A method for mounting rotor blades of a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine has a rotor hub with three rotor blade ports. A rotor blade is to be mounted to each of the three rotor blade ports. A mounting arm is fastened to a first rotor blade port. The mounting arm has a first section and a second section, which are coupled with each other via a hinge, so that the angle between the first and second sections can be varied. The hub is turned until the first rotor blade port is in a 90° position. A first end of the first section of the mounting arm is fastened to the first rotor blade port of the rotor hub. The rotor hub is turned with the help of the mounting arm, until the second rotor blade port is in a 270° position. The angle between the first and second sections of the mounting arm is varied while turning the rotor hub. A first rotor blade is lifted, so that the first rotor blade is horizontally mounted to the second rotor blade port of the rotor hub.

A method (100) of mounting a blade (22) to or unmounting a blade (22) from a rotor hub (20) of a wind turbine (10), the wind turbine (10) comprising a tower (12) and a nacelle (16) mounted on the tower (12), the rotor hub (20) being coupled to the nacelle (16), the method (100) comprising gripping the blade (22) using a gripper (50), the gripper (50) comprising gripping members (58) configured for gripping the blade (22) and teeth (60) protruding from the gripping members (58), wherein gripping comprises inserting the teeth (60) of the gripper (50) into receptacles (78) of the blade (22); and rotating the blade (22) about a rotation axis (54) perpendicular to a longitudinal blade axis (53) using a blade rotation device (52) of the gripper (50), wherein the teeth (60) are configured for transmitting an axial load (57) of the blade (22) between the blade (22) and the gripping members (58).

Wind turbine blades with de-icing and/or anti-icing systems including at least one heating unit disposed along the blade's length and between the blade's chord, wherein each heating unit in turn comprises a plurality of heating elements connected both in series and in parallel in a matrix configuration by overlaps or cross-adjacent junctions between adjacent heating elements order to change the electric heating current flow disposing of any additional terminals cables and further enabling to generate a gradually increasing heat flux from the blade root towards the blade tip and from the trailing edge towards the leading edge through each individual heating unit adapting accurately to heat flux demand and hence reducing energy consumption for de-icing and/or anti-icing.

A method for operating a wind turbine with hinged wind turbine blades is disclosed. The wind turbine comprises an adjustable biasing mechanism arranged to apply an adjustable biasing force to each wind turbine blade which biases the wind turbine blade towards a position defining a minimum pivot angle or towards a position defining maximum pivot angle. A biasing force is selected for each wind turbine blade and the selected biasing force is applied to the respective wind turbine blades. The wind turbine is operated while monitoring rotor unbalance of the wind turbine. In the case that the rotor unbalance exceeds a first threshold value at least one of the wind turbine blades is selected, and the biasing force applied to the selected wind turbine blade(s) is adjusted.

The present disclosure provides for a root plate assembly system, an axially adjustable, rigid connection between a metallic (e.g. steel) root plate and a composite root flange of a wind turbine blade mold. The system includes a root plate including a flange portion with at least one aperture disposed therein. The system includes a sealing collar disposed within the aperture in the root plate. The system includes at least one washer having a larger diameter than the aperture in the root plate. The system includes a threaded collar having a longitudinally extending channel and threads on an outer surfaces thereof. The system includes a fastener disposed at least partially within the longitudinally extending channel of the threaded collar. The system includes a locknut disposed above the fastener abutting the fastener and a bolt cover disposed over the locknut, the bolt cover abutting the collar.

An insert (105) for a wind turbine blade root. The insert (105) has a bushing (40) and an outer surface with circumferential annular grooves (68). A transition layer 5 (102) is built up around the bushing (40). The transition layer (102) has fibrous material sheet layers and filamentary material windings (80) in the grooves which alternate with fibrous plies (98) covering the grooves (68). Each fibrous ply (98) is anchored into the grooves (68) by the windings (80). Fibrous battens (148) are fitted around the transition layer (102) to form an insert body (108). Each batten (148) 10 has a deltoid cross-section so that the battens give the insert a quadrilateral or trapezoidal cross-section.

Methods for installing a wind turbine blade on a wind turbine hub include hoisting the wind turbine blade towards the wind turbine hub; bringing the wind turbine blade and the wind turbine hub into contact through an adaptable resilient body such that the adaptable resilient body is compressed between the wind turbine blade and the wind turbine hub; reducing a dimension of the adaptable resilient body such that the wind turbine blade approaches the wind turbine hub; and mounting the wind turbine blade to the wind turbine hub. Also, assemblies for assisting in mounting the wind turbine blade to the wind turbine hub and adapted wind turbine hubs are provided.

In a first aspect, a roller pitch bearing for a wind turbine is provided. The roller pitch bearing comprises a first bearing component and a second bearing component, the first bearing component being configured to rotate with respect to the second bearing component; wherein one of the first and the second bearing components is configured to be coupled to a wind turbine blade and the other one of the first and the second bearing components is configured to be coupled to a rotor hub of a wind turbine. The roller pitch bearing further a limiting structure attached to the first bearing component, the limiting structure radially extending from the first bearing component towards the second bearing component to limit a radial movement between the bearing components. In further aspect, a rotor for a wind turbine comprising a roller pitch bearing is provided.

A wind turbine rotor blade including a blade tip, a blade root, the root defining a z-axis of a right-handed coordinate system, a shell having a leading edge, a trailing edge, a pressure side, a suction side, and, at a longitudinal position close to the tip, an aerodynamic profile with a chord and a profile height. The chord defines a y-axis. The profile height defines an x-axis. A carrying structure including a shear web connects the pressure and suction side. The blade has a prebend towards the pressure side such that the tip is offset from the z-axis along the x-axis. The blade has a sweep towards the trailing edge such that the tip is offset from the z-axis along the direction of the y-axis. The shear web defines a plane including the z-axis or has a constant distance therefrom and is inclined relative to the x-axis.

A wind turbine rotor blade element includes a connection section with a front face, an inner and an outer surface. A plurality of connection assemblies each have (i) a metal insert with a longitudinal axis, a circumferential outer surface and a joining portion for connecting the rotor blade to a wind turbine rotor hub; and, (ii) a transition material aligned with the metal insert and having a tapering longitudinal section. The longitudinal section has an axial outer surface parallel to the longitudinal axis of the metal insert and an inclined outer surface at an angle with reference to the longitudinal axis. The connection assemblies are embedded in the connection section such that the joining portions of the metal inserts are accessible. The connection assemblies are arranged in an inner row closer to the inner surface of the connection section and an outer row closer to the outer surface thereof.