Abstract: A method for preventing catastrophic damage in a drivetrain of a wind turbine includes receiving, via a controller, a speed measurement of the generator of the drivetrain. The method also includes determining an electrical torque of a generator of the drivetrain of the wind turbine. The method further includes estimating, via the controller, a mechanical torque of the rotor as a function of at least one of the electrical torque and the speed measurement of the generator. Further, the method includes comparing, via the controller, the estimated mechanical torque to an implausible torque threshold, wherein torque values above the implausible torque threshold speed values greater that the implausible speed threshold. Moreover, the method includes implementing, via the controller, a control action for the wind turbine when the estimated mechanical torque exceeds the implausible torque threshold.

Abstract: A method for preventing catastrophic damage in a drivetrain of a wind turbine includes receiving, via a controller, a speed measurement of the generator of the drivetrain. The method also includes determining an electrical torque of a generator of the drivetrain of the wind turbine. The method further includes estimating, via the controller, a mechanical torque of the rotor as a function of at least one of the electrical torque and the speed measurement of the generator. Further, the method includes comparing, via the controller, the estimated mechanical torque to an implausible torque threshold, wherein torque values above the implausible torque threshold speed values greater that the implausible speed threshold. Moreover, the method includes implementing, via the controller, a control action for the wind turbine when the estimated mechanical torque exceeds the implausible torque threshold.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system for controlling a pitch angle of a rotor blade of a wind turbine. The system includes a pitch adjustment mechanism for adjusting the pitch angle of the rotor blade and a controller communicatively coupled to the pitch adjustment mechanism. The controller is configured to determine a wind asymmetry parameter based on an operating parameter of the wind turbine. The controller is also configured to determine first and second signal components of the wind asymmetry parameter, which are respectively indicative of a maximum load on a first wind turbine component and fatigue on a second wind turbine component. The controller is also configured to calculate a wear parameter based on the first and second signal components and initiate an adjustment of the pitch angle of the rotor blade based on the wear parameter.

Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine during partial load operation includes determining a power output of the wind turbine. The method also includes determining whether the power output is below a rated power of the wind turbine. If the power output is at the rated power, the method includes maintaining a speed set point of the wind turbine equal to a rated speed set point. However, if the power output is below the rated power, then the method includes varying, via a controller, the speed set point of the wind turbine as a function of a torque of the wind turbine in a non-monotonic torque-speed relationship.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for determining an estimated rotor shaft position of a rotor shaft of a wind turbine. The method includes generating, with a rotor shaft position sensor, a measured rotor shaft position signal associated with a measured rotor shaft position of the rotor shaft. The method also includes generating, with a plurality of accelerometers positioned in an axisymmetric arrangement, a plurality of rotor hub acceleration signals associated with a plurality of rotor hub accelerations of a rotor hub coupled to the rotor shaft. The method further includes determining, with a controller, a phase adjustment based on one of the plurality of rotor hub acceleration signals or a predetermined correction value. Furthermore, the method includes adjusting, with the controller, the measured rotor shaft position by the phase adjustment to determine the estimated rotor shaft position of the rotor.

Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to a system and method for improving speed control of a pitch drive system of a wind turbine. In one embodiment, the pitch drive system includes a direct current (DC) motor having an armature and a series-field winding, a battery assembly having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and a current-controlling device configured in series between the positive terminal of the battery assembly and the series-field winding. The battery assembly is configured to supply power to the pitch drive system and the current-controlling device is configured to supply current to the series-field winding so as to ensure a field flux does not equal zero. Thus, the current-controlling device has the effect of limiting the maximum speed of the DC motor.

Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine during partial load operation includes determining a power output of the wind turbine. The method also includes determining whether the power output is below a rated power of the wind turbine. If the power output is at the rated power, the method includes maintaining a speed set point of the wind turbine equal to a rated speed set point. However, if the power output is below the rated power, then the method includes varying, via a controller, the speed set point of the wind turbine as a function of a torque of the wind turbine in a non-monotonic torque-speed relationship.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system for controlling a pitch angle of a rotor blade of a wind turbine. The system includes a pitch adjustment mechanism for adjusting the pitch angle of the rotor blade and a controller communicatively coupled to the pitch adjustment mechanism. The controller is configured to determine a wind asymmetry parameter based on an operating parameter of the wind turbine. The controller is also configured to determine first and second signal components of the wind asymmetry parameter, which are respectively indicative of a maximum load on a first wind turbine component and fatigue on a second wind turbine component. The controller is also configured to calculate a wear parameter based on the first and second signal components and initiate an adjustment of the pitch angle of the rotor blade based on the wear parameter.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for determining an estimated rotor shaft position of a rotor shaft of a wind turbine. The method includes generating, with a rotor shaft position sensor, a measured rotor shaft position signal associated with a measured rotor shaft position of the rotor shaft. The method also includes generating, with a plurality of accelerometers positioned in an axisymmetric arrangement, a plurality of rotor hub acceleration signals associated with a plurality of rotor hub accelerations of a rotor hub coupled to the rotor shaft. The method further includes determining, with a controller, a phase adjustment based on one of the plurality of rotor hub acceleration signals or a predetermined correction value. Furthermore, the method includes adjusting, with the controller, the measured rotor shaft position by the phase adjustment to determine the estimated rotor shaft position of the rotor.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for balancing reactive power loading between multiple renewable energy power systems coupled to a power grid at a point of regulation (POR). The method includes determining a voltage error based on a voltage reference and a measured voltage at the POR. The method also includes measuring at least one operating condition from each of the power systems. Further, the method includes determining a per unit actual reactive power for each of the power systems based on at least one of the actual operating conditions and determining a per unit average reactive power from the power systems based on at least one of the actual operating conditions. Thus, the method also includes determining a voltage reference command for each of the power systems as a function of the voltage error, the per unit reactive power, and/or the per unit average reactive power.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for controlling and/or upgrading aftermarket multivendor wind turbines. The system includes a turbine controller configured to control operations of the wind turbine, a safety device configured to provide a signal indicative of a health status of the safety device, and a secondary controller inserted between the safety device and the turbine controller. The secondary controller is configured to receive the signal from the safety device over a communication interface. As such, if the signal indicates a normal health status, the secondary controller is configured to send the signal to the turbine controller, i.e. maintain normal operation. Alternatively, if the signal indicates a poor health status, the secondary controller is configured to adjust the signal based at least in part on a signal bias to an adjusted signal and to provide the adjusted signal to the turbine controller.

Abstract: A wind turbine includes wind turbine blades, a wind turbine rotor coupled to the wind turbine blades, a wind turbine generator coupled to the wind turbine rotor, a wind turbine converter coupled to the wind turbine generator, a controllable brake comprising one or more sources of controllable rotor torque adjustment for providing a first level of torque adjustment, a discrete brake for more coarsely providing a second level of torque adjustment, and a controller programmed for responding to a deceleration event by determining a required torque adjustment for braking, determining a sequence of applying the controllable brake and the discrete brake for driving a combination of the first and second levels of torque adjustment towards the required torque adjustment, and providing control signals for decelerating the wind turbine.

Abstract: A system for automatic generation control in a wind farm is provided. The system includes a wind farm controller for controlling the plurality of energy storage elements. The wind farm controller receives an automatic generation control set point from an independent system operator, generates a farm-level storage power set point for the wind farm based on the automatic generation control set point, generates individual storage power set points for the plurality of energy storage elements based on states of charge of the respective energy storage elements, and controls the plurality of energy storage elements based on the individual storage power set points for dispatching storage power to perform automatic generation control.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for balancing reactive power loading between multiple renewable energy power systems coupled to a power grid at a point of regulation (POR). The method includes determining a voltage error based on a voltage reference and a measured voltage at the POR. The method also includes measuring at least one operating condition from each of the power systems. Further, the method includes determining a per unit actual reactive power for each of the power systems based on at least one of the actual operating conditions and determining a per unit average reactive power from the power systems based on at least one of the actual operating conditions. Thus, the method also includes determining a voltage reference command for each of the power systems as a function of the voltage error, the per unit reactive power, and/or the per unit average reactive power.

