Abstract
The use of down-regulation control strategies for wind turbines potentially optimises the wind farm performance. One of the promising strategies to minimise the wind farm loads and maximise the energy production is by down-regulating the upstream turbine with minimum thrust coefficient (Ct ). Nonetheless, a majority of minimum Ct control studies is confined to fatigue load analysis of a single turbine. Therefore, this paper focuses on the investigation of the fatigue loads when operating turbines in a wind farm using a minimum Ct control strategy, as well as extreme loads and energy production. The control strategy is implemented in the DTU Wind Energy controller coupled with the aero-elastic code, HAWC2. The Dynamic Wake Meandering model in HAWC2 is used so that the wake deficits generated from the upstream turbines realistically represent the minimum Ct control strategy, as well as the interactions between wakes. The main contribution of this paper is to investigate the possible wind farm operating strategy using minimum Ct control that leads to decrease the lifetime fatigue loads and increase the overall energy production of a wind farm due to the potential extended lifetime of certain wind turbine components.
Highlights
The control of modern variable-speed pitch-regulated wind turbines has achieved a high level of maturity in the industry, new control strategies and functionalities are in demand to increase the efficiency of wind farm operation while adhering to stricter grid code compliance [1] and the demands of the grid operator
Most of the fatigue loads are reduced for different down regulation levels compared with normal operation case except for tower bottom fore-aft and side-to-side loads described by channel name TBFA and TBSS, and the yaw bearing roll moment and main bearing torsional moment described by channel name YBRoll and MBTor, which are related to the drive train loads
Conclusions and future work In this paper, a minimum Ct control strategy for down regulating wind turbines in wind farm is implemented in the basic DTU Wind Energy controller, which couples with the aero-elastic code, HAWC2
Summary
The control of modern variable-speed pitch-regulated wind turbines has achieved a high level of maturity in the industry, new control strategies and functionalities are in demand to increase the efficiency of wind farm operation while adhering to stricter grid code compliance [1] and the demands of the grid operator. This paper focuses on the investigation of the fatigue loads when operating turbines in a wind farm using a minimum Ct control strategy, as well as extreme loads and energy production.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
