Instrumentation
Automation
Wind Turbine Control and Monitoring from a Remote Location
Wind Turbine Control and Monitoring from a Remote Location
Wind energy is a leading green energy solution that is often generated in remote locations, such as hillsides or coastal areas, to maximize wind conditions throughout the year and optimize profitability. However, harsher environments necessitate more complex wind turbines comprising towers, blades, hubs, and nacelles, which require wind turbine controllers, such as PLCs, to manage the system, generate reports, and monitor performance. These controllers serve as the brains of every wind turbine, and without them, the turbine would not function correctly, as they are responsible for controlling and programming the system. Consequently, the controllers must be connected to a unified system for remote monitoring, energy generation reporting, parameter control, and predictive maintenance. The primary challenge in this context is ensuring reliable and secure connectivity to the internet due to the remote location of wind farms.
The topology presented above illustrates the entire wind energy solution, where the wind turbine generates energy that is transmitted to a substation for further distribution. Meanwhile, the wind turbine controller, connected to the Teltonika Networks TRB145 – a compact yet powerful 4G LTE Serial gateway, remotely monitors and controls the system. This device establishes a reliable and stable internet connection and functions as a Modbus gateway between the controller and the control center, which manages all monitoring and management tasks. The TRB145 industrial gateway is a suitable option for this application, as it includes a Serial RS485 interface with Modbus RTU, and is powered by RutOS, which provides advanced features like OpenVPN, Firewall, and IPsec. Moreover, this gateway can be managed and monitored using the RMS (Remote Management System), which can send status reports and notifications via SMS or email, among other advantages.