Wind Turbine Ice Throw Risk Zone Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Wind turbines in cold climates face shutdowns due to ice accretion on blades, leading to reduced Annual Energy Production (AEP), as existing systems lack the ability to assess and mitigate ice throw risks effectively, resulting in unnecessary shutdowns and potential damage or injury.

Innovation Solution

A method to determine an ice throw risk zone around wind turbines, comparing it to exclusion zones, and adjusting operating parameters such as rotor speed and yaw angle to minimize the risk zone's impact on these areas, allowing turbines to operate safely and efficiently.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If wind turbines are shutdown to prevent ice throw damage, then safety is improved, but Annual Energy Production is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidAnnual Energy Production

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes operating parameters (rotor speed, blade pitch angle, yaw angle) to modify the ice throw risk zone characteristics. By adjusting these parameters, the system can reduce the risk zone's impact on exclusion zones while maintaining turbine operation, thus resolving the contradiction between safety and energy production

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts operating parameters in real-time based on ice accretion conditions and exclusion zone proximity. This dynamic adaptation allows the turbine to operate safely by continuously modifying its operational state to minimize ice throw risk while maximizing energy production

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If wind turbines operate in icy conditions, then Annual Energy Production is maintained, but risk of ice throw damage increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveAnnual Energy ProductionVSAvoidice throw damage risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from sensors detecting ice accretion and calculates the ice throw risk zone in real-time. This feedback mechanism allows the control system to adjust operating parameters to minimize the risk zone's impact on exclusion zones, enabling continuous operation while managing ice throw risk

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary calculations of the ice throw risk zone based on detected ice parameters before ice can be thrown. This allows proactive adjustment of operating parameters to prevent ice throw damage while maintaining turbine operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3559456B1Improved wind turbine safety system

Publication Date: 2022.06.08 VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS AS

Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method, controller, wind turbine and wind farm that advantageously determines an ice throw risk zone (302) for a wind turbine (301), wherein the ice throw risk zone (302) defines an area surrounding the wind turbine (301) within which ice can be thrown from one or more blades of the wind turbine (301); determining whether the determined ice throw risk zone (302) impinges one or more exclusion zones; and if the determined ice throw risk zone (302) impinges one or more exclusion zones, determining an alteration to one or more operating parameters of the wind turbine (301) in order to alter the ice throw risk zone (302) such that the determined ice throw risk zone (302) does not impinge the one or more exclusion zones.