Wind Turbine Controller Adaptive Performance Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for assessing wind turbine performance improvements are time-consuming and resource-intensive, requiring multiple turbines and long testing periods to detect small changes, and are uncertain due to variable ambient conditions.
Innovation Solution
A controller system for wind turbines that rapidly cycles through different settings, records power output, and calculates summarized power outputs to determine if any setting results in a higher output, allowing for detection of small improvements over short periods with minimal disruption, even in the presence of noise sources like turbulence.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If the side by side method is used to monitor two turbines during reference and test periods, then measurement uncertainty and ambient condition variability are controlled, but testing time and resource consumption increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the testing process into multiple short cycles, each consisting of a reference period and a test period alternating in time. Instead of monitoring two turbines simultaneously for months, the system divides the time dimension into discrete segments where one turbine serves as reference and the other as test subject, then alternates their roles. This segmentation allows detection of small performance differences through statistical accumulation across many short cycles rather than requiring one long continuous test period.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action by alternating the roles of reference and test turbines in regular cycles. Each cycle consists of a reference period followed by a test period, and this pattern repeats multiple times. The periodic switching allows the system to accumulate statistically significant data while minimizing the impact of ambient condition variability, as each turbine experiences both reference and test conditions under similar environmental circumstances across different cycles.
2Reliability
If two turbines are monitored for months to detect small performance improvements, then statistical significance is achieved, but operational disruption and resource requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of two separate turbine monitoring systems into a single integrated testing framework. Instead of maintaining two independent long-term monitoring setups, the system combines the reference and test turbines into one coordinated experiment where data from both is processed together through a unified statistical analysis method. This merging reduces overall system complexity while maintaining the ability to detect small performance differences with high confidence.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses each turbine's own data to serve as its own control. The reference turbine provides the baseline performance data that the test turbine is compared against, and vice versa in alternating cycles. This self-service approach eliminates the need for external control systems or additional reference equipment, reducing complexity while maintaining statistical rigor through the mutual comparison of the two turbines under identical operational conditions.
3Measurement precision
If ambient conditions are controlled for in the testing method, then measurement accuracy improves, but the complexity of the testing procedure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ambient condition variability factor from the comparison equation through the alternating cycle design. By having both turbines operate under the same ambient conditions during their respective reference and test periods, and then alternating which turbine is being tested, the system effectively removes ambient conditions as a confounding variable. The statistical analysis focuses only on the performance difference attributable to the control setting change, eliminating the need for complex real-time ambient condition monitoring and adjustment procedures.
Data Source
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AI summary
A controller for a wind turbine is disclosed, comprising: a processor; an input/output interface; and a memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: i) select a setting xi from a list of settings X1,…,XN; ii) operate the turbine according to setting Xi for a period of time t1; iii) record a power output signal over t1; iv) repeat steps i) to iii) for another setting in X1,…,XN until all N settings have been used; v) repeat steps i) to iv) for a number of cycles c; vi) calculate a summarised power output for each setting over all cycles; and vii) compare the summarised power outputs across settings and determine whether any setting X* results in a higher power output than other settings tested. A method of identifying power production improvements in a wind turbine, a computer programme and a wind turbine are also disclosed.