Wind Turbine Yaw Drive Load Balancing Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional wind power generation devices experience load variations among yaw drive devices, leading to excessive loads and potential malfunctions, particularly due to gear deformation during strong winds, which can disrupt the transmission of yaw drive force and reduce system availability.
Innovation Solution
A wind turbine drive control device and power supply system that dynamically adjusts the braking force of individual yaw drive devices by obtaining load information and controlling the electric power supplied to each device, increasing the braking force of underloaded devices and reducing it for overloaded ones to balance loads and prevent variations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple yaw drive devices are installed to handle strong winds, then the wind turbine can operate in higher wind conditions, but the load variation among drive devices increases causing excessive loads on individual devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic control of braking forces across multiple yaw drive devices. The control unit continuously monitors load conditions and adjusts the braking force of each drive device in real-time based on actual operational conditions, transforming a static braking system into a dynamic one that adapts to varying wind conditions and load distributions.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit changes the braking force parameter of individual yaw drive devices based on detected load conditions. When a drive device is determined to be under excessive load, the control unit reduces its braking force, and when a drive device is under insufficient load, the control unit increases its braking force, thereby balancing the load distribution across all drive devices.
2Force
If the braking force of individual drive devices is increased to handle excessive loads, then the load balance improves, but the complexity of the control system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit receives feedback signals from detection units that monitor the operational status and load conditions of each yaw drive device. Based on this feedback, the control unit automatically adjusts the braking force of individual drive devices, creating a closed-loop control system that balances loads without requiring complex manual intervention or overly complicated control architecture.
3Reliability
If the load on individual drive devices is reduced by redistributing braking forces, then the risk of malfunction decreases, but the measurement and detection requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The yaw drive devices are equipped with detection units that automatically monitor their own load conditions and operational status. Each drive device essentially performs self-diagnosis and reports its status to the control unit, which then adjusts braking forces accordingly. This self-service approach reduces the need for external monitoring complexity while maintaining reliable load distribution.
Data Source
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AI summary
A wind turbine drive control device according to one aspect of the present invention is a wind turbine drive control device for controlling a plurality of drive devices for moving two structures included in a wind power generation device relative to each other, the wind turbine drive control device including: an obtaining unit for obtaining a plurality of information items related to loads occurring between each of the plurality of drive devices and one of the two structures that receives forces generated by the plurality of drive devices; and a control unit for controlling the plurality of drive devices in such a manner that, in a state where each of the plurality of drive devices is controlled to generate a predetermined braking force, the braking force of at least one first drive device among the plurality of drive devices is increased, based on the plurality of information items.