Wind Turbine Cluster Switching to Cut Transformer No-Load Losses
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind power plants face significant no-load losses due to transformers remaining connected during periods of low or no power generation, despite not transmitting active power, which can occur frequently, especially in offshore installations.
Innovation Solution
A control system is implemented to identify no-generation conditions in wind turbine clusters and selectively disconnect clusters from the inter-cluster power network using switchgear devices, reducing no-load losses by de-energizing non-producing clusters and transformers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wind turbine clusters remain connected to the inter-cluster power network during low wind conditions, then the clusters can quickly resume power generation when wind conditions improve, but no-load losses in transformers increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the connection status of wind turbine clusters to the inter-cluster power network based on real-time generation conditions. When no-generation conditions are detected, the control system automatically disconnects clusters via second switchgear devices, and reconnects them when generation conditions resume, optimizing the balance between readiness and energy loss reduction
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously monitors generation status of wind turbine clusters and uses this feedback to control the switchgear devices. The system identifies no-generation conditions and automatically adjusts connection status accordingly, creating a closed-loop control mechanism that responds to changing wind conditions
2Loss of energy
If wind turbine clusters are disconnected from the inter-cluster power network during no-generation conditions, then no-load losses are reduced, but the response time to resume power generation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is pre-configured with switchgear devices at each cluster connection point, enabling rapid reconnection when generation conditions resume. The infrastructure is prepared in advance so that when wind conditions improve, clusters can be quickly reconnected without significant delay, minimizing the time loss while maintaining energy efficiency during no-generation periods
3Ease of manufacture
If multiple wind turbine clusters share common transformers, then capital costs are reduced, but no-load losses affect multiple clusters simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the control of each wind turbine cluster independently through individual second switchgear devices at each cluster's connection station. This allows selective disconnection of specific clusters from the inter-cluster power network while maintaining connections to other clusters, enabling precise control over which transformers remain energized and reducing the scope of no-load losses while preserving the cost benefits of shared infrastructure
Data Source
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AI summary
A wind power plant comprising a plurality of wind turbine clusters, wherein each wind turbine cluster includes a plurality of wind turbine generators connected to a connection station by an intra-cluster power network, each wind turbine generator being connected to the connection station by a respective one of a plurality of first switchgear devices of the connection station. Each of the plurality of wind turbine clusters are connected, by their respective connection stations, to an inter-cluster power network, by a respective one of a plurality of cluster transformers and a respective one of a plurality of second switchgear devices. The power plant also includes a control system operatively connected to the second switchgear devices of the plurality of wind turbine clusters, and wherein the control system is configured to identify the existence of a no-generation condition affecting at least one of the plurality of wind turbine clusters; control the switch status of the second switchgear devices, based on the identification, to control the connection status of each of the plurality of wind turbine clusters to the inter-cluster power network so as to reduce no load losses of the wind turbine clusters.