System and method for controlling wind power generation systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016285252-A1
Application number	US-201315033724-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 31, 2013
Priority date	Oct 31, 2013
Publication date	Sep 29, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electrical system for controlling a wind turbine is provided. The electrical system includes a first resistive element, a storage element and a controller. The first resistive element and the storage element are coupled to a DC link of the wind turbine. The controller is used for switching between the first resistive element and the storage element in response to a grid side fault condition to minimize mechanical loads induced by the grid side fault condition.

First claim

1 . An electrical system for controlling a wind turbine comprising:
a first resistive element and a storage element coupled to a DC link of the wind turbine; and a controller for switching between the first resistive element and the storage element in response to a grid side fault condition to minimize mechanical loads induced by the grid side fault condition.

2 . The electrical system of claim 1 , further comprising a DC chopper coupled to the first resistive element, the storage element, and the DC link.

3 . The electrical system of claim 1 , further comprising second resistive elements, wherein the second resistive elements are coupled in series to windings of a stator of the wind turbine using a second switch.

4 . The electrical system of claim 3 , wherein the second switch couples the second resistive elements to the windings of the stator for minimizing electromagnetic torque induced in the stator.

5 . The electrical system of claim 1 , wherein the first resistive element comprises a resistor and the storage element comprises a battery.

6 . The electrical system of claim 1 , wherein the first resistive element, the storage element and the controller are coupled to the DC link between a rotor side converter and a line side converter.

7 . A wind turbine comprising:
a tower; a nacelle disposed on the tower; a rotor; wind turbine blades coupled to the rotor; and an electrical system comprising;
a first resistive element and a storage element coupled to a DC link of the wind turbine; and
a controller for switching between the first resistive element and the storage element in response to a grid side fault condition to minimize mechanical loads induced by the grid side fault condition.

8 . The wind turbine of claim 7 , further comprising a rotor side converter and a line side converter coupled to the DC link.

9 . The wind turbine of claim 8 , further comprising a DC chopper coupled to the first resistive element, the storage element and the DC link.

10 . The wind turbine of claim 7 , further comprising second resistive elements, wherein the second resistive elements are coupled in series to windings of a stator of the wind turbine using a second switch

11 . The wind turbine of claim 10 , wherein the second switch couples the second resistive elements to the windings of the stator for minimizing electromagnetic torque in the stator.

12 . The wind turbine of claim 7 , wherein the first resistive element comprises a resistor and the storage element comprises a battery.

13 . A method for controlling a wind turbine comprising:
detecting a grid side fault condition; estimating a peak electromagnetic torque; controlling the estimated peak electromagnetic torque in the wind turbine using a first resistive element, a second resistive element, a storage element or a combination thereof; and minimizing mechanical loads in the wind turbine by controlling the estimated peak electromagnetic torque.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein detecting a grid side fault comprises obtaining a rotor speed and computing a rate of change of rotor speed.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising comparing the rate of change of rotor speed with a predetermined threshold and classifying between the grid side fault and a wind gust event based on the comparison.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the second resistive element is coupled in series with stator windings of the wind turbine to minimize electromagnetic torque in a stator.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein minimizing the mechanical loads in the wind turbine comprises controlling wind turbine components in the wind turbine.

18 . The method of claim 13 , wherein minimizing mechanical loads in the wind turbine comprises minimizing tower oscillations by controlling a drivetrain, a rotor and a blade pitch control unit.

Assignees

• Gen Electric

Inventors

• Burra Rajni Kant
• Abate Victor Robert
• Magnuson David Cole
• Longtin Keith

Classifications

• F03D9/255

  connected to electrical distribution networks; Arrangements therefor · CPC title

• H02P9/007

  Control circuits for doubly fed generators · CPC title

• H02P9/006

  Means for protecting the generator by using control (control effected upon generator excitation circuit to reduce harmful effects of overloads or transients H02P9/10) · CPC title

• H02J3/38

  Arrangements for feeding a single network from two or more generators or sources in parallel; Arrangements for feeding already energised networks from additional generators or sources in parallel · CPC title

• H02P9/107

  for limiting effects of overloads · CPC title