Application of a data-driven fuzzy control design to a wind turbine benchmark model

In general, the modelling of wind turbines is a challenging task, since they are complex dynamic systems, whose aerodynamics are nonlinear and unsteady. Accurate models should contain many degrees of freedom, and their control algorithm design must account for these complexities. However, these algorithms must capture the most important turbine dynamics without being too complex and unwieldy, mainly when they have to be implemented in real-time applications. The first contribution of this work consists of providing an application example of the design and testing through simulations, of a data-driven fuzzy wind turbine control. In particular, the strategy is based on fuzzy modelling and identification approaches to model-based control design. Fuzzy modelling and identification can represent an alternative for developing experimental models of complex systems, directly derived directly from measured input-output data without detailed system assumptions. Regarding the controller design, this paper suggests again a fuzzy control approach for the adjustment of both the wind turbine blade pitch angle and the generator torque. The effectiveness of the proposed strategies is assessed on the data sequences acquired from the considered wind turbine benchmark. Several experiments provide the evidence of the advantages of the proposed regulator with respect to different control methods

Study of the Time Response of a Simulated Hydroelectric System

This paper addresses the design of an advanced control strategy for a typical hydroelectric dynamic process, performed in the Matlab and Simulink environments. The hydraulic system consists of a high water head and a long penstock with upstream and downstream surge tanks, and is equipped with a Francis turbine. The nonlinear characteristics of hydraulic turbine and the inelastic water hammer effects were considered to calculate and simulate the hydraulic transients. With reference to the control solution, the proposed methodology relies on an adaptive control designed by means of the on–line identification of the system model under monitoring. Extensive simulations and comparison with respect to a classic hydraulic turbine speed PID regulator show the effectiveness of the proposed modelling and control tools

Wind turbine simulator fault diagnosis via fuzzy modelling and identification techniques

For improving the safety and the reliability of wind turbine installations, the earliest and fastest fault detection and isolation are highly required, since it could be used also for accommodation purpose. Modern wind turbines consist of several important subsystems, which can be affected by malfunctions regarding actuators, sensors, and components. From the turbine control point-of-view they are extremely important since provide the actuation signals, the main functions, as well as the measurements. In this paper, a fault diagnosis scheme based on the identification of fuzzy models is described, in order to detect and isolate these faults in the most efficient way, in order also to improve the energy cost, the production rate, and reduce the operation and maintenance operations. Fuzzy systems are proposed here since the model under investigation is nonlinear, whilst the wind speed measurement is uncertain since it depends on the rotor plane wind turbulence effects. These fuzzy models are described as Takagi-Sugeno prototypes, whose parameters are estimated from the wind turbine measurements. The fault diagnosis methodology is thus developed using these fuzzy models, which are exploited as residual generators. The wind turbine simulator is finally employed for the validation of the obtained performances.For improving the safety and the reliability of wind turbine installations, the earliest and fastest fault detection and isolation is highly required, since it could be used also for accommodation purpose. Modern wind turbines consist of several important subsystems, which can be affected by malfunctions regarding actuators, sensors, and components. From the turbine control point–of–view they are extremely important since provide the actuation signals, the main functions, as well as the measurements. In this paper, a fault diagnosis scheme based on the identification of fuzzy models is described, in order to detect and isolated these faults in the most efficient way, in order also to improve the energy cost, the production rate, and reduce the operation and maintenance operations. Fuzzy systems are proposed here since the model under investigation is nonlinear, whilst the wind speed measurement is uncertain since it depends on the rotor plane wind turbulence effects. These fuzzy models are described as Takagi–Sugeno prototypes, whose parameters are estimated from the wind turbine measurements. The fault diagnosis methodology is thus developed using these fuzzy models, which are exploited as residual generators. The wind turbine simulator is finally employed for the validation of the obtained performances

Data-Driven and Model-Based Control Techniques for a Wind Turbine Benchmark Model

Wind turbine plants are complex dynamic and uncertain processes driven by stochastic inputs and disturbances, as well as different loads represented by gyroscopic, centrifugal, and gravitational forces. Moreover, as their aerodynamic models are nonlinear, both modelling and control become challenging problems. On one hand, high–fidelity simulators should contain different parameters and variables in order to accurately describe the main dynamic system behaviour. Therefore, the development of modelling and control for wind turbine systems should consider these complexity aspects. On the other hand, these control solutions have to include the main wind turbine dynamic characteristics without becoming too complicated. The main point of this paper is thus to provide two practical examples of development of robust control strategies when applied to a simulated wind turbine plant. Extended simulations with the wind turbine benchhmark model and the Monte–Carlo tool represent the instruments for assessing the robustness and reliability aspects of the developed control methodologies when the model–reality mismatch and measurement errors are also considered. Advantages and drawbacks of these regulation methods are also highlighted with respect to different control strategies via proper performance metrics

