Patent ID: 8478449

Claim:
A method of controlling the operation of a variable speed wind turbine ( 11 ), tracking a power curve ( 25 , 27 ) which includes a nominal operational region ( 3 ) and sub-nominal operational regions ( 2 , 1 , 0 ), wherein the method comprises an adaptive predictive algorithm that allows the operation of the wind turbine ( 11 ) in the nominal operation region ( 3 ) or in the sub-nominal operation regions of the power curve ( 25 , 27 ) depending on the wind situations and comprises the steps of: a) implementing a control strategy to follow said power curve ( 25 , 27 ) in said nominal operational region ( 3 ) based on the use of demanded torque T d for controlling power P and on the use of demanded pitch θ d for controlling demanded torque T d ; b) implementing a control strategy to follow said power curve ( 25 , 27 ) in sub-nominal operational regions ( 2 , 1 , 0 ) based on the use of demanded torque T d for controlling power P and on the setting of a constant optimum value for demanded pitch θ d in each sub-nominal operational region ( 2 , 1 , 0 ).