WO2007089136A2 - Wind turbine tower vibration damping - Google Patents

Wind turbine tower vibration damping Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2007089136A2
WO2007089136A2 PCT/NL2007/000030 NL2007000030W WO2007089136A2 WO 2007089136 A2 WO2007089136 A2 WO 2007089136A2 NL 2007000030 W NL2007000030 W NL 2007000030W WO 2007089136 A2 WO2007089136 A2 WO 2007089136A2
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
tower
pitch
changed
wind turbine
blade
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NL2007/000030
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2007089136A3 (en
Inventor
Luc Joseph Charles SCHÜRMANN
Herman Meier Drees
Original Assignee
Pantheon Bv
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Pantheon Bv filed Critical Pantheon Bv
Publication of WO2007089136A2 publication Critical patent/WO2007089136A2/en
Publication of WO2007089136A3 publication Critical patent/WO2007089136A3/en

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Classifications

    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D7/00—Controlling wind motors 
    • F03D7/02—Controlling wind motors  the wind motors having rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor
    • F03D7/0296—Controlling wind motors  the wind motors having rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor to prevent, counteract or reduce noise emissions
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D7/00—Controlling wind motors 
    • F03D7/02—Controlling wind motors  the wind motors having rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor
    • F03D7/022—Adjusting aerodynamic properties of the blades
    • F03D7/0224—Adjusting blade pitch
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F03—MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS; WIND, SPRING, OR WEIGHT MOTORS; PRODUCING MECHANICAL POWER OR A REACTIVE PROPULSIVE THRUST, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • F03D—WIND MOTORS
    • F03D7/00—Controlling wind motors 
    • F03D7/02—Controlling wind motors  the wind motors having rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor
    • F03D7/04—Automatic control; Regulation
    • F03D7/042—Automatic control; Regulation by means of an electrical or electronic controller
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2260/00—Function
    • F05B2260/96—Preventing, counteracting or reducing vibration or noise
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2270/00—Control
    • F05B2270/30—Control parameters, e.g. input parameters
    • F05B2270/33—Proximity of blade to tower
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F05—INDEXING SCHEMES RELATING TO ENGINES OR PUMPS IN VARIOUS SUBCLASSES OF CLASSES F01-F04
    • F05B—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
    • F05B2270/00—Control
    • F05B2270/30—Control parameters, e.g. input parameters
    • F05B2270/334—Vibration measurements
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E10/00—Energy generation through renewable energy sources
    • Y02E10/70—Wind energy
    • Y02E10/72—Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Definitions

