Wind Farm Grid Feed-In Point Redundancy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wind farm systems are disadvantaged by the need to shut down wind turbines when a grid feed-in point fails, disrupting energy supply to the grid.

Innovation Solution

A wind farm design with multiple grid feed-in points and a switching element that allows wind turbines to variably connect to different grid feed-in points, enabling power diversion to alternative routes if one feed-in point fails, and control devices that regulate wind turbines based on measured values from the active feed-in point.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a single grid feed-in point is used in a wind farm, then the control system is simple and device complexity is reduced, but the system reliability deteriorates because wind turbines must be shut down when the feed-in point fails

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wind farm's grid connection is segmented into multiple independent feed-in points (first grid feed-in point and second grid feed-in point), each with its own control device. This segmentation allows the system to maintain operational reliability by diverting power through alternative feed-in points when one fails, while keeping each segment's control structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements dynamic reconfigurability through switching elements that can variably connect wind turbines to different grid feed-in points. When a feed-in point fails, the switching elements dynamically redirect power flow to alternative feed-in points, maintaining system reliability without requiring complex permanent redesign.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If multiple grid feed-in points are provided with switching elements for variable connection, then the system reliability improves by enabling power diversion to alternative routes, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wind farm is divided into multiple independent connection segments, each with its own feed-in point and control device. This segmentation provides redundancy and alternative power pathways, improving reliability while maintaining manageable complexity through modular organization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the operational parameter of connection configuration by providing switching elements that can variably connect wind turbines to different feed-in points. This parameter change enables flexible power routing to maintain reliability without permanently increasing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Manufacturing precision

If control devices regulate wind turbines based on measured values from their assigned feed-in point, then the power regulation precision is improved, but the system complexity increases due to multiple control devices

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower regulation precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each control device is assigned to a specific grid feed-in point and regulates wind turbines based on measured values from that local feed-in point. This local quality approach ensures precise power regulation at each connection point while maintaining independent, manageable control structures that don't require complex centralized coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP2864631B1Wind farm having a plurality of network feed-in points
Publication Date: 2021.01.13 SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY SERVICE GMBH
  • EP2864631B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The invention relates to wind farm (1) and a method for operating a wind farm (1) according to the invention. Accordingly, the invention relates to a wind farm (1) comprising a plurality of wind turbines (10) connected to a network (20) internal to the wind farm, wherein a network feed-in point (30.1) for feeding electrical power into a supply network (40) is provided in the network (20) internal to the wind farm, and wherein a control device (31.1) associated with the network feed-in point (30.1) is provided, which control device is designed to control the wind turbines (10) feeding power into the supply network (40) by means of the network feed-in point (30.1) on the basis of measured values recorded at the network feed-in point (30.1). Furthermore, at least one additional network feed-in point (30.2, 30.3) having an additional control device (31.2, 31.3) is provided, which control device is designed to control the wind turbines (10) feeding power into the supply network (40) by means of the additional network feed-in point (30.2, 30.3) on the basis of measured values recorded at the additional network feed-in point (30.2, 30.3), wherein the network (20) internal to the wind farm is designed to variably connect at least one wind turbine (10) to one of the plurality of network feed-in points (30.1, 30.2, 30.3).