Wind Farm Black Start Using Autonomous Turbine Coordination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind farms lack the capability to perform a coordinated and reliable black start, which is essential for contributing to grid restoration and operating independently without external power, due to communication and voltage stability challenges.
Innovation Solution
A method involving primary and secondary black start enabled wind turbines, where the primary turbine initiates voltage supply and secondary turbines join based on predetermined electric parameter conditions, such as voltage or frequency thresholds, eliminating the need for centralized control and ensuring smooth, rapid energization of the wind farm grid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple wind turbines are started up in a coordinated fashion to energize the wind farm network, then the black start capability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to the need for centralized control and communication systems
Solution Approach 1:
The wind farm is divided into multiple independent black start enabled wind turbines, each capable of autonomous operation and decision-making. Each turbine operates as an independent unit that can monitor grid parameters and make start-up decisions without centralized control, thereby segmenting the control function across multiple autonomous nodes rather than requiring a complex centralized control system.
Solution Approach 2:
Each black start enabled wind turbine is equipped with the capability to autonomously monitor electric parameters in the wind farm grid and make independent decisions about when to start up and supply voltage. This self-service capability eliminates the need for complex centralized control and communication infrastructure, as each turbine serves itself by detecting grid conditions and autonomously joining the black start process when predetermined conditions are met.
2Reliability
If a centralized SCADA system is used to coordinate the black start process, then the coordination is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to dependency on communication networks and IT equipment
Solution Approach 1:
Each black start enabled wind turbine autonomously monitors electric parameters in the wind farm grid and independently determines when to start up based on predetermined conditions. This eliminates dependency on centralized SCADA systems, communication networks, and IT equipment, as each turbine makes its own coordination decisions based on local measurements of grid voltage and frequency.
Solution Approach 2:
Each wind turbine continuously monitors electric parameters (voltage, frequency) in the wind farm grid and uses this feedback to autonomously determine the optimal moment to start up. This local feedback mechanism replaces centralized control, allowing each turbine to self-coordinate with others through shared monitoring of common grid parameters without requiring communication infrastructure.
3Ease of operation
If the wind farm voltage is maintained outside the nominal range for a prolonged period, then the black start process is simplified, but the harmful factors increase due to potential damage to electrical components
Solution Approach 1:
One or more black start enabled wind turbines are pre-configured and ready to start up first, establishing initial voltage in the wind farm grid before other turbines join. This preliminary action creates a stable voltage foundation that enables subsequent turbines to synchronize and connect safely, avoiding prolonged operation at unsafe voltage levels while still simplifying the overall black start process.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the start-up sequence of wind turbines based on real-time monitoring of electric parameters. As each turbine starts up and contributes to voltage support, the overall system evolves from a single-turbine configuration to a multi-turbine configuration, with voltage levels dynamically transitioning from non-nominal to nominal ranges as capacity is added, minimizing time spent in potentially damaging voltage conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of performing a black start in a wind farm is provided, the wind farm including a primary black start enabled wind turbine, at least one secondary black start enabled wind turbine, and a wind farm grid interconnecting at least a part of the wind turbines in the wind farm, the method including (a) starting the primary black start enabled wind turbine in black start mode in order to supply voltage to the wind farm grid, (b) monitoring, at the at least one secondary black start enabled wind turbine, an electric parameter value in the wind farm grid, and (c) starting the at least one secondary black start enabled wind turbine in black start mode in order to supply voltage to the wind farm grid when the monitored electric parameter value meets a predetermined condition. A corresponding wind farm is also provided.