Method and apparatus for monitoring wind turbine blades during operation
First Claim
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1. A method of detecting defects in a wind turbine blade, comprising steps of:
- detecting, during motion of the wind turbine blade, a position, over time, of the wind turbine blade with respect to a gravity vector;
detecting, within an enclosed space of the wind turbine blade, acoustic information that is emitted from the wind turbine blade; and
analyzing the acoustic information in conjunction with the position, over time, of the wind turbine blade to identify a potential defect in the wind turbine blade.
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Abstract
A wind power turbine blade inspection system includes a sensor positioned on the blade root end bulkhead to receive airborne acoustic signals emanating from anomalies in rotating turbine blades during cyclic stress loading, a three axis accelerometer to determine the gravity vector and other sources of cyclic acceleration with respect to the acoustic signals and a signal analysis system configured to analyze the sensor and accelerometer signals to provide data for wind power asset management.
69 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method of detecting defects in a wind turbine blade, comprising steps of:
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detecting, during motion of the wind turbine blade, a position, over time, of the wind turbine blade with respect to a gravity vector; detecting, within an enclosed space of the wind turbine blade, acoustic information that is emitted from the wind turbine blade; and analyzing the acoustic information in conjunction with the position, over time, of the wind turbine blade to identify a potential defect in the wind turbine blade. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification