Wind Turbine Degradation-Based Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind power plant monitoring and control systems fail to distinguish between wind turbine generators with high and low degradation levels, leading to inefficient output limitation and reduced plant lifespan.
Innovation Solution
A monitoring and control apparatus that estimates degradation levels of wind turbine generators, groups them based on these levels, and prioritizes reducing active power from high-degradation groups during utility grid requests, thereby extending the lifespan of the wind power plant.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all wind turbine generators are controlled uniformly for output limitation, then the utility grid's active power request is met, but the life of the wind power plant cannot be extended due to lack of differentiation between high and low degradation units
Solution Approach 1:
The wind turbine generators are segmented into multiple groups based on their degradation levels (high, medium, low). This segmentation allows differentiated control strategies to be applied to each group, enabling the system to extend plant life by prioritizing protection of low-degradation units while still meeting grid requirements through controlled reduction of high-degradation units.
Solution Approach 2:
Different control qualities are applied to different segments of the wind turbine population. Low-degradation units maintain normal operation with minimal output limitation, while high-degradation units receive aggressive output limitation. This local differentiation optimizes the overall plant life without compromising grid compliance.
2Reliability
If active power is reduced from all wind turbine generators simultaneously, then the utility grid's active power reduction request is satisfied, but rapid active power changes occur causing grid disruption
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary grouping of wind turbine generators by degradation level before implementing output limitation. This preliminary classification enables a staged reduction approach where high-degradation units are reduced first, allowing the grid to adapt to power changes more gradually and reducing disruptive rapid transitions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts output limitation based on real-time degradation assessments and grid conditions. By making the control strategy adaptive rather than static, the system can smooth power transitions and respond flexibly to both plant status and grid requirements, minimizing disruptive changes.
3Reliability
If wind turbine generators with high degradation are not prioritized for output limitation, then operational simplicity is maintained, but the life of the wind power plant cannot be extended
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous monitoring of wind turbine generator degradation levels and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust output limitation strategies. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables intelligent differentiation between high and low degradation units, extending plant life through data-driven decisions while automating the complexity management.
Solution Approach 2:
The monitoring and control system automatically performs degradation assessment, grouping, and output limitation allocation without requiring manual intervention. This self-service capability manages the inherent system complexity through automation, allowing the plant to benefit from sophisticated differentiation strategies without proportional increases in operational burden.
Data Source
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Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
It is an object to extend the life of a wind power plant while controlling active power output in response to a request from a utility grid. A monitoring and control apparatus (3) applied to a wind-power generation system including a plurality of wind turbine generators includes an estimating section (31) that estimates degradation levels of the wind turbine generators; a grouping section (32) that groups the wind turbine generators on the basis of the degradation levels to form wind turbine generator groups; and an electric-power control unit (33) that controls, upon receiving an active power reduction request from a utility grid side, reduction of the active power of wind turbine generators included in a high-degradation wind turbine generator group, which is a wind turbine generator group including wind turbine generators with a high level of degradation, prior to wind turbine generators included in the other wind turbine generator groups other than the high-degradation wind turbine generator group.