Methods and systems for detecting sensor fault modes
First Claim
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1. A method for detecting a fault mode of a first sensor, the method comprising:
- comparing, with sensor circuitry, data output by the first sensor with reference data indicating what is expected to be output by the first sensor to produce a first comparison result, wherein the reference data includes at least one of;
pre-determined data output of the first sensor during operation in 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 first sensor;
comparing, with the sensor circuitry, the data output by the first sensor with a second data output by a second sensor to produce a second comparison result;
determining, with the sensor circuitry, whether the first sensor has entered a fault mode based at least in part on the first and the second comparison results; and
upon the sensor circuitry determining that the first sensor has entered the fault mode, the sensor circuitry issues an indication of the fault mode to a controller of a wind turbine generator (WTG) 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 first sensor and reducing a reliance on the first sensor.
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Abstract
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.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for detecting a fault mode of a first sensor, the method comprising:
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comparing, with sensor circuitry, data output by the first sensor with reference data indicating what is expected to be output by the first sensor to produce a first comparison result, wherein the reference data includes at least one of;
pre-determined data output of the first sensor during operation in 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 first sensor;comparing, with the sensor circuitry, the data output by the first sensor with a second data output by a second sensor to produce a second comparison result; determining, with the sensor circuitry, whether the first sensor has entered a fault mode based at least in part on the first and the second comparison results; and upon the sensor circuitry determining that the first sensor has entered the fault mode, the sensor circuitry issues an indication of the fault mode to a controller of a wind turbine generator (WTG) 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 first sensor and reducing a reliance on the first sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of operating a wind turbine generator (WTG) comprising a first sensor, the method comprising:
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operating the first sensor using sensor circuitry included in the WTG, wherein the sensor circuitry receives data from the first sensor representing a bending moment experienced by a blade of the WTG; comparing the data from the first sensor with data from a second sensor to produce a comparison result; determining whether the first sensor has entered a fault mode based at least in part on the comparison result; communicating a sensor validity indication from the sensor circuitry to a WTG controller based on whether the first sensor has entered the fault mode; and communicating, from the WTG controller, commands to control operation of one or more actuators of the WTG based at least on (i) the bending moment experienced by the blade and (ii) the sensor validity indication. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. An apparatus, comprising:
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low level fault detection circuitry configured to compare data output by a first sensor with reference data to detect a first fault mode of the first sensor, wherein the reference data includes at least one of;
pre-determined data output of the first sensor during operation in 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 first sensor;high level fault detection circuitry configured to compare data output by the first sensor with data output by a second sensor to detect a second fault mode of the first sensor; and a controller arranged to adjust a blade pitch of a wind turbine generator by issuing pitch commands to adjust a blade pitch of the wind turbine generator, wherein upon the controller receiving an indication of at least one of the first and the second fault modes from the low and the high level fault detection circuitry, the controller is configured to perform at least one of;
ignoring an output of the first sensor and reducing a reliance on the first sensor. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification