Wind Turbine Yaw Control via Performance Trendline Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wind turbine control systems face inaccuracies in aligning the nacelle with wind direction, leading to suboptimal power production due to misalignment of wind vanes and lack of precise wind direction sensing, especially after installation or maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that determine a yaw angle offset by correlating performance differentials with wind direction deviations over multiple sampling intervals, using a controller to adjust the yaw angle based on a trendline analysis, allowing for precise alignment and potential recalibration of environmental sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a wind vane is used to detect wind direction, then the nacelle can be yawed to align with the wind, but the wind vane may be misaligned during installation or maintenance, reducing alignment accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses performance data from multiple wind turbines to generate feedback signals that indicate optimal yaw angles. This feedback loop continuously monitors actual performance and adjusts the perceived wind direction measurements, compensating for wind vane misalignment without requiring manual recalibration.
Solution Approach 2:
The wind farm control system performs self-calibration by using the collective performance data of multiple turbines to automatically determine and adjust yaw angle offsets. The system serves itself by detecting and correcting measurement errors through algorithmic processing of performance differentials.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the wind vane is mounted downwind of the rotor, then the rotor-wind interaction can be accounted for, but the misalignment based on nominal design calculations may not reflect actual differences, reducing accuracy
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the parameter of wind direction measurement by introducing a yaw angle offset that is dynamically calculated from performance differentials. This transforms fixed nominal design calculations into adaptive, real-time measurements that account for actual turbine performance variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical alignment adjustments with an algorithmic solution. Instead of physically recalibrating wind vanes or adjusting mounting positions, the system uses computational methods to correct measurement errors based on performance data analysis.
3Measurement precision
If multiple wind turbines are used to determine optimal yaw angles, then alignment accuracy can be improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs multiple functions using a unified approach: it monitors performance across all turbines, calculates performance differentials, determines optimal yaw angles, and generates control signals. This multi-functional system consolidates what would otherwise require separate alignment systems for each turbine.
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
This approach enhances the accuracy of wind turbine alignment, improving power production by adjusting the yaw angle to match optimal aerodynamic alignment, reducing the need for precise wind speed measurements and sensor requirements, and allowing for continuous monitoring and recalibration.
Implementation Method 1
The one or more rotor blades capture kinetic energy of wind using known airfoil principles
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method are provided for controlling a wind turbine of a wind farm. Accordingly, a controller determines a performance differential for the wind turbine at multiple sampling intervals of a yaw event. The controller determines a trendline for the wind turbine correlating the performance differential to a deviation of a wind direction at each of the multiple sampling intervals from an first yaw angle. A difference between an angle associated with the vertex of the trendline and the first yaw angle are utilized by the controller to determine a yaw angle offset. The yaw angle offset is used to adjust a second yaw angle of the wind turbine.