The Ninth International Conference on Electronic Measurement & Instruments

ICEMI2009

A Real-Time Simulation System of Wind Power Based on LabVIEW DSC Module and Matlab/Simulink
Li Nailu, Lv Yuegang, Xi Peiyu
School of Control Science and Engineering, North China Electric Power University Zhuxinzhuang, Deshengmenwai Beijing 102206, P.R.China Email: nellylee85101@163.com
Abstract The paper succeeesfull integrates LabVIEW DSC module and Matlab/Simulink with wind power generation strategy to develop a real-time simulation systemof wind power. With this system, a whole process of wind power generation can be viewed easily, legibly and intuitively. So that this system could be used for academical research without the cost of wind turbine and other devices in lab, and for industry training in wind plant without potential danger of checking huge wind device on the spot. Using LabVIEW simulation inferface toolkit (SIT), the system allows communicating with, and controlling wind power simulink model. The system could also do the functions of acquiring data from simulink model by NI probe, monitoring and analysing real-time wind power data, transferring data between different montoring interfaces via NI-PSP tehnology, storing data to Citadel Database and inquiring history data and alarm data by Shared Variables. Moreover, matlab real-time workshop is used to longer the time of model simulation as to satisfy the need of supervisory and control. The experimental results confirms the performance of the real-time simulation system with the advantage of fast-to-develop, easy-to-use, high speed data transmission and high efficiency. Keywords wind power, real-time simulation, labview DSC module, NI-PSP.

generation system. The paper is presenting a real-time simulation system which is focused on the whole system of wind power generation. The simulink model simulates all the essential parts of wind generation, including wind velocity acquisition, pitch control, wind generator control, gird connection and so on. With the assistant of LabVIEW SIT and matlab real time workshop, the monitoring interface in LabVIEW could exchange data with simulink model and make simulation system runs synchronously with wind generation simulink model. Because of Shared Variable and NI-PSP technology, it becomes much easier and more effective to communicate between different Virtul instruments (VIs) and store data to Citadel Database. The Citadel Database is divided into general database and alarm database seperately to record different kinds of data and events for later handling. II. VIRTUALR INSTRUMENT TECHNOLOGY A. LabVIEW Simulation Interface Toolkit The Simulationa Interface Toolkit is an add-on for LabVIEW software to provide the method for creating a LabVIEW user interface for a Simulink model, converting a Simulink model into a dynamic link library(DLL), and viewing the output data of the Simulink model[2]. By combining the capabilities of Simulink and Real-Time Workshop with LabVIEW, the Simulation Interface Toolkit helps to import simulation models into LabVIEW. B. LabVIEW DSC Module The DSC Module is developed for help designing industry monitoring system. It extends the LabVIEW graphical development enviroment with additional functionality for the rapid development of distributed measurement, control, and high-channel-count monitoring application. The DSC Module also enhances the LabVIEW shared variable, which is used to access and pass data among several Vis in a LabVIEW project. The DSC Module could add alarming, scaling to the shared variable and log shared variable data to the Citadel database. C. .NI-PSP communication technology NI Publish-Subscribe Protocol(NI-PSP) is a

I.

INTRODUCTION

With the problem of population pressure, environment pollution and resource shortage, exploration of clean and renewable energy,such as wind power, has become an important issue and raised wide interest over the world in both academical and industry field. As to make a better use of this green power, operating process of wind generation system should be studied specifically. However, in the academical field, due to the uncontrollable wind velocity and large size of wind turbine, it is sometimes difficult to study wind power generation system in laboratory. In the industry field, its always dangerous and unrealistic to educate workers or technology staff by checking those huge and distributed device on the spot in wind plant. And they wont really know the theory and operation of whole wind generation system by this way. Besides, when using the simulink model to study wind generation system, it would be found that simulation time is usually so short that it could not supply enough time for data observation and system operation. As a result, its indispensable to develop a real-time system which could monitor whole wind

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978-1-4244-3864-8/09/$25.00 2009 IEEE

