A wind turbine blade based wireless signal transmission device and method
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202611111423.X
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2026-07-24
- Publication Date
- 2026-10-16
AI Technical Summary
[0006]本发明的目的在于提供一种基于风电叶片的无线信号发射传输装置及方法，解决了现有技术中无线信号传输依赖独立天线、成本高、稳定性差的问题
本发明提供的一种基于风电叶片的无线信号发射传输装置，通过将发射模块集成于由电磁透过性复合材料制成的风电叶片本体内部，并利用信号处理模块对待传输信号进行调制编码处理后由发射模块转换为电磁波直接透过叶片向外辐射，从而彻底摒弃了传统外挂独立天线的设计，一方面显著降低了风电场的硬件采购、安装、防护及配套线缆支架等建设与运维成本，避免了外露天线因长期暴露于强风、暴雨、冰雪、雷暴等恶劣环境而导致的机械疲劳、腐蚀、松动脱落及雷击风险，提高了系统的可靠性和安全性；另一方面，由于发射模块随叶片一同旋转且辐射出的电磁波能够直接穿透叶片材料，有效克服了现有技术中因叶片周期性遮挡、反射或散射造成的信道快衰落与信号盲区问题，同时结合叶片自身的尺寸和布局可实现更优的信号覆盖范围与方向性，改善了复杂地形或海上风电场中因机舱偏航、塔筒遮挡及多径效应导致的通信质量不稳定问题，从而以低成本、高可靠、免外挂天线的方式实现了风电机组与地面接收端之间的稳定无线信号传输。
Smart Images
Figure FT_1
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention belongs to the field of wireless communication technology, and specifically relates to a wireless signal transmission device and method based on wind turbine blades. Background Technology
[0002] In existing wind turbines, the core function of the blades is to capture wind energy and convert it into mechanical energy to drive generators. However, with the continuous expansion of wind farms and the increasing demand for intelligent operation and maintenance, the limitations of blades with only a single energy conversion function are becoming increasingly apparent. Wind farms are typically located in open wilderness, plateaus, nearshore, or offshore areas. While these areas are rich in wind energy resources, they also face challenges such as complex environmental conditions and weak communication infrastructure. To achieve effective monitoring and data acquisition of wind turbine status (such as blade vibration, temperature, stress, icing conditions, etc.), as well as remote data transmission and collaborative control, wireless communication systems are often required. Current solutions mostly rely on additionally installed independent antennas or communication base stations, but this approach has the following prominent problems: Additional equipment increases system complexity and cost: Installing dedicated wireless communication antennas on each or several wind turbines not only requires additional hardware procurement, installation, and protection expenditures, but also necessitates corresponding cables, brackets, and lightning protection grounding systems, significantly increasing the construction and operation and maintenance costs of wind farms. Furthermore, the added components make the nacelle and tower's external structure more complex, hindering standardized manufacturing and maintenance.
[0003] Antennas exposed to harsh environments suffer from poor signal stability: Wind farms frequently face extreme weather conditions such as strong winds, torrential rain, snow, and thunderstorms. External antennas, constantly exposed to such environments, are prone to mechanical fatigue, corrosion, loosening, and even detachment. The risk of lightning strikes is particularly significant; a lightning strike can not only disrupt communication but also introduce surges through the feeder, damaging the turbine's control system. Furthermore, antenna vibrations caused by strong winds can lead to signal fluctuations and multipath effects, reducing communication quality.
[0004] Topography and blade rotation lead to signal blind spots and low transmission efficiency: Onshore wind farms are often located in complex terrains such as mountains, hills, or deserts. Due to mountain obstruction or excessive distance between some turbines, wireless signal coverage is difficult. Offshore wind farms, although located in flat terrain, have larger turbine spacing, resulting in significant water surface reflection and multipath effects. Existing antennas are typically mounted on the top of the nacelle, and their radiation pattern changes as the yaw system rotates. Simultaneously, the rotating blades periodically block, reflect, or scatter signals, causing rapid fading and blind spots in the channel. Furthermore, signal coverage is particularly weak around the tower and near the ground, making it difficult to reliably transmit collected data to the aggregation point or central monitoring system, affecting the real-time performance and accuracy of operation and maintenance decisions.
