Wind Turbine Rotor Overspeed Prevention via Yaw Misalignment Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines experience overspeed issues during yaw misalignment due to high winds, turbulence, and fluctuating wind conditions, leading to potential emergency shut-downs and reduced power production.
Innovation Solution
A control system that detects yaw misalignment and restricts changes in the pitch angle of rotor blades to prevent overspeed by limiting their movement towards a fully-powered position, thereby maintaining stable operation and preventing emergency shut-downs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the pitch angle is allowed to change freely towards the fully-powered position during yaw misalignment, then power production is maximized, but rotor overspeed occurs leading to emergency shut-down
Solution Approach 1:
The control system detects yaw misalignment conditions before they can cause dangerous overspeed. When misalignment is detected, the system proactively restricts pitch angle changes towards the fully-powered position, preventing the harmful effect (overspeed) before it occurs. This preliminary protective action maintains system reliability while allowing normal power production during aligned conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The pitch control system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on real-time yaw alignment status. During yaw misalignment, the system applies dynamic restrictions on pitch angle changes, while allowing full pitch control range when aligned. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by optimizing power production during safe conditions while preventing overspeed during critical conditions.
2Reliability
If the pitch angle changes are restricted during yaw misalignment, then rotor overspeed is prevented, but power production decreases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of completely disabling pitch control, the system applies partial restrictions on pitch angle changes only in the dangerous direction (towards fully-powered position) during misalignment. This partial action is sufficient to prevent overspeed while allowing some pitch adjustment capability to maintain power production. The restriction is excessive only in the sense that it prevents potentially harmful power increases, but acceptable given the safety benefit.
3Reliability
If the yaw system continuously corrects misalignment, then rotor alignment is maintained, but control complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors yaw angle and compares it with the desired alignment position to detect misalignment conditions. This feedback mechanism enables the system to automatically adjust pitch angle restrictions based on real-time alignment status, maintaining operational stability without requiring overly complex control logic. The feedback loop provides simple, direct control based on measured conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for preventing a possible overspeed of a wind turbine rotor with at least one rotor blade is provided. The method includes detecting a yaw misalignment of the rotor, and imposing a restriction on changes of a pitch angle towards a feathered position of the at least one rotor blade after detecting the yaw misalignment. Further, a wind turbine having a rotor and a control system configured to prevent a possible overspeed of the rotor is provided.