A digital twin-based system and method developed for use in a wind farm

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and method developed for use in wind farms where energy is obtained from the wind. More specifically, the invention is related to a system and method which enables a simulation of scenarios that may occur before and after the construction of wind farms and wind turbines, an efficient planning of energy production of turbines and farms, an efficient monitoring of the parameters to be followed during energy production, and finally a control of the operation of the turbines with digitally sent feedback.

Description

[0001] A DIGITAL TWIN-BASED SYSTEM AND METHOD DEVELOPED FOR USE IN A WIND FARM

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The invention relates to a system and method developed for use in wind farms where energy is obtained from the wind. More specifically, the invention is related to a system and method which enables a simulation of scenarios that may occur before and after the construction of wind farms and wind turbines, an efficient planning of energy production of turbines and farms, an efficient monitoring of the parameters to be followed during energy production, and finally a control of the operation of the turbines with digitally sent feedback.

[0004] State of the Art

[0005] A digital twin is defined as a real-time virtual model of an object or system. A digital twin uses real data about an object or system in a real life as an input and generates predictions and control strategies for how the real object or system will react. Digital twin systems created with these models are used in many areas today.

[0006] Solutions implemented in the state of the art include instantaneous processing of data collected by SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition, Gdzetleyici Kontrol ve Veri Toplama Sistemi in Turkish) systems; these systems provide a visualization and control interface about the current status of the electromechanical system, the data of which is collected. However, in SCADA systems, there are no virtualization solutions which will allow different scenarios to be simulated. In addition, these systems include only a model of the electromechanical system. Therefore, it does not offer any solution for modeling the landforms and the environment in which the electromechanical system is located. These SCADA system-based solutions in the literature do not have an infrastructure specific to applications involving artificial intelligence learning and cannot perform real-time, two-way data and control flows and the actions required by these flows. As it is not possible to predict exactly how the necessary parameters will be applied in such systems and it is not possible to detect in advance possible problems that may occur in the future, productivity losses occur during energy production.For the reasons listed, there is a need to develop systems and methods that eliminate said disadvantages.

[0007] Summary of the Invention

[0008] The object of the invention is to develop a system and method in which the environment parameters collected from a physical layer of a proposed architecture are transferred to a virtualization layer where a virtual counterpart of the electromechanical system and environment in which this system is located are present and the data is visualized in real time in said virtualization layer, wherein the system and method support production by a prediction mechanism and allow new parametric calculations to be made. The invention avoids the problem of designing an environment where the wind turbines and the wind farm are located in the virtualization layer.

[0009] A service layer that provides real-time monitoring, management and feedback capabilities uses a scenario generator allowing simulation for different parameters and conditions. This invention also provides a data flow in which the behavior and physical state of the wind turbine in the physical layer will change depending on the feedback sent from said service layer to the physical layer. The invention performs the above-mentioned functions in a digital twin layer, thus allowing tests to be performed that cannot be applied in real life or may be applied more slowly and costly.

[0010] Description of the Drawings

[0011] Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the system of the invention.

[0012] Fig. 2 is a block diagram showing the communication of the physical and digital layers in the system of the invention.

[0013] Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the digital twin module in the system and the elements contained in said digital twin module.

[0014] Fig. 4 is a flow diagram of the method of the invention.

[0015] Description of the References in the Drawings

[0016] In order to provide a better understanding of the invention, the numerals in the figures are provided below:1. Physical wind farm

[0017] 2. Wind turbine

[0018] 3. Transmission unit

[0019] 4. Digital twin module

[0020] 5. Digital wind turbine module

[0021] 6. Virtual transmission unit

[0022] 7. Digital wind farm module

[0023] 8. Scenario generator and feedback module

[0024] 9. Data visualization and prediction module

[0025] 10. Service layer module

[0026] 1001. Sending the data collected from the wind turbines (2) in the physical wind farm (1) to the transmission unit (3)

[0027] 1002. Sending the data received to the digital twin module (4) running on the server by the transmission unit (3)

[0028] 1003. Receiving the incoming message data by the virtual transmission unit (6) in the digital twin module (4) and sending the same to the digital wind farm module (7) and the service layer module (10)

[0029] 1004. Transmitting said message data to each digital wind turbine module (5) in the digital wind farm module (7)

[0030] 1005. Changing the dynamic elements of the digital wind turbine module (5), such as the rotation speed of the turbine rotors depending on the content of the transmitted data

[0031] 1006. Performing the real-time data prediction and visualization by the data visualization and prediction module (9) depending on the content of the transmitted data

[0032] 1007. If a user is trying a different scenario, sending said data to the virtual transmission unit (6) by the scenario generator and feedback module (8)

[0033] 1008. Transmitting the data returned to the transmission unit (3) by the virtual transmission unit (6)

