Wind Turbine Black Start Using Generator and Energy Storage Coordination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for islanding operation in wind turbines often experience voltage and frequency instability during transients due to lack of coordination between generator and energy storage systems, and between wind turbines, leading to unreliable power supply for auxiliary equipment.

Innovation Solution

A method where a wind turbine with a generator, converter, and energy storage system selects the appropriate power source based on wind speed to supply power to auxiliary equipment, using either the generator or energy storage system in V/f control mode to maintain stability, and coordinates both sources to perform a black start operation independently without relying on other turbines.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the generator and energy storage system operate independently without coordination during islanding operation, then each component can function autonomously, but voltage and frequency stability are lost during transients

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautonomous operationVSAvoidvoltage and frequency stability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the generator and energy storage system into a coordinated power supply unit during islanding operation. The controller synchronizes their operations so that the generator provides primary power while the energy storage system responds dynamically to transient conditions, maintaining voltage and frequency stability through combined action rather than independent operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback control where the controller continuously monitors voltage and frequency conditions during islanding operation and adjusts the power output from both the generator and energy storage system accordingly. This closed-loop control ensures stability is maintained while allowing autonomous operation of the isolated wind turbine.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Stability of the object's composition

If multiple wind turbines coordinate their black start operations, then voltage and frequency stability can be maintained, but communication requirements increase system complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage and frequency stabilityVSAvoidcommunication system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables each wind turbine to perform self-service during black start operations by using its own energy storage system and generator in coordination. The turbine independently maintains voltage and frequency stability through internal power source coordination, eliminating the need for complex inter-turbine communication systems while still achieving stable operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the black start function into independent capabilities at each wind turbine level. Each turbine possesses its own coordinated generator-energy storage system that can autonomously perform black start operations without relying on communication with other turbines, distributing the stability function across individual units rather than requiring centralized coordination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If the energy storage system is used as the primary power source during black start, then voltage and frequency stability is improved, but the operating time is limited by energy storage capacity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevoltage and frequency stabilityVSAvoidpower supply duration
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-charging the energy storage system before islanding or black start events occur. This ensures sufficient energy is available to maintain voltage and frequency stability during the critical transient period when the generator is starting up or coming online, extending the effective duration of stable power supply.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent combines the energy storage system and generator as integrated power sources where the energy storage provides immediate stable power during transients and the generator provides sustained long-term power. This merged approach overcomes the limited duration of energy storage alone while maintaining stability through coordinated operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3224925B1Method for black starting wind turbine, wind farm, and restoring wind farm and wind turbine, wind farm using the same
Publication Date: 2020.10.14 ABB (SCHWEIZ) AG
  • EP3224925B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2B
  • EP3224925B1 patent drawingFigure 2C~3
  • EP3224925B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A method for black starting a wind turbine and a wind farm following islanding operation, a method for restoring the wind farm following the islanding operation, and the wind turbine and wind farm using the same are provided. The wind turbine (1) comprises auxiliary equipment (102), a generator (100), a converter (101) electrically connectable to the generator (100), and an energy storage system (105), the generator(100) is electrically connectable to the auxiliary equipment (102) via the converter (101), the energy storage system (105) is electrically connectable to the auxiliary equipment (102), the method for black staring the wind turbine including: measuring wind blowing smoothness degree; if the measured wind blowing smoothness degree is above a smoothness threshold, selecting the generator (100) as a first power source to supply first power to the auxiliary equipment (102) in V/f control mode and selecting the energy storage system (105) as a second power source to adjust an amount of active power and reactive power fed to the auxiliary equipment (102) by the first power source in consideration of amount of active power and reactive power demand suitable for powering the auxiliary equipment (102); otherwise selecting the energy storage system (105) as a first power source to supply power to the auxiliary equipment (102) in V/f control mode and selecting the generator (100) as a second power source to adjust an amount of active power and reactive power fed to the auxiliary equipment (102) by the first power source in consideration of the amount of active power and reactive power demand suitable for powering the auxiliary equipment (102).