Floating Wind Turbine Safety System Using Inclination Sensors

Solution Overview

Problem

Floating wind turbines face challenges in maintaining stability due to various forces like wind, waves, and water motion, requiring an independent safety control system to prevent tipping and ensure safe operation, especially in locations where traditional foundation-based solutions are not viable.

Innovation Solution

A safety system for floating wind turbines that utilizes sensors to monitor fore-aft and side-to-side inclinations, adjusting operational parameters such as shutdown or altering blade pitch and yaw to maintain stability within predefined safety thresholds, incorporating inclinometers and accelerometers to account for real-time motion and forces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If wind turbines are located offshore to access uninterrupted wind flow, then energy generation capability is improved, but stability and safety become more difficult to maintain

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy generation capabilityVSAvoidstability and safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-establishing safety thresholds and continuously monitoring inclination before critical events occur. The controller is pre-programmed with safety parameters and automatically executes corrective actions when thresholds are approached, preventing tipping before it becomes a critical failure state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback through sensors that monitor the wind turbine's inclination in real-time. The controller receives inclination signals, compares them against predefined thresholds, and automatically adjusts operational parameters or initiates shutdown procedures, creating a closed-loop safety system that responds dynamically to changing conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If floating platforms are used to enable offshore installation, then location flexibility is improved, but the structure becomes more vulnerable to tipping and motion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation flexibilityVSAvoidresistance to tipping

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-establishes safety thresholds for inclination and continuously monitors the floating platform's orientation before critical tipping events occur. The controller is pre-programmed with safety parameters and automatically executes corrective actions when thresholds are approached, preventing tipping before it becomes a critical failure state.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback through sensors that monitor the wind turbine's inclination in real-time. The controller receives inclination signals, compares them against predefined thresholds, and automatically adjusts operational parameters or initiates shutdown procedures, creating a closed-loop safety system that responds dynamically to changing conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If sensors and control systems are added to monitor inclination, then safety is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesafety monitoringVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically monitoring its own inclination and executing corrective actions without external intervention. The controller continuously reads sensor data, compares it against predefined thresholds, and autonomously adjusts operational parameters or initiates shutdown procedures, eliminating the need for complex external monitoring and control systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements continuous feedback through sensors that monitor the wind turbine's inclination in real-time. The controller receives inclination signals, compares them against predefined thresholds, and automatically adjusts operational parameters or initiates shutdown procedures, creating a closed-loop safety system that responds dynamically to changing conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

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

Enhances the safety and operational reliability of floating wind turbines by enabling real-time adjustment of operational parameters to prevent excessive inclination, ensuring continuous and safe power generation in challenging offshore conditions.

Implementation Method 1

receiving a fore-aft inclination signal from the sensor, wherein the fore-aft inclination signal indicates an inclination of the floating wind turbine in a fore-aft direction; receiving a side-to-side inclination signal from the sensor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravitation: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentUS9797376B2Floating wind turbine safety system

Publication Date: 2017.10.24 VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS AS

AI summary

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for operating a safety system in a floating wind turbine. The floating wind turbine comprises one or more sensors 202, 203, and receives a fore-aft inclination signal from the sensor 202, wherein the fore-aft inclination signal indicates an inclination of said floating wind turbine in a fore-aft direction. A side-to-side inclination signal is also received from the sensor 203, wherein the side-to-side inclination signal indicates an inclination of said floating wind turbine in a side-to-side direction. An operational parameter of the floating wind turbine is altered based on either or both of said fore-aft inclination signal and said side-to-side inclination signal.