METHOD OF CONDITION MONITORING ONE OR MORE WIND TURBINES AND PARTS THEREOF AND PERFORMING INSTANT ALARM WHEN NEEDED

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of condition monitoring a WTG (Wind Turbine Generator) comprising acts of collecting and storage of at least the following data sets together with their time stamps. Collection of generator power production measurements. Collection of mechanical status measurements. Collection of generator torque measurements. Collection of nacelle direction measurements. Collection of meteorological conditions measurements. The method compromises a further act of synchronizing the data sets. The invention also relates to a system for condition monitoring a WTG. The invention further relates to a system for visually inspecting a WTG.

Claims

1-23. (canceled)

24. A method of visually inspecting a wind turbine generator and parts thereof, the method comprising steps of: pointing a visual inspection system with a field of view about a line of sight of a plane where a rotor blade of the wind turbine generator and/or rotor system and/or a tower is present; capturing multiple images of the field of view of the visual inspection system; selecting at least one reference image amongst the captured images; comparing at least one other captured image with the at least one reference image; and diagnosing the wind turbine generator;.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein one or more airborne vehicles perform steps of carrying, positioning, and pointing the visual inspection system.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the visual inspection system comprises one or more area scan cameras.

27. The method of claim 24, the step of capturing is performed to capture images of field of view performed for two or more blades at a specific blade position in the rotor’s swept area between start up and operation of the wind turbine generator.

28. The method of claim 27 comprising further steps of diagnosing relative blade pitch misalignment between blades of the wind turbine generator by a step of comparing blade pitch angles of the individual blades at the specific same blade position for all blades in the rotors swept area.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the method comprises a further step of adjusting the relative blade pitch angles between all blades to an accuracy of +/- 0.3 degrees measured at the specific blades located in same position in the swept area of the rotor.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of capturing is performed to capture images of field of view performed for two or more blades at a specific blade position in the rotor’s swept area, and the step of diagnosing includes diagnosing imbalanced rotor as a function of different shape, crew, bending, twist, structural differences of the individual blades on the rotor system during still stand, start up and during operation.

31. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of diagnosing includes diagnosing visible blade surface damages on the individual rotor blades during still stand.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of diagnosing includes diagnosing visible blade surface damages on the individual rotor blades during start up and during operations of the wind turbine generator.

33. The method of claim 24, wherein one or more inspection systems are used as a trigger unit to activate the one or more inspection systems.

34. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of triggering the visual inspection system includes a trigger unit using laser light for activation of the inspection system optionally by the passing of an edge or part of a blade.

35. The method of claim 24, wherein the method comprising a step of combining the visual inspection system with laser light to visualize possible surface and/or edge damages of the rotor blade.

36. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of triggering includes use of a computer-controlled triggering for activation of the visual inspection system based on software or methods synchronizing the computer-controlled triggering to the rotor.

37. The method of claim 24, wherein phase lock loop (PLL) technology is used for triggering and activation of the visual inspection system in combination with the software or methods synchronizing the computer-controlled triggering to the rotor.

38. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of diagnosing the captured images include comparing the captured images of the blade or the rotor or the tower of a wind turbine generator with reference image using pattern recognition technology to establish accurate documentation of the condition of the rotor blade, rotor system or tower being inspected.

39. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of diagnosing the captured images includes comparing the captured images of the blade, the rotor or the tower of a wind turbine generator with previously captured and stored reference images and/or existing construction drawings using the pattern recognition technology to establish accurate documentation of the condition of the rotor blade, rotor system or tower being inspected.

40. The method of claim 28, wherein pattern recognition technology is used to determine the relative and absolute rotor blade pitch angle.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein the pattern recognition technology is used to detect damages visually to the blade or the rotor or the tower of the wind turbine generator.

42. The method of claim 40, wherein the act of comparing include act of comparing tower movements and the individual blade and the entire rotor efficiency measurements with reference values in OEM’s specification and documentation to establish accurate documentation of the condition of the blade and rotor and tower being inspected.

43. The method of claim 24, wherein the method is performed during stand still of the wind turbine generator.

44. The method of claim 24, wherein the method is performed during start up of the wind turbine generator.

45. The method of claim 24, wherein the method is performed during normal operations of the wind turbine generator.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0277] The invention is described in more detail in the following reference being made to the accompanying drawing, in which:

[0278] FIG. 1 shows a photographic image illustrating an expected camera view in this case when the camera is placed at the bottom of the tower and pointing towards the rotor blade tip,

[0279] FIG. 2 shows a photographic image illustrating a rotor blade view with examples of measurement lines,

[0280] FIGS. 3A-3C show photographic images captured with an area scan camera showing the same view for the three rotor blades,

[0281] FIGS. 4A-4C show photographic images captured with an area scan camera as consecutive images illustrating a very clear mutual displacement of the three rotor blades,

[0282] FIG. 5 shows photographic images captured with a line scan camera of all three rotor blades in one image (constructed from a 20 pictures/sec video), and

[0283] FIG. 6 shows photographic images captured with a line scan camera and illustrating one-blade images (constructed from a 20 pictures/sec video).

[0284] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of a WTG.

[0285] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view illustrating an embodiment of some of the main components in a WTG.

