Wind Turbine Control System Multi-Frequency Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern wind turbines face challenges in achieving fast reaction times to changing conditions due to differences in computational capabilities and sample frequencies among controller units, leading to bottlenecks that restrict rapid responses and potentially exceed operational limits.

Innovation Solution

A control system comprising at least two controller units, where a slower first controller determines an operational value based on a demand value and a faster second controller calculates a difference value between sample frequencies to adjust and set the operational value, ensuring faster transitions while maintaining safe operations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a slower controller unit operates at a lower sample frequency to perform complex calculations, then computational accuracy and operational safety are improved, but the reaction time to changing conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational safetyVSAvoidreaction time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The control system is segmented into multiple controller units with different sample frequencies. A first controller operates at a lower sample frequency for complex calculations, while a second controller operates at a higher sample frequency for fast reactions. This segmentation allows each controller to specialize in specific tasks, resolving the contradiction between computational accuracy and reaction time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

A value conversion mechanism acts as an intermediary between controllers operating at different sample frequencies. The conversion unit translates values between different sample frequencies, enabling the slower controller to provide accurate reference values while the faster controller can respond quickly to changing conditions without losing computational accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Speed

If multiple controller units operate at different sample frequencies, then fast reactions are enabled, but coordination complexity and synchronization difficulties increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvereaction speedVSAvoidcontroller coordination
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The value conversion unit serves as an intermediary that automatically handles synchronization between controllers operating at different sample frequencies. By converting values between different frequency domains, it simplifies the coordination complexity and enables fast reactions without requiring complex synchronization protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the sampling frequency parameter of different controller units to match their computational requirements. The first controller uses a lower sampling frequency for complex calculations, while the second controller uses a higher sampling frequency for fast responses. This parameter differentiation resolves the coordination complexity while maintaining overall system synchronization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Loss of time

If a faster controller unit operates at a higher sample frequency, then reaction time to changing conditions is improved, but computational resource consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransition timeVSAvoidcomputational energy
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The control system segments computational tasks between two controller units. The first controller handles complex calculations at a lower sample frequency, consuming less energy per operation. The second controller handles fast responses at a higher sample frequency but for shorter durations. This segmentation optimizes the balance between transition time and computational energy consumption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The faster second controller operates at excessive sample frequency only when rapid response is needed, rather than continuously. This partial operation at high frequency reduces overall energy consumption while still achieving fast transition times when required by changing wind conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3356671B1Fast reacting control system for wind turbine
Publication Date: 2019.11.06 VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS AS
  • EP3356671B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3356671B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a control system for a wind turbine comprising more controllers and where at least some of the controllers operate at different sample frequencies. The control system comprises at least two controller units, a first controller (10) for determining an operational value (OV) of a sub-system and a second controller (20) for the sub-system. The second controller operates at a higher sample frequency than the first controller. It is disclosed that a faster reaction to a received demand value (V1), received for controlling the sub-system, can be obtained by setting the operational value (OV) of the sub- system as the sum of an internal operational value (V5) and a difference value (V4).