Study of the Intelligent Control and Modes of the Arctic-Adopted Wind–Diesel Hybrid System

Abstract

For energy supply in the Arctic regions, hybrid systems should be designed and equipped to ensure a high level of renewable energy penetration. Energy systems located in remote Arctic areas may experience many peculiar challenges, for example, due to the limited transport options throughout the year and the lack of qualified on-site maintenance specialists. Reliable operation of such systems in harsh climatic conditions requires not only a standard control system but also an advanced system based on predictions concerning weather, wind, and ice accretion on the blades. To satisfy these requirements, the current work presents an advanced intelligent automatic control system. In the developed control system, the transformation, control, and distribution of energy are based on dynamic power redistribution, dynamic control of dump loads, and a bi-directional current transducer. The article shows the architecture of the advanced control system, presents the results of field studies under the standard control approach, and models the performance of the system under different operating modes. Additionally, the effect of using turbine control to reduce the effects of icing is examined. It is shown that the advanced control approach can reduce fuel consumption in field tests by 22%. Moreover, the proposed turbine control scheme has the potential to reduce icing effects by 2% to 5%.

Physical De-Icing Techniques for Wind Turbine Blades

“…Often, the operation of wind turbines has to be suspended to avoid their breakage or breaking of ice pieces from the blades. Hybrid systems for energy supply in the Arctic regions are designed and equipped to ensure a high level of renewable energy use [10,11]. Nevertheless, in both hybrid and solo usage of wind turbines, an effective strategy for combating icing plays a significant role in the growth of wind energy in the cold region.…”

“…optimizing the operating regimes and surface shape to reduce the adhesion of ice by using the intelligent algorithms for wind turbine operations [11,13];…”

“…The challenge to the optimal operation of the Arctic wind turbines is icing. The authors of [11] note that one option that has not received much attention is airfoil pitch control. Nonetheless, several studies with intelligent algorithms for wind turbine operations [13,14] have shown that the optimal airfoil angle of attack can reduce icing by using the pitch differently during normal and icing operation modes.…”

“…Nonetheless, several studies with intelligent algorithms for wind turbine operations [13,14] have shown that the optimal airfoil angle of attack can reduce icing by using the pitch differently during normal and icing operation modes. The work [11] presents an advanced intelligent automatic control system by the pitch variation in the icing condition. This article shows the effect of using turbine control to reduce icing by 2-5%.…”

Modeling, Simulation and Control of Wind Diesel Power Systems

“…I would recommend the potential readers of this Special Issue to start with this article. Two more articles deal strictly with WDPS: "Flywheel Energy Storage and Dump Load to Control the Active Power Excess in a Wind Diesel Power System" [8] presents dynamic simulations of a WDPS which includes a flywheel energy storage system (FESS) and shows how the FESS stabilizes the microgrid and improves the system power quality, and "Study of the Intelligent Control and Modes of the Arctic-Adopted Wind-Diesel Hybrid System" [13] shows the architecture of an advanced control system with different control options for WDPS located in the artic area, and how to tackle the very low temperatures and the icing of the blades of the WTGs. Another two articles also present dynamic simulations of isolated microgrids: "Study and Simulation of a Wind Hydro Isolated Microgrid" [11] deals with the modeling of a high penetration wind-hydro microgrid and its main simulation is a transition from the wind only operation to the wind-hydro operation, and "An Adaptive Control Scheme for Variable Speed Wind Turbines Providing Frequency Regulation in Isolated Power Systems with Thermal Generation" [14] presents an adaptative control that commands variable speed WTGs to support frequency in an isolated system with controlled thermal generators, minimizing the WTGs mechanical and electrical efforts.…”