US 12,088,226 B2
Estimation of rotor operational characteristics for a wind turbine
Jared Frank, Longmont, CO (US); and Kirk Pierce, Lafayette, CO (US)
Assigned to Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S, Brande (DK)
Appl. No. 17/631,782
Filed by Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S, Brande (DK)
PCT Filed Jul. 22, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/070705
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 31, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/023515, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 11, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 19190639 (EP), filed on Aug. 8, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0278637 A1, Sep. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. H02P 23/14 (2006.01); F03D 17/00 (2016.01); G01D 5/245 (2006.01); G01D 18/00 (2006.01); G01P 3/489 (2006.01); G01P 13/04 (2006.01); H02K 7/18 (2006.01)
CPC H02P 23/14 (2013.01) [F03D 17/00 (2016.05); G01D 5/2457 (2013.01); G01D 18/001 (2021.05); G01P 3/489 (2013.01); G01P 13/045 (2013.01); H02K 7/183 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of estimation of rotor operational characteristics including rotor speed, rotor azimuth and rotation direction, of a rotating rotor of a wind turbine, the method comprising:
measuring pulse rising edge time and pulse falling edge time of pulses generated by each of multiple proximity sensors originating from each of multiple detection targets arranged on the rotor;
estimating values of parameters of the positioning and detection range of at least one sensor based on the measured pulse rising edge times and pulse falling edge times; and
estimating rotor operational characteristics, including a rotor speed and a rotor azimuth and a rotation direction, based on the measured pulse rising edge times and pulse falling edge times and the estimated values of parameters of the sensors,
wherein estimating a rotation direction comprises detecting which respective sensor of the multiple proximity sensors first detects a target,
wherein estimating the rotor speed comprises mapping angular distances associated with pulses to corresponding time measurements, and
wherein estimating the rotor azimuth is based on a previously calibrated rotor azimuth position increased or decreased, depending on estimated rotation direction, by an integral of the estimated rotor speed over the difference.