Wind Turbine Gust Detection and Control Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional protection control schemes for wind turbines lead to frequent shutdowns and increased component loading due to sudden changes in wind speed and direction, resulting in reduced availability and higher operational stress.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that monitor wind speed and direction, determine a wind gust threshold, and implement corrective actions such as shutdown or derating by filtering and processing these parameters to detect and respond to extreme wind conditions effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional protection control schemes shut down the wind turbine when wind direction or wind speed exceeds predetermined threshold limits, then the wind turbine components are protected from extreme loading, but the wind turbine availability is reduced due to frequent shutdowns
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by detecting wind gusts early using a combination of wind speed and wind direction monitoring with filtering and mathematical processing. The gust detection algorithm calculates a gust indicator in advance, allowing the control system to prepare and respond before extreme conditions fully develop, thereby protecting components while avoiding unnecessary shutdowns
2Device complexity
If conventional protection control schemes use simple threshold limits for wind speed or wind direction, then the control system is simple to implement, but the system produces false trips and unnecessary shutdowns due to stochastic wind variations
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary gust detection algorithm that processes wind speed and wind direction data through filtering and mathematical transformations. This intermediary processing layer combines multiple parameters (filtered wind speed, filtered wind direction, sine calculations) to generate a more reliable gust indicator, reducing false trips while maintaining reasonable system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring both wind speed and wind direction, filtering the signals, and using the combined information to adjust the gust detection threshold dynamically. The feedback loop compares the calculated gust indicator against the threshold and adjusts control actions accordingly, improving trip accuracy without requiring overly complex hardware
Data Source
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AI summary
A system 150 and method 100 for protecting a wind turbine 10 from extreme wind gusts includes monitoring 102,104 a wind speed and a wind direction at the wind turbine 10. The method 100 also includes determining 106 a wind gust threshold, wherein wind speeds and wind directions exceeding the wind gust threshold, respectively, are indicative of an extreme wind gust occurring at the wind turbine 10. In addition, the method 100 includes comparing 108, via a controller 26, the monitored wind speed or a function thereof and the wind direction or function thereof to the wind gust threshold, respectively. Thus, the method 100 includes implementing 112, via the controller 26, a corrective action when the monitored wind speed and the monitored wind direction exceed the wind gust threshold, respectively.