[0034] 1009. Sending the transmitted data to the physical wind farm (1) by the transmission unit (3) and altering the state of the physical wind farm (1) depending on the feedback sent

[0035] 1010. If the user is not trying a different scenario, allowing the system to remain active until the next data arrives, and sending the data collected from the windturbines (2) in the physical wind farm (1) to the transmission unit (3) when new data arrives, thereby repeating the process

[0036] Detailed Description of the Invention

[0037] The invention is related to a system and method which enables a simulation of scenarios that may occur before and after the construction of wind farms and wind turbines, an efficient planning of energy production of turbines and farms, an efficient monitoring of the parameters to be followed during energy production, and finally a control of the operation of the turbines with digitally sent feedback. Said system comprises at least one physical wind farm (1) with at least one wind turbine (2), at least one transmission unit (3) which is a message mediator, at least one digital twin module (4), at least one virtual transmission unit (6), at least one digital wind farm module (7) with at least one digital wind turbine module (5), at least one scenario generator and feedback module (8), at least one data visualization and prediction module (9) and at least one service layer module (10).

[0038] Said physical wind farm (1) is a farm which produces energy and contains multiple wind turbines (2).

[0039] Said transmission unit (3) is a computer network providing communication between the physical wind farm (1) and the digital twin module (4).

[0040] Said digital twin module (4) is a module which comprise a virtual transmission unit (6), a digital wind farm module (7), a scenario generator and feedback module (8), a data visualization and prediction module (9) and a service layer module (10), in order to create a digital copy of the physical wind farm (1) in the virtual environment and to determine the parameters to be set (physical changes to be made). In order to determine the parameters to be set on the physical wind farm (1), a simulation of said physical wind farm (1) is provided by means of software and thus, a computer. The software preferred in the invention is, but not limited to, a 3D computer graphics engine known as Unreal Engine® for the visualization. The digital wind turbine module (5) is built on said engine and is a digital copy of the wind turbine (2) in a virtual environment.Said virtual transmission unit (6) is a software located inside the digital twin module (4) and is responsible for transferring data outside the digital twin module (4).

[0041] Said digital wind farm module (7) comprises multiple digital wind turbine modules (5) and is a digital copy of the physical wind farm (1) in a virtual environment.

[0042] Said scenario generator and feedback module (8) is a software layer which enables wind turbines to operate at varying wind speeds and operation zones such as a starting zone, a nominal operating zone, and a cut-off zone and sends them to the physical wind farm (1).

[0043] The data visualization and prediction module (9) is a software layer responsible for graphing the data from the physical wind farm (1) in real time and predicting the future from the collected data.

[0044] Said service layer module (10) is a software layer which comprises a data visualization and prediction module (9) and a scenario generator and feedback module (8), the main task of which is to provide the communication between the prediction module, feedback and scenario generator modules.

[0045] The turbine parameters collected from said wind turbines (2) deployed on the physical wind farm (1) are sent to the transmission unit (3) with a period of 500 milliseconds. Then, the parameter data received by the transmission unit (3) is sent to the digital twin module (4). The virtual transmission unit (6) in the digital twin module (4) acts as a buffer memory and sends the incoming message to the digital wind farm module (7) and the service layer module (10). Said data sent to the digital wind farm module (7) is visualized so as to operate dynamically in a correct manner. In addition, in the digital twin module (4), the power generated by the wind turbines (2) is calculated. The temporal data sent to the service layer module (10) is input to the functions of the data visualization and prediction module (9). Together with the value obtained as a result of the prediction, the data input to the function is visualized in real time.

[0046] In addition to the prediction and real-time visualization in the service layer module (10), the scenario generator and feedback module (8) simulate different scenarios according to the input entered, if any function for simulating a rule-based scenario is activated.These scenarios may be designed as a feedback system in a wide range from different wind speed values to the varying wind turbine physical parameters.

[0047] If no scenario has been designed or no feedback has been activated, the digital twin module (4) continues to collect data from the physical wind farm (1) at the end of the period f. If the feedback is activated, the system sends the feedback data to the physical wind farm (1) via the scenario generator and the feedback module (8), and the scenario received as an input by the system is simulated until the feedback expires.

[0048] The method of the invention includes the following method steps:

[0049] - Sending the data collected from the wind turbines (2) in the physical wind farm (1 ) to the transmission unit (3) (1001)

[0050] - Sending the data received to the digital twin module (4) running on the server by the transmission unit (3) (1002)

[0051] - Receiving the incoming message data by the virtual transmission unit (6) in the digital twin module (4) and sending the same to the digital wind farm module (7) and the service layer module (10) (1003)

[0052] - Transmitting said message data to each digital wind turbine module (5) in the digital wind farm module (7) (1004)

[0053] - Changing the dynamic elements of the digital wind turbine module (5), such as the rotation speed of the turbine rotors depending on the content of the transmitted data (1005)

