Fault ride through method for load impact minimization
10704534 · 2020-07-07
Assignee
Inventors
- Ciprian Biris (Hinnerup, DK)
- Uffe C. Merrild (Bryrup, DK)
- Leif Svinth Christensen (Thorsø, DK)
- Martin Ansbjerg KJÆR (Harlev J, DK)
Cpc classification
H02J3/38
ELECTRICITY
Y02E10/76
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
H02J3/0012
ELECTRICITY
H02J3/1892
ELECTRICITY
H02J2310/18
ELECTRICITY
H02J3/1885
ELECTRICITY
H02J3/00125
ELECTRICITY
F03D9/255
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F03D7/0272
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F03D7/0284
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Y02E10/72
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
International classification
F03D9/25
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
H02J3/38
ELECTRICITY
H02J3/18
ELECTRICITY
Abstract
Controlling a wind turbine during a grid fault where the grid voltage drops below a nominal grid voltage. After detection of a grid fault, the total current limit for the power converter output is increased to a total maximum overload current limit. Depending on whether active or reactive current generation is prioritized, an active or reactive current reference is determined. The active current reference is determined in a way so that a reduction in active power production due to the grid voltage drop is minimized and based on the condition that the vector-sum of the active output current and the reactive output current is limited according to the total maximum overload current limit, and a maximum period of time is determined in which the power converter can be controlled based on the active/reactive current references. Afterwards the power converter is controlled based on the active and reactive current references.
Claims
1. A method for controlling a wind turbine during a grid fault where a grid voltage drops below a nominal grid voltage, wherein the wind turbine comprises a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) connected to a grid, a power converter connected between the grid and rotor windings of the DFIG, wherein the power converter comprises a rotor inverter and a grid inverter, wherein the rotor inverter is controllable to control production of active and reactive output currents based on respective active and reactive current references, wherein the active and reactive output currents are based on current delivered by the DFIG and current delivered or consumed by the grid inverter, and wherein a vector-sum of active output current and reactive output current is limited according to a total current limit, the method comprising: determining a presence of the grid fault; setting the total current limit to a total maximum overload current limit; determining the active and reactive current references based on a control function which determines the active current reference so that a reduction in active power production due to the grid voltage drop is minimized, wherein the active and reactive current references are determined subject to a condition that the vector-sum of the active output current and the active current reference is based on the active power production before the grid fault and an obtained grid voltage corresponding to the grid voltage drop, and that the reactive output current is limited according to the total maximum overload current limit; determining a maximum period of time in which the power converter can be controlled based on the active and reactive current references; and controlling the power converter based on the active and reactive current references.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the total maximum overload current limit is a maximum current which can be produced by the DFIG.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the total maximum overload current limit is larger than a total current limit used at the time when the presence grid fault is determined.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein controlling the power converter based on the active and reactive current references, comprises: increasing the active output current from an active output current level present before the grid fault to the active current reference so that so that the reduction in the active power production due to the grid voltage drop is minimized.
5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: adjusting, after detecting a recovery from the grid fault, the active current reference so that the produced active power approaches a power reference for the active power production after the recovery from the grid fault.
6. The method according to claim 1, where the control function is configured in an initial first step to determine one of the active current reference and the reactive current reference, and in a subsequent second step to determine the other of the active current reference and the reactive current reference.
7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the active current reference is determined in the initial first step, and wherein the reactive current reference is determined subject to a condition that the vector-sum of the determined active current reference current and the reactive current reference is limited according to the total maximum overload current limit.
8. The method according to claim 6, wherein the active current reference is determined subject to a condition that the vector-sum of the determined reactive current reference and the active current reference is limited according to the total maximum overload current limit.
9. The method according to claim 8, where the reactive current reference is determined according to a predetermined function.
10. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the presence of the grid fault comprises: comparing the grid voltage with a grid voltage drop threshold.
11. A control system for controlling a wind turbine during a grid fault where the grid voltage drops below a nominal grid voltage, wherein the wind turbine comprises a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) connected to a grid, a power converter connected between the grid and rotor windings of the DFIG, wherein the power converter comprises a rotor inverter and a grid inverter, wherein the rotor inverter is controllable to control production of active and reactive output currents based on respective active and reactive current references, wherein the active and reactive output currents are based on current delivered by the DFIG and current delivered or consumed by the grid inverter, wherein a vector-sum of active output current and reactive output current is limited according to a total current limit, and wherein the control system is arranged to perform an operation comprising: determining a presence of the grid fault; setting the total current limit to a total maximum overload current limit; determining the active and reactive current references based on a control function which determines the active current reference so that a reduction in active power production due to the grid voltage drop is minimized, wherein the active and reactive current references are determined subject to a condition that the vector-sum of the active output current and the active current reference is based on the active power production before the grid fault and an obtained grid voltage corresponding to the grid voltage drop, and that the reactive output current is limited according to the total maximum overload current limit; determining a maximum period of time in which the power converter can be controlled based on the active and reactive current references; and controlling the power converter based on the active and reactive current references.
12. A computer program product comprising software code adapted to control a wind turbine when executed on a data processing system, the computer program product being adapted to perform an operation for controlling a wind turbine during a grid fault where the grid voltage drops below a nominal grid voltage, wherein the wind turbine comprises a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) connected to a grid, a power converter connected between the grid and rotor windings of the DFIG, wherein the power converter comprises a rotor inverter and a grid inverter, wherein the rotor inverter is controllable to control production of active and reactive output currents based on respective active and reactive current references, where the active and reactive output currents are based on current delivered by the DFIG and current delivered or consumed by the grid inverter, and wherein a vector-sum of active output current and reactive output current is limited according to a total current limit, the operation comprising: determining a presence of the grid fault; setting the total current limit to a total maximum overload current limit; determining the active and reactive current references based on a control function which determines the active current reference so that a reduction in active power production due to the grid voltage drop is minimized, wherein the active and reactive current references are determined subject to a condition that the vector-sum of the active output current and the active current reference is based on the active power production before the grid fault and an obtained grid voltage corresponding to the grid voltage drop, and the reactive output current is limited according to the total maximum overload current limit; determining a maximum period of time in which the power converter can be controlled based on the active and reactive current references; and controlling the power converter based on the active and reactive current references.
13. A wind turbine, comprising: a tower; a nacelle disposed on the tower; a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) disposed in the nacelle and connected to a grid; a power converter connected between the grid and rotor windings of the DFIG, where the power converter comprises a rotor inverter and a grid inverter, wherein the rotor inverter is controllable to control production of active and reactive output currents based on respective active and reactive current references, wherein the active and reactive output currents are based on current delivered by the DFIG and current delivered or consumed by the grid inverter, wherein a vector-sum of active output current and reactive output current is limited according to a total current limit; and a control system configured to perform an operation, comprising: determining a presence of a grid fault; setting the total current limit to a total maximum overload current limit; determining the active and reactive current references based on a control function which determines the active current reference so that a reduction in active power production due to the grid voltage drop is minimized, wherein the active and reactive current references are determined subject to the condition that the vector-sum of the active output current and the active current reference is based on the active power production before the grid fault and an obtained grid voltage corresponding to the grid voltage drop, and the reactive output current is limited according to the total maximum overload current limit; determining a maximum period of time in which the power converter can be controlled based on the active and reactive current references; and controlling the power converter based on the active and reactive current references.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which
(2)
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DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
(9)
(10) The generator and the power converter are controllable to produce power according to a reference signal. For example, the generator and the power converter may be controllable to produce a desired active output current Iq and a desired reactive output current Id.
(11)
(12) In case of a grid fault such as a low voltage grid fault, the voltage of the grid 110 and therefore the voltage at the output power terminal the wind turbine 100 may suddenly decrease. Due to the sudden decrease of the grid voltage, the wind turbine will decrease production of active power. For example, assume that the wind turbine generator's active power production before the fault is 1 PU and the grid voltage is 1 PU. Due to a grid fault, the grid voltage reduces to e.g. 0.85 PU. This may lead to a reduction in active power production to 0.85 PU or less depending on power control strategies. The reduction in active power production generates a counter torque in the drive train of the wind turbine. Therefore, due to the grid fault, the generated load of the drive train may lead to increased wear of the wind turbine.
(13)
(14) The doubly fed induction generator is connected with the grid 110 via a transformer 206. A power converter 205 is connected between the grid 110 and rotor windings of the rotor 203 of the generator 201. The power converter 205 and the generator 201 are controllable to produce active and reactive output currents Iq, Id based on respective active and reactive current references Iq_ref, Id_ref.
(15) Specifically, the power converter 205 comprises a rotor inverter 207, a grid inverter 208 and DC link 209. The rotor inverter 207 comprises control input (not shown) for controlling the production of active and reactive output currents Iq, Id based on the active and reactive current references Iq_ref, Id_ref or other reference signals derived from the current references.
(16) As shown in
(17) It is noted that the current at the output of the grid inverter 208 may consist only of active power Iq2, i.e. so that no reactive power Id2 is produced or consumed by the grid inverter 208. However, in general the current at the output of the grid inverter 208 may comprise both an active component Iq2 and a reactive component Id2. The current delivered by the generator 201 comprises, in general, an active component Iq1 and a reactive component Id1.
(18) In general, for rotation speeds of the generator above synchronous speed, the grid inverter 208 supplies power to the grid so that the current Iq2, Id2 add to the current Iq1, Id1 from the generator, whereas for rotation speeds below synchronous speed, the grid inverter 208 consumes power so that the current Iq2, Id2 flows towards the grid inverter 208.
(19) It is noted that the current at the output of the grid inverter 208 may consist only of active power, i.e. so that no reactive power is produced or consumed.
(20) The configuration in
(21) A control system 230 is arranged for determining the active and reactive current references Iq_ref, Id_ref based on input 231.
(22)
(23)
(24) The vector-sum of active output current Iq and reactive output current Id and, therefore, the corresponding references Iq_ref and Id_ref, is limited according to a total current limit Itot. The output currents Iq and Id are the magnitudes of corresponding vector or phasor representations of the currents. Accordingly, the vector-sum can be determined as the square root of the sum of the squares of Iq and Id.
(25) Initially, the presence of the grid fault is determined. The grid fault may be determined by the control system 230 based on a measured grid voltage, e.g. measured at a point between the transformer 206 and the grid 110. For example, a fault ride through state, i.e. a method according to an embodiment, may be invoked if the grid voltage Ugrid decreases below a grid voltage threshold which is lower than the nominal grid voltage Ugrid. The presence of the grid fault could also be determined, i.e. merely informed, via a control signal to the control system 230 which indicates presence of the grid fault, or in other ways. The grid voltage or control signal may be provided via input 231.
(26) Thus, the activation of the fault ride through state may be triggered dependent on a measured grid voltage Ugrid or dependent on other signals such a grid fault signals. According to an embodiment, the method comprises comparing the grid voltage Ugrid with a grid voltage drop threshold UT in order to determine if the grid voltage Ugrid is below the threshold, e.g. a threshold of 0.9 PU, 0.8 PU, 0.7 PU or other suitable threshold. If the grid voltage is below the threshold, the fault ride through method is activated.
(27) After entering the fault ride through state, the total current limit Itot is set to a total maximum overload current limit Itotmax.
(28) The value of the total maximum overload current limit Itotmax depends on operational conditions of the generator 201. Under conditions where the generator 201 operates with a rotor speed at or above synchronous speed, the total maximum overload current limit Itotmax can be set to a maximum current which can be produced by the generator 201, i.e. the maximum current according to specifications of the generator 201.
(29) The maximum current which can be produced by the generator may be given by a factor Foverload multiplied with the total nominal current limit of the generator Itotnom: Itotmax=Foverload*Itotnom. Foverload is greater than one, e.g. equal to 1.2 or 1.3.
(30) The total nominal current limit Itotnom may depend on configurations of the generator, e.g. dependent on whether the generator is operated in a star or delta mode connection.
(31) For rotor speeds below synchronous speed, the total maximum overload current limit Itotmax may be set to a limit which is lower than the total nominal current limit Itotnom since in such situations the power converter 205 needs to supply power to the rotor 203.
(32) In general, the total maximum overload current limit Itotmax is larger than the total current limit Itot used at the time when the grid fault is detected. For example, at least for rotation speeds of the generator above synchronous speed, the total maximum overload current limit Itotmax is larger than the total nominal current limit Itotnom used during nominal operation of the generator 201. Similarly, for rotation speeds below synchronous speed, the total maximum overload current limit Itotmax may be set to a value which is larger than Itot used at the time when the grid fault started. This value can be determined in different ways and dependent on the configuration of the power converter 205.
(33) In a next step it is determined if production of active or reactive current is prioritized. For example, in some situations production of reactive current is prioritized for the purpose of supporting the grid by assisting in increasing the grid voltage Ugrid. In other situations, grid support is not required and, therefore, production of active current can be prioritized.
(34) In general, whether active or reactive current is prioritized, the method for controlling the wind turbine 100 includes determining the active and reactive current references Iq_ref, Id_ref. The active current reference Iq_ref is determined, by use of a control function 232 or algorithm comprised by the control system 230, so that a reduction in active power production Pq due to the grid voltage drop is minimized. The active and reactive current references Iq_ref, Id_ref are determined subject to the condition that the vector-sum of the active output current Iq and the reactive output current Id is limited according to the total maximum overload current limit Itotmax. The active current reference Iq_ref can be determined in different ways as explained by examples below in order to minimize the reduction of the active power production Pq.
(35) At least when production of active current is prioritized or when an increase of the production of active current Iq is allowed, the control of the power converter based on the active and reactive current references Iq_ref, Id_ref, implies that the produced active output current Iq is increased from an active output current level Iq_pre present before the grid fault to the active current reference Iq_ref so that the reduction in the active power production due to the grid voltage drop is minimized. The active output current level Iq_pre present before the grid fault may be determined according to a desired production of active current or power provided by the park controller 120 or other external reference.
(36) The determined active and reactive current references Iq_ref, Id_ref are used for controlling the power converter 205, directly or based on one or more control references determined from Iq_ref and Id_ref.
(37) According to an example, in the case where production of active current is prioritized the control function 232 determines the active current reference Iq_ref based on the active power production Pq_pre before the grid fault and an obtained grid voltage Ugrid corresponding to the grid voltage drop Udrop. For example, if the grid voltage has dropped to 0.85 PU and the active power production Pq_pre is 1 PU, the active current reference Iq_ref can be determined as Pq_pre/Udrop=1 PU/0.85 PU=1.18 PU. Accordingly, by increasing the active current Iq to 1.18 PU the active current production Pq is maintained at 1 PU.
(38) When production of active current is prioritized, the active current reference Iq_ref is limited according to the total maximum overload current limit Itotmax. If the reactive current Id can reduced to zero, Iq_ref is limited to Itotmax. In general, the active current reference is limited according to the constraint that the vector-sum of the active current reference Iq_ref and a minimum reactive current reference should be less than or equal to Itotmax. The minimum reactive current reference may be a minimum reactive current production required also when active current is prioritized.
(39) In case that the determined active current reference Iq_ref or the vector-sum of the active current reference Iq_ref and the minimum reactive current reference is less than the total maximum overload current limit Itotmax, the remaining current production capacity may be used for production of reactive current Id. In this case the reactive current reference Id_ref is determined subject to the constraint that the sum of the active current reference Iq_ref and the reactive current reference Id_ref is less than or equal to the total maximum overload current limit Itotmax.
(40) In a situation where production of reactive current Id is prioritized, the reactive current reference Id_ref is determined, e.g. according to a predetermined function which may depend on the magnitude of the voltage drop Udrop. For example, the predetermined function may be in the form of a K-factor function. For certain ranges of the voltage drop Udrop, the determined reactive current reference Id_ref is increased as a function of increasing voltage drops Udrop. Accordingly, the predetermined function may be a function which depends on the voltage drop Udrop. Alternatively, the predetermined function may be independent from the voltage drop Udrop and provide the reactive current reference Id_ref, e.g. as constant reactive current reference.
(41) Normally, the reactive current reference Id_ref is less than the total maximum overload current limit Itotmax, but would otherwise be limited according to Itotmax.
(42) In a situation that the determined reactive current reference Id_ref is less than the total maximum overload current limit Itotmax, which would normally be the case, the remaining current production capacity is used for production of active current Iq. In this situation the active current reference Iq_ref is determined subject to the constraint that the vector-sum of the active current reference Iq_ref and the determined reactive current reference Id_ref is less than or equal to the total maximum overload current limit Itotmax.
(43) Thus, in general the control function 232 is configured in an initial first step to determine the active current reference Iq_ref or the reactive current reference Id_ref and in a subsequent second step to determine the active current reference Iq_ref or the reactive current reference Id_ref which was not determined in the first step. If the active current reference Iq_ref was determined in the initial first step, the reactive current reference Id_ref is determined in the subsequent step subject to the condition that the vector-sum of the determined active current reference current Iq_ref and the reactive current reference Id_ref is limited according to the total maximum overload current limit Itotmax. Similarly,
(44) if the reactive current reference Id_ref was determined in the first step, the active current reference Iq_ref is determined in the sequent step subject to the condition that the vector-sum of the reactive current reference Id_ref and the active current reference Iq_ref is limited according to Itotmax.
(45)
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(47) The period of time where the power converter 205 can be operated according to various embodiments may be limited. For example, the period of time where the wind turbine 100 is operated in a fault ride through state may be determined based on a function with determines the maximum duration of the fault ride through state based on the magnitude of the voltage drop Udrop. Excess power which cannot be supplied to the grid (due to reduced capability of the grid inverter 208 resulting from the reduced grid voltage) may need to be burned off by a chopper. Therefore, the period of time may be determined dependent on the voltage the drop Udrop, e.g. so that period of time is decreased for increasing voltage drops Udrop. Additionally, the period of time may be determined based on the determined active current reference Iq_ref. Accordingly, the method for controlling the wind turbine may comprise a step of determining a maximum period of time where the power converter 205 can be controlled based on the determined active and reactive current references Iq_ref, Id_ref. Similarly, the method for controlling the wind turbine 100 may comprise monitoring the duration where the power converter is controlled based on the active and reactive current references Iq_ref, Id_ref in order to determine when the maximum period of time is reached. Before, the maximum period of time is reached, other active and reactive current references may be determined, e.g. an decreased active current reference which does not require use of the chopper for burning off excess power.
(48) When the grid voltage returns to the nominal grid voltage Unom, the active power production may be ramped up from a reduced power level Pq_drop to a desired active power reference, e.g. an external power reference provided from the park controller 120 or other external power reference. The ramping is only required if the power production during the fault ride through mode is less than the power reference which is used after grid recovery. Thus, in some cases there will be no ramp because during the voltage drop the algorithm was able to supply the amount of active current necessary to produce the power required by the turbine controller. Accordingly, after detecting a recovery from the grid fault, the method for controlling the wind turbine 100 may comprise the step of adjusting the active current reference Iq_ref so that the produced active power Pq approaches a power reference such as an external power reference. The step of adjusting the produced active current reference Iq_ref may be performed by ramping the active current reference Iq_ref down until the power reference, e.g. the external power reference, is reached.
(49)
(50) Thus, according to an embodiment, in order to maintain the output power Pq at the previous level, i.e. the power Pq_drop produced during the grid fault, during the period t2-t2 where the voltage increases rapidly, the active current reference is decreased to a suitable level which may be lower the reference Iq_ref used before the grid fault.
(51) After the grid voltage has stabilized at t2, the active current reference Iq_ref is ramped until the power reference, e.g. the external power reference, is reached at t3.
(52) Although the present invention has been described in connection with the specified embodiments, it should not be construed as being in any way limited to the presented examples. The scope of the present invention is to be interpreted in the light of the accompanying claim set. In the context of the claims, the terms comprising or comprises do not exclude other possible elements or steps. Also, the mentioning of references such as a or an etc. should not be construed as excluding a plurality. The use of reference signs in the claims with respect to elements indicated in the figures shall also not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention. Furthermore, individual features mentioned in different claims, may possibly be advantageously combined, and the mentioning of these features in different claims does not exclude that a combination of features is not possible and advantageous.