# US 2014/0154075 A1 · Power production of wind turbines

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 2014/0154075 A1
- Document ID: US20140154075A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/130,421
- Filed: 2012-06-29
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2011-07-08
- Assignees: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
- Inventors: Jacob Krogh Kristoffersen; Jesper Sandberg Thomsen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154075A1

## CPC

- F03D 7/0224: {Adjusting blade pitch}
- F05B 2270/32: Wind speeds
- F05B 2270/326: Rotor angle
- Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
- F03D: WIND MOTORS
- F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Embodiments of the invention generally relate to wind turbine generators, and more specifically to improving power production in wind turbine generators. A rotor plane of the wind turbine may be divided into a plurality of sections. A characteristic of wind associated with each section may be determined. An optimal pitch angle may be determined for each section based on the associated wind characteristic. A pitch controller may adjust the pitch angle of a blade to the optimal pitch angle as the blade sweeps through the section.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for improving power production of a wind turbine comprising:
dividing a rotor plane into a plurality of sections;
for each section, determining a characteristic of wind associated with the section;
for each section, determining an optimal pitch angle based on the determined characteristic of wind of the section; and
adjusting a pitch angle of a blade of the wind turbine to the optimal pitch angle of each section as the blade sweeps through the section.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the characteristic of wind that is determined is wind speed.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the optimal pitch angle comprises a combination of a collective pitch angle for the wind turbine and an offset value associated with the section.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the characteristic of the wind comprises receiving a measurement from a Light Detection and Ranging device.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein determining the characteristic of the wind comprises receiving a measurement from a blade load sensor.

### Claim 6

A pitch controller of a wind turbine, wherein the pitch controller is configured to:
divide a rotor plane into a plurality of sections;
for each section, determine a characteristic of wind associated with the section;
for each section, determine an optimal pitch angle based on the determined characteristic of wind of the section; and
adjust a pitch angle of a blade of the wind turbine to the optimal pitch angle of each section as the blade sweeps through the section.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The pitch controller of claim 6, wherein the characteristic of wind that is determined is wind speed.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The pitch controller of claim 6, wherein the optimal pitch angle comprises a combination of a collective pitch angle for the wind turbine and an offset value associated with the section.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The pitch controller of claim 6, wherein determining the characteristic of the wind comprises receiving a measurement from a Light Detection and Ranging device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The pitch controller of claim 6, wherein determining the characteristic of the wind comprises receiving a measurement from a blade load sensor.

### Claim 11

A wind turbine comprising:
a rotor, wherein the rotor plane is divided into a plurality of predefined sections;
an azimuth angle sensor configured to determine a position of each blade in the rotor plane; and
a pitch controller configured to:
for each section, determine a characteristic of wind associated with the section;
for each section, determine an optimal pitch angle based on the determined characteristic of wind of the section; and
adjust a pitch angle of a blade of the wind turbine to the optimal pitch angle of each section as the blade sweeps through the section.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The wind turbine of claim 11, wherein the characteristic of wind that is determined is wind speed.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The wind turbine of claim 11, wherein the optimal pitch angle comprises a combination of a collective pitch angle for the wind turbine and an offset value associated with the section.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The wind turbine of claim 11, wherein the pitch controller is configured to determine the characteristic of the wind by one of:
receiving a measurement from a Light Detection and Ranging device; and
receiving a measurement from a blade load sensor.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The wind turbine of claim 11, wherein the pitch controller is configured to:
determine whether a blade of the wind turbine has entered a transition zone associated with a first section and a second section; and
smoothly adjust the blade pitch angle from a first optimal blade pitch angle associated with the first section to a second optimal pitch angle associated with the second section as the blade sweeps through the transition zone.