Lighting arrangement for a wind turbine tower and operating procedures for such a lighting arrangement

Abstract

The invention relates to a lighting arrangement (10) for a tower (2) of a wind turbine (1) comprising a plurality of lights (12-14) connected to one another via a power supply line (11). The lighting arrangement (10) is characterized in that at least one device for transmitting sensor data via the power supply line (11) and a receiving unit (19) are connected to the power supply line (11), the receiving unit (19) being configured to receive the sensor data transmitted by the at least one device and to make it available at a data port for external use. The invention further relates to a method for operating such a lighting arrangement (10).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a lighting arrangement for a tower of a wind turbine having a plurality of luminaires connected to one another via a power supply line. The invention further relates to an operating method for such a lighting arrangement.

[0002] Inside a wind turbine tower, luminaires are usually arranged at regular intervals and supplied with operating current via a common power supply line. A lighting arrangement with luminaires whose radiation characteristics are particularly well suited for illuminating such a tower is known, for example, from document EP 2 743 564 A1. The lighting arrangement can be used as a regular lighting device or as an emergency lighting device. The individual luminaires each have plug connections on opposite sides of the housing, allowing the luminaires to be arranged in a chain-like manner with comparatively little installation effort and connected to one another via sections of the power supply line.A supply cable plugged into one side of the luminaire supplies the luminaire and is looped through within the luminaire to the opposite side, from where a cable plugged into there is led to the next luminaire.

[0003] To increase performance and efficiency, wind turbines are being built with increasingly taller towers. Hub heights of 150 meters and more are now being achieved. As the tower height increases, so does the load it must bear. To ensure smooth operation of the wind turbine and to detect potential damage or material fatigue on the tower at an early stage, sensors are increasingly being used in or on the tower, such as strain sensors, temperature sensors, and / or acceleration sensors. The sensors can be arranged at various tower heights, which requires a significant amount of additional cabling to supply the sensors with operating power and to record and transmit sensor data.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to reduce the cabling effort in a tower of a wind turbine.

[0005] This object is achieved by a lighting arrangement and an operating method for a lighting arrangement having the features of the respective independent claim. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0006] A lighting arrangement according to the invention of the type mentioned at the outset is characterized in that at least one device for transmitting sensor data via the power supply line and a receiving unit are connected to the power supply line, wherein the receiving unit is configured to receive the sensor data transmitted by the at least one device and to make it available at a data connection for external use.

[0007] The invention is based on the idea of ​​utilizing the lighting arrangement mandatory in a wind turbine tower to forward sensor data recorded inside the tower of the wind turbine or on its exterior and make it available for evaluation. By transmitting the sensor data via the power supply line, it is possible to use an existing lighting arrangement with a corresponding power supply line, in which at least one of the lights is replaced by the described light with the device for transmitting the sensor data. The described solution is therefore particularly well suited as a retrofit solution. The data connection provided by the evaluation device allows the sensor data to be further processed independently of the lighting arrangement.The sensor data are transmitted transparently by the lighting arrangement according to the invention in such a way that the sensor data do not necessarily have an influence on the lighting arrangement and its operation itself, but the lighting arrangement is merely used as a transmission medium.

[0008] In an advantageous embodiment of the lighting arrangement, the at least one device for transmitting the sensor data is arranged in or on at least one of the luminaires. In this case, the sensor data can be recorded and transmitted without an additional device and therefore without additional installation effort.

[0009] In a further advantageous embodiment of the lighting arrangement, a separate transmission unit for sensor data is connected to the power supply line of the luminaires, which transmission unit has a device for transmitting the sensor data. Such a separate transmission unit, like the luminaires, can be looped into the power supply line, in particular via connectors. The separate sensor data transmission unit can also be provided with at least one integrated sensor and / or have at least one connection for connecting to an externally mounted sensor.

[0010] In one embodiment, the at least one luminaire with the device for transmitting the sensor data and / or the separate transmission unit has at least one integrated sensor, e.g. a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an acoustic sensor, a gas detection sensor and / or an acceleration sensor.

[0011] In an alternative embodiment, the at least one light comprising the device for transmitting the sensor data, or the separate transmission unit, has at least one connection to which an external sensor can be connected. In particular, sensors that require contact with a wall of the tower to perform their measuring tasks, such as structure-borne sound sensors or strain gauges, can be easily connected in this way. Of course, the sensors mentioned above as examples can also be connected as external sensors.

