Turbine controller for optimizing economic present value of the turbine

• US 9,035,479 B1
• Filed: 07/11/2014
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wind Stream Properties, LLC
• Original Assignee: Wind Stream Properties, LLC
• Inventors: Gates, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Koneru, Sujay
• Application Number:
  US14/329,712
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• Field of Search: 290/43, 290/44, 705 711- 742
• US Class Current: 290/43
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 7/0292 to reduce fatigue
• 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: G06Q 10/06313 Resource planning in a project environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/06 Energy or water supply
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A controller for optimizing the operation of a turbine to maximize the net present value of the revenue it generates over its lifetime. The controller calculates a plurality of net present values for a plurality of turbine output levels given certain input parameters such as power sale rate, power output level vs. fatigue damage accumulation, etc.; determines a maximum net present value from the plurality of output levels evaluated; and operates the turbine at the output level associated with the maximum net present value.

Claims

1. A turbine, comprising:

a. a plurality of blades to capture natural energy;

b. a hub attached to the plurality of blades, the hub connected to a generator to convert the natural energy captured by the plurality of blades into electrical energy; and

c. a controller operatively connected to a processor that iteratively calculates a plurality of net present values of the turbine for a plurality of output levels, and for each iteration, determines a maximum net present value from the plurality of calculated net present values, identifies an output level associated with the maximum net present value, and commands the controller to operate the turbine at the output level associated with the maximum net present value, wherein each net present value for its respective output level is determined by a sum of a function over a period from 1 to N, wherein the function is calculated by a revenue (Ri) generated by the turbine at a given time period (i), and wherein N is the lifetime of the turbine, wherein Ri is determined by multiplying an energy production (EP) for the given time period (i) of the turbine by an energy sale rate at the given time period (i), wherein the energy production (EP) is calculated by multiplying a time for the given period by an energy generating capacity of the turbine and by a capacity factor.

2. The turbine of claim 1, wherein the revenue (Ri) is a discounted revenue, wherein the discounted revenue is the revenue (Ri) divided by a discount rate plus 1 raised to the i-th power.

3. The turbine of claim 1, wherein the capacity factor is a net capacity factor multiplied by an inefficiency factor.

4. A controller for operating a turbine to maximize an economic present value of the turbine by extending a lifetime of the turbine, wherein the controller is configured to:

a. calculate a plurality of net present values of the turbine for a plurality of output levels;

b. determine a maximum net present value from the plurality of calculated net present values;

c. identify an optimum output level corresponding with the maximum net present value; and

d. operate the turbine at the optimum output level, whereby the economic present value is maximized, and the lifetime of the turbine is extended,

e. wherein each net present value for its respective output level is determined by a total potential revenue of the turbine at its respective output level for its respective lifetime,

f. wherein the total potential revenue is determined by calculating a potential revenue (Ri) at a given output level over a period of time (i) divided by a discount rate plus 1 raised to the i-th power, accumulated over the lifetime (N) at the respective output level,

g. wherein Ri is determined by multiplying an energy production for the period of time of the turbine by an energy sale rate for the given period of time (i),

h. wherein the energy production is calculated by multiplying a time for the period by an energy generating capacity of the turbine and by a net capacity factor,

i. wherein the energy sale rate for a given year is determined by a contract, and

j. wherein the energy sale rate for a given year after an expiration of the contract is calculated by taking a sum of an energy sale rate from an immediate prior year plus a product of the energy sale rate from the immediate prior year and an escalation rate, and

k. wherein the net capacity factor is determined by a power curve and an availability of a natural energy resource.

5. The controller of claim 4, wherein the plurality of net present values of the turbine over the plurality of output levels is re-calculated to determine a new maximum net present value when any value for calculating the plurality of net present values changes, and wherein the output level of the turbine is adjusted to correspond to the new maximum net present value.

6. A controller for operating a turbine to maximize an economic present value of the turbine over a lifetime (N) of the turbine, wherein the controller is configured to:

a. calculate a plurality of net present values of the turbine for a plurality of output levels;

b. determine a maximum net present value from the plurality of calculated net present values;

c. identify an output level associated with the maximum net present value; and

d. operate the turbine at the output level associated with the maximum net present value,

e. re-calculate the plurality of net present values of the turbine over the plurality of output levels to determine a new maximum net present value when any input parameter for calculating the plurality of net present values changes,

f. adjust the output level of the turbine to correspond to the new maximum net present value, whereby the economic present value of the turbine is maximized, wherein each net present value for its respective output level is determined by a sum of a function over a period from 1 to N, wherein the function is calculated by a revenue (Ri) generated by the turbine at a given time period (i), wherein Ri is determined by multiplying an energy production (EP) for the given time period (i) of the turbine by an energy sale rate at the given time period (i), wherein the energy production (EP) is calculated by multiplying a time for the given period by an energy generating capacity of the turbine and by a capacity factor.

7. The controller of claim 6, wherein the revenue (Ri) is a discounted revenue, wherein the discounted revenue is the revenue (Ri) divided by a discount rate plus 1 raised to the i-th power.

8. The controller of claim 6, wherein the capacity factor is a net capacity factor that takes into consideration an inefficiency factor.

9. The controller of claim 8, wherein the net capacity factor is the capacity factor multiplied by the inefficiency factor.

10. The controller of claim 6, wherein the energy production (EP) is determined by historic data of the turbine.

11. The controller of claim 6, wherein the energy sale rate for the given time period is determined by a method selected from the group consisting of a fact and a prediction.

12. The controller of claim 11, wherein the energy sale rate for the given year is determined by a contract, and after an expiration of the contract the energy sale rate is calculated by multiplying the energy sale rate from an immediate prior year, with an escalation rate plus 1.

13. The controller of claim 6, wherein the energy sale rate for the given time period is determined by a forecast.