SCADA-based methodology for zero point error identification and yaw misalignment diagnosis in wind turbines generators

Strategies for yaw misalignment control in wind turbine generators are crucial to increasing energy production and protecting these devices.
Accurate measurement of the yaw angle depends on the correctness of wind information (height, direction, and speed), computed based on a standard point, the so-called zero point.  Zero point offsets/displacements affect all information for the yaw angle measurement, leading to energy losses. So, it is essential to evaluate and identify the displacement error of the zero-point position to improve energy production.  A SCADA data-driven approach is proposed to detect yaw angle displacement by analyzing power performance at different yaw angles within a wind speed range.  The average power at each angle is used to identify the zero point error, corresponding to the maximum production yaw angle. Experiments with data from wind turbines in Rio Grande do Norte indicate that the approach can assist in diagnosis and WTG evaluation