Inverter-Based Resource Control for Drivetrain Oscillation Decoupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wind turbine generators face challenges in decoupling drivetrain-related power oscillations from active power injected into the electrical grid, particularly as synchronous machines are retired, limiting the ability to freely change power output.

Innovation Solution

An inverter-based resource system with a power converter, generator, and energy buffer, utilizing a controller to filter voltage feedback signals, determine current or power commands, and control the power converter and energy buffer to reduce or eliminate drivetrain resonance mode oscillations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional synchronous machines are retired or replaced, then the grid structure changes and modernization occurs, but the ability of wind turbine generators to freely change power output becomes constrained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower output flexibilityVSAvoidgrid stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary control system that decouples the drivetrain oscillations from the power injected into the grid. The controller separates the drivetrain-related power oscillations from the active power, allowing the wind turbine to maintain power output flexibility while preventing these oscillations from affecting grid stability. This intermediary control mechanism resolves the contradiction by acting as a buffer between the flexible wind turbine and the stability requirements of the modernized grid.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If drivetrain torsional oscillations are damped through control functions, then drivetrain stability improves, but the active power injected into the grid oscillates at known frequencies

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedrivetrain stabilityVSAvoidpower oscillations

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the power output into two distinct components: one component handles drivetrain oscillation damping while the other component manages active power injection. By separating these functions through the controller, the system can dampen drivetrain torsional oscillations without necessarily injecting oscillating power into the grid, thus resolving the contradiction between drivetrain stability and power oscillation generation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The controller acts as an intermediary that processes the drivetrain oscillation damping requirements and transforms them into smooth active power injection. It decouples the drivetrain-related power oscillations from the active power, allowing the wind turbine to maintain drivetrain stability while preventing harmful power oscillations from being injected into the grid.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If wind turbines inject specified current into the grid based on fundamental voltage waveforms, then current source control is maintained, but drivetrain-related power oscillations are not decoupled from active power

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent source controlVSAvoiddrivetrain power oscillations

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary control layer that sits between the conventional current source control and the grid connection. This intermediary controller decouples the drivetrain-related power oscillations from the active power while maintaining the specified current injection based on fundamental voltage waveforms. It resolves the contradiction by filtering out the harmful oscillations without compromising the ease of current source control operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical coupling between drivetrain oscillations and power injection with an electrical control mechanism. Instead of the mechanical drivetrain oscillations directly translating to power oscillations in the grid, an electronic controller intervenes to decouple these relationships, substituting the direct mechanical-electrical conversion with a controlled electrical separation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS12451696B2System and method of decoupling drivetrain related power oscillations of an inverter-based resource from active power injected into the electrical grid

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 GE VERNOVA INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY LLC

AI summary

A method for decoupling a mechanical drivetrain resonance mode of an inverter-based resource from the external electrical system includes receiving one or more voltage feedback signals at a node between the inverter-based resource and the external electrical system. The method also includes filtering the one or more voltage feedback signals to extract changes in a voltage at a frequency associated with the drivetrain resonance mode. Further, the method includes determining at least one current command or power command based on the filtered one or more voltage feedback signals. Moreover, the method includes controlling the power converter according to the at least one current command and controlling the energy buffer according to the power command so as to reduce or eliminate the changes in the voltage at the frequency associated with the drivetrain resonance mode.