Wind Energy: Hybrid Power Transmission & Management
The energy market is not the same regarding technological advancements anymore because of clean and renewable energy developments. Wind power has shown great promise among these alternatives, with wind farms now common worldwide. Wind energy can do several things, from powering windmills to pumping water and propelling ships. Clean energy generation is a necessary part of all energy usage due to the increasing importance of environmental concerns. The rapid growth in the wind energy business and technology is significant for research, education, and careers within the electric utilities as well as wind-energy industries. There was a need for new knowledge and skills arising from technological changes and market trends accompanying its rapid growth.
Innovations in Wind Energy
Over the last ten years, the wind energy industry has shown remarkable growth that resulted in massive wind power adoption. There is a growing necessity to hasten the move to cleaner substitutes due to our economy’s increased demand for more energy and the hazardous impacts of fossil fuels. The importance of wind energy as a major renewable power source cannot be underestimated, as the latest developments prove that air movement can be transformed into valuable fuel for our energy needs. On the other hand, modern technological developments and evolution—like hybrid power transmission, which combines hydraulic pump and gear transmission—have made significant strides. Alternative options are made possible by adding a power management system, which monitors the flow of electricity and lowers dangers in the field.
Power Transmission
The effectiveness or performance of the mechanical or hydraulic power transmission unit is important for the wind turbine’s power supply. Leaks in the hydraulic system significantly impact its efficiency. Additionally, hydraulic system oil is partially incompressible. As a result, the transmission ratio cannot be precisely controlled with this approach. To overcome these, the researchers have introduced hybrid power transmission solutions for both hydraulic and mechanical systems.
Hybrid Power Transmission
The hybrid power transmission technology uses a single-stage gear transmission and a low-speed hydraulic pump. This technology decreases the displacement of the hydraulic pump while still maintaining the wind turbine system’s torque stability. The hydraulic system in the hybrid power transmission system is equipped with a closed-loop pump-motor system linked to a single-stage gearbox. The gearbox shaft drives the fixed displacement pump, which in turn provides power to the generator and the variable displacement motor.
Furthermore, the gearbox failures are minimized because hydraulic transmission replaces the high-speed level while reducing power impact and gearbox problems. When the wind speed fluctuates, the accumulator reduces power fluctuation. If the wind speed increases rapidly, the pitch mechanism and the relief valve work together to keep the output power constant, thus improving the reliability of the transmission.
Comparison Between Mechanical, Hydraulic, and Hybrid Power Transmission
| Aspects | Hydraulic | Mechanical | Hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Working Principle | Hydraulic transmission involves a hydrostatic drivetrain using fixed-displacement pumps and fixed and variable-displacement motors. | Mechanical transmission involves mounting gears on a frame along with additional components like belts, chains, and shafts. | Hydraulic and mechanical system components are combined in hybrid transmissions. Gearboxes, variable displacement motors, fixed displacement pumps, and generators are among its components. |
| Efficiency | Lower as compared to mechanical | High efficiency due to minimal energy losses | High |
| Maintenance | More maintenance is required due to the risk of leakage | Less maintenance compared to hydraulic systems | May Vary |
Power Management System
A wind turbine’s Power Management System (PMS) acts as the central nervous system of a wind turbine. It combines all its functions to maximize energy harvest and guarantee reliable, secure operation. The purpose of this system is to continuously monitor the turbine’s operation and identify any power source fluctuations or instability. It plays a vital role in maintaining a balanced electricity supply and demand. With the PMS, turbines can run smoothly in various wind conditions, adjusting parameters such as blade angle and rotor speed to maximize energy output while maintaining operational stability.
Benefits of Power Management System
- Consistently Reliable and Sufficient Power: A power management system monitors the installation all the time to see if there is an unstable or unreliable power source.
- Blackout Prevention: If a blackout occurs, the PMS automatically restores power installation, ensuring smooth changeover from one power source to another, with minimal instability and interruptions in power delivery.
- Load Handling: When the power demand exceeds the maximum generation capacity, and no other power sources are available, the power management system implements load shedding, reducing the power supply and maintaining stable operation.
- Efficiency: Power management systems can enhance energy efficiency by optimizing the use of electrical power, reducing energy costs, and minimizing the environmental impact of power generation.
- Safety: Power management systems improve safety by monitoring and controlling the flow of electricity and shutting down equipment or systems if they malfunction.
Key Players
Yokogawa offers an integrated power monitoring and control system and a battery control system that tracks how much power is being generated. The system utilizes various measurement and control technologies that help to ensure a stable power supply more efficiently and enable remote and centralized monitoring of multiple wind power generation systems.
Sotavento Galicia SA provides advanced software designed to monitor and control tasks at wind farms. Regardless of particular SCADA data, it analyses important parameters such as power output, availability, and energy losses.
DEIF’s wind park power management allows wind parks to effectively optimize and manage the performance of wind farms. DEIF Wind Power Technology offers a software package together with a controller that enables compliance with grid integration demands. It enables precise control over the wind turbine’s power output and the voltage level.
Advancements
Recent advancements and innovative collaborations are shaping the future:
- ONYX Insight has launched the world’s first dedicated blade root connection monitoring system to tackle the increasing number of wind turbine failures. The system is scalable across entire fleets and is integrated with a finely tuned selection of sensors, sensor placement, and data analytics to reduce manual visual inspection requirements within the turbine hub and blades. Thus, it reduces the need for turbine climbing and improves safety.
- A new project has been launched in collaboration with TNO, Shell, TU Delft, Suzlon, Tarucca, and Fibersail. It aims to enhance turbine blade reliability by using digital twins and AI to help stave off ‘catastrophic’ failures at wind farms. The project aims to significantly enhance the reliability of wind turbine blades through improved monitoring of their structural health.
Future Perspective
Integrating renewable resources into the grid is the key to future wind energy innovation. Increased focus on research and development in areas such as AI, ML, and energy storage is crucial for overcoming technological and economic obstacles. Wind energy is a vital contributor to sustainability, delivering reliable power to our communities through various innovations for future generations. Essential for ensuring the reliability, efficiency, and safety of power generation and distribution, power management systems (PMSs) are a necessity. Anticipated advancements in PMSs include integrating renewable energy sources, improved automation and control, and using AI and machine learning as technology continues to progress.
Conclusion
In conclusion, renewable energy sources have rapidly grown, with wind power being used to generate electricity. In a short time, wind power found its place easily and was embraced by society, industry, and politics as a clean, feasible, cost-effective, and environment-friendly substitute. The efficiency of the mechanical or hydraulic power transmission unit is important for the wind turbine’s power supply. Leaks significantly impact the effectiveness of the hydraulic system. Additionally, hydraulic system oil is partially incompressible. The researchers have developed hybrid power transmission methods for mechanical and hydraulic systems to get around problems. The power management system plays a crucial role in wind turbines’ efficient operation and reliability, driving the expansion of renewable energy worldwide. Power management system developments will further optimize energy acquisition, enhance operating efficiency, and support wind energy’s sustainability as a crucial part of the global energy mix as technology advances.
