Entries |
Document | Title | Date |
20080197633 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR A SUPERCONDUCTING GENERATOR DRIVEN BY WIND TURBINE - A generator including: an annular armature connectable to rotate with blades of a wind turbine; an annular stationary field winding assembly coaxial with the armature and separated by a gap from an inside surface of the armature, wherein the field winding include superconducting coils, and support structure connectable to an upper region of a tower of the wind turbine. | 08-21-2008 |
20080203730 | Wind power generator with biased transmission arrangement - In a wind power generation installation comprising a rotor with rotor blades mounted on a tower and connected via a transmission to a generator for generating electric power, an electric machine operable as a motor is also connected to the transmission for applying a driving torque to the transmission so as to bias the transmission so as to hold the gears of the transmission in constant engagement in order to prevent the detrimental effects of torque variations on the gears of the transmission. | 08-28-2008 |
20080203731 | Eolic converter - The present invention relates to an eolic converter endowed with a winds keeping system that allows an utilization of above 97% of the wind force to transform in mechanical rotational energy, at the same time that is added to this high efficiency the possibility to add several levels of plates without limit of size of the referred plates, what provides for an unique propeller shaft the use of gigantic areas of reception of the wind force where these shafts can be added in order to allow a great area of wind reception to rotate a shaft, even with low values of wind speed, this system doesn't need to be oriented for the wind direction, because traction independently of the moment wind direction, always rotating in the same direction that it was programmed to rotate. | 08-28-2008 |
20080238100 | Method for operating a wind energy system - The invention relates to a method for operating a wind energy system wherein when a first settable boundary value (G | 10-02-2008 |
20080252076 | Wind Power Plant Comprising a Reactive Power Module For Supporting a Power Supply System and Corresponding Method - The invention relates to a wind turbine with a rotor, a generator driven by it, which generates electrical power and delivers it to a power system, and a control unit which controls the operation of the plant and has a reactive-power control module. According to the invention, it is provided that the control unit has a determining device for a safe minimum active power. Furthermore, it comprises a limiting device for the reactive-power control module, in such a manner that the reactive power is limited to such a measure that the safe minimum active power is still available, taking into consideration the available apparent power. As a result, the total current generated, apart from the active current required for the safe operation of the plant, can be fed into the power system as reactive current as backup in the case of a voltage drop. The invention is also related to a corresponding method. | 10-16-2008 |
20080265577 | Power Control of a Wind Park - A method for regulating a wind energy installation including a rotor-driven generator, a converter connected to the generator, and a controller that regulates power emitted into an energy transmission system to within a limit value involves determining a maximum current value in a connection path, determining a current reserve value for power emitted into an energy transmission system, and determining a correction value for following a limit value of the emitted power from the maximum current value and the current reserve value. The wind energy installation and the method for its regulation also includes the use of a limitation device configured to set a phase angle between an emitted current and voltage of an electrical system in response to a selection signal in such a way that primarily active power or primarily reactive power is fed into the energy transmission system when the maximum current value is reached. | 10-30-2008 |
20080265578 | METHOD FOR OPERATION OF A WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION AND A WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION - The invention relates to a method for operation of a wind energy installation, having a rotor ( | 10-30-2008 |
20080272596 | WIND TURBINE VARIABLE SPEED TRANSMISSION - A wind turbine variable speed transmission is provided. The wind turbine includes a rotor, an RPM amplifier coupled to the rotor and a variable speed transmission clutch coupled to the RPM amplifier. The wind turbine further includes a generator coupled to the variable speed transmission clutch and configured to generate power from a rotation of the rotor. | 11-06-2008 |
20080277936 | METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND POWER INSTALLATION AND A WIND POWER INSTALLATION - The present invention concerns a method of operating a wind power installation comprising an electric generator drivable by a rotor for outputting electrical power to an electrical consumer, in particular an electrical network. | 11-13-2008 |
20080277937 | Torque Motor Type Wind Generator - A torque motor type wind generator comprises: a blade rotor, an engine room, a torque motor, a voltage regulator, a voltage transformer, a power storage system, and a control system. The blade rotor is connected with a connecting shaft, the engine room is a housing with a receiving space, the torque motor has a rotator shaft which is driven to rotate by electromagnetic-force, the voltage regulator includes a regulating circuit and a switch circuit, the power storage system serves to store electric energy, and the control system is employed to detect the status of power storage for facilitating the control of the electric energy input. The assembly of the abovementioned structures converts wind energy into mechanical energy or electrical energy. | 11-13-2008 |
20080277938 | Wind Power Generation System and Operating Method Thereof - A wind power generation system wherein procedure for controlling the blade pitch is changed in accordance with the rate of decrease in the amplitude of the grid voltage, and when over current occurs in the grid-side power converter, the grid-side power converter is brought into the gate-blocked condition whereas the generator-side power converter continues its operation. | 11-13-2008 |
20080284170 | Augmented wind power generation system using continuously variable transmission and methd of operation - A wind power generating apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of vertically stacked wind acceleration modules that are shaped to accelerate wind passing between them. At least one of the modules includes a rotor assembly, a continuously variable transmission (CVT) mechanically coupled to the rotor assembly, and an electrical generator mechanically coupled to the CVT. The electrical generator is capable of converting mechanical energy transferred by the CVT from the rotor assembly into electrical energy. A sensor may be mechanically coupled to the rotor assembly or the electrical generator and electrically coupled to a controller. The controller may control the CVT according to a signal received from the sensor such that the electrical generator operates within a predetermined range of rotational velocities. | 11-20-2008 |
20080284171 | Augmented wind power generation system using an antecedent atmospheric sensor and method of operation - A wind power generating apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a plurality of vertically stacked wind acceleration modules. The apparatus further includes a rotor assembly, an electrical generator mechanically coupled to the rotor assembly, and a sensor in communication with the electrical generator. The sensor is capable of sensing a characteristic of wind prior to the wind reaching the rotor assembly and the electrical generator is capable of adjusting its operation according to the wind characteristic sensed by the sensor. The sensor may be coupled to a controller, which may control the operation of the electrical generator according to a signal from the sensor. The electrical generator may include a continuously variable transmission and the controller may adjust the ratio of the rotational speeds of the transmission input and output according to the sensed wind characteristic. | 11-20-2008 |
20080284172 | Method of start up at least a part of a wind power plant, wind power plant and use of the wind power plant - A wind power plant and a method of start up at least a part of a wind power plant connected to an external grid substantially without any energy delivered from the external grid for the start up is provided. The wind power plant having a plurality of wind turbines and at least one power source connected to at least one of the wind turbines in order to start the wind turbine while isolated from the remaining wind turbines. The started wind turbine may then supply power in order to start further wind turbines. Power may be delivered to the grid from the started wind turbines. | 11-20-2008 |
20080290662 | Climatisation system for wind turbines - A climatisation system for wind turbines which comprise: a first heat exchanger ( | 11-27-2008 |
20080296897 | VARIABLE SPEED WIND TURBINE DRIVE AND CONTROL SYSTEM - A variable speed wind turbine utilizes a hydraulic transmission including a hydraulic pump coupled to a rotor and a hydraulic motor coupled to an induction generator to produce variable frequency power that is converted to grid frequency power by electronic controls. | 12-04-2008 |
20080296898 | Wind Power Generation System and Method of Controlling Power Converter - A wind power generation system temporarily stops a power converter when a system disturbance occurs, and reactivates the power converter after detecting a solution of the problem of an influence (overcurrent of a stator, direct current component of a stator, overcurrent of a rotor, etc.) of a fault occurring in a doubly-fed generator during a system fault. During a system fault, a reactive current can be safely output from a doubly-fed generator to an electric power system without destroying equipment of the wind power generation system. | 12-04-2008 |
20080303281 | ROTATIONAL SPEED DETERMINATION - The invention relates to a method for the operation of a wind power plant ( | 12-11-2008 |
20080309085 | WIND POWERED GLOBAL POSITIONING TRACKING DEVICE - A wind powered global positioning tracking device, which is disposed on a vehicle, and includes a wind driven generator, a power regulating circuit, a central processing unit, a charging circuit, a rechargeable battery, a general packet radio service module and a global positioning system receiver module. When in use, the power regulating circuit converts electricity generated by the wind driven generator to provide electric energy to the central processing unit, the general packet radio service module and the global positioning system receiver module. Furthermore, the electric energy is input into the charging circuit to charge the rechargeable battery. Accordingly, when there is no wind for the wind driven generator to generate electricity, the charging circuit can be placed in an electric discharge state controlled by the central processing unit, thereby enabling the rechargeable battery to continue supplying electric energy, thus ensuring normal operation of the global positioning tracking device. | 12-18-2008 |
20080315585 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR TWIN TURBINE WIND POWER GENERATING SYSTEM - A wind turbine control system for twin turbines mounted in common on an accelerator comprising a DC boost converter having pulse width capability, power, speed, current and voltage sensors responsive to an generator driven by one turbine, and a controller. The controller adjusts the PWM duty cycle to adjust generator output whereby to control turbine thrust and thereby adhere to a desired performance curve, and also changes thrust to adjust angular position of the accelerator and thus maintain optimum angle of attack of the wind on turbine | 12-25-2008 |
20080315586 | Generator output circuitry for twin turbine wind power generating system - Improved generator output circuitry for twin turbine includes boost DC converters for each of a pair of generators with their output introduced to a single inverter, which serves both generators and converters in common. The inverter output then proceeds in conventional AC form through a disconnect switch to a power grid. | 12-25-2008 |
20090001723 | METHOD FOR STARTING UP A WIND ENERGY PLANT AFTER AN OPERATION STOPPAGE AND WIND ENERGY PLANT WHICH CAN EXECUTE THE METHOD - A method for starting up a wind energy plant after an operation stoppage, wherein the wind energy plant has a gearbox in the drive train and an operation management which can control at least one operational variable significant for the strain of the gearbox B of the wind energy plant to a desired value B | 01-01-2009 |
20090001724 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING VERTICAL AXIS WIND POWER GENERATION SYSTEM - Provided are an apparatus and method for controlling a vertical axis wind power generation system that controls the rotation of guide vanes according to wind direction and speed, appropriately controls a direction of wind passing over an impeller, thereby maintaining a rotational speed generating the maximum power, maintains output power of a generator as rated power according to wind direction and speed, and stops the generator when a low or high wind speed outside a setting value range, an error in a structure, a fault in a braking unit, and/or a fault in guide vanes is detected. | 01-01-2009 |
20090001725 | Method for operation of a converter system - The present invention relates to a method for operating a converter system of a wind turbine, wherein the converter system includes converter modules capable of converting electric power produced by a generator to electric power applicable to a utility grid. The converter modules include generator inverters and grid inverters. The method determines the enabling/disabling of the converter modules in response to a parameter related to the variable amount of electric power being produced by the generator. Advantages of the present invention are optimisation of power efficiency of the converter modules and improved reliability of the converter modules. Another advantage is the capability of fast enabling and disabling of the converter modules. | 01-01-2009 |
20090001726 | Energy Supply for a Blade Adjustment Device Pertaining to a Wind Energy Installation - A wind energy installation includes a tower provided with rotor blades that are adjusted using a servomotor connected to a pitch circuit and an emergency circuit. During normal operation the rotor blades are actuated by the pitch circuit and during emergency operation are actuated by the emergency circuit. The emergency circuit has an electric energy store, a switching device, connection lines to the servomotor and a protection device which includes comprises a power flow detector module ( | 01-01-2009 |
20090008937 | DC Voltage Regulator - The disclosure details implementations of apparatuses, methods, and systems for regulating DC bus voltages. In an implementation, the system is configured to regulate the DC bus voltage directly by operating at the DC bus rather than indirectly on the AC side of the DC bus. In one implementation, the DC voltage regulator is configured with components including a DC voltage regulator power control board, a switching device, a resistor, and a flyback diode. In one non-limiting implementation example, the DC voltage regulator may be used to control the DC bus voltage of a doubly fed induction generator of a wind turbine. In this implementation, the DC voltage regulator effectively protects the converter of the induction generator and also reduces the transient torques on the generator shaft during voltage irregularities. This, in turn, reduces excessive wear on the wind turbine gearbox by limiting fatigue loads on the gear teeth that may result from transient torques. | 01-08-2009 |
20090008938 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR SYNCHRONOUS SPEED AVOIDANCE IN DOUBLY-FED INDUCTION GENERATORS - The disclosure details implementations of apparatuses, methods, and systems for facilitating efficient operational characteristics for wind turbine generators. The system includes features that facilitate protecting the power semiconductors used in the power converters of variable speed power generation systems from excessive junction temperatures. These features may be achieved by implementing a synchronous speed avoidance (SSA) controller implemented to facilitate a determined active control range as an electrical torque/power-generator rotor speed controller. The determined active control range may be centered around a generator synchronous speed. The upper and lower bounds of the active control range are determined based on operational junction temperature characteristics of power semiconductors used within a power converter, reliability characteristics of the power semiconductors and/or current ratings of the power semiconductors. | 01-08-2009 |
20090008939 | MODULAR WIND TURBINE, MULTI-TURBINE WIND TURBINE, WIND TURBINE COMPUTER SYSTEM, AND METHOD OF USE THEREOF - A modular multi-turbine unit of fixed toroidal support structures having a rail system designed to allow each of the plurality of turbines to rotate to a most efficient position relative to the wind for generating power, a computer control system capable of positioning each of the plurality of turbines to most effectively generate power from the wind, preventing damage to the turbines, and providing a wind predictive model based on the wind characteristics for the area in which the wind turbine is located. | 01-08-2009 |
20090021012 | INTEGRATED WIND-POWER ELECTRICAL GENERATION AND COMPRESSED AIR ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM - The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for using wind energy to compress air or pressurize a fluid as a means of storing energy. Compressed air or pressurized fluid is generated directly by the wind turbines, thereby avoiding the energy losses that occur when wind power is used first to generate electricity to run an electrically powered air compressor. The compressed air or pressurized fluid is stored by means of expanding a volume at constant or nearly constant pressure. This method avoids energy losses that would otherwise result from compressional heating; while also allowing lower pressures to be employed, reducing the cost of the containment facility and avoiding the need to locate facilities in geographically favored locations where underground storage is available. The invention permits both large and small-scale storage at low cost per unit of energy stored, thereby avoiding the difficulty of using a highly variable and unreliable source of energy such as the wind for electrical power generation. The invention can be used for generation and storage on land, in shallow near-shore waters and in deep-water locations far from shore. | 01-22-2009 |
20090021013 | WIND POWER SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING IT - The wind power system comprises an installation ( | 01-22-2009 |
20090021014 | Wind energy installation with an extended rotation speed range - A wind energy installation includes a wind rotor, a double-fed asynchronous generator driven by the wind rotor, a converter provided with a first part on the generator side connected to a rotor and a second part on the network side connected to a stator of the generator, and a control device providing converter regulation. A mode selector can be switched between a normal operating mode and a reduced voltage operating mode, in which the excitation of the generator is reduced compared to the normal operating mode. The under-excitation produces an additional reactive current, thus reducing the rotor voltage. The rotor voltage can be limited even when the load is high and the network frequency or voltage is incorrect. The usable rotation speed range of the wind energy installation can be extended to provide a more powerful generator with a higher rating, without changing the converter. | 01-22-2009 |
20090021015 | Method And Control System For Reducing The Fatigue Loads In The Components Of A Wind Turbine Subjected to Asymmetrical Loading Of The Rotor Plane - The invention relates to a method for reducing fatigue loads in the components of a wind turbine subjected to asymmetrical loading of its rotor, comprising the steps of: repeatedly collecting and storing load data of the rotor, determining a load distribution function for the rotor from said stored data, deriving a plurality of periodic functions from said load distribution function, determining actions for the wind turbine control means for reducing the fatigue load of the wind turbine components from said derived plurality of periodic functions, and implementing of said determined actions on the wind turbine control means. The invention also relates to a control system as well as a wind turbine and wind park. | 01-22-2009 |
20090033096 | METHOD FOR THE DETERMINATION OF A CONTROL RESERVE AND WIND ENERGY PLANT WITH A CONTROL UNIT FOR THE DETERMINATION OF THE CONTROL RESERVE - A method for the determination of a control reserve of one or plural wind energy plants, for the operation of which a desired value for at least one electric variable is preset, and for which a control unit is provided which has a power curve, which contains a maximum value of the electric variable depending on values of the wind, the method having the following steps: the control unit determines a maximum value of the electric variable from the actual value of the wind and subtracts a current value of the electric variable from the same, the control unit transmits the determined maximum value and/or the difference as a control reserve to a higher order control unit and/or an external utility. | 02-05-2009 |
20090033097 | WIND PARK WITH A PLURALITY OF WIND ENERGY PLANTS AND METHOD FOR THE OPERATION OF THE WIND PARK - A method for the operation of a wind park with a plurality of wind energy plants, which each one have one control unit at a time, which can control and/or adjust the wind energy plant in response to a received desired value for an electric variable, the method having the following steps: a higher order control calculates and/or receives a currently permitted maximum value for the electric variable which the wind park is allowed to provide, the higher order control determines a desired value for the electric variable for each wind energy plant and forwards the same to the wind energy plants, characterised in that the higher order control determines the desired value for each one of the wind energy plants depending on the currently maximum and/or minimum available values of all the wind energy plants. | 02-05-2009 |
20090039650 | EVENT MONITORING VIA COMBINATION OF SIGNALS - A method for event monitoring for a wind turbine is described. The method includes measuring a first signal pattern representing a characteristic selected from a characteristic group, the characteristic group consisting of: a mechanical characteristic of a wind turbine, emitted noise of a wind turbine, emitted noise of a part of a wind turbine; power output of a wind turbine, surface conductivity of parts of a wind turbine, operational data of a wind turbine, temperature of parts of a wind turbine, outside temperature, wind velocity, wind direction, and outside air humidity or other weather conditions; measuring at least a second signal pattern representing a different characteristic selected from the characteristic group; analyzing the first and the second signal pattern or a combination of the first and the second analyzed signal pattern with an analyzing method, wherein analyzed data is generated; and evaluating the analyzed data, wherein the evaluation provides a result indicative for an event. | 02-12-2009 |
20090039651 | Method for wind turbine yaw control - A method for yaw control for a wind turbine comprising a rotor with a rotor blade, the rotor defining a rotor axis and a rotor plane to which the rotor axis is perpendicular, in which the rotor axis is turned to minimise the yaw angle between the ambient wind direction and the rotor axis is provided, wherein the turning of the rotor axis is performed based on the measurement of a wind speed in the rotor plane at the rotor blade. Furthermore, a wind turbine which comprises a rotor which includes a rotor axis and a rotor plane perpendicular to the rotor axis and an anemometer for measuring the ambient wind speed is provided. The wind turbine further comprises an anemometer which is located such at a rotor blade at a particular distance from the rotor axis as to allow for measuring a wind speed in the rotor plane. | 02-12-2009 |
20090045627 | WIND TURBINE ASSEMBLIES AND SLIP RING ASSEMBLIES FOR WIND BLADE PITCH CONTROL MOTORS - Slip ring assemblies for controlling pitch of a wind driven blade such as those utilized in wind turbines can include a series of grooves disposed about an outer perimeter of a rotating portion, each one of the grooves comprising a first planar surface intersecting with a second planar surface at an angle of 75 to 105 degrees, and a concavely rounded bottom portion at the intersection of the first and planar surfaces. The rotating portion of the slip ring can be formed of a bronze material and may include a graphite coating. Also disclosed herein are wind turbine assemblies employing the slip ring assemblies. | 02-19-2009 |
20090045628 | THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FOR WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine includes a wind turbine tower and a power electronic control system located within the wind turbine tower. The power electronic control system includes heat generating components. The heat generating components are directly mounted to the inner surface of the wind turbine tower dissipating the heat generated by the heat generating components directly to the inner surface of the wind turbine tower. In this way, a good thermal conducting path to the entire wind turbine tower is provided. A method for conducting heat generated in electronic equipment housed within a wind turbine tower uses the tower as a heat sink for cooling purposes. | 02-19-2009 |
20090058086 | Wind turbine system for satisfying low-voltage ride through requirement - A wind turbine system is provided with a wind turbine rotor, a pitch control mechanism, and an emergency power supply mechanism. The wind turbine rotor includes a blade having a variable pitch angle. The pitch control mechanism drives the blade to control the pitch angle. The emergency power supply mechanism generates electric power from rotation of the wind turbine rotor and feeds the electric power to the pitch control mechanism, in response to occurrence of an accidental drop of a system voltage of a power grid. | 03-05-2009 |
20090079192 | Method for controlling and adjusting a wind turbine - A method for controlling and adjusting a wind power installation having a nacelle displaceable by an azimuth angle, at least one rotor blade displaceable about its longitudinal axis and a power supply in a spinning mode, wherein the method comprises the following steps: a control unit determines an angular position for the nacelle from measured values (v) of wind velocity and wind direction and one or more displacement angles for the at least one rotor blade upon a measured wind velocity exceeding a predetermined speed value (v | 03-26-2009 |
20090079193 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE CONNECTED TO AN ELECTRIC UTILITY GRID - The invention relates to a method of controlling a wind turbine connected to an electric utility grid during malfunction in said electric utility grid ( | 03-26-2009 |
20090079194 | SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A GENERTOR AS A MOTOR IN A TURBINE WIND POWER GENERATING SYSTEM - SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A GENERATOR AS A MOTOR IN A TURBINE WIND POWER GENERATING SYSTEM includes a controller and Four Quadrant or Regenerative Drive Circuitry which alternatively operates one or more generators as motors. | 03-26-2009 |
20090079195 | WIND POWER GENERATOR - When a wind velocity sensor detects a wind velocity higher than a predetermined level, a timer device starts a waiting timer function during an operation timer period shorter than the waiting timer period. After the waiting timer period is over, the waiting timer function is switched to an operation timer function, and a switching relay switches a generator to a motor only during an operation timer period. Then, a driving circuit performs a start assisting rotation. After the operation timer period is over, the waiting timer period re-starts. This process is repeated. When during this period, the number of rotations of a rotor monitored by a rotation number measuring device, based on the output voltage V | 03-26-2009 |
20090085354 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING TORQUE RIPPLES IN SYNCHRONOUS MACHINES - A system for controlling torque ripple in a permanent magnet synchronous machine includes a power converter configured to be coupled to the permanent magnet synchronous machine and to receive converter control signals and a system controller coupled to the power converter. The system controller includes a fundamental current controller configured for providing fundamental voltage commands, a harmonic current controller configured for using harmonic current commands, current feedback signals from the permanent magnet machine, and fundamental current commands in combination with positive and negative sequence regulators to obtain harmonic voltage commands, and summation elements configured for adding the fundamental voltage commands and the harmonic voltage commands to obtain the converter control signals. | 04-02-2009 |
20090096211 | Wind Farm and Method for Controlling the Same - A method for controlling dynamic power factor or the reactive power of a wind farm is provided. The wind farm comprises a number of wind turbines connected to a utility grid driven with a requested power factor or a requested reactive power. The wind turbine output voltage is controlled to a specific voltage set point. In the method, the wind farm power factor is measured and compared with the power factor requested for the utility grid, or the wind farm reactive power is measured and compared with the reactive power requested for the utility grid, respectively; the ratio of the wind farm voltage to the utility grid voltage is adjusted, and the output voltage of the individual wind turbines is regulated to correspond to the specific voltage set point; the steps are repeated until the power factor of the wind farm electricity corresponds to the requested reactive power. | 04-16-2009 |
