Wind Farm Reactive Power Balancing With Turbine-Specific Offsets
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wind farm control systems face inefficiencies and component wear due to unbalanced reactive power distribution among wind turbines, leading to energy losses and reduced operational lifetimes, especially when controlling reactive power based on a common voltage reference.
Innovation Solution
A method and controller that determine individual wind turbine offset information based on reactive power deviations from a mean value across the wind farm, allowing for customized control signals to balance reactive power production, thereby optimizing reactive power control and reducing high reactive current exchanges.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a common voltage reference is used to control reactive power in wind turbines, then the control system is simple and easy to implement, but the reactive power distribution among wind turbines becomes unbalanced, leading to energy losses and increased component wear
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by determining individual offset information for each wind turbine based on its specific reactive power production characteristics. Instead of using a uniform control approach, each turbine receives customized control information that accounts for its local conditions, location in the wind farm, and measurement tolerances. This individualized control strategy balances reactive power distribution while avoiding the energy losses associated with unbalanced operation.
2Ease of operation
If a common voltage reference is used to control reactive power, then the control implementation is straightforward, but component wear increases and operational lifetime decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by providing each wind turbine with individualized control information that accounts for its specific characteristics and operating conditions. This customization ensures that each turbine operates within optimal parameters, reducing unnecessary stress and wear on components. The individual offset information compensates for variations in turbine performance and location, leading to more uniform wear patterns and extended operational lifetimes across the wind farm.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring reactive power production from each wind turbine and using this information to determine individual offset values. The control system adjusts the control information for each turbine based on actual performance data, creating a closed-loop control system that optimizes operation and reduces component wear over time.
3Loss of energy
If individual offset information is determined for each wind turbine to balance reactive power, then energy losses are reduced and component wear is minimized, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by modifying the control parameters for each wind turbine based on measured reactive power production. Individual offset information is calculated by adjusting the voltage reference parameter for each turbine according to its specific performance characteristics. This dynamic parameter adjustment achieves balanced reactive power distribution and reduced energy losses while keeping the control architecture relatively simple through systematic parameter modification rather than complex system redesign.
4Device complexity
If reactive power is controlled without individual turbine adjustments, then the control system remains simple, but unnecessary wear on components occurs and operational lifetime is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by determining individual offset information for each wind turbine in advance, before actual reactive power control is executed. The control system pre-calculates the appropriate control parameters based on turbine characteristics and expected operating conditions. This preliminary customization of control information for each turbine prevents unnecessary component wear from the outset, extending operational lifetime without requiring complex real-time adjustments during operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method is proposed for operating at least one wind turbine of a wind farm, comprising the following steps, - determining wind turbine individual offset information (130, 330) based on - reactive power provided by the respective wind turbine and - reactive power provided by at least one further wind turbine of the wind farm, - determining wind turbine individual control information (150, 350) based on - the wind turbine individual offset information (130, 330) and - wind farm specific control information (140, 340), - operating the at least one wind turbine according to the wind turbine individual control information (150, 350). Further, a controller and a device as well as a computer program product and a computer readable medium are suggested for performing said method.