Wind Turbine Drive Sensor for Abnormal State Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbine driving devices often experience abnormal states, leading to potential damage when one device is malfunctioning or the ring gear is damaged, requiring prompt and accurate sensing to prevent extensive repair and downtime.
Innovation Solution
A wind turbine driving device with a sensor system that measures load changes between the driving device body and the nacelle, using a sensing pin with a strain gauge to detect abnormal states, allowing for immediate intervention to prevent damage, and a load avoidance unit to stop operation if an abnormality is detected.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a wind turbine driving device operates without a sensor system, then the device structure remains simple, but abnormal states cannot be detected promptly, leading to potential damage to the driving device or ring gear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex mechanical monitoring systems with a simple strain gauge sensor that directly measures mechanical strain on the fastening bolt. This electrical sensing approach provides reliable abnormal state detection while maintaining structural simplicity, as the sensor integrates seamlessly into the existing mechanical connection without adding complex mechanical components.
Solution Approach 2:
The fastening bolt itself serves dual purposes: it both secures the driving device body to the nacelle and acts as the sensing element through which the strain gauge measures load. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate sensing components, maintaining structural simplicity while enabling reliable abnormal state detection through the bolt's inherent mechanical properties.
2Measurement precision
If the force receiving part is made of a material with smaller elastic modulus than the fastening bolt, then the sensor can detect strain more sensitively, but the force receiving part becomes more flexible and may deform excessively under high load
Solution Approach 1:
The force receiving part acts as an intermediary element between the fastening bolt and the strain gauge. By using a material with smaller elastic modulus, it amplifies the strain signal for better measurement sensitivity. The force receiving part is designed to remain within elastic deformation limits under normal operating loads, and the control system prevents excessive loads by stopping operation when abnormal strain is detected, thus balancing sensitivity with structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit implements beforehand cushioning by monitoring strain in real-time and stopping the driving device operation when predetermined threshold values are exceeded. This preventive control mechanism ensures that the force receiving part never experiences loads beyond its safe deformation limits, protecting both the sensor and the structural integrity even though the force receiving part uses a more flexible material for enhanced sensitivity.
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
Enables prompt and accurate sensing of abnormal states, preventing damage to the driving devices and ring gear, reducing downtime and repair costs by allowing for timely intervention and operation adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
a sensing portion for measuring a strain of the force receiving part, the sensing portion being provided on the force receiving part
Data Source
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AI summary
One object is to promptly and accurately sense an abnormal state of a wind turbine driving device. The wind turbine driving device 10 includes a driving device body 20 and a sensor 40. The driving device body 20 is installed in one structure at a movable section of a wind turbine 101. The driving device body 20 includes a meshing portion 24a meshing with a ring gear 107 installed in the other structure at the movable section of the wind turbine. The sensor measures a change in installation state of the driving device body 20 with respect to the one structure.