A drivetrain system, braking method and braking system for a wind turbine is disclosed having a generator; a gearbox; a generator shaft and gearbox output shaft coupled between the generator and the gearbox, each shaft extending along a common longitudinal axis; a brake system having at least two brake disks with a first brake disk and a second brake disk, the first and second brake disks mounted concentric with the longitudinal axis; and a plurality of disk brake calipers having a first brake caliper and a second brake caliper, the first and second brake calipers mounted concentric with the longitudinal axis and engaged with the first and second brake disks, respectively.

Systems and methods for operating an energy storage system in a wind turbine system are provided. A wind turbine system can include a wind turbine, a power conversion system operably coupled to the wind turbine and an AC line bus, and an energy storage system coupled to the AC line bus. The energy storage system can include a transformer, a power converter, and an energy storage device and can be configured to store and provide power generated by the wind turbine. The method can include operating the wind turbine system to generate power, determining one or more operating parameters for the wind turbine system, determining an operating mode based on the one or more operating parameters, and controlling the wind turbine system based at least in part on the operating mode. Controlling the wind turbine can control a power flow into or out of the energy storage system.

Systems and methods to provide for the controlled braking of a generator (e.g., a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG)) in a wind power system are provided. In one example implementation, a method for braking a wind-driven doubly fed induction generator can include: receiving, by one or more control devices, a command to brake a wind-driven doubly fed induction generator; and generating, by the one or more control devices, a pulse width modulation scheme for the rotor side converter to provide a rotor side output to a rotor of the doubly-fed induction generator. The rotor side output includes a non-zero DC component and an AC component. The method includes controlling, by the one or more control devices, the rotor side converter in accordance with the pulse width modulation scheme. The non-zero DC component of the rotor side output can reduce a speed of rotation of the wind-driven doubly fed induction generator.

The invention relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine system, more particular for a controlled sliding strategy to lower loads on the yaw system by controlling mechanical brakes and motor brakes in the yaw drive actuators. When the yaw system being in the non-yawing operational state, and the mechanical brake(s) being in an engaged state, and the yaw controller determines or receives a signal indicative of a yaw moment, and if the signal indicative of a yaw moment is above a signal threshold, then the yaw controller sends a braking signal to the yaw drive actuators to enter the motors into the brake state to apply a braking torque.

Systems and methods to provide for the controlled braking of a generator (e.g., a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG)) in a wind power system are provided. In one example implementation, a method for braking a wind-driven doubly fed induction generator can include: receiving, by one or more control devices, a command to brake a wind-driven doubly fed induction generator; and generating, by the one or more control devices, a pulse width modulation scheme for the rotor side converter to provide a rotor side output to a rotor of the doubly-fed induction generator. The rotor side output includes a non-zero DC component and an AC component. The method includes controlling, by the one or more control devices, the rotor side converter in accordance with the pulse width modulation scheme. The non-zero DC component of the rotor side output can reduce a speed of rotation of the wind-driven doubly fed induction generator.

The invention relates to a turbine and to the implementation method thereof, said turbine comprising a blade mounted such that it can rotate about a central axis and an electromagnetic synchronous machine arranged with the blade in such a way as to modify the angular rotation speed of the blade in order to optimize the mechanical efficiency of the blade as a function of the speed of the incident fluid acting on the blade.

Methods for operating a wind turbine system are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes adjusting a threshold direct current (DC) bus voltage for a dynamic brake in a wind turbine power converter above a reference DC bus voltage based on at least one system condition. The method further includes gating the dynamic brake on when an experienced DC bus voltage is equal to or greater than the threshold DC bus voltage, and inputting a dynamic brake condition into a controller when the dynamic brake is gated on. The method further includes determining if a grid fault has occurred, reducing power generation of the wind turbine if no grid fault has occurred, and blocking the power converter if a grid fault has occurred. The method further includes gating the dynamic brake off when the experienced DC bus voltage is less than the threshold DC bus voltage.

A system and method are configured to monitor changes associated with an air gap in a brake assembly of a wind turbine yaw drive by: (1) receiving one or more sensor signals from one or more sensors that are indicative of changes associated with the air gap; and (2) comparing the changes associated with the air gap to certain thresholds to determine if the air gap is in need of attention. The system includes at least one proximity sensor arranged adjacent to the air gap, to monitor the air gap, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive the sensor signal(s) indicative of the changes associated with the air gap. The controller also is configured to compare the changes associated with the air gap to one or more air gap thresholds, and to implement a control action based on this comparison.

A wind turbine blade pitch angle adjusting apparatus for adjusting the pitch angle of a blade of a wind turbine is provided. The apparatus includes an electric pitch motor able to output a maximum motor torque Tm and a pitch brake assembly able to generate a maximum brake assembly torque Tb. The pitch brake assembly includes a plurality of individual pitch brakes each able to generate a maximum individual brake torque Tsb, the maximum brake assembly torque Tb is the sum of all maximum individual brake torques Tsb, and the maximum motor torque Tm is higher than the maximum individual brake torque Tsb of any one of the pitch brakes.

A method to control a wind power installation is provided. The wind power installation includes a generator and a converter. The generator is configured to convert wind power into electrical power and to provide the electrical power from the generator to the converter. The converter is configured to adapt and to provide the electrical power to an electrical grid. The converter is operable to comply with pre-determined grid code requirements during a grid fault. An amount of electrical power, which is present in the wind power installation during the grid fault, is fed into the generator. The generator is operable to convert the respective amount of electrical power into a generator loss.