Rotor for a wind energy turbine

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotor for a wind energy turbine and, more specifically, to an autonomous power supply for at least one sensor located at the rotor for sensing at least one physical value of the rotor as well as a method for autonomously supplying electrical energy to at least one sensor arranged at the rotor of a wind energy turbine for sensing at least one physical value of the rotor.

[0002] Modern wind energy turbines are provided with a plurality of different sensors for observing the current physical properties and characteristics of the wind energy turbine during its operation. Some of the sensors are arranged on the blades of the rotor of the wind energy turbine, e.g. for measuring the physical stress the rotor blade is subjected to. In order to supply the sensors with electrical energy, provision of corresponding cables is necessary. Also for transmitting the sensed data or measurement values, additional cables are necessary. Providing electrical energy to the sensors via cables is not desirable because the cables are disadvantageous with respect to lightning strikes or the like.

[0003] In one aspect, the present invention provides for a rotor for a wind energy turbine, including a hub and at least one rotor blade connected to the hub, at least one sensor for sensing at least one physical value of the rotor, e.g. mechanical stress or the like, and a power supply for supplying electrical power to the at least one sensor. The power supply comprises an electromechanical converter for converting mechanical energy from vibrations of the rotor when subjected to wind loads, e.g. during operation of the wind energy turbine, into electrical energy for supplying to the at least one sensor.

[0004] In a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for autonomously supplying electrical energy to at least one sensor arranged at a rotor of a wind energy turbine for sensing at least one physical value of the rotor. The method includes the steps of converting mechanical energy from vibrations of the rotor when subjected to wind loads, e.g. during operation of the wind energy turbine, into electrical energy, and supplying the electrical energy to the at least one sensor.

[0005] FIG. 1 illustrates a wind energy turbine in which the rotor blades are provided with sensors having autonomous power supplies; and

[0006] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the circuitry of a sensor system located in at least one of the rotor blades of the wind energy turbine.

[0007] One embodiment of the present invention uses the vibrations of the rotor of the wind energy turbine and, in particular, of the blades of the rotor for converting the mechanical energy, such as the vibrations, into electrical energy. Accordingly, a rotor of a wind energy turbine includes an electromechanical converter which can be e.g. an electromagnetic or piezoelectric vibration converter for converting mechanical energy from the vibrations of the rotor when subjected to wind loads into electrical energy to be supplied to at least one sensor which senses at least one physical value of the rotor, e.g. mechanical stress or the like acting on the rotor blade. This autonomous electrical energy supply eliminates the need for power supply cables in the rotor. Electromechanical converters for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy are known in the art. Typically, those converters are designed as MEMS (Micro Electrical Mechanical Systems) and are made using semiconductor technologies.

[0008] In a further aspect, the autonomous power supply further comprises an energy storing capacitor means or a rechargeable battery as a back-up energy source.

[0009] Moreover, according to another aspect of the present invention, a data storage means is provided for storing the physical values sensed by the at least one sensor. The power supply provides power to the data storage means. Moreover, an interrogation means for interrogating the data storage means e.g. either electromagnetically or optically is provided. The power supply provides power to the interrogation means. The interrogation means makes it possible to read the stored physical values of the data storage means either online or offline. If the interrogation means operates electromagnetically, a transponder or the like is provided at the location of the sensor, which transponder can be initiated from outside in order to transmit the stored physical values or which transponder transmits the stored physical values on its own.

[0010] In the embodiment that the interrogation means operates optically, an electro optical converter is provided for converting the electrical signals from the data stored in the data storage means into an optical signal to be transmitted via an optical fiber to another location of the wind energy turbine or outside thereof.

[0011] To protect the sensor including the power supply and, if provided, data storage means and interrogation means, against damages due to high electric, or magnetic, or electromagnetic field concentrations, the sensor system is accommodated in a metallic casing or a casing having a wall which comprises at least one metallic layer. Such a casing provides EMC shielding to the sensor system.

[0012] In particular illustrates FIG. 1 shows the main components of a wind energy turbine 10 including a tower 12 for supporting a nacelle 14 rotatable around a vertical axis. A rotor 16 is mounted at the nacelle 14 so as to rotate around a horizontal axis. In this embodiment, the rotor 16 comprises three rotor blades 18 connected to a hub 20 of rotor 16. It is to be noted that the invention is not restricted to horizontal type rotors like the one shown in FIG. 1 and is also applicable to rotors rotating around a vertical axis. Also the number of the blades of the rotor is not critical for the invention. Accordingly, the invention can be used for each type of rotor known in the art of wind energy turbines.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, at least one rotor blade 18 is provided with a sensor system 22 the construction and electric circuitry of which is shown in more detail in FIG. 2. Sensor system 22 is used to sense the mechanical stress the rotor blade is subjected to due to wind loads or other aerodynamic loads.

[0014] Sensor system 22 according to FIG. 2 provides an EMC shielding casing 24 having a wall including metallic material. Within casing 24 there is arranged a sensor 26 for measuring and sensing mechanical stresses of rotor blade 18. The measurement signals sensed by sensor 26 are stored in a data storage means 28 provided as an IC chip or the like although other types of data storage means can also be used. The control system for controlling sensor 26 and data storage means 28 in order to store data into and read data from data storage means 28 is not shown in FIG. 2. An interrogation means 30 of sensor system 22 includes an electro optical converter 32 for converting the electrical signals read from the data storage means 28 into optical signals to be transmitted via an optical cable 34. Accordingly, it is possible to read data from the data storage means 28 without using electric cables or the like outside sensor system 22. This configuration is advantageous in that high electric and magnetic field concentrations, for example a lightning strikes, cannot damage sensor system 22 because the field concentrations cannot be transmitted via optical cable 34 and due to metallic casing 24 around optical system 22.

[0015] One aspect of the present invention pertains to the power supply of sensor system 22. Sensor system 22 is provided with an autonomous power supply 36 which uses electrical energy converted from mechanical energy to be supplied to the sensor 26, the data storage means 28, and the interrogation means 30 including the electro optical converter. The autonomous power supply 36 includes an electromechanical converter 38 which converts the mechanical energy from vibrations of the rotor into electrical energy. A suitable electromechanical converter can be an electromagnetic or piezoelectric vibration converter. The converter 38 is connected via a resistor 40 to a storage capacitor 42 and, optionally, to a rechargeable battery (not shown) so as to store electrical energy converted by converter 38 for later use for supplying the energy to sensor 26 and the other electric components of sensor system 22. Power supply 36 is connected via a further resistor 44 to the remaining electrical components of sensor system 22 as shown in FIG. 2.

[0016] Although the invention has been described and illustrated with reference to specific illustrative embodiments thereof, it is not intended that the invention be limited to those illustrative embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that variations and modifications can be made without departing from the true scope of the invention as defined by the claims that follow. It is therefore intended to include within the invention all such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.