Windflower
Reliable wind measurement system to detect yaw misalignment and boost turbine performance up to 10%
Vectoflow’s Windflower is a spinner-mounted wind probe system that captures undisturbed inflow to deliver precise yaw angle, wind speed, air temperature, air density and tilt. Designed for all-weather operation, the system includes an integrated heater for rain and icing conditions and outputs data via serial protocol or CAN for seamless turbine control integration. Validated in wind tunnels and on test turbines, it quantifies yaw misalignment and associated energy losses reliably.
Features
Highlights
- Spinner-mounted measurement of undisturbed inflow for accurate yaw data
- Misalignment correction
- simplified installation and setup
- All-weather operation with integrated heater for rain and ice
- Direct serial or CAN output for seamless wind control integration
Measured Parameters
- Yaw angle of the incoming wind (yaw misalignment)
- Wind speed
- Air temperature
- Air density
- Tilt angle
Specifications
- Probe head: 5-hole design for undisturbed inflow on the spinner
- Total length 2,000 mm
- Weight: ~3 kg
- Materials: Head stainless steel; Boom CFRP; Mount PLA and stainless steel; DAQ housing aluminum
- Interfaces: Serial protocol or CAN for direct turbine control integration
- Heater: Integrated anti-icing and anti-condensation capability
Typical Applications
- Yaw measurement and wind control on utility-scale turbines
- Real-time yaw misalignment detection
- Energy loss analysis linked to yaw errors
- …as well as further industrial and research applications.
Project example
Field Testing on a Vestas V52 Turbine with DTU Denmark
Setup
As part of a joint test campaign with the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), a Windflower sensor was installed on a Vestas V52 wind turbine at the DTU Risø Campus. The system was tested over two months and benchmarked against a met mast and nacelle-mounted instruments.
Challenge
Accurate yaw and wind data acquisition in real-world conditions – including rain and icing – with minimal flow disturbance and fast deployment.
Key Findings
- Up to 10% energy gain through improved yaw alignment
- Accurate, stable data even in rain and icing conditions
- Lower noise and higher sensitivity than conventional sensors
- Maintenance-free operation
Customizable
through Additive Manufacturing
Robust
Extreme Robustness by Design
Certified
Trusted & Field-Proven
TRUSTED BY INNOVATORS WORLDWIDE
A selection of satisfied customers
