Disclosed is an apparatus that adapts the rate of its computational work to match the availability of energy harvested from a stochastic energy source; and, with respect to some types of energy harvesting, regulates the rate of energy capture, the rate of energy conversion, and the rate of consumption of stored potential energy, through its alteration, regulation, and/or adjustment, of that same computational work load.

A method for identifying underperforming agents in a multi-agent cooperative system includes receiving information relating to the performance of each agent in the multi-agent system, calculating an estimated extracted resource value of each agent based on the received information, comparing the estimated extracted resource value of each agent to a threshold value, calculating a performance index based on the comparison and identifying an agent as an under-performing agent based on the performance index. A system for identifying under-performing agents in a plurality of agents in a multi-agent cooperative system includes a performance analyzing processor, a communications port for receiving state information for each agent and control information for each agent, a classifier for identifying a subset of agents in the plurality of agents that are performance comparable and an optimizer configured to identify an under-performing agent of performance comparable agents and generate updated control information for the identified under-performing agent.

A system and method are provided for controlling a wind turbine of a wind farm. Accordingly, a controller implements a first model to determine a modeled performance parameter for the first wind turbine. The modeled performance parameter is based, at least in part, on an operation of a designated grouping of wind turbines of the plurality of wind turbines, which is exclusive of the first wind turbine. The controller then determines a performance parameter differential for the first wind turbine at multiple sampling intervals. The performance parameter differential is indicative of a difference between the modeled performance parameter and a monitored performance parameter for the first wind turbine. A second model is implemented to determine a predicted performance parameter of the first wind turbine at each of a plurality of setpoint combinations based, at least in part, on the performance parameter differential the first wind turbine. A setpoint combination is then selected based on the predicted performance parameter and an operating state of the first wind turbine is changed based on the setpoint combination.

Method for operating a wind power installation which has a rotor and feeds an output power from wind, the latter having a wind speed, into an electric supply grid, and controls cooling of a component of the wind power installation, wherein an operational evaluation is carried out, in which an operating state or an operating state variation is evaluated, and the cooling is controlled as a function of a component temperature and additionally as a function of the operational evaluation.

A method of operating at least one wind turbine including: receiving a first signal which is indicative of a level of a remuneration for electrical energy, which is fed currently and/or in the future into a grid to which the wind turbine is connected, producing a control signal dependent on the first signal, and controlling the wind turbine with the control signal for generating power of the wind turbine, that is dependent on the control signal. A wind turbine and a central control for carrying out such a method and a system comprising a central control and a plurality of wind turbines.

A buoyant energy generating housing apparatus submersed in fluid currents. The disclosed embodiments comprises rotary turbines that harvest the kinetic energy in the currents, and buoys that house equipment and provide buoyancy to support the system. Movements and rotations are restrained by multiple cables or tendons that are anchored on the seabed, in combination with the internal active ballast system in the buoys. Applications in currents with direction change are possible with the use of two-buoy embodiments, further assisted by the optional use of weathervanes.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a retrofit auxiliary nacelle yaw position control system that enables advanced nacelle yaw position control of a wind turbine by comparing a desired nacelle yaw position signal with the actual nacelle yaw position and generating a virtual relative wind direction signal that is provided to the existing turbine control unit. This method and system enable implementation of wake steering, collective yaw optimization and dynamic yaw optimization of a collection of wind turbines referred to as a wind plant. Modification of the existing turbine control unit is not required, greatly simplifying the implementation process of advanced yaw control strategies on existing wind plants.

A wind farm supervision monitoring system includes: a data collection unit configured to collect data about a status monitoring of each wind turbine from at least one site server; an abnormality status detection unit configured to detect an abnormality status of each wind turbine based on the collected data about the status monitoring and issue an alarm; a wind data management unit configured to early detect a fault of each wind turbine and or monitor performance of each wind turbine based on the data about the status monitoring or the data about the abnormality status; and a supervision unit configured to manage a turbine operation status and operation and maintenance of each wind turbine and provide information for establishing an operation and maintenance plan for the detected abnormality status of the wind turbine.

A method for determining an estimated flow rate of fluid flow in a pump comprises: obtaining measurements of the pressure and temperature of fluid at the intake to the pump, the pressure and temperature of the fluid at the discharge from the pump, and the electrical power supplied to the pump; determining values representing either the density of the fluid and the specific heat capacity of the fluid, or the specific fluid enthalpy based on measurements and/or historical data; and calculating an estimated efficiency of the pump and an estimated flow rate of the fluid based on the measured electrical power, the measured temperatures, the measured pressures, the determined value for density and the determined value for specific heat capacity or the determined value for specific fluid enthalpy.

A method for controlling a wind turbine may generally include operating the wind turbine at an initial power output that is greater than a rated power output associated with the wind turbine. The wind turbine may have an anticipated operational life at the rated power output. In addition, the method may include decreasing a power output of the wind turbine over time in order to maintain an actual operating life of the wind turbine substantially equal to or greater than the anticipated operational life. A final power output of the wind turbine at an end of the anticipated operating life may be less than the rated power output.