Wind Turbine Speed Exclusion Control for Resonance Loads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wind turbine control technologies fail to effectively reduce oscillation loads caused by high turbulence and other environmental conditions, leading to potential damage and reduced energy production, as they do not consider resonance frequencies and are limited by cut-out wind speeds.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that determines wind parameters using a combination of operating conditions, aerodynamic performance maps, and adaptive parameters, employing sensors and low-pass filters to adjust generator speed and torque, thereby modifying frequencies to avoid resonance and reducing oscillation loads, while allowing operation at higher wind speeds.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the generator speed is increased to rated speed during start-up, then the power production is improved, but oscillation loads occur when resonance frequencies are excited
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs preliminary identification of resonance frequencies during start-up operation and establishes speed exclusion zones before normal operation begins. This allows the turbine to avoid exciting resonance frequencies during subsequent operation while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts generator speed based on real-time wind conditions and identified resonance frequencies. By continuously monitoring operating conditions and modifying speed profiles, the system avoids resonance zones while maximizing energy capture across varying wind speeds.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the wind turbine is shut down above cut-out wind speed, then oscillation loads from high turbulence are reduced, but energy production is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The control system changes operational parameters by introducing speed exclusion zones that dynamically adjust generator speed based on wind conditions and identified resonance frequencies. This allows continuous operation above traditional cut-out speeds while avoiding resonance excitation, thereby maintaining energy production without incurring damaging oscillation loads.
3Ease of operation
If control action is implemented based on wind speed sensing, then turbulent condition response is improved, but resonance and oscillation loads are not considered
Solution Approach 1:
The control system implements feedback by continuously monitoring generator speed, wind conditions, and vibration levels. The identified resonance frequencies are fed back into the control algorithm to dynamically adjust speed profiles, ensuring both turbulent condition response and resonance avoidance are achieved simultaneously.
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
This approach reduces oscillation loads, increases Annual Energy Production (AEP), and can be integrated with existing wind turbine systems without requiring new equipment, ensuring stable operation under high turbulence conditions.
Implementation Method 1
determining a variance of a monitored operating condition and of a plurality of wind parameters, wherein the variance is indicative of an oscillation occurring in one or more wind turbine components
Implementation Method 2
The oscillations of the individual components have a tendency to excite the wind turbine when the frequency of the oscillations equals one of the resonance frequencies of the wind turbine
Data Source
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AI summary
A system and method for reducing oscillation loads of a wind turbine induced by high turbulence and/or combined with other environmental conditions are provided. The method includes determining at least one wind parameter at the wind turbine; monitoring an operating condition of the wind turbine; determining, by a processor, a variance of at least one of the monitored operating condition or a plurality of the wind parameters, wherein the variance is indicative of an oscillation occurring at one or more wind turbine components; determining, by a processor, an operating set point based on the variance; and, operating the wind turbine based on the operating set point when the variance indicates that the oscillation has a frequency within a certain frequency band so as to modify the frequency, wherein the modified frequency is outside of the frequency band and reduces oscillation loads occurring at the one or more wind turbine components.