Rotor blade control based on detecting turbulence

摘要

A control system may be used for rotor blade control. The control system comprises a number of turbulence sensors provided across the surface of a wind turbine blade. The control system monitors the turbulence sensors and when turbulent airflow is detected controls an aerodynamic parameter of the blades. In one embodiment, the parameter is the pitch of the rotor blades. This means that stall-like blade conditions can be avoided, and power generation from the wind turbine can be optimized. The control system may also use measurements of output power to be considered in combination with the turbulence based measurements to add a higher level of responsiveness and precise control.

主权项

1. A control system for at least one rotor blade of a wind turbine, comprising:
a plurality of sensors configured to provide data of turbulence in airflow moving past a rotor blade surface of the at least one rotor blade; and a controller for receiving the data from the plurality of sensors, and based on a detection of the turbulence in the airflow controlling an aerodynamic parameter of the at least one rotor blade, wherein each of the plurality of sensors comprises: a sensor membrane comprising a first surface and an opposing second surface, the first surface being disposed in an external environment and the second surface disposed in a cavity in the at least one rotor blade, the sensor membrane configured to detect the turbulence of the airflow moving past the rotor blade surface of the at least one rotor blade, wherein the sensor membrane is integral to the rotor blade surface and covers at least part of the cavity in the at least one rotor blade; a light source located in the cavity for illuminating the second surface of the sensor membrane disposed inside the cavity; and a light detector located in the cavity and configured to detect the light reflected from the second surface of the sensor membrane, and the light detector is configured to provide an output to a processor, wherein the processor is configured to determine from the output from the light detector a turbulence value for the airflow.