Wind Turbine Tower Damping via Rotor Speed Feedback Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines with taller towers, which are beneficial for greater power production, face instability due to dynamic interactions between tower movement and rotor speed, leading to challenges in controlling power production effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method and controller that determine dynamic state information, including tower frequency, to calculate control loop gain values, generating control signals for rotor speed control, thereby mitigating instability and allowing for more aggressive tuning of wind turbines for increased power production.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If taller towers are used to support larger diameter rotors and reduce ground effects, then power production increases, but tower flexibility increases causing dynamic interactions and control instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control mechanism where tower motion is measured by sensors (accelerometers, gyroscopes, or position sensors) and this information is fed back to the controller. The controller adjusts rotor speed or blade pitch in real-time to counteract tower motion, thereby stabilizing the system despite the flexibility of taller towers. This closed-loop feedback enables the system to maintain control stability while utilizing taller towers for increased power production.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent dynamically changes control parameters (such as rotor speed reference or blade pitch angle) based on measured tower motion states. When tower motion is detected, the controller modifies operational parameters to compensate for the dynamic interactions, allowing the system to adapt to varying tower flexibility conditions and maintain stable control across different tower heights and operating conditions.
2Use of energy by moving object
If tower height is increased to support larger rotors, then energy capture improves, but dynamic interactions between tower motion and rotor speed create instability
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors tower motion through sensors and feeds this information back to the controller, which adjusts rotor speed or pitch in real-time. This feedback loop ensures reliable control by compensating for dynamic interactions caused by tower flexibility, maintaining system reliability even with taller towers that capture more energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic control strategies where control parameters are continuously adjusted based on real-time tower motion measurements. The controller adapts rotor speed references or blade pitch angles dynamically to account for varying tower flexibility and operating conditions, ensuring reliable control while maximizing energy capture from taller tower configurations.
3Ease of operation
If blade pitching is used to control power production by counteracting aerodynamic torque, then power control is achieved, but forces on the tower change affecting tower motion and creating dynamic interactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the tower motion damping function with the existing power control system by integrating tower motion measurements into the rotor speed or pitch control loops. Rather than adding a completely separate control system, the tower damping functionality is combined with the power production control, allowing simultaneous management of power output and tower stability through a unified control approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is designed to perform multiple functions: it simultaneously controls power production through blade pitching and dampens tower motion through coordinated rotor speed or pitch adjustments. This multi-functional control approach reduces overall system complexity by using a single integrated controller to manage both power control and tower stabilization objectives.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for wind turbine tower damping is disclosed, as well as an associated controller and wind turbine. The method comprises determining, using one or more sensor signals, dynamic state information for a tower of a wind turbine during power production, wherein the dynamic state information comprises a tower frequency. The method further comprises determining at least one control loop gain value using the tower frequency, and generating, using the at least one control loop gain value, one or more control signals for controlling a rotational speed of a rotor of the wind turbine.