20090096212 | POWER GENERATION SYSTEM - A power generation system is disclosed for supplying power to an electrical grid. The system comprises a synchronous machine and coupling means for coupling the synchronous machine to a prime mover. Control means are provided to control the system such that the system is selectively operable in two modes. In the first mode, the synchronous machine is coupled to the prime mover and acts as a synchronous generator to supply power to the grid. In the second mode the synchronous machine is decoupled from the prime mover and acts as a synchronous condenser. This can allow parameters of the grid, such as power factor and voltage, to be adjusted. | 04-16-2009 |
20090096213 | Vertical axis wind turbine and method of making the same - The present invention includes a vertical axis wind turbine apparatus including a spindle tube connectable to a permanent foundation such that a spindle axis is oriented substantially orthogonal to a surface upon which it is placed, such as the ground or other stable surface. The apparatus described herein also includes a rotor disposed at least partially within the spindle tube and rotationally engaged therewith such that a rotor axis is oriented substantially parallel to the spindle axis. The apparatus can also include a truss system extending radially from the rotor and a blade assembly movably connected to the truss system and adapted for rotation about the spindle axis and the rotor axis. The truss system functions in part to permit rotation of the blade assembly while increasing the swept area of the turbine and thus the resultant energy capture. | 04-16-2009 |
20090102194 | Electrical-Energy Generator - Electrical-energy generator of the type that incorporate a plinth or pedestal from which emerges a vertical, fixed shaft on which is mounted, via bearings, a second shaft to which a blade of conical, helicoidal shape is secured, which imparts a rotary movement to the movable shaft through the effect of the wind, characterized in that said fixed shaft is tubular and incorporates within it an electrical winding functioning as stator, whilst the movable shaft, which is also tubular, incorporates within it a plurality of permanent magnets that convert it into a rotor, all the aforesaid in such a manner that the actual shaft of the generator simultaneously constitutes the dynamo or the alternator that converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy. | 04-23-2009 |
20090102195 | Wind Farm Capable of Staggered Disconnection - The invention relates to a method of operating a wind farm intended for connection to an electric power network, which wind farm includes at least two wind turbine generator systems (WEA | 04-23-2009 |
20090102196 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR DETERMINING THE COMPATIBILITY OF CONTROL SOFTWARE WITH A WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION - A method and a system are for determining of the compatibility of control software, which is designed for standard parameters, with a wind energy installation which is operated using operating parameters. The method is an automatic method in which the operating parameters of the wind energy installation and the standard parameters of the control software are first transmitted to a computation unit. The computation unit determines discrepancies between the operating parameters and the standard parameters. A decision on compatibility is made on the basis of the discrepancies. The system includes a logic module which is designed to make the decision. This method makes it easier to automatically update the control software for a wind energy installation. There is no longer any need to manually check the compatibility of the new version of the control software before the new version of the control software can be installed. | 04-23-2009 |
20090102197 | Horizontal-axis wind generator - A horizontal-axis wind generator comprising a platform rotating according to a vertical axis. The generator incorporates a support structure for supporting a horizontal shaft of a wind turbine which moves an electric generator and which is formed by several blades which are located facing the wind when the base platform rotates by an electronic control device connected to a wind vane for determining the suitable orientation. The wind turbine, in the direction of entrance or attack of the wind to its blades, respective solar plates or panels. A lower plate or panel is inclined in a slope closing the lower area of the turbine and another lowerable upper plate or panel is located in a horizontal or downwardly inclined upwardly open position, closing the air inlet to the turbine depending on the wind conditions. | 04-23-2009 |
20090102198 | Method for controlling wind turbines, and devices therefore - Method for controlling the rotational speeds of wind turbines, including determining the rotor rotational speed of a first and a second wind turbine; determining the rotor azimuth angle of the first and the second wind turbine; calculating a speed control value for the first wind turbine, based on the determined rotor azimuth angles and rotor rotational speeds; adjusting the rotor rotational speed of the first wind turbine according to its speed control value, wherein the speed control value is calculated such that the rotor azimuth angle of the first wind turbine is equal to the rotor azimuth angle of the second wind turbine after speed adjustment, and a wind turbine control master unit, a wind turbine control slave unit, a wind turbine control device, a signal light control module, and a wind turbine therefor. | 04-23-2009 |
20090108582 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A WIND ENERGY SYSTEM AND WIND SPEED SENSOR FREE WIND ENERGY SYSTEM - A method for controlling a wind energy system is provided wherein the method comprises determining the effective wind speed taking into account the load on the rotor blades of said wind energy system exerted by the wind is provided. A computer-readable medium is provided that provides instructions which when executed by a computing platform cause the computing platform to perform operations wherein the operations include the method according to embodiments described herein. Further, a wind energy system having a calculation unit adapted for calculating the effective wind speed by taking into account the load on the rotor blades of said wind energy system exerted by the wind is provided. Further, a wind speed sensor free wind energy system having a generator for generating electric energy and a controller for shutting down and/or starting the electric energy generation in dependence of the wind speed is provided. | 04-30-2009 |
20090108583 | WIND TURBINE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SAME - A wind turbine includes an asynchronous generator having a rotor and a stator, means for determining an actual torque-speed curve of the generator, means for determining an actual grid frequency, and means for determining a shifted torque-speed curve in response to the determined actual grid frequency if the determined actual grid frequency is higher than a predetermined upper frequency limit or lower than a predetermined lower frequency limit. The means for determining a shifted torque-speed curve is further adapted to determine the shifted torque-speed curve such that an increase in the rotor voltage of said generator rotor is counteracted when shifting the actual torque-speed curve to the shifted torque-speed curve. The wind turbine further includes means for shifting the actual torque-speed curve of the generator to the shifted torque-speed curve. | 04-30-2009 |
20090115190 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING, SHIPPING, DISTRIBUTING, AND STORING HYDROGEN - These inventions related to systems and methods for producing, shipping, distributing, and storing hydrogen. In one embodiment, a hydrogen production and storage system includes a plurality of wind turbines for generating electrical power; a power distribution control system for distributing, and converting the electrical power from the wind turbines, a water desalination and/or purification unit which receives and purifies seawater, and an electrolyzer unit that receive electrical power from the power distribution system and purified water from the desalination units and thereby converts the water into hydrogen and oxygen. After its production, hydrogen is stored, transported, and distributed in accordance with various embodiments. | 05-07-2009 |
20090115191 | METHOD FOR THE OPERATION OF A WIND ENERGY PLANT - The invention relates to a method for the operation of a wind energy plant ( | 05-07-2009 |
20090121482 | VARIABLE SPEED POWER GENERATOR HAVING TWO INDUCTION GENERATORS ON A COMMON SHAFT - A variable speed power generator system, includes a primary power induction generator ( | 05-14-2009 |
20090121483 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR WIND TURBINE GENERATORS - Methods and systems for reducing heat loss in a generator system are provided. The generator system includes an electrical generator and a power converter. The method includes generating electricity in the generator at a first power factor and converting electricity in the converter at a second power factor in a first mode of operation and generating electricity in the generator at a third power factor wherein the third power factor is greater than the first power factor and converting electricity in the converter at a fourth power factor wherein the fourth power factor is less than the second power factor in a second mode of operation such that the power output of the generator system in the second mode of operation is substantially equal to the power output of the generator system in the first mode of operation and the generator currents are facilitated being reduced. | 05-14-2009 |
20090121484 | Wind energy conversion using the magnus effect - The invention comprises a wind energy conversion device. It is able to convert a far greater percentage of the pressure energy of the wind into electricity than by using an airfoil or even a sail. A Flettner Rotor is mounted atop special support structure which is far enough away from the Rotor to minimize turbulence around the Rotor. Thus the performance of the Rotor is enhanced. Energy conversion occurs as the Rotor is made to operate gears attached to an electric generator. | 05-14-2009 |
20090121485 | WIND POWER FACILITY HAVING ACTIVATION CIRCUIT FOR A SPEED-LIMITED AND VOLTAGE-SOURCE-PROTECTIVE OPERATION OF A PITCH -DRIVE SERIES-WOUND MOTOR AT GENERATOR TORQUES - A wind power facility includes an activation circuit for a speed-limited and voltage-source-protective operation of a pitch-drive series-wound motor at generator torques. The activation circuit can comprise a pitch-drive series-wound motor, in which armature winding and exciter winding are connectable separately from one another, a load resistor R | 05-14-2009 |
20090134624 | EMERGENCY PITCH DRIVE UNIT FOR A WIND TURBINE - An emergency pitch drive unit for a wind turbine comprises: an electrical motor arranged for adjusting the pitch angle of a wind turbine rotor blade; an emergency power supply unit for supplying electrical power to the motor; and a controller configured for controlling, in the event of a power failure. The motor to adjust the pitch angle uses the electrical power from the emergency power supply unit. The emergency power supply unit comprises a fuel cell. | 05-28-2009 |
20090134625 | POWER BACKUP SYSTEM FOR OFFSHORE WIND GENERATORS - The inventions concerns a cable comprising a cable jacket and at least two medium voltage wires disposed within the cable jacket for transporting medium voltage current and at least two low voltage wires disposed within the cable jacket for transporting a low voltage current. Further, it concerns a wind turbine having a generator for generating electricity, wherein the generator being electrically connected to at least two medium voltage wires for feeding the generated electricity into a grid, the wind turbine having further a low voltage network for providing low voltage power to low voltage consumers, the low voltage network being electrically connected to a low voltage cable, wherein the low voltage cable and the medium voltage wires are accommodated in a common cable jacket. Finally it concerns a wind park comprising at least two wind turbines, each of the wind turbines having a generator for generating electricity, wherein the generator being electrically connected to at least two medium voltage wires for feeding generated medium voltage current to a grid, the wind turbines having further a low voltage network for providing low voltage power to low voltage consumers of the wind turbine, the low voltage network being electrically connected to a low voltage cable, wherein the low voltage cable and the medium voltage wires are accommodated in a common cable jacket. | 05-28-2009 |
20090146423 | Power Generating System - Provided is a power generator, including a plurality of wind power generators generating electrical power using wind power energy, and variable-speed wind power generators ( | 06-11-2009 |
20090146424 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND POWER PLANT - An apparatus and method for extending the power-capture region of a wind turbine during certain operating conditions is disclosed. The actual set point of an operational parameter is selected so as to be maintained at a predetermined number of standard deviations away from an operating limit during certain operating conditions. For example, the operational parameter may be a rotor/generator speed and the operating condition may be a mean wind speed that exceeds a predetermined wind speed. | 06-11-2009 |
20090146425 | SYSTEM AND APPARATUS FOR THE GENERATION OF ELECTICAL POWER - An application for an electrical power generator includes a set of fan blades coupled to a shaft, the fan blades are in fluid communication with an air conditioner condenser fan whereby the fan blades turn in response to air flow caused by the air conditioner condenser fan. A generator is coupled to the shaft for converting rotational energy of the shaft into electrical energy. | 06-11-2009 |
20090146426 | Power converters - The present invention provides a power converter that can be used to interface a generator ( | 06-11-2009 |
20090160187 | CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND FARM IN A BALANCED STATE - A method for operating a wind farm which includes a wind farm control system and at least two wind turbines, which are connected via an internal grid, is provided. The method includes determining the actual power consumption of the wind farm; and adjusting the power production of at least one of the wind turbines so that the actual power production and actual power consumption of the wind farm are substantially equal. Further, a method for operating a wind farm which includes a wind farm control system and several power sources, are connected via an internal grid, is provided. At least two of the power sources are wind turbines and at least one power source is an additional power source selected from a group consisting of a fuel power source, a battery-based power source and a solar power source. The method includes determining the actual power consumption of the wind farm; and adjusting the power production of at least one of the power sources so that the actual power production and actual power consumption of the wind farm are substantially equal. Furthermore, a wind farm control system arranged for balancing the power production and consumption of a wind farm is provided. | 06-25-2009 |
20090160188 | Migler's windmill as a lamppost-windmill, and with sails mounted on a common mast, and with horizontally yoked sails, and as a river-turbine, and as a windmill-sailboat - The disclosure presents several embodiments of Migler's vertical axis windmill. In the first, the windmill is adapted as a windmill-lamppost which stores electrical energy during daylight and operates the lamps at night. In the second, some sail restraints are eliminated by mounting sails on a common mast. In the third, a yoke allows sails to be mounted close together on a horizontal arm and also eliminates some sail restraints. In the fourth, Migler's vertical axis windmill is submerged in a river, with additional generators used to harness the slow movement of the water. In the fifth, a boat is powered by Migler's vertical axis windmill using direct drive of the propeller. In the sixth, a boat is powered by Migler's vertical axis windmill using a transmission to enhance propeller speed. In the seventh a boat is powered by Migler's vertical axis windmill using electrical energy to operate an electric motor. In the eighth, a boat is powered by Migler's vertical axis windmill using a storage battery to operate an electric motor when there is no wind. In the ninth a boat is powered by Migler's vertical axis windmill, having pontoons to provide stability during strong crosswinds. | 06-25-2009 |
20090160189 | Priority System For Communication In A System Of At Least Two Distributed Wind Turbines - The invention relates to a system of at least two distributed wind turbines where the at least two wind turbines communicate via a data communication network, the data communication network communicates monitoring and control data (MCD) to and from the at least two wind turbines (WT), the data communication network communicates power control related data (PCRD) to and from the at least two wind turbines (WT), the power control related data (PCRD) has higher transmission priority than a subset of the monitoring and control data (MCD) and where the transmission priority is defined in relation to a protocol. | 06-25-2009 |
20090167021 | WIND POWER INSTALLATION AND METHOD OF OPERATING IT - The purpose of the invention is to reduce the contribution of wind power installations to frequency errors on the grid, and preferably to contribute to the elimination of such errors. Thus, the method involves the use of PID control and/or control with hysteresis so as to regulate the active power injected into the grid, in view of the deviation between a measured grid frequency and the nominal grid frequency. | 07-02-2009 |
20090174186 | Method For Controlling A Wind Turbine Connected To The Utility Grid, Wind Turbine And Wind Park - The invention relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine connected to the utility grid comprising steps of detecting a fault of the utility grid, and controlling one or more rotor blades in a fault mode wherein said one or more rotor blades are pitched in order to stabilize the rotor speed within an over speed range. The invention also relates to a wind turbine and a wind park comprising at least two wind turbines. | 07-09-2009 |
20090174187 | Methods For Controlling A Wind Turbine Connected To The Utility Grid, Wind Turbine And Wind Park - The invention relates to methods for controlling a wind turbine connected to the utility grid by detecting status of the utility grid, and controlling one or more rotor blades and/or emitted power to the grid in returning to the operational wind turbine settings of normal grid mode. The invention also relates to a wind turbine and a wind park comprising at least two wind turbines. | 07-09-2009 |
20090184519 | SPEED CONTROLLED PITCH SYSTEM - The present patent application concerns wind turbine having a rotor with a first rotor blade and a pitch control system with a first drive system for adjusting a pitch angle of the first rotor blade, wherein the drive system is adapted to transform rotational energy of the rotor blade rotating about its longitudinal axis into another form of energy such that a counter torque against the rotating direction is induced. Further, it concerns a method for controlling a pitch velocity of a rotor blade of a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising at least one drive system for adjusting a pitch angle of said rotor blade, the drive system being adapted to operate in a active mode, wherein the drive system rotates the rotor blade, and in a passive mode, wherein the drive system exerts a counter force against the rotating direction, when the rotor blade being rotated by another force than the force of the drive system, wherein the pitch velocity is controlled by operating the drive system in said passive mode when the pitch of the rotor blade is changed from a first position to a second position. Finally, the present patent application concerns a controller for controlling a pitch angle of at least one rotor blade of a wind turbine, the controller being adapted to control a first drive system for adjusting the pitch angle of a first rotor blade, wherein the first drive system can be operated in an active mode in which the drive system rotates the rotor blade about its longitudinal axis, and in a passive mode in which a rotation of the rotor blade about its longitudinal drives the drive motor such that the drive system transforms the rotational energy in another form of energy. | 07-23-2009 |
20090189393 | MICRO WIND TURBINE TOPOLOGY FOR SMALL SCALE POWER GENERATION - A wind energy converter has a generator adapted to be coupled directly to a wind turbine without need for a mechanical gear unit. A rectifier is coupled to the generator and a converter is coupled to the rectifier to provide a regulated DC bus voltage as a function of a controlled duty cycle. An inverter is coupled to the converter for providing a regulated AC output to a load. | 07-30-2009 |
20090189394 | MOMENTUM-CONSERVING WIND-DRIVEN ELECTRICAL GENERATOR - Wind-driven electrical generators will slow and lose kinetic energy when the wind slows or stops. When the wind slows or stops, kinetic energy in the rotating turbine and other rotating components that would otherwise be lost, is conserved by supplying a supplemental mechanical energy to the rotating components using a battery-powered motor. The electrical power for the drive motor is obtained from solar-charged batteries. In an alternate embodiment, solar cells provide all of the energy for the drive motor. | 07-30-2009 |
20090194995 | POWER GENERATION STABILIZATION CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A stabilization system for a power generation system including non-conventional energy source coupled to a utility grid, the stabilization system comprising: a deadband limiter configured for detecting when a signal of the power generation system is outside of a signal range; a power shaper configured for providing a transient power generation adjustment signal in response to the signal being outside of the signal range; and a limit controller to configured to prevent the adjustment signal from causing the energy source of the power generation system to operate outside of at least one operating constraint. | 08-06-2009 |
20090200803 | WIND POWER GENERATION SYSTEM - In a wind power generation system, an AC input of a unit for coping with system faults is connected to an excitation converter and a DC port of the unit for coping with system faults is connected to a DC port of a converter through resistors. A plurality of energy consumptive circuits each constructed of a resistor and switching units are provided for the DC port of the unit for coping with system faults. | 08-13-2009 |
20090200804 | Method For Damping Tower Oscillations, An Active Stall Controlled Wind Turbine And Use Hereof - The invention relates to a method for damping tower oscillations in the tower of an active stall controlled wind turbine. The method comprises the steps of operating two or more blades of the wind turbine in a stall condition, detecting if the tower oscillates beyond a predefined level, and establishing different stall conditions between at least two of the blades, wherein the different stall conditions are established by offsetting the pitch angle of at least a first blade in relation to the pitch angle of one further blade. The invention further relates to an active stall controlled wind turbine and use hereof. | 08-13-2009 |
20090206603 | Method of maintaining wind turbine components operational and a turbine comprising components suitable for operational maintenace - The invention relates to a wind turbine ( | 08-20-2009 |
20090206604 | METHOD OF TRANSPORTING BULKY EQUIPMENT OF A WIND POWER PLANT, PREASSEMBLED EQUIPMENT - The invention relates to preassembled equipment and a method of transporting bulky equipment of a wind power plant from a preassembly site to an installation site, the equipment comprising at least two modules, the method comprising the steps of preassembling the modules onto a support, wherein the modules are placed at a first distance from another, transporting the support with the modules from the preassembly site to the installation site, and at the installation site, displacing the modules and fixing them at the support at a second distance being greater than the first distance While the equipment provides for sufficient space, e.g. for maintenance aisles, in its unpacked form, by transporting it in a preassembled and packed form, transportation and installation are considerably simplified. | 08-20-2009 |
20090206605 | METHOD FOR THE OPERATION OF A WIND ENERGY PLANT - A method for the operation of a wind energy plant, with an operation management, which can preset a desired value for an electric variable of the wind energy plant to be generated; a wind measurement device, which can capture the wind direction and the wind velocity, and a control unit, on which the measured values for the wind velocity and the wind direction are present, and in which a maximum value for the turbulence intensity is filed, the following procedural steps proceed in the method: from a turbulence intensity depending on the wind direction, the control unit determines one or more sectors of critical wind directions, in which the turbulence intensity exceeds the maximum value for the turbulence intensity, the control unit generates a control signal for the operation management, in order to reduce the desired value of the electric variable to be generated when the measured wind direction is in a sector of the critical wind directions, and a determined characteristic value exceeds a predetermined maximum value for the characteristic value. | 08-20-2009 |
20090206606 | Variable Speed Wind Turbine Configured For Wind Farm Operation - The present invention relates to an improved wind turbine, of the type which employs doubly fed induction generators (DFIG), and a wind park including the same, which permits the use of lighter weight turbines, with the ability to have greater energy capture, more precise control of asymmetrical phases and enhanced maintenance and support of the grid during fault conditions. | 08-20-2009 |
20090206607 | POWER GENERATOR AND MOTOR DEVICE - The fluid power generator is provided. The fluid power generator includes: a rotating member that rotates by fluid force; a generator motor that is mechanically linked with the rotating member and that is configured to function both as a generator and as a motor; a rotation speed meter that measures a rotation speed of the generator motor; and a controller that controls the generator motor, wherein the controller has a control mode to keep the rotation of the rotating member irrespective of a variation in flow rate of the fluid. | 08-20-2009 |
20090212563 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING PERFORMANCE OF POWER CONSTRAINED WIND POWER PLANT - A wind turbine power generating system includes at least one wind-driven rotor for transforming wind energy into rotational motion. A plurality of turbine generators is connected to one or more wind-driven rotors. An active power curtailment controller is also provided. The active power curtailment controller is configured to curtail an actual power output of the plurality of turbine generators at a predetermined maximum output power level, the predetermined output maximum output power level being less than an aggregate nominal power rating of the plurality of turbine generators. | 08-27-2009 |
20090212564 | Method and apparatus for assembling electrical machines - A method of assembling an electrical machine includes programming at least one processor with a stator flux vector estimation scheme. The electrical machine has a stator at least partially extending around a rotor. The electrical machine is electrically coupled to an electric power system. The electric power system transmits at least one phase of electric power to and from the electrical machine with at least partial power conversion. The stator flux vector estimation scheme is programmed to generate at least one stator back-electromagnetic force (back-EMF) signal and to generate at least one stator flux vector signal using the at least one stator back-EMF signal. The at least one stator flux vector signal at least partially represents an estimated rotor position. The method also includes coupling at least one output device in data communication with the at least one processor. | 08-27-2009 |
20090212565 | WIND ENERGY PLANT WITH PITCH CONTROLLER - A wind energy plant having at least one rotor blade with a pitch angle, the pitch angle being adjustable by means of a pitch controller, and a generator converter unit, at least one electrical quantity of the generator converter unit being adjustable by means of a converter controller, wherein the wind energy plant has a power train with a rotor having the at least one rotor blade, the rotor being disposed at a front end of the power train and the power train leading to the generator converter unit, wherein a first rotation speed detection unit is provided at the power train near the front end of the power train and a second rotation speed detection unit is provided at the power train near the generator converter unit, wherein the measured rotation speed n | 08-27-2009 |
20090212566 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND ENERGY PLANT AND WIND ENERGY PLANT - The invention relates to a method for operating a wind energy plant, the wind energy plant having a rotor with at least one rotor blade which has an adjustable pitch angle, the wind energy plant having a generator coupled to the rotor, and a regulation means which, if a there is a deviation of the rotation speed of the generator or rotor from a rotation speed set point, adjusts the pitch angle of the at least one rotor blade such that the rotation speed set point is reached again, wherein an electrical quantity provided by the wind energy plant by means of a generator and fed into a grid is reduced to a predetermined value in a short time by a reduction of a preset value for the generator, wherein prior to the regulation means noticing a deviation of the rotation speed of the rotor or generator from the rotation speed set point effected by the reduction of the preset value, an adjustment of the at least one rotor blade to a new pitch angle is initiated, wherein at the new pitch angle the rotation speed of the rotor or the generator reaches the rotation speed set point at the reduced electrical quantity and the current wind speed. In addition, the invention relates to a wind energy plant. | 08-27-2009 |
