Adaptive pitch reference rate for controlling wind turbine blade pitch

A method wherein;

• determining the adaptive pitch reference rate comprises determining a gain factor based on the obtained measurement, and applying the determined gain factor to a predetermined constant pitch reference rate to obtain the adaptive pitch reference rate;
• the wind turbine is operating in a power save mode in which the wind turbine operates under power consumption restrictions relative to a normal mode of operation of the wind turbine;
• and
• the determined gain factor is less than or equal to one.

A controller for controlling blade pitch in a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising a plurality of rotor blades and a hydraulic pitch system for adjusting a pitch of each of the rotor blades, the controller being configured to:

• receive data, from at least one hydraulic pressure sensor of the wind turbine, indicative of a current level of hydraulic pressure available in the hydraulic pitch system;
• determine, based on the obtained measurement, an adaptive pitch rate reference indicative of a rate at which the pitch of the rotor blades is to be adjusted by the hydraulic system;
• and,
• transmit a control signal configured to control the hydraulic pitch system to adjust the pitch of the rotor blades in accordance with the determined adaptive pitch rate reference.

A wind turbine, comprising:

• a tower;
• a nacelle disposed on the tower;
• a generator housed in the nacelle;
• a rotor extending from the generator and having a plurality of blades disposed on a distal end thereof;
• and
• a controller for controlling blade pitch in a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising a plurality of rotor blades and a hydraulic pitch system for adjusting a pitch of each of the rotor blades, the controller being configured to:
• receive data, from at least one hydraulic pressure sensor of the wind turbine, indicative of a current level of hydraulic pressure available in the hydraulic pitch system;
• determine, based on the obtained measurement, an adaptive pitch rate reference indicative of a rate at which the pitch of the rotor blades is to be adjusted by the hydraulic system;
• and
• transmit a control signal configured to control the hydraulic pitch system to adjust the pitch of the rotor blades in accordance with the determined adaptive pitch rate reference.