Methods and systems for detecting sensor fault modes

摘要

A method of detecting a fault mode of a sensor is provided. The sensor may be, for example, a bending moment sensor and may sense a bending moment of a blade on a wind turbine generator (WTG). The method includes comparing data output by a first sensor with reference data indicating what is expected to be output by the first sensor to produce a first comparison result and comparing data output by the first sensor with data output by a second sensor to produce a second comparison result. A determination of whether the first sensor has entered a fault mode is made based at least in part on the first and second comparison results.

主权项

1. A method for detecting fault modes of a bending moment sensor for a blade of a wind turbine generator, the method comprising:
operating the bending moment sensor to generate data representing a bending moment experienced by the blade of the wind turbine generator, wherein the bending moment sensor includes:
a fiber bragg grating configured for placement on a surface of the blade; andsensor circuitry configured to optically couple to the fiber bragg grating via an optical fiber, the sensor circuitry including:
a light source configured to emit a light signal; anda light receiver configured to receive a reflection of the light signal from the fiber bragg grating and to convert the reflected light signal into the data generated by the bending moment sensor, comparing the data generated by the bending moment sensor with reference data indicating what is expected to be generated by the bending moment sensor to produce a comparison result, wherein the reference data includes at least one of: pre-determined data output of the bending moment sensor during a controlled environment, and model data output from a model, wherein the model includes at least one relationship determining the model data output as a function of observed operating conditions and knowledge of properties of the bending moment sensor; and determining whether the bending moment sensor has entered a fault mode based at least in part on the comparison result; and upon determining that the bending moment sensor has entered the fault mode, issuing an indication of the fault mode to a controller of the wind turbine generator that configures the controller to issue pitch commands to adjust a blade pitch of the wind turbine generator, wherein the pitch commands are based on the controller performing at least one of: ignoring an output of the bending moment sensor and reducing a reliance on the bending moment sensor, wherein comparing the data generated by the bending moment sensor with the reference data to produce the comparison result includes comparing a signal power level indicated by the data generated by the bending moment sensor with a signal power level indicated by the reference data to produce a power comparison result.