Wind Turbine Icing Detection Using Existing Anemometer Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current icing detection systems for wind turbines require additional hardware, increasing installation and operational costs, and are not feasible in areas with average yearly temperatures above freezing.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize existing wind turbine hardware, such as anemometers, to estimate wind speed and detect icing potential by comparing measured wind speed with a calculated estimate, eliminating the need for additional sensors and hardware.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional hardware such as sensors or piezoelectric transducers is installed for icing detection, then icing detection capability is improved, but installation and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing wind turbine hardware (anemometers, operating data systems) perform the additional function of icing detection. The control system uses already-installed sensors and data collection infrastructure to detect icing conditions, eliminating the need for dedicated icing detection hardware while maintaining detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The wind turbine's existing monitoring system serves itself by detecting icing conditions through data it already collects for operational purposes. The anemometer and operating data system, originally designed for performance monitoring, now also provide icing detection functionality without requiring external services or additional specialized equipment
2Measurement precision
If additional hardware is required for icing detection, then icing detection accuracy is improved, but feasibility in warm climates deteriorates due to prohibitive costs
Solution Approach 1:
The control system uses already-installed sensors and data collection infrastructure to detect icing conditions, eliminating the need for dedicated icing detection hardware. This universal approach allows the system to be deployed in any geographical location without incurring additional costs, making it adaptable to both cold and warm climates
Solution Approach 2:
The system detects icing by monitoring changes in existing operational parameters (wind speed measurements, power output, rotor speed) rather than relying on temperature thresholds. This parameter-based detection approach allows the system to identify icing conditions based on aerodynamic performance degradation, making it suitable for deployment in various climatic zones including areas with average temperatures above freezing
3Device complexity
If existing hardware is used for icing detection, then costs are reduced, but detection capability must be maintained using only current sensors
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors operating data from existing sensors and compares actual performance against expected performance models. By implementing feedback loops that analyze discrepancies between measured and predicted wind speed, power output, and rotor speed, the system reliably detects icing conditions using only existing hardware infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces physical icing detection hardware (sensors, transducers) with a computational approach using existing operational data. Instead of mechanical or electrical sensing of ice accumulation, the system uses software-based analysis of aerodynamic performance parameters to detect icing, substituting a computational system for a physical sensing system
Data Source
AI summary
An embodiment of the present invention may provide a method and system for detecting icing on at least one wind turbine blade. An embodiment of the present invention takes the form of a software application and process that utilizes the measured wind speed to detect icing on at least one wind turbine blade.