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%.