Wind Turbine Power Consumption Control via Priority Allocation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines and wind farms face challenges in managing power consumption, leading to unpredictable and costly load changes, which strain the electrical supply network and result in high costs for operators due to simultaneous activation of thermal loads like blade heaters and generator dryers, often exceeding permitted reference power limits.
Innovation Solution
A method where wind turbines are prioritized in a predetermined sequence for power consumption, with the first turbine receiving reserved reference power, and subsequent turbines receiving reduced power based on available capacity, ensuring that the most critical installations are met first while minimizing overall network draw.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If all wind turbines activate thermal loads simultaneously to maintain operational readiness, then reliability of wind turbine operation is improved, but power consumption increases excessively and exceeds permitted reference power limits
Solution Approach 1:
The control method performs preliminary assessment of weather conditions and forecast data before activating thermal loads. By predicting upcoming weather changes that would require de-icing or heating, the system activates thermal loads in advance during periods of lower overall power consumption, rather than reacting simultaneously across all turbines when conditions deteriorate
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements periodic monitoring of weather conditions and forecast data at scheduled intervals, rather than continuous operation. Thermal loads are activated periodically based on assessed conditions, allowing the wind farm to cycle through periods of high and low power consumption, avoiding sustained maximum reference power draw
2Ease of operation
If wind turbines operate autonomously without centralized control, then ease of operation is improved, but power consumption becomes unpredictable and difficult to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The control method establishes a feedback loop where weather data, forecast information, and actual power consumption data are continuously collected and analyzed. This feedback enables the centralized control to adjust reference power allocations dynamically, improving predictability of overall power consumption while maintaining autonomous operation of individual turbines within their allocated limits
Solution Approach 2:
The centralized control system performs multiple functions: it monitors weather conditions, analyzes forecasts, calculates optimal reference power allocations, and communicates with individual turbines. This multi-functional approach consolidates previously scattered autonomous decisions into a unified system that maintains ease of operation while adding predictability through coordinated management
3Power
If wind turbines draw excess power beyond negotiated reference power, then power availability for thermal loads is improved, but costs increase significantly due to high tariffs
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of required reference power based on weather forecasts and operational needs before power consumption occurs. By planning thermal load activation in advance during low-demand periods, the wind farm avoids the need to draw expensive excess power during high-demand periods when tariffs are higher
Solution Approach 2:
The control method dynamically changes the reference power parameter allocated to individual turbines based on weather conditions, forecast data, and overall farm requirements. By adjusting these parameters proactively, the system optimizes the balance between power availability and cost, avoiding fixed high tariffs by operating within negotiated limits through flexible parameter management
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for controlling a power consumption of a group of a plurality of wind turbines (100), in particular of a wind park. The wind turbines (100) are prepared for feeding electrical energy into an electrical supply network (120). In a recurring cycle, the wind turbines (100) are each offered an energy supply for consumption, in a predetermined order successively and subject to a total park energy supply available to the wind turbine (100) for consumption. The respective wind turbine (100) reserves the offered energy supply, or a smaller one, and subsequent wind turbines (100) in the cycle are offered for energy consumption the park energy supply reduced by the already reserved energy supplies.