Wind Turbine Control System VLAN Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In modern networked wind parks, it is challenging to ensure accurate local control of wind turbines during maintenance, as control commands can be inadvertently sent to or received by incorrect turbines due to address conflicts, potentially causing damage and safety risks, especially when transitioning between remote and local modes of operation.
Innovation Solution
A control system that includes a local terminal, a control arrangement, and a switching arrangement to isolate the local communication network from external systems, using a VLAN switch to differentiate between local and remote commands and ensure that control signals remain within the wind turbine's local network, preventing interference from remote sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fully networked system is used to enable remote control of wind turbines, then remote monitoring and control capability is improved, but the risk of control commands being sent to incorrect turbines increases
Solution Approach 1:
The network is segmented into virtual LANs (VLANs) to separate control traffic for different turbines. Each turbine operates in its own isolated virtual network segment, preventing control commands from being received by incorrect turbines. This segmentation maintains remote control capability while ensuring control accuracy through network isolation.
Solution Approach 2:
A network switch configured with VLANs acts as an intermediary device that intelligently routes control commands to the correct turbine based on the virtual network segment. The switch mediates between the remote control system and individual turbines, ensuring that commands are delivered only to the intended target while maintaining the benefits of a fully networked system.
2Reliability
If a mechanical or electric switch is used to interrupt connection for local mode, then isolation from remote control is improved, but the complexity of the switching mechanism increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical or electric switching mechanisms with a software-based VLAN configuration on network switches. Instead of using physical switches to interrupt connections, the system uses virtual network segmentation that can be activated or deactivated through software commands, eliminating the need for complex mechanical or electric switching hardware while maintaining reliable isolation.
3Reliability
If separate physical networks are used for local and remote control, then isolation between modes is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the local and remote control networks into a single physical network infrastructure, using VLANs to create virtual separation. This approach combines the benefits of both separate physical networks (isolation) and single network simplicity (lower cost and complexity). Control commands are routed through the same physical medium but are logically separated into different virtual networks, eliminating the need for duplicate physical infrastructure.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention describes a control system (1) for a wind turbine, which control system (1) comprises a local terminal (10) for locally generating wind turbine control commands; a control arrangement (5) for generating control signals for the wind turbine on the basis of wind turbine control commands; and a switching arrangement (7, 60, 61) for switching between a remote mode of operation over a main communication network (700_R), and a local mode of operation over a local communication network (700 L) between the local terminal (10) and the control arrangement (5) such that a message passed between the local terminal (10) and the control arrangement (5) does not travel beyond that local communication network (700_L) in that wind turbine. The invention also describes a method of locally controlling a wind turbine, and a wind park comprising a number of wind turbines, wherein each wind turbine comprises such a control system.