WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION AND A METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION

Abstract

A wind energy installation includes a rotor with a first rotor blade that is angularly adjustable, a first adjustment drive for adjusting the first rotor blade, a safety control device/system, a first reversing device for supplying energy to the first adjustment drive from an energy source via the first reversing device to adjust the first rotor blade in a first direction and to adjust the first rotor blade in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A second reversing device can be switched over by the safety control device/system for supplying energy to the first adjustment drive from an energy storage device in a first special mode of operation via the second reversing device in a first switching position to adjust the first rotor blade in the first direction and in a second switching position to adjust the first rotor blade in the second direction.

Claims

1-16. (canceled)

17. A wind energy installation, comprising: a rotor with a first rotor blade that is adjustable in terms of its angle; a first adjustment drive configured for adjusting the first rotor blade; a first reversing device configured for supplying energy to the first adjustment drive from an energy source via the first reversing device in order to adjust the first rotor blade in a first direction, and for supplying energy to the first adjustment drive from the energy source via the first reversing device in order to adjust the first rotor blade in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction; a second reversing device configured for supplying energy to the first adjustment drive from a first energy storage device in a first special mode of operation via the second reversing device in a first switching position in order to adjust the first rotor blade in the first direction, and for supplying energy to the first adjustment drive from the first energy storage device in the first special mode of operation via the second reversing device in a second switching position in order to adjust the first rotor blade in the second direction; and a safety control device/system configured to switch over the second reversing device from the first switching position to the second switching position.

18. The wind energy installation of claim 17, further comprising: at least one switching off device configured for interrupting the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive via the second reversing device.

19. The wind energy installation of claim 18, wherein at least one of: the at least one switching off device is controlled by the safety control device/system; or the at least one switching off device is configured to interrupt the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive in response to a predetermined stopping position or a predetermined stopping region of the first rotor blade having been reached.

20. The wind energy installation of claim 19, further comprising a time delay device configured for causing at least a predetermined waiting time between a detection of a predetermined position of the first rotor blade and the interruption of the supply of energy by means of the switching off device.

21. The wind energy installation of claim 17, further comprising at least one line configured for supplying energy to the first adjustment drive from the first energy storage device via the first reversing device in at least one second special mode of operation.

22. The wind energy installation of claim 17, further comprising: a pitch brake configured for holding the first rotor blade in a current position; and a detection device configured for detecting a deviation between a current position of the first rotor blade and a predetermined target position; wherein the safety control device/system is configured to adjust the first rotor blade in the direction of the target position with the adjustment drive supplied with energy from the first energy storage device via the second reversing device in response to the deviation exceeding a predetermined threshold value.

23. The wind energy installation of claim 22, wherein the pitch brake is configured to slip at a load acting on the first rotor blade that is smaller than a maximum design load acting on the first rotor blade in a feathered position of the first rotor blade.

24. The wind energy installation of claim 17, wherein at least one of: the second reversing device: connects a first input to a first output, and connects a second input to a second output in the first switching position, and connects the first input to the second output, and connects the second input to the first output in the second switching position; or the first adjustment drive comprises: at least one electric motor and the first energy storage device comprises at least one electrical energy storage device, or at least one hydraulic actuator and the first energy storage device comprises at least one pressure accumulator.

25. The wind energy installation of claim 17, further comprising: at least one second rotor blade on the rotor and adjustable in terms of its angle; a second adjustment drive configured for adjusting the second rotor blade; wherein the second adjustment drive is configured to be supplied with energy from the first energy storage device or from a second energy storage device, different than the first energy storage device, via the second reversing device or via a further reversing device.