20090212567 | CONTROLLER FOR A BLADE ADJUSTMENT ANGLE OF AT LEAST ONE ROTOR BLADE OF A WIND POWER PLANT - Controller for a blade adjustment angle for at least one rotor blade of a wind power plant, in which a first controller branch is switched for the determination of the blade adjustment angle depending on the operating states of the wind power plant, wherein at least one differentiating member is provided in the switched first controller branch. | 08-27-2009 |
20090212568 | ENERGY SYSTEM - An energy system is specified, which comprises a wind power turbine or water power turbine, which is connected to a generator, with the generator having at least two stator windings. In order to achieve a simple and robust design without a transformer, each stator winding has an associated rectifier unit, and each stator winding is connected to the AC voltage side of the associated rectifier unit. Furthermore, each rectifier unit has a respective associated energy storage circuit, and each rectifier unit is connected in parallel on the DC voltage side to the associated energy storage circuit, with the energy storage circuits being connected to one another in series. | 08-27-2009 |
20090218817 | WINDFARM COLLECTOR SYSTEM LOSS OPTIMIZATION - A windfarm system is provided that is optimized for minimizing electrical loss. The windfarm system includes a plurality of wind turbine generators and a collector system including a conductor or network of conductors. The collector system also including a plurality of transformers with one or more transformers connected between each wind turbine generator and the conductors, and a substation transformer connecting the windfarm collector system to the electrical grid. The windfarm system also includes a monitoring system for monitoring the windfarm system electrical output and thermal condition, and outputs of the individual wind turbine generators. A control function may include voltage and real and reactive power commands to the individual wind turbine generators. The control function incorporates an algorithm whose technical effect is minimizing electrical losses for the windfarm system. | 09-03-2009 |
20090218818 | WIND TURBINE PLANT HIGH WIND DERATING CONTROL - A method for operating a wind turbine plant including providing a plurality of wind turbines each having a turbine rotor including at least one blade mounted to a rotatable turbine shaft and an induction generator having a stator and a rotor coupled to the turbine shaft for rotation therewith. The wind turbine is configurable to provide a variable amount of power. A control is provided capable of communicating with the plurality of wind turbines. A wind speed is measured and a power derating factor is determined in response to the measured wind speed. The determined derating factor is communicated to the plurality of wind turbines. The amount of power generated by each of the plurality of wind turbines is adjusted in response to the power derating factor. A system for operating a wind turbine plant is also disclosed. | 09-03-2009 |
20090218819 | AUTOMATIC GENERATION CONTROL AUGMENTATION FOR WIND PLANT INTEGRATION - An automatic generation control (AGC) augmentation system and method for wind power plant integration for controlling the power contribution to a grid by the wind plant is disclosed that provides for the calculation of the area control error (ACE) by actively communicating to the wind plant ramp rate limits and curtailment requests contributing to the ACE calculation. The augmented control of the ACE minimizes the amount of lost energy production by the wind plant. | 09-03-2009 |
20090218820 | Power Converter Arrangement and Method - A power converter arrangement for connecting an induction generator to an electric power network comprises a first path provided for transferring electric power from the induction generator to the electric power network during a first operation condition, and a second path provided for transferring electric power from the induction generator to the electric power network during a second operation condition, where the first path includes an AC-AC converter and the second path includes a switch. A capacitor arrangement is interconnected between the induction generator and the first and second paths and a first AC reactor device is interconnected between the capacitor arrangement and the first and second paths, where the capacitor arrangement is provided for compensating for a magnetization current of the induction generator. | 09-03-2009 |
20090224542 | WIND TURBINE OPERATIONAL METHOD - Operation method for a variable speed wind turbine which comprises control methods for blade pitch in cases of extreme gusts of wind, characterised by the fact that it is comprised of the following steps: a) detection of the presence of an extreme gust of wind; b) performance of a sudden increase in pitch within the range of 6 to 14 degrees at the maximum speed permitted by the wind turbine blade pitch control mechanisms. The method also includes an additional step; c) vary the generator speed to avoid an increased acceleration of the generator which could make a subsequent step b) necessary. | 09-10-2009 |
20090224543 | Method for the operation of a wind power plant and wind power plant - A method for the operation of a wind power plant ( | 09-10-2009 |
20090230681 | MODEL BASED WIND TURBINE DRIVE TRAIN VIBRATION DAMPER - The invention concerns a method for reducing mechanical oscillation in a wind power plant which comprises a plurality of rotor blades, a wind turbine drive train and a generator, wherein the rotor blades are rotatably connected to the generator by the wind turbine drive train. The method comprises the steps: mathematically modeling the dynamical response and/or transfer function of a group of rotatable parts of the wind power plant, the group of rotatable parts comprising at least the wind turbine drive train, and determining dynamical response and/or transfer function of the group; in operation of the wind power plant, determining a first parameter characteristic of the mechanical oscillation at a first location, controlling the operation of at least one rotatable part in response to the dynamical response and/or transfer function of the group and at least the first parameter. In effect, resonance induced mechanical wear is reduced which leads to an increased life time of the wind power plant. | 09-17-2009 |
20090230682 | Apparatus and method for determining a resonant frequency of a wind turbine tower - An apparatus for determining a resonant frequency of a wind turbine tower is provided. The apparatus includes a processing unit configured to receive an acceleration measurement value, the acceleration measurement value representative of the acceleration of the wind turbine tower in the direction parallel to a rotor rotational axis of the wind turbine and/or in the direction perpendicular to both the rotor rotational axis and the tower axis of the wind turbine. The apparatus includes a memory configured to store a series of acceleration measurement values, and the processing unit includes a Fourier transform module configured to calculate a spectral vector based on calculating a convolution-based fast Fourier transform of the series of acceleration measurement values, and includes a resonant frequency calculation module configured to calculate the tower resonant frequency based on the calculated spectral vector. | 09-17-2009 |
20090236853 | MICRO-ELECTROMECHANICAL CURRENT SENSING APPARATUS - A micro-electromechanical (MEMS) current sensing apparatus includes a carrier portion, an optical portion disposed on the carrier portion, the optical portion including an optical path and a magneto-sensitive element within the optical path, a light source disposed on the carrier portion in operative communication with a first end of the optical path, and a photo-detector disposed on the carrier portion in operative communication with a second end of the optical path. | 09-24-2009 |
20090243295 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING ROTOR LOADS IN A WIND TURBINE UPON DETECTION OF BLADE-PITCH FAILURE AND LOSS OF COUNTER-TORQUE - A system and method for reducing rotor loads in a wind turbine that includes a brake and one or more rotor blades coupled to a rotor. Upon detection of a loss of counter torque and a blade-pitch failure in at least one rotor blade, a processor reduces a generator overspeed threshold value by a predetermined amount and determines a brake-release threshold value. The brake is applied to slow the rotor if the generator/rotor speed exceeds the reduced generator/rotor overspeed threshold value. In addition, the brake is applied to slow the rotor until the generator/rotor speed is below the brake-release threshold value. The rate of change of the pitch angle of the rotor blade may be varied as the blade moves toward feather in response to the detected blade-pitch failure. | 10-01-2009 |
20090243296 | WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION WITH AN AUTONOMOUS ENERGY SUPPLY FOR A BLADE ADJUSTMENT DEVICE - Wind energy installation with a generator ( | 10-01-2009 |
20090243297 | SPEED REDUCER FOR USE IN YAW DRIVE APPARATUS FOR WIND POWER GENERATION APPARATUS, AND YAW DRIVE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WIND POWER GENERATION APPARATUS USING THE SPEED REDUCER - A yaw drive method of a wind power generation apparatus, in which a second gear engaged with a first gear attached to one of tower or a wind power generation unit supported to the upper end of the tower so as to be capable of yawing and supported to a tower or to the upper end of the tower is rotated by a drive motor attached to the other of the tower or the wind power generation unit for yawing the wind power generation unit. A drive energy, which is supplied to the drive motor for a predetermined time from when the supply of the drive energy to the drive motor begins to start, is made to be smaller than the drive energy supplied to the drive motor in a common yawing. | 10-01-2009 |
20090250931 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND ENERGY PLANT WITH A DOUBLY-FED ASYNCHRONOUS MACHINE AND WIND ENERGY PLANT WITH A DOUBLY-FED ASYNCHRONOUS MACHINE - Method for operating a wind energy plant having a doubly-fed asynchronous machine, a grid-sided converter and a generator-sided converter both being controlled by a control means, the method comprising the following steps: in a regular operating mode the converters are controlled by the control means by means of command variables, in case of fault the converters are controlled by at least one control module which controls the torque and/or the active power and the reactive current and/or the reactive power by means of command variables such that a disconnection of the asynchronous machine from the grid will be performed only if the grid voltage falls below a predetermined voltage-time-characteristic curve, wherein the shape of the voltage-time-characteristic curve is configured by a plurality of pre-selectable parameters in the at least one control module. | 10-08-2009 |
20090250932 | Method of damping tower vibrations of a wind turbine and control system for wind turbines - A control system for a wind turbine is provided. A pitch-control unit establishes a pitch-reference signal representing a pitch to be set by the pitch-actuator system. A rotor-speed input receives a signal representing a speed of the rotor. A speed-reference input receives a speed-reference signal for the rotor speed. An inclination-signal input receives a signal representing a tower inclination. A pitch-reference output outputs the pitch reference signal. A modification unit is connected to the speed-reference input to receive the speed-reference signal and connected to the inclination-signal input to receive the inclination signal. The modification unit establishes a modification signal based on the inclination signal, to modify the speed-reference signal via the modification signal, and to output a modified-speed-reference signal. The pitch-control unit connected to the modification unit to receive the modified-speed-reference signal and establish the pitch-reference value at least based on the difference between the modified-speed-reference and the rotor-speed signals. | 10-08-2009 |
20090261588 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION - A method for operating a wind energy installation and a system for implementing the method. An oblique incident flow value, which represents the difference between the wind direction and the direction of a rotor axis of the wind energy installation, and a load value, which represents the load state of the wind energy installation, are determined. A total load value is determined based on the load value and the oblique incident flow value. The rotor rotation speed is reduced when the total load value is above a first limit value. The wind energy installation is shut down when, in addition, a second limit value is exceeded. The method makes it possible to react objectively to oblique incident flows and can reduce a load on a wind energy installation without causing large yield losses. | 10-22-2009 |
20090261589 | Wind Power Generation System And Operation Method Thereof - A wind power generation system wherein procedure for controlling the blade pitch is changed in accordance with the rate of decrease in the amplitude of the grid voltage, and when over current occurs in the grid-side power converter, the grid-side power converter is brought into the gate-blocked condition whereas the generator-side power converter continues its operation. | 10-22-2009 |
20090273185 | System for Controlling and Protecting Against Symmetrical and Asymmetrical Faults for Asynchronous-Type Generators - The invention relates to a system for controlling and protecting against symmetrical and asymmetrical faults for double-fed asynchronous-type generators, which, in the event of a symmetrical or asymmetrical fault, remains connected to the grid, absorbing the initial transient, and maintains control of the aerogenerator. In this way, the invention fulfils the requirements of the various different grid connection standards relating to the supply of active and reactive power in fault situations, which are intended to assist in the recovery of the grid. | 11-05-2009 |
20090273186 | WINDMILL UTILIZING A FLUID DRIVEN PUMP - A windmill apparatus includes tower, a tower-mounted hydraulic pump driven by windmill blades, and hydraulic lines connected to a ground storage tank and to a number of separate generator units. Each generator unit includes a hydraulic pump and an electrical generator. In operation, upon startup, as the wind propels the propeller-driven pump the hydraulic fluid circulates freely until a pre-set pressure is achieved, upon which a diverter valve diverts all the fluid pressure to the first generator unit. When the first generator unit is powered sufficiently to achieve a stable output voltage, a subsequent one of the remaining generator units is powered up until its output voltage is stabilized, with this process continuing as long as there is a surplus of hydraulic power available to power up additional units to take full advantage of all of the available wind power. | 11-05-2009 |
20090273187 | Control Method - A generator of a wind turbine is at low power conditions operated as a motor by control of a frequency converter to feed electric power from an electric power transmission network to the generator for raising the speed of the wind rotor above a predetermined level for lubricating rotating parts of a drive train of the wind turbine. | 11-05-2009 |
20090278351 | HIGH VOLTAGE DIRECT CURRENT LINK TRANSMISSION SYSTEM FOR VARIABLE SPEED WIND TURBINE - A variable speed wind turbine having a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG), includes an exciter machine mechanically coupled to the DFIG and a power converter placed between a rotor of the DFIG and the exciter machine. Thus, the power converter is not directly connected to the grid avoiding the introduction of undesired harmonic distortion and achieving a better power quality fed into the utility grid. Moreover, the variable speed wind turbine includes a power control and a pitch regulation. | 11-12-2009 |
20090278352 | DYNAMIC ELECTRIC BRAKE FOR A VARIABLE SPEED WIND TURBINE HAVING AN EXCITER MACHINE AND A POWER CONVERTER NOT CONNECTED TO THE GRID - A variable speed wind turbine having a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG), includes an exciter machine mechanically coupled to the DFIG and a power converter placed between a rotor of the DFIG and the exciter machine. Thus, the power converter is not directly connected to the grid avoiding the introduction of undesired harmonic distortion and achieving a better power quality fed into the utility grid. Moreover, the variable speed wind turbine includes a power control and a pitch regulation. | 11-12-2009 |
20090278353 | ATMOSPHERIC RESOURCES EXPLORER - The invention herein described consists of a system destined to harness wind resources, transferring wind power to the ground station group on the surface, the process being performed through the tensioning and unwinding of the cable group connecting the airborne group to a reeler in the said ground station group. Through the control group the resultant force vector of the aerodynamic forces tensioning the cable can be significantly altered. This change in aerodynamic forces can be done in order to create two different phases which define the cyclic movement performed by the system: a work phase, where the resultant force vector is of greater magnitude and tensions the cable, unwinding it at the ground station group and thus producing power; and a recovery phase (which requires power from the system) when the cable is rewound in order to bring the airborne group back to its original position. Because the work produced in the work phase is of greater magnitude than the work required during the recovery phase, the system generates positive net power, which can then be introduced in the electrical grid, or stored as any other form of energy such as chemical or mechanical. | 11-12-2009 |
20090278354 | Wind turbine generator system - In a wind turbine generator system including an AC exciting converter a grid side converter, and a controller configured to control the AC-exciting converter and the grid side converter, the controller operates a short-circuiting circuit when decrease in the grid voltage and increase in the DC voltage are detected. | 11-12-2009 |
20090284012 | Tower Construction for a Wind Turbine - A handling system for a wind turbine nacelle in connection with self-loading or self-unloading of the nacelle to or from a vehicle. The system comprises two or more lifting apparatus, where the lifting apparatus are engaged with lifting areas of a load carrying structure of the nacelle. The lifting areas are a part of the load carrying structure or are integrated in the load carrying structure, and where the lifting apparatus lifts by applying linear force to the load carrying structure of the nacelle. The invention further relates to a method for vertical displacement of a wind turbine nacelle and a wind turbine nacelle prepared for self-loading or self-unloading to or from a vehicle. | 11-19-2009 |
20090289454 | METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND POWER STATION - When planning and setting up wind power installations, the visual detractions to be expected on the part of the wind power installation on the environment play an increasingly important part in approval and acceptance. The shadow casting caused by the wind power installation on the adjoining properties is often perceived by the residents as being very troublesome. | 11-26-2009 |
20090289455 | METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND POWER STATION - When planning and setting up wind power installations, the visual detractions to be expected on the part of the wind power installation on the environment play an increasingly important part in approval and acceptance. The shadow casting caused by the wind power installation on the adjoining properties is often perceived by the residents as being very troublesome. | 11-26-2009 |
20090295159 | Adaptive Pitch Control for Variable Speed Wind Turbines - An adaptive for adjusting blade ( | 12-03-2009 |
20090295160 | METHOD FOR INCREASING ENERGY CAPTURE IN A WIND TURBINE - A method for operating a wind turbine. The method includes providing a wind turbine having a variable speed control system, the control system having an initial rotational speed set point. At least two operational parameters are obtained from one or more sensors. An adjusted rotational speed set point greater than the initial rotational speed set point is determined in response to the operational parameter. The control system is configured with the adjusted rotational speed set point. A wind turbine and wind turbine plant are also disclosed. | 12-03-2009 |
20090295161 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION AND A WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION - The invention relates to a method for operating a wind energy installation ( | 12-03-2009 |
20090295162 | WIND POWER GENERATION SYSTEM OF A TYPE PROVIDED WITH POWER STORAGE SYSTEM - A wind power generation system having a group of wind turbine generators includes a superior controller having a generation power recording memory to record a sum of a generation power of the group of wind turbine generators and a charge and discharge power of a power storage system, a charge and discharge power command computing device for computing a charge and discharge power command for the power storage system in a second period by making use of information of the output power in a first period computed in the output power computing unit and information of a detection value at the present of the generation power recording memory, and a charge and discharge power control device. | 12-03-2009 |
20090302608 | WIND POWER INSTALLATION AND METHOD OF MODIFYING THE BLADE PITCH IN A WIND POWER INSTALLATION - The wind power installation comprises a rotor with at least one rotor blade, a generator, and a pitch control system for controlling the pitch of the rotor blades, said pitch control system comprising at least one AC motor ( | 12-10-2009 |
20090302609 | POWER TRAIN FOR A WIND POWER PLANT - A power train for a wind power plant includes a rotor ( | 12-10-2009 |
20090309359 | WIND TURBINE SENSOR ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME - A sensor assembly for use with a wind turbine rotor blade is provided. The sensor assembly includes an air data probe including a base shaft, a tip, and a rod portion extending therebetween, wherein the rod portion is fabricated from a composite material. The sensor assembly includes a receptacle configured to couple within the leading edge of the rotor blade for receiving the base shaft therein such that the tip extends a distance from the leading edge when the base shaft is received within the receptacle. | 12-17-2009 |
20090309360 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND ENERGY PLANT - The present invention is related to a method for controlling a wind energy plant with plural control units, which perform control tasks in the wind energy plant, comprising the following steps:
| 12-17-2009 |
20090309361 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND ENERGY PARK - The present invention is related to a method for controlling a wind energy park with plural wind energy plants and plural control units, which perform control tasks in the wind energy park, comprising the following steps:
| 12-17-2009 |
20090309362 | GENERATOR UTILIZING FLUID-INDUCED OSCILLATIONS - An electrical generator including a magnetic field generator and at least one energy converter for converting energy present in fluid flows into vibrations or oscillations. The converter includes a flexible membrane having at least two fixed ends. The membrane vibrates when subject to a fluid flow. One of the electrical conductor and the magnetic field generator is attached to the membrane and configured to move with the membrane. The vibration of the membrane caused by the fluid flow causes a relative movement between the electrical conductor and the applied magnetic field. The relative movement causes a change in the strength of the magnetic field applied to the electrical conductor, and the change in the strength of the magnetic field applied to the electrical conductor induces a current flowing in the conductor. | 12-17-2009 |
20090315329 | Variable Speed Synchronous Generator - An input shaft rotates at variable rotation rates and is driven by a variable speed source of energy or power such as by the propeller of a wind-driven electrical generator. The input shaft is connected to a first rotor which electromagnetically interacts with a second rotor to create a torque to cause the second rotor to rotate. The interaction of the first rotor and the second rotor may be varied electrically to vary the torque and in turn the rotation rate of the second rotor. The second rotor interacts with a stator to produce AC electrical power. The rotation rate of the second rotor is controlled so that the generator supplies AC power at an essentially constant frequency. | 12-24-2009 |
20090322081 | WIND TURBINE WITH PARALLEL CONVERTERS UTILIZING A PLURALITY OF ISOLATED GENERATOR WINDINGS - A system and method are provided to isolate outputs of parallel converter threads of a power system converter on a generator side of a wind turbine generator by utilizing isolated power windings on the wind turbine generator. Such isolation eliminates the circulating common mode current between the parallel converters of the wind turbine system and eliminates the need for a common mode inductor. System reliability is enhanced and total system cost is reduced. | 12-31-2009 |
20090322082 | WIND TURBINE WITH PARALLEL CONVERTERS UTILIZING A PLURALITY OF ISOLATED TRANSFORMER WINDINGS - A system and method are provided to isolate outputs of parallel converter threads of a power system converter of a wind turbine generator by utilizing isolated power windings on the output transformer from the converter. Such isolation eliminates the circulating common mode current between the parallel converters of the wind turbine system and eliminates the need for a common mode inductor. System reliability is enhanced and total system cost is reduced. | 12-31-2009 |
20090322083 | OPTIMIZING CONVERTER PROTECTION FOR WIND TURBINE GENERATORS - An integrated fault and personnel protection system and method for a multi-thread converter in a wind turbine power system is provided. The structure and method provide for system optimization, as well as, arc flash protection. Fault sensing with means of removing power applied to the converter minimizes the energy available to produce an arc flash event. Sensing and disconnects devices for the protections are provided close to the source of energy to protect more of the system. Converter controls detect, identify and isolate faults selecting the best combinations of the novel specific fault isolation devices. Components are distributed into separate physical to enhance protection. | 12-31-2009 |
20090322084 | Energy Systems, Energy Devices, Energy Utilization Methods, and Energy Transfer Methods - Energy systems, energy devices, energy utilization methods, and energy transfer methods are described. In one arrangement, energy utilization methods include providing first energy from a power grid to an induction generator at a first moment in time; using the induction generator and the first energy from the power grid, charging an energy storage device; using second energy from the energy storage device, powering a motor causing the induction generator to generate third energy during a second moment in time; and providing the third energy to the power grid. Other arrangements are described. | 12-31-2009 |
20090322085 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENHANCED WIND TURBINE DESIGN - An improved wind turbine system can have a generator or set of generators at the base of a tower and one or more sets of propeller hubs at the top of the tower. The sets of propeller hubs can be on opposite sides of the tower to account for the reduction in weight from having the generators at the base of the tower. The wind turbine system can have a conveyor system to move parts of the tower and/or the propeller hubs up and down to thereby reduce the height of the system for installation and maintenance purposes. Transmissions can be coupled to the propeller hubs to adjust the torque load on the turbines depending on the amount of wind. Additional generators can be connected to the propeller hub to increase the torque load. | 12-31-2009 |
20090322086 | DRIVE CIRCUIT AND METHOD FOR INVERTERS OF WIND ENERGY INSTALLATIONS - A converter for a wind energy installation and a method. The converter includes an inverter which drives a generator via a plurality of phases and an intermediate circuit having an intermediate-circuit voltage between an upper and a lower intermediate-circuit potential. The generator is driven with phase potentials at a variable frequency. A shift value is calculated between an extreme phase potential and one of the intermediate-circuit potentials, a separation value is determined between a middle phase potential and the closest intermediate-circuit potential, and an additional voltage is generated using the separation value as amplitude. The phase potentials are shifted through the shift value and the additional voltage is added to the middle phase potential. Accordingly, the switching elements in the converter do not need to be clocked in every second half-cycle resulting in reduced switching losses and increased current load capacity of the converter. | 12-31-2009 |
20090322087 | Wind Turbine Generator System - To shorten a startup interval to reach a synchronizing condition, a phase difference and an amplitude difference between the grid voltage and the stator voltage of one phase of a winding are obtained. The difference in amplitude is decreased prior to or in parallel to synchronizing the stator voltage with the grid voltage. The calculated compensation phase compensation value is used as an initial value for synchronizing at the next synchronizing operation. | 12-31-2009 |
20100001525 | Vertical Shaft Type Windmill with Arcuate Hook Shaped Vane Blades - A vertical shaft type windmill with arcuate hook shaped vane blade is composed of a tower, a rotary stand, a wind vane assembly, a generator and an electric controller. The present invention makes use of the wind power to drive the aforesaid structure to produce the mechanical power which being afterwards converted into the electrical power to supply various loads such as the domestic appliances, the public and roadway lighting. The structure is simply constructed, easy to fabricate and operate. | 01-07-2010 |
20100001526 | Wind Turbine Generator System - Provided is a wind turbine generator system that can more accurately perform cut-out control by monitoring the measured value from an anemometer for abnormality. In the wind turbine generator system including, in a nacelle ( | 01-07-2010 |
