Systems and methods for avian mitigation for wind farms

• US 9,581,165 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2011
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc.
• Original Assignee: Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc.
• Inventors: Babbitt, Victor, Oliver, Andrew G., Fine, Jeffrey W., Ives, Daniel, Brand, Alexander D.
• Primary Examiner(s): BYTHROW, PETER M
• Application Number:
  US13/878,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20130280033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,965 Days
• Field of Search: 342/42, 342/61, 342/175
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/006 Automatic identification systems for animals, e.g. electronic devices, transponders for animals identification systems for access to feeding pens A01K1/0209; ear tags with electronic identification means A01K11/004
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 11/008 incorporating GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 29/00 Scaring or repelling devices, e.g. bird-scaring apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 31/002 Detecting animals in a given area
• 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 7/00 Controlling wind motors supplying or distributing electrical power H02J, e.g. arrangements for adjusting, eliminating or compensating reactive power in networks H02J3/18; controlling electric generators H02P, e.g. arrangements for controlling electric generators for the purpose of obtaining a desired output H02P9/00
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/00 Details, components or accessories not provided for in groups F03D1/00 - F03D17/00
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 15/0066 by changing the speed, e.g. of the driving engine
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/75 using transponders powered from received waves, e.g. using passive transponders , or using passive reflectors
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/88 Radar or analogous systems specially adapted for specific applications electromagnetic prospecting or detecting of objects, e.g. near-field detection, G01V3/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A wildlife detection system includes a tracking device, a receiver, and a wildlife deterrent system. The tracking device may be mounted to a wildlife. The receiver is configured to track movement of the tracking device relative to an object of danger to the wildlife. The wildlife deterrent system is configured to reduce risk of danger to the wildlife in response to movement of the wildlife within a predetermined distance from the object of danger as tracked by the receiver.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for tracking a tagged bird, said method comprising:

providing a transmitter, a receiver, a controller, and a tracking device, and mounting the tracking device to a bird;

generating an energy field with the transmitter;

generating a first signal with the tracking device when the bird enters the energy field;

receiving the first signal at the receiver;

determining a location of the bird relative to a reference point; and

delivering a second signal to the controller and generating a command with the controller to mitigate danger for the bird based on a determination that the bird is within a predetermined distance of the reference point;

wherein the command includes slowing down a wind turbine.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the tracking device comprises a passive harmonic radar tag that re-radiates said first signal at a different frequency than a frequency of the energy field.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the tracking device comprises an unpowered active tag that is powered by the energy field.

4. A method of tracking a tagged bird and reducing danger thereto from a wind turbine, said method comprising:

providing a transmitter, a receiver, a controller and a tag which is mounted on the bird;

generating an energy field with the transmitter, the tag generating a first signal in response to the energy field when the bird enters the energy field;

receiving said first signal at the receiver;

determining from said first signal the location of the bird relative to a reference point; and

delivering a second signal to the controller and generating by the controller a command signal which causes slowing of the wind turbine when the bird is within a predetermined distance of the reference point.

5. Apparatus for tracking a tagged bird and reducing danger thereto from a wind turbine, and configured for use in conjunction with a tag which is mounted on the bird, the apparatus comprising:

a transmitter for generating an energy field so that the tag generates a first signal in response to the energy field when the bird enters the energy field;

a receiver for receiving the first signal generated by the tag; and

a controller which (i) determines from the said first signal the location of the bird relative to a reference point, and (ii) provides a command signal which causes slowing of the wind turbine when the bird is within a predetermined distance of the reference point.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said transmitter comprises a continuous-wave radar.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said transmitter comprises a pulse radar.

8. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said tag is a half-wave dipole resonant tag.