[0005] To solve the above problems, there is an urgent need to develop a wireless communication technology that does not rely on an independent antenna. Summary of the Invention
[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide a wireless signal transmission device and method based on wind turbine blades, which solves the problems of existing wireless signal transmission relying on independent antennas, high cost, and poor stability.
[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows: In a first aspect, the present invention provides a wireless signal transmission device based on wind turbine blades, comprising a transmission module and a signal processing module, wherein: The transmitting module is used to convert the processed signal to be transmitted into electromagnetic waves and radiate them outwards; The signal processing module is used to receive the signal to be transmitted and to modulate and encode it to generate the processed signal to be transmitted. The transmitting module is integrated inside the wind turbine blade body and is electrically connected to the signal processing module.
[0008] Preferably, the transmitting module is a microstrip antenna array.
[0009] Preferably, the microstrip antenna array is provided in five groups.
[0010] Preferably, the launch module is arranged along the length of the wind turbine blade body.
[0011] Preferably, the signal processing module is located at the root of the wind turbine blade or inside the nacelle.
[0012] Preferably, the signal processing module includes: A power amplifier is used to amplify the signal to be transmitted. The modulation unit is used to modulate the amplified signal; The encoding unit is used to encode the modulated signal and output it to the signal transmission module.
[0013] Preferably, the tip of the wind turbine blade body is further provided with an adjustable reflector, which is connected to a servo motor to adjust the angle of the reflector according to the position of the receiving end, so as to adjust the radiation direction of the electromagnetic wave.
[0014] Preferably, both the transmitting module and the signal processing module are connected to a power supply module.
[0015] Preferably, the power supply module is connected to a wind power converter.
[0016] Secondly, the present invention provides a wireless signal transmission method based on wind turbine blades, comprising the following steps: The signal to be transmitted is acquired and processed by the signal processing module to obtain the processed signal to be transmitted. The processed signal to be transmitted is transmitted to the transmitting module integrated inside the wind turbine blade body; The transmitting module converts the processed signal to be transmitted into electromagnetic waves, and uses the electromagnetic permeability of the wind turbine blade body to radiate the electromagnetic waves outward through the wind turbine blade body to the receiving end.
[0017] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of the present invention are: This invention provides a wireless signal transmission device based on wind turbine blades. By integrating the transmitting module inside the wind turbine blade body made of electromagnetically permeable composite material, and using a signal processing module to modulate and encode the signal to be transmitted, the transmitting module converts it into electromagnetic waves that directly radiate outward through the blade. This completely eliminates the need for traditional external independent antennas. On the one hand, it significantly reduces the construction and maintenance costs of wind farm hardware procurement, installation, protection, and supporting cable supports. On the other hand, it avoids mechanical fatigue, corrosion, loosening and detachment caused by long-term exposure to harsh environments such as strong winds, heavy rain, snow, and thunderstorms, as well as damage from lightning strikes. This reduces risks and improves the reliability and safety of the system. On the other hand, since the transmitting module rotates with the blade and the radiated electromagnetic waves can directly penetrate the blade material, it effectively overcomes the problems of fast channel fading and signal blind spots caused by periodic obstruction, reflection or scattering of the blade in the existing technology. At the same time, combined with the size and layout of the blade itself, it can achieve better signal coverage and directionality, and improve the communication quality instability caused by nacelle yaw, tower obstruction and multipath effect in complex terrain or offshore wind farms. Thus, it realizes stable wireless signal transmission between wind turbine and ground receiver in a low-cost, high-reliability way without external antenna. Attached Figure Description
[0018] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the process involved in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation
[0019] In the following description, specific details such as particular system architectures and techniques are set forth for illustrative purposes and not for limitation, in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of this application. However, those skilled in the art will understand that this application may also be implemented in other embodiments without these specific details. In other instances, detailed descriptions of well-known systems, apparatuses, circuits, and methods have been omitted so as not to obscure the description of this application with unnecessary detail.
