Scaled Wind Turbine Modeling With Real-Time Controller Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current offshore wind turbine design models lack the ability to represent real-time variations in load and power regulation, as well as blade orientation, making it difficult to simulate the behavior of wind turbines under varying wind and swell conditions, and they do not include a functional generator or allow for fine-tuning of control commands.
Innovation Solution
A reduced-scale modeling tool with sensors and actuators that can communicate with a real-scale controller, allowing for adjustable blade orientation and generator operation, along with a conversion module that processes measurements and instructions to replicate real-scale conditions, enabling the testing and optimization of wind turbine control strategies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a fixed-speed motor is used to rotate the rotor, then the model operation is simplified and stable, but the ability to represent real-time load variations and power regulation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the fixed-speed motor with an electric generator that can operate in both motor and generator modes. This substitution allows the system to dynamically adjust rotor speed and represent real-time load variations while maintaining operational stability through electronic control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic control capabilities by allowing the rotor speed to vary in real-time based on simulated wind conditions and load requirements. The blade pitch angle and rotor speed are dynamically adjusted to represent different operating phases (partial load and full load), replacing the static fixed-speed operation.
2Device complexity
If blade pitch angle is fixed, then the model structure is simplified, but the ability to control power extraction and regulate rotor speed is eliminated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the blade pitch angle dynamic rather than fixed. The pitch angle is adjusted in real-time to control power extraction during full load phases and optimize performance during partial load phases. This dynamic adjustment capability is essential for representing real wind turbine behavior while the control system manages the complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the pitch angle parameter dynamically to control the aerodynamic properties of the blades. By varying the pitch angle, the system can modify lift and drag coefficients, thereby controlling power extraction and rotor speed regulation without requiring complex structural modifications.
3Ease of manufacture
If a scaled-down model is used for tank testing, then the testing cost and scale are reduced, but the representativeness of the model is limited by fixed operation assumptions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by interfacing the scaled-down model with a wind turbine controller that receives measurements from sensors on the model. The controller processes the scaled measurements, applies scaling laws to convert them to full-scale equivalents, and generates appropriate control commands. This feedback loop ensures that the simplified model accurately represents full-scale wind turbine behavior under various operating conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a conversion module as an intermediary between the scaled-down model and the full-scale controller. This module applies scaling laws to translate measurements from the small-scale model into equivalent full-scale values, and conversely translates controller commands for the full-scale turbine into appropriate commands for the model actuators. This intermediary ensures accurate representation despite the scale reduction.
4Adaptability or versatility
If simulation software is used for controller testing, then the control algorithm development is enabled, but the testing of coupling phenomena and physical behavior is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a physical copy (scaled-down model) of the wind turbine that replicates the essential structural and functional components. This physical model allows for realistic testing of coupling phenomena between the turbine, floating platform, wind, and waves, while still enabling control algorithm development and testing. The model serves as a tangible representation that bridges the gap between pure simulation and full-scale testing.
Data Source
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Figure 3
Figure 4a~4b
AI summary
The invention relates to a tool for modeling the physical behavior of a wind turbine, the operation of the full-scale wind turbine being controlled by a controller (1). The modeling tool comprises: - at least a partial scale model (2) of the wind turbine, including at least one sensor measuring a quantity representative of the physical behavior of the model and at least one adjustable actuator actuating an element of the model; - a conversion module (3) comprising an interface designed to communicate with the controller (1) and an interface designed to communicate with the model (2). The conversion module converts: ∘ the full-scale measurements (M) from the sensor into full-scale measurements (M') sent to the controller; and ∘ the full-scale setpoints (C') from the controller into full-scale setpoints (C) sent to the actuator. The invention also relates to a corresponding modeling method.