Renewable Power Plant Zero Demand Control via Local Network Segmentation

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for controlling renewable power plants, such as wind power plants, face challenges in managing power generation during extreme conditions, leading to costly consumption of power from the network and potential instability when requested to supply zero active power, which can result in inefficient operation and increased costs.

Innovation Solution

A method where renewable power generators are categorized into power-supplying and power-consuming sets, with the power-supplying generators maintaining an active state to supply power to the local network, allowing auxiliary systems to remain powered and enabling fast restart, while power-consuming generators draw power to balance production at zero kW, thus maintaining stability and reducing costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all generators are commanded to pause operation to supply zero power to the grid, then the power plant meets the zero power demand signal, but auxiliary systems consume costly power from the power network

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompliance with zero power demand signalVSAvoidpower consumption from network

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the generator fleet into two distinct groups: power-supplying generators that remain active and supply power to the local network, and power-consuming generators that are paused but have their auxiliary systems powered. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by allowing the plant to meet zero power demand externally while internally maintaining power flow to sustain auxiliary systems, eliminating the need to draw costly power from the external network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The local power network acts as an intermediary between the power-supplying generators and the power-consuming generators. Instead of all generators drawing power from the external grid, the local network mediates by distributing power from active generators to support auxiliary systems of paused generators, thereby resolving the power consumption contradiction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If all generators are paused to meet zero power demand, then power consumption from network is reduced, but restart time increases due to auxiliary systems being unpowered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumption from networkVSAvoidrestart time

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by keeping auxiliary systems powered during the paused state through the local power network. This ensures that critical systems remain in a ready state before restart is needed, eliminating the delay that would otherwise occur while auxiliary systems power up. The contradiction is resolved by performing the power-sustaining action in advance, allowing immediate restart when demanded.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts generator states based on operational needs. Generators can transition between active and paused states while maintaining auxiliary power through the local network, enabling flexible response to power demand signals without sacrificing restart capability. This dynamic approach resolves the contradiction between reducing power consumption and maintaining fast restart ability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of energy

If generators are paused with unpowered auxiliary systems, then power consumption is reduced, but safety features cannot be maintained

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumption from networkVSAvoidsafety feature availability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting generators into power-supplying and power-consuming groups, the patent ensures that power-consuming generators still have their auxiliary systems powered through the local network. This maintains safety features while still achieving reduced net power consumption from the external grid, resolving the contradiction between energy loss and reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The local power network enables self-service by allowing the power plant to generate and distribute its own power internally to sustain auxiliary systems of paused generators. This eliminates dependence on external grid power for safety-critical auxiliary systems, maintaining reliability while reducing external power consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS20230059875A1Control of a renewable power plant in response to zero power demand signal

Publication Date: 2023.02.23 VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS AS

AI summary

Aspects of the present invention relate to a method of controlling a renewable power plant comprising a plurality of renewable power generators electrically connected by a local network and configured to supply active power to a main network. The method comprises: in response to receiving a signal requesting substantially zero active power supply to the main network: categorizing a generator as power-supplying, and the remaining generators as power-consuming; operating the power-consuming generators to generate no active power and to have their auxiliary systems draw power from the local network; and operating the power-supplying generator to supply active power to the local network such that the plant supplies substantially zero active power to the main network.