SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE

• US 20150115608A1
• Filed: 10/31/2013
• Published: 04/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Draper, Samuel David
• Granted Patent: US 9,835,135 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/44
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 15/10 using gearing not limited to rotary motion, e.g. with oscillating or reciprocating members
• 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 7/028 controlling wind motor output power
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 7/0292 to reduce fatigue
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/70 Bearing or lubricating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/82 of electrical components
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/20 to optimise the performance of a machine
• 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

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.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a wind turbine having an anticipated operational life at a rated power output, the method comprising:

operating the wind turbine at an initial power output that is greater than the rated power output for the wind turbine; and

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, wherein a final power output of the wind turbine at an end of the anticipated operating life is less than the rated power output.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising performing a loading analysis on the wind turbine to determine a maximum power output for the wind turbine.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising setting the initial power output of the wind turbine as the maximum power output.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein decreasing the power output of the wind turbine over time comprises decreasing the power output over time along a predetermined rating curve between the initial power output and the final power output.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined rating curve defines a straight line between the initial power output and the final power output.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

monitoring at least one operating condition of the wind turbine; and

determining a time adjustment for the predetermined rating curve based on the at least one operating condition.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising selecting an operational point for the wind turbine along the predetermined rating curve based on the time adjustment.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising determining a damage factor for at least one life-limiting component of the wind turbine based on the at least one operating condition, wherein the time adjustment is determined based on the damage factor.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the damage factor varies depending on a loading condition of the wind turbine.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the anticipated operating life of the wind turbine is limited based on an anticipated component life of at least one life-limiting component of the wind turbine.

11. A system, comprising:

a wind turbine having an anticipated operating life at a rated power output;

a controller configured to control the operation of the wind turbine, the controller being configured to operate the wind turbine at an initial power output that is greater than the rated power output, the controller being further configured to decrease 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, wherein a final power output of the wind turbine at an end of the anticipated operating life is less than the rated power output.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to perform a loading analysis on the wind turbine to determine a maximum power output for the wind turbine.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the controller is configured to set the initial power output of the wind turbine as the maximum power output.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to decrease the power output over time along a predetermined rating curve between the initial power output and the final power output.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the power output is continuously decreased along the predetermined rating curve between the initial power output and the final power output.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to monitor at least one operating condition of the wind turbine and determine a time adjustment for the predetermined rating curve based on the at least one operating condition.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to select an operational point for the wind turbine along the predetermined rating curve based on the time adjustment.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to determine a damage factor for at least one life-limiting component of the wind turbine based on the at least one operating condition and wherein the controlled is configured to determine the time adjustment based on the damage factor.

20. The system of claim 11, wherein the anticipated operating life of the wind turbine is limited based on an anticipated component life of at least one life-limiting component of the wind turbine.

19. The system of claim 19, wherein the damage factor varies depending on a loading condition of the wind turbine.