The system and method of the present disclosure is configured to monitor changes associated with an air gap 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 drive control device according to one aspect of the present invention is a wind turbine drive control device for controlling at least one drive device for moving two structures included in a wind power generation device relative to each other, the wind turbine drive control device including: an obtaining unit for obtaining information related to a load occurring between the at least one drive device and one of the two structures that receives a force generated by the at least one drive device; and a control unit for controlling the at least one drive device so as to cause a force generated by the at least one drive device to be reduced or zero based on the information related to the load obtained by the obtaining unit during a stop period in which the two structures are stopped relative to each other.

A braking assembly of a wind turbine includes a slewing ring bearing, at least one first drive mechanism having a first motor and a first drive pinion that rotationally engages the slewing ring bearing. The first motor is pre-tensioned in a first direction by a first amount of force. The braking assembly also includes at least one second drive mechanism having a second motor and a second drive pinion that rotationally engages the slewing ring bearing. The second motor is pre-tensioned in a second direction with a second amount of force. The first direction and the second direction are opposite of each other and the first amount of force are substantially equal to the second amount of force. Thus, the first and second amounts of force substantially cancel each other while also allowing dithering of at least one of the first and second motors, thereby preventing substantial rotational movement of the slewing ring bearing.

A braking system for a turbine of a wind powered includes a hydraulic machine connected to a drive shaft of the turbine. A pressure regulating valve in the supply line of the hydraulic machine determines the pressure delivered to the supply line by the hydraulic machine. A control that is responsive to the speed of rotation of the drive shaft modulates the pressure regulating valve so as to increase pressure in the supply line as the rotational speed exceeds a predetermined speed to apply a braking force to the drive shaft.

The present invention relates to adjustment and/or drive units which can be used in wind power plants for adjusting the azimuth angle of the nacelle of the wind power plant or the pitch angle of the rotor blades, wherein such an adjustment and/or drive unit has at least two adjusting drives for rotating two assemblies which are mounted so as to be rotatable relative to each other, and has a control device for controlling the adjusting drives. The control device controls the adjusting drives in such a manner that the adjusting drives are braced relative to each other during the rotation of the two assemblies and/or when the assemblies are at standstill. The invention further relates to a wind power plant comprising such an adjustment and/or drive unit, and to a method for controlling such an adjustment and/or drive unit. According to the invention, the control device comprises a bracing-adjustment device for variably adjusting the intensity of the bracing of the adjusting drives as a function of a variable external load on the assemblies being adjusted, wherein the intensity can be determined by means of a load determining device. According to another aspect of the invention, an overload protection is included, wherein the individual loads of the individual adjusting drives are determined by load determining devices and, in the event that an adjusting drive reaches overload, the distribution of the drive torques is modified in such a manner that the adjusting drive reaching overload is relieved or at least not further loaded, and at least one further adjusting drive is more heavily loaded in a supporting manner or is less heavily loaded in a bracing manner.

A wind turbine system includes: a ring gear; a yaw drive unit including a pinion gear meshing with the ring gear, the yaw drive unit being configured to rotate the pinion gear; a yaw brake unit configured to generate a braking force for inhibiting rotation of the ring gear; a load information acquiring unit configured to acquire an external load applied to the ring gear; and a control unit configured to release the braking force of the yaw brake unit when a rotational torque generated on the ring gear by the yaw drive unit has been larger than the external load acquired by the load information acquiring unit, in switching the ring gear from a stationary state to a rotating state.

A system and method for braking a wind turbine includes monitoring rotation of the wind turbine generator rotor. A braking torque is applied to reduce the rotational speed of the rotor at a first setpoint rotational speed. The braking torque is proportionally increased as the rotational speed of the rotor increases beyond the first detected setpoint rotational speed up to a maximum braking torque.

A rotor restraining apparatus (200) and methods for a wind turbine (1). The rotor restraining apparatus has a locking element (204) associated with a rotor (8, 203) of the wind turbine, a rotational axis of said rotor defining an axial direction, the locking element being at least part-circular in form. The locking element comprises a plurality of engagement formations (205) disposed on a periphery thereof. The apparatus also has a restraining member (206), comprising a plurality of engagement formations (207). The restraining member is movable substantially along said axial direction between: (a) a non-restraining position; and (b) a restraining position in which the restraining member engagement formations are able to engage the locking element engagement formations. At least a portion of the restraining member has an arcuate form that substantially matches the curvature of the locking element.

A wind turbine drive control device according to one aspect of the present invention is a wind turbine drive control device for controlling a plurality of drive devices for moving two structures included in a wind power generation device relative to each other, the wind turbine drive control device including: an obtaining unit for obtaining a plurality of information items related to loads occurring between each of the plurality of drive devices and one of the two structures that receives forces generated by the plurality of drive devices; and a control unit for controlling the plurality of drive devices in such a manner that, in a state where each of the plurality of drive devices is controlled to generate a predetermined braking force, the braking force of at least one first drive device among the plurality of drive devices is increased, based on the plurality of information items.

A wind turbine drive control device according to one aspect of the present invention is a wind turbine drive control device for controlling at least one drive device for moving two structures included in a wind power generation device relative to each other, the wind turbine drive control device including: an obtaining unit for obtaining information related to a load occurring between the at least one drive device and one of the two structures that receives a force generated by the at least one drive device; and a control unit for controlling the at least one drive device so as to cause a force generated by the at least one drive device to be reduced or zero based on the information related to the load obtained by the obtaining unit during a stop period in which the two structures are stopped relative to each other.