System and method for controlling wind turbine actuation

A wind turbine control system comprising:

• at least one sensor configured to measure blade pitch angles for one or more wind turbine blades;
• a rotor/generator speed sensor configured to measure the rotational speed of a wind turbine rotor;
• a wind turbine generator, or both;
• a wind turbine nacelle yaw sensor configured to measure nacelle yaw;
• at least two sensor elements configured without use of adhesives, cements or bonding agents, to measure over a large area, tower deflection in real-time;
• and
• a controller configured to adjust the pitch angle of one or more wind turbine blades in response to the measured one or more blade pitch angles, the measured rotational speed, the measured nacelle yaw, and measured tower longitudinal deflection.

A method of actuating a wind turbine positioned atop a tower affixed to a tower foundation, the method comprising:

• providing at least one blade pitch sensor configured to measure blade pitch angles for one or more wind turbine blades;
• providing a rotor/generator speed sensor configured to measure the rotational speed of a wind turbine rotor, a wind turbine generator, or both;
• providing a wind turbine nacelle yaw sensor configured to measure nacelle yaw;
• providing at least two tower-base bending sensor elements configured without use of adhesives, cements or bonding agents, to measure over a large area, tower deflection in real-time;
• measuring blade pitch angles for one or more wind turbine blades;
• measuring the rotational speed of a wind turbine rotor, a wind turbine generator, or both;
• measuring the wind turbine nacelle yaw;
• measuring tower deflection in real-time for a large surface area of the tower;
• and
• adjusting the pitch angle of one or more wind turbine blades in response to the measured one or more blade pitch angles, the measured rotation speed, the measured nacelle yaw and measured tower longitudinal deflection.