[0286] FIG. 9A shows a plane view of a preferred embodiment for the measuring arrangement for the collection and storage in a condition monitoring box of measurements from the stationary measurement equipment of a WTG as well as measurements collected by means of a temporarily or permanently installed LiDAR where the condition monitoring system is operating as a stand-alone installation,

[0287] FIG. 9B shows a plane view of the afterwards situation of a preferred embodiment for the measuring arrangement for the collection and storage in a condition monitoring box of measurements from the stationary measurement equipment of a WTG where the WTG condition monitoring box is interconnected between the permanently installed measure instruments and the WTG controller,

[0288] FIG. 10A shows a plane schematic system overview of a typical application environment for the condition monitoring box showing major components,

[0289] FIG. 10B shows a plane schematic view of further embodiments of WTG with a gearless drive train.

[0290] FIG. 10C shows a plane schematic view of further embodiments of WTG with traditional drive train.

[0291] FIG. 11 shows a top-level typical hardware implementation view of the condition monitoring box,

[0292] FIG. 12 shows a top-level typical data transfer and communication lines implementation view of the condition monitoring box, where the WTG condition monitoring box is interconnected between the permanently installed measure instruments and the WTG controller,

[0293] FIG. 13 shows a plane view illustrating a 2 beam LiDAR temporarily collection of wind speed, yaw misalignment, turbulence and wind inflow angle etc. in front of the rotor measurements representing measurements from 360° wind sectors surrounding the WTG,

[0294] FIG. 14A shows a plane view of the rotor and the tower of a wind turbine with a circle illustrating the swept area by the rotor, with dotted line illustrating the horizontal direction (with respect to rotor plane) and with dotted line illustrating the tangential direction (with respect to rotor plane). These terms are normally used when discussing the “Blocking effect in front of the rotor” and the “Wake effect behind the rotor”,

[0295] FIG. 14B shows an example where the area swept by the rotor is divided into eight equally sized sectors of each 45° by four dotted lines,

[0296] FIG. 15 shows a plane top view illustrating the yaw misalignment angle α between the wind direction and the real nacelle/drive train direction,

[0297] FIG. 16A shows copy of FIG. 5 presented at Wake conference 2015—Journal of Physics: Conference Series 625 (2015) 012014. From this image can be seen the rotor, the nacelle, the location of the existing measurement instruments together with the contours of the normalized mean stream wise velocity (u/uh) in the horizontal plane (with respect to rotor plane) at hub height in the vicinity of the zero-yawed turbine. The contours of the buffer zone can be seen to the left in front of the rotor and the contours of the wake can be seen to the right behind the rotor. The wind direction is also indicated.

[0298] FIG. 16B shows copy of FIG. 12 presented at Wake conference 2015—Journal of Physics: Conference Series 625 (2015) 012014. From this image can be seen the rotor, the nacelle, the location of the existing measurement instruments together with the contours of the normalized mean stream wise velocity (u/uh) in the horizontal plane (with respect to rotor plane) at hub height in the vicinity of the turbine operating with 30° yaw misalignment angle. The contours of buffer zone can be seen to the left in front of the rotor and the contours of the wake can be seen to the right behind the rotor. The yaw misalignment angle of α=30° between the wind direction and the real nacelle direction can also be seen.

[0299] FIG. 17A shows in an image how this invention expect the the contours of the normalized mean stream wise velocity (u/uh) in the tangential directions (with respect to rotor plane) in front of the rotor in the vicinity of the turbine operating with 0° yaw misalignment angle and relatively with the same individual blade pitch angle. The expected contours of the buffer zone can be seen to the right in front of the rotor.

[0300] The tilt angle of mounting of the rotor (horizontally) with respect to the tower ∈ of the normal 7° between the horizontal plane and the rotor tilted direction to lean the rotor away from the tower to avoid strikes between the blades and the tower.

[0301] FIG. 17B shows in an image additional to FIG. 17A the wind speed in the tangential direction (with respect to rotor plane) to the right in front of the rotor illustrated by the length of the dotted arrows.

[0302] FIG. 18 shows an example of the function for the probability in relation to the wind speed (data measured in 1 m/s wind speed bins),

[0303] FIG. 19A shows a plane view of a WTG 12 illustrating the actual sloped wind inflow measured by a LiDAR with circular scan pattern and the optimal wind inflow angle,

[0304] FIG. 19B shows a plane view of a WTG illustrating the actual sloped wind inflow measured by a 4 beam LiDAR with linear scan pattern and the optimal wind inflow angle.

[0305] FIG. 20A shows a graphic presentation illustrating the actual yaw misalignment measurements related to wind speed before the installation and interconnection of a condition monitoring box system integrated with the WTG controller according to the present invention,

[0306] FIG. 20B shows a graphic presentation illustrating the typical yaw misalignment measurements related to wind speed after the installation and interconnection of a condition monitoring box system with the permanently installed measure instruments and the WTG controller according to the present invention, and

[0307] FIG. 21 shows a graphic presentation illustrating the actual power curve from a 3 MW WTG before and the typical power curve after the installation and interconnection of a condition monitoring box system with the permanently installed measure instruments and the WTG controller according to the present invention.

[0308] FIGS. 22A and 22B show a schematic overview input and diagnostic of an example embodiment.

[0309] FIG. 22C shows examples on actions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0310] FIG. 1 shows a photographic image illustrating an expected camera view—in this case when the camera is positioned at the bottom of the tower and pointing towards the rotor blade tip.

[0311] FIG. 2 shows a photographic image illustrating a rotor blade view—with examples of measuring lines (edge “helping lines” added to the image) provided by means of machine vision software so that it is possible to detect edges and shapes so that measurement, comparing and analysing becomes possible.