Abstract: A method for operating a wind farm is provided. The wind farm includes at least two groups of wind turbines, each of the at least two groups of wind turbines includes at least one wind turbine of the wind farm, each of the wind turbines of the wind farm belonging to one of the at least two groups of wind turbines. The method includes determining a power setpoint for the wind farm, determining a group curtailment setpoint for each of at least two groups of wind turbines, determining a power production value of each of the at least two groups of wind turbines, determining for each of the at least two groups of wind turbines a power reference value using the respective group curtailment setpoint and the respective power production value, determine for each of the at least two groups of wind turbines a group power setpoint which is proportional to the respective power reference values, and operating the at least two groups of wind turbines in accordance with the respective group power setpoint.

Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to a system and method for improving speed control of a pitch drive system of a wind turbine. In one embodiment, the pitch drive system includes a direct current (DC) motor having an armature and a series-field winding, a battery assembly having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and a current-controlling device configured in series between the positive terminal of the battery assembly and the series-field winding. The battery assembly is configured to supply power to the pitch drive system and the current-controlling device is configured to supply current to the series-field winding so as to ensure a field flux does not equal zero. Thus, the current-controlling device has the effect of limiting the maximum speed of the DC motor.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for controlling and/or upgrading aftermarket multivendor wind turbines. The system includes a turbine controller configured to control operations of the wind turbine, a safety device configured to provide a signal indicative of a health status of the safety device, and a secondary controller inserted between the safety device and the turbine controller. The secondary controller is configured to receive the signal from the safety device over a communication interface. As such, if the signal indicates a normal health status, the secondary controller is configured to send the signal to the turbine controller, i.e. maintain normal operation. Alternatively, if the signal indicates a poor health status, the secondary controller is configured to adjust the signal based at least in part on a signal bias to an adjusted signal and to provide the adjusted signal to the turbine controller.

Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to a system and method for improving speed control of a pitch drive system of a wind turbine. In one embodiment, the pitch drive system includes a direct current (DC) motor having an armature and a series-field winding, a battery assembly having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and a current-controlling device configured in series between the positive terminal of the battery assembly and the series-field winding. The battery assembly is configured to supply power to the pitch drive system and the current-controlling device is configured to supply current to the series-field winding so as to ensure a field flux does not equal zero. Thus, the current-controlling device has the effect of limiting the maximum speed of the DC motor.

Abstract: A method for controlling a wind farm including a plurality of wind turbines is provided. The method includes computing an error between a farm-level base point power and a measured wind farm power, generating an aggregated farm-level active power set point for the wind farm based on the error and a frequency response set point, generating aggregated turbine-level active power set points based on the aggregated farm-level active power set point, transmitting the aggregated turbine-level active power set points, determining aero power set points and storage power set points for the respective wind turbines and energy storage elements of the respective wind turbines from the aggregated turbine-level active power set points, and controlling the plurality of wind turbines for delivering aero power based on the respective aero power set points and controlling the energy storage elements to provide storage power based on the respective storage power set points.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for protecting a rotary machine in a high noise environment. In one embodiment, the method includes a step of measuring a vibration signal during operation of the rotary machine. Another step includes modulating the vibration signal at a desired frequency to generate a modulated signal having a direct current (DC) value. The desired frequency varies as a function of an operational parameter of the rotary machine. The method also includes a step of filtering the modulated signal via one or more low-pass filters. Another step includes comparing an amplitude of the filtered signal to a threshold amplitude for one or more components of the rotary machine. The threshold amplitude is indicative of an imbalance within one or more components of the rotary machine. The rotary machine is then operated based on the comparison so as to protect the rotary machine from damage caused by the imbalance within the one or more components of the rotary machine.