I/WE CLAIM:
1. A method for identifying damage in a component of a wind turbine,
the method comprising:
placing a conductive element onto at least one surface of the component of the
wind turbine;
electrically connecting the conductive element into an electrical circuit;
monitoring a status of the electrical circuit to identify the damage in the
component, wherein, when the status of the electrical circuit is open, damage is likely
present in the component, and wherein, when the status of the electrical circuit is
closed, damage is unlikely present in the component; and
transmitting the status of the electrical circuit to a user interface for display.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein placing the conductive element onto
the at least one surface of the component of the wind turbine further comprises
placing the conductive element onto at least one of an outer surface and an inner
surface of the component.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein placing the conductive element onto
the at least one surface of the component of the wind turbine further comprises
placing the conductive element onto the at least one surface via at least one of printing
the conductive element onto the at least one surface of the component, painting the
conductive element onto the at least one surface of the component, and applying the
conductive element onto the at least one surface of the component via an adhesive
material.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the conductive element comprises at
least one of a conductive wire, conductive adhesive, conductive paint, conductive ink,
a conductive sticker, or combinations thereof.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising varying a dimension of the
conductive element to achieve optimal conductivity, the dimension comprising at
least one of a thickness, a length, or a width.
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6. The method of claim 1, wherein the conductive element comprises a
grid pattern.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising sintering the conductive
element onto the at least one surface of the component of the wind turbine.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the electrical circuit further comprises
one or more indicator elements electrically connected to the conductive element, the
one or more indicator elements configured to indicate the status of the electrical
circuit.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein the one or more indicator elements
comprise at least one of a light emitting diode, a sound device, a radio frequency
transmission circuit, a piezoelectric element, a controls device or combinations
thereof.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more indicator elements
comprise the piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric element being integrated with
the conductive element, and wherein an electric current is generated by the
piezoelectric element when damage occurs along the piezoelectric element.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein the electrical circuit further comprises
a flexible interconnect component electrically connecting the conductive element and
the one or more indicator elements.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein the component comprises at least one
of a pitch bearing or a yaw bearing of the wind turbine.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein placing the conductive element onto
the at least one surface of the component of the wind turbine further comprises
encapsulating the conductive element within a substrate and placing the encapsulated
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conductive element upon the component of the wind turbine.
14. A system for identifying damage in a component of a wind turbine, the
system comprising:
at least one conductive element on at least one surface of the component of the
wind turbine;
an electrical circuit electrically connected to the conductive element; and
one or more indicator elements for indicating a status of the electrical circuit,
wherein, when the one or more indicator elements indicates the status of the
electrical circuit as being open, damage is likely present in the component, and
wherein, when the one or more indicator elements indicates the status of the electrical
circuit as being closed, damage is unlikely present in the component.
15. The system of claim 14, wherein the conductive element comprises at
least one of a conductive wire, conductive adhesive, conductive paint, conductive ink,
a conductive sticker, or combinations thereof.
16. The system of claim 14, wherein the conductive element has a varying
dimension to achieve optimal conductivity, the varying dimension comprising at least
one of a thickness, a length, or a width.
17. The system of claim 14, wherein the one or more indicator elements
comprise at least one of a light emitting diode, a sound device, a radio frequency
transmission circuit, or combinations thereof.
18. The system of claim 14, wherein the component comprises at least one
of a pitch bearing or a yaw bearing of the wind turbine, wherein the at least one
surface comprises an outer surface and an inner surface of the pitch bearing or a yaw
bearing of the wind turbine.
19. The system of claim 14, wherein the electric circuit further comprises
one or more components capable of providing power, wherein the one or more
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components capable of providing power comprises a piezoelectric element integrated
with the conductive element, wherein an electric current is generated when damage
occurs along the piezoelectric element.
20. A method for identifying damage in a component of a wind turbine,
the method comprising:
encapsulating a conductive element within a substrate;
placing the encapsulated conductive element onto at least one surface of the
component of the wind turbine;
connecting the conductive element to an electrical circuit;
monitoring, via one or more sensors, the conductive element for continuity;
determining a status of the conductive element based on the continuity,
wherein, when there is continuity in the conductive element, damage is unlikely
present in the component, and wherein, when there is no continuity in the conductive
element, damage is likely present in the component; and
transmitting the status of the electrical circuit to a user interface for display