Wind Turbine Over-rating Control via Fatigue Monitoring

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wind turbines in power plants often fail to reach their rated output due to maintenance, varying wind conditions, and age, leading to potential damage from over-rating attempts to boost output.

Innovation Solution

A controller system that adjusts the output of wind turbines based on electricity pricing data, power plant age, and operator demand, while considering fatigue damage to individual components, allowing for safe over-rating to maximize revenue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If wind turbines operate at above rated power to boost total plant output, then productivity increases, but reliability deteriorates due to potential turbine damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetotal plant outputVSAvoidturbine safety

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the output setpoint of individual turbines based on real-time plant conditions, allowing turbines to operate above rated power when plant-level conditions permit while maintaining overall reliability. The controller continuously monitors total plant output and redistributes power demands dynamically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different turbines within the plant are assigned different output setpoints based on their individual conditions and the overall plant needs. Some turbines may operate above rated power while others operate at or below rated power, allowing localized optimization without compromising overall system reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Productivity

If wind turbines operate at rated power continuously, then productivity is maximized, but durability deteriorates due to accumulated fatigue damage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower outputVSAvoidturbine lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic variation in turbine operating conditions by adjusting output setpoints based on accumulated fatigue damage. When a turbine approaches its fatigue limit, the controller reduces its setpoint to allow recovery, then increases it again when conditions permit, creating a periodic pattern that extends overall turbine lifespan while maintaining productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The controller proactively monitors fatigue damage accumulation and adjusts output setpoints before critical damage levels are reached. By taking preliminary action to reduce load on turbines showing signs of excessive fatigue, the system prevents catastrophic failures and extends turbine service life.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Duration of action of stationary object

If wind turbines operate below rated power to reduce fatigue damage, then durability improves, but productivity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveturbine lifespanVSAvoidpower output

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes the operating parameters (output setpoint) of turbines based on their fatigue damage status. By dynamically adjusting the power output parameter, the controller optimizes the balance between extending turbine lifespan and maintaining productivity, allowing turbines to operate at higher outputs when fatigue damage is low and reducing outputs when fatigue damage accumulates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9599096B2Over-rating control of wind turbines and power plants

Publication Date: 2017.03.21 VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS AS

AI summary

A wind turbine power plant comprises a plurality of wind turbines, each having a rated output and under the control of a power plant controller. The power plant also has a rated output which may be over-rated in response to one or more electricity pricing data, power plant age and operator demand. This may comprise a schedule of output set point changes which effect seasonal or intraday changes in electricity prices or which reflect aging of the power plant. It may also reflect the price of electricity on spot or futures markets. Once the over-rating of the power plant has been set, the output may be increased by over-rating individual turbines or operating turbines at rated power if the sum of the rated outputs of the turbines exceeds or is equal to the new power plant output set point.