[0312] FIGS. 3A-3C show area scan images showing the same view for the three rotor blades including “helping lines” for measurement, comparison and analyze purposes.

[0313] Area scan and line scan view are illustrated in FIGS. 4A-4C to FIG. 5, that show different rotor blade views for inspiration of how and what to measure. In FIGS. 4A-4C the motion is captured as consecutive images. The displacement is very clear.

[0314] FIG. 5 shows photographic images captured with a line scan camera of all three rotor blades in one image (constructed from a 20 pictures/sec video). FIG. 6 shows photographic images captured with a line scan camera and illustrating one-blade images (constructed from a 20 pictures/sec video).

[0315] Line scan representation of motion: A running rotor is shown. The motion is captured as one “long” image (a full rotor turn). As far as known, there don’t exist pictures of a turbine rotor captured with a line scan camera. The image in FIG. 6 is manually created out of a 20 picture/sec. video film. A line scan camera captures only one pixel/line, but to visualize, a small strip is taken from each picture in the film. The strips are assembled as shown in FIG. 6.

[0316] The specialty in the line scan captured picture is, that together with the blade tip we also get a clear picture of the blades—where the blade tip, the leading edge and the trailing edge, respectively, in FIG. 6 are marked with dots. Whereby it becomes easier to carry out a visual inspection of the individual blades for surface damages and measure all relevant parameters as pitch, bending, twisting etc.

[0317] Both thermographic, areas scan and line scan cameras can be used for blade inspection of all items on the rotor during rotation and full production.

[0318] Blade edge check: An example is damages after big stones hit the blade. (Stones can be lifted by wind/tornado)

[0319] Blade surface check: Many surface damages can be checked as open cracks, fiber damages and holes. These kinds of damages can be visualised directly or as shadows created by floodlight or laser light.

[0320] Camera view angle and camera position: The camera(s) can be placed in all positions in relation to capture images for analysis. It can be situated from below, the front side, rear side, edge sides and all around by using drones (Helicopters).

[0321] Tower stability analysis: Based on the images taken, the tower frequency, movement, tilt and twist during still stand, start up and during production can be analyzed.

[0322] Park analysis: The camera rig will be equipped with an electronic compass so the absolute rotor direction can be captured. Together with timestamp, wind speed measurements and analysis results statistical materials can be saved in a hard disk for every single blade in the park. Afterwards it will be possible to extract, sort and compare data.

[0323] In FIG. 7 is shown an embodiment of a WTG 12 and its main components the nacelle 4, the blades 2, the hub/spinner 6, the rotor 10 (the rotor 10=spinner/hub 6+on which the rotor blades 2 is mounted), the tower 8, the foundation 14 and the WTG Controller 22.

[0324] In FIG. 8 is shown an embodiment of a WTG 12 and its main components the blades 2, the hub/spinner 6, the rotor 10 (the rotor 10=spinner/hub 6+on which at least one rotor blade 2 is mounted), the tower 8 and the WTG Controller 22. Additionally is shown an embodiment of the main components in/on the nacelle 4, which is the main shaft 16, the gearbox 18, the generator 20 and the wind speed and wind direction measurement instruments 24.

[0325] In FIG. 9A is shown an embodiment of a typical measurement arrangement of a typical application environment for the invention “Method of condition monitoring of wind turbine fleets and individual wind turbines and parts thereof and perform instant alarm when needed”. Here in FIG. 9A for the Condition monitoring box 26 operating independently of the WTG controller 22.

[0326] The Condition monitoring box 26 is shown located inside the nacelle 4. Further located inside the nacelle 4 is situated the accelerometers/sensors 28 located on the main shaft and in a position of the centre of the tower, and the torque measurement sensor 29, and the generator power production measurement sensor(s) 30 are situated on the generator power production cables from the generator.

[0327] On the rotor 10 the accelerometers/sensors 28 are located in the hub and on the individual blades.

[0328] On top of the nacelle 4, the antennas 38 for the GPS position, tilt and direction system, the antenna 46 for the satellite communication system, the existing meteorological sensors/instruments 24 and potentially also a LiDAR 32 is situated.

[0329] In FIG. 9B is additional to FIG. 9A shown an example where the condition monitoring box 26 is interconnected between the permanently installed new and existing measurement instruments and the WTG controller 22 in such a manner that new and more precise input measurements received from the condition monitoring box 26 continuously will be provided to the WTG controller 22.

[0330] The new and more precise input measurements from the Condition monitoring box 26 will be calculated by making use of stored table values, technical methods and/or algorithms in the signal correction box 26 before the output is send to the WTG controller 22 this considering: [0331] A. Time stamped generator power production measurements provided by the generator output measurement instruments 30, synchronized with [0332] B. Time stamped and synchronized input from sensors 28 installed in the hub 6, on rotor blades 2, on main shaft 16 and in the nacelle 4 in the centre of the tower 8 providing position-dependent measurements of movements, accelerations, angles of rotation of the rotor, the individual rotor blades and the tower in x, y and z axes, synchronized with [0333] C. Time stamped nacelle 360° actual wind direction measured by the permanently installed compass 11 (or the like), synchronized with [0334] D. Time stamped wind measurements from existing measurement instruments and/or potentially also from temporarily installed measurement instruments [0335] E. Time stamped measurement from torque sensor 29,

[0336] The existing measurement instrument 24 will still be connected directly to the WTG controller 22, this assuring that any safety system of the WTG is intact.

