Expertise in wind turbine control
List of windturbine control projects
DNPC for Windturbines. Start: 2010. Status: running.
DNPC for Windturbines.
DotX, ECN, XEMC-Darwind and Mitsubishi Power systems are jointly developing a novel control system for windturbines, where DNPC (non-linear predictive control) plays an important role. The DNPC algorithm minimises, real-time, a mathematical performance index, subject to constraints. To optimize, an internal model of the windturbine is used that predicts the effect of pitch and generator torque actions on power, and the loads on all critical points. Of course, this technique requires also the estimation and prediction of the wind speed. With our technique, we expect to be able to reduce loads further than any conventional control system.The project is, for an important part, financed by Agentschap NL (dutch government).
Consultancy for STX. Start: 2010. End: 2011.
Control consultancy work. Customer: STX Windpower BV
In 2010, DotX has assisted STX Windpower in tuning their control system of their wind turbines; the fatigue loads for this wind turbine had to remain within a prespecified envelope. This objective was achieved succesfully.In 2011, DotX organised a 2 day course on wind turbine control in Alkmaar, the Netherlands. The course was well received.
Assistance to ECN. Start: 2008. Status: running.
Assistence in design and testing of novel wind turbine control concepts. Customer: ECN
DotX has been assigned by ECN to assist in the research project SUSCON (=Sustained Control). This project (which runs from 2007 to the end of 2011) focusses on developing new control concepts for Individual Pitch Control (IPC), handling Extreme Events (wind gusts), improved modelling by identification, improving fault detection methods and improving shutdown control. The relevance (of these subjects) to the design and operation of wind turbines is guarded by maintaining close contact with wind turbine manufacturers.
Controller for 2B6. Start: 2011. Status: running.
Complete control system for the 2B6 (offshore 6 MW windturbine) of 2-B energy.
DotX has supplied 2-B energy with a complete windturbine control system. This control system is programmed in C++ and can, after compliation, be linked to aero-elastic code such as Bladed, Focus/Phatas, Flex, etc. It contains all functionalities required for certification, including normal production control, an events module (to simulate events), and a supervisory control (to handle startup, shutdown, fault detection and handling).The first evaluations showed that the DotX controller appeared to outperform the competitor's controller considerably: there were fatigue load reductions of up to 26%.
News
01/01: DotX involved in crystallizer control
DotX is actively involved in a major ISPT (= Institute for Sustainable Process Technology) project that aims at improving the control of crystallizers. This project involves 12 partners. DotX is responsible for the automation.
More information on this project can be found in this news-item.
01/01: Controller for STX wind turbine
STX, a global supplier of wind turbines, has assigned DotX to deliver and tune the DotX Wind Turbine controller for one of their new wind turbine models.
01/01: New control challenges at Tata Steel
Tata Steel has ordered DotX to assist in improving process control systems of the Blast Furnace, Cokes Factory 2, and BOS 2.
