Wind Turbine Watchdog Control for Communication Failure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fully automated wind turbine control systems can report false positives, leading to unnecessary activation of self-protection modes, resulting in lost revenue and potential damage during extreme events, especially when communication links fail, causing autonomous switches without operator control.
Innovation Solution
A control arrangement with a watchdog module and sensor system that allows autonomous mode switching between normal and self-protection modes when communication links are down, while enabling manual control when links are functional, using local sensor data to determine mode transitions and prevent false alarms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fully automated control system is used to monitor and switch to self-protection mode, then the wind turbine can respond quickly to extreme conditions, but false positives occur leading to unnecessary mode switching and loss of revenue
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring communication link status and using this information to modulate the automation level. When communication is available, the system accepts remote commands; when communication fails, it autonomously activates self-protection mode based on local sensor data, thus avoiding false positives while maintaining protection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The control system dynamically adjusts its operational mode based on communication availability. It transitions between manual control mode (when communication is active) and autonomous control mode (when communication is lost), allowing the system to optimize both protection reliability and energy production under different operational conditions
2Productivity
If manual control is retained for self-protection mode activation, then false positives can be avoided, but the wind turbine cannot respond automatically when communication links fail during extreme events
Solution Approach 1:
The system prepares for communication failures by having pre-configured self-protection modes and local sensor systems ready to activate automatically. When communication is lost, the preliminary arrangements allow immediate autonomous activation of protection modes without waiting for manual intervention, thus maintaining protection reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The communication link status acts as an intermediary that determines the control mode. A watchdog timer monitors communication availability and triggers the transition between manual and autonomous control, enabling the system to balance productivity and protection reliability based on real-time communication conditions
3Reliability
If the wind turbine switches to self-protection mode too early, then protection is ensured, but backup power supply may deplete and the turbine becomes unable to perform protective actions
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes the operational parameter (control mode) based on communication availability. By switching to autonomous control when communication is lost, the system can make informed decisions about when to activate self-protection mode, avoiding premature activation that would deplete backup power supply while ensuring protection when necessary
Data Source
AI summary
A control arrangement of a wind turbine includes a watchdog including a reset module and a trigger module, wherein the watchdog reset module is configured to perform an internal reset when a sign-of-life signal is received from a remote communication system within a predetermined time limit, and wherein the watchdog trigger module is configured to issue a watchdog trigger when the predetermined time limit is exceeded; a sensor arrangement including a number of sensors configured to observe local parameters and to report local sensor data; and a wind turbine controller that initiates a local control sequence in response to the watchdog trigger, which local control sequence is configured to switch between a first mode of operation and a second mode of operation on the basis of the local sensor data. A method of operating a wind turbine is further provided.