Device, system, and method for providing a low-voltage fault ride-through for a wind generator farm
First Claim
1. A device for controlling voltage on a collector bus in operational association with at least one wind turbine generator having an output with at least one phase, the device comprising:
- a controllable resistance that is disposed between the collector bus and a load of each phase of the output, the controllable resistance including;
a controllable resistor bank to provide a variable resistance, wherein the resistor bank is structured and arranged to absorb real power generated by the at least one wind turbine generator when a voltage drop or a voltage sag occurs on the load and to maintain the voltage on the collector bus at or above a predetermined threshold voltage level, and at least one switching device in parallel with the controllable resistor bank, that passes collector bus current to the load when closed and that diverts collector bus current to the resistor bank when open; and
a controller that is structured and arranged to receive current level and voltage level data and, based on current level and voltage level data, to provide gating signals to open or close the at least one switching device, to adjust the variable resistance of the resistor bank.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A device, a system, and a method for preventing power-producing wind turbine generators from tripping due to the detection of a low-voltage condition on a power grid are disclosed. The disclosed device includes a resistor bank that absorbs real power and a control system that maintains the collector bus voltage above a threshold voltage level during the duration of low-voltage condition on the power grid. Collector bus voltage is maintained using gating signals that include phase delay angles to adjust the opening/closing of the switching devices.
112 Citations
38 Claims
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1. A device for controlling voltage on a collector bus in operational association with at least one wind turbine generator having an output with at least one phase, the device comprising:
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a controllable resistance that is disposed between the collector bus and a load of each phase of the output, the controllable resistance including;
a controllable resistor bank to provide a variable resistance, wherein the resistor bank is structured and arranged to absorb real power generated by the at least one wind turbine generator when a voltage drop or a voltage sag occurs on the load and to maintain the voltage on the collector bus at or above a predetermined threshold voltage level, and at least one switching device in parallel with the controllable resistor bank, that passes collector bus current to the load when closed and that diverts collector bus current to the resistor bank when open; and
a controller that is structured and arranged to receive current level and voltage level data and, based on current level and voltage level data, to provide gating signals to open or close the at least one switching device, to adjust the variable resistance of the resistor bank. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 34, 35)
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22. A system for generating and delivering power to a utility power grid that is not interruptible by a transient low-voltage grid fault occurrences on the utility power grid, the system comprising:
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At least one wind turbine generator, each having a generator terminal and an output having at least one phase, that produces power and current by windforce;
a collector bus that is electrically coupled to each generator terminal, for transmitting the produced power to the utility power grid; and
a low-voltage fault ride-through device for controlling voltage on the collector bus, the device comprising;
a controllable resistance that is disposed between the collector bus and a load of each phase of the output, the controllable resistance including;
a controllable resistor bank to provide a variable resistance, wherein the resistor bank is structured and arranged to absorb real power generated by the at least one wind turbine generator when a voltage drop or a voltage sag occurs on the load and to maintain the voltage on the collector bus at or above a predetermined threshold voltage level, and at least one switching device in parallel with the controllable resistor bank, that passes collector bus current to the load when closed and that diverts collector bus current to the resistor bank when open; and
a controller that is structured and arranged to receive current level and voltage level data and, based on current level and voltage level data, to provide gating signals to open or close the at least one switching device, to adjust the variable resistance of the resistor bank. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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36. Control software that is executable on an electronic device, the control software including source code for providing a low-voltage fault ride-through by controlling collector bus voltage for at least one wind turbine generator when a low-voltage, grid fault occurrence on a utility power grid causes a voltage drop, the source code comprising:
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code for measuring voltage levels on the collector bus continuously; and
code for adjusting an operating state of the at least one switching device between an open state and a closed state, to pass collector bus current to the load, respectively, through the controllable resistor bank or through the at least one switching device to maintain the collector bus voltage levels above a predetermined threshold voltage level, to prevent one or more of the at least one wind turbine generator from tripping. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. A device for controlling a voltage on a collector bus in electrical communication with at least one wind turbine generator, the device comprising:
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a sensor for detecting a low-voltage condition on a power grid; and
a controller responsive to the detection of said low-voltage condition to limit the average current delivered from said collector bus to said power grid for at least a predetermined minimum time period.
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Specification