Wind Turbine Blade Deflection Monitoring With Tower-Mounted LiDAR
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring deflection in wind turbine blades are limited in precision and reliability, particularly in weather conditions, and often require components on the blades, which are sensitive to environmental factors and can only approximate tip-end deflection, failing to provide comprehensive and accurate deflection data across the blade length.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a position detection apparatus with multiple LiDAR components set at distinct angles to monitor discrete fields of detection, allowing for precise detection of turbine blade segments relative to the tower, and a deflection controller to determine blade deflection levels, which can trigger corrective actions to prevent damage, such as altering pitch or applying brakes, without requiring components on the blades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If strain gauges are attached on the blade surface for deflection monitoring, then deflection measurement capability is improved, but installation cost and exposure to lightning strikes increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the measurement components from the blade surface and relocates them to the tower structure. The radar system is installed on the tower to monitor blade deflection, eliminating the need for strain gauges on the blades themselves. This extraction principle resolves the contradiction by maintaining measurement capability while removing the reliability issue of lightning exposure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces radar waves as an intermediary medium to measure blade deflection indirectly. Instead of directly attaching sensors to the blade, the system uses radar signals reflected from the blade to determine its position and deflection. This intermediary approach maintains measurement precision while eliminating direct contact between measurement components and the blade, thus avoiding lightning exposure.
2Measurement precision
If multiple position detection components are used to monitor discrete fields of detection, then measurement precision and coverage are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the monitoring task into discrete fields of detection, with each position detection component responsible for a specific angular sector. This segmentation allows the system to achieve comprehensive blade coverage through multiple specialized sensors rather than one complex omnidirectional sensor, resolving the contradiction by making the system more manageable while maintaining precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point measurement approach to a multi-dimensional angular coverage system. By arranging position detection components at different angles around the tower, the system creates a three-dimensional monitoring volume that captures blade deflection from multiple perspectives simultaneously, improving precision without proportionally increasing complexity.
3Measurement precision
If position detection components are mounted on the blade, then direct measurement capability is improved, but sensitivity to weather conditions increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the traditional measurement arrangement by placing the detection system on the stationary tower rather than on the moving blade. This inversion allows the measurement components to remain in a protected, weather-sheltered location while still achieving direct measurement capability through the radar field that extends to the blade. The tower-mounted components are not exposed to the same weather conditions as blade-mounted components would be.
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 system provides reliable and precise deflection monitoring across the entire blade length, enabling effective prevention of damage from excessive bending or collision with the tower, even in adverse weather conditions, by using LiDAR technology to detect presence and distance of blade segments with high accuracy.
Implementation Method 1
a position detection apparatus mounted to the wind turbine, the position detection apparatus comprising a plurality of position detection components each one of the position detection components monitoring, in a ground facing direction, a discrete field of detection
Implementation Method 2
by using LiDAR technology to detect presence and distance of blade segments with high accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
Described is a system for monitoring deflection of turbine blades of a wind turbine comprising a tower. The system comprises a position detecting apparatus mounted to the wind turbine, the position detection apparatus comprising position detection components each detecting a presence or absence of a corresponding one of the segments of the turbine blades; and a deflection controller configured to receive the presence or absence detection and to use the presence or absence detection to determine a distance of each of the segments of the turbine blades relative to the tower, whereby the distance of each of the segments of the turbine blades relative to the tower is representative of the deflection of the turbine blades.