IP Library Granted Patent US 10,422,321
Granted Patent B2
US 10,422,321 · App. 15/532,407 · Granted Sep 24, 2019

Method for monitoring a wind turbine, method for identifying ice on a wind turbine, acceleration sensor for a rotor blade, rotor blade comprising an acceleration sensor, and profile for a rotor blade

Inventors: Mathias Müller (München, DE); Matthias Schubert (Rendsburg, DE)
Assignee: fos4X GmbH
F03D17/00F03D80/40G01P15/093F05B2270/334F05B2270/804F05B2270/807Y02E10/72
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,422,321
App. No.
15/532,407
Granted
Sep 24, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for monitoring a wind turbine is described. The method comprises measuring acceleration by means of a fiber-optic acceleration sensor in a rotor blade of the wind turbine; opto-electronically converting an acceleration signal of the fiber-optic acceleration sensor; and filtering the opto-electronically converted acceleration signal by means of an analog anti-aliasing filter.

Claims (36)

1. A method for monitoring a wind turbine, comprising:

measuring acceleration by means of a fiber-optic acceleration sensor in a rotor blade of the wind turbine, wherein a signal of the fiber-optic acceleration sensor is guided to a hub of the wind turbine via a light conductor;

opto-electronically converting an acceleration signal of the fiber-optic acceleration sensor; and

filtering the opto-electronically converted acceleration signal by means of an analog anti-aliasing filter having a cutoff frequency from 10 Hz to 40 Hz,

wherein the fiber optic acceleration sensor is provided at a radial position in the range of the outer 70% of the rotor blade radius.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the light conductor is guided, in the region of the blade root, via a spiral permitting torsion of the light conductor.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein a distributor provides a plug connection to the light conductor.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the light conductor is provided at the rear edge of the rotor blade.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the light conductor is provided on a profile provided at the rear edge of the rotor blade.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the profile extends along at least 30% of the rotor blade radius.

7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the fiber-optic acceleration sensor is provided within the profile.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the light conductor is guided into the rotor blade interior from outside at a radial position where the rotor blade can be walked in.

9. The method according to claim 1 , furthermore comprising:

evaluating the acceleration signal by means of Stochastic Subspace Identification for calculating Eigenvalues of the rotor blade.

10. The method according to claim 9 , furthermore comprising:

detecting ice formation on the rotor blade by means of the Eigenvalues.

11. The method according to claim 1 , furthermore comprising:

measuring a sound pressure level on the rotor blade.

12. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the measuring of the acceleration is performed in a wind turbine that is at standstill or turning at no load.

13. A method for identifying ice on a wind turbine, comprising:

measuring acceleration by means of a fiber-optic acceleration sensor in a rotor blade of the wind turbine, wherein a signal of the fiber-optic acceleration sensor is guided to a hub of the wind turbine via a light conductor;

opto-electronically converting an acceleration signal of the fiber-optic acceleration sensor;

filtering the opto-electronically converted acceleration signal by means of an analog anti-aliasing filter having a cutoff frequency from 10 Hz to 40 Hz;

evaluating the filtered acceleration signal by means of Stochastic Subspace Identification for calculating Eigenvalues of the rotor blade; and

detecting ice formation on the rotor blade by means of the Eigenvalues,

wherein the fiber optic acceleration sensor is provided at a radial position in the range of the outer 70% of the rotor blade radius.

14. The method according to claim 13 , furthermore comprising:

compensating the Eigenvalues by means of at least one measured parameter from the group consisting of: a temperature on the rotor blade of the wind turbine, a wind velocity, an output of the wind turbine, a rotational rate of a rotor of the wind turbine, and a pitch angle of the rotor blade.

15. A rotor of a wind turbine, comprising:

a fiber-optic acceleration sensor in a rotor blade of the wind turbine;

a light conductor for guiding a signal of the fiber-optic acceleration sensor to a hub of the wind turbine;

an opto-electronic converter for converting an acceleration signal of the fiber-optic acceleration sensor; and

an analog anti-aliasing filter configured to filter the opto-electronically converted acceleration signal and having a cutoff frequency from 10 Hz to 40 Hz,

wherein the fiber optic acceleration sensor is provided at a radial position in the range of the outer 70% of the rotor blade radius.

16. The rotor according to claim 15 , wherein the fiber-optic acceleration sensor is provided at a radial position in the range of the outer 70% of the rotor blade radius, and wherein the light conductor is guided from the fiber-optic acceleration sensor up to a radial rotor blade position where the rotor blade can be walked in.

17. The rotor according to claim 15 , wherein the fiber-optic acceleration sensor has a maximum extension of 10 mm in a cross-section perpendicular to the axis of the light conductor.

Assignments (3)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE TYPOGRAPHICAL ERROR IN STRRET ADDRESS OF ASSIGNEE-SHOULD BE "INDUSTRIVEJ" NOT "INDUSTRIEVEJ" PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 064897 FRAME: 0939. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Oct 5, 2023
From: FOS4X GMBH
To: VC VIII POLYTECH HOLDING APS
Reel/Frame 065578/0741 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 14, 2023
From: FOS4X GMBH
To: VC VIII POLYTECH HOLDING APS
Reel/Frame 064897/0939 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 22, 2017
From: MÜLLER, MATHIAS, DR.; SCHUBERT, MATTHIAS, MR.
To: FOS4X GMBH
Reel/Frame 042782/0379 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2014 117 915 · Dec 4, 2014 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20170335828A1 · Nov 23, 2017
Cited By (2)
US 12,258,939 US 12,352,238