ELECTRIC ENERGY PROVIDING SYSTEM WITH CENTRALIZED CONTROLLER

Abstract

A system for providing electric energy is provided, the system including: plural energy providing units, each energy providing unit including measurement equipment for measuring at least one operational parameter of the energy providing unit; at least one environmental sensor installed at or close to selected energy providing units, in particular arranged at a periphery, adapted to measure an environmental condition, in particular wind condition; a central controller communicatively connected with the energy providing units and adapted to at least one of: to supply virtual sensor data to the energy providing units based on the environmental condition; to control operation of the energy providing units based on measurement results received from the measurement equipment of each of the energy providing units and based on the environmental condition.

Claims

1. A system for providing electric energy, the system comprising: plural energy providing units comprising wind power converting units, each energy providing unit comprising measurement equipment for measuring at least one operational parameter of the energy providing unit; at least one environmental sensor installed at or close to selected energy providing units configured to measure an environmental condition; a central controller communicatively connected with the energy providing units and configured: to supply virtual sensor data to the energy providing units based on the environmental condition; to control operation of the energy providing units based on measurement results received from the measurement equipment of each of the energy providing units and based on the environmental condition, wherein the central controller is further configured to apply a wake model for all or a subset of the wind power converting units, based on the environmental condition, in order to predict wind condition at all of the wind power converting units; and wherein the central controller is further configured to provide the wind condition at all of the wind power converting unit locations to the respective wind power converting units as the virtual sensor data.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the energy providing units comprise at least one energy producing unit and/or at least one energy storing unit.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the energy producing unit comprises at least one of: a solar power converting unit; and a tidal power converting unit.

4. The system according to claim 2, each or at least one energy producing unit comprising: a local controller, configured to control operation of the energy producing unit in case of emergency situation.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the wind power converting units, each comprise a generator mechanically coupled to a rotor having plural rotor blades attached.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the central controller is further configured to control operation of the wind power converting units further based on wildlife detection and/or air traffic control transponders.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the central controller is further configured to control operation of the wind power converting units further based on extreme weather condition as detected by at least one environmental sensor.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the central controller is configured to control at least one of: rated power, active power, reactive power, rotational speed of the rotor, pitch angle of at least one rotor blade, yaw angle of a nacelle harbouring the rotor, and curtailment, of each of the wind power converting units.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one operational parameter of the wind power converting unit comprises at least one value of: an active power output, a reactive power output, a rotational speed of the rotor, a pitch angle of at least one rotor blade, a yaw angle of a nacelle harbouring the rotor, a curtailment, a temperature of at least one component of the wind power converting unit, and an electrical property of output power.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the wind power converting units are arranged in at least two wind parks, wherein each wind park has at least one connection terminal to which all wind power converting units of the respective wind park are connected and which is connected to a utility grid.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein each wind park comprises 3 to 200 wind power converting units spaced apart by a distance between 400 m and 2000 m, wherein a distance (d) between centers of the two wind parks is between 5 km and 50 km.

12. The system according to claim 1, configured to perform software update of the central controller.

13. A method of providing electric energy, the method comprising: providing plural energy providing units comprising wind power converting units, each energy providing unit comprising measurement equipment; measuring, by the measurement equipment of each energy providing unit, at least one operational parameter of the energy providing unit; measuring an environmental condition by at least one environmental sensor installed at or close to selected energy providing units; using a central controller communicatively connected with the energy providing units to perform: supplying virtual sensor data to the energy providing units based on the environmental condition; controlling operation of the energy providing units based on measurement results received from the measurement equipment of each of the energy providing units and based on the environmental condition, wherein the central controller is further configured to apply a wake model for all or a subset of the wind power converting units, based on the environmental condition, in order to predict wind condition at all of the wind power converting units; and wherein the central controller is further configured to provide the wind condition at all of the wind power converting unit locations to the respective wind power converting units as the virtual sensor data.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

[0046] Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

[0047] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a system for providing electric energy according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0048] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates another embodiment of a system for providing electric energy according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0049] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates still another embodiment of a system for providing electric energy according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] The illustration in the drawings is in schematic form. It is noted that in different figures, elements similar or identical in structure and/or function are provided with the same reference signs or with reference signs, which differ only within the first digit. A description of an element not described in one embodiment may be taken from a description of this element with respect to another embodiment.

