Wind Turbine Blade Tower Clearance Prediction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Long wind turbine blades pose a risk of collision with the tower due to stiffness requirements, leading to unnecessary pitching events that increase wear and reduce productivity, while existing control methods are inadequate in predicting blade positions accurately.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that collect dynamic data on wind turbine blades and rotors, including azimuth position, rotational velocity, and acceleration, to calculate expected tower clearance distances and prevent collisions by tailoring preventive measures based on instantaneous and deflection data, reducing the number of pitching events and minimizing strain on components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pitch control is used to prevent tower collision for long blades, then collision risk is reduced, but wear on bearings and components increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses sensors to continuously monitor blade position, velocity, and acceleration, feeding this data back to the controller which adjusts pitch control actions accordingly. This feedback mechanism enables precise, condition-based control that prevents unnecessary pitching events while maintaining collision prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller predicts future blade position and tower clearance using current dynamic data, allowing preventive pitch adjustments to be made in advance before collision risk materializes. This preliminary action avoids reactive over-pitching and reduces unnecessary wear.
2Reliability
If pitch control is activated to avoid tower collision, then blade safety is improved, but number of pitching events increases causing more wear
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of always applying full pitch control when tower clearance is marginal, the system applies partial pitch adjustments only when necessary based on predicted trajectory. This selective partial action prevents excessive pitching events while maintaining adequate safety margins.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes pitch control parameters based on real-time blade dynamics, wind conditions, and predicted tower clearance. By adjusting pitch rate, magnitude, and timing according to actual conditions rather than fixed thresholds, the system minimizes wear while ensuring safety.
3Device complexity
If averaged acceleration data is used for control, then data processing is simplified, but response to sudden changes in blade acceleration is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The controller calculates predicted blade position and tower clearance in advance using current acceleration data, allowing the system to prepare control actions before sudden changes affect blade trajectory. This predictive approach compensates for the simplicity of using averaged data.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine, in particular a method for controlling pitch of one or more blades of a wind turbine and related system. The method comprises collecting first data indicative of a dynamic condition of the first wind turbine blade and the rotor, the first data comprising rotor data and first deflection data, the rotor data being indicative of the azimuth position and rotational velocity of the rotor in a rotor plane perpendicular to the rotor axis, and the first deflection data being indicative of the position, speed and acceleration of one or more parts of the first wind turbine blade. Further, the method comprises calculating an expected tower clearance distance at a later time of tower passage for the first wind turbine blade based on the first data including acceleration of one or more parts of the first wind turbine blade, and performing measures to prevent tower collision, if the expected tower clearance distance fulfills a collision risk criterion.