KR20150032395A - Wind turbine monitoring system to detect foundation displacement and abnormal structural movement during operation - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a monitoring system to detect ground behavior and abnormal displacement of a structure during the operation of a wind power generator which can secure equipment reliability and prevent accidents by identifying behavioral conditions of a support structure including a tower of the wind power generator. The monitoring system to detect ground behavior and abnormal displacement of a structure during the operation of a wind power generator comprises: a sensor unit detecting information on the behavioral conditions of the wind power generator structure in real time; a data logger collecting and storing the behavioral condition information; a vibration analysis unit analyzing a vibration condition of the wind power generator structure by selectively compiling the behavioral condition information; a warning unit outputting alarm when the analyzed vibration of the wind power generator structure exceeds a preset reference value; and a monitoring unit converting the analyzed vibration condition of the wind power generator structure into a data format that a user can visually understand the vibration condition and outputting the converted format.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a wind turbine monitoring system for detecting a ground motion and an abnormal displacement of a structure during operation of a wind turbine generator,

More particularly, the present invention relates to a monitoring apparatus for monitoring ground motion and abnormal structural displacement during operation of a wind turbine generator, and more particularly, to a wind turbine generator And to a monitoring device for abnormal ground displacement and structural abnormal displacement.

Generally, a wind power generator is a device that converts wind energy into electric energy. It rotates the wing of the wind power generator and produces electric power by the rotating power of the wing.

Since the wind turbine is capable of producing more wind energy as the wind speed is higher and the wind turbine is larger, the power generation amount of the wind turbine depends on the wind strength and the size of the windmill. Also, as the height increases, the wind blows harder, so the generator in the higher place is larger than the generator in the lower place and the power generation is increased.

Generally, in order to generate electricity using wind power, a wind blowing at an average speed of 4 m / s or more is required. The speed of the wind referred to here is not the speed at the ground but the speed at the height of the wing of the wind turbine.

The structure of the conventional wind turbine is not shown in the drawing, but a nacelle (not shown) for rotatably supporting a rotor blade (not shown) is rotatably installed on the upper end of a tower of a high-rise tower on a ground or platform, (Not shown) such as a speed reducer, a power generator (not shown), and a controller (not shown) so that the rotational force of the rotor blades is transmitted to the generator via a hub (not shown) via the main shaft.

Therefore, although the power generation capacity can be increased as the height of the tower of the wind turbine is increased, the cost and the weight of the tower are increased, and the ground motion or support structure (or structure) There is a problem that an abnormal displacement may occur.

Here, the natural frequency means the frequency of a building, a bridge, a structure, or a mechanical part. Likewise, the tower also has a constant natural frequency. If the frequency of the wind blowing around the tower coincides with the natural frequency of the tower (i.e., resonates), an accident that an abnormal displacement occurs or collapses in the tower There is a problem that can occur.

The support structure of the wind turbine is composed of a support tower and a foundation. Therefore, the support structure is incapable of perfect bonding due to the bonding of heterogeneous materials, and cracks (see Fig. 1 (a)) between the tower and the foundation due to the generation of thrust due to rotation, as well as the normal environmental load (wind load) (See Fig. 1 (b)), and there is a possibility that the generation of fine cracks may lose the frictional force and the supporting force between the tower and the foundation, thereby causing conduction.

Therefore, in the past, a dial gauge was installed on the outside of the tower so that the behavior between the foundation and the tower could be measured in the field, but it was cumbersome and impossible to monitor at all times.

BACKGROUND ART [0002] The background art of the present invention is disclosed in Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-2013-0003517 (published on Mar. 13, 2013, a device for displaying the behavior of a wind turbine).

The present invention has been made in order to solve the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a wind turbine generator, The object of the present invention is to provide a monitoring device for displacement.

The monitoring device for the ground motion and the abnormal displacement of the structure during operation of the wind turbine according to an aspect of the present invention includes a sensor unit for detecting the behavioral state information of the wind turbine structure in real time; A data logger for collecting and storing the behavior state information; A vibration analysis unit for analyzing a vibration state of the wind power generator structure by selectively combining the behavior state information; An alarm unit for outputting an alarm when the analyzed vibration of the wind turbine structure exceeds a preset reference value; And a monitoring unit for changing the vibration state of the analyzed wind power generator structure into a data format that a user can visually understand and outputting.

In the present invention, the structure includes a tower and a foundation to which the tower is supported.

In the present invention, the sensor unit divides the tower included in the structure into at least three sectors in the height direction, sets the ladder side on the tower to 0 degrees, and the door side on the opposite side to 180 degrees A predetermined distance and a predetermined angle based on a boundary portion of the sectors, and the three sectors are divided into a lower sector, a middle sector, and an upper sector from the ground.

In the present invention, the sensor unit may include at least one of an accelerometer, an inclinometer, a strain gauge, and a pore pressure gauge.

In the present invention, the pore water pressure gauge is installed at a lower portion of the bottom portion buried under the ground in the tower.

In the present invention, the strain meter is provided at each of the first and second angular points above the first predetermined distance from the ground.

In the present invention, the inclinometer is installed at a first angle point and a second angle point, respectively, above the second predetermined distance from the ground.

In the present invention, the strain gauge is provided at each of the first angular point and the second angular point below the third predetermined distance from the upper end point of the lower sector, and is further provided at the third predetermined distance lower portion from the upper end point of the center sector, The first angle point and the second angle point, respectively.

In the present invention, the accelerometer is installed at a first angle point of the fourth predetermined distance below the upper end point of the center sector, and further includes a first angle point at a fifth predetermined distance below the upper end point of the upper sector, And is installed at two angular points.

In the present invention, the data logger converts the behavior state information into a digital signal and stores the converted digital signal in an internal memory.

In the present invention, the sensor unit and the data logger are installed in a tower of a wind power generator, the vibration analysis unit is installed in a wind power monitoring center at a remote location, and a communication unit for transmitting the behavior state information of the data logger to the vibration analysis unit Wherein each of the communication units is connected to at least one of an optical communication cable, a wire cable, and a wireless communication unit, and the serial communication, the parallel communication, the Ethernet communication, and the Internet communication The information is transmitted through at least one of the communication methods.

In the present invention, the monitoring unit displays a danger warning message when the analyzed vibration of the wind turbine structure exceeds a preset reference value, and the user can visually confirm the vibration using the vibration analysis result transmitted from the vibration analysis unit The vibration analysis result is continuously accumulated in the internal memory, the statistics of the year, quarter, month, week, and hour are calculated, and the comparison information is visually displayed It is converted into a data format easy to understand and displayed.

The present invention monitors the displacement and inclination of a supporting structure including a tower of a wind turbine to determine the behavior of the equipment in advance to ensure facility reliability and prevent accidents. And acquires all the behavior state data from the upper part to the lower part of the base structure. Thus, accurate state diagnosis is enabled, and all acquired state data is stored, thereby enabling unattended monitoring.

FIG. 1 is a photograph showing a crack or a ridge between a tower and a foundation of a wind turbine in the past. FIG.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a wind turbine generator, and more particularly,
Fig. 3 is an exemplary view for explaining a tower attachment position of sensors in Fig. 2; Fig.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, an embodiment of a surveillance apparatus for ground motion and structural abnormal displacement during operation of a wind turbine generator according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In this process, the thicknesses of the lines and the sizes of the components shown in the drawings may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of explanation. In addition, the terms described below are defined in consideration of the functions of the present invention, which may vary depending on the intention or custom of the user, the operator. Therefore, definitions of these terms should be made based on the contents throughout this specification.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic configuration of a monitoring apparatus for monitoring ground motion and anomalous displacement during operation of a wind turbine according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.

2, the monitoring device for the ground motion and the abnormal displacement of the structure during the operation of the wind turbine according to the embodiment of the present invention includes means for installing the sensor unit 110 on the tower 100 of the wind turbine, A data logger 120, a communication unit 130 and an uninterruptible power supply unit 140. The communication unit 210, the vibration analysis unit 220, the monitoring unit 230, And a warning unit 240.

