阅读说明：本技术 用于警告关于风力场中的闪电活动的方法 (Method for warning about lightning activity in a wind farm ) 是由 V.马奇诺曼 J.蒙坦亚普伊格 G.索拉德拉斯芬特斯 O.A.范德尔维尔德 于 2018-12-04 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及用于警告关于风力场中的闪电活动的方法,所述方法适合用于预测源自风力场(100)的风驱动电力发电机(101)的向上闪电的生成,并且用于警告关于所述可能的生成。为此,在该方法中,检测风力场(100)中和/或其附近(优选地小于400km的半径内)风暴单元(200)的存在或不存在；测量风力场(100)中的局部电场；在给定前提下识别或测量至少一个大气条件；以及依赖于所述测量、识别和检测的结果来确定源自风力场(100)的风驱动电力发电机(101)的向上闪电的生成的概率,在所确定的概率超过给定阈值的情况下传输警告信号。(The invention relates to a method for alerting about lightning activity in a wind farm, said method being suitable for predicting the generation of an up-lightning originating from a wind-driven electrical power generator (101) of a wind farm (100) and for alerting about said possible generation. To this end, in the method, the presence or absence of storm units (200) in and/or in the vicinity of the wind farm (100), preferably within a radius of less than 400km, is detected; measuring a local electric field in the wind field (100); identifying or measuring at least one atmospheric condition on a given premise; and determining, depending on the results of said measuring, identifying and detecting, a probability of the generation of an upward lightning originating from a wind-driven power generator (101) of the wind park (100), a warning signal being transmitted in case the determined probability exceeds a given threshold value.)

1. A method for warning about lightning activity in a wind farm, characterized in that it is adapted for predicting the generation of an up-lightning originating from a wind-driven electrical power generator (101) of a wind farm (100), and for warning about said possible generation, and for this purpose in said method

-detecting the presence or absence of storm units (200) in and/or near the wind farm (100), preferably within a radius of less than 400 km;

-measuring a local electric field in the wind field (100);

-identifying or measuring at least one atmospheric condition in or near the wind farm (100) on a given premise; and

-determining the probability of the generation of an upward lightning originating from a wind driven power generator (101) of a wind park (100) in dependence of the results of said measuring, identifying and detecting;

transmitting a warning signal if the determined probability exceeds a given threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein it is determined that the determined probability exceeds a given threshold, if

Detecting a sudden increase of the local or positive local electric field with respect to a predetermined threshold value, said threshold value corresponding to a value of the local electric field in good weather conditions,

-detecting the presence of a storm unit (200), an

-detecting that the relation between the atmospheric condition and the given precondition fulfils the given requirement.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the measured and identified atmospheric condition is temperature and the predetermined precondition is considered to be a given pressure and/or a given altitude relative to the sea surface.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the relation to be fulfilled between the atmospheric condition for determining that the determined probability exceeds a given threshold and the given condition is below-10 hPa at a pressure of 700hPa and/or at an altitude of about 3km relative to sea levelThe temperature of (2).

5. Method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein atmospheric conditions are identified or measured by means of a criterion or criteria selected from the following

-a radiosonde performed on a wind farm (100),

-radiosonde performed in the vicinity of the wind farm (100), preferably within a radius of less than 400km,

-reanalyzing the data, preferably IRA temporary data, and

-estimating the temperature based on an estimation performed using the measured ground temperature of the wind farm (100) under given conditions.

6. A method according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein the relationship between atmospheric conditions and given conditions is adjustable or adaptable.

7. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the detection of the presence or absence of storm units (200) in and/or in the vicinity of the wind farm (100) is performed by means of radar and/or by means of satellites.

8. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein in case the determined probability exceeds a given threshold value, the speed and force of a wind in the wind farm (100), the height of the wind farm (100) relative to the sea surface and/or the sympathy of the site where the wind farm (100) is located are identified to determine the severity of the lightning up.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the greater the velocity and force of the wind, the higher the site where the windfarm 100 is located, and the more heterogeneous the sympathetical of the site, the more severe the severity is determined.

10. The method of any preceding claim, which is implemented continuously and in real time.

11. The method of any one of claims 1 to 9, implemented in a discrete manner at previously established time intervals.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method for warning about lightning activity in a wind farm, and more particularly about up-lightning activity.

Background

Wind driven electrical generators are exposed to lightning strikes due to their height and location. There are two types of lightning strikes: down lightning strikes and up lightning strikes (up lightning). Downward lightning strikes are the most common, but upward lightning strikes typically occur in tall structures. In structures over 150 meters high, up lightning strike activity is known to be greater than 30%. This percentage increases in tall structures located on the top of a mountain or where a phenomenon known as "thunderstorm" occurs. The "thunderstorm snow" phenomenon includes winter storms, which are characterized by storm clouds having a low charge and in which the center of the negative charge is at a lower height (1 to 3km compared to 6 to 9km for summer or convection storms).

