Method for adapting an operating characteristic of a wind power installation

A method for controlling a wind power installation,

• wherein:
• the wind power installation has a rotor, and the rotor has rotor blades having adjustable blade angles,
• the rotor is operable with a variable rotor rotational speed, and
• wherein the method comprises:
• controlling the wind power installation using an operating characteristic, wherein the operating characteristic represents a relationship between the variable rotor rotational speed and an operating variable, wherein the operating characteristic has a first characteristic portion with a first rotational speed range, and a second characteristic portion with a second rotational speed range, wherein the first rotational speed range has lower rotational speeds than the second rotational speed range;
• and
• configuring the operating characteristic by:
• increasing values of the operating variable of the first characteristic portion in relation to an operating characteristic designated as optimum operating characteristic,
• changing the operating variable of the second characteristic portion toward higher rotational speeds in relation to the operating characteristic designated as the optimum operating characteristic, and
• coordinating the first and second characteristic portion of the operating characteristic with each other by increasing a rotational speed of the wind power installation in the second characteristic portion and decreasing a rotational speed of the wind power installation in the first characteristic portion, such that an expected total number of rotations of the rotor over a predetermined lifetime of the wind power installation does not exceed a total number predetermined for the operating characteristic designated as the optimum operating characteristic.

A wind power installation, comprising:

• a rotor having rotor blades that have adjustable blade angles, the rotor is operable with a variable rotor rotational speed;
• and
• an installation controller configured to:
• control the wind power installation using an operating characteristic that represents a relationship between the variable rotor rotational speed and an operating variable, wherein the operating characteristic is implemented in the installation controller, and the operating characteristic has a first characteristic portion with a first rotational speed range, and a second characteristic portion with a second rotational speed range;
• and
• configure the operating characteristic in relation to a previous operating characteristic by:
• increasing values of the operating variable of the first characteristic portion;
• changing values of the operating variable of the second characteristic portion towards higher rotational speeds;
• and
• increasing a rotational speed of the wind power installation in the second characteristic portion and decreasing a rotational speed of the wind power installation in the first characteristic portion, such that an expected total number of rotations of the rotor over a predetermined lifetime of the wind power installation remains substantially the same.