The sensor unit 110 includes at least one of an accelerometer 111, an inclinometer 112, a strain gauge 113, and a pore pressure gauge 114.

The accelerometer 111 measures the maximum vibration or vibration acceleration generated in the tower 100. That is, the vibration magnitude data is measured (or detected) and output.

The inclinometer 112 measures the slope between the foundation and the tower 100. That is, the tilt and horizontal displacement data are measured (or detected) and output.

The strain gage 113 measures the strain of the tower 100.

That is, stress (tensile force) or tension data (resistance) generated when an external force acts on the tower 100 is measured (or detected) and output.

The strain gage 113 measures the slope of the tower 100 and measures and provides information for evaluating the subsidence state of the foundation.

The pore pressure gauge 114 measures (or detects) pore water pressure data for analyzing subsidence, displacement, and behavior of the ground, and outputs the data.

The pore pressure gauge 114 measures the buoyant force applied to the bottom of the foundation when the sea level rises, and measures and provides information for analyzing the influence of the slope of the foundation.

The sensor unit 110 is provided with sensors 111 to 111 for diagnosing the accurate behavior of the known structures (i.e., towers), that is, for acquiring overall behavior state data from the top to the bottom of the tower 100, 114) at appropriate positions.

Mounting positions of the sensors 111 to 114 will be described with reference to Fig.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view for explaining a tower attachment position of sensors in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 3, the tower 100 can be largely divided into three parts (virtual partition).

At this time, the height of the tower 100 may vary.

Accordingly, it is preferable that the sector is divided into three parts as much as possible considering the height of the tower. However, the sector is not necessarily divided equally, and may be unevenly divided as in the present embodiment. Also, the number of sectors can be divided more or less according to the height of the tower.

For convenience, the present embodiment assumes that the height of the tower portion protruding from the upper part of the ground is 77.3 meters, and that the towers are unevenly divided into three sectors and each sensor is installed (or attached) at a designated position.

It should be noted that the height and the position of the sensors 111 to 113 are described as a preferred embodiment, and thus the height and position of the sensors 111 to 113 can be changed according to the structure, height, diameter and circumference of the tower.

Of the three sectors (e.g., the bottom sector, the middle sector, and the top sector), the bottom sector is about 19 meters (19,210 mm) from the ground, And the upper sector is about 29 meters (29,085 mm) from that point (i.e., the upper end of the central sector) to the upper end.

As a reference position for installing the sensor, when the ladder side provided on the tower is assumed to be 0 degree, the door side provided on the opposite side is set to be 180 degrees.

The pore pressure gauge 114 is installed below the bottom portion of the tower 100 (i.e., a portion buried under the ground). And when the ground subsides or floats (that is, floats), the extent is detected.

The strain gage 113 is installed at a point of about 155 degrees and 335 degrees above the ground by about 250 mm and the inclinometer 112 is installed at a point of about 155 degrees and about 245 degrees above the ground by about 650 mm.

Further, the strain gage 113 is installed at a position of 155 degrees and 335 degrees below the upper end of the lower sector by about 600 mm, and at a position of 155 degrees and 335 degrees below the upper end of the central sector by about 600 mm Respectively.

The accelerometer 111 is installed at a point about 155 degrees below the upper end of the middle sector and about 155 degrees below the upper end of the upper sector and about 245 degrees below the upper end of the upper sector.

In the embodiment of the present invention, two sensors are provided in the vicinity of the boundaries of the respective sectors. In fact, this is the minimum number of sensors for acquiring the overall behavior state information from the top to the bottom of the tower. It is obvious that more sensors may be attached to obtain.

The information obtained from the sensor unit 110 is transmitted to the data logger 120.

The data logger 120 converts the sensing information obtained from the sensor unit 110 into a digital signal and periodically stores the digital signal in an internal memory.

The communication unit 130 periodically transmits the sensing information stored in the data logger 120 to the wind power monitoring center 200.

The communication unit 130 communicates with the communication unit 210 of the wind power monitoring center 200 and transmits sensing information stored in the data logger 120 to the wind power monitoring center 200 when the wind power monitoring center 200 requests sensing information. (200).

