Wind Turbine Pitch Control Using Predictive Load Optimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine control systems struggle to optimize operations without adversely impacting other conditions, often leading to overcorrection or undercorrection, and fail to effectively manage fluctuating loads caused by environmental factors, which can damage turbine components.
Innovation Solution
A control system that utilizes a Model Predictive Control (MPC) framework to estimate current and future states of the wind turbine, define an optimization problem with a cost function and pitch constraint, and adjust rotor blade pitch parameters to improve control and reduce adverse behaviors, such as load and increase energy production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the control system adjusts the pitch angle to reduce loads on turbine components, then component reliability is improved, but energy production may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adjusts pitch angles based on real-time operating conditions and predicted future states. Rather than static pitch settings, the system continuously optimizes pitch angles to balance load reduction and energy capture, allowing the turbine to adapt to changing wind conditions while maintaining component reliability and maximizing energy production.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses predictive modeling to estimate future turbine states and anticipate load conditions before they occur. By proactively adjusting pitch angles based on predicted future conditions, the system can prevent excessive loads from developing while maintaining optimal energy capture, resolving the contradiction between reliability and productivity.
2Reliability
If the control system makes aggressive adjustments to optimize one condition, then that condition improves, but other conditions deteriorate due to overcorrection
Solution Approach 1:
The control system continuously monitors actual turbine performance and compares it with predicted states, using feedback to refine pitch angle adjustments. This closed-loop control prevents overcorrection by constantly verifying that adjustments are producing the desired effects and making minor refinements rather than aggressive changes, maintaining control stability while improving load management.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies partial adjustments to pitch angles rather than maximum corrections, using incremental changes that are sufficient to improve load conditions without causing overcorrection. This approach optimizes one condition while maintaining stability in other conditions by avoiding excessive control actions.
3Speed
If the control system uses simple control logic to respond quickly to load changes, then response speed is improved, but control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control system performs predictive calculations to estimate future turbine states and optimal pitch angles in advance, allowing it to prepare control actions before they are needed. This preliminary computation enables the system to respond quickly to load changes with precise, pre-calculated adjustments, achieving both fast response speed and high control precision simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a method for optimizing control of a wind turbine that includes receiving, via a control system, a condition of the wind turbine. The method also includes estimating a current state of the wind turbine using the condition. The method also includes calculating, via a model implemented by the control system, a linearized representation of an operation of the wind turbine for a future time interval following the current state. The method also includes defining an optimization problem to be solved. The method also includes determining a pitch adjustment factor for modifying the current state of the wind turbine. The method also includes calculating, via the optimization solver, an optimized pitch parameter for a rotor blade of the wind turbine. The method also includes adjusting a pitch parameter of the rotor blade to the optimized pitch parameter to improve control.