26. A method of operating a wind energy installation, the wind installation including a rotor with a first rotor blade that is adjustable in terms of its angle, and a first adjustment drive configured for adjusting the first rotor blade in a first direction or a second direction opposite the first direction, the method comprising: in response to the occurrence of a special mode of operation, supplying energy for adjusting the first rotor blade to the first adjustment drive from a first energy storage device via a second reversing device; and in a first mode of the special mode of operation: switching the second reversing device to a first switching position with the safety control device/system, wherein the second reversing device supplies energy to the first adjustment drive from the first energy storage device in the first switching position to adjust the first rotor blade in the first direction.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the at least one special operating case is at least one malfunction case.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the method is carried out on a wind energy installation comprising: a rotor with a first rotor blade that is adjustable in terms of its angle; a first adjustment drive configured for adjusting the first rotor blade; a first reversing device configured for supplying energy to the first adjustment drive from an energy source via the first reversing device in order to adjust the first rotor blade in a first direction, and for supplying energy to the first adjustment drive from the energy source via the first reversing device in order to adjust the first rotor blade in a second direction that is opposite to the first direction; a second reversing device configured for supplying energy to the first adjustment drive from a first energy storage device in a first special mode of operation via the second reversing device in a first switching position in order to adjust the first rotor blade in the first direction, and for supplying energy to the first adjustment drive from the first energy storage device in the first special mode of operation via the second reversing device in a second switching position in order to adjust the first rotor blade in the second direction; and a safety control device/system configured to switch over the second reversing device from the first switching position to the second switching position.

29. The method of claim 26, further comprising: in a second mode of the special mode of operation: switching the second reversing device to a second switching position with the safety control device/system, wherein the second reversing device supplies energy to the first adjustment drive from the first energy storage device in the second switching position to adjust the first rotor blade in the second direction.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein at least one of: in the first mode of the special mode of operation, the safety control device/system at least one of: switches the second reversing device one or more times over from the first switching position to the second switching position, or switches the second reversing device one or more times from the second switching position to the first switching position; in the first mode of the special mode of operation, the safety control device/system always switches the second reversing device back from the second switching position to the first switching position; in the first mode of the special mode of operation, the safety control device/system interrupts the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive via the second reversing device one or more times in at least one of the first mode or the second mode of the special mode of operation; or in the first mode of the special mode of operation, in the case of a switchover of the second reversing device, the safety control device/system only activates the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive via the second reversing device after the second reversing device has been switched over.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the safety control device/system interrupts the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive in at least one of the first mode or the second mode of the special mode of operation at least one of: before switching the second reversing device over from the first switching position to the second switching position; or before switching the second reversing device over from the second switching position to the first switching position

32. The method of claim 26, wherein at least one of: the first special mode of operation is carried out as a result of a malfunction in the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive from the source of energy via the first reversing device; the first special mode of operation is carried out during a malfunction in the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive from the source of energy via the first reversing device; or the first special mode of operation is carried out as a result of at least one of a failure of the source of energy or a functional malfunction of the first reversing device.

33. The method of claim 26, further comprising: detecting a deviation between a current position of the first rotor blade, in which a pitch brake is closed in order to hold the rotor blade, and a predetermined target position; and adjusting the first rotor blade in the direction of the target position with the first adjustment drive in response to the detected deviation exceeding a predetermined threshold value, wherein the first adjustment drive is supplied with energy from the first energy storage device via the second reversing device.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising: adjusting the first rotor blade in the first direction if the adjustment path from the current position to the target position is shorter in the first direction than in the second direction; and adjusting the first rotor blade in the second direction if the adjustment path from the current position to the target position is shorter in the second direction than in the first direction.

35. The method of claim 26, further comprising: disconnecting the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive from the energy storage device; and in response to at least one reactivating activation signal, reconnecting the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive from the energy storage device while the first special mode of operation is still being carried out.

36. A computer program product for operating a wind energy installation, the wind installation including a rotor with a first rotor blade that is adjustable in terms of its angle, and a first adjustment drive configured for adjusting the first rotor blade in a first direction or a second direction opposite the first direction, the computer program product comprising program code stored on a non-transitory, computer-readable medium, the program code configured, when executed on a computer, to cause the computer to: in response to the occurrence of a special mode of operation, supply energy for adjusting the first rotor blade to the first adjustment drive from a first energy storage device via a second reversing device; and at least one of: in a first mode of the special mode of operation: switch the second reversing device to a first switching position with the safety control device/system, wherein the second reversing device supplies energy to the first adjustment drive from the first energy storage device in the first switching position to adjust the first rotor blade in the first direction, or in a second mode of the special mode of operation: switch the second reversing device to a second switching position with the safety control device/system, wherein the second reversing device supplies energy to the first adjustment drive from the first energy storage device in the second switching position to adjust the first rotor blade in the second direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0090] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention and, together with a general description of the invention given above, and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

[0091] FIG. 1 shows a wind energy installation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0092] FIG. 2 shows a portion of the wind energy installation; and

[0093] FIG. 3 shows a method of operating the wind energy installation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0094] FIG. 1 shows a wind energy installation 10 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention which comprises a tower 11, at the upper end of which a rotor 12 with a rotor hub 13 and three rotor blades is arranged.

