Abstract: A system for a wind turbine that includes a protection system interfaced to a circuit breaker system and a sensing system. The protection system is configured to determine an operational mode of the wind turbine by monitoring at least two parameters determine a parameter set comprising a plurality of operational parameters based on a determined operational mode, and an associated set of expected values corresponding to the parameter set, determine actual values corresponding to the determined parameter set, identify a fault condition in the event that the determined set of actual values of the operational parameters do not correspond to the determined set of expected values of the operational parameters, and implement a protection action based on the identified fault condition.

Abstract: A method for determining angular position of a generator shaft of a wind turbine is presented. The method includes receiving a position signal, from an encoder position sensor of the wind turbine, indicative of an angular position of the generator shaft. The method includes determining a compensation signal to compensate for a disturbance signal in the received position signal indicative of an imperfection associated with the encoder position sensor. The method includes modifying the position signal by applying the determined compensation signal to the received position signal to determine angular position.

Abstract: This invention concerns a method of controlling a power converter system 26 operating in an overmodulation region. The power converter system 26 comprises more than two current controllers 71, 73, 77, 79 a modulator 76 and a power converter 78, and the modulator 76 is configured to provide at least one modulated drive signal 87 to the power converter 78 based on voltage reference vector signals 82a, 82b, 82c, 82d from the more than two current controllers 71, 73, 77, 79. The method comprises determining the voltage reference vector signals 82a, 82b, 82c, 82d; determining compensated voltage reference vector signals 84a, 84b, 84c, 84d indicative of a fundamental frequency of a respective voltage reference vector signal 82a, 82b, 82c, 82d; and, determining the at least one modulated drive signal 87 based on a combination of the compensated voltage reference vector signals 84a, 84b, 84c, 84d.

Abstract: A system for a wind turbine that includes a protection system interfaced to a circuit breaker system and a sensing system. The protection system is configured to determine an operational mode of the wind turbine by monitoring at least two parameters determine a parameter set comprising a plurality of operational parameters based on a determined operational mode, and an associated set of expected values corresponding to the parameter set, determine actual values corresponding to the determined parameter set, identify a fault condition in the event that the determined set of actual values of the operational parameters do not correspond to the determined set of expected values of the operational parameters, and implement a protection action based on the identified fault condition.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for determining angular position of a generator shaft of a wind turbine. The method includes receiving a position signal, from an encoder position sensor of the wind turbine, indicative of an angular position of the generator shaft. The method includes determining a compensation signal to compensate for a disturbance signal in the received position signal indicative of an imperfection associated with the encoder position sensor. The method includes modifying the position signal by applying the determined compensation signal to the received position signal to determine angular position.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a wind turbine which comprises a power generator, a generator side converter, a grid side converter, a DC link electrically connected to an output of the generator side converter and an input of the grid side converter. The method comprises monitoring a wind turbine signal for detection of an operational condition which requires an increase of an output voltage of the grid side converter, upon detection of the operational condition, initiate an over-modulation mode wherein the grid side converter is operated with a modulation index in an over-modulation range, and upon the detection of the operational condition, initiate a DC-voltage adjustment mode wherein the a DC-voltage of the DC link is increased from a first voltage level towards a second voltage level.

Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to a method of controlling a renewable power plant comprising a plurality of renewable power generators electrically connected by a local network and configured to supply active power to a main network. The method comprises: in response to receiving a signal requesting substantially zero active power supply to the main network: categorizing a generator as power-supplying, and the remaining generators as power-consuming; operating the power-consuming generators to generate no active power and to have their auxiliary systems draw power from the local network; and operating the power-supplying generator to supply active power to the local network such that the plant supplies substantially zero active power to the main network.

Abstract: This invention concerns a method of controlling a line side converter of a power converter system operating in an over-modulation range. The line side converter comprises a controller comprising a feedback control module configured to output a feedback control signal for modifying a drive signal received by a modulator. The method comprises determining a modulation index within the over-modulation range; and, controlling the feedback control module to adjust the feedback control signal based on the modulation index.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of controlling at least one wind turbine of a plurality of wind turbines connected to an electrical grid at a predefined point in the electrical grid. The wind turbine comprises a DC link connecting a generator side converter to a line side converter, where the line side converter is controlled according to a modulation index requested by a power converter controller. The method comprises determining a harmonic frequency signal indicative of a harmonic frequency value at the predefined point in the electrical grid; determining a deviation between the harmonic frequency signal and a permissible harmonic frequency value; determining a permissible modulation index based on the deviation; comparing the permissible modulation index to the modulation index requested by the power converter controller; and, altering a DC link voltage set-point based on the comparison between the permissible modulation index and the requested modulation index.

