Wind turbine with optical pressure sensors and method for operating a wind turbine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017191464-A1
Application number	US-201515315302-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 5, 2015
Priority date	Jun 6, 2014
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Wind turbine with at least one rotor blade and at least one optical pressure sensor arranged on the rotor blade, and method for operating the wind turbine.

First claim

1 . A wind turbine comprising:
a rotor blade; and at least one optical pressure sensor arranged on the rotor blade.

2 . The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical pressure sensor is a plurality of optical pressure sensors, the plurality of optical pressure sensors being on at least one of a high-pressure side and a low-pressure side of the rotor blade.

3 . The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical pressure sensor is arranged in a region of a trailing edge of the rotor blade.

4 . The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one optical pressure sensor is a plurality of optical pressure sensors arranged offset in a direction of air flow such that the optical pressure sensors positioned downstream are not influenced by transition wedges of the optical pressure sensors positioned upstream.

5 . The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the rotor blade has a depression, wherein the at least one of the optical pressure sensors is arranged in the depression.

6 - 7 . (canceled)

8 . The wind turbine according to claims 5 , wherein the at least one optical pressure sensor is fastened in the depression by adhesive material.

9 . The wind turbine according to claim 1 , wherein the rotor blade has one or more openings for connecting outer surroundings to inside of the rotor blade, the rotor blade having a plurality of optical pressure sensors, each with at least one fibre optic cable, wherein the fibre optic cables are guided through the at least one of the openings into the inside of the rotor blade.

10 . The wind turbine according to claim 9 comprising a rotating part, a spinner, and a rotor hub, wherein the fibre optic cables are configured to provide data transmission from the optical pressure sensors to the inside of the rotor blade and further into at least one of the spinner and the rotor hub.

11 . The wind turbine according to claim 10 comprising a stationary part, wherein the wind turbine is configured to transmit information obtained by the plurality of optical pressure sensors from the rotating part to the stationary part.

12 . The wind turbine according to claim 10 wherein the data transmission comprises transmitting signals, the wind turbine comprising at least one of an amplifier for amplifying the signals from the pressure sensors and a converter for converting the optical signals into electrical signals.

13 . The wind turbine according to claim 12 comprising at least one signal processing device configured to receive signals from the at least one optical pressure sensor and to process the signals.

14 . The wind turbine according to claim 13 , comprising a blade angle regulating system, and the at least one signal processing device is connected to the blade angle regulating system and configured regulate a blade angle of the rotor blade based on signals from the at least one optical pressure sensor.

15 . The wind turbine according to claim 13 comprising a generator torque regulating system, wherein the signal processing device is connected to the generator torque regulating system in order to take signals provided by the optical pressure sensors into account when regulating the generator torque.

16 . A method for operating a wind turbine comprising:
detecting pressure values using pressure sensors arranged on a rotor blade; determining a change over time in the pressure values; identifying at least one of frequency spectra and power density spectra of the pressure values using a time progression of the pressure values; and determining a model of oncomimg airflow onto the rotor blade using at least one of a signal processing device, the frequency spectra, and the power density spectra.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein flow properties in a region of a blade trailing edge are detected by the model of oncoming airflow and with the assistance of a model of the rotor blade, the sound power generated by the rotor blade is identified and supplied to a blade angle regulating system, wherein, in a blade angle regulating system of the wind turbine, the set point for the regulation of the blade angle setting is set as a function of the at least one of identified sound power and current wind speed.

18 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein set points are adapted by the model of oncoming airflow for the blade angle regulation system and for regulating the generator torque of the wind turbine.

19 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein a turbulent flow in a region of a blade trailing edge on a low-pressure side of the rotor blade is detected by a oncoming airflow model, wherein low-frequency parts and values in a power density spectrum of a wall pressure fluctuations are identified by a signal processing device wherein the identified low-frequency parts and values are supplied to a blade angle regulating system and a set point for the blade angle regulating system for the rotor blade is changed or influenced in such a way that the identified low-frequency parts and values are reduced as a result of the resulting blade angle.

20 . The wind turbine according to claim 3 , wherein the at least one optical pressure sensor is arranged in a range between 95% and 100% of a profile depth of the rotor blade, wherein the at least one optical pressure sensor is arranged is arranged on the radially outwardly situated 30% to 40% of the rotor blade.

21 . The wind turbine according to claim 4 , wherein the offset arrangement has an angle of offset that is between 5° to 20° , beginning at the blade profile leading edge in each case on the high-pressure and low-pressure side as far as the trailing edge.

22 . A method comprising:
forming a sacrificial layer while forming a rotor blade body; removing the sacrificial layer to form a depression in the rotor blade body; and coupling an optical pressure sensor to the rotor blade body in the depression.

23 . The method according to claim 22 , wherein removing the sacrificial layer comprises milling the rotor blade body to remove the sacrificial layer.

24 . The method according to claim 22 , wherein coupling comprises coupling a plurality of optical pressure sensors to the rotor blade body.

Assignees

• Wobben Properties Gmbh

Inventors

• Altmikus Andree
• Kuhn Marvin
• Napierala Christian
• Stoltenjohannes Jürgen

Classifications

• F03D7/022

  Adjusting aerodynamic properties of the blades · CPC title

• F05B2270/301

  Pressure · CPC title

• G01L11/025

  using a pressure-sensitive optical fibre · CPC title

• F05B2270/804

  Optical devices · CPC title

• F03D1/0675

  of the blades · CPC title