Wind Turbine Fallback Power Control During Communication Loss

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Solution Overview

Problem

Communication loss between wind turbines and power plant controllers in wind power plants leads to shutdowns, affecting power generation and grid stability, necessitating a method to control wind turbines during such losses to minimize impact.

Innovation Solution

A method where wind turbines detect communication loss and enter a fallback operation mode, ramping power production to a predefined set point, allowing continued operation without unnecessary loading, with adjustable ramp rates and time delays to manage planned or unplanned losses.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the wind turbine closes down during communication loss, then the reliability of the control system is improved, but the power production and grid stability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol system reliabilityVSAvoidpower production

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The wind turbine controller is pre-configured with a fallback operation mode and predefined fallback set points that are activated automatically upon detection of communication loss. This preliminary preparation allows the turbine to continue operating without shutdown, maintaining power production while ensuring control reliability through the predefined safe operation parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The wind turbine controller independently manages its own operation during communication loss by detecting the communication failure and autonomously switching to fallback operation mode. The controller uses its own internal resources (predefined fallback set points stored in memory) to maintain safe operation without external intervention, thereby preserving both reliability and productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If the wind turbine continues operating during communication loss, then the power production is maintained, but the control precision and safety deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower productionVSAvoidcontrol precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Upon detecting communication loss, the controller changes the operational parameters by switching from normal operation (with real-time set points from the power plant controller) to fallback operation mode (with predefined fallback set points). This parameter change maintains power production while adapting to the reduced control precision by using conservative, pre-determined safe operation parameters.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The fallback operation mode uses simplified, pre-defined control parameters rather than complex real-time optimization. This approach accepts reduced control precision in exchange for maintaining continuous operation, effectively using a simpler, more robust control strategy that is sufficient for safe operation but not optimized for maximum efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the wind turbine ramps power production to fallback set point, then the grid stability is improved, but the power production loss increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrid stabilityVSAvoidpower production loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The controller ramps power production to the fallback set point rather than shutting down completely or maintaining full power. This partial action provides a compromise that contributes to grid stability through controlled power delivery while minimizing energy loss by maintaining as much production as safely possible under fallback conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS20240183335A1Operating a wind turbine in a wind power plant during loss of communication

Publication Date: 2024.06.06 VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS AS

AI summary

The invention relates to wind turbines, particularly to controlling a wind turbine during a communication loss between the wind turbine and the power plant controller. In case of communication loss, the wind turbine enters a fallback operation mode, wherein the wind turbine is ramping the power production of the wind turbine to a predefined fallback set point.