The communication unit 130 and the communication unit 210 of the wind power monitoring center 200 are connected using an optical communication cable, but are not limited thereto. In addition, information can be transmitted using at least one of serial communication, parallel communication, Ethernet communication, and Internet communication.

The uninterruptible power supply unit 140 supplies operating power for stable operation of the data logger 120 and the communication unit 130 even when the supply of external power is interrupted.

The communication unit 210 of the wind power monitoring center 200 receives the sensing information transmitted from the communication unit 130 of the wind turbine tower 100 and outputs the sensing information to the vibration analyzer 220.

The wind power monitoring center 200 receives sensing information measured from at least one wind turbine tower installed in the wind power generation complex. Analyze the behavior of each wind turbine tower (eg, vibration).

The vibration analyzer 220 combines information (e.g., vibration amplitude, tilt, horizontal displacement, tension, compressive stress, electrode water pressure, etc.) measured by the sensor unit 110, .

The vibration analysis unit 220 may analyze the vibration using any known vibration analysis algorithm. For example, the vibration analysis algorithm performs Fourier transform (Fourier transformation) using MATLAB (for example, vibration amplitude, tilt, horizontal displacement, tension, compressive stress, Fourier Transform) is performed. The vibration analysis method may vary depending on the algorithm used.

The vibration analysis unit 220 outputs an alarm signal to the warning unit 240 when the vibration exceeds the preset reference value as a result of the vibration analysis. When the alarm signal is generated, the emergency action can be performed. For example, the emergency action may stop evolving, evacuate nearby persons, or perform tower maintenance.

The vibration analysis unit 220 outputs the vibration analysis result to the monitoring unit 230 and displays the result on the screen.

As a result of the vibration analysis, if the vibration exceeds a preset reference value, the monitoring unit 230 may display a danger warning message.

The monitoring unit 230 converts the vibration analysis result transmitted from the vibration analysis unit 220 into a format (for example, a graph, an animation image, or the like) that the user (the manager of the monitoring center) can visually understand And displays it on a screen (not shown).

The monitoring unit 230 continuously accumulates the vibration analysis results in the internal memory to calculate statistics (e.g., average, change trend, etc.) in units of years, quarters, months, weeks and hours, (Eg, comparison charts, comparison images) so that the change in the behavior of the tower at present relative to the past can be predicted.

The monitoring unit 230 not only displays the vibration analysis result, but also processes and compares the previously accumulated information with the newly transmitted information and displays the comparison result in at least one format , So that the user can judge the behavior of the tower (support structure) in various ways.

As described above, the monitoring apparatus for the ground motion and the abnormal displacement during operation of the wind turbine according to the present invention improves the reliability by predicting the state of the tower by monitoring the tower displacement and the tower slope using the pore pressure meter and the accelerometer.

Conventionally, since a dial gauge or the like is used to measure a tower displacement state, frequent installation and dismantling operations are required. However, the apparatus according to the present invention automatically acquires a tower displacement state continuously to improve convenience.

In addition, conventionally, since it is necessary to carry the equipment for measuring the behavior of the tower and move to the site where the wind turbine generator is installed and to measure the state information, it takes a long time and it is difficult and dangerous to acquire the top state data of the tower. This reduces the risk.

Meanwhile, the measurement of the behavior of the conventional wind turbine has been focused on environmental measurement such as wind direction and wind speed and mechanical / electrical measurement of the wind turbine in the nacelle. In the present invention, however, environmental factors are excluded and direct influence on the ground motion and abnormal displacement of the support structure So that more accurate state prediction is possible.

In addition, the conventional wind turbine does not measure the ground settlement. However, the present invention improves the reliability by measuring the ground settlement by measuring the part that can not be detected through other measuring instruments or more reliable information.

Further, the present invention enables the user to quickly recognize an abnormal state before a problem occurs in the support structure by using an inclinometer and a strain gauge.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, I will understand the point. Accordingly, the technical scope of the present invention should be defined by the following claims.

