Multirotor Wind Turbine Generator Icing Control via Dimensional Separation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Multirotor wind turbine generators face issues with moment concentration at high wind speeds and icing in cold environments, where ice accumulation on blades can lead to damage from falling ice, particularly affecting lower-level turbines.

Innovation Solution

A wind turbine generator system with multiple turbines of varying heights, equipped with an environment determination system that adjusts their positions to prevent overlap and includes yaw turning mechanisms to reposition turbines when icing is detected, ensuring that vertical projections do not overlap on a horizontal plane, and blades are positioned to minimize ice collision risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If multiple wind turbine parts are installed on the same tower at different heights to increase power generation capacity, then the total output power capacitance increases, but ice dropped from upper-level turbines can damage lower-level turbines

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetotal power generation capacityVSAvoiddamage from falling ice

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies dimensional separation by arranging wind turbine parts not only at different heights (vertical dimension) but also at different horizontal positions (horizontal dimension). The control unit calculates horizontal separation distances based on blade rotation radii and tower height differences, ensuring that the horizontal projection of blades from upper-level turbines does not overlap with lower-level turbines, thus preventing ice damage while maintaining multi-level power generation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the operational status of wind turbine parts based on real-time environmental conditions. When icing conditions are detected (temperature ≤ 0°C with precipitation), the control unit selectively stops lower-level turbines that would be affected by falling ice, while upper-level turbines continue operating. This dynamic control optimizes power generation by keeping unaffected turbines running while protecting vulnerable ones

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If wind turbine parts are positioned closer together to maximize space utilization, then the device complexity and installation cost decrease, but the risk of ice from upper turbines affecting lower turbines increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetower structure complexityVSAvoidice collision risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the spatial arrangement parameters of wind turbine parts based on environmental conditions. The control unit calculates optimal horizontal separation distances using the blade rotation radius and tower height difference as parameters. When icing conditions occur, the system adjusts the horizontal positioning parameters to ensure safe separation, preventing ice collision while minimizing the increase in device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Productivity

If all wind turbine parts operate continuously to maximize productivity, then energy generation is optimized, but damage from ice accumulation and falling ice increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy generationVSAvoidturbine safety during icing

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit implements partial operation by selectively controlling which wind turbine parts operate based on their vulnerability to ice damage. Lower-level turbines that are more susceptible to falling ice damage are stopped when icing conditions are detected, while upper-level turbines continue operating. This partial action approach maintains productivity from unaffected turbines while protecting vulnerable ones, optimizing the balance between energy generation and reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3477096B1Wind power generator, and control method for wind power generator

Publication Date: 2021.10.06 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND LTD

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AI summary

Provided is a wind turbine generator (1) including: a tower part (2); a plurality of wind turbine parts (10, 20, 30, 40) each having a rotor (11, 21, 31, 41), blades (12a to 12c, 22a to 22c, 32a to 32c, 42a to 42c), and a power generator; and a support member (14, 24, 34, 44) that is connected to the tower part (2) and supports the plurality of wind turbine parts (10, 20, 30, 40), at least one of the plurality of wind turbine parts (10, 20, 30, 40) being different in placement height from the other wind turbine parts (10, 20, 30, 40). The wind turbine generator (1) includes an environment determination means that determines whether an operation environment is a cold environment in which icing may occur. When it is determined that the operation environment is the cold environment in which icing may occur, the plurality of wind turbine parts (10, 20, 30, 40) are moved to positions at which vertical projection images of the plurality of wind turbine parts (10, 20, 30, 40) on a horizontal plane do not overlap.