Wind turbine and method for detecting and responding to loads acting thereon

A method for operating a wind turbine for generating electrical power from wind, wherein:

• the wind turbine has an aerodynamic rotor with a rotor hub and a plurality of rotor blades, wherein blade angles of the plurality of rotor blades are adjustable, each rotor blade having a respective rotor blade root configured to couple the respective rotor blade to the rotor hub, wherein the aerodynamic rotor is configured to be operated at a variable rotation speed,
• the wind turbine has a generator, which is coupled to the aerodynamic rotor, and
• the generator is configured to be operated with a variable generator torque, wherein the method comprises:
• determining a loading acting on the wind turbine by the wind, wherein determining the loading comprises:
• determining a plurality of forces using a plurality of strain gauges, each of the plurality of strain gauges being coupled to a respective rotor blade root of the plurality of rotor blades,
• using the plurality of forces to calculate a plurality of hub bending moments acting on the rotor hub, wherein the plurality of hub bending moments vary between maximum and minimum hub bending moments depending on a position of the rotor, and
• using the maximum bending moment as the determined loading, comparing the determined loading to a predefined loading limit value, and
• reducing at least one of a rotation speed or a generator power of the wind turbine in response to the determined loading reaching or exceeding the predefined loading limit value.