Wind Turbine Icing Probability Control System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wind turbine ice detection systems are unreliable, often failing to anticipate and prevent ice accumulation on blades, leading to potential damage and prolonged shutdowns due to late or absent shutdown signals, resulting in risks of ice projection and extended defrosting periods.
Innovation Solution
A system that continuously measures ambient climatic conditions, including temperature, humidity, and solar radiation, to calculate an overall icing probability and automatically shut down the wind turbine when this probability exceeds a set tolerance, using a combination of meteorological instruments, calculators, and a controller to anticipate and prevent ice formation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional ice detection systems are used to monitor blade icing conditions, then the wind turbine can be stopped when ice is detected, but the detection is often late or ineffective resulting in significant frost accumulation before shutdown
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by measuring climatic conditions (temperature, humidity, solar radiation) and calculating icing probability BEFORE actual ice forms on the blades. The control system proactively shuts down the turbine when the calculated icing probability exceeds a threshold, preventing ice accumulation rather than reacting to detected ice. This anticipatory approach eliminates the detection delay inherent in traditional systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary calculation layer between environmental sensing and shutdown decision. Instead of directly detecting ice on blades, the system uses meteorological parameters (temperature, humidity, solar radiation) as intermediaries to calculate an indirect measure of icing risk. This intermediary probability calculation provides earlier warning than direct ice detection methods.
2Productivity
If the wind turbine continues operating during icing conditions to maintain productivity, then energy production is maximized, but ice accumulation increases the risk of fragmentation and projection causing safety hazards
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback by constantly measuring climatic conditions (temperature, humidity, solar radiation) and recalculating the icing probability in real-time. This feedback loop allows the control system to monitor changing environmental conditions and adjust the operational state accordingly, shutting down when the probability threshold is exceeded to prevent ice projection hazards while maintaining production during safe conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameter from binary (on/off based on direct ice detection) to continuous (icing probability calculation based on multiple climatic parameters). By monitoring changes in temperature, humidity, and solar radiation parameters, the system can predict icing conditions and adjust turbine operation proactively, balancing productivity with safety by shutting down only when necessary.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the wind turbine is shut down early to prevent ice accumulation, then safety risks are eliminated, but the defrosting period extends requiring several days of waiting for favorable weather conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary action by shutting down the turbine at the first sign of high icing probability (when environmental conditions become unfavorable), rather than waiting for visible ice accumulation. This early intervention prevents the formation of thick frost layers that would require extended defrosting periods. By acting preemptively based on climatic trends, the system minimizes both the shutdown duration and subsequent defrosting requirements.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2E
Figure 3A
AI summary
The invention relates to a system for controlling a wind turbine, comprising meteorological instruments for measuring ambient climatic conditions and subsequently generating meteorological signals, a memory for storing an icing tolerance, a first calculator for calculating a global icing probability from the meteorological signals and a controller to stop the wind turbine when the global icing probability is greater than the icing tolerance. The invention further relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine, comprising the following steps: a) measuring ambient climatic conditions and subsequently generating meteorological signals, b) storing an icing tolerance in memory, c) calculating a global icing probability from the meteorological signals and d) stopping the wind turbine when the global icing probability is greater than the icing tolerance.