Remote Operating Device for Wind Turbine Safety Restart
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines face safety challenges during strong winds, particularly when power failures lead to uncontrolled acceleration and potential safety shutdowns, requiring efficient and safe restart methods after safety shutdowns to prevent accidents and minimize downtime.
Innovation Solution
A method for remote control and monitoring of wind turbines, utilizing a spatially separate operating device connected to the wind turbine's control system, which allows for safe restart after safety shutdowns by checking critical parameters and ensuring safety conditions are met before reactivation, including visual inspections and sensor verification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If manual restart procedures are used after safety shutdown, then safety can be ensured through on-site inspection, but downtime increases due to required manual intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a remote operating device as an intermediary between the operator and the wind turbine. This device enables remote execution of restart procedures and inspections through virtual presence functions, eliminating the need for physical on-site intervention while maintaining safety protocols. The intermediary device can remotely activate systems, monitor status, and perform necessary checks without requiring personnel to be physically present at the turbine location.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical on-site inspection and manual restart procedures with electronic and telecommunication-based remote operations. Sensors, communication systems, and control interfaces substitute for physical presence, allowing operators to monitor turbine status, perform inspections, and execute restart commands from a remote location, thereby reducing downtime while ensuring safety through technological mediation.
2Productivity
If rapid restart is implemented after safety shutdown, then productivity is improved, but safety risks increase without thorough inspection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary automated inspection procedures that are executed automatically upon shutdown or before restart attempts. Sensors continuously monitor critical parameters such as mechanical status, electrical systems, and environmental conditions. These preliminary checks are performed remotely and automatically, ensuring that safety conditions are verified before allowing rapid restart, thus eliminating the need for time-consuming manual safety checks while maintaining high productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates continuous feedback mechanisms through sensors and monitoring systems that provide real-time information about turbine status, safety conditions, and operational parameters. This feedback loop allows the remote operating device to make informed decisions about restart timing and conditions, ensuring that rapid restart does not compromise safety. The system can detect anomalies, alert operators, and prevent restart until safety criteria are met, thereby enabling fast recovery without sacrificing reliability.
3Loss of time
If remote operating device is introduced, then downtime is reduced through automated restart, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the remote operating device to perform multiple functions: monitoring turbine status, executing restart procedures, conducting inspections, and communicating with various turbine subsystems. By consolidating these diverse functions into a single multi-functional device, the patent reduces the need for multiple separate systems, thereby managing complexity while enabling automated rapid restart and reducing downtime.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service capabilities where the wind turbine system can autonomously perform certain functions such as self-diagnosis, self-monitoring, and automatic restart execution based on pre-programmed safety criteria. The remote operating device interfaces with these self-service functions, allowing the system to manage its own operational recovery with minimal human intervention, thus reducing downtime without proportionally increasing control system complexity.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for operating a wind energy installation, whereby said wind energy installation (10) is especially switched off following the release of a deactivation signal by a safety cut-out device (20) which logically overrides a management system. Said method is improved in that, following a safety cut-out, the wind energy installation (10) is reactivated by means of an operating device (41) which is spatially separated from the wind energy installation (10). The invention further relates to an energy supply system comprising at least one wind energy installation (10), to a safety chain on a wind energy installation, and to a wind energy installation.