Wind turbine generators

A control system for operating a wind turbine generator (WTG) configured to selectively connect to an electricity grid, wherein the WTG comprises an auxiliary power supply and one or more auxiliary circuits, the control system comprising:

• means for monitoring a grid voltage of the electricity grid;
• means for disconnecting the WTG from the electricity grid in response to detecting a condition in which the grid voltage is less than a predetermined level for more than a predetermined time, wherein the control system is configured to transition from a first mode into a second, low-power mode in response to detecting the condition;
• means for connecting the auxiliary power supply to the one or more auxiliary circuits in response to detecting a return of the grid voltage to at least the predetermined level, wherein the control system is further configured to transition from the second mode to the first mode in response to detecting the return;
• and
• means for reconnecting the WTG to the electricity grid in response to determining that the one or more auxiliary circuits are in a fully functional state.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having encoded thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one computer processor, causes the at least one computer processor to carry out an operation comprising:

• disconnecting a wind turbine generator (WTG) from an electrical grid in response to detecting a condition in which a grid voltage of the electrical grid is less than a predetermined level for more than a predetermined time;
• transitioning from a first mode into a second, low-power mode in response to detecting the condition;
• in response to detecting a return of the grid voltage to at least the predetermined level, (i) transitioning from the second mode to the first mode and (ii) connecting an auxiliary power supply of the WTG to one or more auxiliary circuits of the WTG;
• and
• in response to determining that the one or more auxiliary circuits are in a fully functional state, reconnecting the WTG to the electrical grid.

A method of operating a wind turbine generator (WTG) configured to selectively connect to an electrical grid, the method comprising:

• responsive to determining that a grid voltage of the electrical grid is less than a predetermined level, transitioning one or more auxiliary circuits of the WTG from being powered by the electrical grid to being powered by an auxiliary power source of the WTG;
• responsive to determining that the grid voltage is less than the predetermined level for more than a predetermined time, disconnecting the one or more auxiliary circuits from the auxiliary power source;
• responsive to determining that that grid voltage has returned to at least the predetermined level, reconnecting the auxiliary power supply to the one or more auxiliary circuits;
• and
• responsive to determining that the one or more auxiliary circuits are in a fully functional state, connecting the WTG to the electrical grid from an unconnected state.

A control system for a wind turbine generator (WTG), the control system comprising:

• one or more computer processors configured to:
• monitor a grid voltage of an electricity grid;
• responsive to determining that the grid voltage is less than a predetermined level, transition one or more auxiliary circuits of the WTG from being powered by the electrical grid to being powered by an auxiliary power source of the WTG;
• responsive to determining that the grid voltage is less than the predetermined level for more than a predetermined time, disconnect the one or more auxiliary circuits from the auxiliary power source;
• responsive to determining that that grid voltage has returned to at least the predetermined level, reconnect the auxiliary power supply to the one or more auxiliary circuits;
• and
• responsive to determining that the one or more auxiliary circuits are in a fully functional state, connect the WTG to the electrical grid from an unconnected state.