Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Load Mitigation via State Estimation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines face structural limitations due to fluctuating loads from environmental conditions, leading to potential component damage, and existing sensor systems are complex, expensive, and prone to inaccuracies, with conventional controllers lacking effective control features for tip clearance improvements.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that uses a state estimator and modal analysis to predict future loading signals, providing a lead time for control actions, such as adjusting pitch angles, to mitigate rotor blade loads before they exceed design limits, utilizing sensors like Micro Inertial Measurement Units and strain gauges, and applying Euler-Bernoulli beam theory for deflection and velocity estimation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional sensors are installed to measure loads on wind turbine components, then load measurement capability is improved, but system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the physical sensor system by using a state estimator that reconstructs load signals from measurements of blade position, velocity, and acceleration. This software-based load estimation replicates the function of physical load sensors without requiring additional hardware installation on the turbine components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical sensor system with a computational approach using a state estimator and modal analysis. Instead of physically mounting sensors on blades and components to measure loads, the system uses mathematical models and processing of existing motion measurements to calculate load signals, substituting mechanical measurement with computational analysis.
2Measurement precision
If physical sensors are used to measure loads, then load data is obtained, but measurement accuracy and reliability deteriorate due to sensor failure and inaccuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual copy of the physical sensor system by using a state estimator that reconstructs load signals from measurements of blade position, velocity, and acceleration. This software-based load estimation replicates the function of physical load sensors without requiring additional hardware installation on the turbine components.
3Ease of operation
If conventional controllers are used without lead time prediction, then control simplicity is maintained, but control effectiveness deteriorates due to inability to prevent damaging loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by reconstructing future load signals using modal analysis and state estimation that provide lead time before damaging loads occur. The controller uses this predicted information to take preventive control actions, such as adjusting blade pitch angles, before the actual damaging loads reach the components, thereby preventing damage rather than merely responding to it.
4Device complexity
If pitch system bandwidth is limited, then system simplicity is maintained, but tip clearance improvement capability deteriorates during extreme events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by reconstructing future load signals using modal analysis and state estimation that provide lead time before damaging loads occur. The controller uses this predicted information to take preventive control actions, such as adjusting blade pitch angles, before the actual damaging loads reach the components, thereby preventing damage rather than merely responding to it.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for mitigating loads acting on a rotor blade of a wind turbine includes determining, via a state estimator of a controller, a blade state estimation of the rotor blade. The method also includes reconstructing, via the controller, one or more loading signals of the rotor blade from the blade state estimation using modal analysis such that the loading signal(s) include a lead time. Further, the method includes comparing the loading signal(s) of the rotor blade to a loading threshold. Moreover, the method includes implementing a control action based on the comparison such that the lead time provided by the loading signal(s) allows the control action to take effect before a damaging load occurs on the rotor blade.