General Electric Company

General Electric Renovables Espana, S.l.

Ge Vernova Infrastructure Technology LLC

Ge Vernova Renovables Espana, S.l.

Senvion Gmbh

Till Hoffmann

Hartmut Andreas Scholte-Wassink

Thomas Franklin Perley

Ian Couchman

Werner Gerhard Barton

Jignesh Govindlal Gandhi

Gert Torbohm

Julian Quindt

Bart Jan Veldkamp

Jacob Johannes Nies

Anthony Michael Klodowski

Mark Edward Cardinal

Enno Ubben

Sidney Allen Barker

Jeffrey Alan Melius

Leonardo Cesar Kammer

Kirk Gee Pierce

Thomas Joseph Fischetti

Robert Peter Slack

Conner Brooks Shane

Wilhelm Janssen

Christoph Schulten

Henk-Jan Kooijman

Joseph Law

Henning Luetze

André Riesberg

Christian Haag

Friedrich Loh

Hammad Ahmad

Juergen Esser

Frank Theodoor Ormel

Jorge Gonzalez Castro

Andreas Schubert

Andreas Buecker

Frank Hinken

Christoph Hessel

Ralf Hagedorn

Matthias Volmer

Justin Richard Curtis

Joseph Andrew Trzemzalski

Zachary Kurt Blaettler

Jean Louis Wesselink

Diego Navarro

Ketan Daniel Tigga

Lothar Hendus

Andreas Joergens

Arne Koerber

Jens Petersen

Marek Rzepka

Jorge Gonzales Castro

Jignesh Govindial Gandhi

Jignesh Gandhi

Frank T Ormel

A method for damping drivetrain vibrations of a wind turbine. The drivetrain has, at least, a rotor and a generator. The method includes receiving a first rotational speed signal at a first location along the drivetrain, the first rotational speed signal being a proxy for rotor speed of the rotor. The method also includes receiving a second rotational speed signal at a second location along the drivetrain, the second location being downwind from the first location, the second rotational speed signal being a proxy for generator speed of the generator. Further, the method includes determining a speed error based on a comparison of the first and second rotational speed signals. Moreover, the method includes determining a torque deviation signal for the wind turbine configured to dampen the drivetrain vibrations when the speed error exceeds a first speed threshold. In addition, the method includes applying the torque deviation signal to the generator to dampen the drivetrain vibrations.

System and method for monitoring vibrations in a drivetrain of a wind turbine

A method for controlling a wind turbine includes receiving, via a control system, at least one speed measurement from at least one sensor on a drivetrain of the wind turbine. The method also includes receiving, via the control system, at least one rate gyroscope speed measurement from at least one rate gyroscope on the drivetrain of the wind turbine. The method also includes calculating, via the control system, an offset for the at least one rate gyroscope speed measurement as a function of the at least one speed measurement. The method also includes adjusting, via the control system, the at least one rate gyroscope speed measurement by the offset. The method also includes implementing, via the control system, a control action for the wind turbine based on the adjusted at least one rate gyroscope speed measurement.

System and method for controlling a speed of a wind turbine

The present disclosure relates to methods () for controlling a wind turbine () during a yaw operation. The present disclosure further relates to control systems () for wind turbines and to wind turbines (). A method for operating a wind turbine () during yaw operation comprises operating one or more yaw drives () to rotate the nacelle () with respect to the tower (). In addition, the method comprises predicting an end of the yaw operation and, in response to predicting an end of the yaw operation, actuating a hydraulic brake () before the predicted end.

Method for controlling a wind turbine during yaw operation

A method for controlling a wind farm having a plurality of wind turbines electrically connected to an electrical grid through a point of interconnection includes (a) determining, via a controller of the wind farm, a phase and an amplitude of individual power oscillations from each of the plurality of wind turbine power systems. The method also includes (b) determining, via the controller, a farm-level power oscillation for the wind farm based on the individual power oscillations from each of the plurality of wind turbine power systems. Further, the method includes (c) implementing, via the controller, a phase-shifting control scheme using the phases and the amplitudes of the individual power oscillations from each of the plurality of wind turbine power systems so as to maintain the farm-level power oscillation below a predetermined oscillation threshold.

System and method for reducing farm-level power oscillations in the grid induced by a wind farm

A method for detecting and responding to a failure in a drivetrain of a wind turbine includes estimating a first rotational speed signal at a first location along the drivetrain via one or more rate gyroscopes mounted in a hub, the first rotational speed signal being a proxy for rotor speed of a rotor. The method also includes processing the first rotational speed signal to account for a bias in the first rotational speed signal due to use of the rate gyroscope(s). Further, the method includes receiving a second rotational speed signal at a second location along the drivetrain, the second location being downwind from the first location, the first and second locations being on opposing sides of a potential slip location of the drivetrain. Moreover, the method includes determining a speed error based on a comparison of the first and second rotational speed signals. In addition, the method includes comparing the speed error to a threshold and implementing a control action when the speed error exceeds the threshold.

System and method for detecting and responding to failures in a drivetrain of a wind turbine

A method for reducing loads acting on a wind turbine includes determining, via a processor, at least one loading condition of the wind turbine resulting from a wind shear condition below a design threshold, determining, via the processor, a rotor speed setpoint of the wind turbine to cause an increase in thrust when the at least one loading condition exceeds a loading threshold; operating the wind turbine based on the rotor speed, and operating a rotor imbalance control module of the wind turbine to at least partially compensate for the at least one loading condition of the wind turbine resulting from the wind shear condition below the design threshold.

