Wind Turbine Control Software Modules for Faster Certification
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind turbine operations are inflexible due to lengthy and costly certification processes required for adjusting hardware components, which limits the ability to adapt to changing framework conditions such as political decisions, environmental regulations, and network operator requirements.
Innovation Solution
A modular software architecture for wind turbines, utilizing software modules with configurable communication inputs and outputs, allows for flexible integration of new components by updating a configuration list, enabling seamless communication and operation without re-certifying the entire software system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the operating software is adjusted to accommodate new hardware components or operating modes, then the wind turbine can adapt to changing framework conditions, but the certification process becomes lengthy and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The operating software is divided into multiple independent software modules, each performing a specific partial task. This segmentation allows individual modules to be updated and certified independently rather than requiring full system re-certification, thereby reducing certification time and costs while maintaining adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The software modules are designed with standardized communication inputs and outputs that can interface with various hardware components. This universal interface design allows the same software modules to work with different hardware configurations without requiring custom development, enabling adaptation to changing conditions through module replacement rather than full software redesign.
2Productivity
If hardware components are modified to optimize specific operating modes, then the wind turbine performance improves, but the entire operating software must be re-certified
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the software into independent modules with standardized interfaces, the system allows hardware modifications to be accommodated by updating only the relevant software modules rather than the entire software system. This reduces certification complexity while maintaining performance optimization capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized communication inputs and outputs act as intermediaries between hardware components and software modules. This intermediary layer decouples hardware-specific implementations from the core software logic, allowing hardware changes to be absorbed by the interface layer without propagating complexity to the certified software core.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the operating software is updated to include new operating modes, then the wind turbine can respond to changing framework conditions, but hardware adjustments are also required which further complicate the process
Solution Approach 1:
Software modules are designed with universal communication inputs and outputs that can interface with multiple types of hardware components through standardized protocols. This allows new operating modes to be implemented through software module updates alone, without requiring corresponding hardware modifications, thereby reducing integration complexity while maintaining operational flexibility.
4Reliability
If comprehensive tests are performed on the operating software for certification, then safety is ensured, but the process becomes very lengthy and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The software is segmented into independent modules that can be certified individually. This allows comprehensive safety testing to be performed on each module separately rather than requiring exhaustive testing of the entire software system, thereby maintaining safety standards while significantly reducing overall certification time and costs.
Solution Approach 2:
The standardized communication interfaces between software modules enable automated testing and validation frameworks that provide feedback on module compatibility and correctness. This systematic approach ensures safety through structured verification while reducing the manual testing effort required, thereby shortening the certification process.
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure relates to a method for operating a wind turbine. The method comprises providing several software modules as an operating software for operating the wind turbine, wherein the software modules each have at least one communications input and/or at least one communications output, as well as providing a configuration list with several entries, wherein the entries assign to a respective communications input of a software module a communications output of another software module. For each entry, the method further comprises transmitting information of the respective entry to a software module of the software modules with at least one communications input which allows the software module to access data of the communications output of another software module, which in the entry is assigned to the communications input, and operating the wind turbine with the software modules. The disclosure further relates to a computer program product, a wind turbine controller for a wind turbine, and a wind turbine with a controller.