[0095] The three rotor blades, of which an arbitrary one may be a first rotor blade 14 and each of the other two may be a further rotor blade 14′ within the meaning of the present invention, are individually adjusted (in terms of their angle) or rotated about their longitudinal axes by their own adjustment drives or, respectively, by their own adjustment drive, in particular between a zero position, in which they generate a maximum power, and a feathered position, in which they generate a minimum power, in particular no power, at the rotor axis of rotation or at the rotor hub.

[0096] FIG. 2 shows the first adjustment drive 100 for adjusting the first rotor blade 14, which first adjustment drive may in particular be an electromotive adjustment drive or a hydraulic adjustment drive. The other adjustment drives 100′ for adjusting the further rotor blades 14′ can be constructed in an identical manner and can be operated in an identical manner.

[0097] In a regular or a normal mode of operation, it is supplied with energy from a source of energy 110, in the example embodiment a grid or a hydraulic (pressure) source, via a first reversing device 111 which is controlled by means of a pitch controller 112 and which, in the example embodiment, comprises a converter or one or more switching valves (FIG. 3: step S10).

[0098] In the event of a power failure or a failure of the hydraulic (pressure) source (S20: “Y”), provided that the first reversing device 111 and the pitch controller 112 continue to function correctly (S30: “Y”), the adjustment drive 100 is supplied with energy from an energy storage device 120 via the first reversing device 111 instead of from the source of energy 110 (FIG. 3: Step S40—further special mode of operation).

[0099] For this purpose, corresponding switching devices 21, 23 are actuated, for example by means of a safety control device/system 130, in particular a connection between the source of energy 110 and the first reversing device 111 is interrupted (switching device 21 opened) and the first reversing device 111 is instead connected to the energy storage device 120 via lines L (switching device 23 closed).

[0100] If, on the other hand, there is a functional malfunction of the first reversing device 111, i. e. in particular a defect of the converter or of one of the switching valves or of the pitch controller 112 which controls the first reversing device 111 (S30: “N”), a first special mode of operation is carried out. According to a variation, this prioritized supply of energy from the energy storage device 120 via the (still functional—S30: “Y”) first reversing device 111 can also be omitted.

[0101] In the first special mode of operation, the safety control device/system 130 interrupts a connection between the first reversing device 111 and the adjustment drive 100 by means of switching device 22 (FIG. 3: step S50).

[0102] In addition, the safety control device/system 130 determines a desired direction of adjustment for the first rotor blade which is actuated by means of the adjustment drive 100, for example a first direction from the zero position (by the shortest path) to the feathered position in order to approach the feathered position, or an opposite, second direction, for example in order to return the rotor blade in a limited emergency mode of operation further in the direction of the zero position for the purpose of controlling the power of the wind energy installation, or in order to return, to the feathered position, the rotor blade that has slipped beyond the feathered position in the first direction (FIG. 3: step S60).

[0103] If the desired direction of adjustment is not the first direction (S70: “N”), the safety control device/system 130 switches a second reversing device 121, in the example embodiment a contactor or a multi-way switching valve, from its first switching position shown in FIG. 2 over to a second switching position (S75), and otherwise (S70: “Y”) the second reversing device 121 remains in its first switching position.

[0104] In the first switching position, the second reversing device 121 connects a first input E1 to a first output A1, as well as a second input E2 to a second output A2; conversely, in the second switching position, the second reversing device 121 connects the first input E1 to the second output A2, as well as the second input E2 to the first output A1.

[0105] Then, the safety control device/system 130 closes a switching off device 24 so that the adjustment drive 100 adjusts the first rotor blade in the corresponding direction (FIG. 3: step S80). This is the condition shown in FIG. 2 (in solid lines).

