Effect of Rotor Faults on Wind Turbine Shutdown or Continued Operation

The dynamics of wind turbine (WT) behavior and the identification of factors influencing its performance are both highly complex and challenging. Additionally, component damage, along with sensor and actuator failures, can lead to system faults that significantly reduce performance. Understanding these impacts provides control system designers with valuable insights to develop strategies for mitigating faults and enhancing WT performance. This study presents a novel evaluation of rotor fault effects on output power and measured variables in WTs using Monte Carlo simulation and sensitivity analysis. Through comprehensive simulation and numerical analysis, the faults with the greatest impact on WT performance are identified. The results of this research not only provide a better understanding of the WT performance during faults but also identify the significant effects of these faults on the performance of wind turbines and specifically identify and prioritize the main faults. These results are instrumental in improving control strategies, developing preventive maintenance programs, and offering practical solutions to reduce operational costs and extend the equipment’s useful life.