Floating Wind Turbine Control System for Frequency Overlap Avoidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current design processes for floating wind turbines are iterative, costly, and conservative due to uncertainties in wind and wave loads, leading to increased costs and potential damage, with a need for a site-dependent design that can actively adjust to environmental conditions to avoid frequency overlaps and enhance power output.
Innovation Solution
A control system that includes a measuring device to assess wind and wave fields, a determining device to calculate the balanced state of the turbine, and an adjustment device to manipulate the floater pitch and natural frequency, allowing the turbine to react to external influences and maintain optimal performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an iterative design optimization loop is used to avoid frequency overlaps, then the reliability of the floating wind turbine is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the floater pitch angle adjustable and controllable in real-time. The control system dynamically changes the floater pitch angle based on measured environmental conditions (wind and wave fields) to actively avoid frequency overlaps, transforming a static design parameter into a dynamic control variable that adapts to changing conditions without requiring complex iterative redesigns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of floater pitch angle from a fixed design value to a controllable variable. By actively adjusting this parameter based on environmental measurements, the system can shift the natural frequency of the floating wind turbine to avoid resonance with environmental loads, replacing the need for complex iterative design optimization with a simpler real-time parameter adjustment approach.
2Reliability
If conservatism is applied to avoid frequency overlaps, then the reliability is improved, but the annual power output decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts the floater pitch angle based on actual environmental conditions rather than applying conservative fixed design margins. This allows the system to maintain reliability by avoiding frequency overlaps only when necessary, while maximizing power output during conditions where overlaps are not present, thus resolving the trade-off between reliability and productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously measuring wind and wave fields, determining the excitation frequency spectrum, comparing it with the natural frequency, and adjusting the floater pitch angle accordingly. This feedback mechanism replaces conservative design margins with active control, maintaining reliability while maximizing annual power output by operating at optimal settings rather than conservative fixed settings.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a site-dependent design is implemented, then the adaptability to environmental conditions is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is designed with multi-functionality, serving multiple purposes: measuring environmental conditions, determining excitation frequency spectra, comparing with natural frequencies, calculating optimal floater pitch angles, and actuating adjustments. This universal control system replaces the need for multiple site-specific designs, achieving adaptability through a single versatile system rather than complex customized designs for each location.
Data Source
AI summary
A control system for stabilizing a floating wind turbine is provided. The control system includes a measuring device configured for measuring a wind field and a wave field, a determining device wherein the determining device is configured for determining an excitation frequency spectrum of the floating wind turbine on the basis of the measured wind field and/or the wave field and/or a current floater pitch angle of the floating wind turbine, and wherein the determining device is further configured for determining a balanced state of the floating wind turbine, wherein in the balanced state a natural frequency is outside of the excitation frequency spectrum and/or the current floater pitch angle is equal to a pre-defined floater pitch angle. The control system further includes an adjustment device which is configured for manipulating the current floater pitch and/or the natural frequency until the balanced state is met.