Patent ID: 11946450
Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S
Field: Engines, pumps, turbines (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC F  Y | IPC F

Claim 4:
5. A method for preventing failures of a pitch bearing of a rotor blade of a wind turbine due to a lack of lubrication, of the method comprising:
a) capturing sensor signals of a plurality of sensors in or at the pitch bearing by a measurement system, wherein the sensor signals represents a change in vibration from the pitch bearing that is caused by the lack of lubrication between contact surfaces of the pitch bearing, during operation of the wind turbine, and
b) changing the pitch angle by a pitch control device as a function of the sensor signals to prevent failure of the pitch bearing due to a lack of lubrication;
wherein in or before step b), the sensor signals are compared with an initial pattern of the sensor signals captured under normal operating conditions, and wherein the pitch angle is changed by the pitch control device when a final pattern deviates from the initial pattern, the final pattern comprising a continuous progress of the sensor signal over a predetermined time;

wherein the plurality of sensors include at least one sensor arranged in or at the hub and at least one sensor arranged in or at the rotor blades.