Observer design and optimization for model-based condition monitoring of the wind turbine rotor blades using genetic algorithm

In this paper a model based approach for condition monitoring and diagnosis of faults in the wind turbine rotor blades is described. The investigation is focused on creating a fault-free reference system, the design and optimization of the controller/observer based on the Disturbance Accommodating Control theory and the multi-objective genetic optimization algorithm in order to further enhance the condition monitoring and faults diagnosis. Test cases are presented by injecting a parameter change, e.g. pitch angle, as an error to the non-linear wind turbine simulation model in order to demonstrate that the proposed method is able to detect the fault on the blades.