Measurement of rotor blade deformations of wind energy converters with laser scanners

Abstract

Wind energy converters in operation are exposed to high stresses which result in large deformations of the rotor blades. In this paper a method for determination of deformations of rotating rotor blades is presented using multiple synchronous laser scanners and cameras. In a first step, multiple scanners in 1D mode are used which record cross sections at different positions along the rotor blades. By comparing the recorded cross sections with a CAD model of the rotor blade, the deformations in out-of-plane and torsional direction can be derived. In order to ensure that the positions of the cross sections are defined in the coordinate system of the wind energy converter, the nacelle is pre-scanned and a 3D transformation is performed using known coordinates from the manufacturer. To account for the relatively slow movement of the nacelle, it is observed by a photogrammetric camera. The results of the nacelle's motion are considered in the analysis of the 1D data. First test recordings were carried out with different measurement frequencies to enable comparisons of accuracy. Furthermore, first results of the cross-section measurements are presented. For the next step the 3D scans will be evaluated which have been acquired using a further instrument simultaneously with the 1D scans. In the same way as before the 3D points will be transferred to the reference system of the nacelle, and then combined with the 1D data. © Published under licence by IOP Publishing Ltd.