Electric Power Plant Controller Adaptation for Oscillation Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing control systems for electric power plants face challenges in accurately suppressing oscillating signal components in speed signals, requiring manual tuning of band-stop filters, which is impractical for every installation due to potential inaccuracies in calculating natural frequencies.

Innovation Solution

A control system that includes a frequency detection section to identify oscillation frequencies caused by torque changes and an adaptation section to adjust a signal modifier, such as a band-stop filter or canceller device, to suppress these frequencies automatically, minimizing the need for manual tuning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a band-stop filter is pre-tuned based on calculated natural frequency estimates, then the control system can be quickly deployed, but the filtering accuracy is insufficient due to calculation inaccuracies

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedeployment speedVSAvoidfiltering accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-tuning the band-stop filter based on calculated natural frequency estimates during the design phase, enabling quick deployment. However, it also incorporates automatic post-installation tuning functionality that activates after installation to refine the filter parameters based on actual measured oscillation frequencies, thus resolving the contradiction between quick deployment and filtering accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring the speed signal for oscillating components after installation, comparing the actual oscillation frequencies with the filter parameters, and automatically adjusting the band-stop filter parameters to match the measured frequencies, thereby improving filtering accuracy while maintaining quick deployment capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Measurement precision

If manual tuning of band-stop filters is performed after installation, then filtering accuracy is improved, but the complexity and time consumption increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering accuracyVSAvoidtuning process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies self-service by implementing an automatic tuning mechanism that autonomously identifies oscillation frequencies in the speed signal and adjusts the band-stop filter parameters without requiring specialized personnel or complex manual tuning procedures. The system self-calibrates by detecting peaks in the frequency spectrum and automatically configuring the filter to suppress these frequencies, thereby improving filtering accuracy while reducing complexity and time consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If specialized personnel are assigned for filter tuning, then filtering accuracy is ensured, but the operational cost and complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefiltering accuracyVSAvoidoperational simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system eliminates the need for specialized personnel by implementing automatic self-tuning functionality that performs filter parameter optimization autonomously after installation. The control system automatically detects oscillation frequencies, calculates optimal filter parameters, and configures the band-stop filter without human intervention, thereby maintaining filtering accuracy while dramatically simplifying operations and reducing costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3465900B1A method, a system and computer program for controlling an electric power plant
Publication Date: 2022.12.07 WARTSILA FINLAND OY
  • EP3465900B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3465900B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3465900B1 patent drawing

AI summary

An electric power plant comprises an electric machine (104) rotated by a prime mover (105). The electric power plant comprises a controller (107) for controlling the prime mover based on a speed signal which is indicative of the rotation speed of the prime mover and from which an oscillating signal component has been sup- pressed by a signal modifier (106) such as a band-stop filter. The electric power plant comprises a control system (101) that comprises a frequency detection sec- tion (102) for detecting at least one oscillation frequency of the rotation speed in response to a situation in which a torque change excites the rotation speed to os- cillate, and an adaptation section (103) for adapting the signal modifier to suppress the oscillating signal component so that the frequency of the oscillating signal component is the detected oscillation frequency. This reduces a need for manual tuning of the signal modifier.