Wind Turbine Sector Control Strategy for Power Production
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wind turbines are limited by simple control strategies that result in complete shutdown at high wind speeds, leading to reduced power production and potential negative impacts on the power grid, while not fully utilizing their design capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A method and control system that divide the wind direction into sectors, defining sector control strategies based on expected wind loads, allowing for dynamic control of wind turbine settings such as blade pitch and generator power to optimize power production while maintaining safety within design limits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If complete shutdown control strategy is used at high wind speeds, then safety is ensured, but power production is reduced and power grid stability is negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The wind direction range is divided into multiple sectors, each with its own control strategy. This segmentation allows the turbine to apply different control approaches for different wind directions, enabling continuous operation in some sectors while shutting down in others, thus maintaining safety while preserving power production capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control strategy dynamically adjusts based on the current wind sector. Instead of a static complete shutdown threshold, the system continuously monitors wind direction and applies sector-specific control strategies, allowing the turbine to adapt its operation in real-time to maintain both safety and productivity.
2Reliability
If complete shutdown is implemented at high wind speeds, then structural safety is maintained, but economic performance deteriorates due to reduced power production
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the wind direction range into sectors with different control strategies, the system can maintain structural safety in high-load sectors while continuing to generate power in lower-load sectors, thereby preserving economic performance without compromising structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different control strategies are applied to different wind sectors based on their specific characteristics. This local quality approach allows the turbine to optimize its operation for each sector, maintaining safety where needed while maximizing power production where conditions permit, thus improving overall economic performance.
3Device complexity
If simple shutdown control based on fixed wind speed is used, then control system complexity is minimized, but adaptability to varying wind conditions from different directions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into multiple sector-specific control strategies, each tailored to handle wind conditions from specific directions. This segmentation enhances adaptability to varying wind conditions while keeping each individual sector controller relatively simple, managing overall complexity through modular design.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system incorporates a universal framework that handles multiple wind sectors with different strategies. This multi-functional approach allows a single control system to adapt to various wind conditions from different directions, enhancing versatility without requiring completely separate control systems for each sector.
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
Enables continuous power production even in challenging weather conditions, reduces unnecessary shutdowns, and improves the economic performance of wind turbines by utilizing sector-specific control strategies that account for varying wind conditions.
Implementation Method 1
A wind turbine obtains power by converting the force of the wind into torque acting on the drive train, i.e. on the rotor blades
Implementation Method 2
torque acting on the drive train, i.e. on the rotor blades and thus on the main shaft and thereby typically on an electrical generator rotated by the main shaft
Data Source
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Figure 3
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AI summary
For optimising annual energy production in a wind turbine, the invention provides a method by which operation of the turbine in accordance with different pre-specified modes depending on the wind direction towards the turbine is enabled. The modes may include pitch and/or power control strategies. The invention further provides a control system for a wind turbine adapted to operate in accordance with the method, and a wind turbine with such a control system.