Wind Turbine Generator Actual Wind Direction Estimation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbine generators face reduced power generation and unbalanced loads due to deviations in wind direction detection caused by the anemoscope's downstream location, leading to inefficient yaw control.
Innovation Solution
A system that detects the main wind direction, calculates an average generator output power, and estimates the actual wind direction by approximating the output power to a quadratic curve, allowing for precise yaw control to align the nacelle with the actual wind direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If an anemoscope is mounted on the top of the nacelle to detect wind direction, then yaw control can be performed, but the detected wind direction deviates from the actual wind direction blowing against the blades, causing reduced power generation and unbalanced loads
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical anemoscope-based wind direction detection system with a computational approach. By using the relationship between blade rotational speed, wind speed, and generator output power, the system calculates the actual wind direction mathematically rather than measuring it mechanically downstream. This substitution eliminates the measurement error inherent in downstream detection while maintaining yaw control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary calculation system that uses generator output power data as a mediator to determine actual wind direction. Instead of directly measuring wind direction at the nacelle, the system uses the generator's power output (which is affected by wind direction) as an intermediate indicator to infer the true upstream wind direction, thereby resolving the measurement accuracy problem.
2Ease of manufacture
If the anemoscope is located downstream of the blades, then it can detect wind direction, but the blade rotation changes the wind direction causing deviation between detected and actual wind direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the physical downstream anemoscope measurement system with a computational model that calculates upstream wind direction based on generator performance data. This substitution maintains the ease of anemoscope installation while eliminating the measurement inaccuracy caused by the downstream location, as the system now computes rather than directly measures the affected wind direction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary calculation of the wind direction offset value based on blade rotational speed and wind speed relationships. By pre-establishing the relationship between these parameters and the wind direction deviation, the system can compensate for the downstream measurement error before it affects yaw control decisions, effectively correcting the measurement in advance.
3Ease of operation
If yaw control is performed based on downstream wind direction detection, then the nacelle can be oriented, but the generator output power decreases due to deviation from actual main wind direction
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where generator output power data is continuously monitored and fed back into the wind direction calculation system. By using the actual power output (which reflects the true wind direction's effect on generation) as feedback, the system continuously refines its estimate of the actual wind direction and adjusts yaw control accordingly, maximizing generator output power while maintaining proper nacelle orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter used for wind direction determination from direct downstream measurement to a calculated value based on generator output power and blade rotational speed. By changing from a spatial measurement parameter to a performance-based parameter, the system achieves more accurate wind direction information that directly correlates with power generation effectiveness, thereby improving productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
Yaw control is performed such that a nacelle faces into an actual main wind direction. The actual wind direction is estimated by detecting the main wind direction with an anemoscope (wind direction detecting means), assuming the actual wind direction by assuming a wind direction offset value, which is a deviation between the main wind direction and the actual wind direction, which is a direction of wind which blows in actual use, at a predetermined wind speed with a wind direction assuming unit (wind direction assuming means), calculating an average generator output power for a predetermined period of time in the assumed actual wind direction with an average-generator-output-power calculation unit (average-generator-output-power calculation means), approximating the average generator output power with respect to the assumed wind direction offset value to a quadratic curve with an actual wind direction estimation unit (actual wind direction estimation means), and estimating the wind direction offset value at the time when the average generator output power is the maximum in the approximated quadratic curve to be an actual offset value.