A method of controlling a wind turbine for the avoidance of edgewise vibrations. The method comprises the steps of determining a whirling mode frequency of a rotor blade of the wind turbine; determining a rotational frequency of the rotor blade corresponding to the speed of the rotor blade; determining a threshold value for the whirling mode frequency based on the rotational frequency; and, reducing the speed of the rotor blade if the whirling mode frequency substantially equals or is less than the threshold value.

Provided is a control device configured to control a wind turbine, the wind turbine including a rotor being rotatable about a rotational axis, wherein the rotor has at least one blade, the blade including at least one add-on member which is actuated by a corresponding trim actuator to alter aerodynamic properties of the blade and a pitch actuator to alter a pitch angle of the blade. The control device is configured to determine an idling mode or a self-sustaining mode of the wind turbine; to control the pitch actuator to set a predetermined pitch angle of the blade, if the idling mode or the self-sustaining mode is determined; and to cause a target rotational speed of the rotor by variably controlling the trim actuator of the blade, if the idling mode or the self-sustaining mode is determined.

Provided is a method for controlling a wind power installation, an associated closed-loop controller, an associated installation and a wind farm. The installation has an aerodynamic rotor which is operated at a variable rotating speed and has rotor blades that have adjustable blade angles. The installation in at least one operating range is closed-loop controlled by a closed-loop rotating speed control in which the rotating speed by adjusting a rotor status variable of the rotor blades is closed-loop controlled to a rotating speed target value, referred to as the target rotating speed. The closed-loop rotating speed control for adjusting the rotor status variable includes the use of a reserve value. In the event that the installation is not yet operating at a target output or a target moment, the reserve is obtained from a comparison of the target output or target moment and a momentary output or a momentary moment.

A method for in-place machining of a collector ring attached to a turbine shaft of a hydroelectric generator includes: attaching a support member to stationary portions of the hydroelectric generator, the support member being configured to support a machine tool at an angle parallel to an inclination angle of an axis of rotation of the turbine shaft; attaching an adjustable positioning device to the support member; attaching the machine tool to the adjustable positioning device, the machine tool being configured to perform a machining operation on the collector ring; controlling a rotational speed of the turbine shaft to a specified rotational speed by controlling a flow of water through the turbine; adjusting the adjustable positioning device to adjust a position of the machine tool with respect to the collector ring; and performing the machining operation on the collector ring at the specified rotational speed of the turbine shaft.

A friction limiting turbine gyroscope is a compact and efficient means to convert the energy of a moving fluid into electrical energy. The gyroscope's flywheel rotates when a fluid passes through its spokes while magnets located along the perimeter act upon proximate movable field coils to produce electricity. The spokes of the flywheel are optimized for the flow and density of the fluid with the ability to trans mutate using shaped memory alloys as well as rotate about their center of pressure allowing the flywheel to capture more of the energy from the fluid passing over their surfaces in all conditions. Mechanical energy losses are reduced because of the inherent stabilizing effects created by the gyroscope. Because of the stabilization, a magnetic bearing field effectively supports the gyroscope eliminating mechanical interference in rotation.

A method for storage of excess energy which would otherwise be lost, the regulation of angular velocity, and prevention of excessive velocities is disclosed. The device consists of a bowl shaped container, divided into sections by radially oriented vertical walls, which holds a fluid (any appropriate liquid or set of small solid particles), and spins on its vertically oriented axis at various angular velocities. The floor of the device is formed in successive shapes of bowls and shelves, which allows for a kind of “gearing”. The invention allows more and more energy to be input into the device while the angular velocity is regulated within a particular range. A typical embodiment of the invention would include its attachment by a shaft at the axis to a vertical axis wind turbine.

A friction limiting turbine gyroscope is a compact and efficient means to convert the energy of a moving fluid into electrical energy. The gyroscope's flywheel rotates when a fluid passes through its spokes while magnets located along the perimeter act upon proximate movable field coils to produce electricity. The spokes of the flywheel are optimized for the flow and density of the fluid with the ability to trans mutate using shaped memory alloys as well as rotate about their center of pressure allowing the flywheel to capture more of the energy from the fluid passing over their surfaces in all conditions. Mechanical energy losses are reduced because of the inherent stabilizing effects created by the gyroscope. Because of the stabilization, a magnetic bearing field effectively supports the gyroscope eliminating mechanical interference in rotation.

A startup method of a Francis turbine according to an embodiment includes: a bypass-valve opening step of opening the bypass valve with the inlet valve closed; an inlet-valve opening step of opening the inlet valve after the bypass-valve opening step; and a first rotation-speed increasing step of increasing a rotation speed of the runner by opening the guide vane at an opening that is 50% or more of a maximum opening before a flow velocity of a swirling flow flowing around the runner reaches 90 m/sec.

A system for generating power includes an environmental engine operating on one or more computing devices that determines a wind flowing over a blade of a wind turbine, wherein the wind flowing over the blade of the wind turbine varies based on environmental conditions and operating parameters of the wind turbine. The system also includes an artificial intelligence (AI) ensemble engine operating on the one or more computing devices that generates a plurality of different models for the wind turbine. Each model characterizes a relationship between at least two of a rotor speed, a blade pitch, the wind flowing over the blade, a wind speed and a turbulence intensity for the wind turbine. The AI ensemble engine selects a model with a highest efficiency metric, and simulates execution of the selected model to determine recommended operating parameters.

A method of operating a wind turbine generator comprising a plurality of blades, the method comprising iterating the following steps: comparing an indicated rotor speed with a rotor speed target to determine a rotor speed error; generating a modified rotor speed error by applying a control factor to the rotor speed error; controlling the pitch angle of the blades via a pitch control system in accordance with the modified speed error; and altering the control factor in dependence on a size of the indicated rotor speed.