Wind energy installation and a method of operating a wind energy installation

Abstract

A method of operating a wind energy installation wherein a rotor has a first rotor blade which can be angularly adjusted, a first adjustment drive for adjusting the rotor blade, and a safety control system. In a normal mode of operation, the first adjustment drive is supplied with energy from a source and is controlled by a first pitch control system. In a failure mode of operation, the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive is switched from the source to an energy storage device and the safety control system monitors a position and/or movement of the first rotor blade. The first rotor blade is adjusted by the first adjustment drive in a direction of a predetermined stopping position, while the safety control system, as a function of the monitored position and/or movement, enables or effects a deactivation of a first power supply shut-off device. In the failure mode of operation, the safety control system, as a function of the monitored position and/or movement, closes a first pitch brake and activates a first blocking mode in which the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive from the energy storage device and/or an opening of the first pitch brake is prevented.

Claims

1. A method of operating a wind energy installation including a rotor with a first rotor blade that can be adjusted in terms of its angle, a first adjustment drive for adjusting the first rotor blade, and a safety control device/system, the method comprising: in a normal mode of operation, supplying the first adjustment drive with energy from an energy source and controlling the first adjustment drive with a first pitch control device/system; in a failure mode of operation: switching the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive from the energy source over to a first energy storage device if switching the supply of energy has not already occurred, and monitoring at least one of a position or a movement of the first rotor blade with the safety control device/system; and in the failure mode of operation, at least one of: adjusting the first rotor blade with the first adjustment drive in a direction of a predetermined stopping position, while enabling or effecting with the safety control device/system, based on the monitored position or movement, a deactivation of a first power supply shut-off device that is configured to cut off the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive from the first energy storage device in response to a position of the first rotor blade being in a shut-off range, or based on the monitored position or movement, closing a first pitch brake using the safety control device/system and activating with the safety control device/system a first blocking mode in which at least one of the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive from the first energy storage device or an opening of the first pitch brake is prevented, wherein the first pitch brake is configured for stopping the first rotor blade, and wherein the safety control device/system closes the first pitch brake instead of a pitch brake closing switching device that is configured to close the first pitch brake in response to a position of the first rotor blade being in a pitch brake closing range.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of: monitoring at least one of a position or a movement of the first rotor blade comprises monitoring in a redundant manner; or the first adjustment drive comprises at least one electric motor or at least one hydraulic actuator.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein at least one of: monitoring in a redundant manner is carried out with at least two redundant sensors; or the at least one electric motor is a DC motor.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of: the stopping position is within the shut-off range; or the stopping position is specified based on at least one of a condition of the wind energy installation or a condition of the environment of the wind energy installation.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, after the stopping position has been reached, switching off the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive from the first energy storage device with the safety control device/system before enabling or effecting an activation of the first power supply shut-off device with the safety control device/system.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising: enabling or effecting an activation of the first power supply shut-off by the safety control device/system in response to the detection of a fault while the first rotor blade is moved to the stopping position.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting the first rotor blade with the first adjustment drive in a direction of a predetermined stopping position comprises controlling the first adjustment drive with the first pitch control device/system or the safety control device/system.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising: shutting off the power supply to the first adjustment drive from the first energy storage device with a second power supply shut-off device in response to an adjustment of the first rotor blade beyond the first shut-off range into a second shut-off range.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the first blocking mode comprises at least one of: switching of at least two switching means; switching off of the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive; or prevention of a controlling of the first adjustment drive to adjust the first rotor blade.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising a deactivation of the first blocking mode by at least one of an individual input for the first adjustment drive or a manual input for the first adjustment drive.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the rotor includes at least one second rotor blade that can be adjusted in terms of its angle, and a second adjustment drive for adjusting the second rotor blade, the method further comprising: in the normal mode of operation, supplying the second adjustment drive with energy from the energy source and controlling the second adjustment drive with the first pitch control device/system or a second pitch control device/system; in the failure mode of operation: switching the supply of energy to the second adjustment drive from the energy source over to the first energy storage device or a second energy storage device, and monitoring at least one of a position or a movement of the second rotor blade with the safety control device/system; and in the failure mode of operation, at least one of: adjusting the second rotor blade with the second adjustment drive in a direction of a predetermined stopping position, while enabling or effecting with the safety control device/system, based on the monitored position or movement of the second rotor blade, a deactivation of a second power supply shut-off device that is configured to cut off the supply of energy to the second adjustment drive from the first energy storage device or the second energy storage device in response to a position of the second rotor blade being in a shut-off range, or based on the monitored position or movement of the second rotor blade, closing a second pitch brake configured for stopping the second rotor, using the safety control device/system instead of a pitch brake closing switching device that is configured to close the second pitch brake blade in response to a position of the second rotor blade being in a pitch brake closing range, and activating with the safety control device/system a second blocking mode, independent of the first blocking mode and in which at least one of the supply of energy to the second adjustment drive from the first or second energy storage devices or an opening of the second pitch brake is prevented.

12. A computer program product for operating a wind energy installation that includes a rotor with a first rotor blade that can be adjusted in terms of its angle, a first adjustment drive for adjusting the first rotor blade, and a safety control device/system, the computer program product comprising a program code stored on a non-transitory, computer readable medium, the programming code configured to, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to carry out the method of claim 1.

13. A wind energy installation, comprising: a rotor with a first rotor blade configured for angular adjustment; a first adjustment drive configured for adjusting the first rotor blade; a safety control device/system; means for supplying the first adjustment drive with energy from an energy source and for controlling the first adjustment drive with a first pitch control device/system in a normal mode of operation; means for switching the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive from the energy source over to an energy storage device in a failure mode of operation; means for monitoring at least one of a position or a movement of the first rotor blade with the safety control device/system in a failure mode of operation; and at least one of: means for adjusting the first rotor blade with the first adjustment drive in a direction of a predetermined stopping position, while enabling or effecting with the safety control device/system, based on the monitored position or movement, a deactivation of a first power supply shut-off device that is configured to cut off the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive from the energy storage device in response to a position of the first rotor blade being in a shut-off range, or means for, based on the monitored position or movement: closing a first pitch brake configured for stopping the first rotor blade, using the safety control device/system instead of a pitch brake closing switching device that is configured to close the first pitch brake in response to a position of the first rotor blade being in a pitch brake closing range, and activating with the safety control device/system a first blocking mode in which at least one of the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive from the energy storage device or an opening of the first pitch brake is prevented.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) 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.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a portion of a wind energy installation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 1a shows an enlarged representation of a portion of FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 2 shows a method of operating the wind energy installation in accordance with previous internal practice within the present applicant company;

(5) FIG. 3 shows a method of operating the wind energy installation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

(6) FIG. 4 shows a method of operating the wind energy installation in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIG. 1 shows a portion of a wind energy installation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention comprising a rotor 1 with three rotor blades which can be adjusted in terms of their angle, and of which a first rotor blade 2 and a further rotor blade 2′ can be seen in FIG. 1.

(8) Each of the rotor blades can be adjusted by means of its own electromotive or hydraulic adjustment drive 3 or 3′, as indicated in FIG. 1 by double arrows representing a movement.

(9) In a normal mode of operation, the adjustment drives 3, 3′, for this purpose, are supplied with energy from a source of energy 6, for example an electricity grid or a hydraulic (pressure) source, and are controlled by pitch control devices/systems 5, 5′, the first adjustment drive 3 for adjusting the first rotor blade 2 by a first pitch control device/system 5, and the further adjustment drive 3′ for adjusting the further rotor blade 2′ by a further pitch control device/system 5′. In a variation not shown, it is also possible for both adjustment drives 3, 3′ to be controlled by a (common or a first) pitch control device/system.

(10) In the event of a malfunction of the source of energy 6, the adjustment drives 3, 3′ are instead supplied with energy from energy storage devices 7, 7′ in a special mode of operation. In a variation not shown, two or more of the adjustment drives can also be supplied with energy from the same energy storage device.

(11) This supply of energy is switched off by means of power supply shut-off devices 9.1, 9.2 or 9.1′, 9.2′, for example contactors or valves, when the rotor blades are in a spinning position range (9.1, 9.1′ switching off) or in a feathered position range (9.2, 9.2′ switching off).

(12) In this context, two modes of operation of the special mode of operation are envisaged according to this embodiment: in the event that pitch control device/system 5 and/or 5′ is functioning, this controls the corresponding adjustment drive 3 and/or 3′, which is then supplied with energy from the energy storage device instead of from the source of energy. In the event that pitch control device/system 5 or 5′ is defective, the corresponding adjustment drive 3 or 3′ is supplied with energy directly from the energy storage device. In a variation not shown, one of the two modes of operation can also be omitted.

(13) The wind energy installation further comprises pitch brakes for stopping the rotor blades, as well as redundant sensors for monitoring the position or the movement of the rotor blades, in particular a first pitch brake 4 for stopping the first rotor blade 2, as well as sensors 8.1, 8.2 for monitoring the first rotor blade 2, as well as a further pitch brake 4′ for stopping the further rotor blade 2′, as well as sensors 8.1′, 8.2′ for monitoring the further rotor blade 2′.

(14) In a method illustrated in FIG. 2 for operating the wind energy installation according to previous internal practice within the present applicant company, in the event of a malfunction in the source of energy 6 (S10: “Y”), a switchover is made to a failure mode of operation in which the adjustment drives 3, 3′ adjust the rotor blades 2, 2′ to their spinning positions or feathered positions while the pitch brakes 4, 4′ are open (step S20), whereby the power supply shut-off devices 9.1-9.2′ switch off this power supply (S40) as soon as the rotor blade has reached a corresponding shut-off range (S30: “Y”). By means of this, the pitch brakes 4, 4′ are also closed (S40). Thus, the respective contactors or valves form both a power supply shut-off device as well as a pitch brake closing switching device.