Abstract: This invention concerns a method of controlling a line side converter of a power converter system operating in an over-modulation range. The line side converter comprises a controller comprising a feedback control module configured to output a feedback control signal for modifying a drive signal received by a modulator. The method comprises determining a modulation index within the over-modulation range; and, controlling the feedback control module to adjust the feedback control signal based on the modulation index.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of controlling at least one wind turbine of a plurality of wind turbines connected to an electrical grid at a predefined point in the electrical grid. The wind turbine comprises a DC link connecting a generator side converter to a line side converter, where the line side converter is controlled according to a modulation index requested by a power converter controller. The method comprises determining a harmonic frequency signal indicative of a harmonic frequency value at the predefined point in the electrical grid; determining a deviation between the harmonic frequency signal and a permissible harmonic frequency value; determining a permissible modulation index based on the deviation; comparing the permissible modulation index to the modulation index requested by the power converter controller; and, altering a DC link voltage set-point based on the comparison between the permissible modulation index and the requested modulation index.

Abstract: This invention concerns a method of controlling a power converter system 26 operating in an overmodulation region. The power converter system 26 comprises more than two current controllers 71, 73, 77, 79 a modulator 76 and a power converter 78, and the modulator 76 is configured to provide at least one modulated drive signal 87 to the power converter 78 based on voltage reference vector signals 82a, 82b, 82c, 82d from the more than two current controllers 71, 73, 77, 79. The method comprises determining the voltage reference vector signals 82a, 82b, 82c, 82d; determining compensated voltage reference vector signals 84a, 84b, 84c, 84d indicative of a fundamental frequency of a respective voltage reference vector signal 82a, 82b, 82c, 82d; and, determining the at least one modulated drive signal 87 based on a combination of the compensated voltage reference vector signals 84a, 84b, 84c, 84d.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a wind turbine which comprises a power generator, a generator side converter, a grid side converter, a DC link electrically connected to an output of the generator side converter and an input of the grid side converter. The method comprises monitoring a wind turbine signal for detection of an operational condition which requires an increase of an output voltage of the grid side converter, upon detection of the operational condition, initiate an over-modulation mode wherein the grid side converter is operated with a modulation index in an over-modulation range, and upon the detection of the operational condition, initiate a DC-voltage adjustment mode wherein the a DC-voltage of the DC link is increased from a first voltage level towards a second voltage level.

Abstract: Controlling a power converters during over voltage condition. A wind turbine signal is monitored for detection of an over voltage of the grid and upon detection of the over voltage, an over-modulation mode is initiated wherein the grid side converter is operated with a modulation index being increased in an over-modulation range at least during a sub-period of the over-modulation mode, and upon the detection of the operational condition, a DC-voltage adjustment mode is initiated wherein the DC voltage of the DC link is decreased from a second voltage level towards a first voltage level at least during a sub-period of the DC-voltage adjustment mode.

Abstract: A method of controlling a wind turbine generator (1) comprising an electrical generator (10) and a power converter (12), the power converter (12) comprising an electrical switch (14a, 14b) that is configured to process electrical power produced by the electrical generator (10), the method comprising: controlling an output from the electrical switch (14a, 14b) using a variable pulse-width modulated control signal, thereby to control characteristics of output power from the power converter (12); acquiring sample data (26) relating to an electronic signal within the wind turbine generator (1), wherein the sample data (26) is used for controlling the wind turbine generator (1); and dynamically adjusting a frequency (30) at which the sample data is acquired to synchronise data acquisition with a carrier frequency (24) of the control signal.

Abstract: Controlling a power converters during over voltage condition. A wind turbine signal is monitored for detection of an over voltage of the grid and upon detection of the over voltage, an over-modulation mode is initiated wherein the grid side converter is operated with a modulation index being increased in an over-modulation range at least during a sub-period of the over-modulation mode, and upon the detection of the operational condition, a DC-voltage adjustment mode is initiated wherein the DC voltage of the DC link is decreased from a second voltage level towards a first voltage level at least during a sub-period of the DC-voltage adjustment mode.

Abstract: A method of controlling a wind turbine generator (1) comprising an electrical generator (10) and a power converter (12), the power converter (12) comprising an electrical switch (14a, 14b) that is configured to process electrical power produced by the electrical generator (10), the method comprising: controlling an output from the electrical switch (14a, 14b) using a variable pulse-width modulated control signal, thereby to control characteristics of output power from the power converter (12); acquiring sample data (26) relating to an electronic signal within the wind turbine generator (1), wherein the sample data (26) is used for controlling the wind turbine generator (1); and dynamically adjusting a frequency (30) at which the sample data is acquired to synchronise data acquisition with a carrier frequency (24) of the control signal.