Wind Turbine Control
Higher, more robust, more reliable: Parallel to the growing requirements for wind turbines, the requirements for monitoring sensors grow as well. But how can wind sensor manufacturers fulfil these wishes?
The ideal sensor has both a high degree of precision and a long, maintenance-free useful life under the most extreme of conditions. While mechanical anemometers were initially used in turbines, most producers around the world have since switched to ultrasonic anemometers without moving parts as part of their standard equipment.
We have different ultrasonic wind sensors with open protocols / interfaces, which allows an easy exchange of old mechanical wind sensors trough state-of-the-art ultrasonic anemometers on your wind turbine.
Do you have any questions or do you need advice?
- Products
- Resources
- Why using ultrasonic wind sensors for wind turbine control?
- Key benefits of Lufft wind sensors
VENTUS-UMB Ultrasonic Wind Sensor
Extremely precise and maintenance-free measurement of wind speed and wind direction even in the lowest temperature
Thanks to the ultrasonic measuring method the wind sensor Lufft Ventus has no moving parts and therefore needs almost no maintenance. It measures wind speed and wind direction according to the WMO guideline and acquires the barometric pressure.
- Wind speed, wind direction, virtual temperature, barometric pressure
- Ultrasonic
- Wind detection with birdproof construction, maintenance-free measurement, suitable for extreme ambient conditions, ice-free operation, vibration and seawater resistant, compatible interfaces
- SDI-12, RS-485 with supported protocols Binary, ASCII, NMEA, Modbus & analogue output
VENTUS-X-UMB Ultrasonic Wind Sensor with extended Heating
VENTUS-X: Additional transducer heater for most eXtreme environmental conditions! Extremely precise and maintenance-free measurement of wind speed and wind direction even in the lowest temperature
Additional transducer heater for most eXtreme environmental conditions! It measures wind speed and wind direction according to the WMO guideline and acquires the barometric pressure.
- Wind speed, wind direction, virtual temperature, barometric pressure
- Ultrasonic
- Ice-free operation in extreme freezing conditions due to additional transducer heater, maintenance-free measurement, suitable for extreme ambient conditions, vibration and seawater resistant, compatible interfaces
- SDI-12, RS-485, various RS-485-protocols, analogue output
|
|
|
|
Mechanical vs. Ultrasonic Wind Sensors – a Cost Benefit Analysis
A recent analysis shows that the replacement of mechanical wind sensors trough ultrasonic anemometers in wind turbine control pays off after less than two years already…
In the market today, companies are transitioning to ultrasonic anemometers. These sensors contain no moving parts and are entirely electric, which reduces the probability of failure with other benefits for O&M providers. Ultrasonic anemometers without hydraulic or mechanical parts are not prone to rust, scale, or other buildup that may impede proper operation. Some ultrasonic sensors are also equipped with heating components that control the internal temperature in icing events, which may occur at hub height. It is imperative that the sensors are kept at a temperature that allows it to operate accurately and maximizes power output of the turbine. Furthermore, ultrasonic anemometers may have both digital or analog outputs directly from the sensor, which can provide direct communication with the turbine’s Programmable Logic Controller (PLC), that monitors and operates each turbine’s electromechanical processes. This direct communication is important for minimizing power loss, reducing replacement costs, identifying turbine maintenance needs, reducing dead band, and help in reducing the writing of code for performing vector averaging by the OEMs or O&Ms.
More about this Cost-Benefit-Analysis
Do you have any questions or do you need advice?
Key benefits of our ultrasonic wind sensors
- Measuring range: Up to 90 m/s (324 km/h)
- Interface: Analog and digital
- Housing: Choose between Seawater-resistant aluminum and high quality plastic housing
- Protection class: up to IP68
- Ventus-X for extreme ambient conditions / cold climate
- Factory calibration in traceable wind tunnel with measurement certificate
- Secondary calibration during useful life by qualified laboratory, including measured value correction, if necessary
Do you have any questions or do you need advice?
