METHOD FOR DETECTION OF CHARGE ORIGINATING FROM LIGHTNING

• US 20100280797A1
• Filed: 12/22/2008
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Original Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Inventors: Erichsen, Hans Vagn
• Granted Patent: US 9,450,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/189
• 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: F03D 80/30 Lightning protection
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/307 Blade tip, e.g. winglets
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/80 Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 13/00 Installations of lightning conductors; Fastening thereof to supporting structure
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 13/60 Detecting; Measuring; Sensing; Testing; Simulating
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

The invention relates to a detection apparatus of a wind turbine wherein said wind turbine comprises a down-conducting system arranged to conduct current induced from lightning, wherein said detection apparatus comprises a charge measurement apparatus for establishment of a charge representation, wherein said charge representation represents charge induced into said down-conducting system by lightning, and wherein said detection apparatus further comprises an estimator for estimating deterioration induced by lightning of one or more components in a wind turbine on the basis of said charge representation.

Claims

1. A detection apparatus of a wind turbine, comprising:

a down-conducting system arranged to conduct current induced from lightning,

a charge measurement apparatus for establishment of a charge representation, wherein said charge representation represents charge induced into said down-conducting system by lightning, and

an estimator for estimating deterioration induced by lightning of one or more components in a wind turbine on the basis of said charge representation.

2. The detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one or more components forms at least a part of the down-conducting system.

3. The detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said one or more components comprises a receptor and/or a lightning current transfer unit.

4. The detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said estimating of deterioration of one or more components is based on an accumulation of charge established by said detection apparatus.

6. The detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said charge measurement apparatus measures the current fed through said down-conducting system as a result of lightning.

7. The detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said charge measurement apparatus comprises at least one optical measurement apparatus.

8. The detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said charge measurement apparatus comprising at least one Rogowski coil.

11. The detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said estimator comprises means for data processing, treatment of analogue or digital measure results, storing, displaying, interfacing and/or any combination thereof.

13. The detection apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said stored data is compared with predefined critical deterioration values of the component in connection with the wind turbine to indicate at least two maintenance levels of the component in connection with the wind turbine.

14. The detection apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said display means is capable of displaying all data handled by said detection apparatus and said charge measurement apparatus.

15. The detection apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the means for interfacing communicates the condition of at least one component in connection with the wind turbine to a central data processing device.

21. A wind turbine comprising a detection apparatus according to claim 1.

5. (canceled)

9. (canceled)

10. (canceled)

12. (canceled)

17. A method for establishing deterioration of a component of a wind turbine according to claim 12, wherein said component comprises a receptor and/or a lightning current transfer unit.

16. A method for establishing deterioration of a component of a wind turbine or a wind turbine power plant, comprising:

determining the charge induced into the component by lightning,

establishing an accumulation of the measured charge; and

relating the accumulation of charge to a degree of deterioration induced by lightning of the component.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein the determination of charge is established by a measurement of current induced by lightning and fed through a down-conducting system and an integration of the measured current with respect to time.

19. (canceled)

20. (canceled)