[0051] The system 100 for providing electric energy according to an embodiment of the present invention schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises plural energy providing units 101_1, . . . , 101_n, where n is an integer e.g., between 5 and 1000. Each energy providing unit comprises measurement equipment not explicitly illustrated for measuring at least one operational parameter of the respective energy providing unit 101_1, . . . , 101_n. The system 100 further comprises at least one environmental sensor 103a, 103b, 103c. The environmental sensors 103a, 103b, 103c are installed at or close to selected energy providing units, in particular energy providing units 101_3, 101_6, 101_n−2. The environmental sensors 103a, 103b, 103c are adapted to measure an environmental condition, in particular wind condition. In particular, the sensors may be capable to measure wind direction and wind velocity of the wind 105.

[0052] The system 100 further comprises a central controller 107 which is communicatively connected with the energy providing units 101_1, . . . , 101_n. The central controller 107 may comprise a database or storage 108 and a processor 110. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 the energy providing units 101_1, . . . , 101_n are arranged in at least two wind parks, namely a wind farm 109a, a wind farm 109b and a wind farm 109c. In other embodiments, more than three wind farms may be comprised in the system 100.

[0053] Each wind farm has (or may not have) a respective wind farm controller in the illustrated embodiment, in particular the wind farm 109a has a wind farm controller 111a, the wind farm 109b has a wind farm controller 111b and the wind farm 109c has a wind farm controller 111c.

[0054] The energy providing units illustrated in FIG. 1 are configured as wind power converting units 101_1, . . . , 101_n. The wind power converting units 101_1, 101_2 and 101_3 belong to the wind farm 109a and are communicatively connected with the respective wind farm controller 111a. The same holds for the other wind farms 109b and 109c wherein the respective wind farm controller 111b, 111c, respectively, is communicatively connected with the wind power converting units comprised in the respective wind farm 109b or 109c, respectively.

[0055] The central controller 107 is communicatively connected to the wind power converting units via the respective wind farm controllers 111a, 111b, 111c. In other embodiments (e.g., in the absence of any wind farm controllers), the central controller 107 may be directly connected to the respective wind power converting units.

[0056] The central controller is adapted to at least one of: to supply virtual sensor data 113a, 113b, 113c to the wind power converting units via the wind farm controllers 111a, 111b, 111c and/or to control the operation of the wind power converting units based on measurement results 115a, 115b, 115c received from the measurement equipment of each of the wind power converting units 101_1, . . . , 101_n and based on the environmental condition 117a, 117b, 117c as measured by the environmental sensors 103a, 103b, 103c.

[0057] Herein, the measurement results 115a represent measurement results of the wind power converting units 101_1, 101_2, 101_3 comprised in the wind farm 109a. In particular, the central controller considers the individual measurement results 115_1 of wind power converting unit 101_1, the measurement results 115_2 of the wind power converting unit 101_2 and the individual results 115_3 of the wind power converting unit 101_3. Similarly, the central controller considers for controlling the respective wind power converting unit also the measurement results of the other individual wind power converting units comprised in the wind farm 109b and the wind farm 109c for controlling the same.

[0058] The control of operation of the respective wind power converting units is achieved by sending control signals 119a, 119b and 119c to the respective wind park controllers 111a, 111b, 111c, respectively, from the central controller 107. The respective wind park controllers 111a, 111b, 111c then distribute the respective individual control signals 119_1, 119_2, 119_3 to the wind power converting units 101_1, 101_2, 101_3, respectively, comprised in the wind farm 109a. Similarly, the other wind park controllers distribute the control signals 119b and 119c to the wind power converting units comprised in the respective wind farm. Thus, the respective wind park controllers 111a, 111b, 111c may not perform any control by themselves but merely function as dispatcher or distributor of control signals received from the central controller 107.

[0059] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the energy providing units are realized as energy producing units, in particular realized as wind power converting units. Thereby, each wind power converting unit comprises a rotor 121_1 to which mechanically plural rotor blades 123_1 are connected. The rotor 121_1 of the wind power converting unit 101_1 drives a not illustrated generator harboured in a nacelle 125_1. In other embodiments, the system may additionally or alternatively to the wind power converting units comprise solar power converting units and/or tidal power converting units and/or energy storing units, such as batteries and/or accumulators.

[0060] Each of the wind power converting units 101_1, . . . , 101_n may comprise a local controller (not explicitly illustrated) which is adapted to control operation of the respective wind power converting unit in case of an emergency situation, in particular in case when there is a connection loss to the central controller 107.

[0061] The environmental sensors 103a, 103b, 103c may also sense an extreme weather condition or extreme environmental condition and the central controller may control the wind power converting units also based on the extreme weather condition. The control signals 119a, 119b, 119c sent from the central controller 107 to the respective wind power converting units via the respective wind farm controllers 111a, 111b, 111c may define a value of for example rated power, active power, reactive power, rotational speed of the rotor, pitch angle of at least one rotor blade, yawing angle of a nacelle harbouring the rotor and/or a curtailment of each of the wind power converting units.

[0062] The operational parameters 115_1, 115_2, 115_3 (collectively labelled with reference sign 115a for the wind farm 109a) may comprise at least one value of an active power output, a reactive power output, a pitch angle of at least one rotor blade, a yawing angle of a nacelle harbouring the rotor, a curtailment, a temperature of at least one component of the wind power converting unit or/and an electrical property of output power.

[0063] Each wind park 109a, 109b, 109c comprises a respective wind park connection terminal 127a, 127b, 127c to which the power output terminals of the respective wind power converting units are connected. The connection terminal 127a, 127b, 127c of all wind turbines is connected to one or more utility grids 129. A distance d between centers 106b and 106c of two adjacent wind parks 109b, 109c may range for example between 5 km and 50 km.

[0064] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a system 200 for providing electric energy according to another embodiment of the present invention. It should be noted that structures or elements in different figures are labelled with reference signs differing only in the first digit. A description of one electric not explicitly described with respect to one embodiment may be taken from the description of the corresponding unit or structure or element as described with reference to another embodiment.

[0065] The energy providing units illustrated in FIG. 2 or 3 may exchange signals similarly as in detail described with respect to FIG. 1.

[0066] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the central controller 207 is directly connected to each of the energy providing units 201_1, 201_n. Also, in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, the energy providing units are in particular configured as wind power converting units 201_1, . . . , 201_n are arranged in plural wind parks 209a, 209b, 209c. The central controller 207 receives the environmental condition 217a, 217b, 217c from the environmental sensors 203a, 203b, 203c and is configured to apply a wake model in order to predict the wind conditions at other positions different from the position of the environmental sensors. Thereby, it is possible to predict the wind conditions for all other wind converting units 201_1, . . . , 201_n. Furthermore, an extreme event detected by one of the environmental sensors, for example a heavy storm, may be detected and may be taken into account to appropriately control all the wind power converting units.

[0067] For example, the wind farm 209b is located, relative to the wind direction 205, downstream of the wind farm 209a. Thus, an extreme weather condition may for example be detected by the environmental sensor 203a and the wind farm 209b may be controlled taking into account the detected extreme weather condition expected to affect the wind farm 209b with a time delay. In particular, all information on current wind conditions as for example detected by one of the environmental sensors may be used to predict wind conditions on all other wind farms, in particular using a wake model. Thereby, much better control over short-term production may be possible. Better prediction may lead to reduced safety factors, for example less turbine curtailments in high wind periods which may lead to increased production.

[0068] FIG. 3 illustrates a system 300 according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the wind power converting units 301_1, 301_4, 301_13, 301_16 arranged at the corners of the area occupied by all wind power converting units are equipped with environmental sensors 303a, 303b, 303c, 303d. All other wind power converting units are not necessarily equipped with such an environmental sensor. The central controller 307 receives the environmental conditions 317a, 317b, 317c and 317d from the respective environmental sensors. Furthermore, all wind power converting units send their operational parameters to the central controller 307 similarly as illustrated in detail in FIG. 1. The reaction on the sensor data 317a, . . . , 317d as well as reaction on the measurement values of the operational parameters is managed by the centralized controller 307 which defines the best strategy and enables (in case of environmental sensors) for example turbine cut-in, turbine cut-out, reaction on temperature, and control of other operational parameters, such as reactive power, active power, pitch angle, yawing angle and so forth. Thereby, a smaller number of sensors than utilized or employed in conventional systems may be provided. The sensors 303a, 303b, 303c, 303d may for example comprise an anemometer or a wind vane. Furthermore, wildlife detection and/or air traffic control transponder capability may be comprised within the sensors.

[0069] In embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, respective wind park controllers may be dispensed with. Also the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 may not necessarily comprise the respective wind farm controllers. In this case, the central controller 107 may communicatively directly connected to all of the energy providing units.

[0070] Also extreme event information is handled centrally by the respective central controller and wind farms which will experience critical conditions may be identified (via for example machine learning based on wind direction, wind speed, location of wind farms) and proper measures may be performed.

[0071] The centralized controller may be employed to predict wind conditions for all wind farms in real-time. Thereby, much better control over short-term production may be possible. In one embodiment, the operation of the wind power converting units may completely be defined centrally by the respective central controller 107, 207, 307. However, the wind power converting units may have an emergency control for situations of connection loss, otherwise they are operated fully remotely from the centralized controller.

[0072] In other embodiments, the wind power converting units may comprise respective wind turbine controllers. In this case, the central controller may send virtual sensor data representing predicted or measured wind condition for example measured by sensors installed close to or at selected wind power converting units.

[0073] The centralized control architecture may lead to advantages for updating control or maintenance software. Conventionally, updates may take months to be deployed in the complete fleet of wind turbines. In embodiments of the present invention, an update is realized by updating only the central controller without necessarily requiring update of wind turbine controllers. Thereby, costs may significantly be reduced. An advantage may be that the identical software version may be achieved or installed in a very short time. Thereby, also system complexity may be reduced due to less hardware which may result in reduced internal costs.

[0074] Furthermore, root cause analysis may be simpler, because data may be available instantaneous instead of manual downloads of data from each wind turbine.

[0075] The communication between the central controller and each of the energy providing units may for example be realized via a network, for example the 5G network or the Internet. The 5G network may enable higher bandwidths with low latency. Thereby, remote, real-time control of the wind turbines may be possible.

[0076] Embodiments of the present invention may enable to downgrade the wind turbine controllers since, a high amount of control is performed by the centralized controller. Furthermore, instead of equipping every wind turbine with sensors that have similar readings between turbines, only a subset of turbines in a wind farm may be equipped with for example environmental sensors. For example, only turbines at edges or margins of the wind farm may be equipped with sensors (for example anemometer, temperature sensor, wind vane, . . . ) to reflect different wind directions.

[0077] Further examples for redundant sensors may be wildlife detection, for example for detecting bats or birds and/or air traffic control transponders. In case a first wind farm experiences an extreme event (such as a gust, wave), shutdown of this wind farm may be required. Since the information regarding the extreme event is transmitted from the respective environmental sensor of the first wind farm to the central controller, the central controller advantageously can control a second wind farm for example downstream the extreme event. Thereby, safety may be improved, and harm may be avoided.

[0078] Furthermore, all information on current wind conditions can be used to predict wind conditions on all wind farms. Thereby, a much better control over short-term production may be possible. The prediction may lead to reduced safety factors, for example less turbine curtailments in high wind periods which may lead to increased production.

[0079] Embodiments allow to dispense with maintaining a high number of wind turbine controllers, since only the central controller needs to be maintained. Furthermore, a simple deployment “at one shot” is enabled instead of incremental updates as performed in a conventional system. Furthermore, thereby, it may be achieved to have identical software versions running for controlling all wind turbines. Furthermore, the central controller receives the measurement results regarding the operational parameters. Thus, all operational parameters of all wind power converting units are available for example for state analysis, performance analysis, diagnosis and so forth.

[0080] Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of embodiments and variations thereon, it will be understood that numerous additional modifications and variations could be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0081] For the sake of clarity, it is to be understood that the use of “a” or “an” throughout this application does not exclude a plurality, and “comprising” does not exclude other steps or elements.