System and method for reducing wind turbine loads caused by rotor imbalance

A system for measuring displacements of a blade root of a rotor blade of a wind turbine includes a hub, and a rotor blade coupled to the hub by a pitch bearing. The system further comprises a reference plane and at least one displacement sensor. The reference plane is configured to move with the rotor blade as the rotor blade moves relative to the hub while the displacement sensor is fixed to the hub and the displacement sensor is configured to detect a displacement of the reference plane relative to the hub without physical contact. Alternatively, the reference plane has a fixed position with respect to the hub while the displacement sensor is fixed to the rotor blade and the displacement sensor is configured to detect a displacement of the reference plane relative to the rotor blade without physical contact.

System for contactless displacement measurement of a blade root of a wind turbine

A method () of mounting blades () to a rotor hub () of a wind turbine (), the wind turbine () comprising a tower (), a nacelle () mounted on the tower (), the rotor hub () being coupled to the nacelle (), and blades (), each blade () comprising a blade root segment () and a blade extension segment (), the method () comprising mounting a first blade root segment () to the rotor hub (), mounting a second blade () to the rotor hub () after mounting the first blade root segment (), the second blade () comprising a second blade root segment () and a second blade extension segment (), and connecting a first blade extension segment () to the first blade root segment () after mounting the second blade ().

Method of mounting blades to a rotor hub of a wind turbine

A wind turbine and associated control method includes a controller configured with a high speed shaft brake in the generator gear train. The controller receives an input signal corresponding to rotational speed of the high speed shaft, wherein upon the high speed shaft reaching a predefined rotational speed and under a braking condition that calls for the rotor to come to a complete standstill, the controller generates an activate signal to activate the brake. An interlock system is in communication with the low speed shaft sensor and the controller and is configured to override the activate signal when the rotational speed of the low speed shaft is above a threshold value.

System and method for application of a brake for a wind turbine

A method for testing capacity of at least one energy storage device of a pitch drive mechanism to drive a first rotor blade of a wind turbine connected to a power grid includes defining a rotor position range for implementing a first test procedure for the energy storage device(s). Further, the method includes monitoring a rotor position of the first rotor blade. When the rotor position of the first rotor blade enters the rotor position range, the method includes initiating the first test procedure. The first test procedure includes pitching the first rotor blade via the energy storage device(s), measuring at least one operating condition of the energy storage device(s) during pitching, and determining a capacity of the energy storage device(s) to drive the first rotor blade based on the operating condition(s) thereof.

System and method for testing an energy storage device of a wind turbine pitch system

A method for protecting personnel working in a wind turbine nacelle or hub includes monitoring a nacelle roof hatch and a hub access hatch, each hatch having a switch configured therewith. When at least one of the hatches is detected as opened, a control system detects if a rotor lock has been engaged. If the rotor lock has not been engaged, the control system triggers a rotor brake to stop rotor and drivetrain component rotational movement and actuates a first control lockout between the respective switch configured with the open hatch and the rotor brake. The control system also initiates a control lockout that prevents release of the rotor brake until the switch indicates that the open hatch has been closed and the first control lockout has been reset.

Method for controlling a wind turbine with access hatch interlocks, and associated wind turbine

The present disclosure is directed to a system for determining a torque exerted on a shaft of a wind turbine. The system includes a gearbox coupled to the shaft. The gearbox includes a first arm and a second arm. First and second fluid dampers respectively couple to the first and second arms of the gearbox. A first fluid conduit fluidly couples the first and second fluid dampers. A first pressure sensor is in operative association with the first fluid conduit to detect a fluid pressure of fluid within the first fluid conduit. A controller communicatively couples to the first pressure sensor. The controller is configured to determine the torque exerted on the shaft based on signals received from the first pressure sensor.

System and method for determining torque on a wind turbine shaft

A method for overspeed monitoring of a wind turbine may generally include monitoring an actual rotor speed of the wind turbine while the wind turbine is operating at a current speed setpoint and referencing a dynamic overspeed setting for the wind turbine. The method may also include determining a final overspeed setting to be applied for the wind turbine based on a comparison between the dynamic overspeed setting and a predetermined overspeed setting for the wind turbine. In addition, the method may include comparing the actual rotor speed of the wind turbine to the final overspeed setting, and when the actual rotor speed is equal to or exceeds the final overspeed setting, initiating a control action to adjust an operation of the wind turbine in a manner that reduces the actual rotor speed.

System and method for improved overspeed monitoring of a wind turbine operating at reduced rotor speeds

The present subject matter is directed to a wind turbine electrical power configured to minimize power losses. The power system includes a generator having a generator stator and a generator rotor, a power converter electrically coupled to the generator, a main transformer electrically coupled to the power converter and the power grid, and an auxiliary transformer. More specifically, the main transformer is connected to the power grid via a voltage line comprising a voltage switch gear. Thus, the auxiliary transformer is connected directly to the voltage line, i.e. rather than being connected to the grid through the main transformer.

System and method for operating a wind turbine

A method and apparatus for control of redundant devices in a wind turbine is provided, comprising operating a first redundant device and at least one other redundant device such that the first redundant device is expected to fail before any of the at least one other redundant devices.

Method and apparatus for control of redundant devices in a wind turbine

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Osnabrueck, Germany

Till Hoffmann