Downstream Wind Turbine Lidar Wake Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wind farm control systems reduce power output by curtailment of upstream turbines to mitigate wake effects on downstream turbines, leading to inefficiencies and potential fatigue damage, rather than optimizing energy capture and turbine longevity.
Innovation Solution
Implementing Lidar or other devices at downstream turbines to measure wake turbulence from upstream turbines, with a controller adjusting parameters such as rotor speed, pitch, and yaw to minimize wake impact and potentially overrate power output when fatigue risk is low, thereby increasing energy capture and extending turbine life.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If upstream turbines are curtailed to reduce wake effects on downstream turbines, then downstream turbine reliability is improved, but wind park productivity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of controlling upstream turbines to protect downstream turbines, the patent inverts the control direction by having downstream turbines control their own parameters in response to wake measurements, thereby maintaining upstream turbine productivity while protecting downstream turbines from wake damage
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where downstream turbines measure wake turbulence from upstream turbines and use this information to adjust their own operating parameters, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to actual wake conditions rather than preemptively curtailing upstream turbines
2Strength
If upstream turbines are curtailed to protect downstream turbines from wake turbulence, then downstream turbine strength is improved, but energy capture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent reverses the traditional control approach by having downstream turbines adjust their own parameters rather than curtailting upstream turbines, thereby preserving energy capture from upstream turbines while still protecting downstream turbine components from wake-induced fatigue
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes operating parameters of downstream turbines (such as rotor speed, pitch angle, or yaw angle) in response to measured wake conditions, allowing the turbine to adapt to wake turbulence and reduce fatigue loading without requiring upstream turbine curtailment
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances wind farm energy production, reduces maintenance needs, and extends turbine component life by actively managing wake effects based on real-time measurements, rather than relying on curtailment methods that decrease overall power output.
Implementation Method 1
uses a Lidar or other device mounted at downstream turbines to measure, sense or determine the wake of one or more upstream turbines
Data Source
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AI summary
A wind park comprises a plurality of wind turbines with a least one wind turbine downstream of at least one upstream turbine (20). The downstream turbine (24) includes a Lidar (26) or other device for sensing characteristics of the wake (22) produced by the upstream turbine and for providing an output to a turbine or wind park controller (28) indicative of the measured wake. The controller controls parameters of the downstream turbine and possibly adjacent turbines in accordance with the wake indicative signals. The control may include overrating the downstream turbine if the wake indicative signal indicates that there is a low risk of fatigue damage to components of the downstream turbine.