System and method for responding to a friction coefficient signal of a wind turbine

US11767821B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L. · ES

Inventors

• Vidya Sagar Meesala · Rheine, DE
• Misha Gupta · Kanchinakote, IN
• Pranav Agarwal · Ames, US
• Manthram Sivasubramaniam · Bengaluru, IN
• Justin Edwin Barton · Glenville, US
• Frederick Wilson Wheeler · Niskayuna, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 29, 2021
• Grant date: Sep 26, 2023
• Expiry date: Nov 29, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02E10/72
• WIPO field: Engines, pumps, turbines
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to a method for responding to a friction coefficient signal of a pitch bearing of a pitch drive mechanism of a wind turbine and/or for controlling the pitch drive mechanism(s) and/or a bank of ultracapacitors. The method and system include: accessing high-frequency measurement data of the at least one pitch bearing; estimating, via a torque balance model implemented by a controller, a frictional torque of the at least one pitch bearing based, at least in part, on the high-frequency measurement data; estimating, via the controller, a friction coefficient signal of the at least one pitch bearing based, at least in part, on the frictional torque; comparing the friction coefficient signal with a friction threshold; determining whether the friction coefficient signal deviates from the friction threshold based, at least in part, on the comparison; and, if so, acting.