Provided is a rotor blade of a wind turbine including a leading edge section with a leading edge and a trailing edge section with a trailing edge, wherein the leading edge and the trailing edge divide the surface of the rotor blade into a suction side and a pressure side. The rotor blade further includes a blade shell for defining the outer shape of the rotor blade and a heating mat for anti-icing and/or deicing purposes which is arranged upon the blade shell. In the outboard region of the rotor blade, the heating mat is substantially or completely covered by a protective shield made of an electrically insulating polymer material. Use of a protective shield made of electrically insulating polymer material for electrical insulation of a heating mat in particular, against lightning strikes is also provided.

Provided is a rotor blade of a wind turbine including a leading edge section with a leading edge and a trailing edge section with a trailing edge, wherein the leading edge and the trailing edge divide the surface of the rotor blade into a suction side and a pressure side. The rotor blade further includes a blade shell for defining the outer shape of the rotor blade and a heating mat for anti-icing and/or deicing purposes which is arranged upon the blade shell. In the outboard region of the rotor blade, the heating mat is substantially or completely covered by a protective shield made of an electrically insulating polymer material. Use of a protective shield made of electrically insulating polymer material for electrical insulation of a heating mat in particular, against lightning strikes is also provided.

An apparatus for monitoring an ambient environment of a wind turbine is described. The apparatus comprises a cooling system comprising first and second heat exchangers, and a fluid circuit arranged to enable coolant to flow between the first and second heat exchangers. The apparatus further comprises a processor configured to: monitor one or more operational parameters of the cooling system; determine an efficiency of the cooling system based on the monitored one or more operational parameters; and calculate a liquid water content of the ambient environment based on the measured efficiency of the cooling system.

An apparatus for monitoring an ambient environment of a wind turbine is described. The apparatus comprises a cooling system comprising first and second heat exchangers, and a fluid circuit arranged to enable coolant to flow between the first and second heat exchangers. The apparatus further comprises a processor configured to: monitor one or more operational parameters of the cooling system; determine an efficiency of the cooling system based on the monitored one or more operational parameters; and calculate a liquid water content of the ambient environment based on the measured efficiency of the cooling system.

The present invention relates to a method of controlling an electro-thermal heating system in a wind turbine blade, comprising measuring a supply voltage to the electro-thermal heating system, determining a duration of a variable time based enforced off period based on the measured supply voltage, and inserting the variable time based enforced off period between subsequent switching duty cycles that controls the electro-thermal heating system. The present invention also relates to a wind turbine that comprises one or more wind turbine blades wherein each wind turbine blade comprises an electro-thermal heating system and a processor adapted to perform the method.

The present invention relates to a method of controlling an electro-thermal heating system in a wind turbine blade, comprising measuring a supply voltage to the electro-thermal heating system, determining a duration of a variable time based enforced off period based on the measured supply voltage, and inserting the variable time based enforced off period between subsequent switching duty cycles that controls the electro-thermal heating system. The present invention also relates to a wind turbine that comprises one or more wind turbine blades wherein each wind turbine blade comprises an electro-thermal heating system and a processor adapted to perform the method.

An electric heating module structure, an installation method, a forming method, and a wind turbine are provided. The electric heating module structure is configured for melting ice on a blade, and includes an electric heating module, a positive conductive wire and a negative conductive wire. The positive conductive wire and the negative conductive wire are integrally formed with the electric heating module, to supply power to the electric heating module. The integrally formed electric heating module, the positive conductive wire and the negative conductive wire are laid in an outer layer of the blade.

An electric heating module structure, an installation method, a forming method, and a wind turbine are provided. The electric heating module structure is configured for melting ice on a blade, and includes an electric heating module, a positive conductive wire and a negative conductive wire. The positive conductive wire and the negative conductive wire are integrally formed with the electric heating module, to supply power to the electric heating module. The integrally formed electric heating module, the positive conductive wire and the negative conductive wire are laid in an outer layer of the blade.

Provided is a blade for a wind turbine including a structure having: a suction side and a pressure side extending between a leading edge and the trailing edge, a conducting or semi-conducting element. The blade further includes: a thermally conducting electrical insulation, at least partially in contact with the structure.

Provided is a blade for a wind turbine including a structure having: a suction side and a pressure side extending between a leading edge and the trailing edge, a conducting or semi-conducting element. The blade further includes: a thermally conducting electrical insulation, at least partially in contact with the structure.