A method for preventing a pitch bearing failure of a pitch system of a wind turbine includes monitoring, via at least one sensor, one or more electrical signals of a pitch motor of a pitch drive mechanism of the pitch system that drives a pitch bearing of the pitch system. The method also includes analyzing, via the controller, the one or more electrical signals of the pitch motor so as to remove noise and amplify outliers. Moreover, the method includes estimating bearing friction of the pitch bearing using the analyzed one or more electrical signals of the pitch motor. As such, the method includes implementing, via the controller, a control action when the estimated bearing friction of the pitch bearing indicates an anomaly in the pitch bearing.

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.

Provided are a yaw brake pad and a method of producing the same, which relate to the technical field of friction material. The yaw brake pad is prepared from, by weight, the following main ingredients: 70-75 parts of polyether ether ketone, 10-20 parts of carbon fiber, 3-5 parts of glass fiber and 3-5 of graphite. It alleviates the technical problem that the metal-based friction materials generally for producing current international and domestic yaw brake pads are likely to rust, harmful to dual discs, and produce screechy. It has not only significantly improved mechanical properties and high temperature tolerance, much lower hardness, less wear to dual discs, and lower noise, but also improved friction stability and adaptability to working conditions, and thus can effectively satisfy the demand of the wind driven generator for yaw braking at a low speed.

A yaw braking assembly of a wind turbine is presented. Accordingly, the yaw braking assembly includes a bedplate support frame having an annular flange defining a plurality of recesses formed into a lower-most annular surface of the annular flange and extending at least partially through an axial thickness of the annular flange. Each of the plurality recesses define an open exterior circumferential side. The yaw braking assembly also includes a plurality of brake pads which are positioned within the plurality of recesses and configured to engage at least one race of an adjacent yaw bearing. The yaw braking assembly further includes a plurality of actuators for driving the plurality of brake pads to engage the yaw bearing.

A gliding yaw bearing system for use in a wind turbine includes a first bearing assembly configured for being attached to a tower of the wind turbine, a second beating assembly configured for being attached to a nacelle of the wind turbine. An upwind section of the second bearing assembly is different from a downwind section of the second bearing assembly. A wind turbine utilizing the gliding yaw bearing system is also encompassed herein.

The vertical wind turbine and system generally comprises a rotor assembly having a plurality of blades, a fixed central spindle having a central axis for supporting rotation of the rotor assembly, a blade adjustment mechanism assembly for adjusting the blade angle of attack throughout rotation of the rotor assembly, and a support framework for supporting the rotor assembly at an elevated position in order to gain access to a sustained source of wind. The wind turbine may be operably coupled with a power electric generator or other device which transfers mechanical energy into electrical energy as a combined system.

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 drive train arrangement preferentially for a wind power plant having a rotor shaft, a generator, and a gear, which is indirectly or directly connected to the rotor shaft and the generator. The gear is at least partly or completely integrated in the rotor shaft.

A bearing assembly, such as for a wind turbine or a tidal turbine including a tower and a nacelle, includes a lower part that is attachable to the tower, an upper part that is attachable to the nacelle, a bearing that rotatably couples the lower part to the upper part to allow rotation of the nacelle with respect to the tower, and a brake mechanism configured to selectively prevent relative rotation of the upper part and the lower part. The brake mechanism includes a brake disc and a brake caliper.

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.