Wind Turbine Overspeed Control Strategy Selection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wind turbine shutdown strategies during rotational overspeed events lead to increased loading, reduced availability, and lower power output, as they are conservative and do not consider optimal control strategies based on current operational and environmental conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method that determines the current state of the wind turbine, uses a turbine model to predict loads and power output for multiple control strategies, and selects the strategy that meets target criteria such as reduced loads and maximized power output, allowing for optimized operation without immediate shutdown.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the wind turbine is shut down using conventional shutdown strategies during rotational overspeed events, then safety is improved and critical speeds are prevented, but component loads increase due to fatigue cycles from significant changes in operation point and power output is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically selects between multiple control strategies (full shutdown, partial shutdown, or continued operation with monitoring) based on real-time assessment of operational parameters and environmental conditions. This dynamic approach replaces the static conventional shutdown strategy, allowing the turbine to maintain optimal operation when safety conditions are met while still responding appropriately to overspeed events.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes operational parameters (pitch angle, generator torque, rotor speed limits) based on the selected control strategy. Instead of always transitioning to the same shutdown state, the system adjusts parameters dynamically to achieve the appropriate balance between safety and power output based on current conditions.
2Reliability
If the wind turbine is shut down using conventional shutdown strategies during rotational overspeed events, then critical speeds are prevented, but availability is reduced due to discontinued operation
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically determines whether shutdown is necessary by assessing current operational and environmental conditions against safety criteria. This dynamic decision-making process prevents unnecessary shutdowns, maintaining turbine availability when safety conditions are satisfied while still providing protective shutdown when truly needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors operational parameters and environmental conditions, using this feedback to determine the appropriate control strategy. This feedback mechanism allows the system to distinguish between benign overspeed events that don't require shutdown and critical events that do, thereby maintaining availability while ensuring safety.
3Reliability
If the wind turbine is shut down using conventional shutdown strategies during rotational overspeed events, then safety is improved, but loads on wind turbine components increase due to significant change in operation point from high bending to low bending
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically assesses whether the overspeed event warrants shutdown by evaluating operational parameters and environmental conditions. When conditions indicate safety is not compromised, the system maintains smooth operation, avoiding the abrupt transition that causes damaging load cycles. This dynamic approach replaces the static shutdown strategy that always causes significant operation point changes.
Solution Approach 2:
The system prepares for potential shutdown by having multiple control strategies ready, but only executes shutdown when truly necessary. When continued operation is safe, the system maintains steady operation, cushioning against the damaging effects of abrupt shutdown. The gradual transition between strategies minimizes load shocks to components.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
It is described a method of controlling at least one wind turbine (15) in case of a rotational overspeed situation, the method comprising: determining a current state related to the wind turbine (15); providing data related to the current state as input to a turbine model (29); predicting a load of at least one wind turbine component (23, 31) and power output of the wind turbine using the turbine model provided with the input for plural control strategies; comparing the predicted load and power output for the plural control strategies; and selecting that control strategy among the plural control strategies that satisfies a target criterion comprising the load and the power output.