Systems and method for operating a wind turbine having active flow control
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsJacob Johannes Nies, Wouter Haans
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for operating a wind turbine includes operatively coupling a fluid container within the wind turbine. The fluid container is in flow communication with an air distribution system at least partially defined within a blade of the wind turbine. The method further includes channeling a fluid from the fluid container into the air distribution system, and discharging the fluid from the air distribution system through at least one aperture of the air distribution system defined through an outer surface of the blade to facilitate removing debris from the air distribution system.
Claims20
A method for operating a wind turbine, said method comprising:
- operatively coupling a fluid container within the wind turbine, the fluid container in flow communication with an air distribution system at least partially defined within a blade of the wind turbine;
- channeling a fluid from the fluid container into the air distribution system;
- and,
- discharging the fluid from the air distribution system through at least one aperture of the air distribution system to facilitate removing debris from the air distribution system, the aperture defined through an outer surface of the blade.
A fluid distribution system for use in a wind turbine including an air distribution system at least partially defined within a blade of the wind turbine, said fluid distribution system comprising:
- a fluid container positioned within the wind turbine, said fluid container comprising a fluid inlet and configured to contain a fluid therein;
- and,
- a conduit in flow communication with said fluid container, said conduit configured to channel the fluid from said fluid container into the air distribution system for discharge through at least one aperture of the air distribution system to facilitate removing debris from the air distribution system.
A wind turbine, comprising:
- at least one blade;
- an air distribution system at least partially defined within said at least one blade, said air distribution system comprising at least one aperture defined through an outer surface of said blade;
- and,
- a fluid distribution system configured to facilitate removing debris from said air distribution system, said fluid distribution system comprising:
- a fluid container comprising a fluid inlet, said fluid container configured to contain a fluid;
- and,
- a conduit in flow communication with said fluid container, said conduit configured to channel the fluid from said fluid container into said air distribution system for discharge through said aperture.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.