Introduction to visibility

and present weather

technology
Nic Wilson
 Vaisala PWD Visibility Measurement

Visibility sensor based on proven forward scatter principle

Type calibration and factory reference standards are necessary
Scientifically valid chain of calibration
Calibration traceable to a highly accurate transmissometer
Unique relative to other sensors in the market
Extensive set of self diagnostics and automatic detection of
contamination to ensure that false values are not reported

Page 2 / February 2014 / Energy Training / ©Vaisala Confidential

 Vaisala PWD Optical System

PWT11
PWC22
Transmitter
3cm Receiver / Controller
4 cm

Sample volume

Wavelength: 875 nm (infrared, eye safe)

Scatter angle: 45°

Page 3 / February 2014 / Energy Training / ©Vaisala Confidential

 Verified Performance

Well proven in the field

Thousands of sensors in harsh conditions
First PWD’s installed in 1996
Second Generation introduced in 2003
PWD50 & PWD52 introduced in 2010
Demanding applications
Road weather
Aeronautical visibility (e.g. FAA)
General meteorology
Obstruction light control
Hydro Water Content of Snow
Potential for Wind Farm Icing
On-shore, Offshore
Bridge, Tunnel visibility

Page 4 / February 2014 / Energy Training / ©Vaisala Confidential

 Vaisala PWD Sensor Series

Visibility Sensors
Accurately measure prevailing visibility (MOR)
from 10 m up to 2 km, 20 km or 35 km
Present Weather Sensors also
Indicate the reason for reduced visibility
Promptly detect the onset of precipitation
Detect precipitation type
Measure the intensity and accumulation of
precipitation
Estimate snow accumulation

Page 5 / February 2014 / Energy Training / ©Vaisala Confidential

 Vaisala PWD Product Family

Six different models

Present Weather Reporting Range

Visibility
Measurement
4 precipitation 7 precipitation
Range No PW
types types

10m..2km PWD10 PWD12 -

PWD20
PWD20W
model for
obstruction
10m..20km light control - PWD22

10m..35km PWD50 - PWD52

Page 6 / February 2014 / Energy Training / ©Vaisala Confidential

 PWD - Main Parts
Temperature
sensor
Two RAINCAP®
capacitive
sensors
(PWD22&52)

Transmitter
CPU and
Receiver Unit

Transmitter unit PWT11

Processor board PWC52
processor board
light receiver
power supply
interfaces

Page 7 / February 2014 / Energy Training / ©Vaisala Confidential

 Options

Luminance Sensor PWL111

Can be used as Day/Night switch
or in continuous luminance
measurement mode

• Hood Heaters for harsh conditions

• Recommended e.g. in the Nordic countries

Page 8 / February 2014 / Energy Training / ©Vaisala Confidential

 Interfaces and Installation

Connected to Automatic Weather Stations

As a stand alone unit (external power supply unit available)
– RS-232 or RS-485 serial line connection
– analog outputs
– relay control outputs

Installation directly to the top of the mast or with a sensor boom

• ruggedized pole adapters for corrosive environments available

Page 9 / February 2014 / Energy Training / ©Vaisala Confidential

 Design Quality
Proven in extensive tests
Dust, Water Ingress (IP66)
EMC
Freezing Rain
Temperature range, shock and cycling
Humidity, Damp Heat
Insolation

Page 10 / February 2014 / Energy Training / ©Vaisala Confidential

 Design Quality
Further Design Qualification
Tests
Low pressure
Rain w/ Wind
Salt Fog
Transport, Vibration
Wind load

Page 11 / February 2014 / Energy Training / ©Vaisala Confidential

 Reliability
Industry’s largest installed base
thousands of sensors
continuous follow-up of reliability
MTBF >40 years
based on tens of millions of actual
operating hours of PWD sensors

Page 12 / February 2014 / Energy Training / ©Vaisala Confidential

 PWD Series Benefits & Features
Versatility
Easy installation and calibration
Compact size (weight 3 kg,
width 0.7 m)
Low power consumption
– 3W, visibility sensors
– 6W, PW models
Reliability
Selected by FAA
MTBF > 40 years
Dependable Measurement Performance
Prompt precipitation detection and traceable visibility measurement
Weather-proof mechanical design
Optical components point downwards and hood covers protect the
lenses against precipitation, spray and dust

Page 13 / February 2014 / Energy Training / ©Vaisala Confidential

Wind Turbine
Obstruction Light
Control Application
Michael Kalkum
 Germany Regulations for Visibility Controlled
Wind Turbine Obstruction Lights

In Germany established since 2004

AVV (general administrative regulation for the marking and
lighting of obstacles to air navigation)
written by the
BMVBS (supreme authority of transport, construction,
urban and regional planning and the housing sector)

Page 15 / February 2014 / Energy Training / ©Vaisala Confidential

 Some Details of the AVV Regulations
Obstruction light is a must for 100 m or higher turbine
1 visibility sensor can observe a range of 1.5 km radius
1 sensor can control an onshore wind farm
Sensor has to be accepted by the German weather service
Brightness of obstruction light can be reduced to
30% if visibility is higher than 5 km
10% if visibility is higher than 10 km
The correct operation of the lighting controls shall be tested by an
independent institute / institution
The worst value measured by one of the measuring devices shall be used for
the entire farm
In the case of failure of one measuring device, all lights shall be operated at
an intensity of 100%
The data concerning the correct operation and the results of the measuring
devices shall be continuously recorded

Page 16 / February 2014 / Energy Training / ©Vaisala Confidential

 Regulations Outside Germany
Belgium uses the main parts of the the German AVV
translation
Finland‘s Transportation Safety Agency, TraFi, has published
guidelines for the use of visibility controlled obstruction lights
in 2013
Pilot projects ongoing or planned for:
France and Canada
Other countries generating interest without official regulations
USA, Sweden, UK and Romania

Page 17 / February 2014 / Energy Training / ©Vaisala Confidential

 Installation Guidelines
The best possible installation location would be on the back
of the wind turbine’s nacelle so that both receiver and
transmitter look to free air and are as far as possible from the
lights and blades
If PWD20W needs to be installed on the wind turbine’s
nacelle so that either receiver or transmitter looks to its
surface, it is preferable that the transmitter looks to free air

Page 18 / February 2014 / Energy Training / ©Vaisala Confidential

 Vaisala PWD20W Services
Vaisala recommends an annual calibration for onshore
applications

Vaisala recommends cleaning the lenses every 3 to 6

months based on the conditions for offshore installations

Page 19 / February 2014 / Energy Training / ©Vaisala Confidential