A system and method are provided for controlling a wind turbine in response to a blade liberation event. Accordingly, estimated response signatures for the wind turbine are determined. Sensor data indicative of at least two actual response signatures of components of the wind turbine to a rotor loading are collected. The actual response signatures are compared to the estimated response signatures. The two or more actual response signatures meeting or exceeding the estimated response signatures is indicative of a blade liberation event. In response to detecting the blade liberation event, a rapid shutdown control logic is initiated to decelerate the rotor at a rate which exceeds a nominal deceleration rate of the rotor.

Provided is a safety stop valve arrangement of a hydraulic blade pitch system of a wind turbine, including an accumulator arrangement connected over a hydraulic line to a piston of the hydraulic blade pitch system; a redundant set of safety valves arranged between the accumulator arrangement and the piston; a small-orifice restriction nozzle arranged to determine a first rate of hydraulic fluid flow in response to a safety stop input; at least one speed-select valves arranged; and at least one large-orifice restriction nozzle arranged to determine a second rale of hydraulic fluid flow in response to a positive rotor acceleration input, wherein the second rate of fluid flow is faster than the first rate of fluid flow. A safety stop assembly of a wind turbine with hydraulic blade pitch systems and a method of performing a safety stop sequence is also provided.

A wind turbine system comprising a nacelle mounted on a tower, a rotor having a plurality of blades and a boundary layer control system configured to control airflow through blade surface openings in each of the blades. The wind turbine system includes a control system configured to perform at least one of the following: to monitor an operational speed parameter of the wind turbine, and to activate the boundary layer control system if it is determined that the 1 operational speed parameter exceeds a predetermined speed parameter threshold; to monitor tower motion and to activate the boundary layer control system based on a determination of excessive tower motion; to monitor for a wind turbine shutdown condition, and to activate the boundary layer control system if it is determined that a wind turbine shutdown condition has been identified; and to monitor the aerodynamic loads on the blades, and to activate the boundary layer control system also based on a determination of excessive blade loads. The system thereby provides an approach to activating and deactivating the boundary layer control system to reduce operational risk to the wind turbine.

A system and method are provided for controlling a wind turbine in response to a blade liberation event. Accordingly, estimated response signatures for the wind turbine are determined. Sensor data indicative of at least two actual response signatures of components of the wind turbine to a rotor loading are collected. The actual response signatures are compared to the estimated response signatures. The two or more actual response signatures meeting or exceeding the estimated response signatures is indicative of a blade liberation event. In response to detecting the blade liberation event, a rapid shutdown control logic is initiated to decelerate the rotor at a rate which exceeds a nominal deceleration rate of the rotor.

An apparatus and system for compensating for various load situations in a turbine includes the use of one or more deployable devices configured to extend an air deflector outwardly from a surface of a rotor blade. The air deflector may subsequently be retracted into the rotor blade once the load falls below a certain threshold. Mechanisms for extending and retracting the air deflector may include pneumatic, hydraulic and/or electromechanical devices. Air deflectors are generally configured to modify the air flow around the rotor blade to increase or decrease power generation, or reduce loads so that the risk of potential damage to components of the wind turbine is minimized. Deflectors may be positioned at various chordwise stations including leading-edge, mid-chord, and trailing-edge locations on the upper and lower surfaces at spanwise positions. Accordingly, a plurality of devices can be actuated to aerodynamically control rotor performance and loads based on wind conditions.

Provided is a safety stop valve arrangement of a hydraulic blade pitch system of a wind turbine, including an accumulator arrangement connected over a hydraulic line to a piston of the hydraulic blade pitch system; a redundant set of safety valves arranged between the accumulator arrangement and the piston; a small-orifice restriction nozzle arranged to determine a first rate of hydraulic fluid flow in response to a safety stop input; at least one speed-select valves arranged; and at least one large-orifice restriction nozzle arranged to determine a second rale of hydraulic fluid flow in response to a positive rotor acceleration input, wherein the second rate of fluid flow is faster than the first rate of fluid flow. A safety stop assembly of a wind turbine with hydraulic blade pitch system and a method of performing a safety stop sequence is also provided.

A method of controlling a floating-body wind turbine power generating apparatus including a wind turbine generator disposed on a floating body includes a pitch-angle increasing step of increasing a pitch angle of a blade of the wind turbine generator when the wind turbine generator is stopped, so that an aerodynamic braking force is applied to a rotor of the wind turbine generator. In the pitch-angle increasing step, a first change rate of the pitch angle of the blade in a first period during which the wind turbine generator is in an inclining motion toward an upwind side from a vertical direction due to sway of the floating body, is smaller than a second change rate of the pitch angle of the blade in a second period during which the wind turbine generator is in an inclining motion toward a downwind side from the vertical direction due to the sway of the floating body.

A vertical-axis wind rotor configured by concave-convex type airfoil profiles in the form of vertical helical protrusions, tilted towards counter-rotation and twisted around, the chord decreasing, where both ends are finished in the form of sharklets rotated towards the upper surface so as to eliminate the vortex, and distributed in a circular pattern around the rotation shaft thereof. The angular arrangement of the chord of the section of the profile with a spoke with respect to the shaft of the rotor is particular for making the profile work under lift conditions before reaching the normal under drag forces and complementing them, eliminating jerking, with the direction of rotation being indicated by the Coriolis effect and determining the radial distribution, the radius, the chord, the profile, and the number of them, which confers to the rotor the maximum terminal velocity at which it slows down, being maintained by the Magnus effect.

The invention concerns a method of operating a wind power installation in which the rotor is brought to a halt and fixed, comprising the steps: braking the rotor, positioning the rotor at a stopped position, and fixing the rotor in the stopped position. According to the invention it is provided that an end position is predetermined, the rotor is braked in regulated fashion to a stopped position associated with the end position, and for positioning for the predetermined end position the rotor is braked in an automated procedure until stopped at the stopped position, and for fixing in the stopped position a mechanical fixing device is applied, in particular automatically.

A wind turbine system comprising a nacelle mounted on a tower, a rotor having a plurality of blades and a boundary layer control system configured to control airflow through blade surface openings in each of the blades. The wind turbine system includes a control system configured to perform at least one of the following: to monitor an operational speed parameter of the wind turbine, and to activate the boundary layer control system if it is determined that the 1 operational speed parameter exceeds a predetermined speed parameter threshold; to monitor tower motion and to activate the boundary layer control system based on a determination of excessive tower motion; to monitor for a wind turbine shutdown condition, and to activate the boundary layer control system if it is determined that a wind turbine shutdown condition has been identified; and to monitor the aerodynamic loads on the blades, and to activate the boundary layer control system also based on a determination of excessive blade loads. The system thereby provides an approach to activating and deactivating the boundary layer control system to reduce operational risk to the wind turbine.