Wind Turbine Yaw Calibration Using Performance-Based Wind Compensation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing yaw control systems for wind turbines face challenges in accurately aligning the rotor shaft with the wind direction due to wind turbulence and local topology, leading to sub-optimal energy capture and reduced power production.
Innovation Solution
A yaw auto-calibration method that collects and analyzes data from anemometers over time to determine wind direction compensation signals, adjusting the nacelle position to align the wind turbine with the wind inflow direction, thereby improving power production efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If anemometers are installed at the top of the wind turbine nacelle to measure wind speed and direction, then the yaw control system can adjust the nacelle position, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to wind turbulence caused by the blades and nacelle
Solution Approach 1:
The patent moves the anemometer from the traditional location at the top of the nacelle to a new dimension - the hub center position. This spatial relocation places the sensor in a region less affected by turbulence from blades and nacelle structures, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining yaw control functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary computational model that correlates anemometer measurements with actual upstream wind conditions. This mediator accounts for the imperfect measurement environment by using performance data and computational fluid dynamics to estimate true wind direction, compensating for turbulence effects
2Productivity
If the yaw control system constantly adjusts the nacelle position to track wind direction, then power production increases, but the system complexity increases due to the need for continuous calibration and compensation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a self-calibrating system that uses the wind turbine's own performance data (power output, generator speed) to automatically detect and correct yaw misalignment. The system performs self-diagnosis by comparing expected versus actual performance and autonomously adjusts calibration parameters without external intervention, reducing operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent establishes a feedback loop where performance data from the wind turbine is continuously monitored and fed back to the yaw control system. This feedback mechanism enables automatic detection of misalignment conditions and triggers corrective calibration actions, allowing the system to maintain optimal performance through adaptive self-correction
Data Source
AI summary
A yaw auto-calibration method configured to calibrate an anemometer of a yaw control system to correct for yaw misalignment, includes collecting wind speed and wind direction data from the anemometer over a plurality of time periods. The method includes determining from the collected data a wind direction compensation signal associated with a plurality of wind speed ranges. The step of determining a wind direction compensation signal includes determining from a plotted performance value, a maximum performance value for each wind speed range and the step of determining further includes correlating the maximum performance value for each wind speed range with the associated average generator speed and plotting the maximum performance wind direction against average generator speed for each wind speed range. The maximum performance wind direction associated with the average generator speed for each wind speed range constitutes the wind direction compensation signal for the wind speed range.