System and method for wind turbine noise control and damage detection

• US 7,896,613 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2009
• Issued: 03/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Xiong, Wei
• Primary Examiner(s): EDGAR, RICHARD A
• Application Number:
  US12/477,437
• Publication Number:
  US 20100143117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 416/1
• US Class Current: 416/1
• 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: F03D 7/0296 to prevent, counteract or reduce noise emissions
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/333 Noise or sound levels
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A system and method of providing noise control for a wind turbine are provided. The system includes at least one blade operably mounted on a wind turbine, and one or more sensors for receiving one or more signals relating to an operating characteristic of the wind turbine. A controller is configured for evaluating the signals to determine if they are outside a predetermined range. The system is configured to adjust operating characteristics and/or generate alarms if the signals are outside a predetermined range. The method includes the steps of receiving one or more signals from one or more sensors, determining if the signals are outside a predetermined range, and adjusting an operating parameter of the wind turbine or generating an alarm in response to the signals received from the sensors. The operating parameter can be adjusted to alter the amount of noise generated by the wind turbine.

Claims

1. A method of providing noise control for a wind turbine, comprising:

receiving one or more acoustic signals from one or more acoustical sensors within a wind turbine blade;

determining if said one or more acoustic signals are outside a predetermined range;

adjusting an operating parameter of the wind turbine during operation thereof in response to said receiving one or more acoustic signals from one or more acoustical sensors step if the one or more acoustic signals are outside the predetermined range;

wherein the operating parameter is adjusted to reduce an amount of noise generated by the wind turbine.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein additional sensors are selected from the group consisting of pressure sensors, temperature sensors, flow sensors, motion sensors, and light sensors, or combinations thereof, to detect at least one of pressure, temperature, flow, motion, and light.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined range is selected from the group consisting of a frequency range, an amplitude range, or combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating parameter is selected from the group consisting of operating speed of the blades, torque demand, pitch angle, a rotor speed, torque, or combinations thereof.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors are also located within a hub of the wind turbine.

6. A method of detecting damage to a wind turbine, comprising:

receiving one or more acoustic signals from one or more acoustical sensors within a wind turbine blade, the one or more acoustic signals received during operation of the wind turbine;

determining if said one or more acoustic signals are outside a predetermined range;

generating an alarm in response to said determining if said one or more acoustic signals are outside a predetermined range step.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein additional sensors are selected from the group consisting of pressure sensors, temperature sensors, flow sensors, motion sensors, and light sensors, or combinations thereof, to detect at least one of pressure, temperature, flow, motion, and light.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the predetermined range is selected from the group consisting of a frequency range, an amplitude range, or combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the one or more acoustical sensors are also located within a hub of the wind turbine.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein the alarm is a notification that a crack has occurred in the wind turbine blade.

11. A wind turbine system for providing at least one of noise control and damage detection, comprising:

at least one blade operably mounted on a wind turbine;

one or more acoustical sensors attached to the wind turbine, the one or more acoustical sensors for receiving one or more acoustic signals relating to an operating characteristic of the wind turbine system during operation of the wind turbine, at least a portion of the one or more acoustical sensors located within the at least one blade;

a controller configured for evaluating the one or more acoustic signals to determine if the one or more acoustic signals are outside a predetermined range;

wherein if said one or more acoustic signals are outside a predetermined range the wind turbine system is configured to at least adjust an operating characteristic of the wind turbine or generate an alarm.

12. The wind turbine system of claim 11, further comprising additional sensors selected from the group consisting of pressure sensors, temperature sensors, flow sensors, motion sensors, light sensors, or combinations thereof, to detect at least one of pressure, temperature, flow, motion, and light.

13. The wind turbine system of claim 11, wherein the one or more acoustical sensors are located within at least one of a blade and a hub of the wind turbine system.

14. The wind turbine system of claim 11, wherein the predetermined range is selected from the group consisting of a frequency range, an amplitude range, or combinations thereof.

15. The wind turbine system of claim 11, wherein the operating parameter is selected from the group consisting of operating speed of the blades, torque demand, pitch angle, a rotor speed, torque, or combinations thereof.

16. The wind turbine system of 11, wherein the alarm is a notification that a crack has occurred in a blade of the wind turbine system.