(15) FIG. 3 shows a method of operating the wind energy installation in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Again, in the event of a malfunction of the source of energy 6 (S100: “Y”), a switchover is made to a failure mode of operation.

(16) In this failure mode of operation, a safety control device/system 10 monitors the position and/or movement of the rotor blades 2, 2′ (S110) by means of the redundant sensors 8.1-8.2′.

(17) In this context, as long as a position and/or a movement of a rotor blade is within a permissible tolerance range about a predetermined position or movement, for example if the rotor blade follows a predetermined target movement into a stopping position or if a distance to a predetermined stopping position decreases (sufficiently fast) (S110: “Y”), the safety control device/system 10 deactivates the corresponding power supply shut-off device 9.1 and/or 9.1′ or enables such a deactivation by the associated pitch control device/system 5, 5′ (S120).

(18) When the power supply shut-off device is deactivated in this way, the pitch control device/system or the safety control device/system controls the rotor blade to move to the specified stopping position (S130).

(19) As soon as a rotor blade has reached its specified stopping position (S140: “Y”), the safety control device/system 10 switches off the power supply to the corresponding adjustment drive (S150) and then activates the corresponding power supply shut-off device or removes the right to switch, or removes the authorization to carry out a deactivation, from the associated pitch control device/system 5, 5′, so that the power supply shut-off device is reactivated or becomes reactivated (S160). By means of this, the associated pitch brake is also closed (S160).

(20) If the safety control device/system 10 determines that the position and/or the movement of a rotor blade is outside the permissible tolerance range (S110: “N”), the safety control device/system 10 also reactivates the corresponding power supply shut-off device 9.1 or 9.1′ or removes the right to switch, or removes the authorization to carry out a deactivation, from the associated pitch control device/system 5, 5′.

(21) It can be seen from a comparison with FIG. 2 that, on the one hand, when the stopping position has been reached in a regular way, the power supply from the energy storage device is no longer disconnected by the deactivated power supply shut-off device 9.1 or 9.1′, which is protected by means of this. On the other hand, it becomes clear that the rotor blades can be moved into stopping positions within the predetermined shut-off ranges as long as the safety control device/system 10 effects or enables the deactivation of the corresponding power supply shut-off device. By means of this, the rotor blades can advantageously be parked further within the shut-off ranges, and, in this way, the likelihood of any unintentional, wind-induced slipping out can be reduced.

(22) FIG. 4 shows a method of operating the wind energy installation in accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention. Again, in the event of a malfunction of the source of energy 6 (S200: “Y”), a switchover is made to a failure mode of operation.

(23) In this failure mode of operation, the safety control device/system 10 monitors the position and/or movement of the rotor blades 2, 2′ (S210) by means of the redundant sensors 8.1-8.2′.

(24) In addition, the rotor blades are moved in the direction of the spinning position or the feathered position (S220).

(25) In this context, when a rotor blade reaches the corresponding shut-off range about this position (S230: “Y”), its power supply shut-off device 9.1 and/or 9.1′ shuts off its power supply from the energy storage device and closes its pitch brake 4 and/or 4′ (S240), i.e. it functions as a pitch brake closing switching device at the same time.

(26) If the safety control device/system 10 determines that the position and/or the movement of a rotor blade is outside a permissible tolerance range (S210: “N”), for example if its distance to the shut-off range to be approached does not decrease in the intended manner, for example because the corresponding adjustment drive is defective, the safety control device/system 10 itself closes the pitch brake of this rotor blade and switches to a blocking mode in which it prevents this pitch brake from being opened and in which it prevents this adjustment drive from being supplied with energy from the energy storage device (S250). For this purpose, the safety control device/system 10 switches two switching means 11.1, 11.2, for example in the corresponding power supply shut-off device, as indicated in the enlarged representation 1a of FIG. 1. A deactivation (S270) of this blocking mode requires a manual input (S260: “Y”) individually for the respective adjustment drive.

(27) Although example embodiments have been explained in the preceding description, it is to be noted that a variety of variations are possible. For example, two different aspects of the present invention have been explained separately, with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 in particular. This illustrates that these aspects may be realized independently of each other. However, as can be seen from the synopsis of these figures and the associated description, the two aspects can also be combined, that is in particular, in the failure mode of operation, the safety control device/system can effect and/or enable a deactivation of the power supply shut-off device, as well as, instead of a pitch brake closing switching device, close the corresponding pitch brake and then switch to the blocking mode. In addition, it has already been pointed out that, instead of pitch control devices/systems 5, 5′ which are specific to a particular blade, in one variation, a (common or first) pitch control device/system can also control both adjustment drives 3, 3′, according to one embodiment individually. It is also 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.

(28) 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 detail. 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.

(29) TABLE-US-00001 List of Reference Signs  1 rotor  2/2′ first/further rotor blade  3/3′ first/second adjustment drive  4/4′ first/further pitch brake  5/5′ first/further pitch control device/system  6 source of energy  7/7′ energy storage device  8.1-8.2′ sensor  9.1-9.2′ power supply shut-off device/pitch brake closing switching device 10 safety control device/system 11.1, 11.2 switching means