LiDAR Wind Speed Profile Estimation Using Kalman Filter

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current wind turbine control and monitoring techniques fail to accurately measure wind speed at the rotor plane, leading to inefficiencies and potential damage from high wind speeds, and existing methods for determining vertical wind speed profiles are imprecise and not suited for real-time applications.

Innovation Solution

A method using a LiDAR sensor to measure wind speed at multiple heights and applying an unscented Kalman filter to determine the exponent of the power law, allowing for real-time calculation of the vertical wind speed profile, which is then used to optimize wind turbine control.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If a LiDAR sensor is used to measure wind speed at multiple heights, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevertical wind speed profile measurementVSAvoidLiDAR sensor system

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-calculating and storing lookup tables of vertical wind speed profiles based on power law relationships before real-time operation. During runtime, the system only needs to query these pre-computed tables using measured wind speeds at two heights, avoiding complex real-time calculations while maintaining high measurement precision for the vertical wind speed profile.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If real-time determination of vertical wind speed profile is implemented, then productivity is improved, but use of energy increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereal-time wind speed profile determinationVSAvoidcomputational energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent pre-computes and stores vertical wind speed profiles using power law relationships in lookup tables during system initialization or offline periods. During real-time operation, the controller simply queries these pre-computed tables using current wind speed measurements, achieving rapid real-time profile determination with minimal computational energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces complex real-time computational mechanics with a simplified lookup table query mechanism. Instead of performing energy-intensive real-time calculations of vertical wind speed profiles, the system substitutes this with efficient table lookups based on measured wind speeds, significantly reducing energy consumption while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If wind speed measurement at rotor plane is improved, then reliability is improved, but measurement precision of existing methods is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewind speed measurement for turbine controlVSAvoidwind speed at rotor plane

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary approach by using wind speed measurements at two accessible heights upstream from the rotor plane, then using power law relationships and lookup tables to infer the vertical wind speed profile and estimate wind conditions at the rotor plane. This intermediary method achieves reliable and precise wind speed measurement without requiring direct measurement at the difficult-to-access rotor plane.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 real-time determination of the vertical wind speed profile, improving wind turbine performance by optimizing energy recovery and reducing structural loads, thus enhancing the financial viability and operational efficiency of wind turbine projects.

Implementation Method 1

LiDAR is a remote sensing or optical measurement technology based on the analysis of the properties of a beam returned to the emitter

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Implementation Method 2

determining the exponent α of the power law by use of an unscented Kalman filter and measurements

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectKalman filtering:

Data Source

PatentUS11454725B2Method of determining the vertical profile of the wind speed upstream from a wind turbine equipped with a lidar sensor

Publication Date: 2022.09.27 IFP ENERGIES NOUVELLES

AI summary

The invention relates to a method of determining the vertical profile of the wind speed upstream from a wind turbine (1), wherein wind speed measurements are performed by a LiDAR sensor (2), then the exponent α of the power law is determined by an unscented Kalman filter and measurements, and the exponent α is applied to the power law in order to determine the vertical wind speed profile.