Wind Turbine Speed Control Using Reserve Value

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Solution Overview

Problem

Wind turbines face challenges in efficiently controlling power generation at low wind speeds and preventing overload at high wind speeds, with existing control systems struggling to quickly adjust to changing wind conditions and experiencing yield losses due to wind dips.

Innovation Solution

A method for controlling wind turbines that incorporates a reserve value to adjust rotor state variables, allowing for larger control deflections by comparing target power or torque with instantaneous power or torque, and using this reserve value to correct control errors, enabling faster power adjustments and load management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If a conventional speed control system adjusts rotor state variables to maintain setpoint speed, then speed stability is improved, but the system responds slowly to changing wind conditions and cannot quickly adjust to power setpoint changes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveresponse speed to wind changesVSAvoidspeed control stability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The control system calculates a reserve value in advance by comparing target power/torque with instantaneous power/torque. This reserve value represents the available power margin before reaching limits. By preparing this information beforehand, the system can quickly adjust rotor state variables when wind conditions change, without compromising speed stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control system dynamically adjusts the rotor state variable (pitch angle or generator torque) based on the calculated reserve value. When reserve is available, the system can make larger deflections for faster response. When reserve is depleted, control returns to conventional stable operation. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between fast response and stability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Productivity

If the wind turbine operates at maximum power extraction, then productivity is improved, but the system cannot quickly respond to power setpoint changes requested by grid operators

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower generationVSAvoidresponse to power setpoint changes
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The control system continuously monitors instantaneous power/torque and compares it with target power/torque to calculate the reserve value. This feedback mechanism provides real-time information about available power margin, enabling the system to quickly adjust power output when grid operators request setpoint changes while maintaining optimal productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the rotor state variable (pitch angle or generator torque) based on the reserve value to enable rapid power adjustments. By modifying these parameters dynamically according to available reserve, the turbine can quickly respond to external power setpoint changes while maximizing power generation under normal conditions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If the wind turbine uses conventional speed control with constant blade angle in partial load operation, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but yield losses occur during short-term wind speed drops

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontrol system simplicityVSAvoidpower generation during wind dips
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The control system calculates the reserve value in advance by comparing target power with instantaneous power. This preliminary calculation identifies available power margin before wind speed drops occur. When wind speed decreases, the system can immediately utilize the pre-calculated reserve to maintain power generation, avoiding yield losses while keeping the control structure relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically adjusts the rotor state variable based on the reserve value to maintain power generation during wind speed variations. This parameter adjustment enables the turbine to respond to short-term wind dips without requiring complex control systems, thus maintaining ease of manufacture while improving productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

This approach enhances the speed control of wind turbines, allowing for more effective and rapid power adjustments, reducing yield losses, and preventing overload by enabling greater deflections of rotor state variables, thus improving operational efficiency and stability across varying wind conditions.

Implementation Method 1

Wind turbines are well-known; they generate electrical power from wind. They typically have a rotor with rotor blades that are moved by the wind.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWind power: Wind Power

Implementation Method 2

The rotor then rotates at a speed that also depends on the wind speed, driving a generator.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP4092264A1Method for operating a wind turbine, wind turbine, and wind farm
Publication Date: 2022.11.23 WOBBEN PROPERTIES GMBH
  • EP4092264A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4092264A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4092264A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine (100), an associated control structure (200, 300), an associated wind turbine (100), and a wind farm. The wind turbine (100) has an aerodynamic rotor (106) which is operated at a variable speed and which has rotor blades (108) whose blade angle is adjustable, wherein the wind turbine (100) is controlled in at least one operating range by a speed control in which the speed is regulated by adjusting a rotor state variable of the rotor blades (108) to a speed setpoint, called the setpoint speed.The speed control includes the use of a reserve value for setting the rotor state variable, whereby the reserve value is obtained from a comparison of a target power or target torque of the wind turbine with an instantaneous power or instantaneous torque of the wind turbine in the event that the wind turbine is not yet operating at the target power or target torque.