Method and apparatus for protecting wind turbines from extreme events
AssigneeVestas Wind Systems A/S
InventorsJustin Creaby, Robert Bowyer, Christopher Spruce
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wind turbine has a Lidar (20) device to sense wind conditions upstream of the wind turbine. Signals from the wind turbine are processed to detect an extreme change in wind direction. The detection is performed by differentiating the rate of change of wind direction and filtering for a period of time. On detection of extreme change the system controller takes the necessary evasive action which may include shutting down the turbine, commencing an immediate yawing action, and de-rating the turbine until the yawing action is complete.
Claims25
A control system for a wind turbine, comprising;
- a sensing device mounted on the wind turbine to sense a property of wind conditions at a position upwind of the wind turbine;
- and
- a controller for receiving and processing signals from the sensing device to detect a predefined extreme change in wind direction upwind of the wind turbine, and for generating one or more control signals for varying an operating parameter of the wind turbine in response to the detected extreme change in wind direction, wherein the controller comprises a differentiator for measuring the rate of change of a wind parameter.
(canceled)
A method of controlling a wind turbine, comprising;
- sensing a property of wind conditions at a position upwind of the wind turbine using a remote sensing device mounted on the turbine;
- receiving and processing signals from the sensing device at a controller to detect a predefined extreme change in wind direction upwind of the wind turbine the processing comprising differentiating a measured wind parameter to determine the rate of change of that parameter;
- and
- generating one or more control signals for varying an operating parameter of the wind turbine in response to the detected extreme change in wind direction.
A system, comprising:
- a wind turbine;
- a sensing device mounted on the wind turbine to sense a property of wind conditions at a position upwind of the wind turbine;
- and
- a controller for receiving and processing signals from the sensing device to detect an predefined extreme change in wind direction upwind of the wind turbine, and for generating one or more control signals for varying an operating parameter of the wind turbine in response to the detected extreme change in wind direction, wherein the controller comprises a differentiator for measuring the rate of change of a wind parameter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.