A wind turbine blade comprising a main blade portion having a longitudinal axis that extends between a root end and a tip end, wherein a leading edge and a trailing edge extend between the root end and the tip end, and a conductive blade tip module mounted to the tip end of the main blade portion; wherein the tip end is truncated and has a blade tip interface that defines an outer edge, and wherein the blade tip module is configured to fit against the blade tip interface such that a lip of the blade tip module overlaps the outer edge of the blade tip interface. Since the blade tip module is configured to overlap the tip edge of the blade, this protects the junction between the two components from erosion due to weathering.

A system for generating electric energy from wind or hydraulic energy includes a turbine, and an electric energy generating device to which the turbine is connected through a shaft along a first axis. The turbine includes at least one blade, configured to perform a first rotary movement with respect to the first axis, and a second rotary movement with respect to a second axis, coinciding with the axis of the blade itself. This provides a system with structural features allowing high efficiency, facilitating installation in various environmental contexts, without risk of damage for the respective operational and structural integrity, at the same time. Additionally, the system has an essentially reduced environmental impact, as well as a low noise level so that it can be installed in an urban context or in any case close to built-up areas, i.e. near houses or buildings.

The present disclosure is directed to a blade sleeve for a blade tip of a rotor blade of a wind turbine. The blade sleeve includes a rapid-prototyped body having a pressure side, a suction side, a first open span-wise end, a closed leading edge, and a trailing edge. Further, the body is slidable onto the blade tip of the rotor blade. In addition, the blade sleeve includes at least one additional rapid-prototyped feature integral with the body.

A structure adapted to traverse a fluid environment includes an elongate body having a root, a wingtip, a leading edge and a trailing edge; and a rigid winglet associated with the wingtip and having a winglet body extending substantially normal to one of a suction side and a pressure side of the elongate body to a termination point that is rearward of the trailing edge. In an embodiment, the structure is a rotor blade that may be incorporated into a wind turbine.

A structure adapted to traverse a fluid environment includes an elongate body having a root, a wingtip, a leading edge and a trailing edge; and a plurality of rigid projections each extending from a respective position along the leading edge and/or the trailing edge generally along the same plane as a front surface of the body.

A family of dual-winglet rotor blades are designed to dissipate the low energy flow in the wake of a turbine rotor. In some embodiments a dual-winglet having a first winglet transitioning from the lift surface of a rotor blade and a second winglet transitioning from the pressure surface of the rotor blade creates two distinct streams in the wake of the rotor. In one embodiment the first winglet curving away from the lift surface turns the lift force toward the center of the rotor plane while a second, smaller, winglet curving away from the pressure surface of the rotor blade turns the lift force away from the center of the rotor plane. In other embodiments winglets create a virtual shroud that expands the wake to dissipate the low-energy flow in the turbine wake. In another embodiment a dual winglet combines the aforementioned mixing effect with the wake expansion effect.

A fluid-redirecting structure includes a rigid body having an upstream end, a downstream end, and an axis of rotation, the rigid body incorporating a plurality of troughs each spiralled from a tip at the upstream end to the downstream end about the axis of rotation, the troughs being splayed with respect to the axis of rotation thereby to, proximate the downstream end, direct incident fluid along the troughs away from the axis of rotation.

A method of making a wind turbine blade component incorporating a lightning protection system, the method comprising: providing a mould surface; arranging a forming element on the mould surface; providing an electrically conductive layer; reinforcing the electrically conductive layer in a predetermined region to create a reinforced zone; arranging the electrically conductive layer over the forming element so that the reinforced zone is superimposed on the forming element; arranging one or more structural components on the electrically conductive layer; consolidating the structural components under vacuum to form a blade shell having an integrated electrically conductive layer adjacent an outer surface of the shell; removing at least part of the forming element from the blade shell to define a recess in the outer surface of the shell so as to expose the reinforced zone of the electrically conductive layer; electrically connecting the electrically conductive layer at the reinforced zones to a respective electrical component located adjacent an inner surface of the blade shell. The invention also extends to a preformed component for use in fabricating a wind turbine blade.

A rotor blade for a wind turbine includes a first blade segment and a second blade segment extending in opposite directions from a chord-wise joint. Each of the first and second blade segments includes at least one shell member defining an airfoil surface. The rotor blade also includes pin joint(s) for connecting the first and second blade segments at the chord-wise joint. The pin joint(s) includes pin joint tube(s) received within the pin joint slot(s). The pin joint slot(s) are secured within a bearing block. Further, a gap is defined between the pin joint slot(s) and the bearing block. Moreover, the rotor blade includes a shim within the gap between the pin joint slot(s) and the bearing block so as to retain the pin joint slot(s) within the bearing block. In addition, the shim is constructed of a liquid material that hardens after being poured into the gap.

A method for manufacturing a wind turbine blade that is pre-staged for subsequent retrofitting with a replacement blade tip segment includes providing the wind turbine blade with a continuous spar structure from a root end to a tip end of the wind turbine blade. At a pre-defined span-wise location, one of a span-wise extending beam structure or span-wise extending receiver section is configured with the spar structure.