Wind Turbine Evaluation Device for Early Malfunction Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wind turbine monitoring systems rely on large tolerance ranges for temperature measurements, leading to late detection of malfunctions, as high or low temperatures may not necessarily indicate a fault, especially in varying environmental conditions.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilize an evaluation device to receive and analyze data from multiple wind turbines or farms, allowing for early detection of deviations in operating parameters by comparing with reference values from similar conditions, and issuing control commands or event messages.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If large tolerance ranges are used for temperature measurements, then false alarms are reduced, but malfunction detection is delayed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemalfunction detection accuracyVSAvoiddetection time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors temperature measurements and compares them against dynamically updated reference ranges from multiple wind turbines. When a deviation is detected, the system provides feedback through event messages and control commands, enabling continuous adaptation and early detection of malfunctions while maintaining reliable operation during normal temperature variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The evaluation device serves multiple functions: it collects temperature data from multiple wind turbines, establishes reference ranges, detects deviations, generates event messages, and outputs control commands. This multi-functional approach enables the system to both reduce false alarms and detect malfunctions early by leveraging data from the entire wind farm rather than individual turbines.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If tolerance ranges are made small to detect malfunctions early, then detection sensitivity increases, but false alarms increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeviation detection sensitivityVSAvoidfalse alarm rate
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges temperature data from multiple wind turbines to establish a comprehensive reference range. By combining measurements from multiple turbines operating under similar environmental conditions, the system achieves high detection sensitivity while maintaining reliability, as the aggregated data reflects normal operational variations across the entire wind farm.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by continuously collecting and analyzing temperature data from multiple turbines to establish accurate reference ranges before malfunctions occur. This preliminary data gathering and analysis enables the system to detect deviations with high sensitivity while distinguishing them from normal operational variations, thereby reducing false alarms.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Measurement precision

If data from multiple wind turbines is collected and compared, then early detection of deviations is enabled, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating condition detection accuracyVSAvoiddata collection and processing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The evaluation device acts as an intermediary between multiple wind turbines and the control system. It centralizes data collection from all turbines, performs reference range establishment and deviation detection, and outputs consolidated control commands or event messages. This intermediary approach enables precise multi-turbine comparison while managing system complexity through centralized processing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Reliability

If centralized evaluation of multiple turbines is implemented, then early malfunction detection is achieved, but control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemalfunction detection capabilityVSAvoidcentralized control system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is segmented into independent functional modules within the evaluation device: data collection from multiple turbines, reference range establishment, deviation detection, event message generation, and control command output. This segmentation enables centralized evaluation of multiple turbines for early malfunction detection while managing complexity through modular, independently manageable components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP3380722B1Method for outputting control instructions or event messages for a wind energy installation or a wind farm, and an evaluation device and a system therefor
Publication Date: 2025.05.21 WOBBEN PROPERTIES GMBH
  • EP3380722B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3380722B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3380722B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for outputting control instructions with an evaluation device (24) to at least one first wind energy installation (100a) or one first wind farm (112a) and/or for outputting an event message about the operating state of the at least one first wind energy installation (100a) or of the at least one first wind farm (112a) with the evaluation device (24). To this end, the evaluation device (24) receives data from at least one further wind energy installation (100d) or at least one further wind farm (112b) and evaluates the data to produce and output the control instructions or the event messages. Further, the invention relates to an evaluation device (24) and also a system with the evaluation device (24) for carrying out the method.