Methods and apparatus for controlling rotary machines

A method of operating a rotary machine, the rotary machine having at least one rotating member and at least one substantially stationary member positioned such that a clearance gap is defined between a portion of the at least one rotating member and a portion of the at least one substantially stationary member, the clearance gap having a measurable dimension, said method comprising:

• providing a clearance gap control system coupled to at least one wind turbine blade;
• rotating the at least one rotating member about the at least one substantially stationary member;
• measuring the clearance gap dimension via the clearance gap control system wherein the clearance gap dimension has a first measured value;
• and
• positioning the at least one rotating member with respect to the at least one substantially stationary member via the clearance gap control system by modulating a pitch of the at least one wind turbine blade such that the clearance gap dimension has a second measured value that is different than the first measured value.

A wind turbine generator comprising:

• at least one rotating member;
• at least one substantially stationary member positioned such that a clearance gap with a measurable clearance dimension is defined between a portion of said rotating member and a portion of said substantially stationary member;
• at least one wind turbine blade coupled to said rotating member;
• and
• a wind turbine generator control system comprising at least one clearance gap dimension measurement apparatus and at least one clearance gap adjustment assembly, said adjustment assembly coupled with said at least one wind turbine blade and coupled in electronic data communication with said measurement apparatus, said control system configured to process a clearance gap dimension signal and modulate said clearance dimension by modulating a pitch of said at least one wind turbine blade.