Sliding Mode Observer-Based Fault Detection and Isolation Approach for a Wind Turbine Benchmark

A fault detection and isolation (FDI) approach based on nonlinear sliding mode observers for a wind turbine model is presented. Problems surrounding pitch and drive train system FDI are addressed. This topic has generated great interest because the early detection of faults in these components allows avoiding irreparable damage in wind turbines. A fault diagnosis strategy using nonlinear sliding mode observer banks is proposed due to its ability to handle model uncertainties and external disturbances. Unlike the reported solutions, the solution approach does not need a priori knowledge of the faults and considers system uncertainty. The robustness to disturbances, uncertainties, and measurement noise is shown in the dynamic of the generated residuals, which is sensible to only one kind of fault. To show the effectiveness of the proposed FDI approach, numerical examples based on a wind turbine benchmark model, considering closed loop applications, are presented.