Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for autonomous yaw control of a wind turbine. The method includes measuring, via a wind sensor, one or more wind conditions near the wind turbine. Another step includes receiving, via a distributed inputs and outputs (I/O) module, the one or more wind conditions from the wind sensor. The method also includes determining, via the distributed I/O module, a control signal for a yaw drive mechanism of the wind turbine as a function of the one or more wind conditions. Further, the yaw drive mechanism is configured to modify an orientation of a nacelle of the wind turbine. Thus, the method also includes controlling, via the distributed I/O module, the yaw drive mechanism based on the control signal.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing oscillation loads of a wind turbine induced by high turbulence and/or combined with other environmental conditions are provided. The method includes determining at least one wind parameter at the wind turbine; monitoring an operating condition of the wind turbine; determining, by a processor, a variance of at least one of the monitored operating condition or a plurality of the wind parameters, wherein the variance is indicative of an oscillation occurring at one or more wind turbine components; determining, by a processor, an operating set point based on the variance; and, operating the wind turbine based on the operating set point when the variance indicates that the oscillation has a frequency within a certain frequency band so as to modify the frequency, wherein the modified frequency is outside of the frequency band and reduces oscillation loads occurring at the one or more wind turbine components.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for autonomous yaw control of a wind turbine. The method includes measuring, via a wind sensor, one or more wind conditions near the wind turbine. Another step includes receiving, via a distributed inputs and outputs (I/O) module, the one or more wind conditions from the wind sensor. The method also includes determining, via the distributed I/O module, a control signal for a yaw drive mechanism of the wind turbine as a function of the one or more wind conditions. Further, the yaw drive mechanism is configured to modify an orientation of a nacelle of the wind turbine. Thus, the method also includes controlling, via the distributed I/O module, the yaw drive mechanism based on the control signal.

Abstract: A system and method for reducing oscillation loads of a wind turbine induced by high turbulence and/or combined with other environmental conditions are provided. The method includes determining at least one wind parameter at the wind turbine; monitoring an operating condition of the wind turbine; determining, by a processor, a variance of at least one of the monitored operating condition or a plurality of the wind parameters, wherein the variance is indicative of an oscillation occurring at one or more wind turbine components; determining, by a processor, an operating set point based on the variance; and, operating the wind turbine based on the operating set point when the variance indicates that the oscililation has a frequency within a certain frequency band so as to modify the frequency, wherein the modified frequency is outside of the frequency band and reduces oscillation loads occurring at the one or more wind turbine components.

Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine includes receiving a value of a sensor and comparing the value with a reference, determining depending on the comparison between the value with the reference whether a malfunction of the wind turbine is present; determining the cause of the malfunction of the wind turbine depending on at least one of: the sensor type or the measured value, wherein the cause determination includes: automatically creating a first list including at least one possible cause of the malfunction depending on the sensor type or the measured value; and automatically creating a second list including a sequence of at least two steps, wherein a first step of the second list is based on the a cause selected from the first list and a second step of the second list is automatically determined based on a result of the first step.

Abstract: A rotor blade monitoring system for use with a wind turbine. The wind turbine includes at least one rotor blade. The rotor blade includes a sidewall that extends between a root portion and a tip portion. The rotor blade monitoring system includes a fiber optic strand that is coupled to the rotor blade sidewall. The fiber optic strand has a length that extends from the root portion towards the tip portion. A plurality of sensors are coupled to the fiber optic strand. Each sensor of the plurality of sensors is axially spaced along the fiber optic strand and is configured to transmit a signal indicative of a position of a respective portion of the rotor blade.

Abstract: The Disclosure relates to a method for operating a wind turbine comprising: (a) monitoring a wind turbine including: receiving at least one value of at least one sensor and comparing the at least one value with at least one reference; and, determining depending on the comparison between the at least one value with at least one reference whether a malfunction of the wind turbine is present; (b) determining the cause of the malfunction of the wind turbine depending on at least one of: the sensor type of the at least one sensor or the at least one measured value, wherein the cause determination includes: automatically creating a first list comprising at least one possible cause of the malfunction depending on at least one of the sensor type of the at least one sensor or the at least one measured value; and automatically creating a second list comprising a sequence of at least two steps, wherein a first step of the second list is based on the a cause selected from the first list and a second step of the second li

Abstract: A rotor blade monitoring system for use with a wind turbine. The wind turbine includes at least one rotor blade. The rotor blade includes a sidewall that extends between a root portion and a tip portion. The rotor blade monitoring system includes a fiber optic strand that is coupled to the rotor blade sidewall. The fiber optic strand has a length that extends from the root portion towards the tip portion. A plurality of sensors are coupled to the fiber optic strand. Each sensor of the plurality of sensors is axially spaced along the fiber optic strand and is configured to transmit a signal indicative of a position of a respective portion of the rotor blade.