System and method for controlling a wind turbine to minimize rotor blade damage

A method for controlling a wind turbine to minimize rotor blade damage, the method comprising:

• receiving sensor data from one or more sensors indicative of a blade mass moment of a rotor blade of the wind turbine over a predetermined time period;
• trending the sensor data for the predetermined time period with respect to wind speed;
• determining at least one characteristic of the trended sensor data;
• determining whether the at least one characteristic of the trended sensor data deviates from a damage threshold for a certain time period within the predetermined time period;
• modifying a pitch angle set point of the rotor blade if the deviation of the at least one characteristic of the trended sensor data from the damage threshold indicates blade damage is occurring or is likely to occur;
• and
• operating the rotor blade at the adjusted pitch angle set point.

A system for controlling a wind turbine to minimize rotor blade damage, the system comprising:

• at least one sensor for generating sensor data indicative of at least one blade parameter of a rotor blade over a predetermined time period;
• a controller communicatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the controller comprising a processor and associated memory device, the memory device comprising instructions that, when implemented the processor, configure the controller to perform one or more operations, the one or more operations comprising:
• trending the sensor data for the predetermined time period with respect to at least one wind parameter;
• determining at least one characteristic of the trended sensor data;
• determining whether the at least one characteristic of the trended sensor data deviates from a damage threshold for a certain time period within the predetermined time period;
• and, implementing a control action if the deviation of the at least one characteristic of the trended sensor data from the damage threshold indicates rotor blade damage is occurring or is likely to occur.