Control of wind turbines

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10151301-B2
Application number	US-201314762028-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 25, 2013
Priority date	Jan 25, 2013
Publication date	Dec 11, 2018
Grant date	Dec 11, 2018

Abstract

A method of controlling a wind turbine is described. The method involves forecasting the temperature evolution of a component of the wind turbine based upon the current operating parameters of the wind turbine and upon a required power output; predicting from the temperature forecast a future alarm event caused by the temperature of the component exceeding a first threshold level or falling below a second threshold level; and adjusting the operating parameters of the wind turbine to control the temperature evolution of the component thereby to avoid or delay the predicted alarm event.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of controlling a wind turbine, the method comprising:
forecasting, using at least a first operating parameter of the wind turbine and a required power output of the wind turbine, a temperature evolution of a temperature of a component of the wind turbine;
predicting, using the temperature evolution, a future alarm event caused by the temperature of the component exceeding a first threshold level or falling below a second threshold level; and
while operating the wind turbine to provide the required power output, adjusting at least a second operating parameter of the wind turbine to control the temperature evolution to avoid or delay the predicted future alarm event,
wherein adjusting the second operating parameter comprises operating an auxiliary heating system or an auxiliary cooling system of the wind turbine prior to the predicted future alarm event.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the second operating parameter further comprises adjusting a rotor speed, a torque, or the power output of the wind turbine prior to the predicted future alarm event.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein forecasting the temperature evolution comprises:
forecasting an effect of a demanded increase in the power output of the wind turbine upon the temperature evolution.

4. The method of claim 3 , wherein forecasting the temperature evolution further comprises:
forecasting an effect upon the temperature evolution of a first overrating strategy and a second overrating strategy for achieving the demanded increase in power, wherein the first overrating strategy comprises increasing a rotor speed of the wind turbine and the second overrating strategy comprises increasing a torque of the wind turbine; and
selecting, between the first overrating strategy and the second overrating strategy, an overrating strategy that is less likely to result in the predicted future alarm event occurring.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
determining, when the demanded increase in the power output is predicted to trigger the predicted future alarm event, a maximum overrated power at which the wind turbine can operate without triggering the predicted future alarm event, and
operating the wind turbine to output the maximum overrated power.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the component comprises one of a gear oil, a hydraulic fluid, a converter, a cooling water system, and one or more generator phases.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first operating parameter of the wind turbine include measured temperature values.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first operating parameter include estimated temperature values.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein forecasting the temperature evolution is performed responsive to receiving an increased power demand.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein operating an auxiliary cooling system of the wind turbine comprises one of:
operating a water-cooled heat exchanger configured to cool gear oil; and
operating one or more fans to cool air within a nacelle of the wind turbine.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein operating the auxiliary cooling system comprises:
selecting, based on the temperature of the component, a cooling mode of a plurality of predefined cooling modes, wherein different cooling modes of the plurality of predefined cooling modes correspond to different temperature ranges; and
operating the auxiliary cooling system in the selected cooling mode.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the different cooling modes correspond specify different rates of operating the auxiliary cooling system.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the required power output corresponds to a rated power of the wind turbine, and
wherein adjusting at least the second parameter to control the temperature evolution comprises avoiding de-rated operation of the wind turbine.

14. A wind turbine control system comprising:
a turbine controller configured to control operation of a plurality of components of a wind turbine; and
a temperature observer module configured to:
forecast, using at least a first operating parameter of the wind turbine and a required power output of the wind turbine, a temperature evolution of a temperature of a component of the plurality of components;
predict, using the temperature evolution, a future alarm event caused by the temperature of the component exceeding a first threshold level or falling below a second threshold level; and
while the turbine controller operates the wind turbine to provide the required power output, adjust at least a second operating parameter of the wind turbine to control the temperature evolution to avoid or delay the predicted future alarm event,

wherein adjusting the second operating parameter comprises operating an auxiliary heating system or an auxiliary cooling system of the wind turbine prior to the predicted future alarm event.

15. The wind turbine control system of claim 14 , further comprising:
a production controller configured to determine, using one or more measured operating parameters of the wind turbine, a power reference and a speed reference, wherein the temperature observer module is further configured to:
receive information indicative of the temperature of the plurality of components; and
receive the power reference and the speed reference determined by the production controller.

16. The wind turbine control system of claim 14 , wherein the temperature observer module is further configured to:
receive estimates of the temperatures of the plurality of components.

17. The wind turbine control system of claim 14 , wherein adjusting the second operating parameter further comprises:
adjusting a rotor speed, a torque, or the power output of the wind turbine prior to the predicted future alarm event.

18. The wind turbine control system of claim 14 , wherein forecasting the temperature evolution comprises:
forecasting an effect of a demanded increase in the power output of the wind turbine upon the temperature evolution.

19. The wind turbine control system of claim 18 , wherein forecasting the temperature evolution further comprises:
forecasting an effect upon the temperature evolution of a first overrating strategy and a second overrating strategy for achieving the demanded increase in power, wherein the first overrating strategy comprises increasing a rotor speed of the wind turbine and the second overrating strategy comprises increasing a torque of the wind turbine; and
selecting an overrating strategy that is less likely to result in the predicted future alarm event occurring.

20. The wind turbine control system of claim 18 , wherein the temperature observer module is further configured to:
determine, when the demanded increase in the power output is predicted to trigger the predicted future alarm event, a maximum overrated power at which the wind turbine can operate without triggering the predicted future alarm event, and
wherein the turbine controller is further configured to operate the wind turbine to output the maximum overrated power.

21. A wind turbine, comprising:
a tower;
a nacelle disposed on the tower;
one or more of an auxiliary heating system and an auxiliary cooling system; and
a wind turbine control system configured to:
forecast, using at least a first operating parameter of the wind turbine and a required power output of the wind turbine, a temperature evolution of a temperature of a component of a plurality of components of the win

Assignees

• Vestas Wind Sys As

Inventors

• Caponetti Fabio
• Kjær Martin Ansbjerg

Classifications

• F03D11/0091 Primary

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• F03D17/00

  Monitoring or testing of wind motors, e.g. diagnostics (testing during commissioning of wind motors F03D13/30) · CPC title

• F03D7/028

  controlling wind motor output power · CPC title

• F05B2260/821

  Parameter estimation or prediction · CPC title

• F05B2270/404

  active, predictive, or anticipative · CPC title