Wind Turbine Blade Acceleration Sensor Placement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wind turbines face challenges in optimizing operation due to varying environmental conditions and safety constraints, particularly with existing sensor placement near the blade flange being prone to lightning damage, which limits effective monitoring and control.

Innovation Solution

The use of fiber-optic acceleration sensors positioned at a radial distance of 70% along the rotor blade radius, which reduces the risk of lightning damage and allows for improved measurement and control through high-pass filtering of acceleration signals for individual pitch control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If acceleration sensors are placed near the blade flange for monitoring, then measurement capability is improved, but susceptibility to lightning damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeasurement capabilityVSAvoidlightning damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces fiber-optic cables as intermediary elements that transmit vibration signals from the blade to the evaluation unit. These optical fibers are immune to lightning interference, thereby mediating between the measurement need near the blade and the protection requirement against lightning damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces traditional electrical acceleration sensors with fiber-optic based sensors that use optical rather than electrical signals. This substitution eliminates the susceptibility to lightning damage while maintaining acceleration measurement capability through optical interference patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Productivity

If individual pitch control is implemented for optimized operation, then operational efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveoperational efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the pitch control system into individual controllable segments - each rotor blade can be controlled independently through separate fiber-optic sensor systems and actuation mechanisms. This segmentation enables optimized individual blade pitch control while using modular components that manage overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback control by continuously measuring blade vibrations with fiber-optic acceleration sensors and using this information to adjust pitch angles in real-time. The evaluation unit processes vibration signals and provides feedback commands to pitch control actuators, creating a closed-loop system that optimizes operation without requiring overly complex open-loop control mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If fiber-optic sensors are used for monitoring, then reliability against lightning damage is improved, but measurement precision may be affected by signal filtering requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelightning resistanceVSAvoidsignal accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary signal processing by implementing high-pass filtering of the vibration signals before evaluation. This preliminary action removes low-frequency noise and interference from the fiber-optic sensor signals, thereby maintaining measurement precision while preserving the lightning-resistant advantages of fiber-optic technology.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration enhances the accuracy of wind turbine monitoring and control by reducing lightning-related risks and enabling more precise pitch control, leading to improved operational efficiency and reliability.

Implementation Method 1

measuring an acceleration by means of an acceleration sensor in a rotor blade

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectAcceleration measurement: Accelerometer

Implementation Method 2

high-pass filtering a signal of the acceleration sensor in order to determine a time-variable parameter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHigh-pass filtering: Filter (electronic)

Data Source

PatentUS10655601B2Method for the individual pitch control of rotor blades of a wind turbine, and wind turbines

Publication Date: 2020.05.19 VC VIII POLYTECH HLDG APS

AI summary

A method for the individual pitch control of the rotor blades of a wind turbine is provided herein. In some embodiments, the method includes measuring an acceleration by an acceleration sensor in a rotor blade of the wind turbine; high-pass filtering of a signal of the acceleration sensor in order to determine a time-variant variable; and setting the pitch of the first rotor blade of the wind turbine using the time-variant variable, the pitch setting being part of an individual pitch control.