Wind Turbine Feedforward Control for Gust Mitigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines face challenges in maximizing energy output while minimizing loads under varying wind conditions, particularly during gusts, which can lead to over-speeding and extreme design constraint violations, despite existing monitoring and control mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for feedforward control of wind turbines using wind preview parameters, which predicts extreme events and adjusts control parameters in real-time to prevent violations of design constraints, incorporating a wind turbine control subsystem with data acquisition, model generation, extreme event management, and feedback/feedforward control mechanisms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If aggressive braking is employed to prevent over-speeding during gusty winds, then speed constraint violations are avoided, but mechanical loading of the wind turbine increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by predicting extreme wind events using LIDAR before they occur and proactively adjusting pitch angles and torque in advance. This prevents the need for aggressive reactive braking, thereby avoiding mechanical loading while maintaining speed constraint compliance
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements continuous feedback by monitoring actual wind conditions, rotor speed, and pitch angle deviations in real-time. This feedback loop enables dynamic adjustment of control parameters to prevent over-speeding without requiring aggressive braking, thus maintaining reliability while reducing mechanical stress
2Ease of operation
If existing monitoring and control mechanisms are used during gusty winds, then normal operation is maintained, but over-speeding and extreme design constraint violations occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses LIDAR to detect approaching extreme wind events before they affect the turbine and preemptively adjusts pitch angles and torque. This preliminary action maintains normal operation during non-extreme conditions while ensuring constraint compliance during gusts by acting in advance
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary prediction layer using LIDAR and a prediction model that bridges the gap between normal operation monitoring and extreme event response. This intermediary enables smooth transitions and proactive control adjustments without disrupting normal operation
Data Source
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AI summary
A method 500 for constrained control of a wind turbine includes receiving 502 a plurality of operating parameters corresponding to the wind turbine. The plurality of operating parameters includes a wind preview parameter and a plurality of constraint parameters. The method further includes generating 504 a constraint parameter estimate corresponding to a future time instant for at least one constraint parameter of the plurality of constraint parameters based on the plurality of operating parameters and a wind preview model. The method also includes predicting 506 an extreme event corresponding to the at least one constraint parameter based on the constraint parameter estimate. The method includes determining 508 a control parameter value corresponding to a wind turbine control parameter among a plurality of wind turbine control parameters. The method also includes operating 510 the wind turbine using a feedforward control technique based on the control parameter value to circumvent the extreme event.