Rotor blade assembly and method for adjusting loading capability of rotor blade

1. A rotor blade assembly, comprising:

a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root, the rotor blade further defining a span and a chord; and,

a spoiler assembly operable to alter a flow past a surface of the rotor blade, the spoiler assembly comprising a spoiler and a plurality of actuators connected to the spoiler, the spoiler incrementally deployable from the surface along one of a length or a width of the spoiler assembly.

2. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spoiler is incrementally deployable along the span.

3. The rotor blade assembly of claim 2 , wherein the spoiler is incrementally deployable from an inboard end to an outboard end.

4. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a controller in operable communication with the spoiler assembly.

5. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spoiler assembly is positioned adjacent the leading edge.

6. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spoiler assembly is deployable from the suction side.

7. The rotor blade assembly of claim 1 , wherein the spoiler is incrementally deployable along the chord.

8. A wind turbine, comprising:

a plurality of rotor blades each having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root, each of the plurality of rotor blades further defining a span and a chord; and,

a spoiler assembly operable to alter a flow past a surface of one of the plurality of rotor blades, the spoiler assembly comprising a spoiler and a plurality of actuators connected to the spoiler, the spoiler incrementally deployable from the surface along one of a length or a width of the spoiler assembly.

9. The wind turbine of claim 8 , wherein the spoiler is incrementally deployable along the span.

10. The wind turbine of claim 9 , wherein the spoiler is incrementally deployable from an inboard end to an outboard end.

11. The wind turbine of claim 8 , further comprising a controller in operable communication with the spoiler assembly.

12. The wind turbine of claim 8 , wherein the spoiler is incrementally deployable along the chord.

13. A rotor blade assembly, comprising:

a rotor blade having surfaces defining a pressure side, a suction side, a leading edge, and a trailing edge extending between a tip and a root, the rotor blade further defining a span and a chord; and,

a spoiler assembly operable to alter a flow past a surface of the rotor blade, the spoiler assembly comprising a plurality of spoilers and an actuator connected to the plurality of spoilers, the actuator comprising a movable track and a roller, wherein movement of the roller along the movable track causes incremental deployment of the spoiler assembly from the surface along one of a length or a width of the spoiler assembly.

14. The rotor blade assembly of claim 13 , wherein the spoiler is incrementally deployable along the span.

15. The rotor blade assembly of claim 13 , wherein the spoiler is incrementally deployable from an inboard end to an outboard end.

16. The rotor blade assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a controller in operable communication with the spoiler assembly.

17. The rotor blade assembly of claim 13 , wherein the spoiler assembly is positioned adjacent the leading edge.

18. The rotor blade assembly of claim 13 , wherein the spoiler assembly is deployable from the suction side.

19. The rotor blade assembly of claim 13 , wherein the spoiler assembly is incrementally deployable along the chord.