Wind turbine and method of operating same

Abstract

A turbine blade assembly ( 106 ) includes a turbine blade ( 124 ) and a moveable surface ( 126 ) supported for lateral displacement across the turbine blade. A wind turbine ( 100 ) includes a base structure ( 102 ), a turbine body ( 104 ) and a turbine blade assembly ( 106 ) operatively connected to the turbine body. A method ( 500 ) of operating a wind turbine is also included.

1 - 2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . A wind turbine comprising:
 a base structure;   a turbine body including first and second body portions, said first body portion supported on said base structure and including a first axis extending longitudinally along said first body portion, said second body portion supported on said first body portion for rotation about said first axis; and,   a turbine blade assembly supported on said second turbine body for rotation therewith about said first axis, said turbine blade assembly including:
 a turbine blade having a longitudinal length, a first longitudinal edge, a second longitudinal edge spaced laterally from said first longitudinal edge, a first side extending longitudinally along at least a portion of said length between said first and second longitudinal edges, and a second side extending longitudinally along at least a portion of said length between said first and second longitudinal edges and generally opposite said first side, said blade including a proximal end operatively connected to said second turbine body and a distal end spaced radially-outwardly from said proximal end; 
 a first endless band including a first outer surface and a first band width, said first endless band oriented such that said first band width extends longitudinally along said blade, said first endless band supported on said blade such that said first outer surface is exposed along at least a portion of at least one of said first and second sides of said blade and is capable of lateral movement along said at least one of said first and second sides such that a relative velocity can be maintained between said first outer surface and said at least one of said first and second sides of said blade; and, 
 a second endless band spaced longitudinally along said blade from said first endless band, said second endless band including a second outer surface and a second band width, said second endless band oriented such that said second band width extends longitudinally along said blade, said second endless band supported on said blade such that said second outer surface is exposed along at least a portion of at least one of said first and second sides of said blade and is capable of lateral movement along said at least one of said first and second sides; 
   said wind turbine having a theoretical maximum wind speed for operation and during use under the influence of wind traveling at wind speeds less than or equal to said theoretical maximum in which said first longitudinal edge acts as a leading edge of said blade, said second longitudinal edge acts as a trailing edge of said blade, said first side operates as a pressure side of said blade and said second side operates as a suction side of said blade;   said first endless band is displaced relative to said blade such that at least one of:
 said first outer surface of said first endless band moves laterally along said first side of said blade in a direction extending from said trailing edge toward said leading edge; and, 
 said first outer surface of said first endless band moves laterally along said second side of said blade in a direction extending from said leading edge toward said trailing edge; and, 
   said second endless band displaced relative to said blade such that at least one of:
 said outer second surface of said second endless band moves laterally along said first side of said blade in a direction extending from said trailing edge toward said leading edge; and, 
 said second outer surface of said second endless band moves laterally along said second side of said blade in a direction extending from said leading edge toward said trailing edge. 
   
     
     
         4 . A wind turbine according to  claim 3 , wherein said first outer surface of said first endless band moves at a first surface speed and said second outer surface of said second endless band moves at a second surface speed that is different from said first surface speed. 
     
     
         5 . A wind turbine according to  claim 4 , wherein said second endless band is positioned toward said distal end with respect to said first endless band, and said second surface speed is less than said first surface speed. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A wind turbine comprising:
 a base structure;   a turbine body including first and second body portions, said first body portion supported on said base structure and including a first axis extending longitudinally along said first body portion, said second body portion supported on said first body portion for rotation about said first axis; and,   a turbine blade assembly supported on said second turbine body for rotation therewith about said first axis, said turbine blade assembly including:
 a turbine blade having a longitudinal length, a first longitudinal edge, a second longitudinal edge spaced laterally from said first longitudinal edge, a first side extending longitudinally along at least a portion of said length between said first and second longitudinal edges, and a second side extending longitudinally along at least a portion of said length between said first and second longitudinal edges and generally opposite said first side, said blade including a proximal end operatively connected to said second turbine body and a distal end spaced radially-outwardly from said proximal end; 
 a first endless band including a first outer surface and a first band width, said first endless band oriented such that said first band width extends longitudinally along said blade, said first endless band supported on said blade such that said first outer surface is exposed along at least a portion of at least one of said first and second sides of said blade and is capable of lateral movement along said at least one of said first and second sides such that a relative velocity can be maintained between said first outer surface and said at least one of said first and second sides of said blade; and, 
 a second endless band spaced longitudinally along said blade from said first endless band, said second endless band including a second outer surface and a second band width, said second endless band oriented such that said second band width extends longitudinally along said blade, said second endless band supported on said blade such that said second outer surface is exposed along at least a portion of at least one of said first and second sides of said blade and is capable of lateral movement along said at least one of said first and second sides; 
   said wind turbine having a theoretical maximum wind speed for operation and during use under the influence of wind traveling at wind speeds greater than said theoretical maximum in which said first longitudinal edge acts as a leading edge of said blade, said second longitudinal edge acts as a trailing edge of said blade, said first side operates as a pressure side of said blade and said second side operates as a suction side of said blade;   said first endless band is displaced relative to said blade such that at least one of:
 said outer surface of said first endless band moving laterally along said first side of said blade in a direction extending from said leading edge toward said trailing edge; and, 
 said outer surface of said first endless band moving laterally along said second side of said blade in a direction extending from said trailing edge toward said leading edge; and, 
   said second endless band displaced relative to said blade such that at least one of:
 said outer second surface of said second endless band moves laterally along said first side of said blade in a direction extending from said leading edge toward said trailing edge; and, 
 said second outer surface of said second endless band moves laterally along said second side of said blade in a direction extending from said trailing edge toward said leading edge. 
   
