# US 2017/0284367 A1 · Apparatus for driving and controlling converters and switching element modules in a wind power generation system

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- Number: US 2017/0284367 A1
- Document ID: US20170284367A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 15/408,159
- Filed: 2017-01-17
- Published: 2017-10-05
- Earliest claimed: 2016-03-30
- Assignees: Doosan Heavy Industries Construction Co., Ltd
- Applicants: Doosan Heavy Industries Construction Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Sanghoey LEE; Jeonghoon LEE
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20170284367A1

## CPC

- H02J 3/381: {Dispersed generators}
- F03D 1/00: Wind motors with rotation axis substantially parallel to the air flow entering the rotor (controlling thereof F03D7/02)
- F03D 3/002: {the axis being horizontal}
- F03D 3/005: {the axis being vertical}
- F03D 7/0284: {in relation to the state of the electric grid}
- F03D 7/042: {by means of an electrical or electronic controller}
- F03D 9/255: {connected to electrical distribution networks; Arrangements therefor}
- H02J 3/38: Arrangements for feeding a single network from two or more generators or sources in parallel; Arrangements for feeding already energised networks from additional generators or sources in parallel
- H02J 3/46: Controlling the sharing of generated power between the generators, sources or networks
- H02K 7/183: {wherein the turbine is a wind turbine (adaptation of a wind turbine to an electric generator F03D9/25)}
- H02M 5/458: using semiconductor devices only
- H02M 5/4585: {having a rectifier with controlled elements}
- F05B 2220/7064: of the alternating current (A.C.) type
- F05B 2260/40: Transmission of power
- H02J 2101/28: Wind energy
- H02M 1/0043: {Converters switched with a phase shift, i.e. interleaved (non-isolated DC/DC converters H02M3/1586)}
- H02M 1/0054: {Transistor switching losses (periodically suspending operation of switching converter in low power mode H02M1/0035)}
- H02M 7/493: the static converters being arranged for operation in parallel
- Y02B 70/10: Technologies improving the efficiency by using switched-mode power supplies [SMPS], i.e. efficient power electronics conversion e.g. power factor correction or reduction of losses in power supplies or efficient standby modes
- Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
- Y02E 10/74: Wind turbines with rotation axis perpendicular to the wind direction
- Y02E 10/76: Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- F03D: WIND MOTORS
- H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53})
- H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P)
- F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Disclosed herein are an apparatus for driving converters in a wind power generation system, an apparatus for controlling converters in a wind power generation system, an apparatus for driving switching element modules in a wind power generation system, and an apparatus for controlling switching element modules in a wind power generation system. The apparatus for driving converters in a wind power generation system includes a converter control unit configured to drive a plurality of converters connected in parallel between a generator and a grid, wherein the converter control unit sequentially drives the converters one by one when output power of the grid increases and sequentially stops the operations of the converters one by one when output power of the grid decreases.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for driving converters in a wind power generation system, comprising:
a converter controller configured to drive a plurality of converters coupled in parallel between a generator and a grid, wherein the converter controller is configured to
sequentially drive the converters one by one when an output power of the grid increases, and
sequentially stop operations of the converters one by one when the output power of the grid decreases.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the converter controller is configured to:
calculate a converter capacity for each converter based on a rating capacity of the grid and a number of converters,
calculate a converter operation capacity for each converter based on each calculated converter capacity and a converter operation capacity ratio, and
drive a next one of the converters when a current capacity of a last of the converters being driven exceeds a corresponding converter operation capacity.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the converter controller is configured to
calculate each converter operation stop capacity based on each calculated converter capacity and converter operation stop capacity ratio, and
when a capacity of the last converter becomes the converter operation stop capacity or less, stop the operation of the last converter.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the converter operation capacity ratio and the converter operation stop capacity ratio are different.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A wind power generation system, comprising:
the apparatus of claim 1:
an AC/DC converter;
a DC/AC inverter coupled in parallel to the AC/DC converter; and
a DC link coupled between the AC/DC converter and the DC/AC inverter.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The wind power generation system of claim 5, wherein the DC link includes a capacitor.

