Shared Auxiliary Power Line for Off-Grid Wind Turbine Maintenance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine systems in remote locations require expensive and heavy energy storage systems for standby and maintenance operations, which are costly and complicated to maintain, especially in off-grid conditions.
Innovation Solution
A wind turbine park design with a centralized auxiliary power unit connected via an auxiliary power line to multiple turbines, providing auxiliary power for maintenance and standby operations, utilizing a fuel cell or battery system powered by renewable energy, eliminating the need for individual units on each turbine.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an energy storage system is installed on each wind turbine to provide auxiliary power during standby and maintenance operations, then the wind turbine can operate independently during off-grid periods, but the system becomes expensive, heavy, and complicated to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple wind turbines are merged into a single electrical system through a common auxiliary power line, allowing them to share a single auxiliary power unit. This consolidation reduces the total number of energy storage systems from N (one per turbine) to 1, thereby reducing complexity, cost, and maintenance requirements while maintaining off-grid operational capability for the entire wind turbine park.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary power unit serves multiple wind turbines simultaneously, performing the same function (providing auxiliary power during standby and maintenance) for multiple objects. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for duplicate systems and reduces overall system complexity while ensuring each turbine can operate independently when needed.
2Duration of action of moving object
If a diesel-powered generator is used as an energy storage system to provide auxiliary power during no wind periods, then the wind turbine can maintain operation during standstill, but the system becomes heavy and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent consolidates the auxiliary power provision function across multiple wind turbines by sharing a single auxiliary power unit through a common auxiliary power line. This merging approach reduces the total system weight compared to having individual energy storage systems on each turbine, while still providing sufficient duration of action during standstill periods through coordinated power management.
3Ease of operation
If each wind turbine has its own auxiliary power unit, then each turbine can operate independently during maintenance, but the overall system cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the auxiliary power provision function across multiple wind turbines by implementing a shared auxiliary power line that connects multiple turbines to a single auxiliary power unit. This consolidation reduces the quantity of equipment needed, lowering system cost while maintaining the ease of operation for maintenance activities through centralized power support.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary power unit serves the entire wind turbine park, allowing turbines to self-serve during maintenance operations by drawing auxiliary power from the shared system rather than requiring each turbine to have its own dedicated auxiliary power unit, thereby reducing overall system cost.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient and cost-effective auxiliary power supply for wind turbines, allowing them to operate independently from external grids, reducing the need for expensive and heavy storage systems and minimizing electrical transmission losses.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing a fuel cell or battery system powered by renewable energy
Implementation Method 2
utilizing a fuel cell or battery system powered by renewable energy
Implementation Method 3
an auxiliary power line being connected to the first wind turbine and the second wind turbine. The auxiliary power line is configured for transporting auxiliary power
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a wind turbine park (100), comprising at least a first wind turbine (110) and a second wind turbine (120) for generating a power product, and a main line (101) connecting the first wind turbine (110) and the second wind turbine (120) for transporting the power product. The wind turbine park (100) further comprises an auxiliary power line (102) being connected to the first wind turbine (110) and the second wind turbine (120), wherein the auxiliary power line (102) is configured for transporting auxiliary power for a wind turbine maintenance or standby operation to at least one of the first wind turbine (110) and the second wind turbine (120). Furthermore, the wind turbine park (100) comprises an auxiliary power unit (103) for generating the auxiliary power, wherein the auxiliary power unit (103) is connected to the auxiliary power line (102).