  • the invention is concerned with protecting a wind turbine and its supporting structure against harmful vibrations and deflections caused ' by wind loading.
  • the phenomenon of harmful vibrations has been illustrated in the past by- bridges with large spans that eventually collapsed since they experienced a wind load at their natural bending frequency, resulting in very excessive ' and destructive deflections of the structure.
  • the invention is concerned with ' protecting a wind turbine of the horizontal type, i.e. with a horizontal or almost horizontal rotor shaft carrying one or more (e.g. four equally circumferentially spaced) radially extending rotor blades .
  • the substantially straight rotor blades which obviously revolve in a vertical or almost vertical plane, have a suitable airfoil and pitch to generate sufficient lift from the passing wind to generate a, tangential force to revolve the rotor shaft.
  • the rotor shaft is drivingly connected to an electrical generator, such that electrical energy is generated from the wind.
  • the rotor shaft, its bearings, the electrical generator and gearbox, if any, ' are typically housed in a nacelle.
  • the rotor shaft can swivel around a vertical or almost vertical axis such that the rotor blades can be oriented relative to the prevailing wind direction. . ⁇
  • this type of wind turbine is supported on top of a slender tower, e.g. a thin walled vertical steel tube. Typical dimensions range up to and above 80 meters height for the tower and 80 meters diameter for the rotor. Due to their large dimensions and elastic nature, such structures typically deflect back and forth in the wind, like the trunk of a tree.
  • the present invention proposes to change the aerodynamic drag at the top part of the tower, as soon as this phenomenon arises.
  • This can e.g. be done by changing the resultant of the collection of aerodynamic forces acting on or near the top of the tower, from e.g. one or more of the rotor blades.
  • the aerodynamic drag in the direction substantially upstream or downstream the prevailing wind direction is changed. Since this change is preferably actively changed, the inventors call the invention "Active Aerodynamic Damping", abbreviated to AM).
  • AAD can brake deflecting motion of the tower.
  • the invention will be further elaborated by the application of AAD to the rotor blades.
  • the pitch of one or a few or all of the rotor blades is changed in just the right way and at just the right time, e.g. during a tower deflection cycle.
  • the change in rotor thrust resulting from such pitch control can be used to damp and/or arrest the tower vibration.
  • the pitch of all rotor blades is substantially simultaneously (i.e. collectively) changed, preferably substantially over the same pitch angle, for the purpose of this ' invention.
  • the pitch of the rotor blade is changed towards stall.
  • the pitch of the rotor blade is changed as the tower deflects forward, i.e. in upstream direction compared to the prevailing wind direction.
  • the pitch of the rotor blade is changed temporarily for the purpose of this invention, e.g. only during a part of or one complete or a few revolutions of the rotor shaft.
  • This pitch control will be superimposed on the pitch control for regulating the maximum power output of the turbine (if present) .
  • the pitch control for regulating the maximum power output will be disabled when the pitch control for damping the tower vibration is triggered.
  • the pitch control according to the invention for damping the tower vibration will be called damping pitch control.
  • the damping pitch control will generally be caried out by some automatic control system, e.g. comprising a suitably programmed processing unit like a computer.
  • a control system ⁇ communicates with one or more sensors or detectors or other (input) means to be able to monitor the vibrating behaviour of the tower and/or obtain other parameters that are required for the damping pitch control.
  • the control- system can trigger the damping by a temporary blade pitch change.
  • use can be made of one or more accelerometers suitably mounted to e.g. the tower or nacelle or other part of the wind turbine and remotely or wired connected to the control system to provide the desired information about tower vibration/deflection.
  • strain gauges, inclination meters, speed sensors or acoustical or optical scanners e.g. a laser beam
  • the control system is designed such that damping pitch control is triggered when the monitored movement (vibration/deflection) of the tower exceeds a pre-determined level.
  • the control system can be designed to apply a time delay after receival of the triggering signal from such means, such that the damping pitch change takes place at just the right time.
  • Such time delay can be pre-determined or real-time calculated by the control system on the basis of e.g. actual rotor speed (for which the control system is connected to an input means for the rotor speed) .
  • Changing the blade pitch towards stall generally means that its angle of attack relative to the direction of the wind is increased. In other words, the inclination relative to the wind is increased. Thereby, the aerodynamic force from the wind on the blade is increased.
  • changing blade pitch towards stall thus will provide a braking force to the tower movement.
  • changing the blade pitch away from stall decreases the aerodynamic force from the wind on the blade.
  • changing blade pitch away from stall thus will lessen the contribution of the wind thrust to the tower movement.
  • damping pitch control starts with changing the blade pitch towards stall, preferably as soon as the tower starts deflecting upstream or thereafter, but before the tower starts deflecting downstream.
  • the blade pitch is preferably changed away from stall, preferably before the tower starts deflecting upstream agian (i.e. after having deflected downstream).
  • Changing the blade pitch away from stall is preferably such that the blade pitch is smaller compared to the blade pitch just before damping pitch control is triggered.
  • a presently preferred, non-limiting, example of the damping pitch control is as follows: While the wind turbine is operative, the tower is deflecting back and forth in a direction substantially parallel to the wind direction.
  • General blade pitch control may or may not be active to regulate the maximum power output of the wind generator.
  • Damping blade pitch control is inactive.
  • the accelerometer senses a maximum acceleration at maximum downstream tower deflection, exceeding the pre-determined level. This event triggers the damping pitch control (or other AAD) and disables or overrides the pitch control for regulating the maximum power output (if active) .
  • the rotor blades are rapidly controlled towards stall, increasing their pitch by 1.5 degrees, such that they brake the upstream deflection of the tower.
  • the rotor blades are controlled away from stall, decreasing their pitch by 3 degrees (thus 1.5 degrees compared to their pitch before damping pitch control was triggered) , such that the aerodynamic wind force on the rotor decreases.
  • This process of using increased blade pitch (increased aerodynamic drag) while deflecting upstream and decreased blade pitch . (decreased aerodynamic drag) while deflecting downstream is repeated as desired to reduce the tower vibration or deflection acceleration to an acceptable level . Then damping pitch control is disabeled and the pitch control 5 for ' regulating the maximum power output is enabled.
  • the accelerometer monitors the tower.
  • damping pitch control is only temporarily active, e.g. no longer than 5 minutes each time ' (or another predetermined time or number of deflection cycles of the tower) and preferably at a frequency of not more
  • the invention is applicable to all wind turbine types,
  • Invented are thus, i.a., .a method to control blade pitch to damp the tower deflection/vibration; a wind turbine provided with a system to control blade pitch to damp the tower deflection/vibration; and such a system.

