Wind Turbine Oscillation Control via Energy Storage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines experience undesirable torsional vibrations and power oscillations during transient grid events, leading to mismatched torque and rotor inertia, which result in excessive power grid oscillations that exceed stability limits.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for controlling wind turbines that involves detecting oscillations post-transient events, storing peak-phase power in an energy storage device, and discharging it during valley phases to synchronize with oscillation duration and amplitude, thereby maintaining power output within defined tolerance bands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wind turbine remains connected to the power grid during transient events, then the reliability and continuity of power supply is improved, but torsional vibrations and power oscillations occur causing harmful effects on the drivetrain and grid stability
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs preliminary detection of transient events and preemptively adjusts generator torque and rotor speed before the full impact of the transient occurs. This anticipatory control prevents the severe torsional vibrations that would otherwise occur during grid faults, allowing the wind turbine to ride through transient events reliably while minimizing harmful oscillations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors grid voltage, generator torque, and rotor speed, using this feedback to dynamically adjust control parameters during transient events. This closed-loop control enables real-time suppression of torsional vibrations by modulating generator torque based on detected oscillations, maintaining reliability while reducing harmful effects.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the generator torque is reduced during voltage reduction, then the immediate harmful effect on the generator is minimized, but a mismatch with rotor inertia creates torsional vibrations when voltage returns to normal
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts generator torque and rotor speed based on real-time grid conditions, transitioning between different operational modes during transient events. This dynamic control strategy smooths the torque transition when voltage recovers, preventing the abrupt mismatch between generator torque and rotor inertia that causes torsional vibrations, while still protecting the generator during voltage dips.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (generator torque, rotor speed, power output) in response to grid voltage changes. During transient events, it modifies these parameters to reduce immediate generator stress, then carefully restores them to prevent torsional vibrations, thus resolving the contradiction between protecting the generator and avoiding subsequent oscillations.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the wind turbine power output is allowed to oscillate freely during transient recovery, then the natural response of the system is maintained, but the power oscillations exceed grid stability limits
Solution Approach 1:
The control system detects power oscillations during transient recovery and uses feedback control to modulate generator torque and active power output. This active damping suppresses oscillations that would otherwise exceed grid stability limits, while maintaining the essential system response characteristics needed for reliable operation during transient events.
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 effectively reduces power oscillations delivered to the grid, ensuring stable power production and compliance with grid code requirements by mitigating the effects of torsional vibrations, thus improving the wind turbine's ability to ride through transient events.
Implementation Method 1
storing at least a portion of a peak-phase power in an energy storage device operably coupled to the generator to establish a storage charge
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are provided for controlling a wind turbine. Accordingly, a controller of the wind turbine detects an oscillation in the power output of the wind turbine during a recovery from a transient event. In response to detecting the oscillation, a portion of the power output during a peak phase of the oscillation is stored in an energy storage device. A portion of the stored power is then discharged during a valley phase of the oscillation in order to reduce an amplitude of the oscillation of the power output that is delivered to the power grid.