20100001527 | CONTROLLABLE PHASE-ANGLE CONVERTER - A system for a wind energy installation. The wind energy installation feeds electrical power into a power supply system. A phase control device can include a power supply system fault detector, a phase angle detector, and a signal processing module. When a power supply system fault is detected, a phase error signal can be determined. A preset angle signal can be determined based on the phase error signal. The preset angle signal can be provided to a converter which can emit electrical power having a phase angle corresponding to the preset angle signal into the power supply system. Accordingly, an undesirable sudden surge in power output resulting from a phase change occurring at the end of the power supply system disturbance can be avoided. | 01-07-2010 |
20100007144 | VERTICAL AXIS WIND SYSTEM - A vertical axis wind system for use in electrical power generation. The system includes a stationary base including a generator and has an elongate shaft rotatably coupled the base. The elongate shaft extends vertically from a lower end to an upper end along a vertical central axis and engages the generator. At least two arcuate blade assemblies are attached between the lower end and the upper end of the elongate shaft such that aerodynamic forces acting on the at least two arcuate blade assemblies rotate the elongate shaft for the generation of power. | 01-14-2010 |
20100007145 | STALL CONTROLLER AND TRIGGERING CONDITION CONTROL FEATURES FOR A WIND TURBINE - Control features for a wind turbine that control the turbine over a range of wind speeds and under triggering conditions with reduced noise, cost, and reliability issues associated with other such controls. Control is accomplished via control electronics, which adjust the torque produced by the electrical output generation device (e.g., alternator) within the wind turbine. During normal operation, torque is adjusted for optimum aerodynamic performance and maximum output of power. In winds above rated power, the control circuit regulates torque to lower aerodynamic performance, as necessary to maintain desired power level output. In triggering conditions, such as during simultaneous control circuit failure and loss of some portion of the electrical output generation device in extreme winds, wind turbine control is accomplished by increasing torque (e.g., via a separate controller) from the electrical output generation device via shorting of windings, so as to cause retardation of blade rotation. | 01-14-2010 |
20100013224 | USE OF PITCH BATTERY POWER TO START WIND TURBINE DURING GRID LOSS/BLACK START CAPABILITY - The disclosure concerns a wind power plant and its operation during grid loss, wherein the wind power plant comprises a plurality of rotor blades, a blade pitch drive, a rotor shaft, an electric generator, and a control unit for controlling the operations of the wind power plant, wherein the plurality of rotor blades are rotatably connected to the rotor shaft, such that the pitch of the rotor blades can be adjusted by the blade pitch drive under the control of the control unit, and wherein the rotor shaft is operatively connected to the electric generator for generating electric energy, the wind power plant further comprising an energy storing unit for powering the blade pitch drive, wherein the control unit comprises a control module for adjusting the rotor blades and for entering a self-sustaining mode of operation of the wind power plant. With the self-sustaining mode of operation basic functions of the wind power plant, in particular safety and security functions as well as lubrication of the rotatable parts of the wind power plant are sustained even for long periods of a grid loss. | 01-21-2010 |
20100013225 | WIND SYSTEM FOR CONVERTING ENERGY THBOQGI A VERTICAL-AXIS TURBINE ACTUATED BY MEANS OF KITES AND PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ELECTRIC ENERGY THROUGH SOCH SYSTEM - A wind system for converting wind energy including at least one kite that can be driven from ground immersed in at least one wind current and a vertical-axis wind turbine placed at ground level. The wind turbine includes at least one arm connected through two ropes to the kite, the kite configured to be driven through the turbine to rotate the arm and convert wind energy into electric energy through at least one generator/motor system operating as a generator that co-operates with the turbine. The ropes are configured both to transmit mechanical energy from and to the kites, and to control the flight trajectory of the kites. A process produces electric energy through such a system. | 01-21-2010 |
20100013226 | Tethered Autonomous Air Vehicle With Wind Turbines - A wind turbine energy conversion device that can take advantage of the higher speed and more persistent winds at higher altitudes is hereinafter disclosed. The wind turbine energy conversion device includes an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) connected to one end of a tether (which may include multiple shorter tethers), the other end being connected to a terrestrial anchorage point. The UAV flies at altitudes where wind speeds can reach 40 mph or higher. The UAV comprises a flying wing with one or more trailing wind power turbines and flies airborne maneuvers designed to increase relative wind speed up to about four times the true wind speed. | 01-21-2010 |
20100013227 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION - The invention relates to a method for the operation of a wind power plant ( | 01-21-2010 |
20100025994 | INTRA-AREA MASTER REACTIVE CONTROLLER FOR TIGHTLY COUPLED WINDFARMS - A wind turbine generator control system is provided for controlling output of a plurality of tightly-coupled windfarms connected at a point of common coupling with a power system grid. A master reactive control device employs algorithms whose technical effect is to coordinate the real power, reactive power and voltage output of the multiple windfarms. The controller incorporates a reactive power regulator that can be used to regulate reactive power, power factor or voltage at the point of common coupling and an active power regulator that can be used to regulate real power at the point of common coupling; such that each windfarm is not asked to contribute or violate its own operating capability. | 02-04-2010 |
20100025995 | CURRENT SOURCE CONVERTER-BASED WIND ENERGY SYSTEM - Power conversion apparatus and methods are presented for providing electrical power to a grid or other load in which a synchronous machine is driven by a wind turbine or other prime mover to provide generator power to a switching type current source converter (CSC), with a current source rectifier (CSR) of the CSC being switched to provide d-axis control of the synchronous machine current based on grid power factor feedback, and with a current source inverter (CSI) of the CSC being switched to provide leading firing angle control and selective employment of dumping resists to dissipate excess generator energy in a fault mode when a grid voltage drops below a predetermined level. | 02-04-2010 |
20100025996 | WAVE AND WIND POWER GENERATION - The present invention provides a wave and wind power generation system including a platform ( | 02-04-2010 |
20100025997 | METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND POWER INSTALLATION AND A WIND POWER INSTALLATION - The present invention concerns a method of operating a wind power installation comprising an electric generator drivable by a rotor for outputting electrical power to an electrical consumer, in particular an electrical network. | 02-04-2010 |
20100032947 | Apparatus for generating power using jet stream wind power - A wind energy generator for employment in the jet stream or other wind conditions is described herein. The craft includes an airfoil and at least one wind energy generating device. The craft further includes a variable geometry tail boom unit whose orientation relative to the rest of the craft can be adjusted in accordance with the needs of the user. The craft is tethered to the ground. The wind energy generating devices transferring generated electrical power back to the ground using a conductive transfer line or alternative energy transfer means. The can craft further include an airframe onto which the wind energy generating devices can be mounted the airframe can include an open structured airframe. The invention further describes method of putting an energy generating craft into the air. The method comprises becoming airborne in a vertical configuration, transitioning a tail boom into an orientation parallel to plane of the airfoil and entering a horizontal flight configuration. | 02-11-2010 |
20100032948 | Method and apparatus for operating and controlling airborne wind energy generation craft and the generation of electrical energy using such craft - The invention described herein relates generally to wind power generation. In particular, the invention relates to devices and methods used for launching and retrieving wind energy generating craft as well as novel constructions of such craft. Additionally, novel structures for tethers and tether operation is disclosed. Also, methods and apparatus for power generation are described. The craft described herein are intended for electrical power generation utilizing the wind energy collected from air currents. | 02-11-2010 |
20100032949 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ALTERING DRAG AND LIFT FORCES ON A WIND CAPTURING STRUCTURE - The present disclosure provides a method and system for altering the drag force on a wind capturing structure. First, the present disclosure implements a new bridle system. Mainline | 02-11-2010 |
20100038908 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR SYSTEM - A wind turbine generator system can regulate the rotational velocity of the wind turbine within an operation range even when the wind velocity suddenly changes and can perform continuous operation of the wind turbine. The wind turbine generator system includes a generator connected to the shaft of the wind turbine and a converter connected to the generator. When the rotational velocity of the wind turbine is within a predetermined range, power outputted from the generator is controlled so as to follow the instruction concerning the generator output given from the wind turbine to the converter. When the rotational velocity of the wind turbine is out of the predetermined range, the power outputted from the generator is controlled without following the instruction concerning generator output given from the wind turbine to the converter. | 02-18-2010 |
20100038909 | Method Of Operating A Wind Turbine With Pitch Control, A Wind Turbine And A Cluster Of Wind Turbines - A method of operating a pitch controlled wind turbine connected to the utility grid in response to an increase in wind velocity to above a predefined value. The method includes the sequential steps of: reducing the generated power, allowing an intermediate increase in the generator speed, and reducing the generator speed by pitching the wind turbine rotor blades. A wind turbine and a cluster of wind turbines is also contemplated. | 02-18-2010 |
20100045037 | POWER GENERATION SYSTEM USING WIND TURBINES - A new wind turbines system extracts dynamic energy from ambient sources and generates power with high efficiency. The less-fluctuated slower-speed turbines have a high-ratio gear reducer to increase the high-power DC generator's speed. An analog/digital voltage converting sampler, a digital signal processor, a power battery charging/discharging regulator, and a power output in steady and continuous states meet its power generation safety and security requirements, which may produce power at about 50% efficiency. A power regulator stabilizes the fluctuations of the incoming power and regularizes its power outputs in steady and continuous states. A high ratio gear reducer (1:100=1:10×10 in two stages) increases its generator's speed and meets power generation requirements. The lower pole of larger blades' surface area using light-weight nylon fabric single-surfaced blade layer with strong angled strut support structure more efficiently converts power into electricity, and their conservation processes cut installation capital and maintenance costs. | 02-25-2010 |
20100045038 | Method for the Damping of Tower Oscillations in Wind Power Installations - A method for controlling a wind turbine installation for the damping tower oscillations, in particular a buoyant wind turbine installation comprising a buoyant body, a tower arranged over the buoyant body, a generator mounted on the tower that is rotatable in relation to the wind direction and fitted with a wind turbine, and an anchor line arrangement connected to anchors or foundations on the sea bed. The tower oscillations are damped by the control with the blade angle controller in the constant power or RPM range of the wind turbine being performed by the rotor velocity (which is the input to the blade angle controller) being estimated in an estimator for the wind turbine. The input to the wind turbine estimator is the estimated incoming wind, so that the tower movements are not visible to the blade angle controller. Negative damping is thus not introduced into the system and the tower oscillations will be expediently damped, while there is also less variation in blade angle, thrust on the rotor and power supplied. | 02-25-2010 |
20100045039 | Vertical axis wind turbine - This invention is for a vertical axis wind turbine apparatus supported in a tower with wind diverter doors for controlling the air impinging on the turbine blades. The diverter doors are closable in high wind conditions to seal off the wind turbine to protect the turbine against damage. | 02-25-2010 |
20100045040 | Variable Speed Wind Turbine With Doubly-Fed Induction Generator Compensated For Varying Rotor Speed - A variable rotational speed wind turbine includes a doubly-fed induction generator, a rotor current controller for controlling the rotor currents of the generator, a compensation mechanism having a computation mechanism, and an input mechanism for providing input to the compensation mechanism, the input being representative of at least the instantaneous angular speed of the rotor of the generator. The computation mechanism is arranged to compute an instantaneous compensation control output in dependency of the instantaneous angular speed of the rotor of the generator and feed the compensation control output to the rotor, and to compute the compensation control output during operation of the wind turbine to compensate at least partly for dependencies on the rotor angular speed of the locations of poles of a generator transfer function, thus making a resulting generator transfer function substantially independent of variations in the rotor angular speed during operation of the wind turbine. | 02-25-2010 |
20100045041 | Method Of Operating A Wind Turbine With Pitch Control, A Wind Turbine And A Cluster Of Wind Turbines - A method of operating a wind turbine with pitch control, in which values of the generated power and the operating speed of the rotor are established at a discrete number of secure ranges for wind speeds above a critical wind velocity. A wind turbine and a cluster of wind turbines employing such a method are also contemplated. | 02-25-2010 |
20100052320 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR LOAD MEASUREMENT IN A WIND TURBINE - The present invention provides a connecting device adapted for connecting a hub and a main shaft of a wind turbine. The connecting device comprises at least one sensor bolt connecting the hub and the main shaft, wherein a stress detection element is mounted inside the sensor bolt. The stress detection element is adapted to detect a length variation of the sensor bolt and to output a sensor signal indicative of the length variation of the sensor bolt. A signal output device is used for outputting the sensor signal which is indicative of a stress applied to the sensor bolt. | 03-04-2010 |
20100052321 | METHOD FOR THE OPERATION OF A WIND ENERGY PLANT HAVING A WIND VELOCITY MEASUREMENT DEVICE - A method for the operation of a wind energy plant, which features a wind velocity measurement device and a device for the detection of a mechanical load, with the following steps: measuring a wind velocity with the wind velocity measurement device, detecting a mechanical load with the device for the detection of a mechanical load, determining an estimated value for the wind velocity, based on the determined mechanical load, comparing the wind velocity measured by means of the wind velocity measurement device with the estimated value. | 03-04-2010 |
20100052322 | WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION WITH NEGATIVE SEQUENCE SYSTEM REGULATION AND OPERATING METHOD - A wind energy installation can include a generator which is driven by a rotor and generates electrical power in a multiphase manner for feeding into a network, a converter which is connected to the generator and to the network, and a control system which interacts with the converter and includes a negative sequence system regulation mechanism. The negative sequence system regulation mechanism can include a phase control module configured to determine an electrical variable of the negative sequence system according to the phase. Accordingly, an available current can be provided according to the operating situation for active power or idle power in the negative sequence system regulation mechanism. The negative sequence system regulation mechanism can thus help stabilize the network in the event of asymmetrical network conditions. Also, this relates to a correspondingly equipped wind park and an operating method. | 03-04-2010 |
20100052323 | MAGNETICALLY GEARED GENERATOR - The present invention provides a magnetically geared generator including an inner winding unit having a first number of pole pairs, an outer winding unit arranged coaxially around the inner winding unit and having a second number of pole pairs, and a rotatable magnetic flux modulator arranged coaxially between the inner winding unit and the outer winding unit. The inner winding unit, the outer winding unit and the rotatable magnetic flux modulator are adapted to convert rotational input energy provided at the rotatable magnetic flux modulator into electrical output energy provided as an alternating output current at one of the inner winding unit and the outer winding unit, and to control an output frequency of the alternating output current by communicating output energy as an alternating feedback current to the other one of the inner winding unit and the outer winding unit and by adjusting a feedback frequency of the alternating feedback current. | 03-04-2010 |
20100060000 | WIND TURBINE HAVING A MAIN POWER CONVERTER AND AN AUXILIARY POWER CONVERTER AND A METHOD FOR THE CONTROL THEREOF - A wind turbine comprising a main generator, a main power converter connected to the main generator and adapted to convert the electrical output power of the main generator to an electrical power to be fed into the utility grid up to a first rated converter output power and an auxiliary power converter connected to the main generator and adapted to convert the electrical output power of the main generator to an electrical power up to a second rated converter output power which is lower than the first rated converter output power is provided. Further, a control architecture for controlling the power balance of a wind turbine and a method for operating a wind turbine are provided. | 03-11-2010 |
20100060001 | WIND TURBINE SAFETY SYSTEM AND METHODS - A wind turbine for extracting energy from the wind and providing electrical energy to a load. The wind turbine may include a rotor arranged to drive a generator, and an electronic controller for connecting the generator to an electrical load. The electronic controller operates to reduce the tip speed ratio of the turbine rotor as wind speed increases. The rotor is designed have a power coefficient at low values of tip speed ratios that becomes negative for wind speeds exceeding a predetermined wind speed value. The electronic controller cooperates with the turbine rotor such that the turbine rotor looses a positive power coefficient and the wind turbine slows when wind speeds exceed the predetermined wind speed value. | 03-11-2010 |
20100060002 | WIND TURBINE DIRECT CURRENT CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHODS - A wind turbine control system converts AC power generated by the wind turbine to DC power for use in a load. The control system may include a plurality of modules that convert the AC power to DC power. The control system may include a turbine module that converts the AC power produced by a generator of the wind turbine to DC power. The turbine module may also include a boost converter that boosts the DC current to a higher voltage that improves efficient transfer of the DC power to the load. The control system may further include an output module having a buck converter that bucks the voltage of the DC power to a level needed for use by the load. The control system may control the amount of power generated by the wind turbine based on power needs of the load. | 03-11-2010 |
20100060003 | MOMENTUM-CONSERVING WIND-DRIVEN ELECTRICAL GENERATOR - Wind-driven electrical generators will slow and lose kinetic energy when the wind slows or stops. When the wind slows or stops, kinetic energy in the rotating turbine and other rotating components that would otherwise be lost, is conserved by supplying a supplemental mechanical energy to the rotating components using a battery-powered motor. The electrical power for the drive motor is obtained from solar-charged batteries. In an alternate embodiment, solar cells provide all of the energy for the drive motor. | 03-11-2010 |
20100066085 | Non-Grid-Connected Wind Turbine Generator System with High Power, High Efficiency and Low Cost - Disclosed is a non-grid-connected wind turbine generator system with high power, low cost and high efficiency. The wind turbine generator system includes a wind rotor, a generator and a tower. The wind rotor is a fixed-pitch variable-rotation-speed wind rotor, the wind rotor shaft directly drives a rotor of the generator, and the generator is a power-controlled DC generator, a double-salient brushless DC generator, or a double-stator double-salient brushless DC generator. The rotation speed of the fixed-pitch wind rotor is directly controlled by a power-controlled generator and thereby the attack angle of wind rotor blade is controlled. When wind speed is greater than rated wind speed of the system, the wind rotor is controlled into a state of blade stall so as to limit power output of the wind rotor and effectively broaden the wind speed range of wind rotor. | 03-18-2010 |
20100066086 | APPARATUS AND SYSTEM FOR PITCH ANGLE CONTROL OF WIND TURBINE - A pitch control apparatus for controlling the pitch value for a wind power generation system includes a generator comparing unit that calculates an error signal based on a difference between a generator measurement signal corresponding with an operation of the power generation system and a generator reference signal, and a reference pitch calculating unit that calculates a reference pitch value using the error signal. The pitch control apparatus further includes a compensation pitch calculating unit that calculates a compensation pitch value using an error value from the wind power generation system and a pitch calculating unit that calculates a pitch value using the reference pitch value and the compensation pitch value. The error value may be any one of a voltage error value from a direct-current capacitor, a voltage error value from a grid connection point, a speed error value from a rotor, and a frequency error value from a grid connection point. | 03-18-2010 |
20100066087 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR, WIND TURBINE GENERATOR SYSTEM, AND POWER GENERATION CONTROL METHOD OF WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - To provide a wind turbine generator, a wind turbine generator system, and a power-generation control method of a wind turbine generator that are capable of improving the power-generation capability and reducing the fatigue load on the windmill. A data accumulation unit | 03-18-2010 |
20100066088 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - A wind turbine generator is provided in which the efficiency of heating the interior of a nacelle can be improved at a low outside air temperature in a cold region. The wind turbine generator includes a nacelle that accommodates a driving and generating mechanism connected to a rotor head fitted with turbine blades, wherein the nacelle is equipped with a lubricant-oil cooling fan and a generator cooling fan that ventilate the interior of the nacelle to prevent an increase in the temperature of the interior and a heating device that raises the temperature of the interior of the nacelle at a low outside air temperature, wherein the cooling fans can be operated with the rotating directions and the rotational speeds thereof being controlled, and during the operation of the heating device, the rotating directions and the rotational speeds of the cooling fans are controlled so as to make the wind velocity at the ventilation ports thereof about zero. | 03-18-2010 |
20100072751 | Variable Speed Wind Turbine, A Resonant Control System, A Method Of Operating A Variable Speed Wind Turbine, Use Of A Resonant Control System And Use Of A Method In A Variable Speed Wind Turbine - A variable speed wind turbine connected to a utility grid includes a rotor, having at least one blade, a drive train connected to the rotor, the drive train includes a selection of at least one gear box, and at least one electrical generator, a measuring arrangement establishing at least one rotational speed signal of the drive train, and at least one wind turbine power controller connected to the at least one generator and the utility grid. Furthermore the wind turbine includes at least one resonant controller modifying a power reference value in response to the at least one rotational speed signal. A resonant control system, a method of operating a variable speed wind turbine, use of resonant control system and use of a method in a variable speed wind turbine are also contemplated. | 03-25-2010 |
20100078939 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE DURING LOSS OF GRID POWER AND CHANGING WIND CONDITIONS - An apparatus and method for controlling a wind turbine having a plurality of blades such that the blade angle of each blade is continuously adjusted during loss of grid power relative to a wind direction relative to an orientation of the nacelle (i.e., yaw offset) and a rotor azimuth while keeping the orientation of the nacelle of the wind turbine substantially constant. The wind turbine is capable of pitching the blades a full 360 degrees and generating power from the rotation of the rotor shaft during loss of grid power. | 04-01-2010 |
20100078940 | CONTROLLER AND CONTROL METHOD FOR WINDFARM - In a controller for a windfarm including a plurality of wind turbine generators controllable in rotation frequency and pith of blades of the wind turbine generators, coupled to a grid through a transmission line, an anemometer is provided to each wind turbine generator to transmits wind direction and wind speed data to a central controller which process the wind direction and wind speed data to transmit an output command each wind turbine generator. The central controller predicts, on the basis of the wind speed detected by the upstream wind turbine generator, variation in wind speed at other wind turbine generators to control the output of the windfarm. The output power may be limited or charging energy as rotation energy of blades and discharging the rotation energy as output power in addition to a battery unit for averaging. | 04-01-2010 |
20100084863 | VARIABLE VANE VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE - An embodiment of a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) with a turbine shaft for transmitting mechanical power. Coupled to the turbine shaft is a support structure with a vane rotatably coupled to the support structure at a vane shaft. The vane rotates the vane shaft, support structure and the turbine shaft around the center of the turbine shaft when the vane is acted upon by the wind. A centrifugal compensation rod is connected to the vane. The centrifugal compensation rod counteracts the centrifugal forces acting upon the vane as the vane rotates about the center of the turbine shaft. | 04-08-2010 |
20100084864 | COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM FOR A WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION - The invention relates to a device for monitoring a wind energy installation ( | 04-08-2010 |
20100084865 | STATOR CONTROLLED INDUCTION GENERATORS WITH SHORT-CIRCUITED ROTOR - A generator is connectable to a turbine for generating electric power or a motor. An electric power generator system or a motor comprises an asynchronous short-circuited rotor generator or motor comprising a stator, a rotor, and a transformer having a first winding and a second winding, the first winding having a first end and a second end. The stator and the transformer are connectable in series with an electric power distribution grid. | 04-08-2010 |
20100090463 | COMBINED ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND POWER SUPPLY DEVICE - A wind turbine includes a tower, a machine nacelle and a rotor having a plurality of rotor blades and a hub. Furthermore the wind turbine includes at least one wind speed sensor device having at least one environmental monitoring apparatus for the detection of at least one environmental condition including a transducer device for converting the detected environmental conditions into an electrical signal and a converter device for converting energy provided by the environment into electrical output energy. The transducer device and the converter device are formed as an associated unit. | 04-15-2010 |
20100090464 | ADAPTIVE ADJUSTMENT OF THE BLADE PITCH ANGLE OF A WIND TURBINE - It is described a method of determining a quality of an initial value for a blade pitch angle. An initial power captured by a wind turbine is measured, while the blade pitch angle has the initial value. The blade pitch angle is changed from the initial value to a first value in a first direction. A first power captured by the wind turbine is measured and the blade pitch angle is changed to a second value in a second direction being opposite to the first direction. Further, a second power captured by the wind turbine is measured, a power difference between the first power and the second power is calculated, and the quality of the initial value based on the calculated power difference is determined. Further, a control system, a wind turbine and a computer program are described. | 04-15-2010 |
