Wind Turbine Tower Inclination Control for Thrust Force Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbines face inefficiencies due to the inability to accurately measure thrust forces, leading to excessive damage and reduced power generation, as they rely on open loop control systems with large margins, which are not precise enough to manage low-frequency motions and thrust forces effectively.
Innovation Solution
A control system that measures the angle of inclination of a wind turbine tower using an inclinometer and adjusts the pitch angle of rotor blades and generator reactive torque based on calculated thrust forces, allowing for more accurate management of wind energy capture and component loading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If open loop control system with large margins is used to prevent excessive thrust force, then component damage is minimized, but power generation efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a closed-loop control system that continuously measures tower displacement using accelerometers and inclinometers, calculates actual thrust force in real-time, and adjusts pitch angles accordingly. This feedback mechanism replaces the open-loop system with large safety margins, enabling precise thrust force management while maximizing power generation efficiency.
2Speed
If accelerometer is used to measure high frequency motion, then high frequency vibrations are detected, but low frequency tower oscillation is not accurately measured
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple sensing technologies - accelerometers for high frequency vibration detection and inclinometers for low frequency tower oscillation measurement. By merging these complementary measurement systems, the control system achieves comprehensive coverage of both high and low frequency motions, enabling accurate thrust force calculation across the full frequency spectrum.
3Reliability
If pitch angle is increased to reduce thrust force, then component loading is reduced, but torque and power generation are decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic pitch angle adjustment based on real-time thrust force measurements. Instead of using fixed conservative pitch angles, the system continuously optimizes pitch angle to maintain thrust force within rated limits while maximizing power generation. This dynamic approach allows the turbine to operate at optimal efficiency points rather than conservative fixed settings.
Data Source
AI summary
A control system for a wind turbine having a tower, a generator, and at least one rotor blade. The control system includes a sensor configured to measure an angle of inclination of the tower with respect to a surface, at least one pitch assembly configured to adjust a pitch angle of the rotor blade, and a controller configured to control at least one of the pitch assembly and the generator based on the measured angle of inclination.