[0337] FIG. 10A shows an embodiment of a system overview of a typical application environment for the condition monitoring box 26 showing major components thereof where the nacelle 4, the rotor 10 and the WTG controller 22 are shown in the left hand side of the figure, while the condition monitoring box 26, GPS position, tilt and direction system 36, and the satellite based communication system 44 is shown to the right hand side of the figure.

[0338] On the rotor 10 the accelerometers/sensors 28 are located in the hub 6 and on the individual blades 2.

[0339] On top of the nacelle 4 is situated, the antenna 46 for the satellite communication system 44, the existing meteorological sensors/instruments 24, potentially also a LiDAR 32 and the antennas 38 for the GPS position, tilt and direction system 36. Said GPS antennas 38 are calibrated to the longitudinal axis defining the direction of the nacelle 4.

[0340] Inside the nacelle 4 is situated the condition monitoring box 26, the GPS position tilt and direction compass system 36, the satellite based communication system 44, the accelerometers/sensors 28 are located on the main shaft and in a position on top of the centre of the tower, and torque measurement sensor 29 and the generator power production measurement sensor(s) 30 are situated on the generator power production cables.

[0341] The condition monitoring box 26 receive signals from the meteorological sensors 24, potentially also from the LiDAR 32, from a precision GPS position tilt and direction compass system 36 (or the like), from the satellite based communication system 44, from the accelerometers/sensors 28, from the torque measurement sensor 29 and from the generator power production measurement sensor(s) 30.

[0342] Furthermore, the condition monitoring box 26 can receive signals from optional sensors 48 as indicated with a dotted interaction arrow 40.

[0343] The condition monitoring box 26 is receiving commands and providing instant alarm signals via satellite and offers data transfer options via GPRS/SMS/Satellite/Internet or other relevant communication system to owner/operator 68, mobile device 70 and local server 72 as indicated with a dotted interaction arrow 42.

[0344] The condition monitoring box 26 can also receive and provide signals and data to the WTG controller 22 as indicated with a dotted interaction arrow 42.

[0345] The WTG controller 22 furthermore may be interconnected with a user SCADA—as indicated by a double interaction arrow 42.

[0346] The permanently installed instruments related to the condition monitoring box 26 are manually and automatically calibrated when installed and if needed also in relevant time intervals which ideally will be synchronized with the change out of anemometers and wind vanes 24.

[0347] FIG. 10B show plane schematic view of further embodiments of WTG with a gearless drive train 35 (hub/spinner 6, main rotor shaft 16 and generator 20) However, the nacelle 4 shown in FIG. 10B may as well represent a traditional WTG drive train 35 as shown in FIG. 10C.

[0348] FIG. 10C show plane schematic view of further embodiments of WTG with traditional drive train 35 (hub/spinner 6, main rotor shaft 16, gear box 18, high speed shaft 19 and generator 20)

[0349] FIG. 11 shows an embodiment of a typical hard ware implementation of the condition monitoring box 26, where on the left side is shown the interfaces relating to:

[0350] 24—at least receiving input from one existing measurement instruments located behind the rotor providing at least input about actual meteorological conditions behind the rotor by use of measurements of wind speed and potentially also wind direction measurements.

[0351] 28—at least one accelerometer and sensors installed in the hub, on each of the rotor blades, on the main shaft and in the nacelle located in the centre of the tower providing position-dependent measurements of movements, accelerations, angles of rotation of the rotor, the individual rotor blades and the tower in x, y and z axes. All these sensors should be synchronized.

[0352] 29—at least one torque measurement sensor measuring torque on the generator 20,

[0353] 30—at least one power measurement device providing measurements of instantaneous generator power production values.

[0354] 36—at least one permanently installed nacelle/drivetrain direction measurement instrument (compass or the like) for precisely measuring the nacelle/drivetrain direction enabling comparison with the input measurements related to the actual nacelle direction—and provide information about when the nacelle yaw system actually are turning the nacelle to be able to evaluate the change in the aerodynamic efficiency of the rotor.

[0355] 32—optional input about actual meteorological conditions from nacelle mounted LiDAR, spinner anemometer or other instruments measuring wind speed, turbulence and potentially also wind direction and wind inflow angle etc. in front of the rotor and takes into account said stored input about atmospheric conditions obtained by these sensing means, and

[0356] 48—optional input from additional relevant condition monitoring and measurement instruments which can be added to extend the invention to support a Critical Component Condition Monitoring, Fault Detection and Instant Alarm System for other key components in a WTG and parts thereof, and

[0357] FIG. 11 where in the centre is shown the condition monitoring box 26 with at least one processor for processing said input. There is at least one storage means for the storing of collected measured and calculated values etc. to be used as reference table for technical methods, multi-dimensional algorithms and other technologies for the establishment of regulatory output.

[0358] FIG. 11 while in the right hand side of the figure is shown the output interfaces relating to:

[0359] 44—at least one reliable communication and time synchronization system interconnected with satellite antenna 46, or any other communication interface that may become relevant in the future, providing and receiving an instant alarm message and other information to/from the owner/operator/24/7 surveillance centers for appropriate action. Additional the time setting provided by the communication channel is used for setting time synchronization in the condition monitoring box software on an adequate frequent basis to synchronize time setting in all signal correction boxes on a wind turbine fleet basis.