[0106] When this reaches the feathered position (S90: “Y”), this opens a further switching off device 25, in the example embodiment a contactor or an automatic switching valve, and the power supply is interrupted with a time delay by means of a time delay device Z (FIG. 3: step S100). In a variation not shown, the further switching off device 25 can also be replaced by a mechanical (end) stop, in particular in the case of hydraulic adjustment drives.

[0107] The safety control device/system 130 opens the switching off device 24 and, if applicable, switches the second reversing device 121 back to the first switching position (FIG. 3: step S110).

[0108] It then monitors a position of the rotor blade by means of sensors S.

[0109] If this moves too far away from the feathered position despite the pitch brake B being closed (S120: “Y”), the safety control device/system 130 determines the first direction as the desired direction of adjustment if the adjustment path from the current position to the feathered position is shorter in the first direction than in the second direction, and determines the second direction as the desired direction of adjustment if the adjustment path from the current position to the feathered position is shorter in the second direction than in the first direction, and then adjusts the rotor blade back to the feathered position by controlling the switching off device 24 accordingly (FIG. 3: Step S130).

[0110] In an analogous manner, in the first special mode of operation, the safety control device/system 130 can also adjust the rotor blade, for example, to a desired position between the zero position and the feathered position, or to the zero position, in order to carry out a (limited) power control of the wind energy installation by first determining the direction of adjustment which is required or desired for this purpose, as has been described above, switching the second reversing device 121 over if necessary, and then controlling the switching off device 24 accordingly.

[0111] If maintenance personnel enters a request for a particular movement via a button T or the like, the safety control device/system 130 can also implement this in the first special mode of operation in an analogous manner; for example, if a request for movement in the second direction is entered it can switch the second reversing device 121 over and subsequently close the switching off device 24 as long as a corresponding active input is detected via the button T; and if a request for movement in the first direction is input, it can close the switching off device 24 as long as a corresponding active input is detected via the button T, since the second reversing device 121 has always been switched back to the first switching position.

[0112] As is indicated by dashed lines, a further adjustment drive 100′ for adjusting a further one of the rotor blades 14′ can also be controlled in an analogous manner by the safety control device/system 130 with the aid of the second reversing device 121.

[0113] In a variation not shown, a further reversing device is instead provided for the further adjustment drive 100′, with the aid of which further reversing device the further adjustment drive 100′ for adjusting the further rotor blade 14′ is controlled by the safety control device/system 130 in the same way as has been described above for the first adjustment drive 100 and the second reversing device 121 (which, according to one embodiment, is then only responsible for the first adjustment drive 100).

[0114] Although example embodiments have been explained in the preceding description, it is to be noted that a variety of variations are possible. In addition, it is to be noted that the example embodiments are merely examples which are not intended to limit the scope of protection, the applications and the structure in any way. Rather, the preceding description provides the person skilled in the art with a guideline for the implementation of at least one example embodiment, whereby various modifications, in particular with regard to the function and the arrangement of the components described, can be made without departing from the scope of protection as it results from the claims and combinations of features equivalent to these.

[0115] While the present invention has been illustrated by a description of various embodiments, and while these embodiments have been described in considerable detail, it is not intended to restrict or in any way limit the scope of the appended claims to such de-tail. The various features shown and described herein may be used alone or in any combination. Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to those skilled in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and method, and illustrative example shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such details without departing from the spirit and scope of the general inventive concept.

LIST OF REFERENCE SKINS

[0116] 10 wind energy installation [0117] 11 tower [0118] 12 rotor [0119] 13 hub [0120] 14 first rotor blade [0121] 14′ further rotor blade [0122] 20-25 switching off device [0123] 100 first adjustment drive [0124] 100′ further adjustment drive [0125] 110 source of energy [0126] 111 first reversing device [0127] 112 pitch controller [0128] 120 energy storage device [0129] 121 second reversing device [0130] 130 safety control device/system [0131] A1 first output [0132] A2 second output [0133] B pitch brake [0134] E1 first input [0135] E2 second input [0136] L line [0137] S sensor [0138] T button [0139] Z time delay device