[0012] In a further advantageous embodiment of the lighting arrangement, the at least one luminaire that has the device for transmitting the sensor data and / or the separate transmission unit has a power supply unit that provides an operating voltage and / or an operating current for an internal and / or external sensor. The power supply device is connected to the power supply line on the input side and provides the operating current or voltage, particularly in the form of a DC low voltage, on the output side.

[0013] A method according to the invention for operating a lighting arrangement for a tower of a wind turbine with a plurality of luminaires connected to one another via a power supply line comprises the following steps: Sensor data is generated in at least one of the luminaires or provided to at least one of the luminaires. The sensor data is then transmitted via the power supply line and received by a receiving unit connected to the power supply line. The sensor data is output by the receiving unit for external use. This results in the advantages previously described in connection with the lighting arrangement.

[0014] In an advantageous embodiment of the method, a lighting function of the majority of the luminaires with the device for transmitting the sensor data depends on the polarity and / or level of a voltage provided by the power supply line, whereas the function of transmitting the sensor data is independent of the polarity and / or level of the voltage. In this way, the polarity and / or level of the voltage provided by the power supply line can be varied in order to switch all luminaires (with regard to their lighting function) on or off, whereby the sensor data can be transmitted in any operating state.

[0015] The invention is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment and the accompanying figures. The figures show: Fig. 1 a sectional view of a wind turbine; and Fig. 2 a schematic representation of a section of a lighting arrangement in a tower of the wind turbine of Fig. 1.

[0016] In both figures, identical reference symbols identify identical or identically functioning elements. For reasons of clarity, not every element in each figure is provided with a reference symbol.

[0017] Fig. 1 shows an example of a sectional view of a wind turbine 1.

[0018] The wind turbine 1 comprises a tower 2, on which a nacelle 3 is mounted, rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the tower 2. A rotor 4, which can rotate about a horizontal axis and has rotor blades (not specifically identified here), is arranged on the nacelle 3. The rotor 4 is coupled to a generator 6 via a drive train with a gearbox 5. Electrical power generated by the generator 6 is conducted through the tower 2 via power lines 7.

[0019] Furthermore, a lighting arrangement 10 is present in the tower 2, which comprises a power supply line 11 and a plurality of luminaires 12-14. The power supply line 11 terminates in a control unit 18 mounted in the base of the tower 2. Between this control unit 18 and the lower of the luminaires 12-14, as well as between the luminaires 12-14, the power supply line 11 runs in sections and is preferably connected to the control unit 18 and the luminaires 12-14 via plug connections. Within the luminaires 12-14, the power supply line 11 is looped through so that, apart from line-related voltage drops, the power supply line 11 is supplied with an operating voltage for the luminaires 12-14 over its entire length when the luminaires 12-14 are in operation.

[0020] The operating voltage on the power supply line 11 can be AC ​​or DC voltage, for example, in a voltage range between a few volts (V) and, for example, 230 V. The luminaires 12-14 can be designed as wide-voltage devices so that they can operate with voltages within the specified range without further adaptation.

[0021] The control unit 18 switches the lights 12-14 on and off. The lighting arrangement 10 shown can serve as a regular lighting device for the tower 2, for example, to illuminate the interior of the tower 2 when people are present in the tower 2. Furthermore, the lighting arrangement 10 can also be designed as an emergency lighting device that operates the lights 12-14 at at least a minimum brightness even in the event of a power failure. For this purpose, an energy storage device, for example in the form of a rechargeable battery, can be arranged in the control unit 18, which, if necessary, takes over the power supply of the lights 12-14.

[0022] According to the invention, the lighting arrangement 10 is designed to record or receive sensor data within the tower 2 and to forward it to a receiving unit 19, which in the embodiment shown is arranged in the control unit 18, and to make it available there for further use.

[0023] This is based on the Fig. 2 explained in more detail below. Fig. 2 shows a section of the tower 2 of the wind turbine 1 of the Fig. 1 schematically, wherein a partial section of the power supply line 11 between the control unit 18 and three exemplary lamps 12, 13 and 14 is shown.

[0024] The luminaire 12 shown as the lower one in the tower 2 is, as known from the prior art, designed as a pure luminaire with a lighting function.

[0025] The luminaires 13 and 14 also fulfill the lighting function of the luminaire 12. According to the application, they are additionally provided with a data transmission device that receives sensor data and transmits it via the power supply lines 11. For this purpose, the data transmission device can, for example, modulate the data in the form of high-frequency signals onto the power supply line 11. The data transmission device is preferably integrated into a housing of the luminaires 13, 14. Alternatively, the data transmission device can also be arranged as an additional module on the housing.

[0026] The luminaire 13 has an integrated sensor 16 which provides the sensor data or which provides analog sensor signals which are subsequently digitized into sensor data.

[0027] The luminaire 14 has a sensor connection to which an external sensor 17 is connected, the information from which is then transmitted in the form of sensor data from the luminaire 14. The connection for the external sensor 17 can be an analog connection that receives sensor signals in analog form, which are then digitized within the luminaire 14. Alternatively or additionally, it can also be provided that the sensor connection on the luminaire 14 receives sensor data directly in digital form by integrating a corresponding analog-to-digital converter into the external sensor 17.

[0028] In both cases, for the luminaire 13 with the integrated sensor 16 and for the luminaire 14 with the externally arranged sensor 17, the number of integrated sensors 16 or the connections for external sensors 17 is not limited to the evaluation and forwarding of the data from one sensor 16, 17, but there can be several integrated sensors 16 or several connections for external sensors 17.

[0029] In a further embodiment, the luminaire 13, 14 can have both an integrated sensor 16 and connections for one or more external sensors 17.

[0030] The connection between the light 14 or the transmission unit 15 and the external sensors 17 can be wired, as shown. Alternatively or additionally, a wireless data connection, such as a Bluetooth connection, can be used between the light 14 or the transmission unit 15 and the external sensors 17. A wireless data connection is suitable, for example, for sensors that are not mounted inside the tower, but rather on the outside of tower 2. When mounted outdoors, the sensors can be powered, for example, via a solar panel integrated with the sensor in a housing.

[0031] In addition, a transmission unit 15 is looped into the power supply line 11 in a similar manner to the lights 12-14, to which, for example, an external sensor 17 is also connected. Alternatively or additionally, at least one integrated sensor 16 can also be provided in the transmission unit 15. With regard to the transmission of sensor data, the transmission unit 15 functions in the same way as the lights 13 and 14, but without having the functionality of a light.

[0032] The sensor data applied to the power supply line 11 by the luminaires 13, 14 or the transmission unit 15 is read out, for example, demodulated, in the control unit 18 by the aforementioned receiving unit 19. They are then made available for further processing at a data connection of the receiving unit 19. The sensor data are therefore not used, or at least not primarily and not exclusively, to control the actual functionality of the lighting arrangement 10, i.e., the illumination of the tower 2. Rather, the sensor data is transmitted by the lighting arrangement 10 and made available for external use so that it can be further processed by other devices, e.g., controllers or monitoring devices, without additional wiring effort.

[0033] Preferably, power supply devices in the form of voltage converters are present in the luminaires 13, 14 and the transmission unit 15, which convert a voltage provided by the power supply line 11 into a voltage suitable for supplying the sensors 16, 17. In this way, even non-passive sensors that require an operating current for their operation can be not only read but also supplied by the luminaires 13, 14.

[0034] To enable a power supply to the sensors 16, 17 and the data transmission devices in the lights 13 and 14 or the transmission unit 15, even when the lights 12-14 are switched off with regard to their lighting function, it can be provided that an operating voltage is permanently provided on the power supply line 11. To still be able to control the lights 12-14 with regard to their lighting function, suitable control signals, for example in the form of high-frequency pulses or the like, can be applied from the control unit 18 to the power supply line 11, with which the lights 12-14 are switched on or off with regard to their lighting function or their brightness is controlled.

[0035] Furthermore, it is conceivable to use a direct current as the operating voltage on the power supply line 11, whereby the direct current can be applied in different polarities. The lighting function is activated in one of the polarities, while the other polarity is not. The sensors 16, 17 and the data transmission devices within the lights 13, 14 or the transmission unit 15 can be supplied in both polarities via an upstream rectifier.

[0036] Furthermore, it can be provided that the control unit 18 applies a variable operating voltage to the power supply line 11. It can be provided that at voltages below a certain limit, only the data transmission functionality is available, and only at voltages above the specified limit are both functions—the data transmission function and the lighting function—activated.

