Wind Turbine Air Deflector Control for Transient Gust Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wind turbine blade pitch control methods are inadequate for managing transient wind gusts and varying wind speeds, leading to potential damage from excessive loads, and existing air deflection systems require improved control methods to effectively manage blade loading and rotor speed.
Innovation Solution
A controller system that utilizes sensor data from multiple air deflector units on wind turbine blades to calculate error values and generate actuator commands for adjusting the deployment configuration of these units, implementing updated configurations based on real-time loading conditions and rotational speed, thereby optimizing air deflection and reducing load on the blades.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If blade pitch control is used to limit rotor speed and loading from increased wind speed, then rotor speed can be controlled, but transient wind gusts may still cause damage because blade pitch actuators cannot respond quickly enough
Solution Approach 1:
The air deflector system is deployed in advance or during transient gusts to immediately reduce aerodynamic loads on the blade before the slower blade pitch actuator can respond. This preliminary action provides instantaneous protection against gust-induced excessive loads that would otherwise damage the turbine.
Solution Approach 2:
The air deflector acts as an intermediary device between the wind and the blade, intercepting and redirecting airflow to reduce loads. This intermediary mechanism provides faster response than direct blade pitch control while still achieving load reduction.
2Reliability
If blade pitch is adjusted during each rotation to account for wind speed differences at ground level versus blade height, then wind loading can be managed, but excessive wear is imposed on blade pitch actuators
Solution Approach 1:
The air deflector system provides preliminary load management by reducing aerodynamic forces before they fully impact the blade, decreasing the magnitude and frequency of pitch actuator adjustments needed throughout each rotation, thereby reducing wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The air deflector serves as an intermediary that handles the primary load management function, allowing the pitch actuator to operate with smaller, less frequent adjustments, thus extending its service life while still managing blade loading effectively.
3Reliability
If air deflector units are deployed to reduce blade loading and respond to transient gusts, then protection from excessive loads is improved, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into modular components: sensor modules distributed along the blade, a control algorithm that processes sensor data, and actuator modules for individual air deflector units. This segmentation allows for scalable complexity and easier maintenance while providing comprehensive gust protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control by continuously monitoring blade loading through sensor data and adjusting air deflector deployment in real-time. This closed-loop feedback enables automatic adaptation to transient gusts without requiring complex manual control systems.
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
The system effectively mitigates the impact of transient wind gusts and varying wind speeds by dynamically adjusting air deflector unit deployment, reducing the risk of damage and optimizing blade loading, thus enhancing the operational safety and efficiency of wind turbines.
Implementation Method 1
a blade of a rotating wind turbine rotor may include a plurality of air deflector units
Data Source
AI summary
One or more controllers may perform one or more methods to control one or more air deflector units of one or more wind turbine rotor blades. The methods include per-blade control methods that may be performed, e.g., to reduce blade loading caused by wind gusts. The methods also include collective control methods that may be performed, e.g., to reduce tower motion and/or rotor speed.