### Claim 7

An apparatus for controlling converters in a wind power generation system, comprising:
a converter driver configured to drive a converter having a smallest accumulated operation time or to drive a converter having a next sequence based on a set operation sequence of a plurality of converters when one of the plurality of converters coupled in parallel between a generator and a grid is to start being driven.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the converter driver is configured to calculate an accumulated operation time of each of the plurality of converters, and to drive that one of the converters having a smallest accumulated operation time when one of the plurality of converters is to start being driven.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the converter driver is configured to stop an operation of that one of the converters having a greatest accumulated operation time if an operation of one of the plurality of converters being driven is to be stopped.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the converter driver is configured to
calculate an accumulated operation time of each of a plurality of switching element modules included in each of the converters, and
when one of a plurality of switching element modules included in the converter having a smallest accumulated operation time and coupled in parallel is to be driven, to drive that switching element module having the smallest accumulated operation time.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein when an operation of one of the switching element modules being driven is to be stopped, the converter driver is configured to stop an operation of that switching element module having a greatest accumulated operation time.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the converter driver is configured to
set an operation sequence of the plurality of converters, and
when one of the plurality of converters is to be driven, drive a next converter based on the set operation sequence of the converters.

### Claim 13 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the converter driver is configured to
set an operation stop sequence of the converters being driven, and
when an operation of one of the converters being driven is to be stopped, stop an operation of a last converter based on a set operation stop sequence of the one or more converters.

### Claim 14 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the converter driver is configured to
set an operation sequence of a plurality of switching element modules included in a converter, and
when one of a plurality of switching element modules included in each converter is to be driven based on the set operation sequence of the converters, drive a next switching element module based on a set operation sequence of the plurality of switching element modules.

### Claim 15 (depends on 12)

The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the converter driver is configured to
set an operation stop sequence of one or more switching element modules being driven, and
when an operation of one of the switching element modules being driven is to be stopped, stop an operation of a last switching element module based on a set operation stop sequence of the one or more switching element modules.

### Claim 16

An apparatus for driving switching element modules in a wind power generation system, comprising:
a switching element module controller configured to drive a plurality of switching element modules included in a converter coupled between a generator and a grid and which are coupled in parallel, wherein the switching element module controller is configured to sequentially drive the switching element modules one by one when an output power of the converter increases and sequentially stop operations of the switching element modules one by one when the output power of the converter decreases.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the switching element module controller is configured to
calculate a switching element module capacity for each switching element module based on each converter capacity and a number of switching element modules,
calculate a switching element module operation capacity for each switching element module based on each calculated switching element module capacity and a switching element module operation capacity ratio, and
drive a next one of the switching element modules when a current capacity of a last switching element module exceeds a corresponding switching element module operation capacity.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the switching element module controller is configured to
calculate a switching element module operation stop capacity for each switching element module based on each calculated switching element module capacity and a switching element module operation stop capacity ratio, and
when a capacity of the last switching element becomes the switching element module operation stop capacity or less, stop an operation of the last switching element module.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the switching element module operation capacity ratio and the switching element module operation stop capacity ratio are different.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the switching element module controller is configured to calculate the converter capacity by dividing a rating capacity of the grid by a number of converters and to calculate the switching element module capacity by dividing the calculated converter capacity by the number of switching element modules.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the switching element module controller is configured to drive the next converter if a current capacity of a switching element module included in a last of the converters being driven exceeds a corresponding switching element module operation capacity.

### Claim 22

An apparatus for controlling switching element modules in a wind power generation system, comprising:
a switching element module driver configured to turn on and off a plurality of switching element modules included in a converter coupled between a generator and a grid and which are coupled in parallel, wherein the switching element module driver is configured to drive the plurality of switching element modules so that the switching element modules have a phase difference.

### Claim 23 (depends on 22)

The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the phase difference includes a constant phase difference.

### Claim 24 (depends on 22)

The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the switching element module driver is configured to
calculate a value by dividing 360 degrees by a number of the switching element modules included in a single converter and coupled in parallel as the phase difference, and
drive the plurality of switching element modules so that the switching element modules have the calculated phase difference.

### Claim 25 (depends on 22)

The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising
one or more converters comprising one or more switching element modules, wherein
the one or more switching element modules include an AC/DC converter including six switching elements, a DC link coupled in parallel to the AC/DC converter, and a DC/AC inverter including six switching elements and coupled in parallel to the DC link.