Wind Turbine Blade Pitch Control for Turbulence-Triggered Load Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine systems face challenges in balancing the alleviation of loads on rotor blades through individual pitch control without placing excessive demands on the blade bearings, particularly in conditions of turbulence and shear, which can lead to excessive wear and inefficiency.
Innovation Solution
A controller system that utilizes flap load sensors to determine statistical dispersion parameters, such as standard deviation, to activate individual pitch control based on detected wind events, specifically turbulence and shear, by targeting and mitigating 1P and 2P frequency components, and adjusting pitch settings to optimize load alleviation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If individual pitch control is continuously activated to alleviate blade loads, then load reduction effectiveness is improved, but pitch bearing wear increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements conditional activation of individual pitch control based on detected wind turbulence levels. The system transitions from continuous activation to periodic/intermittent activation by monitoring statistical dispersion parameters of flap loads and only activating IPC when turbulence exceeds predefined thresholds, thereby reducing bearing wear while maintaining load alleviation effectiveness during critical periods
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter of pitch control activation from a constant state to a variable state based on detected wind conditions. By using statistical dispersion parameters (standard deviation) of flap loads as activation criteria, the system adapts the pitch control activation state according to measured wind turbulence levels, optimizing the balance between load reduction and bearing protection
2Strength
If individual pitch control is activated to reduce extreme blade moments, then load alleviation is improved, but control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback-based activation system where flap load sensors continuously monitor blade loading conditions, calculate statistical dispersion parameters, and feed this information back to the control system. The control system activates individual pitch control only when the feedback indicates turbulence levels exceed thresholds, creating a closed-loop system that reduces unnecessary activation while maintaining protective functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical monitoring systems with a statistical analysis approach using readily available sensor data. By calculating standard deviation of flap loads and comparing against thresholds, the system substitutes elaborate mechanical turbulence detection mechanisms with computational analysis of existing sensor signals, simplifying the overall control architecture
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a controller for a wind turbine having three rotor blades, the controller being for controlling activation of individual pitch control of the rotor blades. The controller is configured to receive a flap load signal, from a flap loading sensor of each of the three rotor blades, indicative of flap loading on each of the respective rotor blades. The controller is configured to determine, based on the received flap load signals, a statistical dispersion parameter of flap loading for each of the rotor blades, the statistical dispersion parameters being indicative of a wind event in a wind field in which the wind turbine operates. The controller is configured to control activation of individual pitch control based on the respective statistical dispersion parameters.