Configuration of wind turbine controllers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020291924-A1
Application number	US-201816770050-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 3, 2018
Priority date	Dec 6, 2017
Publication date	Sep 17, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

The wind turbine comprises at least one controller arranged to control a function of the wind turbine, and a data storage unit arranged to store controller specific data for the at least one controller, where the data storage unit is associated with the at least one controller to enable communication of the controller specific data between the data storage unit and the at least one controller. The method comprises detecting a connection between a programming enabling key and a connection interface dependent on a presence of the programming enabling key in proximity of the connection interface, initiating a programming mode wherein a control unit is enabled to receive controller specific data or wind turbine specific data from which the controller specific data can be determined, and obtaining the controller specific data or the wind turbine specific data via a manual action or via a trusted data source.

First claim

1 . A control system for a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprises at least one controller arranged to control a function of the wind turbine, and a data storage unit arranged to store controller specific data for the at least one controller, where the data storage unit is associated with the at least one controller to enable communication of the controller specific data between the data storage unit and the at least one controller, the control system comprises:
a connection interface arranged to connect with a programming enabling key dependent on a presence of the programming enabling key in proximity of the connection interface, and a control unit arranged to detect the connection between the programming enabling key and connection interface, and in response to the detection, to initiate a programming mode wherein the control unit is enabled to receive controller specific data or wind turbine specific data from which the controller specific data can be determined.

2 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is arranged to process the controller specific data or wind turbine specific data so that the controller specific data or wind turbine specific data is stored in the storage unit.

3 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the connection interface is arranged to connect with the programming enabling key dependent on a contact and/or wireless communication between the programming enabling key and the connection interface.

4 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises a user interface or is connectable with a user interface, where the user interface is arranged to receive the controller specific data or the wind turbine specific data via a manual action.

5 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit comprises a data interface or is connectable with a data interface, where the data interface is arranged to receive the controller specific data or the wind turbine specific data via a connection with a trusted data source.

6 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is configured to be set to a pre-programming mode which enables the control unit to detect the connection between the contact interface and the programming enabling key.

7 . A control system according to claim 6 , wherein the control unit is arranged to bring the wind turbine into a safe mode when the control unit is in the pre-programming mode.

8 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the data storage unit is configured as a detachable data storage unit so that the communication of data between the data storage unit and the at least one controller is only possible when the data storage unit is connected with the at least one controller.

9 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the controller specific data comprises operational parameters which are required for processing of controller specific computer programs installed in the at least one controller.

10 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the control unit is arranged to communicate controller specific computer programs to the at least one controller before the control unit it enabled to initiate the programming mode.

11 . A control system according to claim 10 , wherein the control unit is arranged to communicate the controller specific computer programs to the at least one controller dependent on identification data pre-stored in the data storage unit.

12 . A control system according to claim 1 , wherein the wind turbine comprises a plurality of the data storage units, where each data storage unit is associated with a specific controller of the at least one controller to enable communication of the controller specific data between the associated data storage unit and the specific controller.

13 . (canceled)

14 . (canceled)

15 . A method for configuring a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprises at least one controller arranged to control a function of the wind turbine, and a data storage unit arranged to store controller specific data for the at least one controller, where the data storage unit is associated with the at least one controller to enable communication of the controller specific data between the data storage unit and the at least one controller, the method comprises:
detecting a connection between a programming enabling key and a connection interface dependent on a presence of the programming enabling key in proximity of the connection interface, in response to the detection, initiating a programming mode wherein a control unit is enabled to receive controller specific data or wind turbine specific data from which the controller specific data can be determined, and obtaining the controller specific data or the wind turbine specific data via a manual action or via a trusted data source.

16 . A wind turbine, comprising:
a tower; a nacelle disposed on the tower; a rotor extending from the nacelle and having a plurality of blades disposed on a distal end thereof; at least one controller arranged to control a function of the wind turbine; a data storage unit arranged to store controller specific data for the at least one controller, where the data storage unit is associated with the at least one controller to enable communication of the controller specific data between the data storage unit and the at least one controller, and a control system, comprising:
a connection interface arranged to connect with a programming enabling key dependent on a presence of the programming enabling key in proximity of the connection interface, and
a control unit arranged to detect the connection between the programming enabling key and connection interface, and in response to the detection, to initiate a programming mode wherein the control unit is enabled to receive controller specific data or wind turbine specific data from which the controller specific data can be determined.

17 . A wind turbine according to claim 16 , wherein each data storage unit is physically connected to a specific location of the wind turbine.

18 . A wind turbine according to claim 16 , wherein the control unit is arranged to process the controller specific data or wind turbine specific data so that the controller specific data or wind turbine specific data is stored in the storage unit.

19 . A wind turbine according to claim 16 , wherein the connection interface is arranged to connect with the programming enabling key dependent on a contact and/or wireless communication between the programming enabling key and the connection interface.

20 . A wind turbine according to claim 16 , wherein the control unit comprises a user interface or is connectable with a user interface, where the user interface is arranged to receive the controller specific data or the wind turbine specific data via a manual action.

Assignees

• Vestas Wind Sys As

Inventors

• Grove Peter Delgado
• Steele David

Classifications

• F03D7/047 Primary

  characterised by the controller architecture, e.g. multiple processors or data communications · CPC title

• G05B15/02

  electric · CPC title

• F03D13/30 Primary

  Commissioning, e.g. inspection, testing or final adjustment before releasing for production · CPC title

• F05B2230/80

  Repairing, retrofitting or upgrading methods · CPC title

• F03D7/0264

  for stopping; controlling in emergency situations (orientating out of wind F03D7/0208) · CPC title