Wind turbine controller with pitch feedback control loop in partial load

A method of controlling a wind turbine that in operation generates power at a produced power output level and which is operated in accordance with a rated power output level, the wind turbine comprising a rotor coupled to a rotor blade having an adjustable blade pitch, the method comprising:

• receiving a power reference signal in a de-rated mode where a requested power output level is less than an available power level;
• determining whether the available power level is above or below the rated power level, and when the available power level is below the rated power level, setting the blade pitch to a pitch value based on the received power reference signal, the pitch value associated with a captured wind power that is approximately equal to the requested power output level;
• controlling, based on a power curve in accordance with a determined wind speed, the produced power output level to the requested power output level by adjusting a load torque provided to the rotor by a generator coupled to the rotor wherein, when the requested power output level is greater than the available power level, the produced output power level is controlled in accordance with a non-derated power curve, wherein, when the requested power output level is less than the available power level, the produced output power level is controlled in accordance with the non-derated power curve that is shifted to a higher wind speed, and wherein the blade pitch of the rotor is further controlled by a pitch feedback control loop that modifies the pitch value based on a difference between the produced power output level and the requested power output level;
• and
• when the available power level is above the rated power level:
• setting a generator speed and load torque to provide the produced power output level that is equal to the requested power;
• and
• controlling the blade pitch to correspond to the produced power at the requested power output level by adjusting the pitch value of the rotor.

A controller for a wind turbine comprising:

• a processor and a memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• receive a power reference signal that defines a requested power output level less than an available power level;
• set a blade pitch of a rotor blade of the wind turbine to a pitch value based on the received power reference signal to capture wind power that is approximately equal to the requested power output level;
• and
• control a produced power output level of the wind turbine to the requested power output level by adjusting a load torque of a generator coupled to the rotor blade;
• and
• using a pitch feedback control loop, modify the pitch value based on a difference between the produced power output level and the requested power output level,
• wherein, when the requested power output level is greater than the available power level, the produced output power level is controlled according to a power curve, and
• wherein, when the requested power output level is less than the available power level, the produced output power level is controlled according to the power curve shifted to a higher wind speed.

A wind turbine that in operation generates power at a produced power output level, the wind turbine comprising:

• a processor and a memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, enabling the processor to receive a power reference signal that defines a requested power output level that is lower than an available power level;
• a pitch system for setting a blade pitch of a rotor blade of the wind turbine to a pitch value based on the received power reference signal causing the rotor to capture a wind power that is approximately equal to the requested power output level;
• and
• a power system for controlling the produced power output level of the wind turbine to the requested power output level by adjusting a load torque provided to the rotor by a generator coupled to the rotor,
• wherein, when the requested power output level is greater than the available power level, the produced output power level is controlled according to a power curve,
• wherein, when the requested power output level is less than the available power level, the produced output power level is controlled according to the power curve shifted to a higher wind speed, and
• wherein the processor uses a pitch feedback control loop to modify the pitch value based on a difference between the produced power output level and the requested power output level.