System and method for monitoring blade deflection of wind turbines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018171984-A1
Application number	US-201715843920-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 15, 2017
Priority date	Dec 16, 2016
Publication date	Jun 21, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described is a system for monitoring deflection of turbine blades of a wind turbine comprising a tower. The system comprises a position detecting apparatus mounted to the wind turbine comprising a plurality of position detection components each collecting data regarding a field of detection through which a segment of the turbine blades passes, wherein the position detection components are monitoring distinct fields of detection to collect distances of a plurality of segments of each one of the turbine blades travelling through the fields of detection. The system further comprises a deflection controller configured to receive the collected distances and to determine deflection of the turbine blades accordingly. An associated method comprises collecting distances of a plurality of distinct segments of the turbine blades when the turbine blades travel within a plurality of fields of detections, and processing the collected distances to determine clearance between the turbine blades and the tower.

First claim

1 . A system for monitoring deflection of turbine blades of a wind turbine comprising a tower, wherein the turbine blades comprise segments along a length of the turbine blades, the system comprising:
a position detecting apparatus mounted to the wind turbine, the position detection apparatus comprising position detection components each detecting a presence or absence of a corresponding one of the segments of the turbine blades; and a deflection controller configured to receive the presence or absence detection and to use the presence or absence detection to determine a distance of each of the segments of the turbine blades relative to the tower, whereby the distance of each of the segments of the turbine blades relative to the tower is representative of the deflection of the turbine blades.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the position detection components comprise a pulsed laser source and a sensor.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each one of the position detection components is set at a distinct angle relative to a horizontal plane.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each one of the position detection components is associated with a distinct channel resulting in a plurality of colinear channels.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein a power ratio of a power associated with a first one of the position detection components over a power associated with a second one of the position detection components is above about 5 to 1.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the position detection components are set to a spread angle, and wherein the spread angle associated with a first one of the position detection components is different from the spread angle associated with a second one of the position detection components.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein a spread angle ratio of the spread angle associated with the first one of the position detection components over a spread angle associated with the second one of the position detection components is above about 2 to 1.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the wind turbine further comprises a nacelle and wherein the position detection apparatus is mounted under the nacelle.

9 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising at least one of an inclinometer and an accelerometer; and wherein at least one of the inclinometer and accelerometer provides data regarding bending of the tower or inclination of the nacelle.

10 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising a corrective system, wherein the deflection controller triggers actions to be performed by the corrective system upon detection of deflection of the turbine blades outside an acceptable range.

11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the wind turbine comprise a nacelle mounted to the tower, a hub mounted to the nacelle, with the turbine blades mounted to the hub, wherein the corrective system is adapted to perform at least one of:
altering pitch of at least one of the turbine blades; modifying blade load by modifying torque demand over the hub; modifying yawing of the nacelle; and applying a break on the hub.

12 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the position detecting apparatus further comprises a plurality of neighbor detection components each collecting data regarding a distinct lateral neighbor field of detection each corresponding to a distinct segment of rotation cycle of the turbine blades, whereby each of the neighbor detection components monitors a passage of blade tips of the turbine blades travelling through an associated distinct lateral neighbor field of detection at a distinct phase of a rotation cycle of the turbine blades.

13 . A system for monitoring deflection of turbine blades each having a blade tip of a wind turbine, the system comprising:
a detecting apparatus mounted to the wind turbine distant from the turbine blades, the detection apparatus comprising a plurality of neighbor detection components each collecting data regarding a distinct lateral neighbor field of detection each corresponding to a distinct segment of rotation cycle of the turbine blades, whereby each of the neighbor detection components monitors a passage of the blade tips of the turbine blades travelling through an associated distinct lateral neighbor field of detection at a distinct phase of a rotation cycle of the turbine blades when the turbine blades feature a level of deflection over a predetermined level; and a deflection controller configured to receive the collected data and to determine a deflection condition of the turbine blades accordingly.

14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the neighbor detection components comprise a pulsed laser source and a sensor.

15 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the distinct lateral neighbor fields of detections correspond to field of views of the neighbor detection components set at distinct angles relative to a vertical plane.

16 . A method of monitoring clearance between turbine blades and a tower of a wind turbine, wherein the turbine blades comprise segments along a length of the turbine blades, the method comprising:
detecting, using a position detecting apparatus mounted to the wind turbine distant from the turbine blades, presence or absence of a corresponding one of the segments of the turbine blades; and processing the detected presence or absence detection to determine a distance of each of the segments of the turbine blades relative to the tower, whereby the distance of each of the segments of the turbine blades relative to the tower is representative of the clearance of the turbine blades.

17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising at least one of:
detecting an angular position of the turbine blades; associating detected presences or absences with a specific one of the turbine blades; and detecting anomalies associated with one of the turbine blades relative to the tower.

18 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising detecting at least one of inclination data and proper acceleration data, wherein the step of processing further comprises processing the at least one of inclination data and proper acceleration data.

19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising receiving data extrinsic to the wind turbine, wherein the step of processing further comprises establishing parameters based at least on the extrinsic data.

20 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the step of processing further comprises comparing the clearance with parameters, and wherein the method further comprises:
identifying a faulty condition based on comparison of the clearance with the parameters; and triggering corrective actions to prevent the turbine blades to hit the tower.

Assignees

• Cartier Energie Eolienne Inc
• Institut Nat Doptique

Inventors

• David Vincent
• Cantin Daniel
• Guillemette Robert
• Cloutier Jonathan

Classifications

• G05B2219/2619

  Wind turbines · CPC title

• Y02E10/728

  Onshore wind turbines · CPC title

• F03D7/0204

  for orientation in relation to wind direction · CPC title

• F03D7/0244

  for braking · CPC title

• F05B2270/17

  to avoid excessive deflection of the blades · CPC title