Wind Turbine Rotor Balance Through Blade Wire Pre-Tension Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines experience rotor imbalances due to varying loads on blades, leading to uneven stress distribution and increased material and manufacturing costs, which existing methods like manual maintenance and calibration masses are inefficient and costly.
Innovation Solution
A method for controlling wind turbines by measuring parameters, estimating rotor imbalance, and adjusting pre-tension in blade connecting wires using pre-tension adjustment mechanisms to counteract these imbalances, addressing both static and dynamic imbalances effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the amount of material used for manufacturing the wind turbine is increased to handle increased loads, then the load-bearing capacity is improved, but the weight and manufacturing costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamic pre-tension adjustment to the blade connecting wires, allowing the system to adaptively change its mechanical properties based on operating conditions. The pre-tension is varied to optimize load distribution among blades, enabling the structure to handle increased loads without proportionally increasing material usage and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pre-tension parameter of the blade connecting wires dynamically. By adjusting the pre-tension level, the system optimizes the load-bearing capacity and load distribution among blades, allowing efficient use of materials without excessive weight while still handling increased loads from larger blade sizes.
2Reliability
If manual maintenance and calibration masses are used to handle static rotor imbalances, then the rotor imbalance is corrected, but the process is time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-balancing system where the control mechanism automatically adjusts the pre-tension of blade connecting wires based on measured rotor imbalance. This eliminates the need for manual intervention, calibration masses, and time-consuming maintenance procedures, as the system corrects itself continuously during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a feedback control mechanism that continuously monitors rotor imbalance parameters and automatically adjusts the pre-tension of blade connecting wires accordingly. This closed-loop system maintains optimal rotor balance without manual intervention, significantly reducing maintenance time and costs while improving reliability.
3Reliability
If pre-tension adjustment is used to counteract rotor imbalance, then the rotor imbalance is reduced, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the pre-tension adjustment mechanism into the existing blade connecting wire structure, which already serves the function of interconnecting blades and providing mutual support. This multi-functional approach allows the same structural elements to perform both load-sharing and imbalance compensation functions, minimizing additional system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the imbalance compensation function with the existing blade connecting wire system. The pre-tension adjustment mechanism is integrated into the structural elements that already provide load distribution, merging multiple functions into a unified system rather than adding separate complex subsystems.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for controlling a wind turbine is disclosed. The wind turbine comprises three or more wind turbine blades, and blade connecting wires, each blade connecting wire extending between a connection point on one wind turbine blade and a connection point on a neighbouring wind turbine blade. The wind turbine further comprises pre-tension wires, each pre-tension wire being connected to one of the blade connecting wires and to a pre-tension adjustment mechanism . The method comprises measuring at least one parameter of the wind turbine, and deriving an estimate for a rotor imbalance of the wind turbine from the at least one measured parameter. The pre-tension adjustment mechanism is controlled based on the estimated rotor imbalance in order to counteract the rotor imbalance.