Systems and methods for controlling a ramp rate of a wind farm

1. A method for controlling a ramp rate of a wind farm that includes at least one wind turbine, said method comprising:

estimating an initial predicted power output limit as a function of ramp rate and an instantaneous power output, said estimating an initial predicted power output limit comprising;

estimating a first predicted power output limit as a function of a first instantaneous power output;

estimating a second predicted power output limit as a function of a second instantaneous power output;

selecting a lower of the first and second predicted power output limits; and

comparing a second instantaneous power output to the lower of the first and second predicted power output limits; and

controlling a ramp rate of the at least one wind turbine based on the lower of the first and second predicted power output limits.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein estimating an initial predicted power output limit comprises estimating at least one predicted power output limit before an instantaneous power output is generated by the wind farm.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein estimating an initial predicted power output limit comprises estimating the first predicted power output limit at a first time and the second predicted power output limit at a second time, wherein the first time occurs before the first instantaneous power output is generated and the second time occurs before the second instantaneous power output is generated.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein estimating an initial predicted power output limit comprises estimating the first predicted power output limit as a function of a first time range and estimating the second predicted power output limit as a function of a second time range, wherein the second predicted power output limit is estimated at a time that is different than the time in estimating the first predicted power output limit.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein the second predicted power output limit is estimated at a time different from the time estimating the first predicted power output limit.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein estimating an initial predicted power output limit further comprises:

estimating a third predicted power output limit as a function of at least one instantaneous power output;

estimating a fourth predicted power output limit as a function of at least one instantaneous power output; and

selecting a lower of the first, second, third, and fourth predicted power output limits.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein comparing a second instantaneous power output to the lower of the first and second predicted power output limits comprises transmitting to a ramp rate selection device a difference between the second instantaneous power output and the lower of the first and second predicted power output limits.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7 wherein transmitting to a ramp rate selection device comprises determining a second ramp rate based on the difference.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein determining a second ramp rate further comprises one of:

generating a second ramp rate that is substantially similar to a first ramp rate upon receiving a positive difference; and

generating a second ramp rate that is approximately equal to a zero value upon receiving a negative difference.

10. A controller configured to facilitate control of a ramp rate of a wind farm that includes at least one wind turbine, said controller comprising:

an initial array module configured to generate a plurality of predicted power output limits;

a minimum module configured to select a lowest value of the plurality of predicted power output limits;

an adder module configured to determine a difference between an instantaneous power output and the lowest value of the plurality of predicted power output limits; and

at least one module configured to control a ramp rate of the at least one wind turbine based on the lowest value of the plurality of predicted power output limits.

11. A controller in accordance with claim 10 wherein said at least one module comprises at least one ramp rate module, said at least one ramp rate module is configured to transmit to an initial array at least one ramp rate signal.

12. A controller in accordance with claim 10 wherein said at least one module comprises at least one array module configured to estimate at least one predicted power output limit.

13. A controller in accordance with claim 10 wherein said at least one module comprises a divider module configured to divide a second output ramp rate by a number of operating turbines in the wind farm.

14. A controller in accordance with claim 13 further comprising a limiter module configured to generate at least one of:

the second output ramp rate that is substantially similar to a first ramp rate upon receiving a positive difference; and

the second output ramp rate that is approximately equal to a zero value upon receiving a negative difference.

15. A wind farm comprising:

at least one wind turbine; and

a controller coupled to said at least one wind turbine and configured to control a ramp rate of said wind farm, said controller comprising:

an initial array module configured to generate a plurality of predicted power output limits;

a minimum module configured to select a lowest value of the plurality of predicted power output limits;

an adder module configured to determine a difference between an instantaneous power output and the lowest value of the plurality of predicted power output limits; and

at least one module configured to control a ramp rate of the at least one wind turbine based on the lowest value of the plurality of predicted power output limits.

16. A wind turbine farm in accordance with claim 15 wherein said at least one module comprises at least one ramp rate module, said at least one ramp rate module is configured to transmit to an initial array at least one ramp rate signal.

17. A wind turbine farm in accordance with claim 15 wherein said at least one module comprises at least one array module configured to estimate at least one predicted power output limit.

18. A wind turbine farm in accordance with claim 15 wherein said at least one module comprises a divider module configured to divide a second output ramp rate by a number of operating wind turbines in said wind farm.

19. A wind turbine farm in accordance with claim 18 further comprising a limiter module configured to generate at least one of:

the second output ramp rate that is substantially similar to a first ramp rate upon receiving a positive difference; and

the second output ramp rate that is approximately equal to a zero value upon receiving a negative difference.