Wind Turbine Plasma Control for Flow Separation Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine control systems face challenges in accurately determining flow separation on blade surfaces due to non-uniform wind conditions and the inability to differentiate between flow separation and changes in wind conditions, leading to inefficient plasma-induced flow generation and potential operational failures.
Innovation Solution
A wind turbine control device that acquires and compares operation history data during plasma generation and cessation, using statistical analysis to determine if conditions satisfy prescribed conditions, allowing for precise control of plasma electrodes and wind turbine operations based on the comparison results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If plasma-induced flow is generated to suppress flow separation on blade surface, then power generation output is improved, but it is difficult to accurately determine whether flow separation has occurred due to non-uniform wind conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The blade surface is divided into multiple measurement points, and flow separation is detected independently at each point. This segmentation allows precise local detection of flow separation conditions on the blade surface, resolving the contradiction by enabling accurate measurement despite non-uniform wind conditions affecting the entire blade.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors flow separation conditions at multiple points on the blade surface and provides feedback to the plasma generation control. When flow separation is detected at any measurement point, plasma-induced flow is generated to suppress it. This feedback mechanism ensures plasma is generated only when and where needed, improving power generation output while maintaining accurate flow separation detection.
2Stability of the object's composition
If plasma electrodes are continuously operated to prevent flow separation, then rotational speed stability is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous plasma generation, the system periodically detects flow separation conditions at multiple blade surface points and generates plasma only when and where flow separation is detected. This periodic action maintains rotational speed stability by suppressing flow separation events while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous plasma generation.
Solution Approach 2:
Plasma-induced flow is generated locally at specific blade surface points where flow separation is detected, rather than uniformly across the entire blade. This local quality approach maintains rotational speed stability by addressing flow separation precisely where it occurs, while minimizing energy consumption by limiting plasma generation to necessary locations and times.
3Reliability
If plasma is generated based on calculated angle of attack exceeding stall angle, then flow separation suppression is achieved, but control precision deteriorates due to difficulty in ascertaining angle of attack distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical/calculation-based angle of attack measurement method with a direct flow separation detection method using multiple sensors on the blade surface. Instead of calculating angle of attack from wind speed and rotational speed (which has precision limitations), the system directly detects flow separation conditions, achieving both reliable flow separation suppression and precise measurement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-point angle of attack calculation to multi-point flow separation detection on the blade surface. By adding the spatial dimension of multiple measurement points, the system achieves precise local flow separation detection without relying on angle of attack calculations, resolving the contradiction between suppression reliability and measurement precision.
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
Enables effective control of wind turbines by distinguishing between flow separation and wind condition changes, optimizing plasma-induced flow generation and reducing operational inefficiencies and potential failures.
Implementation Method 1
a plasma-induced flow is generated by controlling the voltage application mechanism and applying the voltage to the airflow generation device
Data Source
AI summary
A wind turbine control device acquires operation history data at the time of plasma generation indicating an operation history of a first wind turbine when a plasma has been generated by plasma electrodes installed on a blade and operation history data at the time of stopping plasma generation indicating an operation history of the first wind turbine when no plasma has been generated by the plasma electrodes, executes an operation history comparison process of comparing the operation history data at the time of plasma generation with the operation history data at the time of stopping plasma generation, executes an operation history determination process of determining whether or not a result of the operation history comparison process satisfies a prescribed first condition, and controls at least one of the plasma electrodes and at least one of the first wind turbine and a second wind turbine different from the first wind turbine on the basis of a result of the operation history determination process.