IP Library Granted Patent US 8,816,871
Granted Patent B2
US 8,816,871 · App. 13/310,345 · Granted Aug 26, 2014

Method for monitoring a static and/or dynamic stability of a wind turbine

Inventors: Detlef Drossel (Norderstedt, DE); Ulrich Harms (Hamburg, DE)
Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,816,871
App. No.
13/310,345
Granted
Aug 26, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to a method for monitoring a static and/or dynamic stability of a wind turbine. The wind turbine has a tower, a nacelle, which is supported by the tower, and a rotor, which is mounted in or on the nacelle and has at least one rotor blade which can be adjusted about its longitudinal axis. The method includes the following steps: the wind turbine is excited to oscillate in at least one direction. A frequency (f m ) of the excited oscillation is detected. The detected frequency is compared with a predetermined frequency (f ref ) and an alarm signal is generated if the detected frequency deviates from the predetermined frequency by more than a difference value (Δf).

Claims (13)

1. A method for monitoring a static and/or dynamic stability of a wind turbine having a tower, a nacelle which is supported by the tower, and a rotor which is mounted in or on the nacelle and has at least one rotor blade defining a plane as the rotor blade rotates over an area and said rotor blade being adjustable about its longitudinal axis, the method comprising the steps of:

exciting the wind turbine to oscillate with said tower thereof in a z-direction at right angles to said plane by adjusting a blade pitch angle of said at least one rotor blade to its feathered position;

detecting a frequency (f m ) of the excited oscillation of said wind turbine including said tower;

comparing the detected frequency with a predetermined frequency (f ref ); and,

generating an alarm signal when the detected frequency deviates from the predetermined frequency by more than a difference value (Δf).

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the blade pitch angle is adjusted by at least a predetermined angle.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one rotor blade is adjusted at a predetermined blade pitch adjustment rate, which is selected to be sufficiently high that the tower is excited to oscillate.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the frequency of the excited oscillation is detected by evaluating a sensor signal from an acceleration sensor arranged in the nacelle.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the detected frequency is low-pass filtered.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein a first tower natural frequency is provided as the predetermined frequency.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alarm signal is generated if the detected frequency is greater than the predetermined frequency by more than a first difference value or is less than the predetermined frequency by more than a second difference value.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alarm signal is generated when the detected frequency drops below a predetermined excitation frequency by more than a minimum amount.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein an amplitude of the excited oscillation is detected and the alarm signal is generated only if the amplitude exceeds a predetermined minimum value.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CHANGE OF NAME TO REMOVE PATENT NUMBER 10771765 AND ADD PATENT NUMBER 10711765 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 055259 FRAME: 0008. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CHANGE OF NAME. Recorded Nov 12, 2021
From: NORDEX ENERGY GMBH
To: NORDEX ENERGY SE & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 058222/0542 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Feb 8, 2021
From: NORDEX ENERGY GMBH
To: NORDEX ENERGY SE & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 055259/0008 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 20, 2012
From: DROSSEL, DETLEF; HARMS, ULRICH
To: NORDEX ENERGY GMBH
Reel/Frame 027713/0519 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2010 053 523 · Dec 4, 2010 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120139740A1 · Jun 7, 2012