[0054] - Performing the real-time data prediction and visualization by the data visualization and prediction module (9) depending on the content of the transmitted data (1006)

[0055] - If a user is trying a different scenario, sending said data to the virtual transmission unit (6) by the scenario generator and feedback module (8) (1007) - Transmitting the data returned to the transmission unit (3) by the virtual transmission unit (6) (1008)

[0056] - Sending the transmitted data to the physical wind farm (1) by the transmission unit (3) and altering the state of the physical wind farm (1) depending on the feedback sent (1009)

[0057] - If the user is not trying a different scenario, allowing the system to remain active until the next data arrives, and sending the data collected from the windturbines (2) in the physical wind farm (1) to the transmission unit (3) when new data arrives, thereby repeating the process

[0058] Formulation of Velocity- Generated Power Curve

[0059] While modeling the prediction mechanism of wind turbines, the velocity-generated power curves of the turbine are used. The modeling of this curve is as follows:

[0060] PV!(v) ^pAiA

[0061]

[0062] Here stands for speed,

[0063]

[0064] stands for the generated power, P stands for air density, and stands for the surface area of the turbine rotor. The data fed to the system includes information on wind speed, the surface area of the turbine rotor and air density, which is obtained from the physical layer. This information is used in line with the formulas given above, and power prediction is made depending on the varying speed.

[0065] 5-Layer Digital Twin System Formulation

[0066] During the development of the system, a 5-layer digital twin system was used. The general formulation is as follows:

[0067] QDT- (PE, VR, DC, CS, Ss)

[0068]

[0069] represents the system. Stands for the physical wind farm (1),

[0070]

[0071] stands for

[0072]

[0073] the digital twin module (4), stands for the data layer,

[0074]

[0075] stands for the communication layer, and

[0076]

[0077] stands for the services offered by the system.

[0078] Industrial Applicability of the Invention

[0079] The invention relates to a system and method developed for use in wind farms where energy is obtained from the wind, and has industrial applicability.The invention is not limited to the foregoing explanations, and one person skilled in the art may easily reveal the different embodiments of the invention. These should be considered within the scope of protection of the invention claimed in the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A digital twin-based system developed for use in wind farms, characterized in that it comprises:- at least one physical wind farm (1) which generates energy and contains multiple wind turbines (2),- at least one transmission unit (3) which provides communication between the physical wind farm (1) and the digital twin module (4),- at least one virtual transmission unit (6) which enables data to be transferred outside the digital twin module (4),at least one digital wind turbine module (7) which contains at least one digital wind turbine module (5), a digital copy of the wind turbine (2) in a virtual environment, and which is a digital copy of the physical wind farm (1) in a virtual environment;at least one service layer module (10) which comprises at least one scenario generator and feedback module (8) realizing the situations in which the wind turbines operate at variable wind speeds and in operation zones with a starting zone, a nominal operating zone, a cut-off zone and sending them to the physical wind farm (1), and at least one data visualization and prediction module (9) graphing the data from the physical wind farm (1) in a real time and predicts the future from the collected data; and which enables the communication between the scenario generator and feedback module (8) and the data visualization and prediction module (9);at least one digital twin module (4) which creates a digital copy of the physical wind farm (1) in a virtual environment and runs on a server determining the parameters to be set.

2. A digital twin-based method developed for use in wind farms, characterized in that it comprises the process steps of:- Sending the data collected from the wind turbines (2) in the physical wind farm (1 ) to the transmission unit (3) (1001)- Sending the data received to the digital twin module (4) running on the server by the transmission unit (3) (1002)- Receiving the incoming message data by the virtual transmission unit (6) in the digital twin module (4) and sending the same to the digital wind farm module (7) and the service layer module (10) (1003)- Transmitting said message data to each digital wind turbine module (5) in the digital wind farm module (7) (1004)- Changing the dynamic elements of the digital wind turbine module (5), such as the rotation speed of the turbine rotors depending on the content of the transmitted data (1005)- Performing the real-time data prediction and visualization by the data visualization and prediction module (9) depending on the content of the transmitted data (1006)- If a user is trying a different scenario, sending said data to the virtual transmission unit (6) by the scenario generator and feedback module (8) (1007) - Transmitting the data returned to the transmission unit (3) by the virtual transmission unit (6) (1008)- Sending the transmitted data to the physical wind farm (1) by the transmission unit (3) and altering the state of the physical wind farm (1) depending on the feedback sent (1009)- If the user is not trying a different scenario, allowing the system to remain active until the next data arrives, and sending the data collected from the wind turbines (2) in the physical wind farm (1) to the transmission unit (3) when new data arrives, thereby repeating the process (1010).

3. A digital twin-based system developed for use in wind farms according to claim 1 , characterized in that it comprises a transmission unit (3) which allows the turbine parameters collected from wind turbines (2) to be sent with a period of 500 milliseconds.

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