[0360] 50—at least one power backup with sufficient capacity to safely shut down all software in the condition monitoring box 26 and attached systems in case of sudden loss of permanent power supply.

[0361] 52—at least one power supply to the condition monitoring box and attached systems.

[0362] 56—at least one terminal interface and one USB interface option.

[0363] 60—and at least one communication interface providing option to transfer larger data amounts—could be WAN interface 54 or GPRS/3G/4G/5G interface option 58, or any other communication interface that may become relevant in the future to be able to transfer larger data amounts to the owner/operator/24/7 surveillance centers for appropriate action, and

[0364] 62—at least one permanent on line connection option from the said condition monitoring box 26 to the WTG controller 22 to interconnect and transfer a regulatory output to the WTG controller 22 and potentially also to receive input from the WTG controller 22.

[0365] In FIG. 12 is shown an embodiment of a data transfer and communication arrangement of a typical application environment for the invention “Method of condition monitoring of wind turbine fleets and individual wind turbines and parts thereof and perform instant alarm when needed”. The condition monitoring box 26 is interconnected with the WTG Controller 22 illustrated by line 64. The condition monitoring box 26 will also provide instant alarm and receive WTG stop signals etc. via satellite or any other communication interface that may become relevant in the future to be able to transfer these signals to the owner, operator 68, 70 and to server in 24/7 local surveillance center 72 illustrated by line and cloud 66. The condition monitoring box 26 will furthermore offer data transfer options via GPRS/3G/4G/SMS/satellite/internet or any other communication interface that may become relevant in the future to be able to transfer larger data amounts illustrated by line and cloud 66 from the condition monitoring box 26 to the owner, operator 68, 70 and to server in 24/7 local surveillance center 72 where data can be stored for further analysis and statistics. Instant alarm and data will also be transferred using internet 74 from local server 72 to a global server 76 where it will be stored for further analysis and statistics.

[0366] In the longer term a server in a local/regional surveillance center 72 or a server in a global and logistic surveillance center 76 will monitor and collect data from all the condition monitoring boxes 26 located in the nacelle 4 in agreed sequence and will be able to remotely transfer back signals, commands, algorithms, updated software etc. to the condition monitoring box 26 installed in nacelle 4 or directly to the WTG controller 22 or directly to the owner and operator 68, 70.

[0367] FIG. 13 serves to illustrate the optional collection and storage of more precise measurement of wind conditions—wind speed, wind direction, and potentially also turbulences and wind inflow angle in this case said using a nacelle based LiDAR 32 measuring in a distance of some 70-80 meters in front of the rotor 10 with one or more laser beams 34—as indicated with an arrow 78—these precise measurements are carried out in a 360° radius surrounding the WTG 12.

[0368] This collection of wind condition values may be completed through more days or weeks before the necessary measurements from the most dominating surrounding wind sectors and/or wind speed bins are collected and stored in the condition monitoring box 26.

[0369] Special geographic or local conditions can make it impossible to collect measurements from all wind bins and wind sectors surrounding the WTG 12 however in case of missing wind bins and/or wind sector measurements from specific wind sectors such measurements may be substituted by measured or extrapolated wind condition values.

[0370] By the collection of LiDAR generated measurements one may be aware of the general mode of operation of a LiDAR using laser beams to measure reflections from air particles in the atmospheric air in front of the rotor 10.

[0371] This means that under certain conditions e.g. heavy fog or rain the LiDAR will not be able to measure any reflections from air particles in front of the rotor 10.

[0372] FIG. 14A shows an embodiment of a WTG 12 with its tower 8 and three blades 2 and a dotted circle to illustrate the swept area 80 by the rotor 10, a dotted line to illustrate the horizontal direction (with respect to rotor plane) 82 and a dotted line to illustrate the tangential direction (with respect to rotor plane) 84.

[0373] FIG. 14B shows an example where the swept area 80 is divided into eight equally sized sectors of each 45° by four dotted lines—but any other division of the area 80 swept by the rotor into equally sized sectors may be relevant.

[0374] The entire rotor’s 10 aerodynamic efficiency for the 360° swept area 80 by the rotor can be quantified by the measured accumulated generator power production in the time period when a specific blade has rotated 360°.

[0375] An aerodynamic efficiency of a specific blade 2 in a specific sector of the area 80 swept by the rotor can be quantified by the measured accumulated generator power production in the time period where this specific blade 2 is located in the specific sector of the swept area 80.

[0376] FIG. 15 serves to illustrate the misalignment angle α between the wind direction marked by an arrow 86 and the real nacelle/drive train direction marked by a dotted line 104. It should be emphasized that according to a common and well known issue the consequence from yaw misalignment is power loss following a cos2 function and increased loads. Statistics show that 80% of random chosen WTG’s operates with average yaw misalignment >2° and 50% of these WTG’s operated with average yaw misalignment >6° and up to 30° leading to large yearly generator power production losses and increased loads.

[0377] FIG. 16A shows a photographic image illustrating the blocking zone contours 88 to the left of the rotor 10 and the wake contours 90 to the right of the rotor 10 by the normalized mean stream wise velocity (u/uh) in the horizontal plane 82 (with respect to rotor plane) at hub 6 height in the vicinity of the zero-yawed turbine (Wake conference 2015—Journal of Physics: Conference Series 625 (2015) 012014 FIG. 5.).

