Multi-Protocol Wind Turbine SCADA Integration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wind turbines in different SCADA networks often use proprietary communication protocols, making it difficult for owners and operators to integrate and control them in a centralized manner, and existing solutions like gateways can lead to single-point failures and data loss due to protocol conversion.

Innovation Solution

A wind turbine equipped with multiple protocol handlers that support at least two communication protocols defined in the IEC 61400-25 standard, allowing for seamless communication and control across different systems without the need for protocol conversion, thereby enabling operation with various operators and reducing the risk of single-point failures.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a gateway is used for protocol conversion between different SCADA networks, then different wind turbines can communicate across networks, but the gateway becomes a single point of failure and may cause data loss

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol compatibilityVSAvoidsystem reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the protocol conversion function into separate protocol handlers embedded in each wind turbine controller rather than using a centralized gateway. Each handler independently manages a specific protocol, eliminating the single point of failure while maintaining multi-protocol compatibility across the SCADA network

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protocol conversion capability is extracted from the centralized gateway and distributed to individual wind turbine controllers. Each controller now contains embedded protocol handlers that can directly communicate with different SCADA networks without requiring external conversion, removing the gateway's critical role and associated failure risks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Adaptability or versatility

If protocol conversion is performed through a gateway, then different communication protocols can be integrated, but information loss occurs during conversion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotocol integrationVSAvoiddata loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The wind turbine controller is designed with multiple protocol handlers that can directly process and communicate in various SCADA protocols simultaneously. This multi-functional capability allows the controller to maintain native communication with different networks without conversion, preserving all data information while achieving protocol integration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If multiple protocol handlers are embedded in each wind turbine controller, then protocol compatibility and reliability are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidcontroller complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple protocol handlers are merged into a single integrated communication module within the wind turbine controller. This consolidation allows the system to maintain multiple protocol capabilities while managing complexity through unified architecture, shared resources, and coordinated operation of the handlers

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2127291B1A multiprotocol wind turbine system and method

Publication Date: 2019.10.16 VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS AS

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Figure 5a~5b

AI summary

The invention relates to a wind turbine, comprising at least two communication protocol handlers (PH), said protocol handlers (PH) comprising means for generating and interpreting SCADA related data (SCADA: Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition) according to an associated communication protocol and wherein said at least two protocol handlers (PH) being associated to different communication protocols.