Logarithmic Power Feedback for Wind Turbine ESC Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

The extremum seeking control (ESC) algorithm for fluid dynamic systems, such as wind turbines, is highly sensitive to variations in wind speed due to the cubic relationship between power and wind speed, leading to inconsistent and unpredictable performance optimization.

Innovation Solution

Applying a logarithmic transformation to the measured power signal before inputting it into the ESC algorithm, decoupling the power coefficient from the power signal and making the algorithm insensitive to wind speed variations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If the ESC algorithm uses the power signal directly for feedback control, then the power maximization function is achieved, but the control performance becomes highly sensitive to wind speed variations and inconsistent

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower maximizationVSAvoidcontrol consistency
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the feedback signal from raw power (P) to the natural logarithm of power (ln P). This parameter transformation changes the relationship between the feedback signal and wind speed, converting the cubic relationship into a linear relationship with the cube root of wind speed. This makes the gradient of the transformed performance index less sensitive to wind speed variations, thereby improving control consistency while maintaining power maximization capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If the ESC algorithm uses power signal feedback, then optimal performance is tracked, but settling time varies dramatically with wind speed changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveperformance optimizationVSAvoidsettling time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By applying the natural logarithm transformation to the power signal, the patent creates a new performance index whose gradient varies more slowly with wind speed changes. This transformation ensures that the ESC algorithm's settling time remains relatively constant across different wind speed conditions, preventing the dramatic variations that occur with direct power feedback.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of operation

If the ESC algorithm operates with direct power feedback, then the control system responds to power variations, but the behavior becomes extremely sensitive to wind speed changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic controlVSAvoidwind speed adaptability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The natural logarithm function serves as a mathematical intermediary between the raw power signal and the ESC algorithm. This intermediary transformation decouples the direct cubic relationship between power and wind speed, creating a more stable feedback signal that allows the ESC algorithm to operate consistently across varying wind conditions without requiring manual recalibration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3631583B1Method and system for using logarithm of power feedback for extremum seeking control
Publication Date: 2023.08.23 BOARD OF RGT THE UNIV OF TEXAS SYST
  • EP3631583B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3631583B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3631583B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The present disclosure provides a method and system for optimizing a control process. The method and system comprise using a sensor to generate a feedback signal that represents a measured performance index for an extremum seeking control (ESC) method and sending the feedback signal to an ESC conditioning circuit that applies a logarithmic transformation to the feedback signal to obtain a modified feedback signal. An ESC controller applies the modified feedback signal to the ESC method to generate an output value that is used to control an actuator to maximize the performance of a machine or process.