SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A POWER OUTPUT OF A WIND TURBINE GENERATOR

• US 20160032896A1
• Filed: 07/31/2014
• Published: 02/04/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (GE Vernova, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: BARTON, Werner Gerhard, JUNGE, Carsten, WACHTEL, Stephan, GINZBURG, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,494,139 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/255 connected to electrical distribution networks; Arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/28 The renewable source being wind energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/50 Controlling the sharing of the out-of-phase component
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 Power conversion electric or electronic aspects

Abstract

A method for controlling the power output of a wind turbine, which includes a transformer with multiple taps, is provided. The method includes sensing a voltage of the transformer during operation of the wind turbine, determining the reactive power, and automatically maintaining a set value of the reactive power by controlling the output voltage of the transformer.

Claims

1. A method for controlling the power output of a wind turbine comprising a transformer with multiple taps, the method including:

a) sensing a voltage of the transformer during operation of the wind turbine;

b) determining the reactive power; and

,

c) maintaining a set value of the reactive power by controlling the output voltage of the transformer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the output voltage is controlled by alternating between the plurality of taps on the transformer.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the alternating between the plurality of taps is carried out by a tap changing mechanism controlled by a controller.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein maintaining the set value is controlled by a controller being a two-point-controller having a hysteresis.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the controller includes adaptive switching points and/or adaptive switching voltages.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the reactive power includes at least one of:

detecting the amount of a volt-ampere reactive power delivered or consumed by the wind turbine, and determining value and sign of the phase angle between wind turbine voltage and current.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the output voltage is controlled by a controller having adaptive switching points for hysteresis, wherein the adaption of the switching points is dependent on:

a) the delivery of a volt-ampere reactive;

b) the absorption of a volt-ampere reactive; and

,

c) the operation of the wind turbine at a unity power factor.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a) sensing a voltage at one or more of a primary, secondary, and tertiary winding of the transformer of the wind turbine, and

b) calculating a non-measured voltage at a different winding based on known relations of the voltages, transformer impedance and operating points.

9. A method for controlling the reactive power of a wind turbine, comprising:

a) detecting the amount of a volt-ampere reactive power delivered or consumed by the wind turbine, or determining value and sign of phi; and

,

b) controlling a voltage output of a transformer of the wind turbine in order to maintain a defined sign and value of phi or a defined volt-ampere reactive power.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the output voltage is controlled by a controller including adaptive switching points for hysteresis, wherein the controller automatically switches between various taps on the transformer, and wherein the switching points are adaptive.

11. A control system for controlling the reactive power of a wind turbine, comprising:

a) a controller;

b) a transformer having multiple taps delivering differing voltages during operation of the transformer; and

,

c) a tap changing mechanism controlled by the controller.

12. The control system of claim 11, wherein the controller determines the sign and amount of phi or a volt-ampere reactive power.

13. The control system of claim 11, wherein a set value of phi or a volt-ampere reactive power is maintained by controlling the output voltage of the transformer.

14. The control system of claim 11, wherein the output voltage is controlled by alternating between a plurality of taps of the transformer.

15. The control system of claim 11, wherein the controller is a two-point-controller having a hysteresis.

16. The control system of claim 11, wherein the controller has adaptive switching points.

17. The control system of claim 11, wherein the controller has adaptive switching voltages.

18. The control system of claim 11, wherein the controller has adaptive switching points for hysteresis, wherein the adaption of the switching points by the controller is dependent on at least one of:

a) the delivery of volt-ampere reactive;

b) the absorption of volt-ampere reactive; and

,

c) the operation of the wind turbine at a unity power factor.

19. The control system of claim 11, wherein the voltage is sensed at one or more of a primary, secondary, and tertiary winding of the transformer of the wind turbine.

20. A wind turbine having a control system for controlling the reactive power, the wind turbine comprising:

a) a tower;

b) a nacelle;

c) a rotor mounted to the nacelle;

d) a generator located in the nacelle;

e) a controller;

f) a transformer including multiple taps delivering differing voltages during operation; and

,

g) a tap changing mechanism controlled by the controller.