Method for Improving Reporting of Operational Data of a Wind Turbine

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for improving reporting of operational data of a wind turbine during operation thereof; said method comprising the steps of: allowing an array of sensors to sense one or more specific parameter values of said wind turbine during operation thereof; in respect of one or more sensors, transmitting said parameter value being sensed to a control system; allowing said control system to register a critical event in case a sensed parameter value, or a combination of two or more sensed parameter values, represents a situation in which it is desired to shut down the wind turbine according to one or more predetermined criteria; allowing said control system to set a specific alarm at a point in time at which a specific critical event is registered; and allowing said control system to reset said specific alarm at a point in time at which the registration of the presence of said critical event ceases; wherein each specific alarm is associated with a corresponding alarm ID; wherein said alarms IDs are grouped into different sectors; each sector belongs to a specific part of the wind turbine or its installation or operation; wherein information from said control system relating to settings and resetting of one or more alarms corresponding to an individual alarm ID is being transmitted to a monitoring system which is configured for logging and storing such information; wherein said method furthermore comprises the steps of: i) in respect of one or more alarm IDs, allowing said monitoring system to register a time stamp in respect of each setting of said alarm ID and to register a time stamp in respect of each resetting of said alarm ID; ii) in respect of a specific sector, allowing said control system to count the amount of time at which no alarm IDs belonging to that specific sector is set, and to transfer information relating to such counting to said monitoring system; iii) in case the monitoring system detects that counting in step ii) has stopped in respect of a time range at which no alarms belonging to that specific sector is logged as being set, allow the monitoring system to register that the wind turbine in respect of said specific sector is not operating properly in a period of time corresponding to that range in time.

1 . A method for improving reporting of operational data of a wind turbine (WT) during operation thereof; said method comprising the steps of:
 allowing an array of sensors (S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , . . . SN) to sense one or more specific parameter values of said wind turbine during operation thereof;   in respect of one or more sensors, transmitting said parameter value being sensed to a control system (CS);   allowing said control system (CS) to register a critical event in case a sensed parameter value, or a combination of two or more sensed parameter values, represents a situation in which it is desired to shut down the wind turbine according to one or more predetermined criteria;   allowing said control system (CS) to set a specific alarm at a point in time at which a specific critical event is registered; and allowing said control system to reset said specific alarm at a point in time at which the registration of the presence of said critical event ceases; wherein each specific alarm is associated with a corresponding alarm ID;   wherein said alarms IDs are grouped into different sectors (SEC  1 , SEC  2 ); each sector belongs to a specific part of the wind turbine or its installation or operation;   wherein information from said control system (CS) relating to settings and resetting of one or more alarms corresponding to an individual alarm ID is being transmitted to a monitoring system which is configured for logging and storing such information;   wherein said method furthermore comprises the steps of:
 i) in respect of one or more alarm IDs, allowing said monitoring system (MS) to register a time stamp (ST( 1 ), ST( 2 ), ST( 3 ), ST(M)) in respect of each setting of said alarm ID and to register a time stamp (RST( 1 ), RST( 2 ), RST( 3 ), RST(M)) in respect of each resetting of said alarm ID; 
 ii) in respect of a specific sector, allowing said control system (CS) to count the amount of time at which no alarm IDs belonging to that specific sector is set, and to transfer information relating to such counting to said monitoring system (MS); 
 iii) in case the monitoring system detects that counting in step ii) has stopped in respect of a time range at which no alarms belonging to that specific sector is logged as being set, allow the monitoring system (MS) to register that the wind turbine in respect of said specific sector is not operating properly in a period of time corresponding to that range in time. 
   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the number of sensors (S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , . . . SN) in said array of sensors and/or the number of alarm IDs of said wind turbine independently is at least 5. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more of said one or more sensors (S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , . . . SN) relate to sensors for sensing:
 problems with the mechanics; such as undesirably low level of gear oil, undesirably high bearing temperature, stuck pitch actuator, undesirably high yaw misalignment; and/or   problems with the grid, such as undesirably low grid frequency, undesirably high grid voltage, phase asymmetry; and/or   problems with the environment, such as undesirably high wind speed, undesirably low ambient temperature, undesirably low wind speed; and/or   external commands, such as remote stop instructions; and/or   normal operation, such as untwisting cables, performing self-test, heating   component; and/or   wind turbine has been stopped by power trader; and/or   wind turbine has been stopped by utility authority or by grid authority.   
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said one or more sectors (SEC  1 , SEC  2 ) belongs to one or more of the following: data relating to the operation of the turbine; data relating to the environment of the wind turbine; data relating to the grid to which the wind turbine supplies power; data relating to “remotely stopped”; data relating to “stopped for service”; data relating to “stopped by trader”. 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein in respect of a specific sectors (SEC  1 , SEC  2 ), the time counting performed in step ii) by said control system (CS) comprises registering at time stamps, separated by a predetermined period of time, a counting of the accumulated time at which no alarm IDs belonging to that specific sector is set. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 5 , wherein the predetermined period of time, separating time stamps are selected from the ranges 0.1 s-600 min. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said method is being performed automatically. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said method is being performed continuously or regularly in respect of successive time spans. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said method involves keeping a data log (DL), logging a data set originating from said monitoring system (MS) and relating to one or more of the following entries: alarm IDs in respect of which an alarm has been set and/or reset, including the corresponding time stamp; information relating to the amount of time at which no alarm IDs belonging to that specific sector is set in respect of a specific sector, as determined in step ii); the registration as performed in step iii). 
     
     
         10 . A computer program product, which when loaded and/or operating on a computer, being configured for performing a method according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         11 . A SCADA system (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition System) comprising a computer program product as defined in  claim 10 . 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . A method according to  claim 2 , wherein the number of sensors (S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , . . . SN) in said array of sensors and/or the number of alarm IDs of said wind turbine independently is selected from the range of 5-2000.