SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MICROSITING A WIND FARM FOR LOADS OPTIMIZATION
20170342961 · 2017-11-30
Inventors
Cpc classification
F03D17/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F05B2270/331
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F03D13/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F03D9/257
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F05B2270/20
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Y02E10/72
GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
F03D80/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F05B2270/3201
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F05B2270/321
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F03D7/048
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
International classification
F03D7/04
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
F03D17/00
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
Abstract
The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for micrositing a wind farm having a plurality of wind turbines. The method includes (a) determining, via a loads optimization function, one or more wind directions with or without turbine shadow for each of the wind turbines in the wind farm, (b) determining, via the loads optimization function, at least one additional wind parameter for each of the wind directions, (c) calculating, via simulation, loads for each of the wind turbines in the wind farm based on the identified wind directions with or without turbine shadow for each of the wind turbines in the wind farm and the at least one additional wind parameter for each of the wind directions, and (d) determining a site layout for the wind farm based on the calculated loads.
Claims
1. A method for micrositing a wind farm having a plurality of wind turbines via a loads optimization function, the method comprising: (a) determining one or more wind directions with or without turbine shadow for each of the wind turbines in the wind farm; (b) determining at least one additional wind parameter for each of the wind directions; (c) calculating, via simulation, loads for each of the wind turbines in the wind farm based on the identified wind directions with or without turbine shadow for each of the wind turbines in the wind farm and the at least one additional wind parameter for each of the wind directions; and, (d) determining a site layout for the wind farm based on the calculated loads.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising recalculating the loads for each of the wind turbines after determining the site layout to ensure the loads are below a predetermined threshold.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined threshold corresponding to one or more design load values for one or more wind turbine components plus a safety factor.
4. The method of claim 2, further comprising repeating steps (a) through (d) if the recalculated loads for one or more of the wind turbines in the wind farm exceed the predetermined threshold.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one additional wind parameter comprises a cutout wind speed.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising identifying at least one of the following: one or more sensor locations for load sensors on each of the wind turbines, neighboring turbines for each of the wind turbines, or a wind speed distribution of the wind farm.
7. The method of claim 6, further comprising calculating the loads for each of the wind turbines in the wind farm as a function of at least one of the sensor locations, the neighboring turbines, or the wind speed distribution.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing cumulative loads in one or more wind directions with design loads of a turbine model of each of the wind turbines in the wind farm and calculating the loads of each of the wind turbines in the wind farm as a function of the comparison.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising defining a predetermined site layout of the wind farm and calculating loads for one or more wind turbines in the wind farm having the predetermined site layout as a function of one or more wind conditions at the wind farm.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising initially providing the predetermined site layout to a user if the loads for all of the wind turbines in the wind farm are initially less than the predetermined threshold.
11. The method of claim 9, wherein the one or more wind conditions comprise at least one of wind direction, turbine shadow, turbulence intensity, or wind speed distributions in respective wind directions.
12. A system for micrositing a wind farm having a plurality of wind turbines, the system comprising: a controller comprising at least one processor, the processor comprising a loads optimization loop stored therein, the loads optimization loop configured to implement a loads optimization function, the loads optimization function comprising: determining one or more wind directions with or without turbine shadow for each of the wind turbines in the wind farm; determining at least one additional wind parameter for each of the wind directions; calculating loads for each of the wind turbines in the wind farm based on the identified wind directions with or without turbine shadow for each of the wind turbines in the wind farm and the at least one additional wind parameter for each of the wind directions, determining a site layout for the wind farm based on the calculated loads, and recalculating the loads for each of the wind turbines in the wind farm to ensure the loads are below a predetermined threshold.
13. A method for micrositing a wind farm having a plurality of wind turbines via a loads optimization function, the method comprising: defining a predetermined layout of the wind farm; calculating loads for one or more wind turbines in the wind farm having the predetermined layout as a function of one or more wind conditions at the wind farm; and, if the loads for one or more of the wind turbines in the wind farm are greater than a predetermined threshold, implementing the loads optimization function, comprising: (a) determining one or more wind directions with or without turbine shadow for each of the wind turbines in the wind farm, (b) determining at least one additional wind parameter for each of the wind directions; (c) updating the predetermined layout based on the one or more wind directions with or without turbine shadow for each of the wind turbines in the wind farm and the at least one additional wind parameter for each of the wind directions, and (d) recalculating the loads for each of the wind turbines in the wind farm for the predetermined layout to ensure the loads are below a predetermined threshold.
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising initially providing the predetermined site layout to a user if the loads for all of the wind turbines in the wind farm are initially less than the predetermined threshold.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the one or more wind conditions comprise at least one of wind direction, turbine shadow, turbulence intensity, or wind speed distributions in respective wind directions.
16. The method of claim 13, repeating steps (a) through (d) until the loads for all of the wind turbines in wind farm are below the predetermined threshold, the predetermined threshold corresponding to one or more design load values for one or more wind turbine components plus a safety factor.
17. The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one additional wind parameter comprises a cutout wind speed.
18. The method of claim 13, further comprising identifying at least one of the following: one or more sensor locations for load sensors on each of the wind turbines, neighboring turbines for each of the wind turbines, or a wind speed distribution of the wind farm.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising calculating the loads for each of the wind turbines in the wind farm as a function of at least one of the sensor locations, the neighboring turbines, or the wind speed distribution.
