Wind Turbine Blade Deterioration Modeling for Fast AEP Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for analyzing the aerodynamic effects of structural deteriorations on wind turbine blades are computationally intensive, time-consuming, and often not performed for entire wind turbine parks, leading to inefficient maintenance decisions.
Innovation Solution
A computer system that uses a Blade Element Momentum (BEM) model and a transfer function to convert structural deterioration data into aerodynamic effects, reducing computational requirements and enabling efficient calculation of Annual Energy Production (AEP) changes across multiple turbines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis is used to analyze aerodynamic effects of structural deteriorations, then measurement precision is improved, but productivity deteriorates due to being too complicated and time consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates simplified copy models of deteriorated blades that capture essential aerodynamic characteristics without requiring full CFD complexity. These copy models enable rapid analysis while maintaining sufficient precision for maintenance decision-making.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the complex CFD analysis into simplified parameter-based models that represent aerodynamic effects of deteriorations. By changing from full field CFD to parameter-based representations, the analysis becomes computationally efficient while preserving key aerodynamic insights.
2Measurement precision
If detailed aerodynamic analysis is performed on each deteriorated blade, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time increases due to the complexity of analysis
Solution Approach 1:
The system creates simplified representations (copies) of deteriorated blade geometries that retain essential aerodynamic features. These copy models can be analyzed rapidly using simplified methods while still providing accurate enough results for maintenance prioritization.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary classification of deterioration types and locations, then applies pre-established simplified analysis models appropriate for each category. This preliminary action avoids performing full detailed analysis on all blades, significantly reducing total analysis time.
3Reliability
If CFD analysis is performed on complete wind turbine parks, then reliability of maintenance decisions is improved, but device complexity increases beyond current computational capabilities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the wind turbine park into individual turbine units, each with its own simplified analysis model. This segmentation allows parallel processing of multiple turbines without requiring a single complex computational system, enabling park-wide analysis within current capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transforms complex CFD-based aerodynamic analysis into parameter-based models for each turbine. This parameterization reduces computational complexity while maintaining sufficient accuracy for reliability in maintenance decisions across the entire park.
Data Source
AI summary
A computer system suitable for estimating the expected change in annual energy production (AEP) of a wind turbine due to structural deterioration of blades of the wind turbine, said computer system being arranged to execute the following steps: loading a dataset representing estimated lift and drag curves at specific radial locations along the original blade of the wind turbine, building a baseline BEM model of the wind turbine based on said estimated lift and drag curves of the original blade and analysing the model to provide a baseline AEP estimation of the wind turbine with original blades, loading a dataset representing aerodynamic effects of identified structural deteriorations at specific radial locations along each of the blades of the wind turbine, using the dataset of aerodynamic effects to generate modified lift and drag curves at specific radial locations along each of the blades.