Wind Turbine Spinning Reserve Control With Selectable Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional methods for calculating available power in wind turbines for spinning reserve mode are inaccurate, leading to challenges in maintaining a high-accuracy spinning reserve.

Innovation Solution

A method to calculate an available power of a wind turbine in spinning reserve mode, define a reliability band around the calculated power, select a reliability factor, and determine a power setpoint based on the reliability band and factor to tailor the spinning reserve to a user's reliability preference.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional available power calculations are used, then the spinning reserve can be maintained, but the accuracy of the available power calculation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespinning reserve reliabilityVSAvoidavailable power calculation accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a reliability band parameter that expands around the calculated available power value. This reliability band is defined based on historical data showing the difference between calculated and real available power. By adding this parameter, the system acknowledges the inherent inaccuracy in conventional calculations and provides a range within which the real available power is expected to fall, thus maintaining spinning reserve reliability without claiming false precision in the calculation itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where historical data from previous operations (comparing calculated versus real available power) is used to define the reliability band. This feedback loop allows the system to continuously improve its estimation by learning from past discrepancies between calculated and actual power availability, thereby enhancing the accuracy and reliability of future spinning reserve calculations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the reliability band is widened to account for calculation inaccuracies, then the spinning reserve reliability improves, but the power production capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespinning reserve reliabilityVSAvoidpower production capability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent makes the reliability band dynamic by adjusting its width based on current operating conditions and historical data. The band is not fixed but adapts to reflect the actual variability in power availability under different wind conditions and operational states. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to maintain appropriate reliability margins without unnecessarily reducing power production capability when conditions are stable and predictable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of reliability band width based on the desired reliability level and current operational context. By allowing the reliability band to be adjusted as a variable parameter rather than a fixed value, the system can optimize the balance between ensuring sufficient spinning reserve reliability and maintaining maximum power production capability under different conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If the calculated available power is used directly as the reliable available power, then the power setpoint calculation is simplified, but the accuracy of the spinning reserve deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system complexityVSAvoidspinning reserve accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the reliability band as an intermediary element between the calculated available power and the final power setpoint determination. Instead of using the calculated power directly or requiring complex corrections, the reliability band serves as a mediating structure that incorporates the uncertainty and variability in a straightforward manner. This intermediary approach maintains relative simplicity in the control system while significantly improving spinning reserve accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4678909A1Wind turbine spinning reserve with selectable confidence level
Publication Date: 2026.01.14 VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS AS
  • EP4678909A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4678909A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4678909A1 patent drawingFigure 3A

AI summary

Control techniques for controlling a reliability of a spinning reserve of a wind turbine to be tailored to a user's reliability preference are disclosed. In one aspect, a control technique includes operating a wind turbine in a spinning reserve mode to provide a spinning reserve; calculating an available power of the wind turbine when operating in the spinning reserve mode; defining a reliability band around the calculated available power; selecting a reliability factor that defines a probability that a reliable available power within the reliability band is below the real available power; determining the reliable available power based on the selected reliability factor and the reliability band; determining a power setpoint for the wind turbine based on a difference between a desired spinning reserve and the determined reliable available power; and controlling the wind turbine to operate in the spinning reserve mode in accordance with the power setpoint.