Wind Turbine Controller UPS Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines face challenges in maintaining consistent operational characteristics during voltage irregularities, as existing solutions like UPS devices are not comprehensive and require additional maintenance, leading to reduced capacity and accessibility issues.
Innovation Solution
A wind turbine control system with a turbine controller that transitions ancillary systems to a UPS while maintaining independent power supply for primary systems, using energy storage devices like capacitors to ensure continuous operation of critical systems during voltage fluctuations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a UPS device is incorporated into the wind turbine to provide backup power during voltage irregularities, then power supply continuity is improved, but device complexity and maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the turbine systems into primary and ancillary categories, with the UPS device specifically dedicated to powering ancillary systems only. This segmentation allows the primary systems to operate independently with their own power supply, reducing the burden on the UPS device and simplifying the overall power architecture while maintaining reliability for critical functions.
2Reliability
If the UPS device is used to power all turbine systems during voltage irregularities, then operational continuity is improved, but the UPS device requires increased capacity resulting in higher maintenance costs and reduced accessibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the power load into primary systems (which continue operating on main power) and ancillary systems (which transition to UPS power). This reduces the capacity requirements of the UPS device, making it smaller, more accessible, and easier to maintain while still ensuring operational continuity for critical ancillary functions.
3Reliability
If the turbine operates at reduced capacity during voltage irregularities to accommodate UPS power limitations, then power supply feasibility is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent maintains full turbine productivity by allowing primary systems to continue operating at full capacity on main power while only ancillary systems experience reduced capacity on UPS power. This segmentation ensures that the majority of turbine functions remain fully productive while the UPS supports only auxiliary operations.
4Stability of the object's composition
If ancillary systems are transitioned to UPS power during voltage irregularities, then operational stability is improved, but the control system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The turbine controller is pre-programmed with predetermined conditions that automatically trigger the transition of ancillary systems to UPS power when voltage irregularities are detected. This preliminary programming eliminates the need for complex real-time decision-making algorithms, simplifying the control system while ensuring operational stability through automatic, pre-planned responses.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach ensures consistent operational characteristics and reduces maintenance costs by minimizing the load on UPS devices and maintaining primary turbine system functionality during voltage irregularities, thereby enhancing the reliability and efficiency of wind turbine operations.
Implementation Method 1
A wind turbine control system with a turbine controller that transitions ancillary systems to a UPS while maintaining independent power supply for primary systems, using energy storage devices like capacitors to ensure continuous operation of critical systems during voltage fluctuations
Data Source
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AI summary
The disclosure describes implementations of methods, systems and apparatuses that are configured to facilitate normal operating characteristics for a wind turbine during normal operation, as well as during voltage irregularities. In an implementation, a turbine controller coordinates operating primary turbine systems and ancillary turbine systems during normal operation and during voltage irregularities. During normal operation, the turbine controller coordinates powering both primary and ancillary turbine systems through a power supply. During a detected voltage event, ancillary turbine systems may be transitioned to a having an uninterruptible power supply power these systems. However, the turbine controller coordinates maintaining the power supply as the sole powering device for primary turbine systems despite a voltage irregularity. In some implementations, when the power supply reaches a critical level during a voltage irregularity, a system fault flag is generated and the turbine blades may be driven into a full feather operational position.