     
     
         8 . A wind turbine according to  claim 7 , wherein said first outer surface of said first endless band moves at a first surface speed and said second outer surface of said second endless band moves at a second surface speed that is different from said first surface speed. 
     
     
         9 . A wind turbine according to  claim 8 , wherein said second endless band is positioned toward said distal end with respect to said first endless band, and said second surface speed is greater than said first surface speed. 
     
     
         10 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A wind turbine blade assembly comprising:
 a wind turbine blade including a longitudinal length extending between opposing first and second ends, a first edge extending longitudinally along said blade, a second edge extending longitudinally along said blade in laterally spaced relation to said first edge, a first side extending longitudinally along said blade and laterally between said first and second edges, and a second side extending longitudinally along said blade and laterally between said first and second edges generally opposite said first side; and,   a first endless band including a first outer surface and a first band width, said first endless band oriented such that said first band width extends longitudinally along said blade, said first endless band supported on said blade such that said first outer surface is exposed along at least a portion of at least one of said first and second sides of said blade and is capable of lateral movement along said at least one of said first and second sides such that a first relative velocity can be maintained between said first outer surface and said at least one of said first and second sides of said blade; and,   a second endless band that includes a second outer surface and a second band width, said second endless band disposed in longitudinally-spaced relation to said first endless band and oriented such that said second band width extends longitudinally along said blade, said second endless band supported on said blade such that said second outer surface is exposed along at least a portion of at least one of said first and second sides of said blade and is capable of lateral movement along said at least one of said first and second sides such that a second relative velocity can be maintained between said second outer surface and said at least one of said first and second sides of said blade.   
     
     
         25 . A wind turbine blade assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein said first band has a first length and said second band has a second length that is different from said first length. 
     
     
         26 . A wind turbine blade assembly according to  claim 24 , wherein said first endless band includes a first inner surface and is supported on said blade between first and second support elements, said first support element drivably engaging said first inner surface of said first endless band, and second support element spaced laterally from said first support element. 
     
     
         27 . A wind turbine blade assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein said second endless band includes a second inner surface and is supported on said blade between third and fourth support elements, said third support element drivably engaging said second inner surface of said second endless band, and said fourth support element spaced laterally from said third support element. 
     
     
         28 . A wind turbine blade assembly according to  claim 24  further comprising a rotational motion source operatively connected to at least one of said first and second endless bands for imparting lateral movement thereto. 
     
     
         29 . A wind turbine blade assembly according to  28 , wherein said rotational motion source is operatively connected to each of said first and second endless bands such that said first and second endless bands can be moved synchronously relative to one another. 
     
     
         30 . A wind turbine blade assembly according to  claim 28 , wherein said rotational motion source is a first rotational motion source operatively connected to said first endless band, and said wind turbine blade assembly further comprises a second rotational motion source operatively connected to said second endless band such that said first and second endless bands can be moved independently relative to one another. 
     
     
         31 . A wind turbine blade assembly comprising:
 a wind turbine blade including a longitudinal length extending between opposing first and second ends, a first edge extending longitudinally along said blade, a second edge extending longitudinally along said blade in laterally spaced relation to said first edge, a first side extending longitudinally along said blade and laterally between said first and second edges, and a second side extending longitudinally along said blade and laterally between said first and second edges generally opposite said first side;   a first endless band including a first outer surface and a first band width, said first endless band oriented such that said first band width extends longitudinally along said blade, said first endless band supported on said blade such that said first outer surface is exposed along at least a portion of at least one of said first and second sides of said blade and is capable of lateral movement along said at least one of said first and second sides such that a first relative velocity can be maintained between said first outer surface and said at least one of said first and second sides of said blade; and,   a second endless band that includes a second outer surface and a second band width;   said first endless band supported on said blade such that said first outer surface is exposed along at least a portion of said first side of said blade and is capable of lateral displacement therealong; and,   said second endless band oriented such that said second band width extends longitudinally along said blade, and said second endless band supported on said blade such that said second outer surface is exposed along at least a portion of said second side of said blade and is capable of lateral displacement therealong and such that a second relative velocity can be maintained between said second outer surface and said second side of said blade.   
     
     
         32 . A wind turbine blade assembly according to  claim 31  further comprising a rotational motion source operatively connected to at least one of said first and second endless bands for imparting lateral movement thereto. 
     
     
         33 . A wind turbine blade assembly according to  32 , wherein said rotational motion source is operatively connected to each of said first and second endless bands such that said first and second endless bands can be moved synchronously relative to one another. 
     
     
         34 . A wind turbine blade assembly according to  claim 32 , wherein said rotational motion source is a first rotational motion source operatively connected to said first endless band, and said wind turbine blade assembly further comprises a second rotational motion source operatively connected to said second endless band such that said first and second endless bands can be moved independently relative to one another. 
     
     
         35 . A wind turbine blade assembly according to  claim 34  further comprises a control system for selectively operating said first and second rotational motion sources. 
     
     
         36 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A wind turbine blade assembly according to  claim 31 , wherein said first side of said blade is aerodynamically distinct from said second side of said blade such that an airfoil-shaped cross-section is formed along at least a portion of said longitudinal length of said blade. 
     
     
         41 . A wind turbine blade assembly according to  claim 31 , wherein said first and second endless band is one bands are two of a plurality of endless bands supported along said longitudinal length of said blade, said plurality of endless bands including from two (2) to fifty (50) endless bands. 
     
     
         42 - 51 . (canceled)