Stage1

The company was also asked to provide means of monitoring the windfarm using data logging equipment. A Grid Monitoring Station (GMS) which provided corresponding low voltages for each indicator of performance was developed such that the farm could be monitored using a computer and interface. The monitoring voltages had to reach 80% of the desired output within 50ms, such that readings taken by data recorders were timely and accurate.

Laplace Energy Solutions sought to provide a control system which can act automatically without an operator in the event of a trip in the electrical systems. Prior to the installation of this system, an operator was required to bring the turbines online manually. The new grid management system provided greatly increased accuracy through the decrease in response time of the station.

We faced a major challenge in developing control panels to withstand harsh climates, and developing a master control panel to the other panels on the site, which had relatively long distances between them. We also faced challenges in programming the panels to enact the auto-restore function described above in the event of point failure.

These uncertainties were overcome by developing a communication system which utilised fibre optic / copper Ethernet switch technologies capable of operating over long distances (up to 20 km in this case). The system was developed in such a way that communication with the turbines was not interrupted in the event of a single point failure. Remote I/O technologies were sought, sourced and implemented to allow control from the master control panel.