The invention relates to a system for monitoring wind turbine components including an independent data processing environment adapted to: receive a first category of data input related to operation of the wind turbine, process the received data input by one or more component specific monitoring algorithms adapted to establish an estimated component value related to a component to be monitored based on received first category data input having at least indirectly impact on the component, wherein the component specific monitoring algorithm is adapted to establish a component residual as the difference between the estimated component value and received first category of data input of the component to be monitored, and wherein the component specific monitoring algorithm furthermore is adapted to establish a component specific health value of the component to be monitored based on the established residual and put the health value at disposal for data processors outside the environment.

There is provided a method of avoiding edgewise vibrations during a non-operational period of a wind turbine. The method comprises defining a non-operational period for a wind turbine arranged at a specific site, determining expected wind conditions at the specific site during the non-operational period and defining a plurality of potential yaw orientations for the wind turbine. The method further comprises determining the relative probability of edgewise vibrations occurring during the non-operational period for each potential yaw orientation based upon the expected wind conditions during the non-operational period, determining one or more preferred yaw orientations, which are the yaw orientations in which the probability of edgewise vibrations occurring is lowest, and arranging the wind turbine in one of the preferred yaw orientations during the non-operational period.

Techniques for determining a layout of a wind energy plant comprising a plurality of wind turbines at a site, where the wind turbines are configured for connection to a power grid having a power demand. Techniques include: providing an initial layout of wind turbines at initial positions within the site; obtaining site condition data for the initial layout; estimating an expected power output of the wind energy plant for a predetermined time period; forecasting the power demand within the power grid for the predetermined time period; performing an optimising process on the initial layout based on the estimated expected power output and on the forecasted power demand in order to match the expected power output to the forecasted power demand to obtain an optimised layout of the wind energy plant; and erecting the wind turbines in accordance with the optimised layout.

A computer system suitable for estimating the expected change in annual energy production (AEP) of a wind turbine due to structural deterioration of blades of the wind turbine, said computer system being arranged to execute the following steps: loading a dataset representing estimated lift and drag curves at specific radial locations along the original blade of the wind turbine, building a baseline BEM model of the wind turbine based on said estimated lift and drag curves of the original blade and analysing the model to provide a baseline AEP estimation of the wind turbine with original blades, loading a dataset representing aerodynamic effects of identified structural deteriorations at specific radial locations along each of the blades of the wind turbine, using the dataset of aerodynamic effects to generate modified lift and drag curves at specific radial locations along each of the blades.

The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for assessing farm-level performance of a wind farm. The method includes operating the wind farm in a first operational mode and identifying one or more pairs of wind turbines having wake interaction. The method also includes generating a pairwise dataset for the wind turbines pairs. Further, the method includes generating a first wake model based on the pairwise dataset and predicting a first farm-level performance parameter based on the first wake model. The method also includes operating the wind farm in a second operational mode and collecting operational data during the second operational mode. Moreover, the method includes predicting a first farm-level performance parameter for the second operational mode using the first wake model and the operational data from the second operational mode. The method further includes determining a second farm-level performance parameter during the second operational mode. Thus, the method includes determining a difference in the farm-level performance of the wind farm as a function of the first and second farm-level performance parameters.

Methods for assessing the useful life that may remain for a portion of a wind turbine support structure. The methods may include identifying an overall expected useful life for the portion of the support structure and estimating an expended life from the extent of loading that has occurred to the portion of the support structure during the operative life of a wind turbine. The useful life remaining for the portion may be determined by subtracting the expended life from the overall expected useful life.

A wind turbine has a Lidar device to sense wind conditions upstream of the wind turbine. Signals from the wind turbine are processed to detect an extreme change in wind direction. The detection is performed by differentiating the rate of change of wind direction and filtering for a period of time. On detection of extreme change the system controller takes the necessary evasive action which may include shutting down the turbine, commencing an immediate yawing action, and de-rating the turbine until the yawing action is complete.

A proactive method prevents vibrations in one or more rotor blades of a wind turbine when the wind turbine is in a standstill idling state with a rotor hub free to rotate. The method determines a minimum revolution rate of the rotor blades that prevents vibrations of the rotor blades and that the actual revolution rate of the rotor blades is below the minimum revolution rate. A wind parameter is detected and determined to be above a threshold limit. The method also detects if grid power is available for pitching the rotor blades. Based on the wind parameter, a controller determines a pitch angle for one or more of the rotor blades to increase rotation of the blades to at least the minimum revolution rate. The controller initiates pitching the rotor blades to increase the revolution rate of the rotor blades prior to vibrations being induced in the rotor blades.

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.

A radar system for a wind turbine is provided. The radar system comprises a first radar unit (42) and a control unit (41) arranged to receive an output from the radar unit, the control unit comprising a central processing unit. The central processing unit is configured to perform a first function of determining at least one property of aircraft within a monitoring zone in the vicinity of the wind turbine and controlling a warning device to output a warning signal to detected aircraft based on the determined property; and perform a second function of determining at least one parameter of prevailing weather in the vicinity of the wind turbine. A corresponding method is also provided.