A wind turbine rotor blade assembly which incorporates automatic-aerodynamic control of the blade pitch angle is disclosed. The airfoil of the rotor blade (110) is free to rotate about a strategically located longitudinal blade axis which forms the spar stub (115) and is connected to the hub (120) of a horizontal axis wind turbine. The location of this blade axis is precisely set with respect to the turbine blade's aerodynamic center and center of mass. By further incorporating a reflexed airfoil with positive pitching moment this arrangement aerodynamically induces an automatic and self-regulating alignment of the rotor blade pitch such that the airfoil is always operating at or near optimal angle of attack. Details are disclosed on these strategic relationships which enable the successful operation of the new blade design.

A turbine which uses fluid pressure to turn a shaft in a manner that does not allow for cavitation to be created.

A method for preventing a pitch bearing failure of a pitch system of a wind turbine includes monitoring, via at least one sensor, one or more electrical signals of a pitch motor of a pitch drive mechanism of the pitch system that drives a pitch bearing of the pitch system. The method also includes analyzing, via the controller, the one or more electrical signals of the pitch motor so as to remove noise and amplify outliers. Moreover, the method includes estimating bearing friction of the pitch bearing using the analyzed one or more electrical signals of the pitch motor. As such, the method includes implementing, via the controller, a control action when the estimated bearing friction of the pitch bearing indicates an anomaly in the pitch bearing.

A rotary connection for a rotor blade of a wind turbine. The rotary connection is used, for example, for adjusting a rotor blade of a wind turbine. The rotary connection according contains an outer ring and an inner ring. The inner ring has a contact surface in the direction of the rotor blade and a screw fixing surface in the direction of the rotor hub. The contact surface and the screw fixing surface are arranged parallel to each other and provided with passage holes, which each have a central axis. Rolling elements are arranged in at least two running rows located under each other between the outer ring and the inner ring, wherein the rolling elements each have a rolling element diameter. According to the invention, at least the lower running row is arranged with its rolling element centre underneath the screw fixing surface.

A vertical wind turbine that includes a plurality of vertical vanes, each of which is secured to a respective vertical vane axis so as to be rotatable about a respective vane rotational axis independently of one another by a motor and which are mounted on a common circular path in a rotatable manner about a vertical rotor rotational axis. A method for operating a vertical wind turbine. Angular positions about a respective vertical vane axis are specified for driven vertical vanes of the vertical wind turbine. The vertical wind turbine is operated in a particularly efficient and material-preserving manner in that the angular positions of the vanes are permanently regulated by directly driving the vanes using a pitch motor arranged concentrically to the respective vane axis.

A vertical wind turbine that includes a plurality of vertical vanes which can be rotated independently of one another about a respective vane rotational axis by a motor and which are mounted on a common circular path in a rotatable manner about a vertical rotor rotational axis. A method for operating a vertical wind turbine. Angular positions are specified for vertical wind turbine vanes which are mounted in a rotatable manner about a respective vertical rotor rotational axis and which can be rotated about a respective vane rotational axis by a motor. The vertical wind turbine is operated in a particularly efficient and material-preserving manner in that the angular positions of the vanes are specified by at least one respective pitch motor which at least partly supports the respective vane.

In a first aspect, a roller pitch bearing for a wind turbine is provided. The roller pitch bearing comprises a first bearing component and a second bearing component, the first bearing component being configured to rotate with respect to the second bearing component; wherein one of the first and the second bearing components is configured to be coupled to a wind turbine blade and the other one of the first and the second bearing components is configured to be coupled to a rotor hub of a wind turbine. The roller pitch bearing further a limiting structure attached to the first bearing component, the limiting structure radially extending from the first bearing component towards the second bearing component to limit a radial movement between the bearing components. In further aspect, a rotor for a wind turbine comprising a roller pitch bearing is provided.

The present invention describes a wind turbine comprising a hub, at least one blade and at least one pitch bearing to connect the at least one blade to the hub, the at least one pitch bearing comprising at least an inner ring and an outer ring, and at least a rolling race, wherein the wind turbine further comprises at least a tensioning system configured to exert a radial compression force to at least a part of the outer ring of the at least one pitch bearing, thus increasing the resultant stiffness of the at least one pitch bearing.

A wind turbine includes a hub, at least one blade and at least one pitch bearing to connect the at least one blade to the hub. The at least one pitch bearing has at least an inner ring and an outer ring, and at least a rolling race. The wind turbine further includes at least a tensioning system configured to exert a radial compression force to at least a part of the outer ring of the at least one pitch bearing, thus increasing the resultant stiffness of the at least one pitch bearing.

A wind power installation rotary connection, in particular a blade bearing or azimuth rotary connection, wherein the rotary connection is in the form of a plain bearing assembly, comprising an inner ring having a number of first plain bearing surfaces, an outer ring having a number of second plain bearing surfaces which are respectively associated with one of the first plain bearing surfaces as a plain bearing surface partner, and wherein the plain bearing assembly is in the form of a dry-running plain bearing assembly.