Wind Speed Determination Using Turbine Time Differences
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for determining wind speed in wind farms are inaccurate due to selective measurements in turbulent flow areas and require expensive, maintenance-intensive devices, limiting their significance for regulating wind power plants.
Innovation Solution
A method that detects changes in local wind speed between spaced-apart wind turbines by determining the time difference of these changes and using the distance between them to calculate wind speed, allowing for precise determination of average wind speed without the need for additional measuring devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If wind speed is measured using an anemometer attached to a wind turbine or by ultrasound at a rotor hub, then wind speed measurement is achieved, but the measurement accuracy deteriorates because measurements are taken at a single point within a turbulent flow region
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the wind farm into multiple measurement points (at least two wind turbines) spaced apart from each other. By measuring wind speed at multiple locations and combining these measurements, the system captures the spatial variation of wind flow across the rotor blade sweep area, thereby obtaining a more accurate representation of the average wind speed than a single-point measurement could provide.
2Measurement precision
If state-of-the-art measuring equipment is used for wind speed determination, then measurement capability is achieved, but device cost and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the wind turbines themselves serve as measurement devices by utilizing existing sensors and operational parameters (such as power output, rotor speed, or torque measurements) that are already part of the wind turbine's normal operation. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate, expensive anemometers while still providing accurate wind speed determination through the relationship between turbine performance parameters and wind speed.
3Ease of operation
If wind speed is determined at a single point, then measurement simplicity is achieved, but the meaningfulness and usefulness for controlling wind turbines deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal measurement approach that works across multiple wind turbines simultaneously using their existing operational data. The method is multi-functional as it can be applied to different turbine types and operating conditions, providing control-relevant wind speed information that is universally applicable to wind farm optimization without requiring turbine-specific modifications.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for determining wind speed in a plant (1) having at least two wind turbines (2) spaced apart from each other. In order to determine the wind speed with high accuracy, according to the invention, the occurrence of a change in the local wind speed is sensed for the at least two wind turbines (2), whereupon at least one time difference by which the occurrence of the local changes at the at least two wind turbines (2) is offset is determined, whereupon the wind speed is determined on the basis of the time difference and the distance (3) between the wind turbines (2). The invention further relates to a plant (1) having at least two wind turbines (2) spaced apart from each other.