Load distribution estimation
AssigneeFrontier Wind, LLC
InventorsJonathon P. Baker, Edward A. Mayda
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for pressure based load measurement are provided. The system and method measure at least one pressure differential on an airfoil and determine at least one aerodynamic load associated with the at least one pressure differential. The determined at least one load is used to modify characteristics of the airfoil to increase efficiency and/or avoid damage. The determined at least one aerodynamic load may be further utilized to balance and/or optimize loads at the airfoil, estimate a load distribution along the airfoil used to derive other metrics about the airfoil, and/or used in a distributed control system to increase efficiency and/or reduce damage to, e.g., one or more wind turbines.
Claims20
A method for estimating a load distribution for a rotor blade, the method comprising:
- determining, by a controller, a plurality of pressure differentials along a length of the rotor blade, wherein each pressure differential is a difference in pressure between a first pressure location and a second pressure location at a radial position on the rotor blade;
- determining, by the controller, a plurality of aerodynamic loads, each aerodynamic load based on a corresponding pressure differential;
- determining, by the controller, a load distribution along the rotor blade, wherein the load distribution comprises each aerodynamic load at the radial position of the corresponding pressure differential;
- determining, by the controller, whether a first predetermined load condition is met based on the load distribution along the rotor blade;
- and
- modifying at least a first characteristic of the rotor blade in response to the determining the first predetermined load condition is not met.
A method for estimating a load distribution, the method comprising:
- determining, by a controller, a plurality of pressure differentials along a length of a rotor blade, wherein each pressure differential is a difference in pressure between a first pressure location and a second pressure location at a radial position on the rotor blade;
- receiving, by the controller, a rotation speed of the rotor blade, an ambient air pressure, an ambient air temperature, and a pitch angle of the rotor blade;
- determining, by the controller, a plurality of aerodynamic loads, each aerodynamic load based on the rotation speed of the rotor blade, the ambient air pressure, the ambient air temperature, the pitch angle of the rotor blade, and a corresponding pressure differential;
- and
- determining, by the controller, a load distribution along the rotor blade, wherein the load distribution comprises each aerodynamic load at the radial position of the corresponding pressure differential;
- and
- modifying at least one characteristic of the rotor blade in response determining the load distribution along the rotor blade.
A wind turbine comprising:
- a hub;
- a plurality of wind turbine blades connected to and arranged about the hub, wherein at least one wind turbine blade of the plurality of wind turbine blades comprises:
- a plurality of first pressure sensing orifices, wherein each of the plurality of first pressure sensing orifices is arranged on a bottom surface of the at least one wind turbine blade, and wherein each of the plurality of first pressure sensing orifices is located at a different radial distance from the hub relative to one another;
- and
- a plurality of second pressure sensing orifices, wherein each of the plurality of second pressure sensing orifices is arranged on a top surface of the at least one wind turbine blade, and wherein each of the plurality of second pressure sensing orifices is located at a different radial distance from the hub relative to one another;
- and
- at least one controller, wherein the at least one controller is configured to:
- determine a plurality of pressure differentials, wherein each of the plurality of pressure differentials is a difference in pressure between each of the plurality of first pressure sensing orifices and a corresponding each of the second pressure sensing orifices located at a same radial distance from the hub as the first pressure sensing orifice;
- receive a rotation speed of the at least one wind turbine blade, an ambient air pressure, an ambient air temperature, and a pitch angle of the at least one wind turbine blade;
- determine a plurality of aerodynamic loads, wherein each aerodynamic load is based on the rotation speed of the at least one wind turbine blade, the ambient air pressure, the ambient air temperature, the pitch angle of the at least one wind turbine blade, and a corresponding pressure differential;
- and
- determine a load distribution along the at least one turbine blade, wherein the load distribution comprises each aerodynamic load at the radial distance from the hub of the corresponding pressure differential.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.