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The Ninth International Conference on Electronic Measurement & Instruments proprietary technology that provides fast and reliable data transmission in LabVIEW or with other devices[3]. Network-published shared variables communicate between VIs through the Shared Variable Engine. The Shared Variable Engine uses NI-PSP data transfer protocol to write and allow users to read live data. NI-PSP uses psp URLs to transmit data between VIs. III. STRUCTURE OF REAL-TIME SIMULATION SYSTEM OF WIND POWER The structure of real-time simulation system of wind power is shown in Fig 1. The simlulink model of wind generation system generates a series of real-time data, such as wind velocity, blade angle, torque, apparent power, reactive power and so on. Then those simulation data are read by LabVIEW user interface using protocol TCP/IP via SIT Server 6011, which is started with the launch of Matlab. The indicators and controls in front panel of LabVIEW have a point-to-point connection with output of simulink model after communication completed. In LabVIEW, the acquired data are writen to conrresponding shared variable by Shared Variable Engine(SVE), which is a a data processing engine that manages the use and connectivity of shared variables. NI-PSP is used to transfer data from one VI to another via shared variable nodes. The shared variables also copy all of data to Citadel Database, which is divided into general database and alarm database for different purpose. The data processing in LabVIEW is made by DSC module to realise the function of display, analysis, storage, alarm and data transmission between VIs.

ICEMI2009

IV. DESIGN OF REAL-TIME SIMULATION SYSTEM OF WIND POWER A. simulink model design The closed-loop control strategy of wind generation system is shown in Fig.2. Before generator connecting to the grid, generator speed is controlled by Speed controller A based on feed-back of generator speed and speed set. After generator connecting to the grid, Speed controller B and Power control is taking the charge. The main assignment of Power control is to supply power curve according to generator speed, regulate generator slip and check the outcome of Speed controller B.

Fig. 2. Control strategy diagram of wind generation system.

With the control strategy done above, the conrresponding simulink model of wind generation system is built as in Fig.3. Matlab is a high-performance language for technical computing and its simulink module can easy analyze model and simulate control systems[4]. In this simulink model, Simulink is working with the MathWorks Real-Time Workshop for real-time application.

Fig. 3. Simulink model of wind power system.

B. design of communication between LabVIEW and Matlab/Simulink Before eastablish the communication, the system environment must be checked to meet the need, that is the Matworks Matlab 6.0 or later, the Mathworks Simulink 4.0 or later, the Mathworks real-time workshop 4.0 or later, National Instrument LabVIEW 7.0 or later and NI-SIT 1.0 or 2.0 installed on the host computer. The Simulation Interface Toolkit(SIT) in LabVIEW provides a way to create a LabVIEW user interface that can be used to interact with a Simulink model. For LabVIEW to communicat successfully with Simulink model, Matlab
Fig. 1. Structure of real-time simulation system of wind power

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The Ninth International Conference on Electronic Measurement & Instruments must be firstly launched to start the SIT Server, which enables LabVIEW and Matlab to communicate with each other. configuring the simulink model Firstly Launch the matlab to notify the text message in the command window as Starting the SIT Server on Port 6011 SIT Server started Then change the stop time of simulation to an infinite value and select the type of simulation as fixed-step. Lastly, NI Probe block should be placed in the Simulink model to detect the output signals. creating the LabVIEW monitoring interface To interact with the Simulink model of wind generation system, its necessary to creat a monitoring interface in LabVIEW to indicate all the important data showing the process of wind generation. The steps of creation are as follows. Launch LabVIEW and open a new VI, select the approprite icons of industry device from DSC Module>> Image Navigator, design the structure picture of wind power system with those icons, select several indicators and controls to place them on the front panel beside where related images placed, decorate the indicators and change their property to make them look better. creating connection between the LabVIEW monitoring interface and the Simulink model. The Simulation Interface Toolkit enables LabVIEW to run and communicate with the Simulink model when Matlab and Simulink remain open to configure and run the simulation model. The steps are completed to make the connection as follows. Select Tools>>SIT Connection Manager to launch the SIT Connection Manager dialog box. Under the Model and Host label, click the Change button to load mdl file, windturbine.mdl, which is the simulink model of wind generation system. Choose Simulation Environment option, localhost option and select Port as 6011 to make sure LabVIEW connects to the SIT Server.Then all the indicators and controls on front panel appears in Current Mappings listbox in the SIT Connection Manager dialog box. Select one indicator in Current Mappings listbox and Click Change Mapping button to open Specify Singal(s) for Indicator dialog box, where all the paramenters associated with the wind power system model appears. Then select the item of parament which that indicator would like to display. Similarly, repeat those steps to create the remaining connections with the rest of indicators and controls. Click OK button to finish connection between LabVIEW and Matlab/Simulink. C. Simulation system design The simulation system is programmed by LabVIEW 8.2 and its DSC module. The DSC moduel includes the following palettes: Alarms&Events, Engine Control, Historical, Security, and Shared Variables[5]. The program needs the design of user interfaces on front

