Abstract: A method of determining an orientation of a nacelle of a wind turbine, wherein the nacelle carries a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensor, the method comprising: yawing the nacelle between a series of orientations; obtaining locus data based on a series of calibration positions measured by the GNSS sensor, wherein each calibration position is measured by the GNSS sensor when the nacelle is in a respective orientation of the series of orientations; storing the locus data; after storing the locus data, measuring a new position with the GNSS sensor; and determining the orientation of the nacelle on the basis of the stored locus data and the new position.

Abstract: A method of determining an orientation of a nacelle of a wind turbine, wherein the nacelle carries a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensor, the method comprising: yawing the nacelle between a series of orientations; obtaining locus data based on a series of calibration positions measured by the GNSS sensor, wherein each calibration position is measured by the GNSS sensor when the nacelle is in a respective orientation of the series of orientations; storing the locus data; after storing the locus data, measuring a new position with the GNSS sensor; and determining the orientation of the nacelle on the basis of the stored locus data and the new position.

Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating a direction of wind incident on a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising a tower; a rotor-nacelle-assembly (RNA) carried by the tower; a deflection sensor configured to sense a position of the RNA or a deflection of the tower; and a wind direction sensor. One approach includes: obtaining deflection training data from the deflection sensor; obtaining wind direction training data from the wind direction sensor; training a machine learning model on the basis of the deflection training data and the wind direction training data in order to obtain a trained machine learning model; obtaining further deflection data from the deflection sensor; inputting the further deflection data into the trained machine learning model; and operating the machine learning model to output a wind direction estimate on the basis of the further deflection data.

Abstract: A method of determining an orientation of a nacelle of a wind turbine, wherein the nacelle carries a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensor, the method comprising: yawing the nacelle between a series of orientations; obtaining locus data based on a series of calibration positions measured by the GNSS sensor, wherein each calibration position is measured by the GNSS sensor when the nacelle is in a respective orientation of the series of orientations; storing the locus data; after storing the locus data, measuring a new position with the GNSS sensor; and determining the orientation of the nacelle on the basis of the stored locus data and the new position.

Abstract: A method of determining an orientation of a nacelle of a wind turbine, wherein the nacelle carries a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensor, the method comprising: yawing the nacelle between a series of orientations; obtaining locus data based on a series of calibration positions measured by the GNSS sensor, wherein each calibration position is measured by the GNSS sensor when the nacelle is in a respective orientation of the series of orientations; storing the locus data; after storing the locus data, measuring a new position with the GNSS sensor; and determining the orientation of the nacelle on the basis of the stored locus data and the new position.

Abstract: Systems and methods for estimating a direction of wind incident on a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising a tower; a rotor-nacelle-assembly (RNA) carried by the tower; a deflection sensor configured to sense a position of the RNA or a deflection of the tower; and a wind direction sensor. One approach includes: obtaining deflection training data from the deflection sensor; obtaining wind direction training data from the wind direction sensor; training a machine learning model on the basis of the deflection training data and the wind direction training data in order to obtain a trained machine learning model; obtaining further deflection data from the deflection sensor; inputting the further deflection data into the trained machine learning model; and operating the machine learning model to output a wind direction estimate on the basis of the further deflection data.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a wind turbine comprises monitoring an acoustic signal and/or a vibrational signal within a tower of the wind turbine, analyzing the signal to identify one or more predetermined characteristic indicative of an event within the tower, recognizing the event has occurred based on the predetermined characteristic and generating an output based on the recognized event. The one or more predetermined characteristic being at least one of: an amplitude of the signal, a duration of the signal, a shape of the signal, one or more frequencies present in the signal and an energy of the signal.

Abstract: A yaw sensor for a wind turbine comprises a plurality of rotary switches, each configured to be coupled to a yaw drive gearbox of a wind turbine nacelle, the rotary switches each being operable to activate and deactivate respective associated electrical contacts in dependence on an amount of yaw rotation of the nacelle relative to a start position. Each electrical contact is active at a plurality of first yaw rotation ranges with respect to the start position, and inactive at a plurality of second yaw rotation ranges with respect to the start position, the first and second yaw rotation ranges being interleaved.

Abstract: A yaw sensor for a wind turbine is described. The yaw sensor comprises a rotary switch, configured to be coupled to a yaw drive gearbox of a wind turbine nacelle, the rotary switch being operable to activate and deactivate an electrical contact in dependence on an amount of yaw rotation of the nacelle relative to a start position. The electrical contact is active at a plurality of first yaw rotation ranges with respect to the start position, and inactive at a plurality of second yaw rotation ranges with respect to the start position, the first and second yaw rotation ranges being interleaved, at least some of the first yaw rotation ranges having different lengths from each other and/or at least some of the second yaw rotation ranges having different lengths from each other. The electrical contact generates an electrical signal when active.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a wind turbine comprises monitoring an acoustic signal and/or a vibrational signal within a tower of the wind turbine, analyzing the signal to identify one or more predetermined characteristic indicative of an event within the tower, recognizing the event has occurred based on the predetermined characteristic and generating an output based on the recognized event. The one or more predetermined characteristic being at least one of: an amplitude of the signal, a duration of the signal, a shape of the signal, one or more frequencies present in the signal and an energy of the signal.

