of the wind turbine blade. The method includes generating heated air in the interior of a wind turbine blade, moving the heated air into a porous duct within the interior of the wind turbine blade, and passing the heated air through the porous duct and into the interior of the wind turbine blade to heat a surface of the wind turbine blade.

A wind turbine system utilizes an air deflector configured inside of an air scoop extending along a circular track around the air deflector to capture the prevailing wind and direct it up through an air rotor. The air rotor is configured with a plurality of fins in the air rotor channel and the flow of air past the fins spins the air rotor. A rotor of an electrical generator is coupled with the air rotor and spins with respect to a stator, fixed to the wind turbine frame, to produce electricity. The air scoop rotates about the wind turbine as a function of the prevailing wind and may be controlled by a controller that is coupled with one or more of the wheels of the air scoop. A plurality of baffles may be configured under the fins to direct the air and over the fins.