Method to control the operational status of a wind turbine

Abstract

A method to control the operational status of a wind turbine is provided. An operator communication interface establishes a wireless point-to-point communication to a wind turbine communication interface. The wind turbine communication interface is an integrated part of the wind turbine. A control signal is transmitted from the operator communication interface via the point-to-point communication to the turbine communication interface. The control signal is transferred from the turbine communication interface to an internal control system of the wind turbine. The internal control system of the wind turbine changes the operational status of the wind turbine based on the control signal.

Claims

1. A method, comprising: providing a wind turbine having an integrated wind turbine communication interface, wherein the wind turbine is controlled by a first control signal via a first communication, and wherein the first communication is via Internet/SCADA, receiving a second communication from an operator communication interface, wherein the second communication is a remote wireless point-to-point direct communication to the wind turbine communication interface, wherein the remote wireless point-to-point direct communication is a short range communication implemented according to the principles of Bluetooth or DECT or WiFi, or an extended range communication, implemented according to the principles of GSM or GPRS or EDGE or WCDMA or HSPA or LTE, or an optical communication, wherein the remote wireless point-to-point direct communication is not a connection via Internet/SCADA, and wherein the second communication comprises a second control signal transmitted from the operator communication interface to the wind turbine communication interface, transferring the second control signal from the wind turbine communication interface to an internal control system of the wind turbine, and changing the operational status of the wind turbine based on the second control signal, wherein the second control signal received via the second communication overrides the first control signal received via the first communication.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operator communication interface is arranged close to the site of the wind turbine but beyond a safety distance between the operator communication interface and the wind turbine.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the range of the remote wireless point-to-point direct communication is greater than the safety distance.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first control signal and the second control signal, which are received via the wind turbine communication interface, are directly transmitted to the internal control system of the wind turbine.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the internal control system of the wind turbine executes a set of turbine commands related to: the operational status of the wind turbine (start operation/stop operation), or to the setting of power reference values, or to the setting of pitch- and yaw-values, or to control of the rotor motion, or to brake-commands.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operator communication interface generates the second control signal based on an interaction with an operator, while the operator communication interface is part of a handheld device, which even comprises a user interface for interaction with the operator.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the handheld communication device of the operator carries out these actions: establish a point-to-point wireless communication between operator and the internal control system of the wind turbine, provide user authentication information, send control commands to the control system of the wind turbine, and disconnect from internal control system if desired by the operator.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein a radius of a hazard exclusion zone is used as safety distance.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein a data communication link is established and maintained between the operator communication interface and the wind turbine communication interface.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the operator communication interface, the wind turbine communication interface and the remote wireless point-to-point direct communication use an end-to-end encryption for the data being exchanged.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the access of the operator to the control system is protected by an authorization system.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the remote wireless point-to-point direct communication is used for an emergency stop operation functionality, being initiated and established by an operator via the operator communication interface.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein data and information, which are present in the wind turbine, are transmitted from the wind turbine communication interface via the remote wireless point-to-point direct communication to the operator communication interface, thus the data and information are displayed at an operator for evaluation and information.

14. A method to control an operational status of a wind turbine, comprising: providing a wind turbine communication interface, wherein the wind turbine communication interface is an integrated part of the wind turbine and includes two wireless transponders, wherein the two wireless transponders are connected to respective coupled switches of a safety relay module, wherein the safety relay module is connected to a redundant emergency stop circuit of the wind turbine, wherein the wind turbine is controlled by a first control signal via a first communication, and wherein the first communication is via Internet/SCADA; establishing a second communication, wherein the second communication is a remote wireless point-to-point direct communication between the wind turbine communication interface and an operator communication interface; receiving a second control signal from the operator communication interface via the second communication; and activating the redundant emergency stop circuit of the wind turbine based on the second control signal, wherein activating the redundant emergency stop circuit of the wind turbine based on the second control signal overrides the first control signal.

15. A wind turbine comprising: a wind turbine communication interface having two wireless transponders, wherein the two wireless transponders are connected to respective coupled switches of a safety relay module, wherein the safety relay module is connected to a redundant emergency stop circuit; wherein the wind turbine is controlled by a first control signal via a first communication, and wherein the first communication is via Internet/SCADA; wherein the two wireless transponders are configured to establish a second communication, wherein the second communication is a remote wireless point-to-point direct communication with a remote operator communication interface, receive a second control signal from the remote operator communication interface via the second communication, and activate the redundant emergency stop circuit based on the second control signal; wherein, the redundant emergency stop circuit activated based on the second control signal has a higher priority than the first control signal received via the first communication and the redundant emergency stop circuit activated based on the second control signal overrules the first control signal received via the first communication.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

(1) Some of the embodiments will be described in detail, with reference to the following figures, wherein like designations denote like members, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a handheld communication device and a wind turbine, being part of the method invented;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a handheld communication device with a remote emergency stop pushbutton-functionality;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a principle operational flow chart of a wireless emergency stop pushbutton communication in relation to FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a respective flow chart describing the operation of the safety relay module and wireless transponder located at the wind turbine in relation to of FIG. 2; and

(6) FIG. 5 shows a vessel, acting as a working-platform during a wind turbine installation, as described in the introduction above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(7) FIG. 1 shows a handheld communication device and a wind turbine, being part of the method invented.

(8) The operator control device OCD comprises an operator communication interface OCI, which establishes a wireless point-to-point communication PTPC to a wind turbine communication interface WTCI. The wind turbine communication interface WTCI is an integrated part of the wind turbine WT.

(9) A control signal CS is transmitted from the operator communication interface OCI via the point-to-point communication PTPC to the wind turbine communication interface WTCI.

(10) The control signal CS is transferred from the wind turbine communication interface WTCI to an internal control system ICS of the wind turbine WT.

(11) The internal control system ICS of the wind turbine WT changes the operational status of the wind turbine WT based on the control signal CS.

(12) Thus, an operator OP, who is close to the site of the wind turbine WT, can control the operation of the wind turbine WT directly.

(13) FIG. 2 shows a handheld communication device OCD with a remote emergency stop pushbutton RESPB for a remote emergency stop functionality.

(14) Referring to FIG. 1 a point-to-point-communication PTPC is established between the wind turbine communication interface WTCI and the operator communication device OCD.

(15) The wind turbine communication interface WTCI comprises two wireless transponders 1 and 2 for safety reasons. They are interconnected by help of a “safety relay module”, which comprises a set of coupled switches. The switches are connected with a redundant emergency stop circuit.

(16) FIG. 3 shows a principle operational flow chart of a wireless emergency stop pushbutton communication in relation to FIG. 2.

(17) This operational strategy is in line with the functional safety requirements of an ISO 13849-1 PLD system. It is noted that the considerations regarding signal security and user authorization as described above might be included additionally in this concept.

(18) FIG. 4 shows a respective flow chart describing the operation of the safety relay module and wireless transponder located at the wind turbine in relation to FIG. 2 as well.

(19) “Emergency Stop—enable functionality”: The remote emergency stop pushbutton has an enable function which consists of transmitting a unique enable system signal to the wireless transponders located at the wind turbine.

(20) There are two wireless transponders for purposes of redundancy. This enable system signal initializes the wireless transponders so that they will expect to receive further signals from the remote emergency stop button.

(21) A system active signal will be transmitted back from the transponders to the emergency stop button and an indicator will make the user aware that a connection has been successfully established.

(22) “Emergency Stop—signal communication”: Following a successful enable function, the remote emergency stop pushbutton will begin transmitting a uniquely coded emergency stop not-engaged signal. It will continuously transmit this signal as long as it remains enabled and the emergency stop button is not engaged.

(23) After a successful enable function, the wireless transponders will begin to receive the emergency stop not-engaged signal from the remote emergency stop pushbutton. The system active feedback signal will continue to be transmitted back to the remote emergency stop pushbutton.

(24) The remote emergency stop pushbutton will receive this system active signal and an indicator will make the user aware that the emergency stop pushbutton is now in control of the wind turbine.

(25) “Emergency Stop—function activation”: When the remote emergency stop pushbutton RESPB is engaged, an emergency-stop-not-engaged signal transmission 2 will be stopped and an emergency stop engaged signal 1 will be transmitted.

(26) The wireless transponders will respond immediately to the loss in the emergency-stop-not-engaged signal from the remote emergency stop pushbutton RESPB by releasing two relays, comprising the switches as described above in FIG. 2. These relays are normally open and are controlled by each transponder.

(27) The transponders do not require a reception of the emergency-stop-engaged-signal to release the safety relays, they will even react if the emergency-stop-not-engaged-signal is lost.

(28) When these relays transition from closed to open, an emergency stop circuit within the wind turbine is opened causing emergency stop-related actions to take place within the wind turbine. These actions can include bringing the turbine rotor to a standstill and removing power from pumps motors and fans.

(29) “Emergency Stop—reset function”: Reset of the emergency stop relays back into the closed position can be commanded by the remote emergency stop pushbutton RESPB. If the remote emergency stop pushbutton RESPB is reset to the disengaged position, then it will resume transmission of the emergency-stop-not-engaged signal.

(30) When the wireless transponders receive the emergency-stop-not-engaged signal for a sufficient period of time, they will close the safety relays, restoring the wind turbine emergency stop circuit.

(31) Even though the emergency stop circuit is resumed, restart of the wind turbine, or restoration of power to any pumps, fans, or motors will not resume until a user issues a command over a separate remote control system to restart. This ensures compliance with ISO 13850 guidelines which mandate that reset of an emergency stop should not automatically resume operation of the associated machinery.

(32) “Warning for out-of-range”: While the wireless transponders are enabled, they will continuously transmit a system active feedback signal. This feedback signal is received by the remote emergency stop button and evaluated for signal strength. If the signal strength of the feedback signal received by the remote emergency stop button drops below a pre-determined threshold then the user will be alerted that they are approaching the maximum range where it is possible to communicate without signal loss.

(33) In the event that the user does surpass the maximum range then the wireless transponders will activate the emergency stop function due to a loss in the emergency stop not-engaged signal.

(34) “Emergency Stop—disable function”: When the user no longer intends to have remote emergency stop button control of the wind turbine, then they may activate a disable function. When this function is activated the remote emergency stop button will transmit a unique disable system signal.

(35) When the wireless transponders at the wind turbine receive the disable system signal, they will no longer react to a loss in the emergency stop not-engaged signal or expect to receive further signals from the remote emergency stop button. The safety relays will then remain in the closed state, unless power is removed from the wireless transponders.

(36) The disable system signal is the only signal which can be received by the wireless transponders when the system is active, other than the emergency stop not-engaged signal, and not cause an activation of the wind turbines emergency stop circuit.

(37) The wireless transponders will discontinue transmitting the system active signal and the remote emergency stop button will indicate to the user that a connection is no longer established. If the safety relays controlled by the wireless transponders are in the open state when the disable system signal is received, then they will remain in that state.

(38) Although the present invention has been disclosed in the form of preferred 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 intention.

(39) 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. The mention of a “unit” or a “module” does not preclude the use of more than one unit or module.