Leaky Feeder Blade Detection Around Wind Turbine Nacelles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for detecting the position and speed of rotating wind turbine blades require multiple radar units, increasing costs and complexity, while existing solutions are not optimal for efficiently monitoring the trajectory of blades around the nacelle.
Innovation Solution
A device using a single leaky feeder with an integrated electromagnetic transmitter and receiver, capable of transmitting and receiving signals along its length to determine the position, speed, and direction of a target object, such as a wind turbine blade, by analyzing the first and reflected electromagnetic signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple radar units are used to detect the position and speed of rotating wind turbine blades, then the detection coverage and reliability are improved, but the device complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The leaky feeder is divided into multiple sections along its length, with each section capable of independently transmitting or receiving electromagnetic signals. This segmentation allows a single leaky feeder to function as multiple distributed radar units, improving detection coverage and reliability without increasing the number of discrete radar units.
Solution Approach 2:
The leaky feeder serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as both a transmission line for electromagnetic signals and as an antenna array for radar detection. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate radar units, reducing device complexity while maintaining detection reliability.
2Measurement precision
If more radar units are installed to improve detection resolution and confidence, then the measurement precision is improved, but the manufacturing and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The leaky feeder is arranged in a circular pattern around the wind turbine tower, utilizing the spatial dimension around the tower to achieve comprehensive blade detection. This circular arrangement provides multi-angle detection capability and improved measurement precision without requiring multiple discrete radar units mounted at different locations.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple radar detection functions are merged into a single integrated leaky feeder system. The leaky feeder combines the capabilities of multiple distributed radar units into one unified structure, reducing manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining or improving measurement precision through its distributed sensing capability.
3Device complexity
If a single radar unit is used to detect blade passage at a single location, then the device complexity is reduced, but the detection coverage and ability to follow blade trajectory are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The leaky feeder is segmented into multiple sections along its circular path, with each section contributing to detection coverage of a specific angular range. This segmentation allows the single leaky feeder to cover the entire 360-degree area around the tower, enabling complete blade trajectory tracking while maintaining low device complexity.
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
This solution reduces the number of transmitters and receivers needed, allowing for cost-effective and efficient detection of blade positions and speeds, with the ability to extend detection areas by increasing the length of the leaky feeder rather than adding more units, and simplifies software control.
Implementation Method 1
at least one electromagnetic transmitter connected to the least one leaky feeder for transmitting a first electromagnetic signal along the least one leaky feeder towards a target object
Implementation Method 2
at least one electromagnetic receiver connected to the least one leaky feeder for receiving from the at least one leaky feeder a second electromagnetic signal, the second electromagnetic signal being reflected from the target object
Implementation Method 3
A processing unit is configured to receive measurement data from the radar unit and to determine, by analysis of Doppler shift, time of flight, phase and amplitude in received radar signals relative to transmitted signals due to movement of the blade towards or away from the turbine tower, the velocity of the blade
Data Source
AI summary
A wind turbine has an object position and/or speed detection device including: at least one leaky feeder, at least one electromagnetic transmitter connected to the least one leaky feeder for transmitting a first electromagnetic signal along the at least one leaky feeder towards a target object, whose position is to be detected, at least one electromagnetic receiver connected to the least one leaky feeder for receiving from the at least one leaky feeder a second electromagnetic signal, the second electromagnetic signal reflected from the target object when the first electromagnetic signal hits the target object, a processing unit connected to the electromagnetic transmitter and the electromagnetic receiver and configured to analyze the first electromagnetic signal and the second electromagnetic signal for determining the position and/or speed and/or direction and/or the size of the target object.