Blade-Integrated Wind Sensor System for Turbulent Flow Measurement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wind turbine systems rely on single-point measurements for wind velocity and direction, which are incomplete and prone to errors due to turbulent eddies and blade wakes, lacking the ability to accurately measure wind shear and requiring complex corrections, and existing solutions are either expensive or difficult to maintain.
Innovation Solution
A wind measuring system with sensors located on or attached to the blades and rotor hub, using strain measurements and blade deflection to calculate wind velocity field characteristics, providing spatially averaged data with near-instantaneous sampling and independent of assumptions, with a multi-blade coordinate transformation to process signals and remove noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a single-point measurement system (anemometer and vane on nacelle) is used, then the device complexity is low, but the measurement precision is insufficient due to turbulent eddies and blade wakes affecting the measurements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the measurement task by using multiple sensors distributed at different spatial locations (hub, blades, tower) rather than a single measurement point. This segmentation allows capturing wind velocity field characteristics across the rotor swept area, improving measurement precision while avoiding the need for complex expensive multi-point measurement systems
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes existing turbine components multi-functional by using the hub, blades, and tower not only for their primary functions but also as sensor mounting locations for wind measurement. This universal approach allows the same structure to serve multiple purposes, improving measurement capability without proportionally increasing device complexity
2Reliability
If measurement averaging is applied to remove wake influence, then measurement reliability improves, but the time resolution is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions sensors upstream of the rotor plane where they can measure wind conditions before the blades create turbulent wakes. This preliminary measurement approach captures undisturbed wind data with high time resolution, eliminating the need for post-measurement averaging that would otherwise be required to remove wake effects
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses the hub and blade structures as intermediaries to position measurement points in locations that avoid direct exposure to blade wakes while still capturing representative wind field data. The hub-mounted sensors and blade-integrated sensors act as intermediaries between the free stream wind and the rotor, providing reliable measurements without time resolution loss
3Reliability
If anemometer and vane are located downstream from rotor, then they are protected from direct blade impact, but they are subjected to periodic blade wake influence
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional downstream sensor location by positioning sensors upstream of the rotor plane or at the rotor plane itself. This inversion allows sensors to measure wind conditions before they are disturbed by blade passage, improving measurement precision while the hub and blade structures provide natural protection from direct blade impact
4Measurement precision
If multiple sensors are deployed for spatially resolved measurements, then measurement precision improves, but ease of maintenance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the measurement function with existing turbine structures by integrating sensors into the hub and blades. This merging approach allows multiple measurement points to be achieved without adding separate maintenance-accessible sensor assemblies, as the sensors are incorporated into components that are already part of the turbine's regular maintenance schedule
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 accurate, real-time measurements of wind speed, direction, and shear over the entire rotor swept area, reducing maintenance costs and improving operational efficiency by eliminating the need for expensive multi-point measurement systems.
Implementation Method 1
A wind measuring system with sensors located on or attached to the blades and rotor hub, using strain measurements and blade deflection to calculate wind velocity field characteristics
Implementation Method 2
Collective pitch motion between all blades attached to the rotor is used for regulation of aerodynamic power extracted from the wind
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a wind-velocity-field measurement system for use in a wind turbine having a rotor with′ two or more blades, comprising at least one sensor-signal obtained by measuring a physical quantity on at angle least one of the blades, the physical quantity being indicative of at least one wind-velocity-field characteristic; a table (140, 142, 144) build for a plurality of wind conditions by associating values characterizing the at least one sensor-signal with values of the at least one wind-velocity-field characteristic, and; searching means (150, 152, 154) for determining from the table a value of the at least one wind-velocity-field characteristic for a current wind condition given values characterizing the at least one sensor-signal.