# US 2014/0207296 A1 · Disablement of wind turbines in a wind park > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0207296 A1 - Document ID: US20140207296A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/129,585 - Filed: 2012-06-29 - Published: 2014-07-24 - Earliest claimed: 2011-06-30 - Assignees: Vestas Wind Systems A/S - Inventors: Martin Ansbjerg Kjær; Jesper Sandberg Thomsen; Per Brath; Søren Dalsgaard - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140207296A1 ## CPC - F03D 7/00: Controlling wind motors (supplying or distributing electrical power H02J, e.g. arrangements for adjusting, eliminating or compensating reactive power in networks H02J3/18; controlling electric generators H02P, e.g. arrangements for controlling electric generators for the purpose of obtaining a desired output H02P9/00) - F03D 7/0264: {for stopping; controlling in emergency situations (orientating out of wind F03D7/0208)} - F03D 7/0292: {to reduce fatigue} - F03D 7/048: {controlling wind farms} - F05B 2270/204: taking into account the wake effect - F05B 2270/332: Maximum loads or fatigue criteria - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - F03D: WIND MOTORS - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract Embodiments of the invention generally relate to wind turbine generators, and more specifically to the deactivation of wind turbines in a wind turbine park. A wind park controller may be configured to retrieve data indicating fatigue experienced by each wind turbine of the wind turbine park, and deactivate those turbines determined to be the most fatigued, thereby increasing the lifetime of turbines in the wind turbine park. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for operating a plurality of wind turbines in a wind farm, comprising: determining that one or more wind turbines of the plurality of wind turbines should be deactivated; retrieving data indicating fatigue experienced by each wind turbine of the plurality of wind turbines; and selecting one or more wind turbines of the plurality of wind turbines determined to have a greatest fatigue to be deactivated. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the data indicating fatigue experienced by each wind turbine comprises historical fault data for each turbine. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the data indicating fatigue experienced by each wind turbine comprises data regarding current conditions which impact fatigue of each wind turbine. ### Claim 4 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the data indicating fatigue experienced by each wind turbine comprises at least one of: wind speed; turbulence; and wind direction and a position of the turbine in relation to other turbines. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving data indicating fatigue experienced by each turbine comprises: retrieving at least two different types of data; prioritizing each type of data; and selecting the one or more wind turbines of the plurality of wind turbines to be deactivated based on the at least two different types of data and a priority of each type of data. ### Claim 6 A controller for controlling a plurality of wind turbines in a wind farm, wherein the controller is configured to: determine that one or more wind turbines of the plurality of wind turbines should be deactivated; retrieve data indicating fatigue experienced by each wind turbine of the plurality of wind turbines; and select one or more wind turbines of the plurality of wind turbines determined to have a greatest fatigue to be deactivated. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The controller of claim 6, wherein the data indicating fatigue experienced by each wind turbine comprises historical fault data for each turbine. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The controller of claim 6, wherein the data indicating fatigue experienced by each wind turbine comprises data regarding current conditions which impact fatigue of each wind turbine. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The controller of claim 8, wherein the data indicating fatigue experienced by each wind turbine comprises at least one of: wind speed; turbulence; and wind direction and a position of the turbine in relation to other turbines. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The controller of claim 6, wherein retrieving data indicating fatigue experienced by each turbine by the controller comprises: retrieving at least two different types of data; prioritizing each type of data; and selecting the one or more wind turbines of the plurality of wind turbines to be deactivated based on the at least two different types of data and a priority of each type of data. ### Claim 11 A wind power plant comprising: a plurality of wind turbines; and a controller configured to: determine that one or more wind turbines of the plurality of wind turbines should be deactivated; retrieve data indicating fatigue experienced by each wind turbine of the plurality of wind turbines; and select one or more wind turbines of the plurality of wind turbines determined to have a greatest fatigue to be deactivated. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The wind power plant of claim 11, wherein the data indicating fatigue experienced by each wind turbine comprises historical fault data for each turbine. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The wind power plant of claim 11, wherein the data indicating fatigue experienced by each wind turbine comprises data regarding current conditions which impact fatigue of each wind turbine. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The wind power plant of claim 13, wherein the data indicating fatigue experienced by each wind turbine comprises at least one of: wind speed; turbulence; and wind direction and a position of the turbine in relation to other turbines. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The wind power plant of claim 11, wherein retrieving data indicating fatigue experienced by each turbine by the controller comprises: retrieving at least two different types of data; prioritizing each type of data; and selecting the one or more wind turbines of the plurality of wind turbines to be deactivated based on the at least two different types of data and a priority of each type of data.