Vestas Wind Systems A/s

Frank Møller Hansen

Jesper Lykkegaard Neubauer

Gerner Larsen

Niels Christian Olsen

Michael Staghøj

Fabio Caponetti

Martin Ansbjerg Kjær

Poul Brandt Christensen

Morten Mogensen

Jonas Kristensen

Mazyar Abolfazlian

Jörg Wadehn

Erland Falk Hansen

Jacob Hviid Nielsen

Erik Garde

Simon Kabus

Kasper Zinck Østergaard

Robert Grøn-Stevens

Lasse Køgs Andersen

Karsten Buch-Lorentsen

Christian Skallebæk

Peter Haakon À Porta

Jakob Hviid Nielsen

Robert GRØN-Stevens

Christian SKALLEBÆK

Systems, methods, and computer program products for monitoring a wind turbine (). The system receives a signal () indicative of a pitch force being applied to a blade () of a wind turbine (). The signal () is sampled to generate a discrete time-domain signal () including a plurality of pitch force samples. Samples are selected for analysis using a sampling window () that excludes samples obtained under operating conditions determined to be detrimental to obtaining good data. The selected samples are processed to generate a spectral density () of the signal (), and the frequency content of the spectral density () analysed to determine the condition of one or more components of the wind turbine (). If the analysis indicates that a component of the wind turbine () needs attention, the system generates an alarm.

Frequency content based monitoring of wind turbine blade pitch system

Wind turbine pitch actuator mounting structure A mounting structure is described for attaching a pitch actuator to a hub of a wind turbine. The mounting structure has one or more legs each having a proximal end and a distal end, and a flexible intermediate portion between the proximal and distal ends. The mounting structure further comprises an actuator attachment portion for attaching to a wind turbine blade pitch actuator. The actuator attachment portion is arranged at the distal end(s) of the one or more legs. The proximal end(s) of the one or more legs are configured for attachment to a wind turbine hub. The flexible intermediate portion(s) of the one or more legs are configured to flex in use to absorb loads acting on the pitch actuator. The mounting structure therefore allows the pitch actuator to pivot in a first plane by virtue of the flexible legs. The pitch actuator may be attached to the mounting structure via pivot bearings arranged to allow the pitch actuator to pivot in a second plane, substantially perpendicular to the first plane.

Wind turbine pitch actuator mounting structure

There is provided a method for controlling a hydraulic pitch force system () so as to reduce or eliminate a decrease in hydraulic oil pressure () if a hydraulic system parameter value is outside a hydraulic system parameter range, the method comprising: Obtaining () the hydraulic system parameter value, and operating the hydraulic pitch force system () according to a reduced mode () if the hydraulic system parameter value is outside the hydraulic system parameter range, wherein in the reduced mode one or more pitch based activities are reduced () or suspended. An advantage thereof may be that it enables keeping the wind turbine in production in certain instances rather than shutting down the wind turbine. In aspects, there is furthermore presented a computer program product, a pitch control system () and a wind turbine ().

Method for controlling hydraulic pitch force system

A generator for a wind turbine is disclosed. The generator comprises a rotor configured to rotate about a rotational axis, and at least one stator arranged next to the rotor. Each stator comprises at least one flux-generating module facing the rotor but spaced therefrom, thereby forming an air gap between the rotor and each flux-generating module. Each stator also comprises at least one bearing unit, each bearing unit comprising a body defining a cavity with an open end facing the rotor. The generator further comprises a source of pressurized fluid communicating with each bearing unit, and the body of each bearing unit directs the fluid towards the rotor to help maintain the air gap between the rotor and each flux-generating module. Thereby the air gap between the rotor and the flux-generating modules is controlled by means of the fluid bearing units. The invention further provides a wind turbine comprising such a generator.

Wind turbine generator with fluid film bearing units

A generator () for a wind turbine () is disclosed. The generator () comprises a rotor () configured to rotate about a rotational axis, and at least one stator () arranged next to the rotor (). Each stator () comprises at least two subunits (), the subunits () being arranged side-by-side along a moving direction of the rotor (). Each subunit () comprises at least one flux-generating module () facing the rotor () but spaced therefrom, thereby defining an air gap between the rotor () and each flux-generating module (). The subunits () are movable relative to each other along a direction which is substantially transverse to the moving direction of the rotor (). This allows a subunit () to move in a manner which adjusts the air gap without affecting the position and the air gap of a neighboring subunit (). Thereby variations in the rotor () can be compensated and a uniform and constant air gap can be maintained. The invention further provides a wind turbine () comprising such a generator () and a method for performing service on a generator ().

Wind turbine generator with movable stator subunits

Disclosed is a direct drive generator for a wind turbine, the generator including a rotor, a stator configured to remain stationary relative to the rotor, and at least one bearing connected to the stator. The rotor includes at least one rotor part extending circumferentially about an axis of rotation and a plurality of active materials arranged on a side of the at least one rotor part. The stator includes at least one stator part extending circumferentially about the axis of rotation and positioned adjacent to the at least one rotor part, and at least one winding arrangement supported by the at least one stator part and facing the plurality of active materials. The bearing is flexibly connected to the at least one stator part, wherein the bearing abuts the rotor part to help maintain a gap between the at least one winding arrangement and the active materials.

Direct drive generator

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Arden, Denmark

Frank Møller Hansen