Storm warning systems intended to detect summer storms (involving high down lightning activity) are known, such as the one disclosed in US20160291204a1, which are based on a magnetic field meter and/or an electromagnetic sensor, for example.

International standards cover storm warning systems such as, for example, IEC 62793: 2016. Again, the standard describes practices and systems for detecting convection storms (summer storms) rather than winter storms where up-lightning activity may account for 100% of all lightning events. In some wind farms, more than ten upward events occur in the wind-driven electrical generator during a single winter storm.

Winter storms are difficult to detect because all upward events originate from tall structures (wind driven electrical generators) and there is no downward lightning activity. In other words, there is no prior lightning activity until the upward lightning source self-wind-drives the electrical generator.

Disclosure of Invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a method for warning about lightning activity in a wind farm as defined in the claims.

The method is suitable for predicting the generation of an up-lightning in a wind farm, which is a lightning generated in the actual wind driven power generator and not in the cloud, and for warning about said possible generation.

To this end, in the method, the presence or absence of storm units in and/or in the vicinity of the wind farm (preferably within a radius of less than 400 km) is detected, the local electric field is measured, at least one atmospheric condition is identified or measured on a given premise, and the probability of the generation of an upward lightning originating from a wind-driven electrical generator of the wind farm is determined depending on the results of said measuring, identifying and detecting, and a warning signal is transmitted in case the determined probability exceeds a given threshold value.

It is known to determine the presence of storm units in a given location. In the method said presence in or near the wind farm (preferably within a radius of less than 400 km) is detected and in order to strengthen and ensure the presence of storms in the actual wind farm, the presence of storms in the wind farm is furthermore determined in dependence of the local electric field present in said wind farm. However, with these determinations it is not possible to determine the risk of an up-lightning occurrence, so the method takes into account other added factors.

It has surprisingly been found that in combination with the detection of the presence of a storm by means of an electric field and the detection of storm units, the risk of a winter storm and thus the generation of up-lightning can be successfully forecasted or expected if a given relationship between different atmospheric conditions (or between an atmospheric condition and a given precondition linked to another atmospheric condition) is fulfilled. For this reason, the identification or measurement of at least one atmospheric condition is additionally added to the previously considered factors.

As has been found, in combination with the detection of the presence of a storm by means of an electric field and the detection of a storm unit, satisfying a given relationship between different atmospheric conditions (or atmospheric conditions and a given precondition linked to another atmospheric condition) is sufficient to detect the risk of the generation of an up-lightning, measuring only one atmospheric condition under a given precondition of an atmospheric condition or at least one other atmospheric condition is sufficient to successfully predict or anticipate a winter storm. So, for example, by using the atmospheric pressure value as a reference for a given atmospheric condition (or an altitude relative to sea level as a given precondition linked to another atmospheric condition), the temperature present at said pressure (or at said altitude) can be measured or identified, wherein it is determined that a risk is present if a given relationship is fulfilled.

Depending on the location of the wind farm, the value of the atmospheric condition may vary under given premises, since it is possible that the condition (the value of those conditions to be considered), i.e. the relation between the atmospheric condition and the given condition, may vary from one location to another. Thus, by establishing a suitable relationship corresponding to the location of the wind farm, the method allows to know the risk of an up lightning being generated in said wind farm, and the detection has not been disclosed in the prior art.

Thus, with this method the probability of the generation of an up-lightning originating from a wind-driven power generator of a wind farm is determined in dependence of the results of the aforementioned measurements, identifications and detections, and in case the determined probability exceeds a given threshold, a warning signal is transmitted announcing this fact. A warning signal may be sent wherever needed to act when deemed necessary.

These and other advantages and features of the invention will become apparent in view of the drawings and detailed description of the invention.

Drawings

Fig. 1 shows a wind farm.

Fig. 2 shows a storm unit in the vicinity of a wind farm.

Fig. 3 shows the development of a local electric field in a wind field, from which the presence of a storm is determined.

Detailed Description

The method is suitable for predicting the generation of lightning up in a wind farm 100 (such as the one shown in fig. 1 by way of example) and for warning about said possible generation, wherein said lightning is lightning generated in the actual wind-driven electric power generator 101 of the wind farm 100 and not in the cloud.

To this end, in the method, the presence or absence of storm units 200 (units 200 depicted in fig. 2 by way of example) in and/or in the vicinity of the wind farm 100 is detected. The detection is performed in the actual wind farm 100 or within a radius of less than 400km, because the probability of not affecting said units 200 of the wind farm 100 is greatly increased if such detection is performed in a geographical area located far away. The detection of the presence or absence of storm units 200 in the wind farm 100 and/or in its vicinity is preferably performed in a known manner by means of radar and/or by means of satellites.