20100096853 | METHOD FOR THE OPERATION OF A WIND ENERGY PLANT WITH A DOUBLE-FED ASYNCHRONOUS GENERATOR AND WIND ENERGY PLANT WITH A DOUBLE-FED ASYNCHRONOUS GENERATOR - A method for the operation of a wind energy plant with a double-fed asynchronous generator which has a mode of operation as a phase shifter, in which reactive power is fed into the electric power supply grid, the method having the following steps: the stator of the asynchronous generator is short-circuited, the asynchronous generator is run-up to a predetermined rotational speed from a working rotational speed range via a converter after running up, the short-circuit in the stator is cancelled, the double-fed asynchronous generator is synchronised with the electric power supply grid, and it is driven for the generation of reactive power. | 04-22-2010 |
20100096854 | VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE USING INDIVIDUAL BLADE PITCH AND CAMBER CONTROL INTEGRATED WITH MATRIX CONVERTER - A vertical axis wind turbine that can be actively controlled has the potential to extract wind energy efficiently, and consequently be economically viable for distributed harvesting of wind energy. This invention includes mechanisms and methods for enabling high-efficiency wind energy extraction by a vertical axis wind turbine using active pitch and camber control of individual blades. Blade control is further integrated with generator control and power electronics. Integrated control algorithms are systematically constructed, and transmitted to the wind turbine through a wireless communications interface. The interface also allows the user to continuously monitor the state of the wind turbine system. This invention includes sensors and procedures for periodic self-calibration of wind turbine parameters for preserving the long-term efficiency of wind energy extraction. Furthermore, a capability to intelligently interact with other wind turbine systems in a wind-farm setting is incorporated. | 04-22-2010 |
20100096855 | Wind Power Plant - A wind power plant, comprising a tower, a rotor mounted on the tower and having at least one rotor blade, and a power conversion unit, is characterized by a swivel bearing, the swiveling plane of which lies between an approximately horizontal rotor axis (x) and a vertical tower axis (y), at least one motor for swiveling the rotor, along with the power conversion unit, from a first position in which the rotor axis (x) extends at least approximately in a horizontal direction into a second position in which the rotor axis (x) extends at least approximately in a vertical direction. | 04-22-2010 |
20100102557 | WIND-DRIVEN POWER PLANT EQUIPPED WITH FOLDING AND LIFTING MECHANISM FOR RAISING AND STOWING THE TOWER - A wind-driven electric plant includes a mast with a windwheel and a generator, a shielding chamber with a base, walls and a cover. According to one embodiment, said mast is attached to the shielding chamber base by a fastening-lifting device attached to a mast transfer mechanism for stowing the mast into the chamber or placing the mast into operating position. The mast comprises a set of pivotally connected sections, with the ability to fold and spread, preferably under the control of an automatic control device. In a second embodiment, the mast comprises a set of telescoping sections attached to a post, rigidly fastened to the base of the chamber, with the ability of the mast vertical movement therein. Both embodiments preferably comprise both manual control and automatic remote control. Also, both embodiments preferably comprise a mechanism for opening and closing the shielding chamber cover connected to an automatic control device. | 04-29-2010 |
20100102558 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WIND ENERGY CONVERTERS - A wind energy converter configured for transmitting power to an electric grid includes a variable ratio gear system mechanically coupled between a rotor and a generator. A control system is configured to mechanically control a rotational speed of the generator so that, during a low voltage event, the wind energy converter can continue to operate and supply power to the grid. | 04-29-2010 |
20100102559 | WIND TURBINE ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD FOR ALIGNING A WIND TURBINE WITH THE WIND DIRECTION - A method for aligning a wind turbine with the wind direction is provided. The method includes measuring at least one first pressure at a first side of the wind turbine's nacelle, determining the pressure difference between the measured first pressure and a second pressure, and rotating the nacelle in dependence to the determined pressure difference. A wind turbine arrangement including a nacelle, a yaw alignment controller, and a yaw drive is also provided. | 04-29-2010 |
20100102560 | Wind Power Generation Apparatus, Wind Power Generation System And Power System Control Apparatus - A power system control apparatus which controls a power system electrically connected to a wind power generation apparatus having a wind turbine which receives wind and rotates, a generator which generates electric power by the rotating wind turbine, and a power converter which converts the electric power generated by the generator. The power system control apparatus includes a voltage detector for detecting a voltage of the power system, a reactive power command value generation unit for generating a reactive power command value from a voltage detection value of the voltage detector, and a transmission unit for transmitting the reactive power command value to the wind power generation apparatus. Output fluctuation of the generator is suppressed, and reactive power according to the reactive power command value is transmitted from the wind power generation apparatus to the power system. | 04-29-2010 |
20100109326 | FAN UNIT FOR WIND POWER GENERATOR AND WIND POWER GENERATOR - To provide a fan unit for a wind power generator and a wind power generator, which are capable of preventing a loss of a flow at a flow port from increasing and capable of preventing a pressure loss of a heat exchanger from increasing. A fan unit for a wind power generator ( | 05-06-2010 |
20100109327 | Yawing System for a Wind Turbine - A yawing system for a wind turbine comprising a tower construction and a nacelle. The yawing system comprises a stationary part being connectable to or forming part of a tower construction of a wind turbine, and a rotating part being connectable to a nacelle of a wind turbine. The rotating part is arranged adjacent to the stationary part in such a manner that the rotating part is allowed to rotate relatively to the stationary part via a gear connection between the stationary part and the rotating part. The rotating part comprises a plurality of modules, each comprising a sub-module, the sub-modules being at least substantially identical in size and shape. Each module is configurable to perform various functions, e.g. by positioning one or more function defining elements in the corresponding sub-module. Thereby a configured module belongs to a category of modules reflecting the function of the configured module. At least one of the modules is configured as a drive module adapted to drive a rotational movement of the rotational part relatively to the stationary part, via the gear connection. Due to the similarity in size and shape of the sub-modules, a module belonging to a category may be replaced or reconfigured to belong to a different category of modules without altering the main design of the rotating part. Thereby a highly customizable yawing system is obtained, which can be produced in a cost effective manner. | 05-06-2010 |
20100109328 | CONVERTER CONTROL OF VARIABLE-SPEED WIND TURBINES - Embodiments according to the present invention provide methods and a system for a control approach that effectively maintains the DC link voltage at a constant set value under variable system conditions and keeps the converter operating within an optimal power factor range. | 05-06-2010 |
20100117361 | Wind Turbine, A Method For Compensating For Disparities In A Wind Turbine Rotor Blade Pitch System And Use Of A Method - A wind turbine includes a rotor having one or more rotor blades, a pitch system for controlling the pitch angle of the one or more rotor blades, the pitch system having at least one pitch actuator, a pitch controller for generating pitch actuator control signals and sensor elements for establishing values of pitch performance parameters, and a compensation controller to compensate for disparities between the pitch actuator control signals and the values of pitch performance parameters, according to a control algorithm. The compensation controller is arranged to adjust parameters of the control algorithm of the compensation controller in dependency of the disparities. | 05-13-2010 |
20100123314 | PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR WIND TURBINE - A braking system for a wind turbine is provided, and the wind turbine includes a rotor having at least one blade. A generator includes a plurality of stator windings having a plurality of phases. The braking system includes a plurality of resistors, and at least one switch connected between the stator windings and the resistors. The switch can be configured to connect the stator windings to each other via the resistors, for the effect of slowing down or stopping the rotor of the wind turbine. | 05-20-2010 |
20100127494 | PITCH CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIND TURBINES - The present invention describes a pitch control system comprising a principal converter, and auxiliary converter, a direct current motor and a power storage system (accumulator) and has four different operation modes: normal, fault (first level), fault (second level) and emergency. In the case that a fault is detected, the system can move the motor in order to move the vanes to the desired position by making a controlled adjustment. | 05-27-2010 |
20100127495 | ESTIMATING AN ACHIEVABLE POWER PRODUCTION OF A WIND TURBINE BY MEANS OF A NEURAL NETWORK - A method for estimating an achievable power production of a wind turbine, which is operated with a reduced power set point is provided. The method includes determining the values of at least two parameters, inputting the values of the at least two parameters into a neural network, and outputting an output value from the neural network. The at least two parameters are indicative of an operating condition of the wind turbine. Thereby, the output value is an estimate of the achievable power production of the wind turbine. A control system which is adapted to carry out the described power estimation method is also provided. Furthermore, a wind turbine which uses the control system adapted to carry out the described power estimation method is provided. | 05-27-2010 |
20100133814 | LOAD IDENTIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME - A method of identifying a load on a wind turbine is provided. The method includes sensing accelerations of a rotor in a plurality of dimensions via at least one acceleration sensor and transmitting, from the acceleration sensor, signals indicative of the sensed accelerations to a control system. The method also includes receiving, at the control system, the transmitted signals from the acceleration sensor and identifying, via the control system, a load on the wind turbine based on the received signals. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133815 | Method and Apparatus for Operating a Wind Turbine During a Loss of Communication - A method for operating a wind turbine during a loss of communication is described that includes coupling a pitch controller to at least one wind turbine blade and to a wind turbine controller, establishing communication between the pitch controller and the wind turbine controller, and detecting a loss of communication between the pitch controller and the wind turbine controller. After a loss of communication is detected, the method further includes waiting for a first predetermined amount of time to elapse, independently pitching the at least one wind turbine blade to a predetermined position, waiting for a second predetermined amount of time to elapse, and maintaining the at least one wind turbine blade in the predetermined position until a rotation of the at least one wind turbine blade stops. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133816 | Power Converter For Use With Wind Generator - In one embodiment, the present invention includes a turbine to generate mechanical energy from kinetic energy, a generator coupled to the turbine to receive the mechanical energy and to output multiple isolated supply powers, and multiple power stages each coupled to the generator. Each of the power stages may receive at least one of the isolated supply powers. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133817 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE TIP SPEED OF A BLADE OF A WIND TURBINE - A method for controlling a tip speed of a blade of a wind turbine. The method includes determining the wind speed proximate the wind turbine; maintaining a first substantially constant rotational speed of the tip of the blade during variable wind speeds above a first predetermined nominal wind speed and below the second predetermined nominal wind speed; maintaining a second substantially constant rotational speed of the tip of the blade during variable wind speeds above a second predetermined nominal wind speed. The noise generated by wind at the second predetermined nominal wind speed is greater than noise generated by the blade at the second constant rotational speed of the tip of the blade. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133818 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NOISE CONTROLLED OPERATION OF A WIND TURBINE - A method for controlling noise generated from a wind turbine. The method including providing a blade attached to a hub having a rotor shaft, and a generator in communication with the rotor shaft. The at least one blade includes an adjustable pitch angle. The method further includes providing a wind turbine acoustical profile and a wind turbine power profile. The wind turbine acoustical profile and the wind turbine power profile are compared to determine a noise reduced operational condition. The wind turbine is controlled to provide a rotor speed and the pitch angle of the blade corresponding to the noise reduced operational condition. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133819 | WIND TURBINE ACOUSTIC EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system and method for controlling noise generated from a wind turbine is disclosed. The method includes selectively adjusting the angle of pitch of the blade in response to an amount of noise generated being above a predetermined amount and maintaining the amount of noise generated at or below the predetermined amount of noise. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133820 | SOLAR AND WIND ENERGY CONVERTER - An integrated hybrid energy generating system capable of converting wind and solar energy for use with an electrical generator. During the daytime, the system concurrently derives energy from both wind and solar energy sources. During the nighttime, it continuously harvests wind energy regardless of the weather condition. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133821 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EXTRACTING INERTIAL ENERGY FROM A WIND TURBINE - A system for operating a wind turbine during a curtailment operation is described. The wind turbine includes a generator and a wind turbine rotor having at least one rotor blade. The wind turbine also includes a drive train that includes at least one shaft coupled to the wind turbine rotor and configured to drive the generator. The system includes a control system configured to increase a speed of rotation of the rotor beyond an optimum rated speed during the curtailment operation of the wind turbine, and an extraction device configured to extract inertial energy stored in the drive train upon release of the curtailment operation. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133822 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR VERIFYING WIND TURBINE OPERATION - A wind turbine verification system is described that includes a wind turbine controller having a plurality of wind turbine operating parameters stored therein and a verification device that includes a processor, memory device, and user input mechanism. The verification device is configured to communicatively couple to the wind turbine controller via a data link. The verification device is also configured to receive at least one parameter from the wind turbine controller and execute a verification program on the wind turbine controller, wherein the verification program is configured to iterate through a plurality of predefined tasks. The verification device is configured to verify at least one operating condition of a wind turbine based on the executed verification program. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133823 | HYBRID BRAKING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A wind turbine hybrid braking system is presented. The system includes a generator coupled to a main shaft of the wind turbine for generating and transmitting power. A mechanical brake is coupled to the main shaft for applying reaction torque upon braking of the wind turbine. The system further includes an electrical braking circuit coupled to the generator for acting in conjunction with the mechanical brake and dissipating active power via controlled switching. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133824 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COOLING A WIND TURBINE STRUCTURE - A control method and associated component configuration provide cooling for components within a wind turbine structure, such as a tower or nacelle. A recirculating airstream of internal air is established in the structure. For a defined set of operational conditions of the wind turbine that affect a required cooling capacity within the structure, the recirculating airstream is controllably augmented with external air to increase cooling capacity of the recirculating airstream. The amount of external air introduced into the structure is balanced with the amount of relatively hotter internal air within the structure so as to achieve a desired balance of temperature and relative humidity within the structure. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133825 | AZIMUTH ANGLE MEASUREMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME - An azimuth angle measurement system includes a rotatable ring, a wire coupled at a first end to the ring, a length measurement device configured to measure a length of a portion of the wire that extends from the ring, and a control system configured to determine an azimuth angle based on the length of the portion of the wire extending from the ring. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133826 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING POWER IN A WIND TURBINE - A generator for use in a wind turbine includes a rotor including a plurality of windings. The rotor is configured to be electrically coupled to a wind turbine electrical distribution system. The generator also includes a stator including a plurality of windings. The stator is configured to be magnetically coupled to the rotor and electrically coupled to the wind turbine electrical distribution system. The stator is further configured to switch between a first number of magnetic poles and a second number of magnetic poles. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133827 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE - A control system for a wind turbine having a tower, a generator, and at least one rotor blade. The control system includes a sensor configured to measure an angle of inclination of the tower with respect to a surface, at least one pitch assembly configured to adjust a pitch angle of the rotor blade, and a controller configured to control at least one of the pitch assembly and the generator based on the measured angle of inclination. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133828 | CONDITION MONITORING SYSTEM FOR WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND METHOD FOR OPERATING WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - A method for operating a wind turbine generator includes generating at least one of a plurality of rotor shaft angular displacement values, a plurality of rotor shaft angular velocity signals, and a plurality of rotor shaft angular acceleration signals. The method also includes determining a torsional moment within a rotor shaft, and modulating at least one of a wind turbine generator yaw orientation and a blade pitch orientation as a function of the determined torsional moment. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133829 | IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO WIND TURBINES - A wind turbine system comprising: a wind turbine; a regenerative drive system; a wind-speed sensor for measuring local wind speed; and a controller; the wind turbine comprising a motor-generator system which is operatively connected to the regenerative-drive system; the motor-generator system being drivable as a motor by the regenerative drive system to increase a rotational speed of the wind turbine; the motor-generator system being operable as a generator by the regenerative drive system to decrease a rotational speed of the wind turbine; the controller being operatively connected to the wind-speed sensor and the regenerative drive system, wherein the controller is operable to control operation of the regenerative-drive system to thereby control the rotational speed of the wind turbine in response to signals received from the wind sensor indicative of gusting changes in the local wind speed. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133830 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ASSEMBLING A PITCH ASSEMBLY FOR USE IN A WIND TURBINE - A method of assembling a pitch assembly for use with a wind turbine. The wind turbine includes a rotor and a plurality of rotor blades coupled to the rotor. The method includes coupling a pitch drive system to at least one of the plurality of rotor blades for rotating the rotor blade about a pitch axis. At least one sensor is coupled in signal communication with the pitch drive system. The pitch drive system rotates the rotor blade when the sensor senses rotor overspeed. | 06-03-2010 |
20100133831 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE - A control system for a wind turbine, the control system having at least one measurement device configured to measure at least one operating condition of the wind turbine and a first controller. The first controller is configured to calculate an operating limit of the wind turbine based on the measured operating condition and to adjust the operating limit based on a limiting condition of a component of the wind turbine. | 06-03-2010 |
20100140936 | WIND TURBINE WITH GPS LOAD CONTROL - A wind turbine includes at least one global positioning sensor for determining a deflection of a component of the wind turbine. | 06-10-2010 |
20100140937 | WIND TURBINE STARTING - A method of providing power from a wind generator includes sending a request to supply power to an operator of a power distribution network; receiving an authorization to supply power from the power distribution network operator; and connecting the wind generator to the power distribution network in response to the authorization to supply power. | 06-10-2010 |
20100140938 | SYSTEM, DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE USING SEASONAL PARAMETERS - A method for controlling an operation of a wind turbine. A plurality of operating specifications, each of which corresponds to a season, is defined. A current season is determined. An operating specification corresponding to the current season is selected. An operation of a wind turbine is controlled based at least in part on the selected operating specification. The current season may be determined, for example, based on a schedule of seasons and/or meteorological conditions. | 06-10-2010 |
20100140939 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE - A power system for a wind turbine having a measurement device configured to detect an overfrequency condition within an electrical system and a controller communicatively coupled to the measurement device. The controller is configured to switch the wind turbine between a power generation mode and a power consumption mode based on an existence of a detected overfrequency condition. | 06-10-2010 |
20100140940 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING WIND TURBINE ACTUATION - A wind turbine includes a plurality of wind turbine blades attached to a rotor positioned atop a tower affixed to a tower foundation. At least one blade pitch sensor is configured to measure blade pitch angles for one or more of the wind turbine blades. A rotor/generator speed sensor is configured to measure the rotational speed of the wind turbine rotor, a corresponding wind turbine generator, or both. A wind turbine nacelle yaw sensor is configured to measure the nacelle yaw, while at least two tower-base bending sensors are configured without use of adhesives, cements or bonding agents to provide large-area measurement of tower deflection. A controller is configured to adjust the pitch angle of one or more of the wind turbine blades in response to the measured one or more blade pitch angles, the measured rotational speed, the measured nacelle yaw and measured tower longitudinal deflection. | 06-10-2010 |
20100140941 | CONTROL OF THE ROTATIONAL SPEED OF A WIND TURBINE WHICH IS IMPEDED TO EXPORT ELECTRICAL POWER TO AN ELECTRICITY NETWORK - A rotational speed controlling device for a wind turbine is provided. The controlling device includes a first input node for receiving a first signal, indicative of an actual rotational speed of the rotor, a second input node for receiving a second signal, indicative of a reference rotational speed for the rotor, a detection unit for detecting a defective operational state in which the wind turbine is impeded to export electrical power to an electricity network, a control unit for providing a reference signal for a characteristic operational parameter of the wind turbine based on the first signal and the second signal, and a pulse generator adapted to send a kick pulse to an integral control element of the control unit in response to the detection of the defective operational state. The characteristic operational parameter is indicative of the rotational speed of the rotor. | 06-10-2010 |
20100148505 | CONTACT-LESS POWER AND SIGNAL TRANSMISSION DEVICE FOR A HIGH POWER LEVEL TRANSFORMER - A transformer is provided comprising a first member upon which a first circuit is wound; a second member upon which a second circuit is wound such that power is transferred to the second circuit in a contact-less manner; and a signal transmitter on the first member in close proximity to an appropriate receiver on the second member together with a signal transmitter on the second member in close proximity to an appropriate receiver on the first member such that said transmitters and receivers exchange signals in a contact-less manner, whereby the circuits are embedded in a high thermal conductivity resin. An exemplary embodiment of the invented transformer is one where the second member rotates relative to the first member. | 06-17-2010 |
20100148506 | ROTOR BLADE ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR A WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine includes a rotor having adjustable rotor blades for driving a generator and an adjusting device for the rotor blades provided with an actuator that comprises at least an excitation winding. The adjusting device includes a torque-reducing device that automatically reduces drag torque of the actuator. The torque-reducing device includes a current divider that switches the current through the excitation winding in such a manner that the current flows completely through the excitation coil when the motor is in operation and the current only partly flows through the excitation coil when coasting (slip operation). As a result, when coasting, the magnetization of the excitation winding is reduced about the adjusting device, whereby the increase of the speed torque characteristic curve can be determined, thus improving the ratio of the adjusting device when coasting. | 06-17-2010 |
20100148507 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF A WIND TURBINE AND A WIND TURBINE - A method for controlling the operation of a wind turbine includes determining a first measure of a mechanical input of a component of the wind turbine, and concurrently, determining a second measure of a mechanical output of the component, determining an operating frequency response function of the component from an analysis of the relation between the first measure and the second measure, comparing the operating frequency response function with a predetermined operating frequency response function and determining a possible deviation between the two, and controlling the operation of the wind turbine so as to alter the mechanical input to the component in response to the deviation. A wind turbine that implements such a method is also disclosed. | 06-17-2010 |
20100148508 | CONTROL METHOD AND APPARATUS - A method and a controller for controlling a wind power generation system is disclosed. The system is connected to a grid at a point of connection, and is devised to feed reactive power to the grid in order to improve grid stability. A Q-V characteristic is determined for the grid at the point of connection as well as a nose point for the Q-V characteristic. A minimum reactive current, I | 06-17-2010 |
20100156102 | ELECTRIC GENERATION SYSTEM INCLUDING MULTIPLE MOTOR/GENERATORS - An electric generating system including a frame configured to couple to a tether system and at least one power generation module mounted to the frame. The at least one power generation module includes a holding structure attached to the frame, a rotating structure, including a rotor shaft, configured to rotate relative to the holding structure, a rotor attached to the rotor shaft, and a plurality of motor/generators attached to the holding structure, each including a drive shaft configured to engage with the rotor shaft. The electric generating system is configured to operate in a first mode wherein the motor/generators are configured to receive electrical energy from the tether system and drive the drive shafts to create a torque on the rotor shaft to thereby rotate the rotor and create lift to fly the electric generating system to an operating position within an air stream, and to operate in a second mode wherein the rotor is configured to be rotated by the air stream to provide lift to maintain the electric generating system within the air stream and to create a torque on the rotor shaft to thereby rotate the rotor shaft and the rotating structure so that the torque from the rotor is transmitted to the motor/generators via the drive shafts to generate electrical energy which is provided to the tether system. | 06-24-2010 |
