Open AccessAnalysis of pitch system data for condition monitoring
Author(s) -
Nielsen Jannie S.,
Pieterman René P.,
Sørensen John D.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
wind energy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.743
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1099-1824
pISSN - 1095-4244
DOI - 10.1002/we.1586
Subject(s) - blade pitch , torque , turbine , pitch angle , acceleration , control theory (sociology) , current (fluid) , moment (physics) , bearing (navigation) , pitch control , aeroelasticity , engineering , structural engineering , acoustics , physics , mechanics , computer science , aerodynamics , mechanical engineering , electrical engineering , control (management) , classical mechanics , astronomy , artificial intelligence , geophysics , thermodynamics
ABSTRACT Measurements of pitch motor torque and current give indirect information about the condition of the pitch system and can therefore potentially be used for condition‐based maintenance. This paper presents an analysis of these measurements for a wind turbine, and the measurements are compared with a theoretical model based on aeroelastic simulations. The blade moment is found to have only minor influence on the friction in the blade bearing. The main factors affecting the static friction are the temperature and time after the latest pitch movement. Pitch motor current and torque are proportional at a constant pitch velocity, but the 10 min maximum values are only approximately proportional, because the maximum values occur during acceleration and not simultaneously. These findings are important to consider, if using the pitch motor current or torque as an indicator for the pitch system health is considered. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.