In a vertical rotor apparatus that rotates in response to a moving fluid, a shaft defines an axis of rotor rotation. Rotor blades are longitudinally aligned in parallel with the shaft and each rotor blade defines an axis of blade rotation. A sensor generates a signal when any of the rotor blades are within rotor azimuthal angles of blade stall regions. A controller generates blade pitch information for the blade stall regions and an actuator, which is mechanically coupled to each of the rotor blades, alters blade pitch about the axis of blade rotation in accordance with the blade pitch information.

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.

Method of operating a wind turbine comprising a plurality of blades rotatable along their longitudinal axes using a pitch mechanism, and comprising one or more movable trailing edge surfaces. The method includes predicting, at a first moment in time, a high load for one or more of the blades at a second moment in time. The method further comprises actuating on one or more of the movable trailing edge surfaces of these blades such that the trailing edge surfaces have a wider range of control to counteract the predicted high loads before the second moment in time, and simultaneously pitching the blades such as not to negatively affect the operation of the wind turbine. The method furthermore comprises, at the second moment in time, actuating the one or more movable trailing edge surfaces of the at least one or more blades to counteract the high loads.

The invention relates to an energy generating installation, especially a wind power station, comprising a drive shaft connected to a rotor (1), a generator (8) and a differential transmission (11 to 13) provided with three drives or outputs. A first drive is connected to the drive shaft, an output is connected to a generator (8), and a second drive is connected to an electrical differential drive (6, 14). The differential drive (6, 14) is connected to a network (10) by means of a frequency converter (7, 15) comprising an electrical energy accumulator in the direct-current intermediate circuit.

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.

A pitch control system for a wind turbine includes a backup battery bank assigned to each pitch drive motor, with each battery bank having a plurality of individual batteries connected in series. A battery charger is connected in parallel across each battery in the battery bank. A protective circuit is configured with each battery charger and includes a voltage comparator circuit that detects a reverse voltage applied to the battery charger above a threshold value to isolate the battery charger from the reverse voltage.

A pitch energy module comprising one or more ultracapacitors storing electrical energy for a wind turbine emergency pitch energy event. The pitch energy module replaces at least one battery within a battery housing of a wind turbine and interfaces with the existing battery wiring harness to communicate with a control system of the wind turbine. The pitch energy module is installed without further modification to the battery housing or the battery wiring harness.

A wind turbine rotor includes a hub, a plurality of blades, and a pitch system for rotating a blade substantially along its longitudinal axis. The pitch system includes a bearing, a motor, and a gear system, wherein the gear system has a driving pinion operationally connected with the motor, an annular gear arranged to mesh with the driving pinion. Additional gear teeth are arranged to mesh with other parts of the gear system in a predefined blade position for wind speeds at or below a nominal wind speed such that upon movement from the predefined blade position, the additional gear teeth come into contact with the other parts of the gear system before the driving pinion comes into contact with the annular gear.

Systems and methods for controlling a wind pitch adjustment system associated with a wind turbine system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the wind pitch adjustment system can include a power supply configured to convert an alternating current input signal into a direct current voltage, a controller configured to receive a signal from the power supply, and to provide one or more control commands to a pitch adjustment motor, and a surge stopping device comprising a switching element coupled between the power supply and the controller. The surge stopping device is configured to monitor an input voltage from a grid and to drive the switching element based at least in part on the monitored input voltage, such that the switching element is configured to block current flow through the switching element to the controller when the monitored input voltage is above a voltage threshold.

A pitch energy module comprising one or more ultracapacitors storing electrical energy for a wind turbine emergency pitch energy event. The pitch energy module replaces at least one battery within a battery housing of a wind turbine and interfaces with the existing battery wiring harness to communicate with a control system of the wind turbine. The pitch energy module is installed without further modification to the battery housing or the battery wiring harness.