Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a wind turbine in a manner that takes into account the degree of loading of and damage to one or more components of the turbine are provided. An operational load on a wind turbine part is determined, and is used to compute a damage signal. The damage signal is indicative of the potential damage to the component or to the turbine as a whole that will result if action is not taken to reduce or mitigate the determined load. When the damage signal exceeds a pre-determined threshold, load-reducing wind turbine control means are activated to obviate the estimated damage.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for removing or substantially reducing negative damping effects on a floating wind turbine. An operating point signal is received and a gain scheduling parameter is determined based on the received operating point signal. An input signal is then gain scheduled by the gain scheduling parameter and based on at least the gain scheduled input signal the negative damping effects on a floating wind turbine can be removed or substantially reduced.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and apparatus for determining a property of wind approaching a wind turbine. A light detection and ranging equipment may be used to determine a property of the wind at a plurality of locations ahead of a turbine. A wind flow model may be used to determine the property of wind expected at the rotor of the wind turbine based on the readings of the light detection and ranging device.

Abstract: The invention relates to a controller configured to determine one or more future values of blade control references and/or a generator control references for a wind turbine generator. The first of the future values of the control references are used for control purposes. The future control references are determined from a physical model of a system of the wind turbine generator by solving an optimization problem which includes at least one cost function and at least one constraint.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and apparatus for determining a property of wind approaching a wind turbine. A light detection and ranging equipment may emit pulsed radiation into oncoming wind to detect properties of the wind at a plurality of predefined locations. A property of the wind approaching the wind turbine may be determined based on the property of wind measured at at least two predefined locations.

Abstract: The application describes a wind turbine having a control method and controller for performing predictive control of a wind turbine generator. Based on the measured instantaneous wind speed, it is known to provide control signals to a wind turbine in order to control the pitch of the wind turbine rotor blades and the speed of the generator. However, it is difficult using instantaneous wind speed measurements to achieve smooth control, due to finite response speeds of the associated electro-mechanical systems, as well as the constantly changing control system inputs. The predictive control system described in the application assumes a model of generator speed based on the values of the incident wind speed v(t) and the values of a control signal u(t) output to the wind turbine in a feed forward loop. Here, the control signal can be for one or more of controlling either the power setting of the generator, or the pitch angle of the rotor blades.

Abstract: A LIDAR or other remote sensing apparatus is mounted on a wind turbine to sense one or more wind parameters. An extreme event detector processing signals from the LIDAR to determine whether a given sensed parameter will, when it arrives at the turbine, exceed a predetermined value and represent an extreme event. On detection of an extreme event, the detector outputs an extreme event signal to a controller. The controller controls overrating of the turbine in response to a variety of sensed parameters and selectively operates the turbine at above rated wind speed. On receipt of the extreme event signal the overrating is overridden to prevent damage to turbine components. The controller may be a power plant controller and the override signal may override only over-rating at the turbine which has detected the extreme event, or a plurality of turbines.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and apparatus for determining a property of wind approaching a wind turbine. A light detection and ranging equipment may be used to determine a property of the wind at a plurality of locations ahead of a turbine. A wind flow model may be used to determine the property of wind expected at the rotor of the wind turbine based on the readings of the light detection and ranging device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, controllers and computer program products for determining an optimal tilt angle for a wind turbine. One or more signals indicating site conditions at and/or near a wind turbine are received 402 and an optimal tilt angle for said wind turbine based on said received one or more signals indicating site conditions is determined 403. The optimal tilt angle is then transmitted 404 to a platform controller such that said wind turbine can be inclined said optimal tilt angle.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for operating a safety system in a floating wind turbine. The floating wind turbine comprises one or more sensors 202, 203, and receives a fore-aft inclination signal from the sensor 202, wherein the fore-aft inclination signal indicates an inclination of said floating wind turbine in a fore-aft direction. A side-to-side inclination signal is also received from the sensor 203, wherein the side-to-side inclination signal indicates an inclination of said floating wind turbine in a side-to-side direction. An operational parameter of the floating wind turbine is altered based on either or both of said fore-aft inclination signal and said side-to-side inclination signal.

