Renewable Power Plant Voltage Control via Local Reactive Power Dispatch

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional dispatching strategies for renewable energy generators in power plants cause voltage deviations and significant voltage distortion, failing to balance reactive power demand effectively.

Innovation Solution

A power plant controller determines individual reactive power set points for each generator based on network and local voltage levels, using droop control techniques to adjust reactive power adjustments, ensuring balanced voltage levels and reduced feeder system losses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If conventional dispatching strategies are used to balance reactive power demand between generators, then equal current in feeder system cables is achieved, but voltage deviations between generators and significant voltage distortion occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereactive power distributionVSAvoidvoltage balance

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by determining individual reactive power set points for each generator based on its specific local voltage level rather than applying a uniform distribution strategy. The controller receives voltage level indications from each generator and adjusts reactive power set points locally to compensate for voltage deviations, ensuring each generator operates at its optimal voltage level while meeting overall reactive power demand.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If reactive power reference values are dispatched to individual generators, then power network voltage support is provided, but voltage distortion and feeder system losses increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower network supportVSAvoidfeeder system losses

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the voltage level at each generator and using this information to adjust the reactive power set points. The controller receives voltage level indications from generators and feeds this information back into the control algorithm to determine appropriate reactive power adjustments, creating a closed-loop system that minimizes feeder system losses while maintaining power network support.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies parameter changes by dynamically adjusting reactive power set points based on varying voltage levels. Rather than using fixed reactive power distribution, the controller modifies the reactive power parameters for each generator in response to changing voltage conditions, optimizing the balance between providing power network support and minimizing energy losses in the feeder system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Quantity of substance

If equal current distribution is enforced in feeder system cables, then reactive power demand is balanced, but voltage deviations between generators are caused

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecurrent distributionVSAvoidvoltage level consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by not enforcing equal current distribution but instead allowing current distribution to vary based on local voltage conditions. Rather than setting equal current targets and accepting voltage deviations, the controller sets reactive power set points that account for different voltage levels, naturally resulting in unequal current distribution that maintains voltage stability across all generators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP4611204A1Methods and systems for improving control of a renewable energy power plant

Publication Date: 2025.09.03 VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS AS

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AI summary

According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a power plant controller for a renewable energy power plant comprising a plurality of renewable energy generators. The renewable energy power plant is connected to a power network. The power plant controller is configured to execute machine readable instructions to: receive a signal indicative of a voltage level of the power network to which the power plant is connected; receive a plurality of signals from the plurality of renewable energy generators, each signal being indicative of a voltage level of a respective renewable energy generator; and determine, for each of the plurality of renewable energy generators, a respective reactive power set point based on: the indicated voltage level of the power network; the indicated voltage level of that renewable energy generator; and a reference voltage level based on the indicated voltage levels of the plurality of renewable energy generators; and dispatch each determined reactive power set point to a respective local controller associated with the respective renewable energy generator for controlling that renewable energy generator.