Fixed LiDAR Wind Speed Reconstruction with Non-Stationary Kalman Filtering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for determining wind speed components, such as using measuring masts and LiDAR sensors, are costly, cumbersome, and provide incomplete or noisy measurements, necessitating improved processing to achieve precise and reliable wind assessment for wind turbine installations.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing a land-based LiDAR sensor oriented vertically to acquire measurement signals, which are approximated and filtered through a non-stationary Kalman filter to reconstruct wind speed components, incorporating a wind signal model with parameters determined by geometric reconstruction and low-pass filtering, enabling robust and efficient wind speed determination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a measuring mast with multiple sensors is installed to determine wind speed components, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewind speed component measurement precisionVSAvoidmeasuring mast complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical measuring mast system with multiple physical sensors with an optical LiDAR system that uses laser beams to measure wind speed components. The LiDAR sensor emits laser beams that scatter off aerosols in the atmosphere, and the Doppler shift of the scattered light provides wind speed information, eliminating the need for complex mechanical sensor arrays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses optical copying principles where the LiDAR system creates a virtual measurement field through laser beams, allowing remote sensing of wind parameters without physical contact with the measurement environment. This enables wind speed measurement at multiple heights and locations simultaneously through signal processing rather than physical sensor deployment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Ease of operation

If a LiDAR sensor is used to measure wind speed, then ease of operation and mobility are improved, but measurement precision and reliability deteriorate due to noisy and incomplete radial measurements

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveLiDAR sensor mobilityVSAvoidwind speed component precision
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the wind field measurement into multiple radial components by directing laser beams at different angles and heights. Each radial measurement provides information about a specific direction, and by combining multiple segmented radial measurements from different beam angles, the system reconstructs complete three-dimensional wind velocity vectors through mathematical processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements iterative signal processing where initial wind estimates are obtained from radial measurements, then refined through feedback loops that adjust the estimation based on consistency checks across multiple beams and temporal correlations. The system continuously updates wind field reconstruction using new measurements and compares them with previous estimates to improve precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If standard reconstruction methods are used assuming uniform wind field, then processing simplicity is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to inability to handle non-stationary and turbulent wind conditions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesignal processing complexityVSAvoidwind measurement reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from static reconstruction methods assuming uniform wind fields to dynamic reconstruction algorithms that adapt to changing wind conditions. The system models wind turbulence and non-stationarity by allowing reconstruction parameters to vary with time and spatial position, capturing the dynamic nature of atmospheric wind fields while maintaining processing efficiency through optimized algorithms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

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, reliable, and cost-effective determination of wind speed components, facilitating accurate wind turbine site assessments and reducing installation costs by leveraging movable LiDAR technology.

Implementation Method 1

LiDAR is a remote sensing or optical measurement technology based on analyzing the properties of a beam returned to its transmitter. This method is used in particular to determine the distance to an object using a pulsed laser.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDoppler effect: Doppler Effect

Implementation Method 2

LiDAR is a remote sensing or optical measurement technology based on analyzing the properties of a beam returned to its transmitter

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Data Source

PatentEP4162298B1Method for determining wind speed components by means of a laser remote sensor
Publication Date: 2025.07.09 IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES
  • EP4162298B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP4162298B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5
  • EP4162298B1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for determining wind speed components by means of a fixed LiDAR sensor (1). For this method, the wind speed components are first approximated (APP) by the signals of the LiDAR sensor (1), these approximations are used in a wind signal model (MOD) and then in a non-stationary Kalman filter (KAL), to construct filtered measurement signals. The filtered measurement signals are then used to reconstruct (REC) the wind speed components.