Wind Turbine Sensor Misalignment Correction via Ground LiDAR
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines experience reduced performance due to misalignment of wind orientation sensors with the rotor axis, leading to unnecessary and risky calibration measurements, which are costly and pose safety risks, and may not be effective when no misalignment is present.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses a model-based approach to determine misalignment by analyzing the relationship between wind turbine performance and orientation, utilizing wind direction and power performance data, with optional corrections for air density and wind speed, and leveraging ground-based LiDAR or GNSS positioning to correct yaw control signals, thereby avoiding costly in-situ measurements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If in-situ calibration measurements are performed to correct sensor misalignment, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an intermediary ground-based LiDAR system to measure wind direction independently of the turbine's sensor. This external reference system mediates between the potentially misaligned sensor and the actual wind direction, enabling indirect calibration without complex in-situ measurements on the turbine itself.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a copy of the wind direction measurement function using ground-based LiDAR and GNSS positioning. Instead of directly measuring and correcting sensor alignment on the turbine, it copies the measurement capability to a ground-based system that can safely and accurately determine the misalignment angle.
2Measurement precision
If in-situ calibration measurements are performed to correct sensor misalignment, then measurement precision is improved, but safety risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The ground-based LiDAR system serves as an intermediary that performs the dangerous measurement function from a safe distance. The actual calibration measurements are conducted from the ground rather than from the turbine, eliminating the need for personnel to work at height during calibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical in-situ measurement methods with optical (LiDAR) and satellite-based (GNSS) measurement systems. This substitution eliminates the need for physical access to the turbine during calibration, thereby removing the associated safety risks.
3Measurement precision
If expensive in-situ calibration measurements are performed, then measurement precision is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The ground-based LiDAR and GNSS system serves multiple functions: it measures wind direction, determines turbine position and orientation, and calculates sensor misalignment. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for separate expensive in-situ calibration equipment and procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses readily available, relatively low-cost technologies (ground-based LiDAR and GNSS receivers) instead of expensive specialized in-situ calibration equipment. These systems can be deployed temporarily for calibration purposes without requiring permanent installation on the turbine.
4Power
If advanced yaw control methods are used, then power performance is improved, but productivity decreases due to unnecessary calibration requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary misalignment assessment using ground-based measurements before implementing advanced yaw control. By determining the misalignment angle in advance using safe ground-based methods, the system avoids the need for repeated in-situ calibration interruptions, thereby maintaining higher operational availability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to wind turbine efficiency improvement methods, related software, computer systems and arrangements including those. The invention provides wind turbine efficiency improvement (support) methods, related software, computer systems and arrangements including those related to the wind sensor orientation misalignment and/or integrated wind turbine control methods and systems based thereon. The invention leverages on the observation that ideally a wind turbine has a maximum (power) performance when the axis of its rotor is parallel with the wind direction, hence for a wind direction measurement, relative to said axis, being zero. However when the wind orientation sensor is (systematically) misaligned with respect to the axis, when observing a curve defined as the wind turbine performance versus wind orientation, such maximum (power) performance will occur at an offset value, indicative for said misalignment. It is an objective of the present invention to provide a method for determining the misalignment of the wind orientation sensor attached to a wind turbine with respect to the axis of the rotor of said wind turbine and using said method to determine the wind orientation for which a maximum wind turbine performance is obtained.