Wind Turbine Derating Scheme for Component Safety and Power Output
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines often operate inefficiently due to predefined rated power limits of components, leading to underutilization of power generation capacity and increased costs from using components with higher ratings to maintain operational safety.
Innovation Solution
A de-rating scheme adjusts operating limits of wind turbine components based on environmental and operational conditions using interpolation of de-rating curves, ensuring operations stay within manufacturer-specified limits, with optional clamping to prevent exceeding rated values.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If predefined rated power limits are used for wind turbine components, then operational safety is ensured, but power generation capacity is underutilized and operation efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic adjustment of operating limits based on real-time environmental conditions (temperature, altitude, air density). Instead of using fixed predefined rated limits, the system continuously adapts the operating limits through derating curves that reflect actual environmental conditions, enabling the wind turbine to operate closer to component capabilities when conditions permit while maintaining safety margins when conditions are adverse.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operating parameters (power limits, speed limits, torque limits) based on environmental parameters (temperature, altitude, air density). By using derating curves that correlate environmental conditions with safe operating limits, the system optimizes the balance between safety and power generation capacity, allowing higher power output when environmental conditions are favorable and reducing limits when conditions are adverse.
2Reliability
If components with higher ratings are used to maintain operational safety, then reliability is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameters dynamically based on environmental conditions, allowing standard-rated components to operate safely at higher capacities when conditions permit. This eliminates the need to overspecify components with higher ratings, reducing system cost while maintaining reliability through adaptive limit adjustment rather than through component over-engineering.
3Productivity
If de-rating schemes provide operating limits greater than manufacturer maximum limits, then power generation efficiency is improved, but component damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors environmental conditions and adjusts operating limits in real-time using derating curves. This feedback mechanism ensures that operating limits never exceed safe thresholds defined by manufacturer ratings, while still maximizing power generation within those safe limits. The adaptive nature of the system allows efficient operation without compromising component safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operating parameters (power, speed, torque limits) based on environmental parameters, using derating curves that are specifically designed to stay within manufacturer-rated maximums. This allows the system to operate at higher efficiencies when conditions permit while automatically reducing limits to prevent component damage when environmental conditions approach adverse thresholds.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods 600 for controlling a wind turbine 100 are provided. An operating limit for a component of the wind turbine 100 can be determined 604 based on various environmental conditions (e.g. temperature, altitude, air density, wind speed, etc.) using a de-rating scheme. The operating limit determined using the de-rating scheme can be limited 606 based on a rated operational limit for the at least one component as specified, for instance, by the manufacturer of the component. The wind turbine 100 can be controlled 612 based on the operating limit. For instance, an operating condition of the wind turbine 100 can be controlled so as that operation of the wind turbine 100 does not cause an operational parameter (e.g. an electrical current) to exceed the operating limit determined for the component of the wind turbine 100.