Wind Farm Turbine Switching by Minimum Power Limits

The patent introduces a minimum power limit parameter for each wind turbine, below which the turbine should not be operated. This parameter constraint prevents frequent shutdowns and restarts by ensuring that turbines are only switched off when their minimum power limit can be satisfied, thereby reducing wear and tear while maintaining power output controllability through selective turbine management.

The patent segments the wind farm into individual wind turbines, each with its own minimum power limit characteristic. The control system evaluates each turbine's minimum power limit independently and makes shutdown decisions on a per-turbine basis. This segmentation approach simplifies the overall control logic by breaking down the complex problem of wind farm power regulation into manageable individual turbine decisions, rather than requiring complex coordinated control of the entire farm.

The patent implements a dynamic prioritization strategy where the priority for shutdown is not fixed but adapts based on current wind farm conditions. The control system dynamically evaluates which turbines to shutdown by considering their minimum power limits relative to the current power setpoint and the operational status of other turbines. This dynamic approach ensures optimal power controllability while maintaining flexibility for future activation needs.