The invention relates to monitoring a wind turbine having an electrical component. An exterior temperature and power loss associated with the electrical component is obtained, and a thermal model describing the electrical component is executed, based on the exterior temperature and power loss, to determine an internal temperature of the electrical component. A further thermal model describing the electrical component is executed, based on the internal temperature and an exterior component temperature, to predict a future thermal condition of the electrical component in order to monitor operation of the wind turbine.

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.

The present disclosure relates to methods for operating wind turbines (10) and charging one or more auxiliary power sources (84) for providing auxiliary power to one or more wind turbines (10). A method comprises pitching the wind turbine blades (22) to a predetermined idling pitch angle such that the wind turbine generator (42) produces power for charging one or more auxiliary power sources (84) above a predetermined wind speed. The method further comprises keeping the pitch angle (25) of the blades (22) at the idling pitch angle and charging the auxiliary power sources (84) when a prevailing wind speed reaches or exceeds the predetermined wind speed.

A method for operating a wind turbine includes determining at least one wind condition of the wind turbine for a plurality of time intervals. The method also includes determining a status of the wind turbine at the beginning of each of the plurality of time intervals. Further, the method includes determining at least one vibration parameter of the wind turbine for one or more preceding time intervals of the plurality of time intervals. Moreover, the method includes predicting whether a trip event is imminent based on the at least one wind condition, the status of the wind turbine at the beginning of each of the plurality of time intervals, and the vibration parameter. Thus, the method further includes implementing a control action for the wind turbine so as to prevent the trip event.

The present invention relates to methods, apparatus and computer program products for controlling a wind turbine that comprises a nacelle and one or more turbine blades to reduce or prevent edgewise vibrations building up on the one or more turbine blades. It is identified 202 whether the nacelle is unable to yaw to an upwind position and initiating a corrective action 203 to prevent edgewise vibrations building up on the one or more turbine blades if the nacelle is unable to yaw to an upwind position.

A system and method are provided for controlling a wind turbine. Accordingly, a controller of the wind turbine detects a loss of traction of the slip coupling between a generator and a rotor of the drivetrain of the wind turbine. In response to detecting the loss of traction, the controller overrides a generator torque setpoint to alter a rotational speed of the generator. In response to the altered rotational speed of the generator, the traction of the slip coupling is increased. Increasing the traction of the slip coupling facilitates an application of generator torque to the drivetrain of the wind turbine.

A method of operating a wind energy installation having a rotor with at least one rotor blade that is angularly adjustable by an adjustment drive. In response to the occurrence of at least one special operating case, in particular at least one malfunction case, the rotor blade is adjusted in a direction of a shutdown position by the adjustment drive. In the shutdown position, a supply of energy from an energy storage device to the adjustment drive is switched off and/or a pitch brake for holding the rotor blade in its current position is closed. In response to at least one activation signal, the rotor blade is adjusted by the adjustment drive in an adjustment mode of operation while the special operating case is still ongoing, in particular while the malfunction case is still ongoing.

A wind turbine includes a rotor, a plurality of rotor blades coupled to the rotor, and a blade pitch control system coupled to each rotor blade. A computer-implemented method for controlling the wind turbine includes determining at least one pitch position for a first blade. The method also includes determining whether there is a malfunction of the blade pitch control system associated with the first blade. The method further includes predicting a rotor imbalance using a model of at least a portion of the wind turbine. The method also includes comparing the predicted rotor imbalance with a predetermined threshold value. The method further includes one of regulating the pitch position for the second blade such that the predicted rotor imbalance is restored to a value below the predetermined threshold and regulating a pitch position for a second blade such that the predicted rotor imbalance does not exceed the predetermined threshold.

Provided is a method of controlling at least one wind turbine in case of a rotational overspeed situation, the method including: determining a current state related to the wind turbine; providing data related to the current state as input to a turbine model; predicting a load of at least one wind turbine component and power output of the wind turbine using the turbine model provided with the input for plural control strategies; comparing the predicted load and power output for the plural control strategies; and selecting that control strategy among the plural control strategies that satisfies a target criterion including the load and the power output.

A method and a control system using the same for coordinating control of a plurality of wind turbines of a wind farm during a fault in a utility grid to which power is to be delivered via at least one cable of the wind farm. The method includes: opening each of the electrical connections; selecting at least one wind turbine of the plurality of wind turbines according to a criteria where a sum of value for active power supply that is available from the selected at least one generator is equal or above a sum of values for active power consumption that is consumable by the energy storage system of the selected at least one wind turbine, the auxiliary equipment of the selected at least one wind turbine and the substation level auxiliary equipment; activating the selected wind turbine; for the selected wind turbine: electrically connecting the power input of its converter to the power output of its generator, electrically connecting the power output of its converter to the power input of its auxiliary equipment, the power input of its energy storage system and the corresponding cable, and electrically connecting the power input of a substation level auxiliary equipment to the cable which is electrically connected to the selected wind turbine; the activated wind turbine acting as active power supply for the substation level auxiliary equipment. The method and the control system using the same provide an effective and economic way of using the power generated by the wind turbine generator for powering the auxiliary equipment of the wind turbine, charging the energy storage system of the wind turbine and powering the substation level auxiliary equipment, during the wind farm operates in an islanding mode.