Variable Speed Control in Wind Turbines for Noise Reduction

Method and arrangement for controlling wind turbines to optimize noise reduction and performance. It involves dynamically adjusting the operation of auxiliary components like cooling fans, pumps, and compressors based on the actual rotor speed and turbine component temperatures. By comparing the total turbine noise with a limit, the method determines if auxiliary components can operate with lower power or speeds without exceeding the noise threshold. This allows tailoring the auxiliary operation to meet noise limits while avoiding unnecessary component shutdowns or de-rating. It improves turbine power output and reduces component loads compared to static fixed limits.

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Optimizing power generation during resonance ride-through of wind turbines to mitigate power losses caused by speed restrictions. The method involves calculating the tip speed ratio and wind energy utilization coefficient at upper and lower speed limits of the resonance zone based on average wind speed and pitch angle. If the coefficient is higher at the upper limit, the turbine is triggered to cross over to that speed. If lower, it crosses back. This allows the turbine to operate closer to optimal speed within the resonance range.

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Online method and arrangement for controlling wind turbines to meet noise limits without derating power. The method involves estimating turbine noise based on wind conditions and turbine parameters, comparing it to a noise reference, and selectively reducing power, blade pitch, or other parameters to close the noise gap. This allows targeted noise mitigation rather than blanket derating. The noise estimation uses inputs like wind speed, direction, intensity, and turbine state.

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Intelligent method and device for controlling wind turbine rotational speed to avoid resonance and improve power output. The method involves dynamically determining if the turbine speed is in a resonance band, identifying resonance risk, and jumping to a predetermined speed to avoid resonance if risk is found. This adaptive control uses real-time turbine data to accurately identify resonance zones for each turbine and prevent resonance issues. It mitigates the challenges of fixed resonance bands vs actual tower frequencies.

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Method for wind farm noise control that reduces wind turbine noise impact on nearby sensitive areas without unnecessarily decreasing power generation. The method involves adjusting wind turbine parameters based on real-time wind conditions to keep noise levels within limits in sensitive areas. It uses simulation to generate a table of wind conditions and turbine noise control strategies that considers power loss. This allows targeted noise reduction tailored to current wind.

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Method for optimizing wind farm noise emissions while maximizing energy production. It involves dynamically adjusting wind turbine rotational speeds based on noise levels measured at critical locations. The method involves determining total noise levels at multiple locations, identifying the most critical location, reducing the speed of the turbine with highest noise-energy impact there, and increasing the speed of the turbine with lowest impact. This allows meeting noise limits at critical locations without significantly reducing overall energy production.

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Control method for wind turbines that optimizes power production while minimizing noise levels. The method involves calculating predicted operating trajectories of turbine parameters like blade pitch and rotor speed, and using those predictions to calculate noise metrics. The turbine is then controlled based on the predicted noise levels. This allows proactive noise reduction without sacrificing power output. The method can be applied to individual turbines or entire wind farms.

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Controlling tonal noise from wind turbines in a wind power plant to reduce annoyance for neighbors without significantly reducing power output. It involves identifying turbines that contribute to audible tonal noise and adjusting operating parameters of nearby turbines to move the identified turbines out of critical operating ranges where tonal noise occurs. This leverages the interdependence of turbine performance and noise generation. By strategically adjusting parameters of multiple turbines, tonal noise levels can be lowered at the reception point without just reducing power output.

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Optimizing wind turbine startup to prevent tower vibrations and loads. The method involves setting a higher start-up speed and blade angle than normal when starting the turbine. This reduces the chance of exciting the natural frequencies of the tower during startup when winds are gusty. By starting at a higher speed, the turbine operates above the tower's critical speed range where vibrations occur. This prevents tower loads due to excitation of the natural frequency. The higher start-up speed may also require adjusting the blade angle for aerodynamic performance.

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Method for quickly traversing the resonance zone of a wind turbine to prevent excessive fatigue loads during operation. The method involves dynamically selecting the appropriate crossing interpolation function based on the turbulence intensity at the current wind speed. This allows the turbine to traverse the resonance zone as fast as possible without excessive power loss. The interpolation functions are predefined for different turbulence levels. When crossing upwards, the turbine reselects the function if the wind speed decreases. This adapts the crossing strategy in real-time to match the changing wind conditions.

