Method and systems for operating a wind turbine when recovering from a grid contingency event

• US 8,872,372 B2
• Filed: 11/30/2012
• Issued: 10/28/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (GE Vernova, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Larsen, Einar Vaughn, Koerber, Arne
• Primary Examiner(s): NASRI, JAVAID H
• Application Number:
  US13/689,872
• Publication Number:
  US 20140152010A1
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 290/44, 290/43, 290/55, 290/54, 700/287
• US Class Current: 290/44
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 7/00 Controlling wind motors supplying or distributing electrical power H02J, e.g. arrangements for adjusting, eliminating or compensating reactive power in networks H02J3/18; controlling electric generators H02P, e.g. arrangements for controlling electric generators for the purpose of obtaining a desired output H02P9/00
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 7/0284 in relation to the state of the electric grid
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/1033 Power (if explicitly mentioned)
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/107 to cope with emergencies
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/309 Rate of change of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/28 The renewable source being wind energy
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• 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 operation of a wind turbine included within a power generation and delivery system is described. The method includes receiving, by a controller, a power command signal, wherein the power command signal indicates recovery from the grid contingency event; and increasing, in a non-uniform manner, power injected into a grid by a power conversion assembly in response to the power command signal wherein the controller controls the power conversion assembly.

Claims

1. A method for controlling operation of a wind turbine included within a power generation and delivery system, the wind turbine comprising a rotor comprising a plurality of rotor blades, an electrical generator, a power converter, and a controller, said method comprising:

measuring at least one operating condition of the power generation and delivery system, the operating condition dependent upon an occurrence of a grid contingency event;

transmitting, to a power limiter system, an operating condition feedback signal that corresponds to the operating condition;

analyzing, using the power limiter system, the operating condition feedback signal to identify an occurrence of a grid contingency event;

generating, using the power limiter system, a power command signal corresponding to the occurrence of the grid contingency event;

transmitting the power command signal to the controller; and

controlling operation of the power converter based at least in part on the power command signal by increasing real current output by the power converter in a non-uniform manner when the power command signal indicates recovery from the grid contingency event such that a rate at which real current is increased changes over time as a final full real current output is attained.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising storing, in a memory, at least one variable corresponding to the operating condition upon the occurrence of the grid contingency event to facilitate determining whether the power generation and delivery system is operating properly.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein measuring at least one operating condition includes measuring at least one of a phase locked loop (PLL) error and a terminal grid voltage.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein applying the real current command signal to power converter performance comprises rapidly reducing real current output by the power converter upon receipt of a real current command signal that corresponds to a grid contingency event.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein controlling operation of the power converter based at least in part on the power command signal by increasing real current output by the power converter in a non-uniform manner when the power command signal indicates recovery from the grid contingency event comprises increasing real current output by the power converter by a first rate and then a second rate as a final full real current output is attained.

6. A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein the first rate of real current output by the power converter comprises a rise of 300 percent per second, or greater.

7. A method in accordance with claim 5, wherein the second rate of real current output by the power converter comprises a rise of less than 300 percent per second.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein increasing real current output by the power converter in a non-uniform manner when the power command signal indicates recovery from the grid contingency event comprises decreasing a likelihood of vibration tripping the wind turbine or damaging the wind turbine.

9. A method in accordance with claim. 1, wherein increasing real current output by the power converter in a non-uniform manner when the power command signal indicates recovery from the grid contingency event comprises decreasing a likelihood of overspeed tripping the wind turbine or damaging the wind turbine.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein controlling operation of the power converter based at least in part on the power command signal by increasing real current output by the power converter in a non-uniform manner when the power command signal indicates recovery from the grid contingency event comprises increasing real current output by the power converter at least partially in a non-linear manner.

11. A method of recovering from a grid contingency event comprising:

receiving, by a controller, a. power command signal, wherein the power command signal indicates recovery from the grid contingency event; and

increasing, in a non-uniform manner, power injected into a grid by a power conversion assembly in response to the power command signal wherein the controller controls the power conversion assembly such that a rate of the power injected into the grid changes over time as a final full power output is attained.

12. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein increasing, in a non-uniform manner, power injected into a grid by a power conversion assembly in response to the power command signal wherein the controller controls the power conversion assembly comprises increasing power current output by the power conversion assembly by a first rate up to a safe level for grid stability, and then at a second rate as the final full power output is attained.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the first rate of power output by the power converter comprises a rise of 300 percent per second, or greater.

14. A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein the second rate of power output by the power converter comprises a rise of less than 300 percent per second.

15. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein increasing, in a non-uniform manner, power injected into a grid by a power conversion assembly in response to the power command signal wherein the controller controls the power conversion assembly comprises decreasing a likelihood of vibration tripping the wind turbine or damaging the wind turbine.

16. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein increasing, in a non-uniform manner, power injected into a grid by a power conversion assembly in response to the power command signal wherein the controller controls the power conversion assembly comprises decreasing a likelihood of overspeed tripping the wind turbine or damaging the wind turbine.

17. A method in accordance with claim 11, wherein increasing, in a non-uniform manner, power injected into a grid by a power conversion assembly in response to the power command signal wherein the controller controls the power conversion assembly comprises increasing power output by the power conversion assembly at least partially in a non-linear manner.

18. A power generation and distribution system comprising:

an electric generator;

a power conversion assembly coupled to said electric generator and a utility grid, said power conversion assembly configured to receive power generated by said electric generator and convert the power received to a power suitable for transmission over the utility grid, wherein said power conversion assembly is further configured to increase a real current output by said power conversion assembly in a non-uniform manner upon receipt of a real current control signal corresponding to recovery from a grid contingency event such that a rate at which real current is increased changes over time as a final full real current output is attained; and

,

a power limiter system communicatively coupled to said power conversion assembly and configured to provide a real current control signal to said power conversion assembly, the real current control signal based at least partially on at least one measured indicator of a grid contingency event, said power limiter system comprising a memory configured to store at least one variable that corresponds to the measured indicator of a grid contingency event upon an occurrence of the grid contingency event.

19. A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein the power conversion assembly configured to increase the real current output by the power converter in a non-uniform manner when the power command signal indicates recovery from the grid contingency event comprises increasing real current output by the power conversion assembly by a first rate up to a safe level for grid stability, and then at a second arte as a final full real current output is attained.

20. A system in accordance with claim 18, wherein the power conversion assembly configured to increase the real current output by the power converter in a non-uniform manner when the power command signal indicates recovery from the grid contingency event comprises increasing real current output by the power conversion assembly at least partially in a non-linear manner.