Abstract

The invention relates to a wind turbine tower vibration damping method wherein during normal operation, when it is detected that the deflection of the tower reaches or passes a predetermined safety level, the aerodynamic drag at the top part of the tower is changed. For that, the pitch of the rotor blades is changed, preferably simultaneously over the same pitch angle. When the tower is deflecting upstream, blade pitch is changed towards stall. When the tower is moving downstream, blade pitch is changed away from stall. The wind turbine is provided with accelerometers, strain gauges, inclination meters, speed sensors or acoustical or optical scanners that communicate with an automatic control system to carry out the damping method.

Description

•Wind turbine tower vibration damping
The invention is concerned with protecting a wind turbine and its supporting structure against harmful vibrations and deflections caused 'by wind loading. The phenomenon of harmful vibrations has been illustrated in the past by- bridges with large spans that eventually collapsed since they experienced a wind load at their natural bending frequency, resulting in very excessive' and destructive deflections of the structure. Particularly, the invention is concerned with' protecting a wind turbine of the horizontal type, i.e. with a horizontal or almost horizontal rotor shaft carrying one or more (e.g. four equally circumferentially spaced) radially extending rotor blades . The substantially straight rotor blades, which obviously revolve in a vertical or almost vertical plane, have a suitable airfoil and pitch to generate sufficient lift from the passing wind to generate a, tangential force to revolve the rotor shaft. In its turn, the rotor shaft is drivingly connected to an electrical generator, such that electrical energy is generated from the wind. The rotor shaft, its bearings, the electrical generator and gearbox, if any,' are typically housed in a nacelle. The rotor shaft can swivel around a vertical or almost vertical axis such that the rotor blades can be oriented relative to the prevailing wind direction. . ■ Typically, this type of wind turbine is supported on top of a slender tower, e.g. a thin walled vertical steel tube. Typical dimensions range up to and above 80 meters height for the tower and 80 meters diameter for the rotor. Due to their large dimensions and elastic nature, such structures typically deflect back and forth in the wind, like the trunk of a tree.
In the interest of reducing wind turbine system costs,- lighter weight (so called soft) towers are being designed. The reduced weight of the towers typically also results in reducing the bending stiffness of the towers. This can result in the natural frequency of the towers' first bending mode to lie close to the periodic loading frequency of the revolving rotor during operation of the wind turbine at design rotor speeds . Obviously, this periodic loading frequency corresponds to the revolving speed of the rotor. Thus, ■ with soft towers, there is a chance that during normal operation (steady state or balanced situation at
(almost) constant rotor -speed and regulated at maximum power output) , the periodic deflection of the tower caused by the wind' load locks into the tower' s first bending mode natural frequency, resulting • in a insufficiently damped ongoing amplification of said deflection which 'can cause permanent damage to the tower or wind turbine on top of it.- Such phenomenon will' typically arise at wind speeds above 10 meters per second.. • The. prior art has already presented proposals to address the above phenomenon. Worthwhile mentioning are conventional friction dampers, a cart damper or a tuned liquid damper. These proposals are all directed to increase the tower damping. While these methods have been used with some measure of success, drawbacks are for example that they are expensive, take up a substantial amount of valuable space inaide...the ,nacella.or the top of the tower, uneasy to operate or adapt to changing conditions, unsuited for already existing towers, weight adding and material consuming. The present invention seeks to solve the problems relating to tower vibration without the disadvantages of prior art solutions.
