Wind turbine bird strike prevention system method and apparatus

摘要

A bistatic radar receiver is located on a wind turbine and surrounded by multiple bistatic transmitters to detect and precisely track the positions of nearby birds. Bird target reflections from multiple transmitters are received by the radar receiver and their position and track determined from the transmitter locations, receiver location, and measured transmitter-to-target-to-receiver ranges. Target position and altitude accuracy is similar to GPS. When birds are detected to be on a collision course with the wind turbine, a deterrent is activated to scare them away. Deterrents can be flashing strobe lights, intense sound, air cannon, or any other effective bird deterrent.

主权项

1. A method for detecting, precisely determining location, and deterring birds in a surveillance volume around wind turbines or other avian hazards so as to prevent collisions of said birds with said hazards, said method comprising:
providing at least one bistatic radar receiver near said hazard; illuminating said surveillance volume with radar signals from a plurality of bistatic transmitters; locking timing, frequency, and said radar signals zero range time of said bistatic transmitters and said bistatic receiver to GPS time; operating said bistatic transmitters autonomously with no communication between said bistatic receiver and said bistatic transmitters; receiving reflections of said radar signals at said bistatic radar receiver from said birds in said surveillance volume; determining said locations of birds from location of said bistatic radar receiver, locations of said bistatic transmitters, and said reflections; and activating a bird deterrent to deter away birds on a collision course with said avian hazard.