Wind Turbine Control Unit for Bat Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wind turbine control systems often result in unnecessary shutdowns due to inadequate bat protection algorithms, leading to financial losses for operators while failing to meet regulatory bat mortality limits, and are not easily adaptable to changing specifications.
Innovation Solution
A control unit that dynamically adjusts the operation of wind turbines based on environmental parameters such as ambient temperature, wind speed, and precipitation, using date and time-dependent limit values to minimize shutdowns and ensure effective bat protection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If switch-off algorithms are implemented to protect bats, then bat protection is improved, but energy generation and income are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the switch-off times based on real-time environmental conditions (temperature, wind speed, precipitation, brightness) rather than using fixed switch-off periods. This allows the wind turbines to operate whenever environmental conditions indicate low bat activity, maximizing energy generation while still protecting bats during high-risk periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (switch-off times) based on varying environmental parameters (temperature, wind speed, precipitation, brightness). By monitoring these environmental parameters and comparing them against learned patterns, the system optimizes the balance between bat protection and energy generation.
2Ease of operation
If fixed switch-off phases before and after twilight are used, then bat protection is simplified, but unnecessary shutdowns occur reducing yield
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static fixed switch-off phases to dynamic switch-off times that adapt to current environmental conditions. The control unit continuously monitors temperature, wind speed, precipitation, and brightness to determine optimal switch-off times, eliminating unnecessary shutdowns while maintaining protection during high-risk periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from environmental sensors to continuously adjust switch-off decisions. By comparing real-time environmental data against learned patterns of bat activity, the system makes informed decisions about when shutdowns are necessary, avoiding unnecessary yield losses while maintaining effective bat protection.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If comprehensive environmental monitoring is implemented, then bat protection effectiveness is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the monitoring task into separate functional modules: environmental parameter sensors (temperature, wind speed, precipitation, brightness), a control unit for data processing and pattern recognition, and execution mechanisms for turbine control. This modular segmentation manages complexity while comprehensive monitoring improves bat protection effectiveness.
4Reliability
If switch-off times are determined by experts and authorities, then regulatory compliance is ensured, but adaptability to changing conditions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adapts to changing environmental conditions and can be reconfigured when regulatory specifications change. The control unit learns patterns from environmental data and can be updated with new parameter ranges and limit values to reflect changing expert recommendations or authority requirements, maintaining compliance while adapting to new conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for controlling a plurality of wind turbines (WEA1, WEA2,... WEAn) in a wind farm (WP), which is performed by means of a control unit (1). The control unit performs the following steps: reading in the current time of day, the current precipitation amount in or in the close surroundings of the wind farm, and the current ambient temperature and wind speed at each wind turbine, calculating a total value of the current ambient temperature from the individual values of the current ambient temperature that are sensed at each wind turbine and calculating a total value of the current wind speed from the individual values of the current wind speed that are sensed at each wind turbine, querying whether the current time of day lies in a predetermined time window, querying whether the current precipitation amount lies below a predetermined limit value, querying whether the calculated total value of the current ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined limit value, and querying whether the calculated total value of the current wind speed lies below a predetermined limit value. If all queried conditions are met, all wind turbines in the wind farm are or remain switched off. If at least one of the queried conditions is not met, all wind turbines in the wind farm are or remain switched on.