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Abstract

Wind turbine blades for use e.g. in generating electricity are described in which the blades have fixed lift spoilers in the form of deep spars projecting on the normally high pressure side of the blades where they are relatively ineffective, but which, in down-wind operation of the turbine, are on the low pressure side which generates (but for the spars) substantially all the lift and are therefore very effective. Active spoilers are also disclosed on the low pressure side of the blade rapidly deployable to control an overspeed condition. The whole is controlled by a computer to maintain desirably constant tip speed ratio, the variable rotor speed being converted hydraulically or electrically to constant frequency current, or to maintain a constant turbine speed to generate constant frequency current with overspeed protection.

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First Claim