Wind Turbine Power Dissipation Storage Control During Grid Faults
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine systems face challenges in managing electrical energy during power grid faults, such as Low Voltage Ride Through (LVRT) events, where insufficient energy storage leads to power reduction or dissipation, and repeated low voltage events complicate thermal design and mechanical wear reduction.
Innovation Solution
A wind turbine facility with power dissipation/storage means and control means to determine and manage the allowed amount of electrical energy dissipation or storage, ensuring the total energy generated does not exceed the allowed capacity, and utilizing controllable switches and energy storage elements like capacitors or dump resistors to handle grid faults efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If power dissipation/storage means are used to handle excess energy during grid faults, then mechanical wear is reduced and grid stability is maintained, but the device complexity increases due to additional components and thermal design requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The power dissipation/storage means is designed to serve multiple functions: dissipating excess energy during grid faults, storing energy for later use, and providing thermal management for the converter system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing complexity while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the capacity and characteristics of the power dissipation/storage means based on operating conditions, particularly during grid faults. By changing parameters such as energy capacity and response characteristics, the system maintains grid stability without requiring permanently oversized components, thus managing device complexity.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the power dissipating device is thermally designed for the desired amount of energy to be dissipated, then energy management during grid faults is improved, but the number of successive low voltage events becomes a challenging design parameter due to cooling time requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The power dissipation/storage means is pre-configured with sufficient thermal capacity and energy storage capability to handle expected grid fault conditions. By preparing the system in advance with adequate thermal mass and storage capacity, the system can absorb successive low voltage events without requiring extended cooling periods between events, thus resolving the contradiction between energy dissipation capacity and cooling time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If full-scale power conversion arrangements are used with generator side converter and grid side inverter, then control flexibility is improved, but the cost and device complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The power dissipation/storage means serves multiple functions including energy dissipation, energy storage, and support for the power conversion system during grid faults. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve control flexibility without requiring separate dedicated components for each function, thereby managing the complexity introduced by full-scale power conversion arrangements.
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
The system effectively manages energy during grid faults, reducing mechanical wear, maintaining grid stability, and enabling efficient startup after faults, with benefits including decreased tower loadings, simplified pitch strategies, increased energy capture, and reduced converter costs.
Implementation Method 1
power dissipation/storage means being adapted to dissipate or store an amount of electrical energy from the generator means
Implementation Method 2
control means for determining an allowed amount of electrical energy that can be dissipated or stored in the power dissipation/storage means
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for operating a wind turbine facility during for example a grid fault, the wind turbine facility comprising power dissipation/storage means being adapted to dissipate or store electrical energy exceeding an amount to be delivered to an associated power supply grid during the grid fault, the method comprising the step of operating the wind turbine facility in accordance with an allowed amount of electrical energy that can be dissipated or stored in the power dissipation/storage means of the wind turbine facility by ensuring that a total amount of electrical energy generated by the wind turbine facility does not exceed a sum of the allowed amount and the amount to be delivered to the power supply grid.