Wind Turbine Controls

Question 1

When you enter the DTA, what are the 8 buttons on the outside of the control box, and what do they do?

Answer 1

1) Emergency Stop:
2) Stop / Reset;
3) Idle Reset:
4) Yaw Left/Right:
5) Yaw Stop:
6) Yaw Manual:
7) Start:
8) Operate Key:
- I = Service: This tower is not available for remote operation for general maintenance
- O = Operate: Remote access to controls is possible.
- II = Repair: This tower is “broken”, not available for remote operation, time and date are logged for downtime status

Question 2

In the DTA control box, what are the 3 Operate Key settings and what are they used for?

Answer 2

Operate Key:
I = Service: This tower is not available for remote operation for general maintenance

O = Operate: Remote access to controls is possible.

II = Repair: This tower is “broken”, not available for remote operation, time and date are logged for downtime status

Question 3

Describe what the wind turbine generating system “safety chain” is used for and what

Answer 3

1) The safety chain is a series connection of contact points of various monitoring devices of the Wind Turbine Generator System. It serves to protect the WTGS from impermissible or dangerous operating states.
2) The opening of just one of these contacts causes the interruption of the safety chain.
- Emergency braking operation that brings the rotor to a standstill as quickly as possible takes place.
- Rotor blades are turned to the stop position of 89° (feathering position),
- The disk brake is activated and
- Opening of the circuit breaker of the generator disconnected the WTGS from the grid.

Question 4

List the buttons and switches on the DTA control panel and the function of each.

Answer 4

• Emergency Stop (E Stop) – A device used to place all systems in a safe condition.
• Stop/Reset: Computer Assisted Reset (CAR) system that allows a central operations team to remotely reset turbine faults across multiple wind turbine platforms and SCADA systems
• Idle Reset: Tower goes offline without hydraulic break
• Yaw Left Right: Moves nacelle in yaw right and yaw left
• Yaw Stop: Stop turbine
• Yaw Manual: In “Yaw” remote access is possible, but in “yaw manual” only the tower has control.
• Start: Run turbine
  The O - Operate Key: I + Service (for general maintenance, but tower is available after work); 0 = Operate; II = Repair (broken, tower not available, logs down-time, protects crew

Question 5

1) How is yaw movement measured?

2) How are yaw revolutions measured?

Answer 5

1) Proximity sensor data to SCADA computer system

2) Yaw position reset sensor
Cable twist switch as failsafe

Question 6

1) How many proximity sensors county yaw degree position?

2)How many proximity sensors count yaw rotation?

Answer 6

1) Two
2) one

Question 7

What is the primary form of braking of a WTG?

Answer 7

Hydraulic disk brake on high speed shaft.
Also part of breaking:
- Blade pitch to feathering position
- ?

Question 8

What does the switch “Yaw/Yaw manual” do?

Answer 8

In “Yaw” remote access is possible, but in “yaw manual” only the tower has control.

Question 9

What is the difference between “Idle reset” and “Stop Reset?”

Answer 9

• Idle Reset: Tower goes offline without hydraulic break
• Stop Reset:

Context: The Computer Assisted Reset (CAR) system that allows a central operations team to remotely reset turbine faults across multiple wind turbine platforms and SCADA systems