Controlling activation of individual pitch control of wind turbine rotor blades based on detected wind events

A method for a wind turbine having a first rotor blade, a second rotor blade, and a third rotor blade, the method being for controlling activation of individual pitch control of the first, second, and third rotor blades, the method comprising:

• receiving sensor data, from a flap loading sensor of each of the first, second, and third rotor blades, indicative of flap loading on each of the respective first, second, and third rotor blades;
• determining, based on the received sensor data, a first statistical dispersion parameter of flap loading for the first rotor blade, a second statistical dispersion parameter of flap loading for the second rotor blade, and a third statistical dispersion parameter of flap loading for the third rotor blade, the first, second, and third statistical dispersion parameters being indicative of a wind event in a wind field in which the wind turbine operates;
• determining a highest statistical dispersion parameter of the first, second, and third statistical dispersion parameters;
• determining that the highest statistical dispersion parameter exceeds a threshold;
• and
• based on the highest statistical dispersion parameter exceeding the threshold, controlling activation of individual pitch control.

A wind turbine, comprising:

• a tower;
• a nacelle disposed on the tower;
• a generator disposed in the nacelle;
• a rotor extending from the generator and the nacelle;
• a first rotor blade, a second rotor blade, and a third rotor blade disposed on a distal end of the rotor;
• and
• a controller for controlling activation of individual pitch control of the first, second, and third rotor blades;
• the controller being configured to perform operations, comprising:
• receive a flap load signal, from a flap loading sensor of each of the first, second, and third rotor blades, indicative of flap loading on each of the respective first, second, and third rotor blades;
• determine, based on the received flap load signals, a first statistical dispersion parameter of flap loading for the first rotor blade, a second statistical dispersion parameter of flap loading for the second rotor blade, and a third statistical dispersion parameter of flap loading for the third rotor blade, the first, second, and third statistical dispersion parameters being indicative of a wind event in a wind field in which the wind turbine operates;
• determine a highest statistical dispersion parameter of the first, second, and third statistical dispersion parameters;
• determine that the highest statistical dispersion parameter exceeds a threshold;
• and
• based on the highest statistical dispersion parameter exceeding the threshold, control activation of individual pitch control.