Wind Turbine Tower Clearance Monitoring With Multi-Angle Lasers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current tower clearance monitoring technologies using cameras and lasers suffer from inaccuracies due to long image processing times and directional limitations of lasers, respectively, leading to insufficient monitoring accuracy.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that utilize a laser ranging device mounted eccentrically on a wind turbine nacelle to emit N lasers at different fixed angles, calculate measured clearance values, apply a compensation formula, and compare these values with a threshold to ensure accurate and timely safety protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If camera-based monitoring is used, then monitoring coverage is comprehensive, but image processing time is long and monitoring timeliness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces camera-based optical monitoring with laser-based ranging technology. The laser ranging device emits laser beams to directly measure distances to blade tips, converting a complex image processing task into a straightforward distance measurement task. This substitution eliminates the need for image processing algorithms and provides immediate distance data, resolving the contradiction between comprehensive monitoring and processing time.
2Speed
If single-direction laser measurement is used, then measurement speed is fast, but measurement accuracy is insufficient due to directional limitations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single laser measurement into multiple laser beams emitted at different angles. Instead of relying on one directional measurement, the system uses N lasers at different fixed angles to measure multiple points on the blade tip plane. This segmentation of the measurement task allows the system to maintain fast measurement speed while improving accuracy through multiple measurement points.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from single-point linear measurement to multi-point planar measurement. By emitting lasers at different angles toward the blade tip plane, the system adds angular dimensionality to the measurement process. This enables comprehensive coverage of the blade tip area while maintaining the fast response characteristics of laser measurement, resolving the contradiction between speed and precision.
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
Enhances monitoring accuracy by compensating for measurement errors, ensuring reliable and timely safety protections for wind turbines.
Implementation Method 1
the laser ranging device is configured to emit N lasers at different fixed angles toward a blade tip plane
Implementation Method 2
measure the distance to the obstacle by the lasers to obtain a first distance measured by each laser
Data Source
AI summary
The application provides a method, apparatus and electronic device for monitoring tower clearance. The method for monitoring tower clearance includes: obtaining a distance to an obstacle measured by a laser ranging device; calculating a measured clearance value of each laser based on a first distance of the laser; compensating the measured clearance value of each laser by a preset compensation formula to obtain a compensated clearance value of the laser; comparing a minimum compensated clearance value among N lasers with a preset clearance threshold; and performing safety protection for the wind turbine based on a comparison result.