# US 7,613,548 B2 · Systems and methods for controlling a ramp rate of a wind farm

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- Number: US 7,613,548 B2
- Document ID: US7613548B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 11/341,339
- Filed: 2006-01-26
- Published: 2007-07-26
- Granted: 2009-11-03
- Earliest claimed: 2006-01-26
- Assignees: General Electric Company
- Inventors: Mark Edward Cardinal; Reinhard Brügger; Andreas Kirchner
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7613548B2

## CPC

- F03D 7/048: {controlling wind farms}
- F03D 7/0284: {in relation to the state of the electric grid}
- F05B 2260/821: Parameter estimation or prediction
- F05B 2270/335: Output power or torque
- F05B 2270/404: active, predictive, or anticipative
- 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

A method for controlling a ramp rate of a wind farm is described. The method includes predicting an initial predicted power to be output by a wind farm including a wind turbine.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for controlling a ramp rate of a wind farm that includes at least one wind turbine, said method comprising:
estimating an initial predicted power output limit as a function of ramp rate and an instantaneous power output, said estimating an initial predicted power output limit comprising;
estimating a first predicted power output limit as a function of a first instantaneous power output;
estimating a second predicted power output limit as a function of a second instantaneous power output;
selecting a lower of the first and second predicted power output limits; and
comparing a second instantaneous power output to the lower of the first and second predicted power output limits; and
controlling a ramp rate of the at least one wind turbine based on the lower of the first and second predicted power output limits.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein estimating an initial predicted power output limit comprises estimating at least one predicted power output limit before an instantaneous power output is generated by the wind farm.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein estimating an initial predicted power output limit comprises estimating the first predicted power output limit at a first time and the second predicted power output limit at a second time, wherein the first time occurs before the first instantaneous power output is generated and the second time occurs before the second instantaneous power output is generated.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein estimating an initial predicted power output limit comprises estimating the first predicted power output limit as a function of a first time range and estimating the second predicted power output limit as a function of a second time range, wherein the second predicted power output limit is estimated at a time that is different than the time in estimating the first predicted power output limit.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the second predicted power output limit is estimated at a time different from the time estimating the first predicted power output limit.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein estimating an initial predicted power output limit further comprises:
estimating a third predicted power output limit as a function of at least one instantaneous power output;
estimating a fourth predicted power output limit as a function of at least one instantaneous power output; and
selecting a lower of the first, second, third, and fourth predicted power output limits.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein comparing a second instantaneous power output to the lower of the first and second predicted power output limits comprises transmitting to a ramp rate selection device a difference between the second instantaneous power output and the lower of the first and second predicted power output limits.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein transmitting to a ramp rate selection device comprises determining a second ramp rate based on the difference.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein determining a second ramp rate further comprises one of:
generating a second ramp rate that is substantially similar to a first ramp rate upon receiving a positive difference; and
generating a second ramp rate that is approximately equal to a zero value upon receiving a negative difference.

### Claim 10

A controller configured to facilitate control of a ramp rate of a wind farm that includes at least one wind turbine, said controller comprising:
an initial array module configured to generate a plurality of predicted power output limits;
a minimum module configured to select a lowest value of the plurality of predicted power output limits;
an adder module configured to determine a difference between an instantaneous power output and the lowest value of the plurality of predicted power output limits; and
at least one module configured to control a ramp rate of the at least one wind turbine based on the lowest value of the plurality of predicted power output limits.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

A controller in accordance with claim 10 wherein said at least one module comprises at least one ramp rate module, said at least one ramp rate module is configured to transmit to an initial array at least one ramp rate signal.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

A controller in accordance with claim 10 wherein said at least one module comprises at least one array module configured to estimate at least one predicted power output limit.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

A controller in accordance with claim 10 wherein said at least one module comprises a divider module configured to divide a second output ramp rate by a number of operating turbines in the wind farm.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

A controller in accordance with claim 13 further comprising a limiter module configured to generate at least one of:
the second output ramp rate that is substantially similar to a first ramp rate upon receiving a positive difference; and
the second output ramp rate that is approximately equal to a zero value upon receiving a negative difference.

### Claim 15

A wind farm comprising:
at least one wind turbine; and
a controller coupled to said at least one wind turbine and configured to control a ramp rate of said wind farm, said controller comprising:
an initial array module configured to generate a plurality of predicted power output limits;
a minimum module configured to select a lowest value of the plurality of predicted power output limits;
an adder module configured to determine a difference between an instantaneous power output and the lowest value of the plurality of predicted power output limits; and
at least one module configured to control a ramp rate of the at least one wind turbine based on the lowest value of the plurality of predicted power output limits.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

A wind turbine farm in accordance with claim 15 wherein said at least one module comprises at least one ramp rate module, said at least one ramp rate module is configured to transmit to an initial array at least one ramp rate signal.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

A wind turbine farm in accordance with claim 15 wherein said at least one module comprises at least one array module configured to estimate at least one predicted power output limit.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

A wind turbine farm in accordance with claim 15 wherein said at least one module comprises a divider module configured to divide a second output ramp rate by a number of operating wind turbines in said wind farm.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

A wind turbine farm in accordance with claim 18 further comprising a limiter module configured to generate at least one of:
the second output ramp rate that is substantially similar to a first ramp rate upon receiving a positive difference; and
the second output ramp rate that is approximately equal to a zero value upon receiving a negative difference.