Patent ID: 8152440

Claim:
A wind turbine blade instrumentation structure for a fluid dynamic resistive contact sensor adapted for measurement of fluid dynamic parameters related to wind turbine blade performance, the structure comprising: a plurality of fluid dynamic resistive contact sensors, each of the plurality of fluid dynamic resistive contact sensors comprising a pressure-sensing diaphragm, a base plate and a pressure-sensitive conductive composite material disposed between the pressure-sensing diaphragm and the base plate, the pressure-sensing diaphragm being spaced apart from the base plate such that a cavity is defined between the pressure-sensing diaphragm and the base plate, the pressure-sensitive conductive composite material being formed of a polymer and a conductive filler, wherein the plurality of contact sensors are distributed according to a predetermined pattern on the surface of a wind turbine blade; a mounting structure for the plurality of fluid dynamic resistive contact sensor on the wind turbine blade, adapted to maintain the plurality of fluid dynamic resistive contact sensors fixed in place during wind turbine operation; and means for communicating electrically a signal between the plurality of fluid dynamic resistive contact sensors on the blade and a data acquisition terminal.