General Electric Company
SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE USING CUMULATIVE LOAD HISTOGRAMS BASED ON ACTUAL OPERATION THEREOF

Abstract:

A method for operating a wind turbine includes determining one or more loading and travel metrics or functions thereof for one or more components of the wind turbine during operation of the wind turbine. The method also includes generating, at least in part, at least one distribution of cumulative loading data for the one or more components using the one or more loading and travel metrics during operation of the wind turbine. Further, the method includes applying a life model of the one or more components to the at least one distribution of cumulative loading data to determine an actual damage accumulation for the one or more components of the wind turbine to date. Moreover, the method includes implementing a corrective action for the wind turbine based on the damage accumulation.