METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND POWER PLANT

• US 20130035798A1
• Filed: 02/02/2011
• Published: 02/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Original Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
• Inventors: Zhou, Yu, Herbsleb, Eik, Spruce, Chris, Hales, Kelvin
• Granted Patent: US 9,097,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/287
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 7/0292 to reduce fatigue
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 7/043 characterised by the type of control logic
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/50 Maintenance or repair
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/82 Forecasts
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/821 Parameter estimation or prediction
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/1095 by limiting mechanical stresses
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/20 to optimise the performance of a machine
• 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: F05B 2270/404 active, predictive, or anticipative
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications

Abstract

Method of operating a wind power plant including the steps of: operating the wind power plant at an current parameter schedule (P_current(v)) performing a wind prediction of wind data (V_w) for a time frame (ΔT) extending to a future time T, determining a desired fatigue load level (F_desired) of a wind power plant component at the future time T, and during operation of said wind power plant generating an updated parameter schedule (P_desired(v)) to provide the desired fatigue load level (F_desired) at time T if exposed to the predicted wind conditions (V_w(t)) during said time frame (ΔT)

Claims

1. A method of operating a wind power plant, comprising:

operating the wind power plant at a current parameter schedule (P_current(v));

performing a wind prediction of wind data (V_w) for a time frame (Δ

T) extending to a future time T to determine predicted wind conditions( V_w(t)) during said time frame (Δ

T);

determining a desired fatigue load level (F_desired) of a wind power plant component at the future time T; and

during operation of said power plant, generating an updated parameter schedule (P_desired(v)) to provide the desired fatigue load level (F_desired) at time T if exposed to the predicted wind conditions (V_w(t)) during said time frame (Δ

T).

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising sensing operational data (ψ

) of the wind power plant component and determining whether a fault condition (C_ij) is present based on said operational data (ψ

).

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein determining the desired fatigue load level (F_desired) and generating the updated parameter schedule (P_desired(v)) are performed after a fault condition (C_ij) has been detected.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the desired fatigue load level (F_desired) at the future time T is determined with respect to a maintenance schedule.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising calculating a desired time interval (TD) that is needed before maintenance of the power plant in order to optimize operation and maintenance cost with consideration of the predicted wind condition (V_w(t)).

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising determining said future time T from said desired time interval (TD).

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising calculating a predicted fatigue load level (F_predicted) of said wind power plant component at said future time T, the predicted fatigue load level (F_predicted) being a fatigue load level of the wind power plant component at said future time T when operating at a current parameter schedule and being exposed to the predicted wind conditions (V_w(t)) during said time frame (Δ

T).

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein said predicted fatigue load level (F_predicted) corresponds to a residual lifetime (R) at said future time T.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said updated parameter schedule (P_desired(v)) is generated as a function of a difference between said residual lifetime (R) and a next maintenance event (TM) in a maintenance schedule (M).

10. The method according to claims 9, wherein said next maintenance event (TM) is determined in dependence of said residual lifetime (R).

11. The method according to claim 7, further comprising deriving said desired and/or predicted fatigue load levels (F_desired, F_predicted) from a model (Equation 1) describing fatigue load on said wind power plant component in dependence of the wind data (V_w).