Upwind Wind Measurement for Turbine Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines face challenges in maintaining stable operation during high wind turbulence due to time lags in responding to wind gusts, leading to potential shutdowns and reduced performance, as existing systems rely on post-gust adjustments that may exceed trip limits and cause imbalances in rotor and generator torques.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an upwind wind condition measurement device, such as LIDAR, to preemptively adjust blade pitch and generator torque based on measured wind conditions ahead of the turbine, allowing for proactive compensation before gusts reach the rotor, thereby maintaining stable operation and preventing overspeed or power trip limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wind turbine operation adjustments are performed based on on-turbine wind speed measurements, then the control system is simple and responsive, but the wind gust causes rotor speed and output power to exceed trip limits before adjustment is completed, causing wind turbine shutdown
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by measuring wind conditions upwind of the turbine and adjusting blade pitch in advance before the wind gust reaches the rotor. This proactive approach eliminates the time lag problem by preparing the turbine for incoming gusts, allowing continuous operation without shutdown while maintaining reliable protection against excessive speeds and powers.
2Speed
If blade pitch is adjusted rapidly to compensate for wind speed changes, then wind turbine response speed is improved, but oscillations in blade pitch occur due to high wind turbulence, reducing wind turbine performance
Solution Approach 1:
By measuring wind conditions upwind and calculating the time of arrival at the rotor, the system performs preliminary pitch adjustments at an optimal rate. This avoids rapid oscillations while still responding effectively to wind changes, maintaining both response speed and blade pitch stability during high turbulence conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from upwind measurements to continuously monitor approaching wind conditions and adjusts blade pitch dynamically. This feedback mechanism allows the control system to respond to actual wind gust characteristics rather than reacting to turbulence-induced oscillations, improving both response speed and stability.
3Speed
If blade pitch adjustments are made to counteract wind speed increases, then rotor speed is maintained, but imbalance between rotor torque and generator torque occurs, reducing stable operation
Solution Approach 1:
The control system uses feedback from upwind wind measurements to coordinate both blade pitch and generator torque adjustments. By anticipating incoming wind gusts and adjusting both parameters together, the system maintains rotor speed while preserving torque balance between the rotor and generator, ensuring stable operation during wind turbulence.
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 enables wind turbines to operate smoothly through wind gusts without shutdown, maintaining constant rotor speed and power output by adjusting blade pitch and torque in advance, reducing component stress and increasing operational reliability.
Implementation Method 1
an upwind wind condition measurement device, such as LIDAR
Data Source
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AI summary
A wind turbine control system for a wind turbine (10) is provided. The wind turbine control system includes an upwind wind condition measurement device (60) positioned on or in close proximity to a body (12) of the wind turbine. The upstream wind condition measurement device is configured to measure at least one upwind wind condition. The wind turbine control system also includes a processor (64) coupled to the upwind wind condition measurement device. The processor is configured to receive the upwind wind condition measurement, determine (224) a control algorithm parameter (130), based at least partially on the upwind wind condition measurement, that controls at least one of a wind turbine response bandwidth, a wind turbine response speed, and a wind turbine control error range, determine (226) a wind turbine operating command (136) based at least partially on the control algorithm parameter, and apply (228) the wind turbine operating command to operation of the wind turbine.