Power production control system and method

• US 7,908,036 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2009
• Issued: 03/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Grid Solutions LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Ubben, Enno, Kirchner, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Jarrett; Ryan A
• Application Number:
  US12/582,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20100138058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700/287, 307/46, 307/48
• US Class Current: 700/287
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 7/0284 in relation to the state of the electric grid
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 7/048 controlling wind farms
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/10 Combinations of wind motors with apparatus storing energy
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/257 the wind motor being part of a wind farm
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/1033 Power (if explicitly mentioned)
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/337 Electrical grid status parameters, e.g. voltage, frequency or power demand
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/20 using renewable energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/50 Energy storage in industry with an added climate change mitigation effect

Abstract

A control system for an energy production facility includes a plant controller for receiving an indication of a measured power output of the energy production facility that includes power generators and produces output signals. The system also includes a processing unit operably coupled to the plant controller and responsive to executable computer instructions when executed on the processing unit cause the plant controller to: create an output signal that causes an energy storage device to discharge in the event power reserves of the power generators can not met the requested ramp down rate; and create an output signal that causes the energy storage device to charge up in the event that the power capability of the power generators can meet the requested ramp down rate.

Claims

1. A control system for an energy production facility, the system comprising:

a plant controller for receiving an indication of a measured power output of the energy production facility that includes power generators and produces output signals;

a processing unit included within the plant controller and responsive to executable computer instructions when executed on the processing unit cause the plant controller to;

create an output signal that causes an energy storage device to discharge in the event power reserves of the power generators can not meet a requested ramp down rate; and

create an output signal that causes the energy storage device to charge up in the event that the power capability of the power generators can meet the requested ramp down rate;

wherein the plant controller provides a signal to a utility that indicates a ramp rate availability, wherein the ramp rate availability is calculated based on a relationship between a possible power of the energy production facility, a power set point, and a charge status of the energy storage device.

2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the plant controller creates the signal causing the energy storage device to charge up until the energy storage device is fully charged.

3. The control system of claim 2, wherein the power generators are wind turbine generators and further comprising:

a power collection system coupled to the wind turbine generators and the at least one energy storage device, the power collection system providing energy to the at least one energy storage device in one operational mode of the at least one energy storage device and receiving energy from the at least one energy storage device in an other operational mode of the at least one energy storage device.

4. The control system of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the plant controller and to an output of the power production facility, the sensor providing the indication of the measured power output to the plant controller.

5. The control system of claim 4, wherein the sensor also provides an indication of a frequency at the output of the power production facility to the plant controller.

6. The control system of claim 5, wherein the plant controller creates a signal that causes power production devices coupled to the plant controller to vary operation based on the frequency at the output of the power production facility.