ICEMI2009

panel and graphic program on block diagram. The system is using the Shared Variables for data transmission between VIs and data record to Citadel Database, using Alarms&Events to display the alarm data and event, using Historical Trend Express VI to review the history data. Fig 4 shows its programming flowchart.

Fig. 4. A flow of procedure of simulation sytem.

The main procedure of the system is described as follows: Data are acquired from Simulink model, the system must keep monitoring the status of grid for 10 min to make sure there is no problem before starting the wind generation system. The problem includes over-voltage, low-voltage, frequency out of the normal range and unbalanced three-phrase voltage. If there is no problem after 10 min, the power generation system would be started automatically or manually. If any problem happens during that time, fault must be handled before monitoring for another 10 min.
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The Ninth International Conference on Electronic Measurement & Instruments Keep waiting until wind velocity reaches 3m/s. Then the following mechanism could take an action, as yaw mechanism, pitch mechanism and Brake mechanism to get the generator speed up. During the procedure of grid connection and power production, both status of grid and generator should be monitored and analysed, specifically as voltage, current, torque, generator speed, apparent power, reactive power, temperture and so. Caculate production/consumption/yield, effeciency and utilization ratio by above data. If any of important data appears not in the normal range, the system alarms and gives warning to result the stop of system. All monitoring data, including general data and alarm data, would be stored in Citadel Database and later could be inquired and reviewed as history data. The block diagrams of LabVIEW programming for the simulation system is shown in Fig 5.

ICEMI2009

program and a archive view program. Fig 6 shows functions of all programs.

(d).Data inquiring and history display. Fig. 5. Block diagram of simulation sytem.

(a).Communication between LabVIEW and Simulink. Fig. 6. Architecture of the simulation system.

A. Main HMI Program The main HMI is firstly developed to rapidly monitor the status of the wind power generation system as in Fig. 3. This interface gives a intuitive and legible picuture of wind power generation. The HMI program has four functions. Fistly, data acquiration: The program communicates to the simulink model and accesses the real-time data from it. Secondly, data display and storage: more than 50 signals are detected in the sytem and all real-time data are displayed with the icon of associated equipment. At the same time, the displayed data are stored into Citadel Database. Thirdly, operation: the Operation buttons in HMI could give orders as run/pause/stop to the simulink model for the whole system control.There are also other buttons to make operators easy to view different informations, such as general data, curves, alarm event and certain process. Lastly, data transferring: the HMI program needs to transfer real-time data to sub-VIs. So that next to every data indicator, there is a small triangle indicator to show the quality of communication between VIs, green for sucess and red for failure. Now, we could see that all triangle indicators are green, which means we have succeed data transmission. Through the main HMI, the whole process of wind power generation could be viewed easily.

(b). Warning and alarm display .

(c).Data transferring and mathmatic caculation.

V.

