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.

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.

A wind turbine including a rotor, a nacelle, a generator, and a wind sensor is provided, wherein the wind sensor is arranged above a part of the generator that extends between the rotor and the nacelle. Furthermore, a wind farm including a plurality of interconnected wind turbines is described. Yet further, a method of assembling or modifying a wind turbine is described.

A wind turbine including a rotor, a nacelle, a generator, and a wind sensor is provided, wherein the wind sensor is arranged above a part of the generator that extends between the rotor and the nacelle. Furthermore, a wind farm including a plurality of interconnected wind turbines is described. Yet further, a method of assembling or modifying a wind turbine is described.

A vertical axis wind turbine system having a vertical mast with one or more turbine units supported thereon. The turbine units are of modular construction for assembly around the foot of the mast; are vertically moveable along the height of the mast by a winch system; and are selectively interlocking with the mast to fix the turbine units in parked positions. The turbine system and each turbine unit includes a network of portals and interior rooms for the passage of personnel through the system, including each turbine unit. The electrical generators, and other sub-components, in the turbine units are of modular construction that permits the selective removal and replacement of component segments, including the transport of component segments through the portals and interior rooms of the turbine system while the turbine units remain supported on the mast. The electrical generators are also selectively convertible between AC generators and DC generators.

The modular Wind Turbine includes more than a single generator with resource management for variable wind speeds. The design operations are safe by allowing most of the weight to be ground based. The electric motor in this design, is unique with multiple Stators within a single Motor housing. The disclosure includes a modular turbine comprising an R number of discrete rotors and an S number of discrete stators for an N predetermined multiple energy output. The disclosure also includes a common drive shaft for the modular turbine extending from the modular turbine to a remote wind blade. The disclosure further includes a selector configured to inductively link an S number of discrete stators to an R number of discrete rotors for the N multiple energy output.

The modular Wind Turbine includes more than a single generator with resource management for variable wind speeds. The design operations are safe by allowing most of the weight to be ground based. The electric motor in this design, is unique with multiple Stators within a single Motor housing. The disclosure includes a modular turbine comprising an R number of discrete rotors and an S number of discrete stators for an N predetermined multiple energy output. The disclosure also includes a common drive shaft for the modular turbine extending from the modular turbine to a remote wind blade. The disclosure further includes a selector configured to inductively link an S number of discrete stators to an R number of discrete rotors for the N multiple energy output.

A rotor for an electric machine, especially a generator of a direct drive wind turbine, includes a cylindrical rotor housing with several magnet means arranged at the inner housing surface, wherein each magnet means includes several magnet elements arranged in a row parallel to an axis of rotation, wherein the inner housing surface is provided with at least one groove-like recesses extending parallel to the axis of rotation, wherein each recess is covered by the magnet elements of a row, and wherein at least two magnet elements in at least some of the rows are arranged with at least one gap extending in the circumferential direction, which gap communicates with the respective recess.

The present disclosure relates to methods and tools for assembling a hub and a generator for a wind turbine, and more particularly to methods and tools for assembling a hub, a generator and a main frame for a direct-drive wind turbine. A method comprises providing a wind turbine hub, a generator and a main frame. The method further comprises vertically moving at least one of the hub and the generator towards the other of the hub and the generator; attaching the hub and the generator to form a hub-generator assembly; turning the hub-generator assembly while gripping the wind turbine hub; and attaching the hub-generator assembly to the main frame.

The present disclosure relates to supporting structures for a central frame of a direct-drive wind turbine and methods for managing such structures. A supporting structure is configured to assume a deployed configuration and a stowed configuration. In the stowed configuration, the supporting structure has a shape and size such that the supporting structure can be introduced into the central frame from an outside. In the deployed configuration, the supporting structure has one or more increased dimensions with respect to the stowed configuration, and comprises a working platform.