Wind Turbine Yaw Alignment Using Sensor-Based Optimization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine systems face inefficiencies due to misalignment with wind direction, leading to power losses and increased loads on components, and current solutions require additional sensors and manual adjustments, which are costly and not fully automated.
Innovation Solution
A control system using existing wind turbine sensors (power, wind speed, and rotor rotation) implements a numerical optimization algorithm to automatically correct yaw misalignment without additional sensors, employing low-frequency filtering and statistical convergence to maximize energy production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional sensors are installed to measure wind direction accurately, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The wind turbine uses its own existing sensors (power sensor, wind speed sensor, rotor rotation sensor) to perform yaw alignment optimization without requiring additional dedicated measurement devices. The system serves itself by leveraging operational data already being collected for other purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
Existing sensors that were designed for primary functions (power measurement, wind speed measurement, rotor rotation measurement) are repurposed to also provide data for yaw alignment optimization, making them multi-functional and eliminating the need for dedicated yaw measurement sensors.
2Ease of operation
If manual adjustment procedures are used to correct yaw misalignment, then ease of operation is maintained, but productivity and automation level decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors operational variables (power, wind speed, rotor rotation) and uses this feedback to automatically calculate and adjust the optimal yaw position, creating a closed-loop control system that operates without manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment procedures with an automated electronic control system that uses mathematical algorithms to calculate and execute yaw position corrections, eliminating the need for manual intervention while maintaining operational simplicity.
3Device complexity
If yaw misalignment occurs, then device complexity is reduced, but power production and energy efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the yaw position based on real-time operational conditions rather than maintaining a fixed alignment, allowing the wind turbine to adapt to changing wind conditions and maximize power production continuously.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system changes the yaw angle parameter based on mathematical optimization of operational variables, adjusting the alignment dynamically to optimize power production under different operating conditions without requiring complex mechanical modifications.
4Strength
If extreme misalignment is allowed to reduce loads, then strength requirements are reduced, but power production and efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial correction to the yaw position, optimizing the balance between alignment accuracy and load reduction based on mathematical analysis of operational variables, rather than always maintaining perfect alignment or allowing extreme misalignment.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a
AI summary
Control system to prevent wind turbine misalignment situations employing mathematical algorithms implemented in the wind turbine controller. Different optimization algorithms have been analyzed getting results that yaw the nacelle (4) of the wind turbine (1) to positions that would maximize the efficiency function. Control system for detecting and preventing wind turbine misalignment situations that comprises a parameters acquisition unit (8) that relates the wind direction with the deviation of the wind turbine nacelle, a wind turbine efficiency function calculation unit (9) and a deviation comparison unit (10) of the nacelle (4).