Long Term Rotor Parking on a Wind Turbine

Abstract

A method for locking a rotor of a wind turbine in a long term parking state is disclosed. The method may include applying rotor brakes, enabling a long term parking configuration of the rotor and providing an emergency feather response for protecting the wind turbine against faults.

1 . A method for locking a rotor of a wind turbine in a long term parking state, the method comprising:
 providing a wind turbine having a rotor, the rotor having a hub and a plurality of blades radially extending therefrom;   locking the rotor to prevent rotation;   enabling a long term parking configuration of the rotor; and   providing an emergency feather response for protecting the wind turbine against faults.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein locking the rotor to prevent rotation comprises inserting a locking pin into a receptacle on the hub of the wind turbine. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein enabling a long term parking configuration comprises minimizing rotor torque generated by the rotor in a locked state. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein enabling a long term parking configuration comprises adjusting a pitch angle of the plurality of blades to produce a least amount of torque. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein each of the plurality of blades are pitched from a standby position near feather towards a power position near zero degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein a pitching angle of zero degrees produces the least amount of torque when the rotor is in a locked state in every wind direction. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein enabling a long term parking configuration comprises optimizing an azimuthal position of the plurality of blades. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein an optimal azimuthal position of the plurality of blades comprises positioning a first blade at a two o'clock position, a second blade at a six o'clock position and a third blade at a ten o'clock position. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein enabling a long term parking configuration comprises adjusting a yaw orientation of the wind turbine relative to the prevailing wind direction. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing an emergency feather response comprises pitching the plurality of blades to a ninety degree pitch angle upon the detection of a fault. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the emergency feather response is invoked when the rotor begins rotation in the long term parking configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the emergency feather condition is invoked when power to the wind turbine is lost. 
     
     
         13 . A method of configuring a rotor of a wind turbine in a long term parking state, the method comprising:
 providing a wind turbine having a rotor, the rotor having a hub and a plurality of blades radially extending therefrom;   locking the rotor against rotation; and   changing a pitch angle of each of the plurality of blades to at or near zero degrees.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the pitch angle of each of the plurality of blades is changed one at a time, a second blade starting pitching after a first blade has reached zero degree pitch angle. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of blades is pitched simultaneously to zero degrees. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 optimizing the yaw orientation of the wind turbine; and   optimizing an azimuthal position of the plurality of blades.   
     
     
         17 . A wind turbine, comprising:
 a rotor having a hub and a plurality of blades radially extending from the hub; and   a control system in operable association with the rotor, the control system configured to put the rotor in a long term parking state.   
     
     
         18 . The wind turbine of  claim 17 , wherein the long term parking state of the rotor comprises locking the rotor. 
     
     
         19 . The wind turbine of  claim 17 , wherein the long term parking state of the rotor is characterized by one or more of changing a pitch angle of the plurality of blades, adjusting an azimuthal position of the plurality of blades and yawing the wind turbine to at least substantially face in to the wind. 
     
     
         20 . The wind turbine of  claim 17 , wherein the control system further controls an emergency feather condition of the long term parking state of the rotor.