Wind Turbine Pitch Drive Controller Error Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wind turbine pitch drive systems lack adequate safety measures to manage error situations such as resolver failures, blade encoder malfunctions, and emergency power backup failures, which can lead to unsafe operations and potential damage.
Innovation Solution
A pitch drive controller that analyzes error situations and implements specific error procedures to react to failures of resolvers, blade encoders, and emergency power backups, including self-sensing modes, power supply interruptions, and rotor blade positioning to ensure safe operation and prevent repeated errors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a pitch drive system uses standard error handling for sensor failures, then the system can maintain basic operation, but the safety and reliability are insufficient when multiple errors occur simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The error management system is segmented into distinct error categories (first error, second error, third error) with specific handling procedures for each. The controller evaluates errors independently and applies targeted procedures rather than a single generic error handler, improving reliability through specialized error management while maintaining manageable complexity through systematic classification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of error response by implementing different procedures based on error type and combination. When a first error (sensor failure) occurs alone, one procedure is applied; when combined with a second error (pitch drive failure), a different procedure is applied. This parameter-based differentiation enhances safety by adapting the response to the specific error scenario.
2Productivity
If the pitch drive continues operation after a sensor failure, then productivity is maintained, but the risk of further damage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts its operation mode based on the detected error type. Upon detecting a first error (sensor failure), the controller transitions from normal operation to self-sensing mode, allowing continued operation with modified control parameters. This dynamic adaptation maintains productivity while managing damage risk by adjusting the system's operational characteristics to the degraded state.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from error detection to modify its operation. When sensor failures are detected, the controller receives feedback about the degraded state and adjusts its control strategy accordingly, using alternative sensing methods and modified control algorithms to maintain safe operation while preserving productivity.
3Reliability
If multiple error procedures are implemented for different error combinations, then the reliability increases, but the control logic becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The control logic is segmented into discrete error evaluation steps and procedure selection rules. The controller systematically evaluates the presence or absence of first, second, and third errors, then selects from predefined procedures based on the error combination. This segmentation makes the complex logic more manageable through structured decision-making rather than monolithic error handling.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses parameter-based procedure selection where the combination of detected errors serves as input parameters to select the appropriate error procedure. This parameter-driven approach organizes the complexity into a systematic framework where different error states (parameters) map to different procedures, improving functional safety while maintaining logical structure.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for controlling a wind turbine comprising: A wind turbine with at least one rotor blade and at least one pith drive for turning the at least one rotor blade, the wind turbine comprising a controller which analyses the wind turbine if a first error situation or a second error situation occurs and that the controller is adapted to react - to the first error situation in absence of a second error situation with a first error procedure - to a second error situation in absence of the first error situation with a second error procedure - to an error situation where the first error and the second error occur at the same time with a third error procedure that is different to the first error procedure and to the second error procedure.