Vindicator® Laser Wind Sensor
The Vindicator® fiber optic laser wind sensing system measures real-time horizontal and vertical wind speed and direction at varying ranges out to 300 meters ahead of the sensor. When mounted on a wind turbine nacelle, this forward-looking information facilitates smarter turbine control for increased power output and reduced turbine stress. The sensor design is based on state-of-the-art fiber optic laser technology developed and patented at Optical Air Data Systems LLC.
The Vindicator® system is comprised of a fiber optic based laser module, processor, control system interface, and a remote lens assembly. The laser module and processor are housed in a separate assembly that may be located either within the wind turbine nacelle, or with the remote lens assembly.
Using concepts of Doppler radar, with light as the medium of detection, the Vindicator® system quickly senses air particle movement. The system processor analyzes the air particle movement producing speed and direction data for wind field determination. The first production variant of the Vindicator® system will sense the wind at ranges out to 300 meters; as industry learns how to utilize and integrate this new technology into various control and forecasting applications, longer ranges can be incorporated.
How does the Vindicator® laser wind sensor work?
The Vindicator® wind sensing system works by integrating with a wind turbine’s control system, or electronic brain. The Vindicator® LWS’ fiber optic lasers sense the wind that is approaching the wind turbine at various ranges and report this information to the control system in sufficient time to adjust and orient the turbine. Utilizing control algorithms, the control system will decide how and when to best exploit the wind that is approaching the turbine and command internal systems to either change blade pitch and/or re-orient the entire nacelle in an effort to maintain efficiency, reduce the stressing effects of wind shear and gusts, or maintain a constant blade speed. Without the Vindicator® laser wind sensor, wind turbines will continue measuring the wind after it passes the blades and will be out of phase with changes in the prevailing wind.
How will the Vindicator® laser wind sensor operate in adverse weather conditions?
The Vindicator® Laser Wind Sensor was tested rigorously both in a maritime environment and also in extreme icing conditions in preparation for mounting on an operating wind turbine in a cold climate and varied weather conditions. Click here to see pictures of Vindicator® in icing conditions.
For more detailed information about the Vindicator® laser wind sensor, visit our White Papers page.