Therefor, the present invention- proposes to change the aerodynamic drag at the top part of the tower, as soon as this phenomenon arises. This can e.g. be done by changing the resultant of the collection of aerodynamic forces acting on or near the top of the tower, from e.g. one or more of the rotor blades. Particularly, the aerodynamic drag in the direction substantially upstream or downstream the prevailing wind direction (thus substantially -perpendicular to the plane in which the rotor blades revolve) is changed. Since this change is preferably actively changed, the inventors call the invention "Active Aerodynamic Damping", abbreviated to AM). AAD can brake deflecting motion of the tower. The invention will be further elaborated by the application of AAD to the rotor blades. However it will be appreciated that the scope of the invention goes beyond that. Preferably, with ASLD the pitch of one or a few or all of the rotor blades is changed in just the right way and at just the right time, e.g. during a tower deflection cycle. The change in rotor thrust resulting from such pitch control can be used to damp and/or arrest the tower vibration.
The action of the forced rotor thrust changes by means of timed blade pitch .control would be similar to that of a classic viscous dashpot damper wherein the wind turbine rotor could be regarded as a giant dashpot. ■ Preferably, the pitch of all rotor blades is substantially simultaneously (i.e. collectively) changed, preferably substantially over the same pitch angle, for the purpose of this ' invention. Preferably, the pitch of the rotor blade is changed towards stall. Preferably, the pitch of the rotor blade is changed as the tower deflects forward, i.e. in upstream direction compared to the prevailing wind direction.
It will be appreciated that the pitch of the rotor blade is changed temporarily for the purpose of this invention, e.g. only during a part of or one complete or a few revolutions of the rotor shaft. This pitch control will be superimposed on the pitch control for regulating the maximum power output of the turbine (if present) . Preferably the pitch control for regulating the maximum power output will be disabled when the pitch control for damping the tower vibration is triggered. In the following, the pitch control according to the invention for damping the tower vibration will be called damping pitch control.
The damping pitch control will generally be caried out by some automatic control system, e.g. comprising a suitably programmed processing unit like a computer. Preferably such control system ■communicates with one or more sensors or detectors or other (input) means to be able to monitor the vibrating behaviour of the tower and/or obtain other parameters that are required for the damping pitch control. Based on the information of such means, the control- system can trigger the damping by a temporary blade pitch change. For example, use can be made of one or more accelerometers suitably mounted to e.g. the tower or nacelle or other part of the wind turbine and remotely or wired connected to the control system to provide the desired information about tower vibration/deflection. As an alternative strain gauges, inclination meters, speed sensors or acoustical or optical scanners (e.g. a laser beam) can be used for the same purpose.
Preferably the control system is designed such that damping pitch control is triggered when the monitored movement (vibration/deflection) of the tower exceeds a pre-determined level. Depending on the means (sensors/detectors) used to monitor the tower motion, the control system can be designed to apply a time delay after receival of the triggering signal from such means, such that the damping pitch change takes place at just the right time. Such time delay can be pre-determined or real-time calculated by the control system on the basis of e.g. actual rotor speed (for which the control system is connected to an input means for the rotor speed) .
Changing the blade pitch towards stall generally means that its angle of attack relative to the direction of the wind is increased. In other words, the inclination relative to the wind is increased. Thereby, the aerodynamic force from the wind on the blade is increased. When the tower is deflecting upstream, changing blade pitch towards stall thus will provide a braking force to the tower movement. On the other hand, changing the blade pitch away from stall decreases the aerodynamic force from the wind on the blade. When the deflected tower is moving downstream, changing blade pitch away from stall thus will lessen the contribution of the wind thrust to the tower movement. Thus, by using any of these two possibilities in isolation or combination, one can influence the tower vibration to advantage. The new blade pitch can be maintained for a (predetermined) time after which another blade pitch (e.g. intermediate) can be adapted (e.g. according to damping pitch control or maximum power output) . Preferably, damping pitch control starts with changing the blade pitch towards stall, preferably as soon as the tower starts deflecting upstream or thereafter, but before the tower starts deflecting downstream. After changing the blade pitch towards stall, the blade pitch is preferably changed away from stall, preferably before the tower starts deflecting upstream agian (i.e. after having deflected downstream). Changing the blade pitch away from stall is preferably such that the blade pitch is smaller compared to the blade pitch just before damping pitch control is triggered.
