Supervisory Controller for Wind Turbine and Energy Storage Coordination

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional wind power plants lack coordinated control between wind turbines and energy storage devices, leading to inefficient operation, unnecessary wear on components, and instability in power grids due to the lack of synchronized control, which results in suboptimal power output and increased costs for ancillary services.

Innovation Solution

A supervisory controller dynamically computes separate power references for wind turbines and energy storage systems to optimize their combined response, allowing independent operation and modulation of active and reactive power to avoid mechanical resonances and enhance damping capabilities, thereby supporting the electrical grid with ancillary services.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If conventional independent control of wind turbines is used, then wind energy capture is maximized, but system stability and coordination with energy storage deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewind energy captureVSAvoidsystem stability
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the control of wind turbines and energy storage devices into a unified coordinated control system. The supervisory controller integrates control references for both wind turbines and energy storage devices, enabling them to operate as a unified virtual power plant that maintains system stability while capturing wind energy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The supervisory controller acts as an intermediary that receives control references and distributes them to both wind turbines and energy storage devices. It coordinates their operations by considering the state of charge and power output of energy storage devices when determining wind turbine control actions, thereby maintaining system stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If coordinated control is implemented, then system stability and operational efficiency improve, but control system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem stabilityVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The supervisory controller performs multiple functions: it controls wind turbines, manages energy storage devices, determines optimal power distribution, and maintains system stability. By consolidating these diverse control functions into a single multi-functional controller, the patent reduces overall system complexity despite the advanced coordination capabilities.

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

3Ease of operation

If wind turbines operate without considering energy storage conditions, then operational simplicity is maintained, but power output optimization and cost effectiveness deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational simplicityVSAvoidpower output optimization
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The supervisory controller continuously monitors the state of charge and power output of energy storage devices, and uses this feedback information to dynamically adjust control references for both wind turbines and energy storage devices. This feedback mechanism enables power output optimization while maintaining reasonable operational simplicity through automated control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2954605B1Power plant&energy storage system for provision of grid ancillary services
Publication Date: 2021.01.13 VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS AS
  • EP2954605B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2954605B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2954605B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to method for operating a power plant, with at least one wind turbine generator arranged for supplying power to an electrical grid, at least one energy storage device arranged for supplying power to the electrical grid, and a power plant controller, the method comprises, measuring repetitively measurement sets of at least one electrical parameter from the electrical grid, and calculating, in respect the measurement sets of the at least one electrical parameter, a change in active and/or a required change in reactive power at a point of common coupling, and calculating and dispatching of a first control reference signal to the at least one wind turbine generator and a second control reference signal to the at least one energy storage device,for providing ancillary service functionalities to the electrical grid. The invention also relates to a power plant with at least one wind turbine generator for supplying power to an electrical grid, at least one energy storage device for supplying power to the electrical grid, and a power plant controller for providing ancillary service functionalities to the electrical grid.