A system and method for improving efficiency of vertical axis wind turbines for all wind directions, comprising an inlet convergent section, a wind turbine section adjacent to exit of convergent section and an outlet divergent section. The system provides an air passage through the inlet section, the wind turbine and the outlet section, and allows for variation of the inlet and outlet depending on wind direction, in order to maximize efficiency harnessed within a time interval in accordance to wind direction and wind speed.

Wind-powered generator devices, systems, and methods are described that include a wind turbine, an electrical converter to convert variable frequency power output from the wind turbine to fixed frequency electricity for storage in a vehicle or other battery or to power an electrical device, a support member to which the wind turbine is attached, a mounting device to which a bottom end of the support member is attached, wherein the mounting device attaches the wind-powered generator device to a vehicle or another object or a surface, and an elevating device that includes a first connection to which a bottom end of the support member is attached and a second connection to which the mounting device is attached. The wind turbine and support member are configurable in a vertical operating position that is raised and in a horizontal retracted position that is lowered when the wind turbine not in operation.

A kite system having a kite (14) and a hauling rope (15) which extends between the kite (14) and a tow point (16). A marking holder (25) is disposed between the tow point (16) and the kite (14). The marking holder (25) is conceived for changing between an entrained state in relation to the hauling rope (15), and a free-running state in relation to the hauling rope (15). A fitting installation (31) initiates a changeover between the entrained state and the free-running state of the marking holder (25). The invention moreover relates to a method for operating a kite system.

A foundation for a windmill with a base ring composed of prefabricated concrete elements and divided into several ring sections and support elements extending radially outward from the base ring, wherein the base ring is supported on the support elements by primary strut ribs and wherein a mounting ring, which is divided into several ring sections and composed of prefabricated concrete elements, is placed on the base ring and connected to the base ring, wherein the construction ring is supported by secondary strut ribs on the primary strut ribs.

A method for managing the offtake of power produced by an auxiliary power unit of an aircraft. The method comprises a step of calculating a maximum capacity for offtake of mechanical power that the auxiliary power unit can provide to the aircraft, a step of determining an actual offtake of mechanical power taken off by a first mechanical power offtake system of the auxiliary power unit, a step of comparing the maximum capacity for offtake of mechanical power and the actual offtake of mechanical power, a step of optimizing the offtake of mechanical power which step, based on the comparison of the maximum capacity for offtake of mechanical power and the actual offtake of mechanical power, determines at least one corrective action. A device for managing the offtake of power produced by an auxiliary power unit of an aircraft and an aircraft including such a device are provided.

Provided is a wind turbine including a generator enclosed in a generator housing, the generator housing including a rotating housing and a stationary housing, whereby the rotating housing is separated from the stationary housing by a first gap; a canopy mounted on a tower and including an electrical connection to a down conductor of the tower, wherein the canopy is separated from the generator housing by a second gap; a lightning current path provided by a plurality of brush assemblies mounted on the stationary housing, wherein a brush assembly includes a brush holder mounted on the stationary housing such that a carbon brush extends across the first gap to make electrical contact with the rotating housing; and an electrical connector extending across the second gap to electrically connect the brush holder to the canopy. Also provided is a method of providing a lightning current path for such a wind turbine.

The invention relates to a drive system for interior wind turbines, consisting of a rotatable tower (5) with a rotor mounted at hub height, the generator (16) being located at the foot of the tower (5) on a drive/generator platform (13) and the rotor torque being transferred from above downwards to the generator (16). Particular requirements are placed on such a drive system as the height of the interior wind turbine increases. A steel-wire-cable-reinforced flat belt (18) is used as a transfer element, the ends of which are joined in a particular way to form an endless belt the pretensioning of which is regulated dependent on the properties of the wind, and automatic monitoring is provided which executes an immediate controlled shut-down of the drive system if damage occurs.

The present disclosure is directed to an internal reinforcement assembly for a tower of a wind turbine. The reinforcement assembly includes a plurality of reinforcing rod members spaced circumferentially about the tower. Each of the plurality of reinforcing rod members includes a first end and a second end. The reinforcement assembly also includes an adjustable mounting component configured with each of the second ends of the plurality of reinforcing rod members. As such, the adjustable mounting components are mounted to an interior wall of the tower at a location to be reinforced. Thus, the reinforcing rod members interact with the tower to reinforce the tower at the location to be reinforced.

The method according to the invention for operating a wind turbine, comprising a tower and a rotor arranged at the top of the tower and having at least one rotor blade, which can be adjusted about a blade setting axis, has a first operating mode in which the at least one rotor blade has an operating angular position about the blade setting axis and a wind-force-dependent rotation of the rotor is converted into electrical power using a generator unit, which power is delivered from the wind turbine into an electrical network and/or stored, and a second operating mode in which the at least one rotor blade is adjusted by at least 60° and/or max. 110° about the blade setting axis relative to the operating angular position into a damping angular position, and a counter torque braking the rotor is controlled based on a vibration of the tower.

A wind turbine tower configured to support a wind turbine nacelle and a rotor, and with a tower wall of an inner surface and an outer surface. The tower is tethered by a number of cables, each cable extending between a first end anchored to an anchoring element and an opposite, second end attached to the tower at an attachment element. Two cables extending from two different anchoring elements are attached to the tower such that longitudinal projection lines from the second ends of the two cables converge at a convergence point, which lies at a location at a certain height and inside the tower wall thickness. Alternatively, the convergence point lies inside the tower within a distance of three wall thicknesses from the wall inner surface as measured at the height and in a direction perpendicular to the central longitudinal axis of the tower. The invention further relates to a method of erecting a wind turbine tower tethered by cables and configured for supporting a rotor assembly, and wherein the tower comprises a number of tower sections joined to each other. The method comprises positioning a first tower section, attaching at least some of the tethering cables to a second tower section while the second tower section is on the ground, lifting the second tower section with the attached cables onto the first tower section, and joining the second tower section to the first.