Abstract: A wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a plurality of control systems. The wind turbine further includes a reflective memory system. The plurality of control systems is coupled with the reflective memory system.

Abstract: The present invention relates to methods, apparatus and computer program products for coordinating the control of a floating wind turbine (101) between a wind turbine controller (111) and a platform controller (110). One or more wind turbine control systems and/or one or more platform control systems may be altered based on 102 said coordinated control of said floating wind turbine (101).

Abstract: Wind turbines of a wind power plant may be selectively over-rated by measuring the difference between the nominal and actual power plant outputs and deriving an over-rating request signal based on that difference which is sent to each turbine. The same value may be sent to each turbine. Alternatively, each turbine may be given its own over-rating amount based on an optimization of the turbine. Over-rating may also be used when external economic factors such as energy costs are sufficiently high to out-weigh any potential harmful effect of over-rating. The fatigue lifetime of turbines and their critical components may also be taken into account when deciding whether and to what extent to implement an over-rating command.

Abstract: A wind turbine has a Lidar device to sense wind conditions upstream of the wind turbine including wind speed, direction and turbulence. Signals from the Lidar are processed to detect an event which could give rise to low cycle fatigue loading on one or more components of the wind turbine. On detection the system controller takes the necessary evasive action depending on the nature and severity of the extreme condition detected. This may include a significant reduction in power generated through reduction in rotor speed or torque, complete shutdown of the generator and yawing of the nacelle and rotor in response to a change in wind direction.

Abstract: A wind turbine has a Lidar device to sense wind conditions upstream of the wind turbine. Signals from the wind turbine are processed to detect an extreme event. On detection the system controller takes the necessary evasive action depending on the nature and severity of the extreme condition detected. This may include a significant reduction in power generated, complete shutdown of the generator and yawing of the nacelle and rotor to reduce loading on the rotor blades.

Abstract: A wind turbine with a rotor comprising one or more rotor blades and a hub, the hub being attached to a nacelle, a yaw system for rotating the rotor to orient it in a wind direction, and one or more line of sight detectors for detecting a component of wind velocity. The one or more detectors are mounted such that they rotate under the action of the yaw system. A control system is coupled to the one or more detectors and is arranged to compare the detected wind velocity component with a wind velocity value and control the yaw system in response to the comparison. The nacelle can be rotated under control of the control system until the yaw error is substantially zero.

Abstract: A wind turbine power plant comprises a plurality of wind turbines, each having a rated output and under the control of a power plant controller. The power plant also has a rated output which may be over-rated in response to one or more of electricity pricing data, power plant age and operator demand. The power plant controller can send over-rating demand signals to individual turbines. The controllers at the turbines include a fatigue life usage estimator which estimates a measure of the fatigue life consumed by key components of the turbine. If this measure exceeds a target value for any component, over-rating is prevented at that turbine.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally relate to using remote sensing equipment such as a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) device to detect wind characteristics for use by wind turbines of a wind park. A wind park controller may received raw wind data from the remote sensing device and determine one or more turbines that can use the raw wind data. The raw wind data may be converted to customized data for each of the one or more wind turbines. Upon being provided the customized wind data, the one or more wind turbines may adjust one or more operational characteristics to improve power production or avoid damage to turbine components.

Abstract: A LIDAR or other remote sensing apparatus is mounted on a wind turbine to sense one or more wind parameters. An extreme event detector processing signals from the LIDAR to determine whether a given sensed parameter will, when it arrives at the turbine, exceed a predetermined value and represent an extreme event. On detection of an extreme event, the detector outputs an extreme event signal to a controller. The controller controls overrating of the turbine in response to a variety of sensed parameters and selectively operates the turbine at above rated wind speed. On receipt of the extreme event signal the overrating is overridden to prevent damage to turbine components. The controller may be a power plant controller and the override signal may override only overrating at the turbine which has detected the extreme event, or a plurality of turbines.

Abstract: A wind turbine has a Lidar device to sense wind conditions upstream of the wind turbine. Wind speed signals from the wind turbine are processed to detect an extreme operating gust. The detection is performed by differentiating the axial wind velocity and filtering for a period of time. On detection of extreme operating gust the system controller takes necessary evasive action which may include shutting down the turbine or varying the blade pitch angle.