Wind Turbine Pitch Rate Supervision for Overload Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines face the risk of overloading due to faults in the pitch system, which can lead to unsafe operating conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for collective pitch rate supervision, where a controller receives pitch signals from the pitch control mechanisms, determines the collective pitch rate, defines a minimum pitch rate threshold varying with wind turbine speed, and compares the collective pitch rate to this threshold to control the wind turbine and prevent overloading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the pitch system continues operating with a fault to maintain power production, then productivity is improved, but the wind turbine risks overloading and reliability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the actual pitch rate and compares it against the threshold value, creating a feedback loop that detects when the pitch system is operating abnormally. This allows the control system to respond to fault conditions while maintaining operation during acceptable variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The pitch rate threshold is not fixed but varies as a function of rotor speed, allowing the system to adapt its safety parameters based on operating conditions. This enables continued operation across different wind speeds while maintaining appropriate safety margins.
2Device complexity
If a fixed pitch rate threshold is used for fault detection, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different operating conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The pitch rate threshold transitions from a static fixed value to a dynamic value that changes with rotor speed. This allows the system to adapt to different operating conditions without requiring complex manual reconfiguration, maintaining simplicity while improving versatility.
3Reliability
If the pitch rate threshold is set conservatively low to ensure safety, then reliability is improved, but false alarms increase reducing productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-establishes the relationship between rotor speed and pitch rate threshold before operation begins. This allows the threshold to be appropriately set for each operating condition, avoiding both overly conservative thresholds that cause false alarms and overly permissive thresholds that compromise safety.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for protecting a wind turbine from overloading during operation caused by a fault includes receiving, via a controller, a plurality of pitch signals from a plurality of pitch control mechanisms of a pitch system of the wind turbine, the pitch system configured to rotate a plurality of rotor blades mounted to a rotatable hub of a rotor of the wind turbine about respective pitch axes. Further, the method includes determining a collective pitch rate of the pitch system as a function of the plurality of pitch signals. The method also includes defining a minimum pitch rate threshold that varies with a speed parameter of the wind turbine. Moreover, the method includes receiving a first speed parameter of the wind turbine. In addition, the method includes comparing the collective pitch rate to the minimum pitch rate threshold for the first speed parameter. Thus, the method includes controlling the wind turbine based on the comparison.