Wind Turbine Control Task Prioritization Under Processor Load

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wind energy installations face challenges in optimizing the use of processing resources, leading to either excessive idle capacity or insufficient capacity to perform critical tasks, resulting in increased costs and potential operational risks.

Innovation Solution

A method that identifies critical processing resource requiring tasks, defines minimum acceptable service levels, and implements actions to reduce processing resource consumption while maintaining service levels, thereby creating a prioritized list to manage processing load effectively.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If processing capacity is dimensioned to handle all possible tasks simultaneously, then control reliability is improved, but processing resource costs increase due to significant idle capacity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol reliabilityVSAvoididle processing capacity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the execution of processing tasks based on monitored processing load levels. When load exceeds thresholds, non-critical tasks are selectively suspended or deferred, allowing the same processing resource to reliably handle critical tasks without requiring excessive idle capacity for peak scenarios that rarely occur.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes operational parameters by adjusting task execution priorities and processing load thresholds. By monitoring processing load and dynamically modifying which tasks are executed at full capacity versus which are suspended or deferred, the system optimizes the balance between control reliability and processing resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Loss of energy

If processing resources are dimensioned with smaller capacity reflecting normal average consumption, then costs are reduced, but control reliability deteriorates when critical tasks cannot be performed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocessing resource costsVSAvoidcontrol reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The processing resource monitors its own load level and automatically makes decisions about task suspension and deferral. This self-service mechanism allows the system to maintain reliable control with smaller processing capacity by dynamically adapting task execution based on real-time conditions without requiring oversized resources.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments tasks into different priority categories (critical, non-critical) and applies different execution strategies to each segment. Critical tasks are ensured to be performed, while non-critical tasks are suspended or deferred when processing load is high, allowing reliable control with optimized resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

3Productivity

If all processing resource requiring tasks are executed simultaneously, then task completion speed is improved, but processing resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetask completion speedVSAvoidprocessing resource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic monitoring of processing load levels and adjusts task execution accordingly. By alternating between full task execution during low-load periods and selective suspension during high-load periods, the system maintains overall productivity while optimizing processing resource consumption over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs partial action by selectively executing only the most critical tasks when processing load is high, rather than attempting to execute all tasks simultaneously. This ensures essential control functions are maintained while reducing processing resource consumption during peak periods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20250154930A1Method and a system for optimizing use of a processing resource in a wind energy installation

Publication Date: 2025.05.15 VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS AS

AI summary

A method and a system for optimizing use of a processing resource in a wind energy installation is disclosed. A plurality of processing resource requiring tasks related to control of the wind energy installation are identified. For each processing resource requiring task, a minimum acceptable service level related to the task, and at least one action which causes a decrease in processing resource consumption related to the task while ensuring that the minimum acceptable service level is met, are defined. The processing resource requiring tasks are ranked, so as to create a prioritized list of processing resource requiring tasks. In the case that a monitored processing load level exceeds a first threshold level, at least one of the processing resource requiring tasks is selected in accordance with the prioritized list, and least one of the actions defined for the at least one selected task is performed.