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US 10,294,922 B2Granted
Control of a group of wind turbines
AssigneeVestas Wind Systems A/S
InventorsChris Spruce, Kelvin Hales
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for reducing an output power of a group of wind turbines are provided. A measure of life usage by at least one component of each of a plurality of the turbines is determined, and is compared to a threshold value for life usage for the component. Power output is preferentially reduced from those turbines having at least one component for which the measure of life usage exceeds the corresponding threshold value.
Claims13
A method for reducing a collective output power of a plurality of wind turbines, the method comprising:
- acquiring, using one or more sensors of the plurality of wind turbines, values of one or more variables affecting a life usage of components of the plurality of wind turbines;
- for each wind turbine of the plurality of wind turbines, determining a measure of the life usage of at least one component of the wind turbine by applying a life usage algorithm to the values of the one or more variables;
- identifying, responsive to a request at a power plant controller to reduce the collective output power, a subset of one or more wind turbines of the plurality of wind turbines, wherein each of the one or more wind turbines has a component with a corresponding life usage that is greater than a threshold value;
- and
- communicating one or more power set points from the power plant controller to one or more wind turbine controllers of the one or more wind turbines,
- wherein the one or more power set points configure the one or more wind turbine controllers to reduce a power generation of the one or more wind turbines proportional to an amount by which the corresponding life usage exceeds the threshold value.
3 more elements
A control arrangement for controlling a plurality of wind turbines, the control arrangement comprising:
- at least one life usage estimation unit configured to:
- acquire, using one or more sensors of the plurality of wind turbines, values of one or more variables affecting a life usage of components of the plurality of wind turbines;
- and
- determine, for each wind turbine of the plurality of wind turbines, a measure of the life usage of at least one component of the wind turbine by applying a life usage algorithm to the values of the one or more variables;
- a central control unit configured to:
- receive the measures of the life usage;
- and
- identify, responsive to a request to reduce a collective output power of the plurality of wind turbines, a subset comprising one or more wind turbines of the plurality of wind turbines, wherein each of the one or more wind turbines has a component with a corresponding life usage that exceeds a threshold value;
- and
- a power control unit configured to:
- communicate one or more power set points to one or more wind turbine controllers of the one or more wind turbines,
- wherein the one or more power set points configure the one or more wind turbine controllers to reduce a power generation of the one or more wind turbines proportional to an amount by which the corresponding life usage exceeds the threshold value.
9 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a plurality of wind turbines;
- and
- a control arrangement for controlling the plurality of wind turbines, the control arrangement comprising:
- at least one life usage estimation unit configured to:
- acquire, using one or more sensors of the plurality of wind turbines, values of one or more variables affecting a life usage of components of the plurality of wind turbines;
- and
- determine, for each wind turbine of the plurality of wind turbines, a measure of the life usage of at least one component of the wind turbine by applying a life usage algorithm to the values of the one or more variables;
- a central control unit configured to:
- receive the measures of the life usage;
- and
- identify, responsive to a request to reduce a collective output power of the plurality of wind turbines, a subset comprising one or more wind turbines of the plurality of wind turbines,
- wherein each of the one more wind turbines has a component with a corresponding life usage that exceeds a threshold value;
- and
- a power control unit configured to:
- communicate one or more power set points to one or more wind turbine controller of the one or more wind turbines,
- wherein the one or more power set points configure the one or more wind turbine controllers to reduce a power generation of the one or more wind turbines proportional to an amount by which the corresponding life usage exceeds the threshold value.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.