Wind Farm Micrositing Layout for Fatigue Load Limits
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current micrositing techniques for wind farms do not effectively account for fatigue load calculations, leading to suboptimal wind turbine placement and reduced energy production, often requiring costly post-installation adjustments to optimize turbine performance.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for micrositing wind farms that optimizes turbine placement by comparing cumulative fatigue loads with design limits, using a loads optimization function to weigh the impact of turbine shadows and adjust operational parameters to maintain fatigue loads within nominal limits, thereby allowing for optimal operation of larger rotor diameter turbines without exceeding design loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If larger rotor diameter turbines are used to improve energy production, then annual energy production increases, but fatigue loads from turbine shadow exceed design limits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs fatigue load calculations and micrositing analysis during the design phase to identify and resolve load issues before turbine installation. By calculating cumulative fatigue loads for different wind directions and turbine locations in advance, the system determines optimal turbine placements that maximize energy production while keeping fatigue loads within design limits, eliminating the need for post-installation adjustments.
2Device complexity
If traditional micrositing techniques are used that do not account for fatigue load calculations, then device complexity is reduced, but turbine placement becomes suboptimal requiring post-installation adjustments
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs comprehensive fatigue load calculations and micrositing optimization during the design phase, incorporating complex load analysis before installation. By calculating cumulative fatigue loads for all wind directions and turbine configurations in advance, the system determines optimal placements that maximize energy production while ensuring loads remain within design limits, eliminating costly post-installation adjustments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements an iterative micrositing process that uses fatigue load calculation results to refine turbine placement decisions. The system calculates cumulative fatigue loads for different configurations, compares them against design limits, and adjusts turbine locations accordingly to achieve optimal energy production while maintaining load constraints.
3Reliability
If post-installation techniques are used to optimize turbine performance, then fatigue loads can be managed, but additional investment and time are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs all necessary fatigue load calculations, micrositing analysis, and optimization during the design phase before turbine installation. By determining optimal turbine placements that maximize energy production while keeping fatigue loads within design limits in advance, the system eliminates the need for post-installation adjustments, saving both time and additional investment costs.
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 minimizes the need for post-installation techniques, reducing costs and improving annual energy production by ensuring turbine components operate within design limits, thus enhancing overall wind farm efficiency and performance.
Implementation Method 1
The rotor blades capture kinetic energy of wind using known airfoil principles. The rotor blades transmit the kinetic energy in the form of rotational energy
Implementation Method 2
The generator then converts the mechanical energy to electrical energy that may be deployed to a utility grid
Data Source
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AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to a system and method 100 for micrositing a wind farm 200 having a plurality of wind turbines 202. The method 100 includes (a) determining 104, via a loads optimization function 154, one or more wind directions with or without turbine shadow for each of the wind turbines 202 in the wind farm 200, (b) determining, via the loads optimization function, at least one additional wind parameter for each of the wind directions, (c) calculating 108, via simulation, loads for each of the wind turbines 202 in the wind farm 200 based on the identified wind directions with or without turbine shadow for each of the wind turbines 202 in the wind farm 200 and the at least one additional wind parameter for each of the wind directions, and d determining a site layout 156 for the wind farm 200 based on the calculated loads.