Wind Turbine Wake Steering With Downstream Feedback Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wake steering methods for wind turbines in wind parks are inefficient due to inaccurate detection of wind turbine nacelle position, relative wind speed, and changes in wind conditions, leading to reduced overall energy capturing efficiency.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that monitors wake loss at downstream turbines and adjusts the upstream turbine's control strategy based on actual wake effects, using sensors to determine an adjusted wake loss control strategy that offsets predicted wind directions to mitigate wake loss.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If wake steering is performed using predefined control strategies, then wake loss at downstream turbines can be reduced, but the overall energy capturing efficiency decreases due to inaccurate detection of wind conditions and incorrect control actions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewake lossVSAvoidoverall energy capturing efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the actual wind direction at the downstream turbine is measured and fed back to the upstream turbine controller. The controller compares the predicted wind direction (from wake models) with the actual measured wind direction, calculates a difference, and uses this feedback to adjust the wake steering control strategy. This closed-loop feedback ensures that wake steering actions are based on accurate real-time conditions rather than inaccurate predictions, thereby reducing wake loss while maintaining overall energy capturing efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If wake steering control actions are applied to reduce wake effects, then downstream turbine performance improves, but upstream turbine energy capture decreases due to misalignment with wind direction

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedownstream turbine energy captureVSAvoidupstream turbine energy capture

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs dynamic adjustment of the wake steering strategy based on real-time feedback. Rather than applying fixed predefined control actions, the system continuously adapts the control strategy by offsetting the predicted wind direction with the measured wind direction difference. This dynamic approach allows the upstream turbine to perform wake steering only when and where actually needed, minimizing the impact on upstream energy capture while maximizing downstream turbine performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP4547958B1Wind turbine wake loss control using detected downstream wake loss as a function of wind direction

Publication Date: 2026.01.28 VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS AS

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AI summary

The invention relates to controlling a wind turbine that has a predefined wake control strategy for controlling it to perform wake control actions as a function of wind direction, and for adjusting its generated wake at wind directions predicted to result in wake loss at a further, downstream wind turbine. The invention includes receiving, from the further wind turbine, a wind direction determined to result in a defined wake condition at the further wind turbine, and determining a difference between a wind direction predicted to result in the defined wake condition at the further wind turbine and the received wind direction determined to result in the defined wake condition. The invention includes determining an adjusted wake control strategy that is for controlling the wind turbine to perform the wake control actions of the predefined strategy as a function of wind direction offset by the determined difference.