Wind Turbine Operating Mode Scheduling for Lifetime Deviation Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine operation methods struggle to optimally balance energy production and lifetime consumption under varying environmental conditions, leading to suboptimal performance in certain situations.
Innovation Solution
A method for determining a sequence of operating modes that considers both estimated and current parameters to dynamically adjust the wind turbine's operation, allowing deviations from the optimal sequence to account for real-time conditions and optimize energy production or revenue while ensuring the turbine's longevity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the rotor is stopped by applying a mechanical braking force using a brake disc and brake pads, then the rotor can be stopped, but wear of the brake pads occurs and maintenance is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical brake pad-disc friction system with an electromagnetic braking system. Electromagnetic brakes use magnetic fields to apply braking force without physical contact between moving parts, eliminating wear. The electromagnetic brake generates a magnetic field that attracts the brake disc, creating frictionless or minimal-contact braking that does not consume brake pads.
2Ease of operation
If a pitch control system is used to control the rotor, then the rotor can be controlled, but the pitch control system represents a complex and expensive structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex pitch control system from the wind turbine. Instead of using pitch control to regulate rotor speed and power output, the invention directly controls the generator's electromagnetic field or stator windings to achieve speed and power regulation without needing to physically adjust blade pitch angles. This eliminates the pitch actuators, sensors, and control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical pitch control system with an electromagnetic control system. Rather than mechanically rotating the blades to change pitch angles, the system uses electromagnetic fields in the generator to control power output and rotor speed, substituting mechanical complexity with electrical control.
3Ease of operation
If a yaw control system is used to control the rotor, then the rotor can be oriented properly, but the yaw control system represents a complex and expensive structure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the complex yaw control system from the wind turbine. Instead of using active yaw control to orient the rotor, the invention relies on passive alignment through the wind turbine's structural design or simplified orientation mechanisms, eliminating the need for complex yaw motors, sensors, and control systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical yaw control system with an electromagnetic or passive orientation system. Rather than using motors and mechanical actuators to rotate the entire nacelle and rotor assembly, the system uses electromagnetic fields or simplified mechanical means to achieve proper orientation, reducing complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances energy production and revenue generation while maintaining the turbine's lifetime by aligning actual operating modes with long-term optimization goals, addressing the challenges of varying environmental conditions and external parameters.
Implementation Method 1
a generator (302) connected to the rotor (301) and configured to generate electricity from rotation of the rotor (301)
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A method of operating a wind turbine (100) is provided, wherein the wind turbine (100) is operable in plural different operating modes (41-46) that differ by at least one of lifetime consumption of the wind turbine and energy production by the wind turbine. A sequence (305; 741-745) of operating modes is determined for a future period of time (301), wherein an optimization parameter (op) is estimated based on an estimated external parameter (ep). A sequence (305) of operating modes is selected for which the optimization parameter meets an optimization target. The method further includes obtaining a current value (705) for the consumed lifetime of the wind turbine (100)and determining an actual operating mode for the wind turbine (100) for a current point in time (702) under consideration of a deviation (720) between the current value (705) of the consumed lifetime and a consumed lifetime expected for operation in the selected sequence (305) of operating modes. The wind turbine (100) is operated in the determined actual operating mode.