LIDAR Wind Detection for Turbine Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern wind turbines face challenges in accurately predicting wind speed and direction upstream, which limits their ability to optimize energy capture and reduce component stress, particularly during extreme conditions.
Innovation Solution
The use of remote sensing devices like LIDAR and SODAR to detect radiation from multiple positions ahead of the rotor, determining wind properties, and transferring this information to the turbine controller to adjust operational parameters such as blade pitch and yaw position.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If wind sensors are installed on the nacelle to detect wind speed and direction, then control decisions can be made for blade pitching and yawing, but the detection occurs too late to optimize energy capture and reduce component stress effectively
Solution Approach 1:
The LIDAR device performs preliminary wind measurement at a location upstream of the rotor before the wind reaches the turbine. This advance detection allows the control system to prepare control decisions (blade pitching, yawing) in advance, resolving the time delay problem while maintaining measurement accuracy through remote sensing technology.
2Measurement precision
If multiple LIDAR devices are deployed to measure wind properties at multiple locations, then wind prediction accuracy improves, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wind measurement task is segmented into multiple discrete measurement points along the upstream path. Each LIDAR device measures wind properties at its specific location, and the control system integrates these segmented measurements to create a comprehensive wind prediction model, improving accuracy while managing system complexity through modular deployment.
Solution Approach 2:
The LIDAR device serves multiple functions: it measures wind speed, wind direction, and provides advance warning of wind conditions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate sensor systems, thereby improving measurement precision without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Productivity
If the wind turbine operates without advance wind detection, then the system remains simple and reliable, but energy capture optimization and component protection are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of wind conditions upstream and uses this information to proactively adjust operational parameters before the wind reaches the rotor. This allows optimization of energy capture through advance blade positioning and protects components by preparing mitigation strategies in advance, thereby improving both productivity and reliability simultaneously.
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 proactive adjustment of wind turbine operations to maximize energy capture and reduce loading on components by providing advance knowledge of wind conditions, thereby enhancing efficiency and extending turbine lifespan.
Implementation Method 1
detecting radiation reflected from a plurality of distinct positions
Implementation Method 2
The use of remote sensing devices like LIDAR to detect radiation from multiple positions ahead of the rotor
Implementation Method 3
Examples of sensors that could be used for measuring the wind speed and direction in advance of the rotor are Radar, Light Detection And Ranging (LIDAR), SODAR
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and apparatus for determining a property of wind approaching a wind turbine. A light detection and ranging equipment may emit pulsed radiation into oncoming wind to detect properties of the wind at a plurality of predefined locations. A property of the wind approaching the wind turbine may be determined based on the property of wind measured at at least two predefined locations.