Additionally, in this method, the local electric field in the wind farm 100 is measured, which is a common way to detect summer storms. Thus, the presence of storms in the wind farm 100 may be enhanced and ensured using this measurement. In particular, and as already known, if the electric field in the measurement area is positive with respect to a predetermined threshold value, which corresponds to the value of the electric field in good weather conditions, or if it changes abruptly with respect to said predetermined threshold value as shown in the example of fig. 3, the presence of a storm is determined in the location in which the measurement of the electric field has been performed. The value of the local electric field in good weather conditions is conventionally close to-100V/m. Thus, the predetermined threshold is preferably close to-100V/m, which value was previously established using previous measurements and/or experience. In the example of fig. 3, for example, the presence of a storm may be identified in region 300 (sudden change).

However, the presence or risk of the presence of a storm in the wind farm 100 will be enhanced with this additional factor, but this will not be sufficient to enable the determination of the risk of an up-lightning occurrence (which is not sufficient to determine that the storm is a winter storm).

As discussed above, it has been found that in combination with the detection of the presence of a storm by means of an electric field and the detection of the storm unit 200, the risk of a winter storm and thus the generation of lightning upwards can be successfully forecasted or expected if a given relationship between different atmospheric conditions (or atmospheric conditions and a given precondition linked to another atmospheric condition) is fulfilled. For this reason, the identification or measurement of at least one atmospheric condition is additionally added to the previously considered factors.

As has also been discussed, it is sufficient to measure only one atmospheric condition given or precondition for at least one other atmospheric condition. So, for example, by using the atmospheric pressure value as a reference for a given atmospheric condition (or an altitude relative to sea level as a given precondition linked to another atmospheric condition), the temperature present at said pressure (or at said altitude) can be measured or identified, wherein it is determined that a risk is present if a given relationship is fulfilled.

Depending on the location of the wind farm 100, the value of the atmospheric conditions may vary under given premises, since it is possible that the conditions (the values of those conditions to be considered), i.e. the relationship between the atmospheric conditions and the given conditions, may vary from one site to another. Thus, by establishing a suitable relationship corresponding to the location of the wind farm 100, this method allows to know the risk of lightning up being generated in said wind farm 100 and the prior art is not able to perform this detection.

Thus, with this method the probability of the generation of an upward lightning originating from a wind-driven power generator of the wind park 100 is determined in dependence of the results of the aforementioned measurements, identifications and detections, and in case the determined probability exceeds a given threshold value, a warning signal is transmitted announcing this fact. A warning signal may be sent wherever needed to act when deemed necessary.

In summary, if the presence of a storm unit 200 is detected (see fig. 2), a sudden increase of the local or positive local electric field relative to a predetermined threshold is detected (see fig. 3), and a relationship between atmospheric conditions and given preconditions is detected following a predetermined requirement, it is determined that the determined probability exceeds the given threshold and a warning signal is sent.

The atmospheric conditions to be considered are preferably measured or identified temperatures, and the predetermination is given by a given pressure and/or a given height relative to the sea surface. Thus, the requirement that must be met in order for the probability to exceed a given threshold corresponds to a given temperature at a given pressure and/or altitude.

The temperature is preferably identified or measured by means of a criterion or several criteria selected from

Radiosonde (radiosonde) performed in the vicinity of the wind farm 100 (preferably within a radius of less than 400 km),

-reanalyzing the data, preferably IRA temporary data, and

under given conditions, estimating the temperature based on an estimation performed using the measured ground temperature of the wind farm 100.

It has been found that in the presence of storm and storm units 200, the temperature is below-10 deg.f at a pressure of 700hPa and/or at a height of about 3km with respect to sea levelThere is a high risk of generating an up-lightning. The relationship may thus be predetermined as a requirement to be met by a relationship between atmospheric conditions (in this case temperature) and given preconditions (pressure and/or altitude relative to sea level): below-10 hPa at a pressure of 700hPa and/or at an altitude of about 3km relative to sea levelThe temperature of (2).

However, as also already discussed above, these requirements may vary depending on the location of the wind farm 100, so the method allows to adjust or adapt these requirements as needed.

In some embodiments of the method, the severity of the up-lightning may furthermore be determined in case the risk of generating the up-lightning has been detected. To this end, in the embodiment, the speed and force of the wind in the wind farm 100 are identified, the altitude relative to the sea surface at which the wind farm 100 is located is considered, and/or the psychology (morphology) of the site at which the wind farm 100 is located is considered, the greater the speed and force of the wind, the higher the site at which the wind farm 100 is located, and the more heterogeneous the psychology of the site is, the more severe the severity is determined.

The electric field measurements, as well as the measurements by means of radar, must preferably be performed in the actual wind farm 100, since the measurement of the actual conditions of the wind farm 100 is thus obtained, unlike radiosondeing, which occurs (for which there are various options as discussed above).

The results of the acquired measurements of the variables may be sent to remote equipment, e.g. equipment that will be responsible for collecting the measurements and performing the necessary actions, such as alarm algorithms, e.g. generating warning signals.

The method may be implemented continuously and in real time, or it may be implemented in a discrete manner (at previously established time intervals), e.g., to consume less energy.