Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Load Sensor Calibration Method
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for calibrating load sensors in wind turbine rotor blades often require significant downtime and are inefficient, as they do not effectively manage the collection of measurement data based on predefined calibration conditions, leading to incomplete or inaccurate calibration.
Innovation Solution
A method that dynamically switches between calibration mode, restricted production mode, and interruption mode based on predefined calibration conditions, ensuring data collection only occurs when conditions are met, allowing for efficient data collection and minimizing downtime by interrupting data collection only when conditions are not met for a predefined period.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If calibration is performed continuously without interruption, then calibration completeness is improved, but production downtime increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically switches between calibration mode and production mode based on real-time wind conditions. The calibration process is interrupted when wind speed exceeds predefined thresholds, allowing the wind turbine to resume production operations. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by enabling calibration completion when conditions permit while minimizing production downtime through rapid resumption of operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration process is performed in periodic intervals rather than continuously. The system alternates between calibration phases and production phases, where calibration is attempted during favorable wind conditions and interrupted when conditions become unsuitable. This periodic approach ensures calibration completeness over time while allowing production to continue during acceptable conditions, reducing overall downtime.
2Loss of time
If data collection is interrupted frequently, then production downtime is reduced, but calibration accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from wind speed measurements to determine whether to interrupt calibration. predefined wind speed thresholds are monitored continuously, and calibration is interrupted only when thresholds are exceeded. This feedback mechanism ensures that calibration accuracy is maintained by resuming data collection when wind conditions become suitable, while still allowing production to continue when conditions are unfavorable, thus balancing accuracy and downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameter (calibration mode) based on wind speed conditions. When wind speed is within acceptable ranges, calibration data collection continues; when wind speed exceeds thresholds, the system switches to production mode. This parameter change approach maintains calibration accuracy by ensuring data is collected under appropriate conditions while minimizing interruptions to production operations.
3Productivity
If calibration is performed during high wind conditions, then calibration speed is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts calibration operations based on wind conditions. During high wind conditions, the system can perform calibration at reduced speed or with limited data collection, while resuming full-speed calibration when wind conditions improve. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by maintaining calibration progress during acceptable conditions while preserving measurement precision during high-wind periods through selective data collection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial calibration action during high wind conditions rather than complete calibration. Data collection may be limited to specific parameters or performed at reduced intensity when wind speeds are high, and then completed when conditions improve. This partial action approach maintains calibration progress without compromising measurement precision, as full calibration is performed when wind conditions are favorable.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method for calibrating one or more load sensors in a rotor blade of a wind turbine, which comprises a rotor having a rotor hub and at least one rotor blade, wherein the method comprises the following steps: ∘ checking state and/or operating parameters of the wind turbine in order to ascertain whether calibration is permissible, ∘ continuously measuring at least one calibration condition for the wind turbine and comparing the at least one measured calibration condition with one or more predefined calibration prerequisites, ∘ switching to a calibration mode if the at least one measured calibration condition meets the one or more calibration prerequisites or switching to restricted production mode if the at least one measured calibration condition does not meet the one or more calibration prerequisites, ∘ collecting measurement data in calibration mode for as long as the at least one measured calibration condition meets the one or more calibration prerequisites, wherein the calibration mode is terminated when the required data have been collected for the calibration, ∘ switching from calibration mode to interruption mode, in which the collection of measurement data is interrupted, if the at least one measured calibration condition does not meet the one or more calibration prerequisites, wherein mode is switched from interruption mode to restricted production mode if the at least one measured calibration condition does not meet the one or more calibration prerequisites for longer than a first predefined period of time.