Wind Turbine Control System Perturbation Optimization

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional single rotor wind power generation systems face challenges in promptly finding the optimum point for power generation due to the time-consuming nature of data acquisition for perturbation-based optimization methods, which hinders followability with varying wind conditions, while multi-rotor systems require improved efficiency and followability to maximize power generation.

Innovation Solution

A control system for wind power generation that simultaneously applies perturbations of different polarities to multiple wind turbine units to rapidly calculate and correct parameters such as pitch angle, yaw angle, or rotor-rotational-speed-control optimizing coefficients, enhancing the gradient of power generation outputs and improving followability with wind fluctuations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the SPSA method is applied to a single rotor wind power generation apparatus with sequential perturbation addition, then the optimum point can be searched for systematically, but the data acquisition time corresponds to two predetermined control cycles making prompt searching difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptimum point detection accuracyVSAvoiddata acquisition time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the perturbation addition process for multiple wind turbine units into a simultaneous operation. By adding perturbations to multiple units at the same time rather than sequentially, the system reduces the total data acquisition time while maintaining the ability to accurately detect optimum points through gradient calculation based on power generation output variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-calculating gradient information using simultaneously acquired data from multiple wind turbine units. This allows the system to prepare optimization decisions in advance based on current wind conditions, reducing the time lag between detecting wind condition changes and implementing optimal control adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Measurement precision

If the SPSA method requires time to search for the optimum point, then systematic optimization is achieved, but followability with respect to variations in wind conditions cannot be improved

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoptimum point identification accuracyVSAvoidfollowability with wind condition variations
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple wind turbine units into a single control system that performs simultaneous perturbation addition and gradient calculation. This merging allows the system to maintain accurate optimum point identification while improving followability by reducing the time required to detect and respond to wind condition changes through parallel data acquisition from multiple units.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements dynamics by enabling the control system to adaptively adjust parameters based on real-time gradient information obtained from simultaneously operating multiple wind turbine units. This dynamic approach allows the system to quickly track moving optimum points as wind conditions change, improving followability while maintaining optimization accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Power

If a multi-rotor wind power generation apparatus is used to increase power generation capacity, then high power generation capacity is achieved, but followability with respect to variations in wind conditions and operational efficiency at optimum points need improvement

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower generation capacityVSAvoidfollowability with wind condition variations
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the control operations of multiple wind turbine units into a unified system that simultaneously adds perturbations and calculates gradients. This approach maintains the high power generation capacity of multi-rotor configurations while improving followability by coordinating the optimization process across all units, allowing them to collectively track optimum points more efficiently as wind conditions vary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements universality by creating a control system that can simultaneously optimize multiple wind turbine units with the same control algorithm and perturbation addition mechanism. This multi-functional approach allows the system to maintain high power generation capacity across multiple units while efficiently adapting to wind condition variations through unified gradient-based optimization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3470666B1Control system for wind power generation apparatus, wind power generation apparatus, and control method
Publication Date: 2022.04.20 MITSUBISHI HEAVY IND LTD
  • EP3470666B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3470666B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3470666B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

To provide a control system for a wind power generation apparatus, a wind power generation apparatus, and a control method which have high followability with respect to variations in wind condition, can be efficiently operated at an optimum point, and can increase the amount of power generation. In a control system for a wind power generation apparatus 1 including a tower portion 3, a plurality of wind turbine units 5, and support members 4, the plurality of wind turbine units including a first wind turbine unit (a wind turbine unit 5A) and a second wind turbine unit (a wind turbine unit 5B), the control system includes: a perturbation addition unit configured to substantially simultaneously add perturbations respectively having different polarities to current set values of predetermined parameters for the first wind turbine unit and the second wind turbine unit; a measuring unit 6 configured to measure respective power generation outputs of the first wind turbine unit and the second wind turbine unit after the perturbations are added; a gradient calculation unit configured to calculate a gradient of the power generation outputs at the current set values; and a correction unit configured to correct the current set values of the predetermined parameters for the first wind turbine unit and the second wind turbine unit such that the gradient increases.