Wind Turbine MPC Trajectories for Low-Voltage Fault Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines face challenges in rapidly resuming normal operation after a low voltage grid event without exposing themselves to excessive loads, as existing control methods are limited by load exposure and recovery time constraints.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method that uses model predictive control (MPC) to calculate and follow predicted operational trajectories, balancing load impact and recovery time, allowing for fast recovery within safe operational limits and adapting to varying grid code requirements and load exposures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the wind turbine resumes normal operation as fast as possible after a low voltage event, then the recovery time is reduced, but the load exposure of the tower, drive train, and other components increases to excessive levels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of the wind turbine's operational parameters during recovery from a low voltage event. The controller continuously adjusts pitch angles, generator torque, and power output based on real-time measurements of tower loads, drive train stresses, and grid conditions. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize the recovery trajectory, balancing the need for fast recovery with the constraint of maintaining loads within safe operational limits throughout the recovery process
2Reliability
If the aerodynamic power is reduced drastically during the low voltage fault mode, then the generator speed increase is controlled, but the turbine operates in a limited fault mode for an extended period
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares the wind turbine for rapid recovery by pre-calculating and pre-positioning operational parameters during the low voltage fault mode. The controller continuously computes optimal recovery trajectories and pre-positions pitch angles, generator torque settings, and power output levels based on predicted grid recovery conditions. This preliminary preparation enables the turbine to transition smoothly and rapidly to normal operation once the voltage fault clears, minimizing the extended fault mode duration while maintaining grid connection stability
Data Source
AI summary
A wind turbine system comprising a nacelle mounted on a tower, a rotor having a plurality of blades and a boundary layer control system configured to control airflow through blade surface openings in each of the blades. The wind turbine system includes a control system configured to: monitor an operational speed parameter of the wind turbine, and activate the boundary layer control system if it is determined that the operational speed parameter exceeds a predetermined speed parameter threshold; monitor tower motion and to activate the boundary layer control system based on a determination of excessive tower motion; monitor for a wind turbine shutdown condition, activate the boundary layer control system if it is determined that the shutdown condition has been identified; monitor the aerodynamic loads on the blades, and activate the boundary layer control system based on a determination of excessive blade loads.