It is feasible to wait with changing the blade pitch (e.g. towards stall) untill the deflecting velocity of the tower reaches (almost) maximum, since the braking forces are greatest then. This situation happens when the tower passes through the non deflected (straight up) position (equilibrium oposition at zero wind speed) .
Tests have shown that changing the blade pitch (compared to the actual pitch for maximum power output) in the range between 0.5 and 3 degrees, preferably between 1 and 2,5 degrees, such as between 1.5 and 2 degrees, offers good results.
A presently preferred, non-limiting, example of the damping pitch control is as follows: While the wind turbine is operative, the tower is deflecting back and forth in a direction substantially parallel to the wind direction. General blade pitch control may or may not be active to regulate the maximum power output of the wind generator. Damping blade pitch control is inactive. After some time, the accelerometer senses a maximum acceleration at maximum downstream tower deflection, exceeding the pre-determined level. This event triggers the damping pitch control (or other AAD) and disables or overrides the pitch control for regulating the maximum power output (if active) . The rotor blades are rapidly controlled towards stall, increasing their pitch by 1.5 degrees, such that they brake the upstream deflection of the tower. As soon as the tower starts deflecting downstream, the rotor blades are controlled away from stall, decreasing their pitch by 3 degrees (thus 1.5 degrees compared to their pitch before damping pitch control was triggered) , such that the aerodynamic wind force on the rotor decreases. This process of using increased blade pitch (increased aerodynamic drag) while deflecting upstream and decreased blade pitch .(decreased aerodynamic drag) while deflecting downstream is repeated as desired to reduce the tower vibration or deflection acceleration to an acceptable level . Then damping pitch control is disabeled and the pitch control 5 for 'regulating the maximum power output is enabled. The accelerometer monitors the tower.
It will be appreciated that while damping pitch control is active, the power output of the wind turbine can diminish. Thus, it is feasible under circumstances that damping pitch
10. control . is active as briefly as possible. Thus, in a illustrative but non-limiting example, damping pitch control is only temporarily active, e.g. no longer than 5 minutes each time ' (or another predetermined time or number of deflection cycles of the tower) and preferably at a frequency of not more
15 than once every hour. On the other hand the situation could arise that AAD will not improve the vibrating behaviour of the tower. Temporary or permanent shut down of the wind turbine, as nowadays typical, then could be an alternative.
The invention is applicable to all wind turbine types,
20 e.g. feathering, active stall, blade pitch controlled, stall regulated, fixed blade pitch, variable or constant blade speed. It is also applicable to all types of electrical generators, e.g. asynchronous (induction), alternators, direct current generators, variable speed generators.
25 Invented are thus, i.a., .a method to control blade pitch to damp the tower deflection/vibration; a wind turbine provided with a system to control blade pitch to damp the tower deflection/vibration; and such a system.
All specified features present in isolation or in.
30 arbitrary combination the subject of this invention.
With a wind turbine that during normal operation regulates its power by changing the pitch of the blades towards the feathered position, the power will tend to increase when damping pitch control is active. However the change of blade pitch tends 5 to be less for this 'feathering type of wind turbine. The skilled person will undertand how to adapt the power regulation to account for the influence of AAD.

