Patent · US Active

System and method for reducing rotor loads in a wind turbine upon detection of blade-pitch failure and loss of counter-torque

US7944067B2 · kind B2 · utility

31Cited by

25References

22Claims

0Family size

Assignee

General Electric Company · US

Inventors

Leonardo Cesar Kammer · Niskayuna, US
Axel Braicks · Rheine, DE
Hubert Oing · Berlin, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Apr 1, 2008
Grant date	May 17, 2011
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Jul 21, 2029

Classification

Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
CPC primaryY02P80/10
WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A system and method for reducing rotor loads in a wind turbine that includes a brake and one or more rotor blades coupled to a rotor. Upon detection of a loss of counter torque and a blade-pitch failure in at least one rotor blade, a processor reduces a generator overspeed threshold value by a predetermined amount and determines a brake-release threshold value. The brake is applied to slow the rotor if the generator/rotor speed exceeds the reduced generator/rotor overspeed threshold value. In addition, the brake is applied to slow the rotor until the generator/rotor speed is below the brake-release threshold value. The rate of change of the pitch angle of the rotor blade may be varied as the blade moves toward feather in response to the detected blade-pitch failure.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.