Operation of a disconnected wind turbine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024392746-A1
Application number	US-202218686300-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 25, 2022
Priority date	Aug 31, 2021
Publication date	Nov 28, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method including operating the wind turbine in a first operating mode which an auxiliary system of the wind turbine is supplied with electrical power from an energy storage system of the wind turbine, wherein in the first operating mode, a first group auxiliary power consumers of the auxiliary system and a second group auxiliary power consumers of the auxiliary system are supplied with electrical power from the energy storage system. Upon fulfillment of a predefined condition, the wind turbine is operated in a second operating mode wherein the power supply from the energy storage system to the first group of auxiliary power consumers is ceased. Upon a charging state of the energy storage system reaching or dropping below a predetermined charging level, the wind turbine may be operated in a third operating mode in which auxiliary power supply is ceased.

First claim

1 . A method of operating a wind turbine, wherein the wind turbine is not connected to or has become disconnected from a power grid configured to supply electrical power to the wind turbine, the method comprising:
the wind turbine in a first operating mode in which an auxiliary system of the wind turbine is supplied with electrical power from an energy storage system of the wind turbine, wherein in the first operating mode, a first group of auxiliary power consumers of the auxiliary system and a second group of auxiliary power consumers of the auxiliary system are supplied with electrical power from the energy storage system, wherein the first group comprises at least one auxiliary power consumer having a power consumption that is higher than a power consumption of at least one auxiliary power consumer comprised in the second group; and upon fulfillment of a predefined condition, operating the wind turbine in a second operating mode in which the power supply from the energy storage system to the first group of auxiliary power consumers is ceased and the power supply from the energy storage system to the second group of auxiliary power consumers is maintained, and upon a charging state of the energy storage system reaching or dropping below a predetermined charging level, operating the wind turbine in a third operating mode in which power supply from the power storage system to the first group of auxiliary power consumers is ceased and power supply from the power storage system to the second group of auxiliary power consumers is ceased.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein in the first operating mode and in the second operating mode and/or the third operating modes the auxiliary system does not receive electrical power from an electrical power system of the wind turbine.

3 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein operating in the first operating mode comprises performing a wind tracking by the wind turbine to establish alignment of a rotor of the wind turbine with the wind and/or controlling an acceleration of the rotor of the wind turbine by operating a pitch system, and/or operating an environmental management system to control a temperature and a humidity within the wind turbine.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the predefined condition for transitioning from the first operating mode into the second operating mode comprises the operation for a predetermined amount of time in the first operating mode and/or a receipt of a respective operator command.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises forcing the wind turbine to operate in the first operating mode, in the second operating mode, or in the third operating mode in response to a respective operator command.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises, when operating in the second operating mode and upon determining that wind conditions are or will be within a predetermined operating range, transitioning operation of the wind turbine into the first operating mode for starting up wind turbine power generation.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined charging level is selected such that the energy remaining in the energy storage system when entering the third operating mode is sufficient to transition operation of the wind turbine into the first operating mode for starting up the wind turbine in the first operating mode.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises operating the wind turbine in a fourth operating mode in which a generator of the wind turbine receives rotational mechanical energy from a rotor of the wind turbine and generates electrical power by which the energy storage system is recharged or maintained at a predefined charging level, and/or by means of which the auxiliary system is at least partially powered.

9 . The method according to claim 8 , wherein the method comprises transitioning from the fourth operating mode into the first operating mode upon at least one of:
wind conditions leaving a predetermined operating range; the energy storage system reaching a predetermined charging state; a receipt of an operator command to perform the transition; an occurrence of a wind turbine fault; and a determination of the necessity to perform one or more self-preserving activities.

10 . The method according to claim 9 , wherein transition into the fourth operating mode is initiated by at least one of a charging state of the energy storage system reaching or dropping below a predetermined value, the receipt of a respective operator command, or the wind conditions being within a predetermined operating range.

11 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary power consumers of the first group comprise one or more actuators or drives configured to actuate a wind turbine component and wherein the auxiliary power consumers of the second group comprise one or more devices configured to provide communication and control of the wind turbine and to obtain wind conditions.

12 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first group of auxiliary power consumers comprises one or a combination of:
a yaw system of the wind turbine; a pitch system of the wind turbine; a hoisting system of the wind turbine; a service lift of the wind turbine; a cooling system of the wind turbine; and an environmental management system of the wind turbine,
and/or wherein the second group of auxiliary power consumers comprises one or a combination of:
a wind sensor of the wind turbine;
a control system of the wind turbine; and
a wind turbine communication device.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary power consumers of the first group have a combined power requirement of above 100 kW and wherein the auxiliary power consumers of the second group have a combined power requirement of below 50 kW, and/or
wherein the auxiliary power consumers of the first group have an operating voltage above 300V, and wherein the auxiliary power consumers of the second group have an operating voltage of less than 300V.

14 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the wind turbine further comprises an uninterruptable power supply (UPS), separate from the energy storage system, wherein the UPS provides electrical power for at least one of:
operating at least the second group of auxiliary power consumers in case of power loss or transition between power sources; transitioning into the third operating mode; maintaining a communication and/or control unit operable in the third operating mode, for a predetermined amount of time; and transitioning from the third operating mode into the first or second operating mode.

15 . A wind turbine control system configured to operate a wind turbine that is not connected to or has become disconnected from a power grid configured to supply electrical power to the wind turbine, wherein the wind turbine comprises an auxiliary system including a first group of auxiliary power consumers and a second group of auxiliary power consumers, wherein the first group comprises at least one auxiliary power consumer having a power consumption that is higher than a power consumption of at least one auxiliary power consumer comprised in the second group, and an energy storage system configured to supply electrical power to the auxiliary system, wherein the control system comprising a processing unit is configured to perform the method according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy As

Inventors

• Hawkins Samuel
• Nielsen Rene Salkvist

Classifications

• F05B2260/85

  Starting · CPC title

• F05B2220/706

  an electrical generator · CPC title

• F03D7/0276

  controlling rotor speed, e.g. variable speed · CPC title

• F03D7/0224

  Adjusting blade pitch · CPC title

• F03D13/139

  Assembling or erecting wind motors by using lifting means · CPC title