20. The method of claim 13, further comprising comparing cumulative loads in one or more wind directions with design loads of a turbine model of each of the wind turbines in the wind farm and calculating the loads of each of the wind turbines in the wind farm as a function of the comparison.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0019] A full and enabling disclosure of the present invention, including the best mode thereof, directed to one of ordinary skill in the art, is set forth in the specification, which makes reference to the appended figures, in which:
[0020]
[0021]
[0022]
[0023]
[0024]
[0025]
[0026]
[0027]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] Reference now will be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the invention, not limitation of the invention. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. For instance, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be used with another embodiment to yield a still further embodiment. Thus, it is intended that the present invention covers such modifications and variations as come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
[0029] Generally, the present subject matter is directed to a system and method for micrositing a wind farm for loads optimization. Thus, the present disclosure is configured to place the wind turbines of the wind farm at energetic wind locations and optimize turbine operation to keep the turbine component loads within design limits. Using the method described herein, wind turbines of larger rotor diameter can be placed in a wind farm with optimal operation and neighboring turbines can capture more AEP without exceeding loads. As such, disadvantages associated with post-installation techniques can be minimized. More specifically, while optimizing the loads for the operation of a wind turbine in one or more wind direction(s) for the turbine shadow from neighboring turbine(s), it is advantageous to compare the cumulative fatigue loads on the wind turbine in all the directions with the design fatigue loads of a turbine model. The weighted impact of an individual or multiple turbine(s) shadow in different sectors can also be considered in the loads optimization method of the present disclosure. More specifically, a loads optimization function is utilized for weighing the impact of turbine(s) shadow in the different direction(s) such that turbine operation can be optimized to meet the design fatigue loads of the wind turbine. Thus, the present disclosure optimizes turbine operation in different wind directions to keep the fatigue loads for turbine design life within nominal limit.
[0030] Referring now to the drawings,
[0031] Referring now to
[0032] Each rotor blade 22 may also include a pitch adjustment mechanism 32 configured to rotate each rotor blade 22 about its pitch axis 28. Further, each pitch adjustment mechanism 32 may include a pitch drive motor 40 (e.g., any suitable electric, hydraulic, or pneumatic motor), a pitch drive gearbox 42, and a pitch drive pinion 44. In such embodiments, the pitch drive motor 40 may be coupled to the pitch drive gearbox 42 so that the pitch drive motor 40 imparts mechanical force to the pitch drive gearbox 42. Similarly, the pitch drive gearbox 42 may be coupled to the pitch drive pinion 44 for rotation therewith. The pitch drive pinion 44 may, in turn, be in rotational engagement with a pitch bearing 46 coupled between the hub 20 and a corresponding rotor blade 22 such that rotation of the pitch drive pinion 44 causes rotation of the pitch bearing 46. Thus, in such embodiments, rotation of the pitch drive motor 40 drives the pitch drive gearbox 42 and the pitch drive pinion 44, thereby rotating the pitch bearing 46 and the rotor blade 22 about the pitch axis 28. Similarly, the wind turbine 10 may include one or more yaw drive mechanisms 48 communicatively coupled to the controller 26, with each yaw drive mechanism(s) 48 being configured to change the angle of the nacelle 16 relative to the wind (e.g., by engaging a yaw bearing 50 of the wind turbine 10).
[0033] Still referring to
[0034] It should also be understood that any other number or type of sensors may be employed and at any location. For example, the sensors may be accelerometers, pressure sensors, strain gauges, angle of attack sensors, vibration sensors, MIMU sensors, camera systems, fiber optic systems, anemometers, wind vanes, Sonic Detection and Ranging (SODAR) sensors, infra lasers, Light Detecting and Ranging (LIDAR) sensors, radiometers, pitot tubes, rawinsondes, other optical sensors, and/or any other suitable sensors. It should be appreciated that, as used herein, the term “monitor” and variations thereof indicates that the various sensors of the wind turbine 10 may be configured to provide a direct measurement of the parameters being monitored or an indirect measurement of such parameters. Thus, the sensors 65, 66, 68 may, for example, be used to generate signals relating to the parameter being monitored, which can then be utilized by the controller 26 to determine the actual condition.
[0035] Referring back to
[0036] Referring now to
[0037] Additionally, the controller 26 may also include a communications module 62 to facilitate communications between the controller 26 and the various components of the wind turbine 10. For instance, the communications module 62 may include a sensor interface 64 (e.g., one or more analog-to-digital converters) to permit the signals transmitted by one or more sensors 65, 66, 68 to be converted into signals that can be understood and processed by the controller 26. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the sensors 65, 66, 68 may be communicatively coupled to the communications module 62 using any suitable means. For example, as shown in
[0038] Referring now to
[0039] In several embodiments, one or more of the wind turbines 202 in the wind farm 200 may include a plurality of sensors for monitoring various operational data of the individual wind turbines 202 and/or one or more wind parameters of the wind farm 200. For example, as shown, each of the wind turbines 202 includes a wind sensor 216, such as an anemometer or any other suitable device, configured for measuring wind speeds or any other wind parameter. For example, in one embodiment, the wind parameters include information regarding at least one of or a combination of the following: a wind gust, a wind speed, a wind direction, a wind acceleration, a wind turbulence, a wind shear, a wind veer, a wake, SCADA information, or similar.
[0040] Referring now to
[0041] In addition, as shown in
[0042] Referring back to
where TI is the turbulence intensity, [0043] Number of Hours is the number of hours of operation at different wind directions, [0044] Cut In is the cut in wind speed, and [0045] Cut Out is the cut out wind speed.
[0046] The loads optimization loop 152 can rerun the loads optimization function 154 one or more times to identify updated wind direction(s) with or without turbine shadow(s) along with an additional wind parameter (e.g. cut-in wind speed) in the wind directions so as to ensure the loads are below a predetermined threshold. Thus, as shown in
[0047] Referring now to
[0048] Referring now to
[0049] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they include structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.