Claims

1. Wind turbine tower vibration damping method wherein during normal operation, when it is detected that the deflection of the tower reaches or passes a predetermined safety level, the aerodynamic drag at the top part of the tower is changed.
2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the resultant of the collection of aerodynamic forces acting on or near the top of the tower is changed.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pitch of one or a few or all of the rotor blades is changed in a predetermined way and at a predetermined time, e.g. during a tower deflection cycle.
4. Method according to any of claims 1-3, wherein the pitch of all rotor blades is substantially simultaneously (i.e. collectively) changed, preferably substantially over the same pitch angle.
5. Method according to any of claims 1-4, wherein the pitch of the rotor blade is changed towards stall.
6. Method according to any of claims 1-5, wherein the pitch of the rotor blade is changed as the tower deflects forward, i.e. in upstream direction compared to the prevailing wind direction.
7. Method according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the pitch of the rotor blade is changed temporarily, e.g. only during a part of or one complete or a few revolutions of the rotor shaft.
8. Method according to any of claims 1-7, wherein said damping is superimposed on the pitch control for regulating the maximum power output of the turbine.
9. Method according to any of claims 1-8, wherein the pitch control for regulating the maximum power output is disabled when damping the tower vibration is triggered.
10. Method according to any of claims 1-9, wherein it is carried out by an automatic control system, e.g. comprising a suitably programmed processing unit like a computer.
11. Method according to claim 10, which system communicates with one or more sensors or detectors or other (input) means to be able to monitor the vibrating behaviour of the tower and/or obtain other parameters that are required for the method.
12. Method according to any of claims 1-11, wherein use is 5 made of one or more sensors and/or detectors, suitably mounted to e.g. the tower or nacelle or other part of the wind turbine and remotely or wired connected to the control system to provide the desired information about tower vibration/deflection.
13. Method according to any of claims 1-12, wherein when the 10 tower is deflecting upstream, blade pitch is changed towards stall and/or when the tower is moving downstream, blade pitch is changed away from stall.
14. Method according to any of claims 1-13, wherein the blade pitch is first changed towards stall, preferably as soon as
15 the tower starts deflecting upstream or thereafter, but before the tower starts deflecting downstream.
15. Method according to any of claims 1-14, wherein changing the blade pitch away from stall is such that the blade pitch is smaller compared to the blade pitch just before damping pitch
20 control is triggered.
16. Method according to any of claims 1-15, wherein the blade pitch is changed only after the deflecting velocity of the tower reaches substantially maximum, i.e. when the tower passes through the non deflected (straight up) position (equilibrium
25 position at zero wind speed) .
17. Method according to any of claims 1-16, wherein the blade pitch is changed in the range between 0.5 and 3 degrees, preferably between 1 and 2,5 degrees, such as between 1.5 and 2 degrees.
30 18. Method according to any of claims 1-17, wherein the damping action is disabled as soon as the tower vibration or deflection acceleration is lowered to an acceptable level.
19. Method according to any of claims 1-18, applied to a soft tower and/or a wind turbine of the horizontal type.
35 20. Method according to any of claims 1-19, wherein the wind turbine is generally operated at steady state or balanced situation at substantially constant rotor speed and preferably regulated at maximum power output.
21. Method according to any of claims 1-20, wherein said damping is triggered if the periodic deflection of the tower caused by the wind load locks or is going to lock into the tower' s
5 first bending mode natural frequency, resulting in a insufficiently damped ongoing amplification of said deflection which can cause permanent damage to the tower or wind turbine on top of it.
22. Method according to any of claims 1-21, wherein from one 10 or more of the rotor blades, particularly, the aerodynamic drag in the direction substantially upstream or downstream the prevailing wind direction (thus substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the rotor blades revolve) is changed.
23. Method according to any of claims 1-22, wherein the 15 detectors or sensors are one or more from the group of accelerometers, strain gauges, inclination meters, speed sensors or acoustical or optical scanners.
24. A wind turbine provided with a system to carry out the method according to any of claims 1-23.
20 25. A system to carry out the method according to any of claims 1-23.
PCT/NL2007/000030 2006-02-03 2007-02-02 Wind turbine tower vibration damping WO2007089136A2 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL1031063 2006-02-03
NL1031063 2006-02-03

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WO2007089136A3 WO2007089136A3 (en) 2007-09-27

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