20100176593 | Wind Generator - The wind generator includes a propeller, a speed sensor, a processor, at least two generators and a distributor. When the speed sensor detects that a wind speed or rotation-speed of a generator exceeds a threshold, the other generator joins to be in cooperation with it for reducing rotation-speed of the generators and increasing wind generation. Similarly, additional generators join to be in cooperation if rotation-speed of the propeller is still overhigh. No more generators join to cooperate if the rotation-speed is under the threshold. | 07-15-2010 |
20100181768 | Wind Generator with Folding Mast - Wind generator comprising a folding mast ( | 07-22-2010 |
20100181769 | MOTOR LOAD REDUCTION IN A WIND POWER PLANT - A wind power plant is characterized in that a measurement device ( | 07-22-2010 |
20100181770 | Method and Apparatus for Fluid Turbine having a Linear Actuator - A fluid turbine apparatus contains a set of radially arranged magnets and a set of radially arranged coils axially aligned with the set of radially arranged magnets. A turbine base supports a first of the sets. A plurality of vanes having a rotatable connection to the turbine base is coupled to a second of the sets. A linear actuator supported on the turbine base influences the axial proximity of the set of radially arranged magnets to the set of radially arranged coils. | 07-22-2010 |
20100187819 | LARGE SIZED SAFE WINDMILL WITH HIGH EFFICIENCY - A large sized safe windmill with high efficiency is made up of plural vane-assemblies. Each assembly includes an axle center ( | 07-29-2010 |
20100187820 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR, ACTIVE DAMPING METHOD THEREOF, AND WINDMILL TOWER - A wind turbine generator, an active damping method thereof, and a windmill tower in which vibrations of the wind turbine generator itself or the windmill tower can be reduced at low cost are provided. The acceleration due to vibrations of a nacelle is detected with an accelerometer attached to the nacelle. In an active damping unit, a pitch angle of windmill blades for generating a thrust on the windmill blades so as to cancel out the vibrations of the nacelle is calculated on the basis of the acceleration, and the pitch angle is output as a blade-pitch-angle command δθ* for damping. On the other hand, in a pitch-angle control unit, a pitch angle of the windmill blades for controlling the output to be a predetermined value is calculated, and the pitch angle is output as a blade-pitch-angle command θ* for output control. The blade-pitch-angle command δθ* for damping is combined with the blade-pitch-angle command θ* for output control using a subtracter. The pitch angle of the windmill blades is controlled on the basis of the resulting blade-pitch-angle command after combining. | 07-29-2010 |
20100207389 | WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine for generating an electric voltage from mechanical energy derived from wind is provided. The invention includes a specially designed turbine enclosure through which the wind passes. The enclosure has a Venturi area which results in movement of the wind at a rapid speed through the turbine. An electric generator with a ratable blade also is provided within the Venturi area in order to take advantage of the faster moving wind. The faster the wind moves, the more energy can be converted by the generator. The generator can be constructed with a plurality of electric coils and magnets which can be arranged in series/parallel combinations depending on the power requirements of a particular application. | 08-19-2010 |
20100213712 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - An object is to improve the operating rate. A first switch is provided in a power line connecting a power generator to a power system, and a second switch that can be opened and closed by remote control is provided in the power line between the power generator and the first switch. In the second switch, a withstand current capability is set that allows current flowing in a low-voltage event and that withstands current having a value equal to or less than a current value specified by the thermal setting of the power generator. In the first switch, a withstand current capability is set that is superior to the withstand current capability of the second switch and that withstands current having a value equal to or less than the current value specified by the thermal setting of the power generator. | 08-26-2010 |
20100219634 | WIND TURBINE CONTROL METHOD, CONTROL UNIT AND WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine control method for dampening vibrations of a transmission system, even in the presence of voltage dips and in any event that is susceptible to reducing active current generation capacity, is provided. First, for example, an initial torque or power instruction may be calculated based on a turbine operating state. Next, a torque or power adjustment term associated with dampening vibration modes of a turbine transmission system may be calculated. Then, a final torque or power instruction may be calculated by, for example, applying the adjustment term to the initial instruction. Finally, the final torque or power instruction may be transformed into a current instruction for controlling the wind turbine. | 09-02-2010 |
20100219635 | INTEGRATED WIND ENERGY HARVESTING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A system for generating electricity from wind. The system includes a free-standing structure or some level of building integrated structure comprising at least one inlet, one exit and one APCC ahead of the turbine. At least one turbine is located near the exit end of the APCC. The turbine is adapted to convert wind energy into mechanical energy and the system then converts the mechanical energy into electrical energy and distributes it as designed and needed. At least one dynamically configurable flow control structure is located in the APCC between the air intake and the turbine. One or more dynamically configurable vanes are optionally located near the air inlet to maximize air flow into the APCC. A dynamic flow control system configures the flow control structure in response to air flow conditions to optimize the generation of electrical energy. | 09-02-2010 |
20100219636 | POWER GENERATING SYSTEM - Provided is a power generator, including a plurality of wind power generators generating electrical power using wind power energy, and variable-speed wind power generators connected between the power generator and an electrical power system. The variable-speed wind power generators equalize an output of the entire power generating system by outputting power for correcting for a drop in output of the power generator. | 09-02-2010 |
20100225113 | METHOD FOR THE OPERATION OF A WIND TURBINE AND WIND TURBINE USING THIS METHOD - A method for the operation of a wind turbine comprising a rotor with at least one rotor blade, a generator and a speed regulator for regulating the rotational speed of a drive train element by adjusting a generator torque and/or a blade pitch angle, comprising the steps of: determining the angular speed of the drive train element through the time derivative of an angular position signal, determining the angular acceleration of the drive train element, presetting desired values for the generator torque and/or the blade pitch angle taking into account the angular speed of the drive train element and the angular acceleration of the drive train element, wherein the angular acceleration of the drive train element is determined from the angular position signal, wherein a filtering with an upper cut off frequency is performed after the first time derivative of the angular position signal and before a second time derivative of the angular position signal, said upper cut off frequency being tuned to a maximum adjustment speed of the generator torque and/or of the blade pitch angle. | 09-09-2010 |
20100230966 | VARIABLE SPEED WIND TURBINE HAVING A CONSTANT SPEED GENERATOR - A variable speed wind turbine including a variable speed rotor, a large constant speed generator, and a small variable speed generator is characterized by a three-shaft variable ratio gearbox connecting the shaft of the rotor with the two generator shafts. The variable ratio gearbox is an epicyclic gearbox which enables the combination of the high performance of a variable speed rotor with the low cost of a large constant speed generator. The torque of the small variable speed generator controls the rotor speed. Variable frequency power conditioning cost is less than that of a prior art variable speed wind turbine, reduced by the ratio of the rated capacity of the small generator to total rated capacity. Also, the small generator enables efficient low wind velocity energy capture. The low rotational inertia of the small variable speed generator further reduces drive train dynamic stress. | 09-16-2010 |
20100230967 | WIND POWER GENERATOR - A wind power generator in which a rotating force of front and rear blades, which rotate in opposite directions to each other against the wind, enables a permanent magnet and a coil body to rotate in opposite directions so as to provide high efficiency of power generation, wherein at a low wind speed, according to the wind direction, the wind power generator freely rotates towards the wind so as to face the wind, at a middle wind speed the wind power generator is forced to rotate toward the wind so as to face the wind using power of a driving motor, and at a high wind speed the wind power generator is forced to rotate perpendicular to the wind using power of the driving motor so as to prevent the front and rear blades from breaking in a strong wind. | 09-16-2010 |
20100230968 | TETHERED GLIDER SYSTEM FOR POWER GENERATION - A complete fully-automated airborne wind energy generation system with three major components; a ground-based energy trailer anchored to the ground containing a reel, motor/generator, motor controller with regenerative braking, a low-friction capstan, and a microcontroller; an ‘aerie’ elevated launch and landing platform free to weathervane in the wind, with a tether flag deployment and collection device; a statically and dynamically stable rotor-glider with variable pitch rotor blades enabling jump-launch, on-board weather and load sensors, microcontroller, and cell or satellite phone data connections to a centralized database; and a high-strength low-weight tether connecting all the components together. | 09-16-2010 |
20100237616 | Multi Directional Augmentor and Diffuser - This invention relates to increasing the use of an adjustable or flexible augmenter for increasing the power generation primarily used for utilizing wind energy. The adjustable augmenter is a wind enhancement structure with a plurality of flexible walls connected to each other with supporting horizontal elongated members. In the preferred embodiment, the invention is used with a plurality of smaller blades on a rotation means connected to a tower structure with a plurality of the rotation means and an inlet air flow regulation to achieve optimal power output. A preferred embodiment includes lightweight low cost structure of flexible wall to enhance an air flow into impact impellers connected to a rotation means creating a swept area with a height to diameter ratio of greater than four. A preferred embodiment includes wherein said impact impellers connected to a rotation means creating a swept area with a height to diameter ratio greater than ten. | 09-23-2010 |
20100237617 | WIND TURBINE OPERATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - A method of operating a wind turbine comprises obtaining current wind speed, forecasting wind speeds by creating probability density functions of wind speeds at a series of time points in the future based on the obtained current wind speed and past wind speeds, determining operating parameters of the wind turbine for the forecasted wind speeds, and controlling the wind turbine based on the determined operating parameters. | 09-23-2010 |
20100237618 | Wind power generator system - A wind power generator system includes a windmill rotor including a blade whose pitch angle is variable; a generator driven by the windmill rotor; and a control unit controlling output power of the generator and the pitch angle of the blade. The control unit performs a first control in which the output power is controlled in accordance with a predetermined power-rotational speed curve until the rotational speed is increased to reach a predetermined rated rotational speed, and a second control in which the output power is controlled to a predetermined rated power when the rotational speed exceeds the rated rotational speed. The control unit is responsive to the pitch angle for maintaining the second control or for switching to the first control, when the rotational speed is reduced below the rated rotational speed after the control unit is once placed into the state of performing the second control. | 09-23-2010 |
20100244445 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING POWER FROM A FAN - A system for generating power for a vehicle is provided. The system comprises a fan positioned to receive a flow of air, a turbine coupled to the fan, the turbine adapted to rotate the fan when operating in a first mode and to receive power from the fan when operating in a second mode, the turbine adapted to generate electrical power from the power received from the fan, and an electronic control unit adapted to selectively engage the first and second modes of the turbine. | 09-30-2010 |
20100253079 | WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION WITH A HEATING DEVICE - A wind energy installation connected to a network. The installation includes a tower and a pod having a wind rotor and a generator driven by the wind rotor. The installation further includes a converter configured to output electrical power, a control device provided with a temperature sensor and a heating device, and a preheating module. The preheating module includes a thermal switch configured to monitor a temperature of at least one component of the wind energy installation and a monitoring unit having an output device. The monitoring unit operates the heating device until the thermal switch reaches a threshold, whereupon the output device transmits an enable signal to start the wind energy installation. Operational reliability of the wind energy installation in low ambient temperatures can be thus improved. | 10-07-2010 |
20100259045 | Wing Energy Installation with Enhanced Overvoltage Protection - A wind energy installation and method for production of electrical energy from wind energy by means of the wind energy installation having a rotor which can be driven via wind power and has rotor blades whose pitch angles can be adjusted by means of at least one adjusting apparatus, which can be driven electrically, in order to influence the rotational speed of the rotor, wherein a generator rotor is connected to the rotor, and the generator rotor together with the stator forms a generator, | 10-14-2010 |
20100259046 | ACTIVE CONTROL SURFACES FOR WIND TURBINE BLADES - A wind turbine has a longitudinal airfoil blade that exerts a torque on the generator in response to an impinging air current. A compliant airfoil edge arrangement is disposed along an edge of the airfoil blade for at least a portion of a longitudinal dimension of the airfoil blade. A morphing drive arrangement varies a configuration of the compliant airfoil edge arrangement and consequently the aerodynamic characteristics of the airfoil blade. A drive arrangement applies actuation forces to the upper and lower compliant surfaces via the upper and lower actuation elements. The compliant airfoil edge is arranged as a trailing edge of the airfoil blade. | 10-14-2010 |
20100270798 | LIFETIME OPTIMIZATION OF A WIND TURBINE GENERATOR BY CONTROLLING THE GENERATOR TEMPERATURE - A wind turbine and a method for controlling the temperature of a wind turbine generator are disclosed, the wind turbine comprising a generator, generator temperature control means and means for providing input representative of at least one temperature of the generator to the generator temperature control means, the generator temperature control means including a closed-loop regulation arranged to determine a deviation of the input from at least one desired value, compute the magnitude of at least one control output in dependency of the determined deviation, and feed the control output to at least one controller of the wind turbine in order to reduce the deviation, the controller comprising control means for controlling the operation of the wind turbine in response to the at least one control output by changing one or more operational parameters of the wind turbine, which parameters influence the at least one temperature of the generator. | 10-28-2010 |
20100270799 | Wind Turbine - A wind turbine that is mounted on a corner of a building and has a shaft that extends upward and outward from the corner, where the turbine blades are located, and the resulting rotation of the shaft is used for some power consumption purpose in our outside the building. | 10-28-2010 |
20100270800 | WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF USE - Improved systems and methods to generate power using wind and controlled air movement and related structures to more cost effectively produce energy and protect system components. | 10-28-2010 |
20100276929 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE TEMPERATURE OF A PERMANENT MAGNET IN A MACHINE - A system for determining a temperature of a permanent magnet in a machine includes a voltage sensor that generates a voltage signal reflective of a stator voltage and a current sensor that generates a current signal reflective of a stator current. A processor receives the voltage and current signals and generates a temperature signal reflective of the temperature of the permanent magnet in the machine. A method for controlling a load of a machine includes generating a voltage signal, a current signal, and a temperature signal reflective of the temperature of a permanent magnet in the machine. The method further includes adjusting the load of the machine based on the temperature signal. | 11-04-2010 |
20100276930 | WIND TURBINES HAVING CONTROL FOR NETWORK FAULTS AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF - A network disturbance module for a control device of a wind energy installation having a generator driven by a wind rotor and a converter for producing electrical power fed into a network. The module includes a measurement device configured to measure at least one electrical parameter of the network, a detector configured to identify a network disturbance and output a switching signal, and a reference generator configured to produce a substitute reference vector for the converter based on the at least one electrical parameter. The module also includes a fault management unit comprising a fault classifier, the unit being configured to interact with the measurement device, detector, and reference generator such that, in the event of an undervoltage during island operation, a quick-action frequency regulator is activated. The regulator acts on the converter to vary a real-power feed P in the event of a discrepancy in a network frequency. | 11-04-2010 |
20100276931 | METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND PARK - A wind park system is disclosed. Briefly described, one embodiment comprises at least one wind power installation having a generator for the delivery of electrical power to an electrical network, characterized in that the power delivered to the network by the wind park is regulated or adjusted in dependence on the network frequency of the electrical network. | 11-04-2010 |
20100283244 | Energy Generation and Storage System - A power generation and storage apparatus and method is provided. The apparatus includes a power generation assembly and an energy storage assembly operably coupled to the power generation assembly. The energy storage assembly includes a buoyant device and is configured to store energy by lowering the buoyant device to a lower depth of water, and to release energy by allowing the buoyant device to rise to a higher depth of water. | 11-11-2010 |
20100283245 | WIND TURBINE - For optimising annual energy production in a wind turbine, the invention provides a method by which operation of the turbine in accordance with different pre-specified modes depending on the wind direction towards the turbine is enabled. The modes may include pitch and/or power control strategies. The invention further provides a control system for a wind turbine adapted to operate in accordance with the method, and a wind turbine with such a control system. | 11-11-2010 |
20100283246 | WIND TURBINE - A method of controlling a wind turbine having a rotor and a generator for producing power, the wind turbine being designed for a nominal load, the method comprising the steps of: determining a current load acting on at least a part of the wind turbine; calculating a load error, the load error representing the difference between the nominal load and the current load; controlling the wind turbine based on the load error; wherein the step of controlling the wind turbine comprises altering a parameter of the wind turbine so that the power or torque produced by the generator is altered. | 11-11-2010 |
20100283247 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR WIND POWER SYSTEMS HAVING POWER FAILURE DETECTION - A wind energy installation control device includes a wind rotor, a generator driven by the wind rotor, a torque control unit configured to control a torque of the generator, and a control system. The control system includes a detector configured to identify a grid dip and an end of the grid dip, a residual torque transmitter configured to provide a preset value for a torque of the generator after identification of the grid dip, and an initializer configured to initialize a component of the torque control unit at the preset value. Accordingly, upon return of grid power after a grid dip, the vibration behaviour of a wind power system can be significantly improved. Overload of a drive train upon return of grid voltage can thus be reduced. | 11-11-2010 |
20100289264 | WIND-HYDRO POWER GENERATING SYSTEM AND METHOD - A wind-hydro power generation system and its power generation method which use both wind power and hydraulic power. Increasing the size of a hydraulic turbine for the hydraulic power generation may result in the decreased rotation power of the hydraulic turbine caused by the resistance of the wind when blades on the hydraulic turbine come out of the water. The present invention has a blade rotation system on the blades of the hydraulic turbine so that the blades may rotate according to the direction of the wind. As a result, wind resistance is not effected to the rotation of the hydraulic turbine even when the blades on the hydraulic turbine are out of water, but enhances the rotation power of the hydraulic turbine, which enables the use of wind power and hydraulic power at the same time. | 11-18-2010 |
20100289265 | WIND DAM AND VERTICAL TURBINE SYSTEM - The present invention is a wind dam and vertical turbine system set on a ground surface that captures and directs wind to generate electricity. The system has a wind dam portion with a front opening, an airfoil above the front opening and a vertical turbine portion with a housing disposed on the dam portion's back side with a turbine slide door and actuator. There are also front outriggers with front wheels that are horizontally aligned to the front opening and back outriggers with drive wheels that are horizontally and movably aligned to each end of the back side of the dam portion. There is also a power drive assembly for the vertical turbine and exhaust doors and actuators to expel excessive wind. | 11-18-2010 |
20100289266 | METHOD FOR THE OPERATION OF A WIND POWER PLANT - A method for the operation of a wind power plant (W), wherein the wind power plant (W) has a tower (T) and a rotor with at least two rotor blades (RB | 11-18-2010 |
20100295303 | Tethered system for power generation - A system for power generation comprises a wing, a turbine, a tether, and a tether tension sensor. The wing is for generating lift. The turbine is coupled to the wing and is used for generating power from rotation of a propeller or for generating thrust using the propeller. One end of the tether is coupled to the wing. The tether tension sensor is for determining a tension of the tether. | 11-25-2010 |
20100295304 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GRID LOSS RIDE-THROUGH FOR WIND TURBINE PITCH CONTROL SYSTEM - In a wind turbine/generator having a rotatable hub, at least one blade rotatably secured to the hub, a pitch control system for adjusting pitch of each blade, the pitch control system located within the rotatable hub, a stationary nacelle, and a slip ring assembly at a junction of an electrical circuit between the rotatable hub and the stationary nacelle, the slip ring assembly operatively arranged for transmission of electrical signals between equipment located within the rotating hub and equipment located within the stationary nacelle, an apparatus for grid loss ride-through for the pitch control system, comprising means for sensing and monitoring power on the rotating side of the slip ring assembly, and, means for supplying power to the pitch control system from a backup power source when the sensed power drops to a predetermined level. | 11-25-2010 |
20100295305 | WIND TURBINE AND CONTROL SYSTEM - A wind turbine system for generating electricity includes a turbine and a control system for managing the electricity generated by the turbine. The control system may include sensors for determining wind direction and wind speed and a controller that rotates the turbine into the wind if the wind speed is less than a threshold and out of the wind if the wind speed exceeds a threshold. The control system may also be adapted to supply electricity to one or more circuits within a home or residence. The electricity harvested from the turbine may be transferred by the control system to one or more batteries, or it may be transferred to the circuits within the residence. The electrical power extracted from the wind turbine may be harvested in a continuous manner, a pulsed manner, or a hybrid manner based upon control of the input impedances into the control circuit of subsystem. | 11-25-2010 |
20100301604 | WIND TURBINE, A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE AND USE THEREOF - The invention provides for a wind turbine comprising a rotor comprising at least one rotor blade, a yaw controlling system including yaw control means, a yaw mechanism comprising one or more yaw motors and a yaw bearing, registration means for registering an idling power producing situation of the wind turbine in relation to a utility grid, and detection means for detecting edgewise oscillations in one or more of the blades. The yaw controlling system is adapted for changing the yaw position of the wind turbine nacelle when said registration means registers that said wind turbine is operating in an idling power producing situation and the detection means detects edgewise oscillations in one or more of the rotor blades, hereby damping or eliminating the edgewise oscillations. The invention further relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine and use hereof. | 12-02-2010 |
20100301605 | WIND TURBINE, A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE AND USE THEREOF - The invention relates to a wind turbine comprising a rotor including one or more pitchable blades, registration means for registering an idling power producing situation of the wind turbine in relation to a utility grid, detection means for detecting edgewise oscillations in one or more of the blades, and control means for controlling the pitch angle of one or more of the blades. The control means is adapted for changing the pitch angle of one or more of the blades when the registration means registers that the wind turbine is operating in an idling power producing situation and the detection means detects edgewise oscillations in one or more of the blades, hereby damping or eliminating the edgewise oscillations. The invention further relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine and use hereof. | 12-02-2010 |
20100301606 | WIND-TURBINE-DYNAMIC-CHARACTERISTICS MONITORING APPARATUS AND METHOD THEREFOR - It is an object to enable stable operation of a wind turbine and to change a control parameter of the wind turbine at an appropriate timing. A dynamic-characteristics model of a wind turbine is identified for each of a plurality of ranges that are determined in accordance with wind speed, and the identified dynamic-characteristics model is monitored for each of the ranges. | 12-02-2010 |
20100301607 | UPWIND WIND TURBINE AND OPERATION METHOD THEREOF - An upwind wind turbine ( | 12-02-2010 |
20100308584 | INTEGRATED WIND TURBINE CONTROLLER AND INVERTER - The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for power generation, and in particular a method and apparatus for the control of electrical power generation for use primarily with wind turbines. A method of electrical power generation is described including the steps of: receiving power in the form of alternating current; rectifying said alternating current power to direct current power; control said direct current power to produce controlled direct current power; and inverting said near constant direct current power to produce alternating current. | 12-09-2010 |
20100308585 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE REACTIVE POWER FROM A CLUSTER OF WIND TURBINES CONNECTED TO A UTILITY GRID - The present invention relates to a method for increasing a total reactive power capability of a cluster of wind turbines operationally connected to a grid. The method comprises the steps of generating a voltage value representative of a grid voltage level, determining a total required reactive power value based on the voltage value, and activating at least one wind turbine in said cluster to increase the total reactive power capability from a present value to the required total reactive power value by a predetermined amount. Moreover, the present invention relates to a system suitable for carrying out the before-mentioned method. | 12-09-2010 |
20100308586 | Wind Turbine Systems Using Continuously Variable Transmissions and Controls - A wind turbine system is disclosed comprising: a plurality of turbine blades; a continuously variable transmission coupled to said plurality of turbine blades; a generator coupled to said continuously variable transmission; wherein said generator generates electricity and outputs said electricity to a load/grid; and a controller providing control signals as a filtered function of power to said continuously variable transmission. The controller of said wind turbine system may also continuously maintain the parameter dP/dR substantially zero where P is power and R is the ratio of the transmission. | 12-09-2010 |
