ES2396894B1 - RAY COUNTER FOR AIRLINER BLADES - Google Patents

Abstract

Lightning meter for wind turbine blades. # Counter comprising an electronic circuit equipped with a sensor (2) for measuring the electrical current produced by the beam, a clock and a measuring device with memory (3) for storing the captured data of amplitude of the electric current produced and the date and time. This electronic circuit is associated with an electric generator (5) attached, said electric generator (5) presenting as input energy the mechanical energy available due to the rotation of the blade, on which the meter is mounted, and the force of gravity . The meter is an autonomous operating device, comprising a GPS module as a real-time clock and communication means (6) for the transmission of captured data. The electric generator (5) is associated with an electric energy accumulator device (4) to provide continuous operation.

Description

RAY COUNTER FOR SPRAYER BLADES.

S

Object of the invention

The present invention relates to a lightning counter for

wind turbine blades, which allows measuring and controlling the date and amplitude

of the rays that discharge on said blades, allowing the control of the

effect of these rays on the wind turbine.

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Field of application of the invention.

The present invention has its field of application turbines

wind power The device allows to measure the number of lightning impacts in the

blades of wind turbines.

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Background of the invention.

In recent years wind generators have increased their

power capacity almost at the same time as its size increases. Is

well known that elevated structures are more vulnerable to

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Lightning strikes and they are even able to start lightning.

Currently, to demonstrate the evidence of lightning impacts

In the blades, magnetic cards placed on each blade are used.

These cards only record the maximum amplitude of the lightning current.

On the other hand, there are electromechanical or electronic lightning counters

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able to count and measure the amplitudes of the rays that impact the

structures

The applicant of the present invention is unaware of the existence

background that satisfactorily solve the problem

exposed.

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Description of the invention

The lightning counter for wind turbine blades, object of

This invention has some technical features for

show the number of impacts, the amplitude of the lightning currents and,

Above all, its date and time of impact.

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The meter comprises an autonomous device capable of measuring

lightning strike currents and save your date information and

hour. The device consists of an electronic circuit equipped with a sensor

for measuring the electric current produced by lightning, a device

measurement with memory to store the lightning current amplitude

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offered by the sensor as well as a clock to determine the date and time of the

impact.

In accordance with the invention; the accountant understands, associated

to the electronic circuit, an electric generator taking advantage of the movement of

the rotation of the blades and the force of gravity.

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The counter is installed inside the blade and taking advantage of the

gravity force and blade rotation, its own energy is supplied,

resulting totally autonomous and independent regarding supply

energy from the outside, or the use of batteries.

The electric generator can be of different types, such as a

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rotating, linear or oscillating generator, taking advantage of type mechanisms

pendular, eccentric, a rocker or simply a linear movement of a

plunger.

The wind turbine blade has a longitudinal conductor

down. The sensor of measurement of the electric current flowing through

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Said driver may be of a different nature. For example a resistance

series (shunt) or a coil for measuring the magnetic field of the

electric current. The measuring device with circuit memory

electronic calculates and stores the measured value, and the date and time.

In one embodiment, the electronic circuit clock comprises a

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GPS module for time synchronization.

   In turn, said electronic circuit also includes some

remote data communication means, for example by means of a radio or fiber optic communication device to be able to transmit the stored data abroad.

In one embodiment, in order to keep the electronic circuit of the meter running, it comprises an electric energy storage device, for example a rechargeable battery, a capacitor, a fuel cell or another.

Description of the figures.

To complement the description that is being made and in order to facilitate the understanding of the characteristics of the invention, a set of drawings is attached to the present specification in which, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented:

Figure 1 shows a block diagram of the lightning counter installed inside a wind turbine blade, said blade being only represented by the longitudinal down conductor.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

As can be seen in the referenced figure, the lightning meter comprises an electronic circuit that is installed inside the rotating blade (not shown) of the wind turbine, together with the longitudinal conductor (1) of lowering the current produced in said Shovel by the impact of lightning.

The meter comprises attached to the electronic circuit an electric generator (5) that feeds directly to said electric circuit and an electric energy accumulator device (4) to ensure continuous operation. Said electric generator (5) takes advantage of the mechanical energy obtained by combining the force of gravity and the rotation of the blade. Thus, in this case the movement necessary to generate electrical energy movement between inductor and induced of the electric generator

(5) is obtained, by means of a pendulum that rotates an axis.

The electronic circuit comprises a

sensor (2) measuring the

current passing through the conductor (1), in this case this sensor (2)

formed by an induction coil of the magnetic field produced by

the

stream electric of the Thunderbolt in saying driver (1). He sensor (2) be

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is connected to a measuring device with memory (3) where

stores the value of said current and the time and date of the impact, from

of a

GPS module (6) that synchronizes these values as time clock

real. This measuring device with

memory (3) is connected to some

media (7),

in this case a transmitter via radio, for

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transmission of said data abroad for control.

Once the nature of the invention has been sufficiently described,

as well as an example of preferred embodiment, it is stated for the purposes

Timely that the materials, shape, size and arrangement of the elements

described may

be modified, as long as it no suppose a

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alteration of the essential features of the invention that are claimed

   then.

Claims (4)

1.-Lightning meter for wind turbine blades, of the type comprising an electronic circuit equipped with a sensor (2) for the measurement of the electric current produced by the beam, a clock and a measuring device with memory (3 ) for storing the captured data of the amplitude of the electric current produced and the date and time, characterized in that the electronic circuit is associated with an attached electric generator (5), said electric generator (5) presenting mechanical energy as input energy available due to the rotation of the blade, on which the counter is mounted, and the force of gravity, configuring an autonomous operating device. 2.-Counter according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic circuit clock comprises a GPS module (6) for obtaining the real date and time reference. 3.-Counter according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic circuit comprises an electric energy accumulator device (4) produced by the electric generator (5). 4.-Counter, according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic circuit comprises means of communication (7) of remote data.