Wind Turbine Safety-Stop Control With Adaptive Pitch Rates

The patent applies dynamics by making the pitch rate adjustable and variable during the stopping process. Instead of using a fixed, constant pitch rate, the system dynamically adapts the pitch rate based on current operating conditions such as rotor speed and wind speed. This allows the pitch rate to be optimized in real-time to achieve rapid shutdown while keeping mechanical loads within acceptable limits. The control system continuously monitors turbine state and adjusts the pitch rate profile accordingly, transitioning from high pitch rates when safe to lower pitch rates when loads become critical.

The patent changes the parameter of pitch rate from a fixed constant to a variable parameter that depends on operating conditions. By establishing pitch rate limits as a function of rotor speed and wind speed, the system transforms the pitch rate into an adaptive parameter. This allows the pitch rate to be high when the turbine is operating at low speeds (where mechanical loads are naturally lower) and to be reduced when the turbine is operating at high speeds (where mechanical loads would otherwise be excessive). This parameter change resolves the contradiction by allowing rapid shutdown while adapting to load conditions.

The patent makes the control system dynamic by implementing real-time evaluation of operating conditions and adaptive selection of pitch rate limits. Rather than using a static, single procedure for all situations, the system dynamically assesses the current state ( rotor speed, wind speed, error type) and adjusts the stopping procedure accordingly. This dynamic approach maintains relatively simple control logic while achieving high adaptability, as the system responds appropriately to different error conditions and operating states without requiring complex predefined procedures for every scenario.

The patent changes the pitch rate parameter from a fixed value to a variable that depends on operating conditions such as rotor speed and wind speed. By establishing pitch rate limits as functions of these parameters, the system achieves adaptability without significantly increasing control complexity. The control system uses straightforward parameter relationships (pitch rate limits as functions of measurable quantities) rather than complex decision trees or multiple hardcoded procedures. This allows the same basic control structure to adapt to different error conditions and operating states, resolving the contradiction between simplicity and versatility.