Abstract: A yaw sensor for a wind turbine is described. The yaw sensor comprises a rotary switch, configured to be coupled to a yaw drive gearbox of a wind turbine nacelle, the rotary switch being operable to activate and deactivate an electrical contact in dependence on an amount of yaw rotation of the nacelle relative to a start position. The electrical contact is active at a plurality of first yaw rotation ranges with respect to the start position, and inactive at a plurality of second yaw rotation ranges with respect to the start position, the first and second yaw rotation ranges being interleaved, at least some of the first yaw rotation ranges having different lengths from each other and/or at least some of the second yaw rotation ranges having different lengths from each other. The electrical contact generates an electrical signal when active.

Abstract: A yaw sensor for a wind turbine comprises a plurality of rotary switches, each configured to be coupled to a yaw drive gearbox of a wind turbine nacelle, the rotary switches each being operable to activate and deactivate respective associated electrical contacts in dependence on an amount of yaw rotation of the nacelle relative to a start position. Each electrical contact is active at a plurality of first yaw rotation ranges with respect to the start position, and inactive at a plurality of second yaw rotation ranges with respect to the start position, the first and second yaw rotation ranges being interleaved.

Abstract: A sensor system for measuring an operating parameter of a wind turbine component is described. The fiber optic sensor system comprises a light source for outputting light in a predetermined range of wavelengths, and an optical fiber comprising a long Fiber Bragg Grating, extending continuously over a length of the optical fiber to provide a continuous measurement region in the optical fiber. The optical fiber is coupled to the wind turbine component such that the continuous measurement region is located at a region of the wind turbine component to be sensed, and such that the grating period at each location in the continuous measurement period is dependent upon the value of the operating parameter at that location. A light detector receives light from the optical fiber, and provides an output signal to the controller indicating the intensity of the received light; based on the detected light, a value for the operating parameter is determined.

Abstract: A system for identifying the likelihood of a wind turbine rotor blade striking a wind turbine tower comprises a device for sensing bending of a wind turbine rotor blade and a device for sensing bending of a wind turbine tower. In a preferred embodiment Long Period Grating (LPG) sensors are used to measure bending of the tower. Preferably a plurality of LPG sensors is provided along the length of the blade. In one embodiment at least one of the LPG sensors comprises two sensing elements arranged to sense in perpendicular directions. In another embodiment a plurality of LPG sensors are provided each on different sides of the wind turbine tower. A processor uses the sensed blade and tower bending to determine whether the distance between the blade and the tower will be below a predetermined minimum value.

Abstract: A system and method of detecting damage to a wind turbine blade uses one or more fluorescent optical fibers comprising a fluorescent material having an excitation wavelength that is selected such that the material fluoresces upon exposure to ambient radiation at the wind turbine blade, wherein the one or more optical fibers are operatively mounted within the wind turbine blade such that upon damage to the wind turbine blade at least a part of the optical fiber is exposed at the surface of the blade causing the optical fiber to fluoresce; a light detector for receiving a light signal from one or from both ends of the one or more optical fibers upon excitation of the fluorescent material and outputting a signal based on the light signal; and a controller coupled to the light detector to receive the signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical fiber for a fiber optic sensor, comprising a first optical grating adapted to operate over a first range of wavelengths; and at least one set of further gratings adapted to operate over a second range of wavelengths, each grating being adapted to operate over a portion of the second range; wherein, each grating within said set has an operating range that partially overlaps with at least one other such grating operating range. The invention also extends to a sensor system, and method, using such an optical fiber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical fibre for a fibre optic sensor, comprising a first optical grating adapted to operate over a first range of wavelengths; and at least one set of further gratings adapted to operate over a second range of wavelengths, each grating being adapted to operate over a portion of the second range; wherein, each grating within said set has an operating range that partially overlaps with at least one other such grating operating range. The invention also extends to a sensor system, and method, using such an optical fibre.

Abstract: A system and method of detecting damage to a wind turbine blade uses one or more fluorescent optical fibres comprising a fluorescent material having an excitation wavelength that is selected such that the material fluoresces upon exposure to ambient radiation at the wind turbine blade, wherein the one or more optical fibres are operatively mounted within the wind turbine blade such that upon damage to the wind turbine blade at least a part of the optical fibre is exposed at the surface of the blade causing the optical fibre to fluoresce; a light detector for receiving a light signal from one or from both ends of the one or more optical fibres upon excitation of the fluorescent material and outputting a signal based on the light signal; and a controller coupled to the light detector to receive the signal.

Abstract: A system for identifying the likelihood of a wind turbine rotor blade striking a wind turbine tower comprises a device for sensing bending of a wind turbine rotor blade and a device for sensing bending of a wind turbine tower. In a preferred embodiment Long Period Grating (LPG) sensors are used to measure bending of the tower. Preferably a plurality of LPG sensors is provided along the length of the blade. In one embodiment at least one of the LPG sensors comprises two sensing elements arranged to sense in perpendicular directions. In another embodiment a plurality of LPG sensors are provided each on different sides of the wind turbine tower. A processor uses the sensed blade and tower bending to determine whether the distance between the blade and the tower will be below a predetermined minimum value.

Abstract: A sensor system for measuring an operating parameter of a wind turbine component is described. The fibre optic sensor system comprises a light source for outputting light in a predetermined range of wavelengths, and an optical fibre comprising a long Fibre Bragg Grating, extending continuously over a length of the optical fibre to provide a continuous measurement region in the optical fibre. The optical fibre is coupled to the wind turbine component such that the continuous measurement region is located at a region of the wind turbine component to be sensed, and such that the grating period at each location in the continuous measurement period is dependent upon the value of the operating parameter at that location. A light detector receives light from the optical fibre, and provides an output signal to the controller indicating the intensity of the received light; based on the detected light, a value for the operating parameter is determined.