Wind Turbine Blade Load Sensing with Temperature Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine blade load sensor systems require additional temperature sensors for accurate load measurement, which are costly, difficult to maintain, and limit flexibility in installation due to their complexity.
Innovation Solution
A sensor system for wind turbine blades that includes a processing unit with a temperature estimation module to calculate temperature-corrected load parameters using wind turbine parameters, eliminating the need for additional temperature sensors by estimating blade temperature based on ambient or nacelle conditions, and a load compensation module to provide accurate load measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional temperature sensors are integrated into the blade for temperature compensation, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases and ease of repair deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensing function is extracted from the blade structure and relocated to the processing unit, where it is performed using existing wind turbine parameter sensors. This eliminates the need for additional temperature sensors in the blade while maintaining temperature compensation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing unit is given multiple functions: it processes load sensor signals, estimates blade temperature using existing wind turbine parameters, performs temperature compensation, and generates corrected load parameters. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate temperature sensors.
2Measurement precision
If additional temperature sensors are integrated into the blade for temperature compensation, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of repair deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensing function is extracted from the blade structure and relocated to the processing unit, where it is performed using existing wind turbine parameter sensors. This eliminates the need for additional temperature sensors in the blade while maintaining temperature compensation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing unit uses existing wind turbine parameter sensors (already present for other purposes) to perform temperature estimation and compensation. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate temperature sensors that would require maintenance.
3Measurement precision
If additional temperature sensors are integrated into the blade for temperature compensation, then measurement precision is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensing function is extracted from the blade structure and relocated to the processing unit, where it is performed using existing wind turbine parameter sensors. This eliminates the need for additional temperature sensors in the blade while maintaining temperature compensation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing unit is given multiple functions: it processes load sensor signals, estimates blade temperature using existing wind turbine parameters, performs temperature compensation, and generates corrected load parameters. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate temperature sensors.
4Measurement precision
If additional temperature sensors are integrated into the blade for temperature compensation, then measurement precision is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The temperature sensing function is extracted from the blade structure and relocated to the processing unit, where it is performed using existing wind turbine parameter sensors. This eliminates the need for additional temperature sensors in the blade while maintaining temperature compensation capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes from physical temperature sensors fixed at specific blade locations to a computational approach using wind turbine parameters. This allows the temperature compensation function to adapt to different sensor positions and blade configurations without hardware changes.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for determining the load on a wind turbine blade, comprising: measuring the blade load by way of a wind turbine blade load sensor; estimating the temperature of the blade; and determining, based on the estimated temperature and the measured load, a temperature-corrected value for the load on the wind turbine blade. The invention also relates to a sensor system for a wind turbine blade, the system comprising a load sensor; a processing unit interfaced with the load sensor and configured to provide a temperature-corrected load parameter as an output, wherein the processing unit includes: a temperature estimation module that determines an estimated temperature of the blade in the vicinity of the load sensor based on at least one wind turbine parameter; and a load compensation module that determines the temperature-corrected load parameter based on the estimated temperature and the measurement of the load sensor.