WIND TURBINE AND POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM

摘要

A horizontal axis wind turbine (10) for generating electrical energy for supply to an energy storage device (43) having a limited energy storage capability. The wind turbine (10) comprises: a rotor (12) having a plurality of blades (11 a-c) mechanically connected thereto for converting kinetic wind energy to rotation of the rotor (12) at a rotational speed; a generator (17) comprising a stationary portion (18) and a rotatable portion (16) connected to the rotor (12) for interacting with the stationary portion (18) to convert the rotation of the rotor (12) into electrical energy for supply to the energy storage device (43); a sensor (46) for sensing the rotational speed of the rotor (12) and for outputting a signal indicative thereof and a braking system (47) controllable to mechanically interact with the rotor (12) to reduce the rotational speed of the rotor (12). The wind turbine further comprises processing circuitry (45) operatively connected to the sensor (46) and to the braking system (47) for evaluating the signal output by the sensor (46) and, if the rotational speed is above a predetermined threshold value, controlling the braking system (47) to reduce the rotational speed through mechanical interaction with the rotor (12).