20100314872 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE POWER CONVERTER - A method for providing an output power to a load is described. The method includes coupling a multi-thread power converter system to an alternating current (AC) generator and to a load and monitoring at least one operating characteristic of the AC generator. The method also includes providing the multi-thread power converter system with one of a first switching pattern and a second switching pattern based at least partially on the at least one monitored operating characteristic. The method also includes configuring the multi-thread power converter system to operate in accordance with the first switching pattern and the second switching pattern and to convert an AC input power provided by the generator to an output power for delivery to the load. | 12-16-2010 |
20100314873 | Auxiliary drive/brake system for a wind turbine - An auxiliary drive/brake system for a wind turbine includes an impulse, high torque motor, a gearbox transmission, a drive shaft, and a transfer gearbox that connects to either the wind turbine low-speed shaft or to the wind turbine gearbox. Control of the auxiliary drive/brake system is performed by a programmable computer-based motor drive control system in combination with instrumentation and sensors fitted to the rotating wind turbine components. Torque and horsepower created by the present auxiliary drive/brake system is transferred into the wind turbine low-speed shaft where it combines with the torque and horsepower created by the wind acting on the wind turbine rotor blades, the combined torque and horsepower is transferred from the wind turbine low-speed shaft into the wind turbine gearbox and the wind turbine generator, causing the wind turbine generator to operate and produce electricity which is supplied to the power company. | 12-16-2010 |
20100314874 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION OR WIND FARM - A system and method for operating a wind energy installation or wind farm. The system includes a control unit configured to process control variables and a transfer module. The transfer module has an input interface for receiving control commands and an output interface for transmitting control variables to the control unit. The transfer module has multiple transfer logic elements each configured to convert a control command to a control variable. The transfer module has a switching device for switching between the transfer logic elements. As a result, the wind energy installation or wind farm can be connected to an electrical grid in which the control commands are transmitted in a different format than that of the control variables of the control unit. | 12-16-2010 |
20100314875 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE - A system for controlling the RPM of a wind turbine comprising using inverters to draw current from the wind turbine, thereby slowing the rotational speed of the wind turbine blades. In another aspect, a resistor and a switching mechanism attached between the resistor and a phase line is provided to increase the load on the phase line. A yaw motor is also used to yaw the facing direction of the wind turbine out of the wind. Moreover, a normally closed switching mechanism can redirect current from a phase line through a resistor. A normally closed brake is also used to mechanically engage the turbine when the control system fails. A normally open yawing clutch when disengaged allows the nacelle of the wind turbine to rotate freely into the down wind direction. The system also comprises a switch that can create an electrical short between the phase lines of the turbine. | 12-16-2010 |
20100314876 | WIND TURBINE SOLAR CONTROL SYSTEM - The present invention is a wind turbine solar control system. This system may be applied to various types of wind turbines that use a start-up motor or will be able to be turned efficiently using a sun powered motor. A rechargeable battery is used to hold enough power to start the propeller for a predetermined amount of time. Wind sensors will be included to determine if enough wind is present to turn the propeller on. A control box may be included to designate when to turn the motor on and off. It also controls how much to charge the battery and regulates when to stop charging. | 12-16-2010 |
20100320760 | Solar and Wind Power Generator Capable of Tracking Sunlight Automatically - A solar and wind power generator capable of tracking sunlight automatically is provided. The solar and wind power generator includes a base, a revolving column, a generator, a plurality of wind-collecting portions, a plurality of photovoltaic panels, and a secondary cell. The generator is disposed in the base. A wind-collecting element of each wind-collecting portion is coupled to the revolving column by a rotor brake. The revolving column is coupled to the generator. The wind-collecting elements, when driven by wind, rotate the revolving column so as for the generator to generate electric power. The photovoltaic panels are arranged on the wind-collecting elements to absorb sunlight and thereby generate electric power. Electric power generated by the generator and the photovoltaic panels is stored in the secondary cell. Inclination angles of the wind-collecting elements are adjustable by the rotor brakes, allowing the photovoltaic panels to face the sun and track sunlight automatically. | 12-23-2010 |
20100320761 | METHOD FOR THE OPERATION OF A WIND TURBINE, AND WIND TURBINE FOR CARRYING OUT THIS METHOD - A method of operating a wind turbine, comprising the steps of measuring a meteorological value and using the measured meteorological value to preset a desired value for the turbine operation, to select an operation condition and/or to determine a boundary condition for the turbine operation, wherein the measured meteorological value is an air mass flow caused by the wind. | 12-23-2010 |
20100320762 | WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION HAVING A DOUBLE-ENERGIZED ASYNCHRONOUS GENERATOR AND CONVERTER CONTROL - A method for controlling a converter of a wind energy installation. The converter is connected to the rotor of a doubly-fed asynchronous generator in order to feed electrical power into an electrical grid and comprises a generator-side inverter, a grid-side inverter, and at least one converter regulator for regulating and/or controlling current output from at least one of the inverters to the doubly-fed asynchronous generator and/or to the electrical grid. The method includes detecting a change in output real power, determining whether the detected change satisfies a predefined condition, and changing a nominal value of reactive power to be output in an opposite sense to a change in real power at the grid-side inverter and in a same sense as the generator-side inverter when the predefined condition is satisfied. | 12-23-2010 |
20100320763 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING A ROTOR POSITION OF AN ELECTRICAL GENERATOR IN A WIND TURBINE - A method for determining a rotor position of an electrical generator in a wind turbine is described comprising determining a voltage of the electrical generator, determining a rotor position angle estimate based on the voltage of the electrical generator, determining a subsequent rotor position angle estimate through a feedback loop, based on a combination of the voltage of the electrical generator and the rotor position angle estimate. Further, a method to real time track encoder health is described comprising determining the phase angle of a reference voltage, determining the angle difference between the rotor position and the reference voltage, and determining the differentiation of the angle difference. | 12-23-2010 |
20100327584 | WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION HAVING CONVERTER CONTROL - A method for controlling a converter of a wind energy installation. The converter is connected to a rotor of a doubly-fed asynchronous generator for feeding electrical power into an electrical grid and comprises a generator-side inverter, a grid-side inverter, and at least one converter regulator for regulating and/or controlling currents emitted from at least one of the inverters to at least one of the generator and the electrical grid. The method includes detecting a change in electrical voltage present in at least one of emitted real currents and emitted reactive currents at one of the inverters, determining whether the detected change corresponds to a predetermined change, and changing nominal values of at least one of real currents to be emitted and reactive currents to be emitted from the other inverter if the detected change corresponds to the predetermined change. | 12-30-2010 |
20100327585 | Control System for an Electrical Generator and Method for Controlling an Electrical Generator - A method for validating and initializing a control system for an electrical generator connected to a power converter in a wind turbine. The method may include generating a first parameter value representing control signal for controlling the stator flux of a stator of the electrical generator, measuring a second parameter value specifying an electrical operational characteristic of the electrical generator, and determining an accuracy level of the control signal based on the first parameter value and the second parameter value, wherein the accuracy level of the control signal has to fall within a predefined threshold for the control system to be validated. | 12-30-2010 |
20110001318 | Frequency-Responsive Wind Turbine Output Control - A wind farm ( | 01-06-2011 |
20110001319 | DIAGNOSIS OF PITCH AND LOAD DEFECTS - The invention relates to a method, system and computer readable code for diagnosis of pitch and/or load defects of e.g. wind turbines as well as wind turbines using said diagnosis method and/or comprising said diagnosis system. | 01-06-2011 |
20110006524 | WIND TURBINE WITH STABLE POWER OUTPUT - A wind turbine includes a plurality of superposed rotor assemblies each comprising a top first rotor, a plurality of second rotors, and an electric motor; a manifold having one ends each being in fluid communication with the bottommost second rotor; a rotor and generator assembly having one end being in fluid communication with the other end of the manifold, the rotor and generator assembly comprising a plurality of units each including a main rotor having a first valve, a bypass pipe interconnecting both ends thereof, the bypass pipe having a second valve at a forward joining portion thereof and the main rotor, and a first generator driven by the main rotor; and a feedback pipe having one end connected to the other end of the rotor and generator assembly and the other ends connected to the first rotors respectively. | 01-13-2011 |
20110006525 | Method for Operating a Wind Farm Comprising a Plurality of Wind Turbines - A method and a device for operating a wind farm with a plurality of wind turbines are provided. According to the method, operating parameters of the wind turbines of the wind farm are adjusted according to an optimization goal, the optimization goal being the maximum value of the total output of the wind farm produced from the sum of all individual outputs of the wind turbines. The optimization goal differs from conventional optimization goals where the respective individual outputs of the wind turbines are optimized without taking the overall output into consideration. | 01-13-2011 |
20110006526 | Pitch control arrangement for wind turbine - A pitch control arrangement for a wind turbine of the vertical axis type. Cam element and cam follower element are arranged to set the pitch angle of a turbine blade in accordance with a predetermined cyclic variation. The cam element includes a cam surface of different cam profiles, which define different predetermined cyclic variation of the pitch angle. The present invention provides an improved efficiency for a wind turbine irrespective of actual wind conditions, and further, both self-starting capability and high efficiency at a wide range of rotation speeds is accomplished using a simple and reliable construction. | 01-13-2011 |
20110006527 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING NOISE LEVELS OF A TURBINE WITH MINIMAL LOSS IN ENERGY YIELD - A method for controlling a tip speed of a blade of a wind turbine. The method includes determining the wind speed proximate the wind turbine; maintaining a first substantially constant rotational speed of the tip of the blade during variable wind speeds above a first predetermined nominal wind speed and below the second predetermined nominal wind speed; maintaining a second substantially constant rotational speed of the tip of the blade during variable wind speeds above a second predetermined nominal wind speed. The noise generated by wind at the second predetermined nominal wind speed is greater than noise generated by the blade at the second constant rotational speed of the tip of the blade. | 01-13-2011 |
20110006528 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE - A method for operating a wind turbine that includes a generator device for outputting electric energy to a network, the generator device having a stator, and a controller device for controlling the generator device. To ensure sufficient protection of the wind turbine even during network fluctuations, a network voltage is determined using a network model at least as a function of a stator voltage measured with a first measuring apparatus and a network power measured with a second measuring apparatus, and the determined network voltage and a predeterminable maximum phase angle present between the stator voltage and network voltage are used to determine the maximum effective power of the wind turbine that can be output, and the output effective power is regulated as a function of the determined maximum effective power that can be output and a target effective power predetermined by the control device. | 01-13-2011 |
20110012352 | Bang-Bang Controller and Control Method For Variable Speed Wind Turbines During Abnormal Frequency Conditions - A wind farm ( | 01-20-2011 |
20110012353 | WIND POWER GENERATOR - A wind power generator is provided which is configured to take a measure against a decrease in oil temperature which measure requires no new large-capacity power source. A wind power generator including a hydraulic pump configured to be stopped when a wind turbine is shut down further includes a bypass channel branching off from an discharge side channel of the hydraulic pump and connected to an oil tank, an electromagnetic valve provided in the bypass channel and opened when the hydraulic pump is started, a temperature sensor configured to detect the oil temperature of hydraulic operating oil, and a controller configured to carry out pump inching after the hydraulic pump has been started, to raise the temperature of the hydraulic operating oil to a predetermined value. | 01-20-2011 |
20110018268 | WIND TURBINE AND ROTOR BLADE WITH REDUCED LOAD FLUCTUATIONS - A wind turbine includes a rotor having a number of rotor blades. At least one rotor blade has openings. The rotor blade has air-displacement elements which, in use, alternately force air out of and into the openings. A sensor is provided for detecting wind speed fluctuations. A control unit is provided for controlling the air-displacement elements depending on the wind speed fluctuations detected by the sensor. The rotor blade has an aerodynamic profile with a suction side and a pressure side. At least one opening is provided on the suction side. The control unit is designed for operating the air-displacement elements of the opening on the suction side if the sensor has detected a positive speed fluctuation. At least one opening is provided on the pressure side. The control unit is designed for operating the air-displacement element of the opening on the pressure side if the sensor has detected a negative speed fluctuation. | 01-27-2011 |
20110018269 | WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine system is provided to generate electricity from wind energy. The system locates generator at a bottom portion of the tower. The system rotates either the entire tower, or the nacelle and the generator simultaneously. A flexible power transfer member inside the tower connects a top rotation transfer member and the bottom rotation transfer member to transfer wind energy captured by the turbine rotor from the top rotation transfer member to the bottom rotation transfer member. A pitch mechanism to rotate the rotor blades in a desired angular position about the rotor blades longitudinal axis is also provided. | 01-27-2011 |
20110018270 | DOUBLY-CONTROLLED ASYNCHRONOUS GENERATOR - An electric power generator system or a motor comprising a doubly-fed asynchronous generator or motor comprising a stator and a rotor; a transformer having a first winding and a second winding, the first winding having a first end and a second end; and wherein the stator and the transformer are connectable in series with an electric power distribution grid. | 01-27-2011 |
20110018271 | DEVICE AND METHOD OF ADJUSTING CURTAILMENT STRATEGY FOR WIND TURBINE, AND PROGRAM - An object is to suppress reduction of energy production as much as possible while ensuring an expected lifetime. There is provided a device of adjusting a curtailment strategy for a wind turbine, the device including: a fatigue equivalent load calculation unit that calculates a fatigue equivalent load for evaluating a fatigue damage of the wind turbine in a predetermined time period by using load data of the wind turbine; and a setting value update unit that compares the fatigue equivalent load with a reference load determined by an expected lifetime of the wind turbine, and, when a difference between the fatigue equivalent load and the reference load exceeds a predetermined threshold value, updates the condition setting value for the curtailment that is currently employed according to the difference. | 01-27-2011 |
20110025058 | COMMUNICATING ENERGY STORAGES WITH DIFFERENT FUNCTIONS - An integrated system of communicating energy storage devices for supplying an alternate power source to operating systems for a wind turbine connected to an electrical grid, is provided. The integrated system includes at least one wind turbine with a rotor, the wind turbine being connected to an electrical grid. At least least one operating system of the at least one wind turbine requires an alternate power source during a wind turbine operating condition. Further included are a plurality of energy storage devices capable of supplying the alternate power source. Communication of energy storage between at least two of energy storage devices is provided. | 02-03-2011 |
20110025059 | Power Management During Grid Faults - A method for operating a wind turbine facility during for example a grid fault, the wind turbine facility comprising a power dissipation/storage being adapted to dissipate or store electrical energy exceeding an amount to be delivered to an associated power supply grid during the grid fault. The method includes operating the wind turbine facility in accordance with an allowed amount of electrical energy that can be dissipated or stored in the power dissipation/storage of the wind turbine facility by ensuring that a total amount of electrical energy generated by the wind turbine facility does not exceed a sum of the allowed amount and the amount to be delivered to the power supply grid. | 02-03-2011 |
20110025060 | POWER GENERATOR - A power generator using a floating object and exhibiting further improved power generation efficiency includes a floating object including a floating body arranged to catch wind, a plurality of posture control strings, and a posture control instrument, at least one first control string connected to the posture control instrument, a first control string take-in device arranged to take the at least one first control string into a first base body, a forward/backward movement control device arranged to control forward/backward movements of the posture control strings, a first winding device arranged to wind a proximal send of the at least one first control string, a second control string connected to the posture control instrument, a second control string take-in device arranged to take the second control string into a second base body installed apart from the first base body, and a second winding device around which a proximal end of the second control string is wound. The at least one first control string or the posture control instrument that mounts a communication device is arranged to control a front/rear inclination angle θ of the floating object, and the second control string is reeled out/taken up in accordance with the front/rear inclination to generate electric power. | 02-03-2011 |
20110025061 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A WINDMILL KITE - A control system for a windmill kite having a platform tethered by at least one tethering line, and supporting a plurality of rotors that provide lift to keep the kite aloft and to generate electrical power. The control system comprises a computer and controller. The computer comprises a memory circuitry accessible by a microprocessor, the memory circuitry storing data representing at least one set of stored reference values. The controller arranged for regulating at least one functional parameter of the kite by controlling at least one operating characteristic of the rotors, with the computer cyclically retrieving a plurality of sensed environmental parametric values from sensors disposed on or near the kite, and processes a set of output values by comparing the sensed parametric values to the set of stored reference values, the output values are then forwarded to the controller for adjusting at least one operating characteristic of the rotors. | 02-03-2011 |
20110025062 | SYSTEM FOR EVALUATING AND CONTROLLING THE EFFICIENCY OF A WIND TURBINE - The invention relates to a system for evaluating the efficiency of a wind turbine ( | 02-03-2011 |
20110031748 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR, CONTROL METHOD FOR WIND TURBINE GENERATOR, WIND TURBINE GENERATOR SYSTEM, AND CONTROL METHOD FOR WIND TURBINE GENERATOR SYSTEM - [Problem] It is an object to stabilize a utility grid even when an unexpected fluctuation in the frequency of the utility grid occurs. | 02-10-2011 |
20110037261 | System And Method For Producing Electrical Power - The disclosed technology is an electrical power system that includes a turbine, a turbine housing, an incoming channel and a generator. The turbine has at least two turbine blades and the turbine housing has at least two openings. The incoming channel directs and amplifies a flow of a working fluid at one of the openings in the turbine housing and the incoming channel is mounted in such a way that the flow of the working fluid strikes an upper portion of turbine blades. This configuration allows the turbine to rotate which in turn allows the generator to produce electrical power. | 02-17-2011 |
20110037262 | WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION WITH VARIABLE ROTATION SPEED CHARACTERISTIC - A wind energy installation including a wind rotor, a doubly-fed asynchronous generator driven by the wind rotor, a converter, and a controller configured to determine an operating torque for an operating rotation-speed, the operating torque not exceeding a maximum torque. The installation also includes a frequency-adaptive torque limiter having a classifier—for an overfrequency or underfrequency, a torque shifter configured to reduce the maximum torque in the event of frequency discrepancies, and an inhibitor configured to block the torque shift at an underfrequency. The installation further includes a frequency-dependent rotation-speed limiter configured to interact with the classifier such that a lower limit rotation-speed is increased only at an overfrequency and an upper limit rotation-speed is reduced only at an underfrequency. Accordingly, the operating torque can be adapted with respect to the permissible limit values rather than over the entire operating range, thus minimizing yield losses when frequency discrepancies occur. | 02-17-2011 |
20110037263 | BLADE ANGLE ADJUSTMENT RATE LIMIT ADJUSTMENT - A method for the operation of a wind power plant ( | 02-17-2011 |
20110037264 | COLUMN-STABILIZED OFFSHORE PLATFORM WITH WATER-ENTRAPMENT PLATES AND ASYMMETRIC MOORING SYSTEM FOR SUPPORT OF OFFSHORE WIND TURBINES - A floating wind turbine platform includes a floatation frame ( | 02-17-2011 |
20110042950 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An object of the invention is to reduce stop time of a wind turbine generator caused by icing on a wind turbine blade in the wind turbine generator. The invention provides the wind turbine generator including an ice detecting unit for detecting an amount of icing on a wind turbine blade, wherein an operation mode is switched to a no-load operation mode with no power being generated in a case where the icing amount detected by the ice detecting unit exceeds a first predetermined value, and an icing amount is detected by the ice detecting unit in a state where the apparatus is operated in the no-load operation mode. | 02-24-2011 |
20110042951 | WINDMILL ROTATION DETECTION/MANAGEMENT DEVICE AND WIND POWER GENERATION SYSTEM - An apparatus comprising: a first input that receives a first rotational speed information of a windmill mechanically generated by a mechanical rotation detection unit; a second input that receives a second rotational speed information of the windmill based on an alternating current output of a generator attached to the windmill; and a controller configured to compare the first and second rotational speed information, to determine whether a difference between the first and second rotational speed information is greater than a predetermined value and to execute a predetermined anomaly processing in response to the difference being greater than the predetermined value. | 02-24-2011 |
20110049883 | SYSTEM, DEVICE AND METHOD FOR WIND TURBINE CONTROL BASED ON OPERATING PROFILES - A method for operating a wind turbine based on operating profiles for the wind turbine corresponding to operating modes. The method includes defining operating modes and acquiring a plurality of parameter values, each based on a reading from a sensor of the wind turbine. Each of the parameter values is associated with one of the operating modes to create a wind turbine operating profile for each mode. The wind turbine is controlled based on the operating profiles. | 03-03-2011 |
20110049884 | YAW SYSTEM FOR A NACELLE OF A WIND TURBINE AND WIND TURBINE - A yaw system of a wind turbine includes a plurality of motors, each motor being coupled to the nacelle for applying torque to the nacelle; a plurality of controllers, one controller for each of the motors, each controller being configured to control the respective motor and coupled to at least one other controller to transmit operation information thereto; and a yaw system controller configured to transmit control information to at least one controller of the plurality of controllers. At least one of the controllers is configured to control the respective motor based on at least one of the control information and the received operation information from the at least one other controller. Communication between the controllers of the respective motors can allow a faster response of the yaw system to yaw the nacelle according to a change of wind direction. | 03-03-2011 |
20110049885 | WIND TURBINE CONTROL METHODS AND SYSTEMS - A method of controlling the operation of a variable speed wind turbine ( | 03-03-2011 |
20110049886 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETECTING THE LOADING OF PIVOTED ROTOR BLADES - A method and a device for measuring the loading on rotor blades, especially of wind power plants with swiveling rotor blades, the loading of the rotor blades being determined by way of deformation of a bearing ring of the swiveling rotor blade takes place economically with proximity sensors, but can also take place advantageously with fiber optic sensors. With an electronic evaluation device, the deformation of the bearing ring is referenced to the loading of the rotor blade. In one advantageous embodiment, an inclinometer is also provided. | 03-03-2011 |
20110049887 | WIND TURBINE DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM - Sensor networks, methods and computer program products for state monitoring of a wind turbine. The sensor network may include one or more standard sensor modules each having a sensor for measuring a parameter of the wind turbine or its surroundings. The wind turbine includes a processor for receiving input from the one or more standard sensor modules, and a data transfer channel for transferring sensor output from the one or more standard sensor modules to the processor. The data transfer channel has one or more auxiliary connection points for connection of one or more additional sensor module. The one or more additional sensor modules are in surplus of the standard sensor modules in a standard set-up of the wind turbine sensor network. The embedded turbine data acquisition system takes advantage of an existing turbine back-bone network for data transport. | 03-03-2011 |
20110049888 | STRESS ANALYSIS DEVICE FOR WIND-TURBINE STRUCTURE, COMPUTER-READABLE STORAGE MEDIUM STORING STRESS ANALYSIS PROGRAM, AND WIND TURBINE GENERATOR SYSTEM - Provided is a stress analysis device 3 for a wind-turbine structure, which includes a load-data generating section 21 that generates load time-series data of a predetermined load observation point, set in the wind-turbine structure, on the basis of a parameter related to an operating environment, and a stress analyzing section 22 that generates stress time-series data of at least one target analysis point, set in the wind-turbine structure, on the basis of the load time-series data. | 03-03-2011 |
20110049889 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR SYSTEM - To shorten a startup interval to reach a synchronizing condition, a phase difference and an amplitude difference between the grid voltage and the stator voltage of one phase of a winding are obtained. The difference in amplitude is decreased prior to or in parallel to synchronizing the stator voltage with the grid voltage. The calculated compensation phase compensation value is used as an initial value for synchronizing at the next synchronizing operation. | 03-03-2011 |
20110049890 | Method of reducing torsional oscillations in the power train of a wind turbine - The present invention refers to a method of reducing torsional oscillations in the power train of a wind turbine in the event of grid loss. According to the method, after the grid loss, a braking torque is applied to the power train during a period of time and said period of time is determined as a function of the torsional resonance frequency of the power train. | 03-03-2011 |
