Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling wind turbines of a wind farm, each connected to a wind farm grid, in case of a disconnect from a main grid. During the disconnect from the main grid, at least one demand value is transmitted from a digital master grid controller to respective converter units of the wind turbines via a digital data link such that the converter units receive the at least one demand value substantially simultaneously and are operable to keep the wind turbines online and synchronised to the wind farm grid during the disconnect from the main grid.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling wind turbines of a wind farm, each connected to a wind farm grid, in case of a disconnect from a main grid. During the disconnect from the main grid, at least one demand value is transmitted from a digital master grid controller to respective converter units of the wind turbines via a digital data link such that the converter units receive the at least one demand value substantially simultaneously and are operable to keep the wind turbines online and synchronised to the wind farm grid during the disconnect from the main grid.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for operating a wind turbine in response to one or more grid events or faults occurring in a power grid. The method includes monitoring, via one or more sensors, a grid voltage of the power grid so as to detect one or more grid events occurring in the power grid. In response to detecting at least one grid event, a controller determines an operating catch point for the wind turbine component and applies a torque demand to the wind turbine component when the operating catch point is reached. Further, the torque demand may be based on an initial torque demand acting on the wind turbine component before the one or more grid events occurred. Therefore, applying the torque demand to the wind turbine component is configured to reduce oscillations occurring in the component caused by one or more grid faults.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for operating a wind turbine in response to one or more grid events or faults occurring in a power grid. The method includes monitoring, via one or more sensors, a grid voltage of the power grid so as to detect one or more grid events occurring in the power grid. In response to detecting at least one grid event, a controller determines an operating catch point for the wind turbine component and applies a torque demand to the wind turbine component when the operating catch point is reached. Further, the torque demand may be based on an initial torque demand acting on the wind turbine component before the one or more grid events occurred. Therefore, applying the torque demand to the wind turbine component is configured to reduce oscillations occurring in the component caused by one or more grid faults.

Abstract: A wind turbine which is composed of several subunits is provided. Each of the several subunits includes a controller. Each of the controllers is adapted to operate in a cooperative mode and in an isolated mode. In the cooperative mode, one of the controllers operates as a master controller and the remaining controllers operate as slave controllers. In the isolated mode, each subunit is exclusively controlled by its respective controller, wherein each of the controllers acts as an independent master controller for its subunit. Further, a method for operating a wind turbine which includes at least two subunits is provided. Each of the at least two subunits includes at least one sensor, at least one actuator and a controller. The method for operating the wind turbine is carried out independently in each subunit and includes detecting at least one sensor signal; and determining and transferring a command to at least one actuator.

Abstract: A method of assembling a pitch assembly for use with a wind turbine. The wind turbine includes a rotor and a plurality of rotor blades coupled to the rotor. The method includes coupling a pitch drive system to at least one of the plurality of rotor blades for rotating the rotor blade about a pitch axis. At least one sensor is coupled in signal communication with the pitch drive system. The pitch drive system rotates the rotor blade when the sensor senses rotor overspeed.

Abstract: A wind turbine having at least one rotor blade attached to a rotor hub is provided, wherein the wind turbine further includes at least one sensor disposed at or near the rotor blade, the sensor being adapted to detect an aerodynamic condition of the rotor blade.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling at least one proximity sensor of a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising a rotor shaft, the at least one proximity sensor being adapted to measure a radial displacement of the rotor shaft; the method includes: providing at least one reference value, detecting an output of the at least one proximity sensor, the output depending on a measured distance by the respective proximity sensor; comparing the detected output of the proximity sensor with at least one reference value.

Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a rotor including at least one rotor blade and a pitch drive system coupled to the at least one rotor blade. The pitch drive system is adapted for pitching the rotor blade. The method includes: determining an actual value of a first variable indicative of an overspeed state of the wind turbine; determining an actual value of a second variable of the wind turbine correlated to the rate of change over time of the first variable; and, estimating an occurrence of an overspeed state of the wind turbine from at least the determined actual values of the first and second variables. The pitch drive system pitches the rotor blade for aerodynamically braking the rotor based on the result of the estimation.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a yaw angle of a wind turbine. The wind turbine includes a nacelle that is rotatably coupled to a tower. The method includes coupling a yaw drive assembly to the nacelle for adjusting an orientation of the nacelle with respect to a direction of wind. A first sensor that is coupled to the wind turbine transmits at least a first monitoring signal that is indicative of an operating condition of the wind turbine to a control system. A yaw angle of the nacelle with respect to the direction of wind is calculated by the control system based at least in part on the first monitoring signal. The yaw drives assembly is operated to adjust a yaw of the nacelle based at least in part on the calculated yaw angle.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising a wind rotor having at least one rotor blade and a generator connected to the wind rotor, wherein the generator is adapted to be connected to a grid, wherein the method comprises: adjusting at least one wind turbine parameter to increase the rotational speed of the wind rotor; increasing the rotational speed of the wind rotor; during increasing of the rotational speed of the wind rotor determining if the wind turbine would exceed a predetermined amount of energy to be fed into the grid at the actual wind rotor rotational speed; and during increasing of the rotational speed of the wind rotor connecting the wind turbine to the grid if determining that the wind turbine would exceed the predetermined amount of energy to be fed into the grid.

