Method for monitoring a wind energy plant

• US 20040151578A1
• Filed: 03/15/2004
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aloys Wobben
• Original Assignee: Aloys Wobben
• Inventors: Wobben, Aloys
• Granted Patent: US 6,966,754 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 415/4.1
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 17/00 Monitoring or testing of wind motors, e.g. diagnostics testing during commissioning of wind motors F03D13/30
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/333 Noise or sound levels
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/8041 Cameras
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/81 Microphones
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for monitoring wind turbines, wherein acoustic monitoring, in particular, is performed.

In order to further improve the maintenance, safety and efficiency of a wind turbine, it is desirable to monitor additional parameters of the wind turbine. The invention is therefore based on the technical problem of improving wind turbine monitoring.

A system is provided for monitoring a wind turbine, wherein the sound produced inside the wind turbine where electrical or mechanical units are in use is recorded by means of an acoustic pick-up, wherein, in addition, an optical sensor such as a camera is provided that is directed or can be directed at the location where sound is produced.

Claims

1. System for monitoring a wind turbine, wherein the sound produced inside the wind turbine where electrical or mechanical units are in use is recorded by means of an acoustic pick-up, wherein, in addition, an optical sensor such as a camera is provided that is directed or can be directed at the location where sound is produced.

2. System according to claim 1, characterised in that the optical sensor can be moved and/or pivoted and/or focused on a desired target location.

3. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the optical sensor is movably disposed on a rail, and the rail preferably forms a closed ring that is circular or elliptical, and, in particular, that an inside view of the entire wind turbine nacelle can be produced with said camera.

4. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the optical sensor is an infrared sensor, by means of which certain parts of the equipment inside the wind turbine can be monitored to detect if they are heating up.

5. System according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, inside the wind turbine, lighting means are provided that are switched on, or preferably can be switched on remotely, when the optical sensor is activated, wherein the lighting means is preferably positioned near the optical sensor and illuminate the location at which the sensor is directed.

6. System for monitoring a wind turbine according to one of the preceding claims and comprising the following steps:

recording a reference noise spectrum of a wind turbine and/or parts thereof at at least one defined point of said turbine,

storing said reference spectrum in a storage device,

recording the spectrum of operating noise during operation at the defined point(s) of the wind turbine,

comparing the recorded spectrum of operating noise with the stored reference spectrum, and

detecting deviations between the spectrum of operating noise and the reference spectrum.

7. System for monitoring a wind turbine according to one of the preceding claims and comprising the following steps:

storing a reference noise spectrum of a wind turbine and/or parts thereof in a storage device,

recording the spectrum of operating noise during operation at the defined point(s) of the wind turbine,

comparing the recorded spectrum of operating noise with the stored reference spectrum, and

detecting deviations between the spectrum of operating noise and the reference spectrum.

8. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the spectrum of operating noise is recorded continuously or recurrently during operation at the defined point(s) of the wind turbine.

9. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the detected deviations between the spectrum of operating noise and the reference spectrum are transmitted to a remote monitoring station.

10. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the original noises that caused the deviations between the operating and the reference spectrum are transmitted to the remote monitoring station.

11. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein noise patterns are formed from the original noises and an acoustic database of such patterns is created.

12. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the wind turbine is switched off when the deviations between the operating spectrum and the reference spectrum exceed a predetermined threshold value .

14. Wind turbine according to one of the preceding claims, comprising at least one acoustic pick-up at at least one defined point of the wind turbine for singular recording of the reference noise spectrum and for continuous recording of the operating noise spectrum of the wind turbine and/or parts thereof, a storage device for storing the reference spectrum of the wind turbine, and computing equipment for comparing the recorded operating noise spectrum with the stored reference spectrum and for detecting deviations between the operating noise spectrum and the reference spectrum, wherein the wind turbine is switched off if necessary when the deviations between the operating spectrum and the reference spectrum exceed a predetermined threshold value.

13. Wind turbine with at least one acoustic pick-up at at least one defined point of the wind turbine for recording a noise made by the wind turbine and/or a spectrum of noises made by the wind turbine, and an optical sensor, preferably a camera, which is mounted near the acoustic pick-up and is directed and/or can be directed at the location where sound is produced.