Robust control examples applied to a wind turbine simulated model

Wind turbine plants are complex dynamic and uncertain processes driven by stochastic inputs and disturbances, as well as different loads represented by gyroscopic, centrifugal and gravitational forces. Moreover, as their aerodynamic models are nonlinear, both modeling and control become challenging problems. On the one hand, high-fidelity simulators should contain different parameters and variables in order to accurately describe the main dynamic system behavior. Therefore, the development of modeling and control for wind turbine systems should consider these complexity aspects. On the other hand, these control solutions have to include the main wind turbine dynamic characteristics without becoming too complicated. The main point of this paper is thus to provide two practical examples of the development of robust control strategies when applied to a simulated wind turbine plant. Extended simulations with the wind turbine benchmark model and the Monte Carlo tool represent the instruments for assessing the robustness and reliability aspects of the developed control methodologies when the model-reality mismatch and measurement errors are also considered. Advantages and drawbacks of these regulation methods are also highlighted with respect to different control strategies via proper performance metrics.Wind turbine plants are complex dynamic and uncertain processes driven by stochastic inputs and disturbances, as well as different loads represented by gyroscopic, centrifugal and gravitational forces. Moreover, as their aerodynamic models are nonlinear, both modeling and control become challenging problems. On the one hand, high-fidelity simulators should contain different parameters and variables in order to accurately describe the main dynamic system behavior. Therefore, the development of modeling and control for wind turbine systems should consider these complexity aspects. On the other hand, these control solutions have to include the main wind turbine dynamic characteristics without becoming too complicated. The main point of this paper is thus to provide two practical examples of the development of robust control strategies when applied to a simulated wind turbine plant. Extended simulations with the wind turbine benchmark model and the Monte Carlo tool represent the instruments for assessing the robustness and reliability aspects of the developed control methodologies when the model-reality mismatch and measurement errors are also considered. Advantages and drawbacks of these regulation methods are also highlighted with respect to different control strategies via proper performance metrics

Data-driven techniques for the fault diagnosis of a wind turbine benchmark

This paper deals with the fault diagnosis of wind turbines and investigates viable solutions to the problem of earlier fault detection and isolation. The design of the fault indicator, i.e., the fault estimate, involves data-driven approaches, as they can represent effective tools for coping with poor analytical knowledge of the system dynamics, together with noise and disturbances. In particular, the proposed data-driven solutions rely on fuzzy systems and neural networks that are used to describe the strongly nonlinear relationships between measurement and faults. The chosen architectures rely on nonlinear autoregressive models with exogenous input, as they can represent the dynamic evolution of the system along time. The developed fault diagnosis schemes are tested by means of a high-fidelity benchmark model that simulates the normal and the faulty behaviour of a wind turbine. The achieved performances are also compared with those of other model-based strategies from the related literature. Finally, a Monte-Carlo analysis validates the robustness and the reliability of the proposed solutions against typical parameter uncertainties and disturbances.This paper deals with the fault diagnosis of wind turbines and investigates viable solutions to the problem of earlier fault detection and isolation. The design of the fault indicator, i.e., the fault estimate, involves data-driven approaches, as they can represent effective tools for coping with poor analytical knowledge of the system dynamics, together with noise and disturbances. In particular, the proposed data-driven solutions rely on fuzzy systems and neural networks that are used to describe the strongly nonlinear relationships between measurement and faults. The chosen architectures rely on nonlinear autoregressive models with exogenous input, as they can represent the dynamic evolution of the system along time. The developed fault diagnosis schemes are tested by means of a high-fidelity benchmark model that simulates the normal and the faulty behaviour of a wind turbine. The achieved performances are also compared with those of other model-based strategies from the related literature. Finally, a Monte-Carlo analysis validates the robustness and the reliability of the proposed solutions against typical parameter uncertainties and disturbances

Monitoring, Diagnosis, and Fault-Tolerant Control of Wind Turbines

Governments across the globe are funding renewable energy initiatives like wind energy to diversify energy resources and promote a greater environmental responsibility. Such an opportunity requires state-of-the-art technologies to realize the required levels of efficiency, reliability, and availability in modern wind turbines. The key enabling technologies for ensuring reliable and efficient operation of modern wind turbines include advanced condition monitoring and diagnosis together with fault-tolerant and efficiency/optimal control. Application of the mentioned technologies in wind turbines constitutes a quite active and, in many aspects, interdisciplinary investigation area that ensures a guaranteed increasing future market for wind energy. In particular, this thesis aims to design and develop novel condition monitoring, diagnosis and fault-tolerant control schemes with application to wind turbines at both individual wind turbine and entire wind farm (i.e., a group of wind turbines) levels. Therefore, the research of the thesis provides advanced levels of monitoring, diagnosis and fault tolerance capabilities to wind turbines in order to ensure their efficient and reliable performance under both fault-free and faulty conditions. Finally, the proposed schemes and strategies are verified by a series of simulations on well-known wind turbine and wind farm benchmark models in the presence of wind turbulences, measurement noises, and different realistic fault scenarios