Wind Turbine Trip Reduction Tool Capacitor Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind turbines experience costly downtime due to trip faults in power converters, which are difficult to troubleshoot and require expensive repairs, and conventional systems provide minimal ride-through capabilities.
Innovation Solution
A trip reduction tool with a capacitor assembly providing multiple capacitance levels, monitored by processors to detect and analyze trip locations, determining and applying a second capacitance level to reduce future trips, and including sensors and communication with external software for data export.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If conventional relay coil circuits are used with minimal capacitance, then the system responds quickly to voltage drops (within 4ms), but the system provides minimal ride-through capability and experiences frequent hard trips
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies beforehand cushioning by installing a capacitor assembly across the relay coil circuit before voltage drops occur. The capacitor assembly stores electrical energy that can be discharged to maintain voltage during brief interruptions, cushioning the circuit against hard trips. The system includes multiple capacitance levels (first level during learning phase, second level during operation) that provide this protective cushioning effect, allowing the relay coil to maintain operation during transient voltage drops that would otherwise cause unwanted trips.
2Measurement precision
If the relay coil is made hypersensitive to detect faults quickly, then fault detection speed improves, but the system disconnects too readily and loses ride-through capability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by introducing a capacitor assembly as a mediator between the relay coil and the voltage source. The capacitor assembly acts as a buffer that decouples the hypersensitive relay coil from direct voltage fluctuations. When voltage drops occur, the capacitor maintains voltage to the relay coil, preventing false disconnections while still allowing the relay to detect actual faults. This intermediary component allows the relay to maintain its hypersensitivity without the adverse effect of excessive trip frequency.
3Reliability
If capacitance is increased to improve ride-through capability, then hard trips are reduced, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the capacitance value adjustable rather than fixed. The capacitor assembly can operate at different capacitance levels: a first level during a learning phase when the system is monitoring and analyzing trip patterns, and a second level during normal operation. This dynamic adjustment allows the system to optimize ride-through capability based on actual operating conditions and learned characteristics, reducing the need for excessive capacitance and associated complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies feedback by implementing a learning phase where the system monitors voltage drops and trip events, analyzes the data to determine appropriate capacitance levels, and then adjusts the capacitor assembly accordingly. The processor collects data during the learning phase, determines optimal capacitance values based on observed patterns, and configures the capacitor assembly to provide appropriate ride-through capability. This feedback-driven approach ensures capacitance is optimized based on actual system needs rather than using excessive fixed capacitance.
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
The tool effectively reduces hard trips, aids in troubleshooting, and enhances ride-through capabilities by identifying weak links and providing appropriate capacitance to prevent abrupt shutdowns, thereby minimizing downtime and repair costs.
Implementation Method 1
a capacitor assembly configured to provide multiple capacitance levels for the electrical circuit
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
A trip reduction tool (320) for a wind turbine power system (200) includes a capacitor assembly (322) configured to provide multiple capacitance levels for the power system (200), including e.g. a first level of capacitance during a learning phase of the tool (320). The tool (320) also includes one or more processors (204) communicatively coupled to the capacitor assembly (322) that is configured to monitor a plurality of electrical devices (306, 308, 310) of the power system (200) for trips during the learning phase. When a trip is detected, the processor(s) (204) collects data and determines a location of the trip. When the location of the trip is located in an electrical device that corresponds to a weak link of the power system (200), the processor(s) (204) determines a second level of capacitance for the power system (200) based on the collected data. In addition, the processor(s) (204) provides the second level of capacitance at the weak link of the power system (200) to reduce future trips of the electrical device.