Wind Turbine Energy Harvesting for Off-Grid Maintenance Power
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines in an off-grid state require an external power source for maintenance tasks due to the lack of grid connectivity, which is not available during installation.
Innovation Solution
Harvest energy from internal sources like rotor kinetic energy, tower oscillations, and solar radiation, and store it in energy storage devices for use in maintenance tasks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If wind turbine is installed in off-grid state without grid connectivity, then installation flexibility and site selection are improved, but power availability for maintenance tasks deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The wind turbine system performs maintenance tasks using its own internal energy sources ( rotor kinetic energy, tower oscillations, solar radiation) without requiring external grid power. The system serves itself by harvesting and storing energy locally to power maintenance equipment during off-grid installation periods.
Solution Approach 2:
Energy is harvested and stored in advance during periods when wind and solar resources are available, before maintenance tasks are needed. The energy storage devices accumulate energy during off-grid state so that power is ready when maintenance tasks require it.
2Use of energy by moving object
If external power source is used for maintenance tasks during off-grid state, then power availability is improved, but system complexity and additional equipment requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The existing wind turbine components (rotor, tower, solar panels) are made to serve dual functions: their primary function during operation and energy harvesting function during off-grid maintenance. This eliminates the need for separate dedicated power generation equipment for maintenance tasks.
Solution Approach 2:
Energy storage devices act as intermediaries between the internal energy sources and the maintenance equipment. They buffer and regulate the energy flow, allowing the maintenance equipment to operate reliably without direct connection to intermittent wind or solar sources.
3Use of energy by moving object
If energy is harvested from internal sources during off-grid state, then power availability for maintenance is improved, but energy collection capability worsens due to limited sources
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple internal energy sources (rotor kinetic energy, tower oscillations, solar radiation) are combined and fed into a common energy storage system. This aggregation of diverse energy sources increases the total energy availability beyond what any single source could provide alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The system captures energy across different physical parameters and forms (mechanical kinetic energy from rotor, mechanical potential energy from tower oscillations, electromagnetic energy from solar radiation) and converts them all to storable electrical energy, maximizing utilization of available resources.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides a self-sufficient power source for wind turbine maintenance by utilizing local energy sources and storage, enabling efficient operation without external power.
Implementation Method 1
The rotor blades capture kinetic energy of wind using known airfoil principles
Implementation Method 2
The rotor blades capture kinetic energy of wind using known airfoil principles
Implementation Method 3
The generator then converts the mechanical energy to electrical energy that may be deployed to a utility grid
Implementation Method 4
collecting energy from a solar panel installed at the wind turbine
Implementation Method 5
collecting energy from a solar panel installed at the wind turbine
Implementation Method 6
storing the energy in an energy storage device installed at the wind turbine or the wind farm
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for harvesting energy from one or more internal energy sources of a wind turbine of a wind farm during an off-grid state includes collecting energy from the one or more internal energy sources locally at the wind turbine during the off-grid state. The off-grid state is characterized in that the wind turbine is mechanically and electrically installed at the wind farm but not yet connected to a grid. The method further includes storing at least a portion of the energy in one or more energy storage devices locally at the wind turbine or the wind farm during the off-grid state. Moreover, the method includes using the energy to periodically power one or more electrical power systems used for idle operation or maintenance tasks of the wind turbine during the off-grid state.