[0378] In the left hand side of FIG. 16A the wind direction arrow and line 86 illustrates the wind direction from where the wind is approaching the rotor 10. It can clearly be seen from the nacelle/drive train direction 104 that the yaw misalignment is 0°. It can clearly be seen from the wake contours 90 behind (to the right) the rotor 10 that the “wake” is not symmetrical exactly on the location where the existing measuring instruments 24 normally are located on the nacelle 4 which is one of the explanations why these instruments 24 cannot measure correctly from where the wind is approaching the rotor.

[0379] It can also clearly be seen from the blocking effect contours 88 in front (to the left) of the rotor 10 that the “blocking effect” in the horizontal plane 82 (with respect to rotor plane) at hub 6 height in front of the rotor 10 is not symmetrical primarily due to rotor rotation.

[0380] FIG. 16B shows a photographic image illustrating the blocking zone contours 88 to the left of the rotor 10 and the wake contours 90 to the right of the rotor 10 of the normalized mean stream wise velocity (u/uh) in the horizontal plane 82 (with respect to rotor plane) at hub 6 height in the vicinity of the turbine operating with 30° yaw misalignment angle (Wake conference 2015—Journal of Physics: Conference Series 625 (2015) 012014 FIG. 12).

[0381] In the left hand side of FIG. 16B the wind direction is marked by an arrow and line 86 and the real drive train/nacelle direction is marked by a dotted line 104 to illustrate the actual yaw misalignment angle α of 30°. It can clearly be seen from the contours 94 behind/to the right of the rotor 10 that the “wake” is not symmetrical in the horizontal plane 82 (with respect to rotor plane) at hub 6 height where the existing measuring instruments 24 normally are located on the nacelle 4 which is one of the explanations why these instruments cannot measure correctly where from the wind is approaching the rotor 10. By comparing FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B, it can also be seen that the “wake effect” in the horizontal plane 82 (with respect to rotor plane) at hub 6 height behind the rotor 10 is significantly more asymmetrically when the rotor 10 is operating with a 30° yaw misalignment.

[0382] It can also clearly be seen to the left side from the contours 92 in front of the rotor 10 that the “blocking effect” in the horizontal plane 82 (with respect to rotor plane) at hub 6 height in front of the rotor 10 is not symmetrical. By comparing FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B, it can also be seen that the “blocking effect” in the horizontal plane 82 at hub 6 height in front of the rotor 10 is significantly more asymmetrically when the rotor 10 is operating with a 30° yaw misalignment.

[0383] FIG. 17A shows in an photographic image how this invention expect the blocking zone contours 118 of the normalized mean stream wise velocity (u/uh) in the tangential directions (with respect to rotor plane) 84 in front of the rotor 10 in the vicinity of the turbine operating with 0° yaw misalignment angle and operating with the same relative blade pitch angle. The expected contours of the buffer zone 118 can be seen in front of the rotor 10. The tilt angle of mounting for the rotor 10 (horizontally) with respect to the tower 8 ∈ is shown with the normal 7° tilt angle between the wind inflow direction in the optimal horizontal plane 96 and the real rotor 10 tilted direction 120 where the rotor 10 lean in a 7° angle E away from the tower 8 to avoid strikes and coalitions.

[0384] FIG. 17B serves to illustrate additional to FIG. 17A the normal relation in relative wind speed in the tangential direction 84 (with respect to rotor plane). It can be seen that under normal conditions when the wind is approaching the rotor 10 in the optimal wind inflow angle 96, then the relative wind speed in the top position of the swept area of the rotor 114 is higher than the wind speed in the bottom position of the swept area of the rotor 116 which is illustrated by the length of the dotted wind speed arrows 122.

[0385] It can clearly be seen from FIG. 17A and FIG. 17B that the contours of the blocking zone 118 in front of the rotor 10 in the tangential directions (with respect to rotor plane) 84 in front of the rotor 10 is expected not to be symmetrical, primarily due to the wind speed is considerably higher in the top of the rotor 114 compared to the wind speed in the bottom of the rotor 116 which can be seen in FIG. 17B and secondarily also due to the 7° tilt angle of mounting for the rotor 10 (horizontally) and due to the rotation of the rotor 10.

[0386] Based on these findings related to the contours of the blocking zone in front of the rotor 10 (see 88 in FIG. 16A with a rotor 10 operating with 0° yaw misalignment) both in the horizontal direction 82 (with respect to rotor plane) and also the expected blocking zone in front of the rotor 10 (see 118 in FIG. 17A with a rotor 10 operating with 0° yaw misalignment) in the tangential direction 84 (with respect to rotor plane) it is therefore suggested in this invention that:

[0387] A. a rotor 10 has to operate with some average yaw misalignment (to be defined and included in the algorithms) to assure a symmetrical distributed blocking zone in front of the rotor 10 in the horizontal direction 82 (with respect to rotor plane) at hub height 6, which then will lead to maximum generator power production and minimum loads on the entire rotor 10 (primarily due to the same aerodynamic efficiency and balance of the individual blades 2 when positioned in the left side and the right side of the swept area 80 in the horizontal direction 82 (with respect to rotor plane) by the rotor 10).

[0388] B. for a rotor 10 operating with large yaw misalignment the aerodynamic efficiency and balance of the specific individual blade 2 in the horizontal direction 82 (with respect to rotor plane) at hub height 6 in front of the rotor 10 is considerably different when the individual blade 2 is positioned in the left side of the swept area 80 by the rotor 10 and when the same individual blade 2 is positioned in the right side of the swept area 80 of the rotor 10.

