Wind Power Plant Reactive Power Control for Network Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The increasing reliance on wind energy for electrical supply networks poses challenges due to variable wind conditions, particularly during storms, where wind power plants may need to throttle or shut down, leading to fluctuations in active power feed-in, potentially causing network instability and voltage drops, which existing technologies struggle to manage effectively.
Innovation Solution
Adjusting reactive power based on wind velocity to proactively counteract the effects of variable wind conditions, with increased reactive power during storm conditions and reduced reactive power as wind velocities decrease, using a wind power plant or wind farm designed to supply additional reactive power beyond nominal active power, and employing a central control unit to coordinate reactive power feed-in across multiple wind power plants.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If wind power plants throttle or shut down during storm conditions, then protection of wind power plants is improved, but network stability deteriorates due to fluctuations in active power feed-in
Solution Approach 1:
The control method applies preliminary anti-action by detecting storm conditions (wind velocity exceeding threshold) and responding in advance by adjusting reactive power output. The control unit increases reactive power feed-in before or during the storm event, which proactively counteracts the potential negative effects of active power reduction on network stability, thus preventing voltage drops and maintaining network stability while the wind power plant is throttled or shut down for protection
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the operating parameters of the wind power plant by transitioning from active power control to reactive power control during storm conditions. When wind velocity exceeds the storm threshold, the control unit modifies the reactive power output parameter (increasing it) while active power is reduced or stopped, thereby maintaining network stability through parameter adaptation rather than maintaining constant active power output
2Stability of the object's composition
If reactive power is increased during storm conditions, then network stability is improved, but use of energy by wind power plant increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control method implements preliminary action by detecting the onset of storm conditions and adjusting reactive power output in advance. The control unit increases reactive power feed-in when wind velocity exceeds the storm threshold, preparing the network for potential active power reductions and preventing voltage instability before it occurs, rather than reacting after the problem manifests
Solution Approach 2:
The wind power plant performs multiple functions simultaneously during storm conditions: it continues to operate as a protective barrier against storm damage while also functioning as a reactive power compensation device for network stability. The same wind power plant structure serves both as a protected asset and as an active network support element through reactive power injection
3Reliability
If wind power plants operate in STATCOM mode, then network support capability is improved, but adaptability to wind velocity changes deteriorates since reactive power can be fed in regardless of wind velocity
Solution Approach 1:
The control method introduces dynamics by making reactive power output dependent on wind velocity conditions. Rather than operating in a fixed STATCOM mode with constant reactive power capability, the control unit dynamically adjusts reactive power feed-in based on detected wind velocity, increasing it during storms and reducing it during normal conditions, thereby adapting the network support function to actual operational contexts
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach stabilizes the electrical supply network by maintaining network stability and preventing voltage drops during storm conditions, ensuring continuous energy supply and reducing the risk of frequency and voltage fluctuations by optimizing reactive power feed-in in response to wind velocity changes.
Implementation Method 1
The wind power plant or wind farm converts kinetic wind energy into electrical energy
Data Source
AI summary
A method for supplying electrical energy into an electrical supply network by means of a wind power plant or wind farm, where the wind power plant or wind farm converts kinetic energy from wind with variable speed to electrical energy, the wind power plant or wind farm is prepared for supplying active power and reactive power and the reactive power to be fed in is set based on the wind velocity.