Wind Turbine Power Estimation via Vector Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for estimating available power in wind turbines are imprecise due to difficulties in measuring wind speed accurately, particularly with wind gusts and turbulence, leading to sub-optimal control and potential inefficiencies, especially when adjusting for noise reduction.
Innovation Solution
An automatic adjustment system for variable-speed wind turbines that generates a power vector, establishes relationships between output power, rotational speed, and pitch angle, estimates wind speed, and calculates available power using a wind speed estimator and available power calculator, allowing for real-time, accurate power estimation without human intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If wind speed is measured using an anemometer to estimate available power, then the estimation can be performed continuously, but the measurement precision is poor due to wind gusts, turbulence, and positioning issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary calculation approach: instead of directly measuring wind speed with an anemometer, the system uses the measured power output as an intermediary to back-calculate the effective wind speed. The controller calculates available power based on measured power and operational parameters (rotor speed, pitch angle), then derives wind speed from this calculated power value, which serves as a more reliable intermediary than direct anemometer measurement
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously comparing measured power with calculated available power, using the discrepancy to adjust wind speed estimates. The controller repeatedly performs calculations using updated measurements of power, rotor speed, and pitch angle, creating a closed-loop feedback mechanism that improves estimation accuracy over time while maintaining continuous operation
2Measurement precision
If manual adjustment procedures are used to estimate available power from generated power, then the estimation can account for multiple factors, but the process is complex and time-consuming with accumulated errors
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-service by automatically calculating available power and adjusting wind speed estimates without manual intervention. The controller autonomously executes the entire process: measuring operational parameters, calculating available power using stored relationships, comparing with measured power, and updating wind speed estimates. This eliminates the need for complex manual procedures and prevents human error accumulation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-storing the relationships between power, rotational speed, and pitch angle in the controller's memory during a calibration phase. These pre-calculated relationships are then used during operation to quickly determine available power without requiring complex real-time calculations, simplifying the ongoing adjustment process while maintaining accuracy
3Object-affected harmful factors
If rotational velocity is reduced based on incorrect wind speed estimates to reduce noise, then noise levels decrease, but the wind turbine operates at reduced efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback to continuously monitor the relationship between measured power and calculated available power, adjusting wind speed estimates in real-time. This feedback mechanism ensures that rotational velocity adjustments for noise reduction are based on accurate power estimates rather than incorrect wind speed measurements, preventing unnecessary efficiency losses while still achieving noise reduction goals
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes operational parameters (rotational speed, pitch angle) based on accurately estimated available power rather than fixed or incorrectly measured wind speed values. By using calculated available power as the basis for parameter adjustments, the system can optimize the balance between noise reduction and efficiency, making precise parameter changes that maintain productivity while reducing aerodynamic noise
Data Source
AI summary
An automatic adjustment system for a variable-speed wind turbine is provided, having a power vector generator for generating a power vector (Pvec) of wind turbine output power; a mapping unit for establishing relationships (βvec, ωvec) between wind turbine output power and rotational speed and pitch angle on the basis of the power vector (Pvec) and an operational trajectory of the wind turbine; a wind speed estimator for estimating a wind speed (vest); an available power calculator for calculating the available power (Pest) of the wind turbine on the basis of the estimated wind speed (vest) and the established relationships (βvec, ωvec). A method of performing automatic analysis of a wind turbine configuration, a computer program product for carrying out the steps of such a method, and a wind turbine having such an automatic adjustment system are also provided.