SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MONITORING WIND TURBINE OPERATION
First Claim
1. A wind turbine system, comprisinga wind turbine shaft;
- at least one sensor carried by the wind turbine shaft; and
a power transmitter operatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the power transmitter having a first component carried by the wind turbine shaft and a second component off the wind turbine shaft, the second component being positioned to transmit power to the first component while the wind turbine shaft rotates, without contacting the first component.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for monitoring wind turbine operation are disclosed. A method in accordance with one embodiment includes processing sensor data received from at least one strain gauge located on a wind turbine shaft, with a processor located on the wind turbine shaft. In particular embodiments, the method can further include providing power for the at least one strain gauge and the processor via a non-contact link between a first component located on the wind turbine shaft and second component off the wind turbine shaft. In further particular embodiments, the method can still further include receiving data from the processor corresponding to bending moments at the wind turbine shaft, and automatically identifying load remediation solutions for the wind turbine, based at least in part on the data received from the processor.
36 Citations
63 Claims
-
1. A wind turbine system, comprising
a wind turbine shaft; -
at least one sensor carried by the wind turbine shaft; and a power transmitter operatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the power transmitter having a first component carried by the wind turbine shaft and a second component off the wind turbine shaft, the second component being positioned to transmit power to the first component while the wind turbine shaft rotates, without contacting the first component. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
- 7. The system of claim wherein 6 at least a portion of the processor is carried by the turbine shaft.
-
9. A wind turbine system, comprising
a wind turbine shaft; -
at least one sensor carried by the wind turbine shaft; and a power source carried by the shaft and operatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the power source having no mechanical contact with components off the shaft and having at least one element that produces power in a manner that requires the wind turbine shaft to rotate. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A wind turbine system, comprising
a wind turbine shaft; -
at least one sensor carried by the wind turbine shaft; and a processor operatively coupled to the at least one sensor, the processor being programmed with instructions that, when executed, receive and process signals from the at least one sensor, the processor being carried by and rotatable with the wind turbine shaft - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. A method for operating a wind turbine, comprising:
-
automatically receiving information from a sensor carried by a shaft of the wind turbine, the shaft carrying at least one wind turbine blade; automatically analyzing the information with a processor; and based on results of analyzing the information, automatically presenting an operator-implementable recommendation for a subsequent action. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
-
-
35. A system for providing wind turbine status information, comprising:
-
a plurality of sensors carried by a wind turbine shaft; a processor operatively coupled to the plurality of sensors, the processor being programmed with instructions that, when executed; automatically synthesize information from the plurality of sensors; and automatically present a status indicator corresponding to a status of the wind turbine based at least in part on the synthesized information. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
-
-
43. A method for monitoring a wind turbine, comprising:
-
receiving sensor data from at least one strain gauge located on a wind turbine shaft; organizing the data to indicate strain along a first axis as a function of another variable; comparing the data to at least one reference pattern of data; based on a degree of correlation between the data and the at least one reference pattern, identifying an operational state of the wind turbine. - View Dependent Claims (44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
-
-
55. A system for monitoring a wind turbine, comprising:
-
at least one strain gauge positionable on a wind turbine shaft; and a processor operatively coupled to the strain gauge and programmed with instructions that, when executed; organize data received from the at least one strain gauge to indicate strain along a first axis as a function of another variable; compare the data to at least one reference pattern of data; and based on a degree of correlation between the data and the at least one reference pattern, identify an operational state of the wind turbine. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58)
-
-
59. A system for operating a wind turbine, comprising:
-
at least one sensor positioned to sense a characteristic of a wind turbine, an environment in which the wind turbine operates, or both the wind turbine and the environment; and a processor operatively coupled to the at least one sensor and programmed with instructions that, when executed; in response to a first occurrence of the characteristic, correlate the characteristic with a first operational setting of the wind turbine; and in response to a second occurrence of the characteristic, subsequent to the first occurrence, automatically direct the wind turbine to a second operational setting at least approximately identical to the first operational setting. - View Dependent Claims (60, 61, 62, 63)
-
Specification