Wind Turbine Blade Inclinometer Monitoring
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines experience vibrations due to mass and aerodynamic imbalances, which reduce their service life and require effective condition monitoring to identify defects and prevent unsafe loads, but existing methods like strain gauges and sensors are difficult to install and short-lived.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of at least two-axis inclinometer arrangements on each rotor blade to measure bending and twisting, providing an absolute reference frame for accurate deformation assessment, combined with a system for pitch adjustment and imbalance compensation using liquid tanks and a data processing unit for real-time monitoring and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If strain gauges and sensors are used for monitoring rotor blade conditions, then measurement capability is provided, but installation difficulty increases and sensor lifespan decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical strain gauges and sensors with an optical measurement system. A laser device emits laser beams that reflect off the rotor blade surface, and a detector measures the reflected light to determine blade position and deformation. This optical substitution eliminates the need for physical sensor installation on the blades, solving the installation difficulty problem while maintaining measurement capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical measurement system between the rotor blades and the monitoring system. Instead of attaching sensors directly to the blades, the system uses laser beams as an intermediary to transmit information about blade position and deformation from the rotating blades to the stationary detector, enabling monitoring without direct mechanical contact.
2Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are installed on rotor blades for comprehensive monitoring, then measurement accuracy improves, but system complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces multiple physical sensors with a single optical measurement system. The laser device and detector combination can measure multiple parameters (blade position, bending, twisting) simultaneously without requiring multiple separate sensor installations, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining comprehensive monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The optical measurement system serves multiple functions: it measures blade position, bending deformation, and twisting deformation all through the same laser detection mechanism. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate sensor systems for each measurement type, reducing overall system complexity.
3Productivity
If traditional sensors are used on rotating rotor blades, then real-time monitoring is achieved, but sensor durability decreases due to harsh operating conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses laser beams as an intermediary that does not deteriorate under harsh operating conditions. The optical measurement system performs real-time monitoring without placing any physical components on the rotating blades, thereby eliminating the reliability issues associated with sensor durability in harsh environments while maintaining continuous monitoring capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes mechanical sensors with an optical measurement system that is not subject to the same durability constraints. The laser device and detector can operate reliably in harsh conditions without the physical wear and environmental degradation that limit the lifespan of traditional sensors mounted on rotating blades.
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
Enables precise condition monitoring and imbalance compensation, extending the service life of wind turbines by accurately detecting deformations and imbalances, and facilitating timely maintenance and safety shutdowns.
Implementation Method 1
each rotor blade is provided with at least one at least two-axis inclinometer arrangement, by means of which the bending and/or twisting of the blade with respect to the longitudinal axis of the blade is determined
Implementation Method 2
a liquid transfer arrangement is provided which is fixedly arranged with respect to the hub (12) and rotates together with the rotor (10), wherein the liquid transfer arrangement has a liquid reservoir (42) and liquid tanks (34) in each rotor blade (14A, 14B)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a wind turbine comprising a rotor (10) that has at least two blades (14A, 14B), each of which is equipped with at least one inclinometer array (30A, 30B, 31A, 31B) having at least two axes, and an evaluation unit (44, 50, 52) to determine, for each blade during operation, the degree of bending and/or twisting of the blade relative to the longitudinal axis of the blade from the signals of the inclinometer arrays.