US 11,767,821 B2 · System and method for responding to a friction coefficient signal of a wind turbine

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a method for responding to a friction coefficient signal of a pitch bearing of a pitch drive mechanism of a wind turbine and/or for controlling the pitch drive mechanism(s) and/or a bank of ultracapacitors. The method and system include: accessing high-frequency measurement data of the at least one pitch bearing; estimating, via a torque balance model implemented by a controller, a frictional torque of the at least one pitch bearing based, at least in part, on the high-frequency measurement data; estimating, via the controller, a friction coefficient signal of the at least one pitch bearing based, at least in part, on the frictional torque; comparing the friction coefficient signal with a friction threshold; determining whether the friction coefficient signal deviates from the friction threshold based, at least in part, on the comparison; and, if so, acting.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A method for responding to a friction coefficient signal of at least one pitch bearing of a pitch drive mechanism of a wind turbine, the method comprising:

accessing high-frequency measurement data of the at least one pitch bearing;
estimating, via a torque balance model implemented by a controller, a frictional torque of the at least one pitch bearing based, at least in part, on the high-frequency measurement data;
estimating, via the controller, a friction coefficient signal of the at least one pitch bearing based, at least in part, on the frictional torque;
comparing the friction coefficient signal with a friction threshold;
determining whether the friction coefficient signal deviates from the friction threshold based, at least in part, on the comparison;
and
implementing a control action in response to a determination that the friction coefficient signal deviates from the friction threshold.

4 more elements

A system for responding to a friction coefficient signal of at least one pitch bearing of a wind turbine, the system comprising:

a pitch drive mechanism comprising at least one pitch bearing;
and
a controller comprising:
a high-frequency measurement data interface configured to receive high-frequency measurement data, wherein the high-frequency measurement data comprises high-frequency measurement data of the at least one pitch bearing from the pitch drive mechanism;
and
a processor configured to:
estimate, via a torque balance model of the controller, a frictional torque of the at least one pitch bearing based, at least in part, on the high-frequency measurement data;
estimate a friction coefficient signal of the at least one pitch bearing based, at least in part, on the frictional torque;
compare the friction coefficient signal with a friction threshold;
determine whether the friction coefficient signal deviates from the friction threshold based, at least in part, on the comparison;
and
implement a control action in response to a determination that the friction coefficient signal deviates from the friction threshold.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

System and method for responding to a friction coefficient signal of a wind turbine

Life of this patent

System and method for responding to a friction coefficient signal of a wind turbine

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20