Wind Turbine Overload Mitigation Through Blade Pitch Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind power turbines experience high component failure rates due to excessive loads, leading to underperformance and increased maintenance costs, with existing condition monitoring systems failing to effectively reduce these failures.
Innovation Solution
A data processing and control augmentation system that identifies overloading in wind turbine components and adjusts power limits to reduce mechanical loads, extending the lifespan of components by analyzing load sequences and presenting control input signals to modify blade pitch angles or stop operations during high-impact events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If blade-pitch load control is implemented to reduce loads on drivetrain components, then component reliability is improved, but device complexity and retrofit cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary control system that receives load information from existing sensors and generates pitch angle adjustments without requiring direct integration into the turbine controller. This mediator approach reduces complexity by using a separate, standalone control module that communicates through standard interfaces, thereby improving drivetrain reliability while avoiding the complexity of deep system integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex mechanical load reduction mechanisms with a control-based approach that uses existing pitch actuators. Instead of adding new mechanical load-bearing components, the system uses intelligent control of existing pitch mechanisms to reduce loads, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing device complexity.
2Measurement precision
If existing condition monitoring systems are used to identify drivetrain damage, then measurement capability is maintained, but the ability to prevent failures is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by proactively reducing loads on drivetrain components before damage occurs. The system continuously monitors load conditions and preemptively adjusts pitch angles to prevent excessive loads that would lead to component failure, rather than merely detecting damage after it occurs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback control by continuously monitoring drivetrain loads and adjusting pitch angles in real-time based on measured conditions. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables the system to respond dynamically to changing load conditions, preventing failures while maintaining measurement precision of existing monitoring systems.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If power output is reduced to limit loads during high impact events, then component lifespan is extended, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing load mitigation only during specific high-impact events rather than continuously. The system monitors load conditions and activates pitch angle adjustments only when excessive loads are detected, allowing full power operation during normal conditions while extending component lifespan during critical events.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses partial action by applying load reduction only to the extent necessary to prevent component failure. Rather than continuously limiting power output, the system applies pitch adjustments only during high-impact events with excessive loads, maintaining maximum productivity during normal operating conditions while still extending component lifespan.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments of the present disclosure include a data processing and control augmentation system capable of identifying overloading of one or more wind turbine assemblies and providing information to a wind farm controller to reduce a power output of each overloaded turbine. The augmentation system thus reduces the power output of each overloaded turbine and, in turn, reduces loads applied to the wind turbine assembly, such as for a period of time until conditions favorably change. A described analysis of the present disclosure is able to utilize several incoming data streams from sensors so arranged to measure wind effects on blades to calculate and compare cyclic loads to threshold limits to o keep the loads within design limits. The control strategy reduces premature failure of components within the wind turbine assembly, and can be applied across an entire wind farm, even with only a subset of wind turbine assemblies being retrofitted.