Maximizing the total power generation of faulty wind turbines via reduced power operation

The ever-increasing energy demand makes wind power more and more popular each passing day. However, due to long-term work in a complex environment, wind turbines are prone to failures. When a failure occurs, wind turbines are directly shut down for maintenance. However, this is not always needed since the turbines can continue operating by reducing their power output and hence improve the total power generation. In this study, continuous operation time is calculated by analyzing the status of each operating state parameter after a failure. Furthermore, a method of reducing power and increasing the continuous operation time of faulty wind turbines is proposed. The feasibility of this method is analyzed through three common wind turbine gearbox failures. Then, the relationships between continuous operation time and reduced power are studied. Finally, the total power generation and the maintenance cost for different power reduction rates are analyzed. The results show that the proposed method can extend the continuous operation time of wind turbines and increase the total generation after a gearbox failure. (c) 2021 International Energy Initiative. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study proposes a method of reducing power and increasing the continuous operation time of faulty wind turbines by analyzing the status of operating state parameters after a failure, and analyzes its feasibility. The results show that this method can extend the continuous operation time of wind turbines and increase the total generation.