Abstract: A measurement device adapted for measuring at least one operational parameter of a wind turbine is provided. The measurement device includes a control unit including a light source adapted for emitting light and an optical waveguide connected to the control unit and adapted for transmitting the light emitted from the light source to a sensor device. The sensor device is adapted for detecting the at least one operational parameter and includes an optical-to-electrical power conversion unit adapted for receiving the light emitted by the light source and transmitted via the optical waveguide, and for converting the received light into electrical operation power which is provided for the sensor device.

Abstract: A method of adjusting a yaw angle of a wind turbine. The wind turbine includes a nacelle that is rotatably coupled to a tower. The method includes coupling a yaw drive assembly to the nacelle for adjusting an orientation of the nacelle with respect to a direction of wind. A first sensor that is coupled to the wind turbine transmits at least a first monitoring signal that is indicative of an operating condition of the wind turbine to a control system. A yaw angle of the nacelle with respect to the direction of wind is calculated by the control system based at least in part on the first monitoring signal. The yaw drives assembly is operated to adjust a yaw of the nacelle based at least in part on the calculated yaw angle.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising a wind rotor and a generator connected to the wind rotor, wherein the generator is adapted to be connected to a grid, wherein the method comprises: generating a signal for at least one of a run-up event or starting event of the wind turbine based on a predicted efficiency of at least one component of the wind turbine. Further, the present disclosure relates to a method for operating a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising a wind rotor and a generator connected to the wind rotor, wherein the generator is adapted to be connected to a grid, wherein the method comprises: generating a signal for at least one of a run-up event or starting event of the wind turbine based on a predicted power output of the wind turbine that is based on at least one of a predicted electrical or mechanical power consumption of at least one component of the wind turbine.

Abstract: An overspeed protection system for a wind turbine having a hub and at least one rotor blade mounted to the hub includes a rotation sensor adapted for measuring a rotor speed of said wind turbine; a comparator connected to the rotation sensor and adapted for comparing the measured rotor speed with a predetermined threshold value of the rotor speed wherein the comparator outputs a signal indicative of the comparison; and an auxiliary pitch drive controller connected to the comparator and adapted to receive the signal indicative of the comparison, the auxiliary pitch drive controller being further adapted for controlling a pitch drive unit of the wind turbine independently of a main turbine controller and, if the threshold value is exceeded, to adjust a pitch angle of the rotor blade of the wind turbine so that aerodynamic braking of the wind turbine is effected.

Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a rotor including at least one rotor blade and a pitch drive system coupled to the at least one rotor blade. The pitch drive system is adapted for pitching the rotor blade. The method includes: determining an actual value of a first variable indicative of an overspeed state of the wind turbine; determining an actual value of a second variable of the wind turbine correlated to the rate of change over time of the first variable; and, estimating an occurrence of an overspeed state of the wind turbine from at least the determined actual values of the first and second variables. The pitch drive system pitches the rotor blade for aerodynamically braking the rotor based on the result of the estimation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling at least one proximity sensor of a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising a rotor shaft, the at least one proximity sensor being adapted to measure a radial displacement of the rotor shaft; the method includes: providing at least one reference value, detecting an output of the at least one proximity sensor, the output depending on a measured distance by the respective proximity sensor; comparing the detected output of the proximity sensor with at least one reference value.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising a wind rotor having at least one rotor blade and a generator connected to the wind rotor, wherein the generator is adapted to be connected to a grid, wherein the method comprises: adjusting at least one wind turbine parameter to increase the rotational speed of the wind rotor; increasing the rotational speed of the wind rotor; during increasing of the rotational speed of the wind rotor determining if the wind turbine would exceed a predetermined amount of energy to be fed into the grid at the actual wind rotor rotational speed; and during increasing of the rotational speed of the wind rotor connecting the wind turbine to the grid if determining that the wind turbine would exceed the predetermined amount of energy to be fed into the grid.

Abstract: The method relates to the operation of a frequency converter of a generator in particular of a wind energy turbine, in the event of a substantial grid voltage drop, wherein the frequency converter (10) comprises an AC/DC converter (20), to be connected to the generator (14), a DC/AC converter (22) to be connected to the voltage grid (18), and a DC link circuit (24) for connecting the AC/DC converter (20) to the DC/AC converter (22). The method comprises the step of reducing an output voltage of the DC link circuit (24) for increasing an output current of the DC/AC converter (22) and/or reducing the operation frequency of electronic switches (28) of the DC/AC converter (22) for increasing the output current of the DC/AC converter (22).

Abstract: A braking system for a wind turbine is provided, and the wind turbine includes a rotor having at least one blade. A generator includes a plurality of stator windings having a plurality of phases. The braking system includes a plurality of resistors, and at least one switch connected between the stator windings and the resistors. The switch can be configured to connect the stator windings to each other via the resistors, for the effect of slowing down or stopping the rotor of the wind turbine.