[0389] C. For a rotor 10 with the option to pitch the blades 2 individually on each turn of the rotor 10. When such a rotor 10 is operating with 0° yaw misalignment and when the wind is approaching the rotor 10 in the optimal wind inflow angle 96, then there should ideally be a relative differences in the actual blade pitch angles from when the individual blade 2 is located in the top position of the swept area 80 by the rotor 10 (114 in FIG. 17B) compared with when the individual blade 2 is located in the bottom position of the swept area 80 by the rotor (116 in FIG. 17B), this to assure a symmetrical distributed blocking zone in the tangential direction 84 (with respect to rotor plane) which then will lead to maximum generator power production and minimum loads on the entire rotor 10.

[0390] D. for a rotor 10 operating with 0° yaw misalignment and without the option to individually pitch the blades 2 on each turn of the rotor 10 any relative difference in between the actual pitch angles on the individual blades 2 is expected to have an effect on the symmetry of the contours of the blocking zone in the horizontal direction 82 (with respect to rotor plane) in front of the rotor 10 (88 in FIG. 16A and 92 in FIG. 16B) and also in the symmetry of the contours of the blocking zone in the tangential direction 84 (with respect to rotor plane) in front of the rotor 10 (118 in FIG. 17A). This type of rotor 10 has therefore ideally to operate without blade 2 pitch misalignment above 0.2° relatively in between the individual blades 2 to assure a best possible symmetrical distributed blocking zone in both the horizontal direction 82 and in the tangential directions 84 (with respect to rotor plane) in front of the rotor 10, which then is expected to lead to maximum generator power production and minimum loads on the entire rotor.

[0391] The present invention therefore provides a highly desirable better and totally new combined technology for condition measuring and monitoring the actual aerodynamic efficiency of the individual blades and the entire rotor in any 360° blade and 360° rotor position at any time during operation—to provide correct information to the wind turbine controller for obtaining the best possible generator power production and lowest loads to be within the specifications.

[0392] The invention suggest to use a combined technology to measure the aerodynamic efficiency of the individual blade and the entire rotor in any 360° position

[0393] In this way a WTG can also use the entire rotor as a new innovative measuring instrument which the wind turbine industry have been looking for so many years now.

[0394] This new combined technology can support and eventually substitute the existing instruments located behind the rotor.

[0395] FIG. 18 shows a histogram and Weibull function for the probability in relation to the winds speed (data measured in 1 m/s wind speed bins).

[0396] Wind speed bin is the expression for a wind speed interval, typically 0.5-1 m/s. Wind speed data are grouped In each of these wind speed intervals (wind speed bins) and based on this relevant statistic’s and calculations can then be made for each wind speed bin. This type of statistics and calculations can for example be power performance measurements and Weibull wind speed distributions like in figure below, where variations in wind speed are expected.

[0397] The reason why wind speed data are grouped in wind speed bins is that statistically variances are expected which is easier to analyze when data are grouped in those wind speed bins.

[0398] FIG. 19A serves to illustrate an example where a sloped wind inflow illustrated by the arrows 98 is in this case measured by a LiDAR with circular scan pattern 100. This should be related to the optimal wind inflow angle 96 to the rotor 10

[0399] FIG. 19B serves to illustrate an example where a sloped wind inflow illustrated by the arrows 98 is in this case measured by a 4 beam LiDAR with linear scan pattern 102. This should be related to the optimal wind inflow angle 96 to the rotor 10

[0400] FIG. 20A illustrates the collected measurements shown as a large number of dots each representing the average value of a three minutes measurement period regarding wind speed measured in meters/second (y axes) and yaw misalignment angle in degrees (x axes), the vertical dotted line 106 representing the neutral angle misalignment axes—where the average yaw misalignment value shown by the line 108 is about 7°.

[0401] Otherwise in FIG. 20B showing measurements after the WTG controller 22 receive and take into consideration signals and data from the condition monitoring box 26—where most of the collected measurement after correction are placed close to the vertical line 108 representing the average yaw misalignment angle of about 0°.

[0402] FIG. 21 illustrates collected measurements in a traditional power curve view format from a 3 MW WTG shown as a large number of dots each representing an average from a 3 minutes measurement period regarding wind speed measured in meters/second (x axes) and actual average power produced kW in the corresponding 3 minutes measurement period (y axes). The power curve to the right 110 represents the actual measured power curve before the condition monitoring box 26 is introduced.

[0403] The power curve to the left 112 represents the power curve as expected after the condition monitoring box 26 is interconnected to and new information taken into considerations by the WTG controller 22 according to the present invention. Collection and processing of data from the new instruments can also be done directly in the WTG controller 22.

[0404] Park and fleet analysis: Input and output from the condition monitoring boxes will eventually be stored in a local database and a global database for every single wind turbine in the specific wind farms. Afterwards it will be possible to extract, sort and compare data for an ongoing optimization of the condition monitoring box technical methods and algorithms and for further analysis and statistical materials.

[0405] FIGS. 22A and 22B show a schematic overview of overall input and diagnostic of an example embodiment. Time stamped generator torque measurements.

[0406] FIG. 22C shows examples on actions associated with the diagnostic of the example embodiment in FIGS. 22A and 22B.