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Dynamic noise control of multiple wind turbines in a wind farm by adjusting turbine power based on wind direction and noise levels. The method involves determining the noise-affected sectors of each turbine using their locations and a noise introduction point. When the current wind is in a sector where a turbine is influencing noise at the point, that turbine runs at reduced power. After the power reduction is completed, it returns to normal power. This compensates for any power loss during the reduction. When a turbine isn't influencing noise, it stays at normal power. This allows customized, dynamic noise reduction without significant overall power loss.

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Method and device to optimize wind turbine performance, safety, and economy by adaptively adjusting rotor speed based on wind resource, turbulence, load, and start-stop frequency. It determines the minimum and maximum operating speeds for a wind turbine by considering factors like blade passage frequency, tower natural frequency, turbulence, load, and start-stop frequency. This avoids resonance zones and mitigates self-consumption while ensuring safety and efficiency over a wider range of wind conditions.

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Method to mitigate tonality in the noise emissions of wind turbines when multiple turbines are operating close together. The method involves adjusting the rotational speeds of adjacent turbines to conceal the tonality of a first turbine's noise. If tonality is detected in the first turbine's noise, the speeds of the other turbines are adjusted to counteract the tonality. This can involve reducing speed to shift the tonality frequency or increasing speed to mask the tonality. The goal is to balance yield optimization with tonality reduction across the turbine array.

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Method and device for noise control of wind turbines that dynamically adjusts turbine power based on wind direction to mitigate noise impacts on nearby areas. The method involves determining the noise-affected sector based on turbine and noise introduction point locations. If the turbine is operating in the sector, it reduces power. Once outside, it increases power up to rated. If not in the sector, it keeps checking wind direction. This allows customized noise control based on turbine location and directional noise propagation.

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Cooperative active control of wind turbine noise and power generation to reduce noise levels in residential areas without shutting down turbines. The method involves monitoring noise and wind data near homes using sensors. When noise exceeds standards, turbines near the homes adjust speed and blade pitch to lower noise without shutting down. This allows optimal power generation while meeting noise limits. It uses real-time monitoring and intelligent control instead of blanket noise reduction methods.

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Optimizing wind park performance by dynamically adjusting wind turbine settings and operational curves to maximize energy production while meeting noise limits. The system uses customizable curves and settings for each turbine or group of turbines based on factors like wind speed, direction, density, and geometry. It iteratively adjusts the curves and settings to find the optimal configuration that balances power and noise. This allows tailoring turbine operation to site conditions and maximize energy capture. It also facilitates wind turbine self-calibration and anomaly detection to compensate for drift and detect issues like icing or blade damage.

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Wind turbine noise mitigation system that uses sensors to detect atmospheric variations approaching the rotor blades and activates controllable features on the blades to decrease noise when such variations are detected. The system authorizes noise mitigation measures in response to detected atmospheric variations approaching the blades. This allows the turbine to adapt and actively reduce noise from the blades when specific conditions are present, like vortex shedding, to make the turbines less obtrusive in certain situations.

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Operating a wind turbine below rated power to increase annual energy production by running the turbine at higher speeds than optimal when turbulence is high. The turbine's rotation speed is increased based on the turbulence level, allowing faster acceleration during gusts and quicker deceleration during lulls. This improves energy capture from gusts vs. losing power during lulls. The speed deviation from optimal is determined by turbulence.

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Method for efficient noise reduction in wind turbines while also enabling stabilization of unstable power grids. The method involves operating the wind turbine below normal noise levels to comply with noise regulations. If the grid frequency drops below a threshold, the wind turbine increases power generation to stabilize the grid during a limited time period. This is done while keeping the noise increase below a selected level to minimize noise impact. After stabilization, the wind turbine returns to quieter operation. By leveraging the wind turbine's excess power capability during noise reduction, it can stabilize grids without excessive noise.

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Reducing fan noise during reduced power operation of a wind turbine to maintain overall noise levels below allowable limits. The method involves adjusting fan speeds in response to reducing the rotor speed for noise reduction. This avoids fan noise becoming audible as rotor speeds decrease. The fan speeds are reduced proportionally to the rotor speed. This prevents fan noise exceeding overall noise limits when the turbine operates at reduced power during nighttime or other noise-sensitive periods.

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