[0037] A proprietary data format and / or protocol can be used as a standard for transmitting the sensor data, or established data formats and protocols can be used, for example “Homeplug AV” or “g.hn”.

[0038] A fundamental security aspect of the inventive method of transmitting sensor data is already fulfilled by the fact that access to the system and the data is only possible if the power supply line 11 can also be physically accessed, i.e., if access to tower 2 is available. Furthermore, the data transmission can be encrypted for security reasons.

[0039] The sensors 16, 17 can be, for example, the following sensors: - Strain gauges: These enable monitoring of tower sway and concrete stresses to ensure structural integrity and facilitate preventive maintenance. - Accelerometers: These measure tower vibrations, which can be used to monitor material fatigue and detect potential problems in the tower. - Humidity sensors: Measure the humidity in the tower to detect severe corrosion and resulting damage at an early stage and take countermeasures. - Gas detectors: They detect escaping gases that may indicate leaks or other problems within the facility to ensure safety and make timely repairs. - Temperature sensors: These monitor temperatures in the tower to detect possible overheating or unusual temperature fluctuations that could indicate problems. - Acoustic sensors: They monitor sounds within the tower to identify unusual or abnormal noises that may indicate problems or malfunctions. Reference symbol 1 wind turbine 2 tower 3 gondolas 4 Rotor 5 gearboxes 6 Generator 7 Power line 10 Lighting arrangement 11 Power supply line 12 lights (lighting function only) 13 lights (with integrated sensor) 14 Light (for external sensor) 15 transmission unit 16 integrated sensors 17 external sensor 18 Control unit 19 Receiving unit QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 2 743 564 A1

[0002]

Claims

[1] Lighting arrangement (10) for a tower (2) of a wind turbine (1) with a plurality of lights (12-14) connected to one another via a power supply line (11), characterized by that at least one device for transmitting sensor data via the power supply line (11) and a receiving unit (19) are connected to the power supply line (11), wherein the receiving unit (19) is configured to receive the sensor data transmitted by the at least one device and to make it available at a data connection for external use. [2] Lighting arrangement (10) according to claim 1, wherein the at least one device for transmitting the sensor data via the power supply line (11) is arranged in or on at least one of the luminaires (13, 14). [3] Lighting arrangement (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the at least one device for transmitting the sensor data via the power supply line (11) is arranged in at least one separate transmission unit (15) for sensor data which is connected to the power supply line of the luminaires. [4] Lighting arrangement (10) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the at least one luminaire (13, 14) with the device for transmitting the sensor data and / or the separate transmission unit (15) has at least one integrated sensor (16). [5] Lighting arrangement (10) according to claim 4, wherein the integrated sensor (16) is a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, an acoustic sensor, a gas detection sensor, a motion sensor and / or an acceleration sensor. [6] Lighting arrangement (10) according to one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the at least one luminaire (13, 14) with the device for transmitting the sensor data and / or the separate transmission unit (15) has at least one connection for an external sensor (17). [7] Lighting arrangement (10) according to claim 6, wherein the external sensor (17) is a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a gas detection sensor, an acceleration sensor, an acoustic sensor, in particular a structure-borne sound sensor, and / or a strain gauge sensor, in particular a strain gauge. [8] Lighting arrangement (10) according to one of claims 2 to 6, wherein the at least one luminaire (13, 14) with the device for transmitting the sensor data and / or the separate transmission unit (15) has a power supply unit which provides an operating voltage and / or an operating current for the internal and / or external sensor (16, 17). [9] Method for operating a lighting arrangement (10) for a tower (2) of a wind turbine (1) with a plurality of luminaires (12-14) connected to one another via a power supply line (11), comprising the following steps: - generating sensor data in at least one of the luminaires (13) or providing sensor data to at least one of the luminaires (14); - transmitting the sensor data via the power supply line (11); - receiving the sensor data from a receiving unit (19) connected to the power supply line (11); and - Output of the sensor data from the receiving unit (19) for external use. [10] Method according to claim 9, wherein an illumination function of the plurality of lights (12-14) with the device for transmitting the sensor data is dependent on a polarity and / or level of a voltage provided by the power supply line (11), whereas the function of transmitting the sensor data is independent of the polarity and / or level of the voltage provided.

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