Wind Turbine Backup Pitch Controller During Faults
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbine controllers, such as pitch controllers and wind turbine controllers, often experience faults due to communication losses or errors, leading to undesirable consequences like reduced operating life, decreased electrical output, and revenue loss, as existing systems typically cease operation or implement hard braking during faults.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of redundant pitch sensors and control modules allows for continued operation of wind turbines during faults by using a backup pitch controller and separate communication networks to maintain power generation, reducing downtime and maintaining efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hard braking procedure is implemented during fault, then wind turbine is stopped to prevent damage, but operating life is reduced and revenue generation is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a backup pitch control system that activates during faults to prevent the need for hard braking. By having a redundant control system ready beforehand, the turbine can continue operating without sudden mechanical stops, thereby cushioning against the harmful effects of hard braking on operating life while maintaining safety through gradual pitch adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the control parameter from binary (brake on/off) to continuous pitch angle adjustment. During faults, the backup controller gradually adjusts the pitch angle to reduce lift and slow the rotor, replacing the abrupt mechanical braking with a smooth parameter-based control approach that extends operating life while ensuring safety.
2Reliability
If hard braking procedure is implemented during fault, then wind turbine is stopped to prevent damage, but revenue generation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The backup pitch control system is prepared in advance to take over during faults, cushioning against the need to shut down the turbine. This ensures continuous power generation and revenue while maintaining safety through controlled pitch adjustment rather than abrupt braking.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous operation of the wind turbine during faults by implementing a backup control system that maintains pitch control functionality. This continuity of useful action allows the turbine to keep generating electricity and producing revenue even when the primary control system fails, while still ensuring safety through the backup control mechanisms.
3Productivity
If redundant pitch sensors and control modules are implemented, then continued operation during faults is enabled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a backup pitch control system that is essentially a copy of the primary control system, including redundant pitch sensors and control modules. This copying approach enables continued operation during faults by having a duplicate system ready to take over, accepting the increased device complexity as a necessary trade-off for maintaining productivity and revenue generation.
4Duration of action of stationary object
If backup pitch controller is used during fault, then operating life is extended by minimizing hard braking, but communication network complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a backup communication network as an intermediary layer that provides an alternative communication path during faults. This separate communication network allows the backup pitch controller to receive sensor data and send control commands without relying on the primary communication system, thereby extending operating life by enabling continuous backup control while managing communication complexity through network redundancy.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and a system for operating a wind turbine (10) during a fault. The system includes a pitch motor for rotating each rotor blade (18), second pitch sensors (72) for determining when the rotor blade (18) is rotated to a set point, and a backup pitch controller (80). After a fault is detected, the method determines whether the wind speed in the vicinity of the wind turbine (10) is less than or greater than or equal to a maximum rated velocity of the wind turbine (10). The backup pitch controller (80) then rotates the rotor blades (18) to a specific set point based on the determination.