[0020] It should be understood that, when used in this application specification and the appended claims, the term "comprising" indicates the presence of the described features, integrals, steps, operations, elements and / or components, but does not exclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integrals, steps, operations, elements, components and / or a collection thereof.
[0021] It should also be understood that the term “and / or” as used in this application specification and the appended claims means any combination of one or more of the associated listed items and all possible combinations, and includes such combinations.
[0022] As used in this application specification and the appended claims, the term "if" may be interpreted, depending on the context, as "when," "once," "in response to determination," or "in response to detection." Similarly, the phrase "if determined" or "if detected [the described condition or event]" may be interpreted, depending on the context, as meaning "once determined," "in response to determination," "once detected [the described condition or event]," or "in response to detection [the described condition or event]."
[0023] Furthermore, in the description of this application and the appended claims, the terms "first," "second," "third," etc., are used only to distinguish descriptions and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance.
[0024] References to "one embodiment" or "some embodiments" as described in this specification mean that one or more embodiments of this application include a specific feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with that embodiment. Therefore, the phrases "in one embodiment," "in some embodiments," "in other embodiments," "in still other embodiments," etc., appearing in different parts of this specification do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment, but rather mean "one or more, but not all, embodiments," unless otherwise specifically emphasized. The terms "comprising," "including," "having," and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to," unless otherwise specifically emphasized.
[0025] Example 1 This embodiment provides a wireless signal transmission device based on wind turbine blades, including a transmission module and a signal processing module, wherein: The transmitting module is used to convert the processed signal to be transmitted into electromagnetic waves and radiate them outwards; The signal processing module is used to receive the signal to be transmitted and to modulate and encode it to generate the processed signal to be transmitted. The transmitting module is integrated inside the wind turbine blade body and is electrically connected to the signal processing module.
[0026] Example 2 This embodiment provides a wireless signal transmission device based on wind turbine blades, comprising: Wind turbine blade body: It integrates a signal transmission channel inside, and the wind turbine blade body is made of a composite material with electromagnetic permeability.
[0027] In this embodiment, the electromagnetically permeable composite material is glass fiber reinforced resin.
[0028] Signal processing module: Located at the blade root or inside the nacelle, it is used to modulate and encode the received signal to be transmitted to obtain the processed transmission signal.
[0029] In this embodiment, the signal to be transmitted includes device monitoring data and control commands.
[0030] Transmission module: Integrated inside the wind turbine blade body, electrically connected to the signal processing module, converting the processed transmission signal into electromagnetic waves and radiating them outward through the wind turbine blade body.
[0031] In this embodiment, the transmitting module is a microstrip antenna array arranged along the length of the wind turbine blade.
[0032] Power supply module: Connected to the wind power system grid or backup power supply to power the signal processing module and the transmission module.
[0033] Example 3 This embodiment provides a wireless signal transmission device based on wind turbine blades, comprising: The wind turbine blade body is made of glass fiber reinforced epoxy resin composite material; five microstrip antenna arrays are integrated inside the wind turbine blade body along its length; the microstrip antenna arrays are connected to the signal processing module in the nacelle via coaxial transmission lines.
[0034] The signal processing module and the five microstrip antenna arrays are all connected to a power supply module.
[0035] The power supply module is connected to the wind power converter.
[0036] In this embodiment, the dielectric constant of the wind turbine blade body is 3.5-4.5, and the thickness is 30-50mm.
[0037] The microstrip antenna array operates in the 2.4GHz / 5GHz frequency band.
[0038] The signal processing module includes an FPGA modulation unit and a power amplifier, wherein the input terminal of the power amplifier is connected to a microstrip antenna array, and the output terminal of the power amplifier is connected to the input terminal of the FPGA modulation unit.
