Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A drivetrain system, braking method and braking system for a wind turbine is disclosed having a generator; a gearbox; a generator shaft and gearbox output shaft coupled between the generator and the gearbox, each shaft extending along a common longitudinal axis; a brake system having at least two brake disks with a first brake disk and a second brake disk, the first and second brake disks mounted concentric with the longitudinal axis; and a plurality of disk brake calipers having a first brake caliper and a second brake caliper, the first and second brake calipers mounted concentric with the longitudinal axis and engaged with the first and second brake disks, respectively.

Abstract: A wind turbine drive train is provided. The wind turbine drive train includes a hub, a bearing system supporting the hub and having an inner race connected to the hub, and a generator gearlessly coupled to the inner race using a flexible coupling member.

Abstract: A wind turbine drive train is provided. The wind turbine drive train includes a hub, a bearing system supporting the hub and having an inner race connected to the hub, and a generator gearlessly coupled to the inner race using a flexible coupling member.

Abstract: A method for testing the brakes of a wind energy system is provided, wherein the method comprising determining the brake torque by an indirect measurement. The method contains a comparison to defined threshold values for time and generator torque as well as time and actual power. Further, a computer-readable medium is provided that provides instructions which when executed by a computing platform cause the computing platform to perform operations wherein the operations include the method according to embodiments described herein. Further, a wind energy system is provided that has a rotor with a rotor brake and a calculation unit adapted for comparing two threshold values for time and torque to the actual values of time and torque, alternatively for comparing two threshold values for time and actual power to the actual values of time and actual power.

Abstract: A method for testing the brakes of a wind energy system is provided, wherein the method comprising determining the brake torque by an indirect measurement. The method contains a comparison to defined threshold values for time and generator torque as well as time and actual power. Further, a computer-readable medium is provided that provides instructions which when executed by a computing platform cause the computing platform to perform operations wherein the operations include the method according to embodiments described herein. Further, a wind energy system is provided that has a rotor with a rotor brake and a calculation unit adapted for comparing two threshold values for time and torque to the actual values of time and torque, alternatively for comparing two threshold values for time and actual power to the actual values of time and actual power.