System and method for validating optimization of a wind farm

Abstract

The present disclosure is directed to systems and methods for generating one or more farm-level power curves for a wind farm that can be used to validate an upgrade provided to the wind farm. The method includes operating the wind farm in a first operational mode. Another step includes collecting turbine-level operational data from one or more of the wind turbines in the wind farm during the first operational mode. The method also includes aggregating the turbine-level operational data into a representative farm-level time-series. Another step includes analyzing the operational data collected during the first second operational mode. Thus, the method also includes generating one or more farm-level power curves for the first operational mode based on the analyzed operational data.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for controlling a wind farm having a plurality of wind turbines, the method comprising:
 operating, via a farm controller, the wind farm in a first operational mode for a first time period; 
 operating, via the farm controller, the wind farm in an second operational mode for a second time period, the second operational mode being characterized by one or more of the wind turbines being provided with an upgrade; 
 collecting, via the farm controller, turbine-level operational data from two or more of the wind turbines in the wind farm during the first and second operational modes; 
 aggregating, via the farm controller, the turbine-level operational data into a representative farm-level time-series; 
 analyzing, via the farm controller, the operational data collected during the first and second operational modes, wherein analyzing the operational data further comprises, at least, mitigating loss of operational data; 
 generating, via the farm controller, a farm-level power curve for each of the first and second operational modes based on the analyzed operational data to assess a benefit of the upgrade; and, 
 controlling, via the farm controller, an overall power output of the wind farm based on the farm-level power curve for the first or second operational mode that optimizes the overall power output for the wind farm rather than a power output for each of the plurality of wind turbines. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein analyzing the operational data collected during the first operational mode further comprises utilizing at least one of data binning or regression analysis. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein aggregating the turbine-level operational data into the representative farm-level time-series further comprises summing power generated by two or more of the wind turbines in the wind farm for the first and second operational modes. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising toggling between the first and second operational modes and collecting turbine-level operational data during each of the modes. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein mitigating loss of operational data comprises at least one of power scaling, sub-clustering, back-filling the operational data with historic data, evaluating uncertainty of the operational data, or accounting for individual turbine operation states. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating the farm-level power curve for the first and second operational modes based on the analyzed operational data further comprises:
 binning the operational data from the first and second operational modes by wind direction into a plurality of wind sectors, 
 excluding wind sectors with insufficient operational data, and 
 generating a sector-specific farm-level power curve for non-excluded wind sectors. 
 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , further comprising evaluating a farm-level energy production for the first and second operational modes based on at least one of the sector-specific farm-level power curves and an expected wind rose and Weibull distribution. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising generating a predicted power curve for the first and second operational modes based on one or more simulated wind conditions prior to operating the wind farm in the first and second operational modes. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 substituting actual measurement data in place of the simulated wind conditions where available, and 
 where measurement data is not available, adjusting the remaining simulated wind conditions via a realization factor. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 generating a test equivalent power curve based on observed wind conditions during the first operational mode, and 
 generating the farm-level power curve based on the predicted power curve and the test equivalent power curve. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the operational data comprises information regarding at least one of or a combination of the following parameters: power output, generator speed, torque output, grid conditions, pitch angle, tip speed ratio, yaw angle, internal control set points, loading conditions, geographical information, temperature, pressure, wind turbine location, wind farm location, weather conditions, wind gusts, wind speed, wind direction wind acceleration, wind turbulence, wind shear, wind veer, or wake. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the upgrade comprises any one of or a combination of the following: a revised pitch or yaw angle, tip speed ratio, rotor blade chord extensions, software upgrades, controls upgrades, hardware upgrades, wake controls, aerodynamic upgrades, blade tip extensions, vortex generators, or winglets. 
     
     
       13. A system for controlling wind farm having a plurality of wind turbines, the system comprising:
 a farm controller comprising a processor communicatively coupled to one or more sensors, the processor configured to perform one or more operations, the one or more operations comprising:
 operating the wind farm in a first operational mode for a first time period; 
 operating the wind farm in an second operational mode for a second time period, the second operational mode being characterized by one or more of the wind turbines being provided with an upgrade; 
 collecting turbine-level operational data from two or more of the wind turbines in the wind farm during the first and second operational modes; 
 aggregating the turbine-level operational data into a representative farm-level time-series; 
 analyzing operational data collected during the first and second operational modes, wherein analyzing the operational data further comprises, at least, mitigating loss of operational data; 
 generating a farm-level power curve for the first and second operational modes based on the analyzed operational data to assess a benefit of the upgrade; and, 
 controlling an overall power output of the wind farm based on the farm-level power curve for the first or second operational mode that optimizes the power output for the wind farm rather than a power output for each of the plurality of wind turbines. 
 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein analyzing the operational data collected during the first and second operational modes further comprises utilizing at least one of data binning or regression analysis. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 13 , wherein aggregating the turbine-level operational data into the representative farm-level time-series further comprises summing power generated by each wind turbine in the wind farm for the first and second operational modes. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 13 , wherein mitigating loss of operational data comprises at least one of power scaling, sub-clustering, back-filling the operational data with historic data, evaluating uncertainty of the operational data, accounting for individual turbine operation states.