EXPERIMENTAL RESULT

After complete the design, the real-time simulation system is done. The system includes four programs: a main HMI program(Hunan Machine Interface), a production HMI program and a temperature HMI
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The Ninth International Conference on Electronic Measurement & Instruments B. Pruduction&Temperature HMI Program The production HMI Program is for monitoring the status of generator and grid as in Fig. 4. Under the caption of Electric Data, real-time data transferred from the main HMI is displayed in the indicators with the green triangle label showing good communication. Those electric data reflect the current status of gird and generator during prodution. Then, based on those data, production data and statistic data are caculated by equation to evaluate the efficiency of wind power generation. The charts display curves of stator apparent power/reactive power, power factor and voltage A/B/C, offering intelligible and vivid characteristic trends curves of wind power. From production HMI program, the process of wind production could be clearly seen with no difficulty. The temperature HMI program as in Fig.9 is to monitor common temp. for wind generation system including temp.ambient, temp.bearing, temp. cool air, temp. gearbox oil and so on. Once the value of the temp. is higher than the set value, the system could alarm and give warning by changing the color of indicator to red. At the same time, the alarm information are stored into Citadel Database. Under the caption of Alarm Display, several options could be chose to display different alarm information, such as alarm URL, alarm area, alarm value and priority. The alarm list is real-time updated to show the alarm data in the last seconds.

ICEMI2009

Fig. 9.Temperature HMI VI.

Fig. 10. Archive View VI.

C. Archive View HMI Program Fig 10 shows the Archive View HMI Program which accesses the data from Citadel Databse. The program has function of data inquiring, history data and history curves display for multi-days, multi-singals and alarm information display. Data inquiring: choose the period of time for inquiring; under the caption of Inquire Data and Inquire Curve, click pull-down button to open menu; choose the data for inquiring from the menu; view the history data or curve after clicking OK button. History data and history curves display: Different curves are illustrated in different color. By mathmatic caculation, this program could display the max/min/average value of the last curve. And the cursor could be used easily to indicate the value of points of the curve by moving the mouse or clicking cursor controller. Once the cursor stops at one point of the snapped curve, the value of point is shown by the information like value of X/Y coordinate. When moving the cursor on the curver, value of every single point could be read immediately and intuitively. This program facilitates history inquiring and display.
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Fig. 7.Main HMI VI.

Fig. 8.Production HMI VI.

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The Ninth International Conference on Electronic Measurement & Instruments VI. CONCLUSION

ICEMI2009

The real-time simulation system has presented a good performance and strong ability for real-time acquisition of wind generation information from simulink model and analysis, storage, inquiry with high efficiency and reliability. The advanced technology of DSC moduel helps to rapidly develop the monitoring system, which has the advantage of easy-to-use, high speed data transmission, less complicated programming and perfect in function. The DSC module based system has made great progress compared to the traditional system developed by component software or simple-version labview. The integration of SIT in LabVIEW and real-time workshop in Simulink works successfully to solve the problem of real-time communication between LabVIEW and Simulink. In addition, shared variable technology simplify the developing process of data transmission between VIs and data storage. The system offers a pratical and sucessful example of completing a wind generation monitoring and controlling system ,which has a great significance in both academical and industry field. On the one hand, the system could be academically used for professional research of wind power generation by experts, making the test of wind power generation system more economical and convenient compared to lab test with large-size, costly physical device and the uncertainty

wind source. On the other hand, this system could become a useful training tool for operator, mechanic and other staff related to wind power regardless of the time or location limit, reducing great cost of training and guarantee the safty of learners. ACKNOWLEDGMENT This work is supported by the National Natural Science Fundation of China No. 50677021. REFERENCES
[1] [2] YE Zhi-hang. Control Strategy for wind turbine[M]. Beijing: Publishing House of Mechanic industry, 2002. National Instrument Corp. Simulation Interface Toolkit User Guide, http://www.ni.com/support/productreference/manuals/LabVIEW simulation interface toolkit 2.0 help National Instrument Corp. NI-PSP Networking Technology, http://www.ni.com/support/product reference/manuals/LabVIEW 8 help MathWorks, Inc. Using Simulink, http://www.mathworks.com/ National Instrument Corp. Getting Start with LabVIEW Datalogging and Supervisory Control Module, http://www.ni.com/products & services/measurement & automati on software/ni LabVIEW/LabVIEW datalogging and supervis ory control module

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