TABLE-US-00001 REFERENCE NUMBERS IN THE DRAWINGS 2 Wind turbine rotor blades 4 Nacelle 6 Spinner/hub 8 Tower 10 Rotor (spinner/hub 6 on which at least one rotor blade 2 is mounted). 12 Wind Turbine Generator (WTG) (its main components are nacelle 4+tower 8+rotor 10+foundation 14) 14 Foundation for the tower 8 16 Main shaft 18 Gearbox 19 High speed shaft connecting gearbox 18 and generator 20 20 Generator 22 WTG Controller (Typically located inside the tower 8 in the bottom) 24 Wind speed and wind direction measurement instrument located on the nacelle 4 behind the rotor 10 26 Condition monitoring box 28 Accelerometers, sensors installed in the hub, on rotor blades, on main shaft and in the nacelle located in the centre of the tower providing position-dependent measurements of movements, accelerations, angles of rotation of the rotor, the individual rotor blades and the tower in x, y and z axes 29 Torque measurement measuring torque on the generator 30 Generator power production measurement 32 LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) with at least one laser beam, a spinner anemometer or any other instrument which can measure wind speed and turbulence and potentially also yaw misalignment and wind inflow angle etc. in front of or on the rotor 10 34 Line representing laser beam from LiDAR 32 35 Drive train in a WTG 12. Could be a gearless drive train (hub/spinner 6, main rotor shaft 16 and generator 20) or a traditional drive train (hub/spinner 6, main rotor shaft 16, gear box 18, high speed shaft 19 and generator 20) 36 Nacelle based GPS position tilt and direction compass system or any other instrument or alternative system that reliably can measure the true nacelle/drive train direction 38 Minimum 2 antennas connected to a GPS position, tilt and direction system. 40 Dotted interaction arrow 42 Double interaction arrow 44 Satellite based communication system 46 Minimum 1 antenna connected to satellite based communication system 48 Optional interfaces for additional condition monitoring technologies 50 Short time power supply back up 52 Power supply 54 WAN interface 56 Terminal interface 58 GPRS/3G/4G/5G or any other or any other high-throughput data transfer system interface. 60 USB interface 62 WTG controller 22 interface 64 Line illustrate connection in between condition monitoring box 26 and WTG controller 22 66 Line and cloud illustrates distribution of instant alarm via satellite and data transfer options from/to condition monitoring box 26 via/GPRS/3G/4G/5G/SMS/high-throughput Satellite system/Internet or any other high-throughput data transfer system. 68 Instant alarm transferred and received by owner/operator 70 Instant alarm transferred and received on mobile device 72 Instant alarm and data transferred and received by local server and stored for further analysis and statistics 74 Instant alarm and data transferred from local server to global server using high throughput data transfer system. 76 Instant alarm and data transfer received by global server and stored for further analysis and statistics 78 Arrow representing surrounding wind sectors 80 Dotted circle illustrating the swept area by the rotor 10 82 Fat dotted line illustrating the horizontal direction (with respect to rotor plane) 84 Fat dotted line illustrating the tangential direction (with respect to rotor plane) 86 Wind direction arrow 88 “Blocking effect in front of the rotor 10” Contours of the normalized mean stream wise velocity (u/uh) in the horizontal plane 82 (with respect to rotor plane) at hub 6 height in the vicinity of the zero-yawed turbine (Wake conference 2015—Journal of Physics: Conference Series 625 (2015) 012014 FIG. 5.) 90 “Wake effect behind the rotor 10″—Contours of the normalized mean stream wise velocity (u/uh) in the horizontal plane 82 (with respect to rotor plane) at hub 6 height in the vicinity of the zero-yawed turbine (Wake conference 2015 Journal of Physics: Conference Series 625 (2015) 012014 FIG. 5.) 92 “Blocking effect in front of the rotor 10” Contours of the normalized mean stream wise velocity (u/uh) in the horizontal plane 82 (with respect to rotor plane) at hub 6 height in the vicinity of the turbine operating with 30° yaw misalignment angle (Wake conference 2015— Journal of Physics: Conference Series 625 (2015) 012014 FIG. 12.) 94 “Wake effect behind the rotor 10” Contours of the normalized mean stream wise velocity (u/uh) in the horizontal plane 82 (with respect to rotor plane) at hub 6 height in the vicinity of the turbine operating with 30° yaw misalignment angle (Wake conference 2015—Journal of Physics: Conference Series 625 (2015) 012014 FIG. 12.) 96 Optimal wind inflow angle illustrated by the dotted line 98 Sloped wind inflow angle illustrated by the arrows 100 LiDAR 32 with circular scan pattern 102 LiDAR 32 with 4 beams and linear scan pattern 104 Nacelle 4/drive train 35 direction (dotted line) 106 Dotted line representing 0° yaw misalignment 108 Line representing average yaw misalignment value 110 Power curve before for 3 MW WTG (measured with nacelle based LiDAR 32) 112 Power curve after for 3 MW WTG (measured with nacelle based LiDAR 32) 114 Top position for the blade 2 in the swept area 80 of the rotor 10 116 Bottom position for the blade 2 in the swept area 80 of the rotor 10 118 Contours of the expected “Blocking effect zone” in front of the rotor 10 normalized mean stream wise velocity (u/uh) in the tangential plane 84 (with respect to rotor plane) in the vicinity of the turbine operating with 0° yaw misalignment angle. 120 Line representing the 7° tilt angle (horizontally) of mounting for the nacelle 4/the drive train 35/the rotor 10 with respect to the tower 8. 122 Length of the lines showing the expected wind speed relatively in the tangential plane 84 under normal circumstances will be increasing when the height above the terrain increases.