Method and Apparatus for Operating a Wind Turbine During a Loss of Communication

A wind turbine, said turbine comprising:

• a hub;
• at least one blade coupled to said hub;
• a wind turbine controller;
• and,
• a pitch controller coupled to said at least one blade and to said wind turbine controller, said pitch controller configured to:
• establish communication with said wind turbine controller;
• detect a loss of communication with said wind turbine controller, wherein after a loss of communication is detected, said pitch controller is further configured to:
• wait a first predetermined amount of time for the communication to be restored;
• independently pitch said at least one blade to a predetermined position;
• wait a second predetermined amount of time for the communication to be restored;
• and,
• maintain said at least one blade in the predetermined position until a rotation of said at least one blade stops.

A pitch controller coupled to at least one wind turbine blade and to a wind turbine controller, said pitch controller configured to:

• establish communication with the wind turbine controller;
• and,
• detect a loss of communication with the wind turbine controller, wherein after a loss of communication is detected, said pitch controller is further configured to:
• wait a first predetermined amount of time for the communication to be restored;
• independently pitch the at least one wind turbine blade to a predetermined position;
• wait a second predetermined amount of time for the communication to be restored;
• and,
• maintain the at least one wind turbine blade in the predetermined position until a rotation of the at least one wind turbine blade stops.