Model-based predictive control method (MPC) for the reduction of structural load in wind turbines comprising: exclusively proposing a single internal linear model for the MPC for the entire operating range of the turbine; obtaining the adjustable parameters of the linear internal model from the experimental data previously measured in the turbine; choosing the discrete time values for the control and prediction horizons; adjusting the MPC controller and performing a practical implementation test.

A proactive method and related wind turbine system are provided for reducing vibrations in the rotor blades when the rotor hub is locked against rotation. The method includes determining an initial blade orientation to wind direction and wind parameters for wind impacting the rotor blades. Based on the wind parameters and blade orientation, an angle of attack is determined for the rotor blades that will at least reduce vibrations expected to be induced in the blades from the current wind conditions. With a controller, the rotor blades are pitched to achieve the angle of attack using a pitch control system. The angle of attack is determined and the rotor blades are pitched from the initial blade orientation to the new angle of attack prior to vibrations being induced in the rotor blades.

The present disclosure is directed to a method for responding to a friction coefficient signal of a pitch bearing of a pitch drive mechanism of a wind turbine and/or for controlling the pitch drive mechanism(s) and/or a bank of ultracapacitors. The method and system include: accessing high-frequency measurement data of the at least one pitch bearing; estimating, via a torque balance model implemented by a controller, a frictional torque of the at least one pitch bearing based, at least in part, on the high-frequency measurement data; estimating, via the controller, a friction coefficient signal of the at least one pitch bearing based, at least in part, on the frictional torque; comparing the friction coefficient signal with a friction threshold; determining whether the friction coefficient signal deviates from the friction threshold based, at least in part, on the comparison; and, if so, acting.

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.

A method for operating a wind turbine power system connected to an electrical grid includes collecting data relating to one or more parameters of one or more electrical components of the wind turbine power system. The method may also include performing a statistical analysis of the data relating to one or more parameters of the one or more electrical components. Further, the method includes predicting future behavior of the electrical component(s) based on the statistical analysis. Moreover, the method includes determining set points for the electrical component(s) using the predicted future behavior. In addition, the method includes operating the wind turbine power system at the determined set points for the electrical component(s) so as to optimize at least one characteristic of the electrical component(s).

The invention relates to a wind power plant control system arranged for controlling one or more wind turbine generators in a wind power plant, wherein the wind power plant control system comprises a power plant controller and a modeling unit, the modeling unit being operatively coupled to the power plant controller. The modeling unit is arranged to calculate estimated values of electrical output parameters from the one or more wind turbine generators, and to output said estimated values to the power plant controller. The power plant controller is arranged for determining reference signals for dispatching to the one or more wind turbine generators, wherein the estimated values of said electrical output parameters are used by the power plant controller in the determination of said reference signals. The invention also relates to a corresponding method of controlling a wind power plant.

An energy audit tool for a wind turbine power system includes a data collector module configured for temporary connection to an existing turbine controller of the existing wind turbine power system. The data collector module is configured to collect operating data of the existing wind turbine power system. The energy audit tool also includes a model simulator module configured for analyzing the collected operating data, generating a model of the existing wind turbine power system based on the collected operating data, and determining an energy loss of the existing wind turbine power system from the model of the existing wind turbine power system.

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.

The present invention relates tocontrol of wind turbines based on predicted operational trajectories. A control system for a wind turbineis described wherea main controller calculating one or more predicted operational trajectories and a safety controller validates at least one of the one or more predicted operational trajectories. The control system controls the wind turbine with the predicted control trajectory if the validation is valid, and controls the wind turbine with a safe-mode control trajectory if the validation is invalid. In an embodiment, the main controller is implemented as a receding horizon controller, e.g. in the form of a model predictive controller (MPC).