METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF A WIND TURBINE

• US 20100298995A1
• Filed: 05/04/2010
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Original Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Inventors: Ho, Jiann Yi, Chen, Wan Ying, Ong, Jiun Keat, Nandedkar, Kiran Kishan Rao, Chin, Bung Chai, Zhou, Yu, Zhang, Tie Ling, Siew, Pey Yen, Lim, Khoon Peng
• Granted Patent: US 8,355,823 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/287
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 17/00 Monitoring or testing of wind motors, e.g. diagnostics testing during commissioning of wind motors F03D13/30
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 7/0292 to reduce fatigue
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 7/042 by means of an electrical or electronic controller
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/821 Parameter estimation or prediction
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/32 Wind speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/321 Wind directions
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/332 Maximum loads or fatigue criteria
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

Methods and systems for controlling operation of a wind turbine. The method may comprise determining an alarm level for at least one component of the wind turbine. In the case that an alarm level for at least one component exceeds a predefined level, the method comprises estimating an expected remaining lifetime for the component under the current operating conditions, and controlling operation of the wind turbine in order to adjust the expected remaining lifetime for the component to a desired expected remaining lifetime for said component. Thereby, the expected remaining lifetime for the component can be prolonged until the next scheduled service event. Downtime of the wind turbine is considerably reduced, and unscheduled service events are avoided to the greatest possible extent. Mean time between inspections (MTBI) is also extended.

Claims

1. A method of controlling the operation of a wind turbine, the method comprising the steps of:

determining an alarm level for at least one component of the wind turbine; and

in the case that an alarm level for at least one component exceeds a predefined level;

estimating an expected remaining lifetime for said component under the current operating conditions, and

controlling operation of the wind turbine in order to adjust the expected remaining lifetime for said component to a desired expected remaining lifetime for said component.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the alarm level for at least one component of the wind turbine comprises the steps of:

obtaining data relating to health status for one or more components of the wind turbine; and

determining an alarm level for at least one of the component(s) based on the obtained data.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of obtaining data relating to the health status for one or more components comprises:

measuring one or more parameters of each component by means of one or more sensors.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of estimating an expected remaining lifetime for said component is performed on the basis of empirically obtained data.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the empirically obtained data comprises data relating to wind speed and/or wind direction at the site of the wind turbine.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the empirically obtained data comprises data relating to lifetimes of components identical or similar to said component.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step of controlling the wind turbine comprises:

reducing the power production of the wind turbine in order to extend the expected remaining lifetime of said component to a coming scheduled maintenance of the wind turbine.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of controlling operation of the wind turbine comprises the steps of:

estimating an expected wind speed at the site of the wind turbine during the estimated expected remaining lifetime of said component;

in the case that the estimated expected wind speed is below a predefined threshold value, controlling operation of the wind turbine to maintain an output power level of the wind turbine; and

in the case that the estimated expected wind speed is above the predefined threshold value, controlling operation of the wind turbine to reduce the output power level of the wind turbine.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of estimating an expected wind speed is performed on the basis of empirically obtained wind data.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

scheduling maintenance of the wind turbine in the case that the alarm level for the component remains above the predefined level after the output power level of the wind turbine has been reduced.

11. A system for controlling operation of a wind turbine, the system comprising:

an alarm unit adapted to determine an alarm level for at least one component of the wind turbine;

a lifetime calculator adapted to determine an expected remaining lifetime for said component; and

a control unit adapted to control the operation of the wind turbine in response to a determined expected remaining lifetime.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the alarm unit comprises a data collecting unit for obtaining data relating to health status for one or more components of the wind turbine.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the data collecting unit comprises one or more sensors arranged at or in the vicinity of the component(s).

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the control unit is adapted to reduce the output power level of the wind turbine.

15. A wind turbine comprising a system according to claim 11.