The present invention relates to a modified airfoil, comprising: an original airfoil having an original leading edge profile with an original leading edge terminating at an x,y co-ordinate of 0,0 and a trailing edge terminating at an x,y co-ordinate of 1,0; and a shape modification element attached to the original airfoil such that a new leading edge of a new leading edge profile formed by the shape modification element terminates at a negative x co-ordinate relative to the original leading edge, wherein the new leading edge profile has a new leading edge profile shape with a NACA mean chord line between 0.3 and 0.7, a thickness between 12% and 17% of the chord line, with a maximum thickness located between 10% and 40% of the chord line, starting from the new leading edge of the new leading edge profile; and a leading edge radius between 1% and 6% of the chord line.

A rotor blade assembly for a wind turbine includes at least one rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a blade tip and a blade root. The surfaces are constructed of a polymeric composite material. The rotor blade assembly also includes a protection cap arranged adjacent to one or more of the surfaces of the rotor blade so as to cover at least a portion of the one or more surfaces of the rotor blade. The protection cap includes a body defining an overall length. Further, at least a first segment of the protection cap is constructed of a tungsten-based metal. Thus, the protection cap is configured to reduce erosion and resist corrosion of the rotor blade caused by particle or liquid impact.

An ice protection system may include a rotary blade, an electrothermal heater, and a low ice adhesion surface. The low ice adhesion surface may include an adhesion strength below 100 kPa. The rotary blade may be disposed between the electrothermal heater and the low ice adhesion surface. The electrothermal heater may be disposed between the low ice adhesion surface and the rotary blade. The low ice adhesion surface may include a coating or a surface treatment.

A vortex generator for wind turbine blade includes: a platform; and at least one fin disposed projecting from an upper surface of the platform, and including a leading edge and a trailing edge. A rear end surface of the at least one fin, including the trailing edge, has a shape inclined backward as a distance from a bottom surface of the platform increases in a height direction of the fin.

The invention relates to a method for reinforcing a part of the outer surface of a wind turbine blade, said method comprises the steps: i) providing a blade plug having an outer surface resembling the topography of the outer surface of at least a leading portion of at least part of the length of a wind turbine blade; ii) casting a mold of part of the blade plug obtained in step i) in such a way that the topography of an inner surface of said mold corresponds to the topography of part of an outer surface of said blade plug provided in step i); iii) from the mold obtained in step ii), preparing a protective shell by making a casting of the inner surface of said mold; said protective shell is comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, said protective shell is being made from one or more predetermined materials; iv) starting from the topography of the surface of the wind turbine blade; or starting from a blade plug as obtained in step i) preparing an enlarged plug; said enlarged plug thereby comprising an outer surface resembling the topography of the outer surface of at least a leading part of said wind turbine blade; said outer surface of said enlarged plug is having larger dimensions than said outer surface of said blade plug; v) from the enlarged plug obtained in step iv), casting a mounting shell having an inner surface and an outer surface, in such a way that the topography of at least part of an inner surface of said mounting shell corresponds to the topography of part of an outer surface of said enlarged plug; vi) applying an adhesive to at least part of the inner surface of said protective shell and/or to at least part of the outer surface of at least a leading portion of said outer surface of said wind turbine blade; vii) fitting the inner surface of said protective shell onto at least a leading portion of the outer surface of said wind turbine blade; viii) fitting the inner surface of said mounting shell onto said outer surface of said protective shell; ix) applying a force to said mounting shell, and thereby also to said outer surface of said protective shell; wherein said force comprises a force component in a cord direction from the leading surface to the trailing surface of said wind turbine blade; wherein said force additionally comprises a force component in a direction perpendicular to the cord direction and perpendicular to the lengthwise direction of said wind turbine blade; thereby pressing said mounting shell and said protective shell against the outer surface of the wind turbine blade; x) allowing said adhesive applied in step vi) to cure, and subsequently removing said mounting shell from said wind turbine blade and from said pro

A wind turbine blade has a blade body and a leading edge fairing. The blade body has a root, a tip, and a longitudinal direction extending between the root and the tip. The 5 blade body also has a channel extending in the longitudinal direction. The leading edge fairing has a projection extending into the channel and extending in the longitudinal direction so as to be received in the channel Also, a leading edge fairing for attachment to a blade body of a wind turbine blade; a method of fitting a leading edge fairing to a wind turbine blade; and a kit of parts with a number of the leading edge fairings.

According to an embodiment, the vane 13 has a thick root portion 16P formed on the band 12 side of a pressure surface to be joined to the band 12, with a thickness of the thick root portion 16P being gradually increased toward the band 12, and a thick root portion 16N formed on the band 12 side of a negative pressure surface to be joined to the band 12, with a thickness of the thick root portion 16N being gradually increased toward the band 12. The outlet end 15 has a first curved portion 151 and a second curved portion 152. An extreme point 15B forming a bottom end of the second curved portion 152 is positioned closer to the band 12 than an end of the thick root portion 16P, 16N on the crown 11 side.

A runner for a hydraulic turbine configured to reduce fish mortality. The runner includes a hub and a plurality of blades extending from the hub. Each blade includes a root connected to the hub and a tip opposite the root. Each blade further includes a leading edge opposite a trailing edge, and a ratio of a thickness of the leading edge to a diameter of the runner can range from about 0.06 to about 0.35. Further, each blade has a leading edge that is curved relative to a radial axis of the runner.

An airfoil body may include a plurality of tubercles along a leading edge of the airfoil body and a plurality of crenulations along a trailing edge of the airfoil body, wherein at least one of a position, a size, and a shape of the plurality of tubercles and the plurality of crenulations varies in a non-periodic fashion. The non-periodic fashion may be according to a Fibonacci function and may mimic the configuration of a pectoral fin of a humpback whale. The tubercles and crenulations may be defined with respect to a pivot point. The spanwise profile, including the max chord trailing edge curvature, may closely follow divine spirals and related Fibonacci proportions. The spanwise chord thickness may vary in a nonlinear pattern. Related methods are also described.

A leading edge sensor is disclosed. The leading edge sensor may include a tape section and a sensor configured to be disposed on the tape section. The leading edge sensor also includes a first electrode connected to a first end of the sensor and a second electrode connected to a second end of the sensor. The tape section is configured to be attached to a leading edge of at least one blade of a wind turbine, and the sensor configured to detect wear associated with the leading edge.