100: Wind turbine generator tower 110: Sensor unit
111: accelerometer 112: inclinometer
113: Strain meter 114: Pore pressure meter
120: Data logger 130:
140: uninterruptible power supply 200: wind power monitoring center
210: communication unit 220: vibration analysis unit
230: monitoring section 240: warning section

Claims (12)

A sensor unit for detecting the behavioral state information of the wind power generator structure in real time;
A data logger for collecting and storing the behavior state information;
A vibration analysis unit for analyzing a vibration state of the wind power generator structure by selectively combining the behavior state information;
An alarm unit for outputting an alarm when the analyzed vibration of the wind turbine structure exceeds a preset reference value; And
And a monitoring unit for changing the vibration state of the analyzed wind power generator structure into a data format that a user can visually understand and outputting the data format, and monitoring the ground motion during the operation of the wind power generator and the abnormal displacement of the structure.
The structure according to claim 1,
And a foundation on which the tower is supported. The monitoring device for the ground motion and the abnormal displacement of the structure during operation of the wind power generator.
The apparatus according to claim 1,
The tower included in the structure is virtually divided into at least three sectors in the height direction, the ladder side provided on the tower is set to 0 degree, the door side provided on the opposite side is set to 180 degrees, A predetermined distance and a predetermined angle,
Wherein the three sectors are divided into a lower sector, a middle sector, and an upper sector, respectively, from the ground. The monitoring device for the ground motion and the abnormal structure displacement during operation of the wind power generator.
The apparatus according to claim 1,
Wherein the at least one of the accelerometer, the tilt gauge, the strain gauge, and the pore pressure gauge includes at least one of an accelerometer, an inclinometer, a strain gauge, and a pore pressure gauge.
The pneumatic pressure gauge according to claim 3 or 4,
Wherein the monitoring unit is installed at a lower portion of a bottom portion buried under the ground in the tower.
The strain gauge according to claim 3 or 4,
Wherein the first angular point and the second angular point are located at an upper portion of the first predetermined distance from the ground, respectively.
5. The apparatus according to claim 3 or 4,
Wherein the first and second angular points are located at a first angle and an upper angle at a second predetermined distance from the ground, respectively.
The strain gauge according to claim 3 or 4,
A first angle point and a second angle point respectively provided at a first angle point and a second angle point below the third predetermined distance from the upper end point of the lower sector and at a third predetermined distance below the upper end point of the center sector, And a monitoring device for monitoring the ground motion and the abnormal displacement of the structure during operation of the wind turbine.
5. The apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the accelerometer comprises:
The first sector is installed at a first angular position below the fourth predetermined distance from the upper end point of the central sector and the second angular point is located at a first angular point below the fifth predetermined distance from the upper end point of the upper sector, Monitoring system for earthquake behavior and abnormal displacement of structures during operation of wind turbine.
The data logger according to claim 1,
And converting the behavior information into a digital signal and storing the digital signal in an internal memory.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the sensor unit and the data logger are installed in a tower of a wind power generator, the vibration analysis unit is installed in a wind power monitoring center at a remote place,
A communication unit for transmitting the behavioral state information of the data logger to the vibration analysis unit is further provided in the tower of the wind turbine and the wind turbine monitoring center,
Wherein each of the communication units is connected to each other by at least one of an optical communication cable, a wire cable, and a wireless communication, and further, the information is transmitted through at least one of serial communication, parallel communication, Ethernet communication, Monitoring system for earthquake behavior and abnormal displacement of structures during operation of wind turbine.
The apparatus according to claim 1,
And displaying a danger warning message when the analyzed vibration of the wind turbine structure exceeds a preset reference value,
Converting the vibration analysis result transmitted from the vibration analysis unit into a data format easy for a user to visually understand and displaying on a screen,
The vibration analysis result is continuously accumulated in the internal memory to calculate statistics for each year, quarter, month, week, and hour, and the comparison information is converted into a data format easy for the user to visually understand and displayed. Monitoring system for earthquake behavior and abnormal displacement of structures during operation of wind turbine.

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