[0039] The power supply module supplies power to each module via a voltage regulator circuit.
[0040] The working process of this embodiment: During the blade rotation, the signal processing module receives data from the blade sensors (such as strain and temperature), modulates it with OFDM, and transmits it to the microstrip antenna array via a transmission line. The antenna array uses the wind turbine blade to radiate electromagnetic waves in a directional manner. The ground base station receives and demodulates the data to achieve real-time monitoring.
[0041] Example 4 Based on Embodiment 3, this embodiment provides a wireless signal transmission device based on a wind turbine blade. The tip of the wind turbine blade is equipped with an adjustable reflector. The angle of the reflector is controlled by a servo motor to dynamically adjust the signal radiation direction and adapt to the needs of different receiver positions.
[0042] Example 5 This embodiment provides a wireless signal transmission method based on wind turbine blades, comprising the following steps: S1: The signal to be transmitted is acquired through a sensor or data interface, modulated and encoded by the signal processing module to obtain the processed signal to be transmitted; In this embodiment, the modulation is OFDM modulation; the encoding is LDPC encoding.
[0043] S2: The processed signal to be transmitted is transmitted to the transmitting module inside the wind turbine blade body through the transmission line; S3: The transmitting module converts electrical signals into electromagnetic waves and uses the electromagnetic properties of the blade body to radiate the electromagnetic waves directionally or omnidirectionally to the receiving end. S4: The receiving end receives electromagnetic waves and demodulates them to complete signal transmission.
[0044] The above-described embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some of the technical features. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the spirit and scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, and should all be included within the protection scope of this application.
Claims
1. A wireless signal transmission device based on wind turbine blades, characterized in that, It includes a transmission module and a signal processing module, wherein: The transmitting module is used to convert the processed signal to be transmitted into electromagnetic waves and radiate them outwards; The signal processing module is used to receive the signal to be transmitted and to modulate and encode it to generate the processed signal to be transmitted. The transmitting module is integrated inside the wind turbine blade body and is electrically connected to the signal processing module.
2. The wireless signal transmission device based on wind turbine blades according to claim 1, characterized in that, The transmitting module is a microstrip antenna array.
3. The wireless signal transmission device based on wind turbine blades according to claim 2, characterized in that, The microstrip antenna array is configured with five groups.
4. The wireless signal transmission device based on wind turbine blades according to claim 1, characterized in that, The launch module is arranged along the length of the wind turbine blade.
5. A wireless signal transmission device based on wind turbine blades according to claim 1, characterized in that, The signal processing module is located at the root of the wind turbine blade or inside the nacelle.
6. The wireless signal transmission device based on wind turbine blades according to claim 1, characterized in that, The signal processing module includes: A power amplifier is used to amplify the signal to be transmitted. The modulation unit is used to modulate the amplified signal; The encoding unit is used to encode the modulated signal and output it to the signal transmission module.
7. The wireless signal transmission device based on wind turbine blades according to claim 1, characterized in that, The tip of the wind turbine blade is also equipped with an adjustable reflector, which is connected to a servo motor to adjust the angle of the reflector according to the position of the receiving end, so as to adjust the radiation direction of the electromagnetic wave.
8. A wireless signal transmission device based on wind turbine blades according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the transmitting module and the signal processing module are connected to a power supply module.
9. A wireless signal transmission device based on wind turbine blades according to claim 8, characterized in that, The power supply module is connected to a wind power converter.
10. A method for transmitting wireless signals based on wind turbine blades, characterized in that, Includes the following steps: The signal to be transmitted is acquired and processed by the signal processing module to obtain the processed signal to be transmitted. The processed signal to be transmitted is transmitted to the transmitting module integrated inside the wind turbine blade body; The transmitting module converts the processed signal to be transmitted into electromagnetic waves, and uses the electromagnetic permeability of the wind turbine blade body to radiate the electromagnetic waves outward through the wind turbine blade body to the receiving end.