Predictive Blade Adjustment

Abstract

Predictively adjusting the pitch of blades and / or sections of a blade based on fluid velocity measurements. In one embodiment, the measurements are obtained of an upstream portion of a fluid flow using a laser Doppler velocimeter. The pitch of the blade(s) and / or blade section(s) are then adjusted to achieve a desired amount of lift or to create a stall-configuration as can be useful for conditions in which an excessive fluid velocity is detected.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application is a continuation-in-part patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14 / 262,215, entitled “Predictive Blade Adjustment”, filed on Apr. 25, 2014, which itself claims priority to and the benefit of the filing of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61 / 816,027, entitled “Maximizing the Extraction of Wind Energy Through the Use of Predictive Adaption of Wind Turbine Blades”, filed on Apr. 25, 2013, and the specification and claims thereof are incorporated herein by reference.STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT[0002]Not Applicable.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)[0004]Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and system for predictively determining an optimum blade pitch based on approaching fluid velocities.[0005]2. Description of Related Art[0006]Historically, props of turbines, airplanes, and the like, have a pitch and / ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This system enables wind turbine blades to operate at more efficient angles of attack, maximizing energy capture while prolonging blade life and reducing turbulence and repair costs by allowing predictive adjustments before excessive wind conditions are reached.

Problems solved by technology

Such predetermined pitch blades, however, are not typically configured for on-the-fly pitch adjustments.

Although adjustable pitch blades are known, their use in making on-the-fly adjustments have been severely restricted in many applications—so much so that their adjustments have been used merely as a reaction to fluid velocity alterations already experienced by the blades.

The problem with using adjustable pitch blades in a mere reactionary manner is that a lot of the benefit of the on-the-fly adjustment ability is negated because such blades are forced to endure the unwanted fluid velocity, at least initially, before their pitch is adjusted.

These differing wind velocities result in differing angles of attack and dynamic pressures at different points along the blade's length, thus causes flexing of the blade as it rotates from the top position to the bottom position.

Although operating blades in a stall configuration thus prolongs blade life, it is highly inefficient because a large fraction of the available wind energy is used simply to turn the blade instead of being available to turn the turbine generator.

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