System and method for controlling a wind turbine during a communication loss

A system for controlling a wind turbine, the system comprising:

• a hub;
• a plurality of rotor blades coupled to the hub and including a plurality of pitch adjustment mechanisms;
• a control module arranged in the hub and in communication with a pitch controller of the wind turbine, the control module including at least one processor configured to perform a plurality of operations comprising:
• receiving first data associated with operation of the wind turbine, wherein the first data is collected via a plurality of sensors arranged in the hub and in communication with the control module;
• detecting a communication loss between the control module and a turbine controller arranged external to the hub;
• determining a plurality of pitch trajectories for the plurality of rotor blades based, at least in part, on the first data received from the plurality of sensors arranged in the hub, the plurality of pitch trajectories configured to prevent imbalance of the plurality of rotor blades;
• and
• in response to a duration of the communication loss between the control module and the turbine controller exceeding a ride-through time, controlling, via the control module, a plurality of pitch adjustment mechanisms of the plurality of rotor blades independently based on the plurality of pitch trajectories, wherein the ride-through time is a variable time dependent, at least in part, on the first data.

A method for controlling a wind turbine having a plurality of rotor blades, the method comprising:

• receiving, via a control module arranged in a hub of the wind turbine and in communication with a pitch controller of the wind turbine, first data associated with operation of the wind turbine, wherein the first data is collected via a plurality of sensors arranged in the hub and in communication with the control module;
• receiving, via a turbine controller arranged external to the hub, environmental data comprising environmental parameters around the wind turbine, wherein the environmental data is collected via a plurality of sensors arranged external to the hub;
• determining, via the turbine controller, the ride-through time based, at least in part, on the environmental data;
• detecting, via the control module, a communication loss between the control module and the turbine controller;
• determining, via the control module, a plurality of pitch trajectories for the plurality of rotor blades based, at least in part, on the first data received from the plurality of sensors arranged in the hub, the plurality of pitch trajectories configured to prevent imbalance of the plurality of rotor blades;
• and
• in response to a duration of the communication loss between the control module and the turbine controller exceeding a ride-through time, controlling, via the control module, a plurality of pitch adjustment mechanisms of the plurality of rotor blades independently based on the plurality of pitch trajectories.