20110057443 | COLLECTOR ANTI-WEARING AND LUBRICATION SYSTEM FOR VARIABLE SPEED WIND TURBINE - A variable speed wind turbine having a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG), includes an exciter machine mechanically coupled to the DFIG and a power converter placed between a rotor of the DFIG and the exciter machine. Thus, the power converter is not directly connected to the grid avoiding the introduction of undesired harmonic distortion and achieving a better power quality fed into the utility grid. Moreover, the variable speed wind turbine includes a power control and a pitch regulation. | 03-10-2011 |
20110057444 | GRID FAULT RIDE-THROUGH FOR CURRENT SOURCE CONVERTER-BASED WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEMS - Current source converter (CSC) based wind energy power conversion systems (WECS) and methods are presented in which a unified DC link current control scheme is employed to facilitate grid fault ride-through conditions, with a multiple-mode converter control system that combines the power flow control capabilities of the generator-side and grid-side converters, in which transitions between normal operation and fault condition are achieved automatically by monitoring the grid voltage without the need for, or with partial additional ride-through components. | 03-10-2011 |
20110057445 | METHOD OF OPERATION OF A WIND TURBINE TO GUARANTEE PRIMARY OR SECONDARY REGULATION IN AN ELECTRIC GRID - The invention controls the network frequency via an active power reserve obtained by interacting in a coordinated manner with the speed regulation that acts on the power generated or on the pitch angle, to guarantee primary or secondary regulation across the whole range of wind speed. | 03-10-2011 |
20110057446 | WIND TURBINE OPERATION METHOD AND SYSTEM - The invention relates to wind turbines provided with doubly fed induction generators and with at least one power converter which is novel in that, under certain circumstances, it enables the turbine to operate as a full converter (FC) system, as a doubly fed (DFIG) system or as an asynchronous (AS) system, thereby increasing turbine availability. | 03-10-2011 |
20110062710 | MULTI-STAGE CONTROLLED FREQUENCY GENERATOR FOR DIRECT-DRIVE WIND POWER - A multi-sage controlled frequency generator is described that has a low size, weight and cost. The new generator requires an electronic controller that requires only 25% of the total generated power (100%) when the generator shaft speed varies by +/−25% around its synchronous speed. The shaft driving the generator in the direct-drive controlled frequency generator may be moved at a variable speed. The output frequency of the generator may be controlled by electrically controlling the frequency of the first stator stage and by selecting the control frequency, the number of poles, and the number of stages, such that the output of the last stage will be maintained constant at the desired grid frequency. | 03-17-2011 |
20110068577 | Apparatus for providing overload protection for wind power generator and method thereof - An apparatus for providing overload protection of a wind power generator and a method thereof are disclosed. When the wind power generator is exposed to wind force excesses a preset safety threshold, the apparatus is started to rotate a fan set and a nacelle of the wind power generator, so as to pose a rotational plane of a fan set parallel to the wind direction. | 03-24-2011 |
20110074151 | MULTI-USE ENERGY STORAGE FOR RENEWABLE SOURCES - A power generation system having a wind turbine blade assembly, a generator mechanically coupled to the blade assembly, and a power converter coupled to the generator is provided. An energy storage device and a bidirectional converter coupling the energy storage device to the power converter are also provided in the system. An inertia controller is provided for generating a first transient signal to regulate active power from the wind turbine system when a power grid signal is outside of a respective signal range. The system further includes an energy storage controller for providing a second transient signal to the bidirectional converter to regulate a power to or from the energy storage device based upon the first transient signal, power generating system conditions or combinations thereof. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074152 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - In a case where a request for changing a maximum value of active power and a newly defined maximum value of active power are received from the utility grid side, a maximum value of an active power demand value set to a rated value is changed to the newly defined maximum value of active power at a predetermined change rate or less. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074153 | Electrical contact element for high-current plug connectors and manufacturing method - The present invention relates to high-current plug connectors, in particular to electrical contact elements for plug connectors of this type, which are distinguished by low heating even at high currents, and to a corresponding method for manufacturing contact elements of this type. According to the invention, for this purpose, the contact element is made in one piece by internal high-pressure forming from a tubular blank. As a result, the contact element has at each point substantially the same line cross section, so that no local electrical or thermal load peaks can occur. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074154 | Control System and a Method for Redundant Control of a Wind Turbine - A control system and a method for controlling operation of a wind turbine are disclosed. A first sensor and a second sensor are arranged for sampling or continuously measuring a first physical value and a second physical value being representative of a first physical impact and a second physical impact on components of the wind turbine in order to provide a first and a second control parameter for controlling operation of the wind turbine. The first and second control parameters are distinct. During active generation of energy the control system is adapted to selectively switch between controlling the operation of the wind turbine either on the basis of the first control parameter or on the basis of the second control parameter, i.e. to selectively switch between two different, distinct and independent control strategies. The two control strategies allow redundancy in control of the operation of the wind turbine. Both control strategies are based on measurements of actual physical impacts affecting the components of the wind turbine, thereby making it possible to control the wind turbine in a more optimal manner than when using prior art control systems and methods, regardless of which control strategy is selected. | 03-31-2011 |
20110074155 | FLOATING OFFSHORE WIND FARM, A FLOATING OFFSHORE WIND TURBINE AND A METHOD FOR POSITIONING A FLOATING OFFSHORE WIND TURBINE - A floating offshore wind turbine and a floating offshore wind farm with at least one floating offshore wind turbine are provided. The floating offshore wind turbine includes a floating platform anchored to an underwater ground, a wind turbine mounted on the floating platform, and a drive. The drive is adapted to horizontally move the floating platform. Further a method for positioning a floating offshore wind turbine is provided. | 03-31-2011 |
20110080001 | Method for controlling a wind turbine at high thermal loads - A method of controlling a temperature of a component of a wind turbine is disclosed. A set point temperature of the component is defined. The actual temperature of the component is determined and compared with the defined set point temperature. The actual temperature of the component is controlled by controlling the output power of the wind turbine based on the result of comparison. | 04-07-2011 |
20110084485 | Control method for a wind turbine - A method of controlling a wind turbine, where a control signal for a controllable parameter of the wind turbine is determined, and the rotor power coefficient, the torque coefficient, and/or a thrust coefficient of the wind turbine are estimated at time intervals. From this is determined a variation parameter reflecting the variation of the estimated rotor power, torque or thrust coefficient over time. The wind turbine is then controlled according to the control signal only if the variation parameter is below an alert threshold, and otherwise according to a modified control strategy. The control signal may have a power or torque reference signal for controlling the rotational speed of the turbine or a blade pitch reference signal. The modified control method may for instance entail stopping or de-rating the wind turbine. A control system configured to perform the above control method, and a wind turbine comprising such system are also disclosed. | 04-14-2011 |
20110084486 | OFF-SHORE WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND OFF-SHORE WIND FARM - An object is to provide an off-shore wind turbine generator capable of obtaining accurate information about the situation of a wind turbine itself, surrounding weather conditions, and the like. The off-shore wind turbine generator of the present invention generates power by driving a generator mechanism through the rotation of a rotor head to which wind turbine blades are attached and includes a monitoring apparatus for monitoring the wind turbine generator itself and its surrounding circumstances. | 04-14-2011 |
20110089692 | System and Method for Controlling a Wind Turbine - A system to control a wind turbine, including meteorological instruments for measuring ambient climatic conditions, and generating corresponding meteorological signals, a memory for storing an icing tolerance, a first calculator for calculating an overall icing probability based on the meteorological signals and a controller for stopping the wind turbine when the overall probability of icing is greater than the icing tolerance. Also disclosed is a method for controlling a wind turbine, including the steps of a) measuring ambient climatic conditions and generating corresponding meteorological signals; b) storing in memory an icing tolerance; c) calculating an overall probability of icing based on the meteorological signals; and d) stopping the wind turbine when the overall probability of icing is greater than the icing tolerance. | 04-21-2011 |
20110089693 | WIND ENERGY POWER CONVERSION SYSTEM REDUCING GEARBOX STRESS AND IMPROVING POWER STABILITY - A wind energy power conversion system includes a gearbox, a generator, an AC to DC power converter, a DC link, and a DC to AC power converter, and at least one ultracapacitor module connected in parallel on the DC link. A method of reducing stress on a wind turbine gearbox can be performed by obtaining an unwanted frequency of the wind energy power conversion system gearbox; determining an input torque value on the input shaft of the gearbox as a function of time; determining a frequency of the input torque value; and adjusting a torque on the output shaft of the gearbox based on the unwanted frequency. | 04-21-2011 |
20110089694 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD OF THE SAME - A wind turbine generator system includes: a wind turbine rotor including a blade having a variable pitch angle; a generator driven by the wind turbine rotor; and a control unit controlling the output power of the generator and the pitch angle of the blade in response to the rotational speed of the wind turbine rotor or the generator. The control unit performs a first control in which the output power is controlled in accordance with a predetermined power-rotational speed curve until the rotational speed is increased to reach a predetermined rated rotational speed, and performs a second control in which the output power is controlled to a predetermined rated power when the rotational speed exceeds the rated rotational speed; the control unit is responsive to the pitch angle for maintaining a state of performing the second control is or for switching to a state of performing the first control, when the rotational speed is reduced below the rated rotational speed after the control unit is once placed into the state of performing the second control. | 04-21-2011 |
20110095531 | Wind generator with energy enhancer element for providing energy at no wind and low wind conditions - The present invention is a new and novel wind generator system particularly suitable for small wind applications that harnesses low velocity wind effectively. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wind generator system comprises a drive shaft; one or more retreating blades and one or more advancing blades attached to the drive shaft and extending radially outwardly therefrom; a generator assembly coupled to the drive shaft and effective for generating electrical power; and a housing having an inner chamber for receiving the blades and a wind directional apparatus that operates to adjust the speed of the wind and to channel wind along a desired flow pathway towards the one or more of the retreating blades and blocks airflow from impinging on one or more advancing blades. | 04-28-2011 |
20110095532 | Method for operating a wind power plant having a doubly-fed asynchronous machine and wind power plant having a doubly-fed asynchronous machine - A method for operating a wind energy plant having a doubly-fed asynchronous machine, a grid-sided converter and a generator-sided converter both being controlled by a control means. | 04-28-2011 |
20110101688 | Multi purpose variable speed wind powered generator - A Multi Purpose Variable Speed Wind Powered Generator is configured to generate electrical power to all types of transportation and equipment in any wind condition. The wind speed monitor gives the variable pitch rotor the precise angle of attack to keep rotor RPM relative and stable at all wind speeds. A wind diverter keeps wind flowing through rotors with out wind back up or bottleneck. An onboard trip computer responds in like sequence in union with the wind monitor and rotors through out each trip. The onboard trip computer is designed to maintain rotor RPM as if the transpiration was moving from 10 to 40 miles per hour. The pitch changes as the wind speed changes keeping the rotor RPM relative. Rotor brakes are to slow or stop rotors movement at any time for any reason. | 05-05-2011 |
20110101689 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING POWER IN A WIND TURBINE - A power converter for a wind turbine including an array of switching devices and a control module having a current damping device. The control module is configured to control a switching behavior of the array of switching devices and to receive a current having a first frequency component from the wind turbine. The current damping device is configured to reduce an amplitude of the first frequency component. | 05-05-2011 |
20110101690 | Wind farm and method for operation of a wind farm - A wind farm in which electrical power produced in the wind farm is transported via a wind-farm-internal network to a substation. Upon being transferred to an external network, the electrical power is transformed to a voltage which is higher by a selectable step-up ratio than the voltage in the wind-farm-internal network. The electrical load level on a wind energy installation in the wind farm is determined, and the step-up ratio is adjusted as a function of the electrical load level. Accordingly, it is possible to influence the voltage in the wind-farm-internal network such that the wind energy installations are subject to a lower electrical load level. | 05-05-2011 |
20110101691 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND METHOD OF ESTIMATING WIND DIRECTION IN WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - Yaw control is performed such that a nacelle faces into an actual main wind direction. The actual wind direction is estimated by detecting the main wind direction with an anemoscope (wind direction detecting means), assuming the actual wind direction by assuming a wind direction offset value, which is a deviation between the main wind direction and the actual wind direction, which is a direction of wind which blows in actual use, at a predetermined wind speed with a wind direction assuming unit (wind direction assuming means), calculating an average generator output power for a predetermined period of time in the assumed actual wind direction with an average-generator-output-power calculation unit (average-generator-output-power calculation means), approximating the average generator output power with respect to the assumed wind direction offset value to a quadratic curve with an actual wind direction estimation unit (actual wind direction estimation means), and estimating the wind direction offset value at the time when the average generator output power is the maximum in the approximated quadratic curve to be an actual offset value. | 05-05-2011 |
20110101692 | AIRBORNE WIND POWERED GENERATOR - A wind powered generator is described that may take advantage of the strong wind present at higher altitudes above terrain than can feasibly be reached by traditional tower mounted wind generators. It makes use of a combination of lift sources. The generator comprises an envelope filled with a lifting gas that enables the system to rise in little or no wind, and wings that provide additional lift when there is wind, to thereby prevent the wind from blowing the tethered generator to the ground. The airborne wind powered generator is able to both rise aloft and land unattended. Power is extracted from the wind by means of turbine rotors that drive electric generators. | 05-05-2011 |
20110109085 | Power Oscillation Damping Employing a Full or Partial Conversion Wind Turbine - A wind turbine ( | 05-12-2011 |
20110109086 | Wind Energy Installation and Method of Controlling the Output Power from a Wind Energy Installation - A wind energy installation and a method of controlling the output power from a wind energy installation to an electrical grid with a specified nominal grid frequency are provided, in which the output power is controlled as a function of the time derivative of the grid frequency. | 05-12-2011 |
20110115224 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AT LEAST ONE ADJUSTMENT MECHANISM OF A WIND TURBINE, A WIND TURBINE AND A WIND PARK - Method for controlling at least one adjustment mechanism of a wind turbine, said method comprising the steps of: establishing at least one load or operational value of the wind turbine, choosing a combination of at least two control strategies from a set of different control strategies based on the established at least one load or operational value, and applying the chosen combination of control strategies to control said at least one adjustment mechanism. The invention also relates to a wind turbine and a wind park. | 05-19-2011 |
20110121570 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A TETHERED FLYING CRAFT USING TETHER ATTACHMENT POINT MANIPULATION - A tethered airborne electrical power generation system which may utilize a strutted frame structure with airfoils built into the frame to keep wind turbine driven generators which are within the structure airborne. The primary rotors utilize the prevailing wind to generate rotational velocity. Electrical power generated is returned to ground using a tether that is also adapted to fasten the flying system to the ground. The flying system is adapted to be able to use electrical energy to provide power to the primary turbines which are used as motors to raise the system from the ground, or mounting support, into the air. The system may use an attachment mechanism for the tether adapted to move the tether attachment point relative to the flying craft. | 05-26-2011 |
20110127772 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND ITS CONTROL METHOD - There is provided a yaw control technique for a wind turbine generator that can decrease the magnitude of the wind direction deviation even though the wind direction changes gradually over an extended period of time while suppressing an increase in the number of yaw rotations. Further, there is provided a yaw control technique for a wind turbine generator that can improve the efficiency of a wind turbine generator by performing yaw rotation at an appropriate timing through early detection of transitional changes in the wind direction. The wind turbine generator includes a nacelle in which a wind turbine rotor is mounted, a rotating mechanism that performs yaw rotation of the nacelle, a wind direction measuring means that measures a wind direction, and a controller that controls the rotating mechanism. The controller calculates the wind direction deviation from the direction of the wind turbine rotor and the wind direction measured by the wind direction measuring means, and performs yaw rotation of the nacelle by the rotating mechanism when any one of the following conditions (1) and (2) is satisfied. The conditions (1) and (2) include (1) a state where the absolute value of the wind direction deviation is not less than a first threshold (or a state where the absolute value of the wind direction deviation exceeds a first threshold) continues for a predetermined first duration, and (2) a state where the absolute value of the wind direction deviation is not less than a second threshold larger than the first threshold (or a state where the absolute value of the wind direction deviation exceeds a second threshold) continues for a second duration shorter than the first duration. Assuming that the current time is denoted by t | 06-02-2011 |
20110133453 | MULTIPLE GENERATOR WIND TURBINE AND METHOD OF OPERATION THEREOF - A wind turbine and method of operation thereof uses a plurality of generators and a controller to control the operation of the turbine based on various parameters. The generators are each smaller than the total power capacity of the turbine and the controller adds more generators or removes generators based on the speed of the rotor. The controller loads and unloads the generators, which rotate continuously when the wind turbine is operating. | 06-09-2011 |
20110133454 | POWER GENERATION DEVICE - A portable power generation device includes a housing, an articulated cover, and a first device including rotor blades for producing electrical energy when exposed to a flow of air, the first device is adapted to be articulated between a range from a first stored position, wherein the rotor blades of the first device are disposed within the housing, and a second deployed position, wherein the rotor blades of the first device are disposed outside of the housing. The power generation device also includes a second device for producing electrical energy when exposed to a source of radiant light. | 06-09-2011 |
20110133455 | WIND TURBINE CABLE TWIST PREVENTION - A wind turbine having a nacelle, includes a Global Positioning System (“GPS”) sensor for determining a rotational displacement of the nacelle of the wind turbine. | 06-09-2011 |
20110133456 | WIND TURBINE BRAKE POWER GENERATION - A wind turbine, includes a tower for supporting a nacelle; a gearbox connected to an electrical generator arranged in the nacelle; a plurality of blades for rotating the gearbox and driving the generator; a brake disk for stopping rotation of at least one of the gearbox and the generator; and an auxiliary power source, driven by the brake disk, for generating power. | 06-09-2011 |
20110133457 | SYSTEM, DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR WIND TURBINE LOAD REDUCTION IN A COLD WEATHER ENVIRONMENT - A method for controlling an operation of a wind turbine. A meteorological condition is received from a meteorological sensor. An operating threshold value is calculated at least in part by applying a continuous function to the meteorological condition. An operation of the wind turbine is controlled based at least in part on the calculated operating threshold value. For example, the wind turbine may be disabled if a current wind speed exceeds a maximum wind speed that is calculated based on an ambient air temperature or ambient air density. | 06-09-2011 |
20110133458 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPTIMIZING WIND TURBINE OPERATION - A method for optimizing an operation of at least one wind turbine includes defining a plurality of test parameters that include a plurality of test points for at least one wind turbine operational parameter, wherein each test point includes a plurality of test values for the wind turbine operational parameter, and defining at least one test sequence of the plurality of test points. The method also includes initiating a test that executes the plurality of test points within the at least one randomized test sequence and measures at least one operating condition of the at least one wind turbine at each test point. | 06-09-2011 |
20110133459 | RETRO-FITTING A WIND ENERGY CONVERTER - A method for retro-fitting wind-energy conversion system includes disconnecting a first set of multiple windings from active circuitry; shorting together the first set of multiple windings; and connecting a second set of multiple windings to the active circuitry. | 06-09-2011 |
20110133460 | Control system and method for wind power generation plant - A control system and method for a wind power generation plant including one or more turbines disposed on an axis of rotation in a housing with walls formed by selectively adjustable louver panels is provided. | 06-09-2011 |
20110133461 | Operating Wind Turbines Under Converter Faults - A wind turbine is arranged to operate in a fully-functional converter mode and a faulty-converter mode. A plurality of converters are arranged to share electric current in the fully-functional converter mode. The converters are dimensioned not only to operate at nominal active current but to provide an over-current margin to enable reactive current to be produced on top of the nominal active current in the fully-functional converter mode. In the fully-functional converter mode the converters are caused to produce reactive current on top of the nominal active current. In response to a fault of one or more of the converters, operation is changed from the fully-functional converter mode to the faulty-converter mode. In the faulty-converter mode, one or more other converters of the converter system are caused to produce additional active current by using their over-current margin to compensate at least partly for a reduction of active-current production due to the fault of one of the converters, and to reduce the reactive-current production by the other converter correspondingly. | 06-09-2011 |
20110140418 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - A wind turbine generator capable of preventing a salt damage and reducing noise as well as easily starting in a cold region is provided. The wind turbine generator includes a nacelle ( | 06-16-2011 |
20110140419 | WIND POWER ELECTRICITY GENERATING SYSTEM AND RELATIVE CONTROL METHOD - A wind power electricity generating system having a nacelle; a rotary assembly rotating about an axis with respect to the nacelle; and an angular speed detection device having at least one image sensor facing a surface of the rotary assembly. | 06-16-2011 |
20110140420 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE - A method for controlling operation of a floating wind turbine is described. The floating wind turbine includes a wind turbine generator coupled to a support tower. The method includes measuring a tower inclination, determining an operating parameter control value based on at least the measured tower inclination, and adjusting wind turbine operation based at least partially on the operating parameter control value. | 06-16-2011 |
20110140421 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE, COIL ARRANGEMENT FOR AN ELECTRIC MACHINE, AND CONTROLLER FOR A WIND TURBINE - The disclosure concerns a method for operating a wind turbine having a generator, the generator having for each phase a plurality of coils, wherein the plurality of coils of each phase includes at least one group of coils including at least two coils, the group of coils including at least two subgroups including at least one coil, wherein the generator has a first state in which the coils of the group of coils are electrically connected in series, and, the generator has a second state in which the at least two subgroups are switched electrically in parallel; the method including: changing the state of the generator. Further, the disclosure concerns a coil arrangement for an electric machine for a wind turbine, the electrical machine having for each phase a plurality of coils, wherein the plurality of coils of each phase includes at least one group of coils including at least two coils, the group of coils including at least two subgroups including at least one coil, wherein the electrical machine has a first state in which the coils of the group of coils are electrically connected in series, and, the electrical machine has a second state in which the at least two subgroups are switched electrically in parallel. | 06-16-2011 |
20110140422 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A PROXIMITY SENSOR OF A WIND TURBINE - The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling at least one proximity sensor of a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising a rotor shaft, the at least one proximity sensor being adapted to measure a radial displacement of the rotor shaft; the method includes: providing at least one reference value, detecting an output of the at least one proximity sensor, the output depending on a measured distance by the respective proximity sensor; comparing the detected output of the proximity sensor with at least one reference value. Further, the present relates to a control arrangement for a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising a wind rotor shaft; wherein the control arrangement comprises at least one proximity sensor being adapted to measure a radial displacement of the rotor shaft, wherein the at least one proximity sensor is adapted to generate an output signal depending on a measured distance by the respective proximity sensor; wherein the control arrangement further comprises a control device, the control device being adapted to receive the output signal of the at least one proximity sensor, wherein the control device is adapted to compare the output signal with at least one reference value. Finally, the present disclosure relates to a wind turbine comprising a control arrangement. | 06-16-2011 |
20110140423 | WIND TURBINE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE - The present disclosure relates to a method for operating a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising a wind rotor having at least one rotor blade and a generator connected to the wind rotor, wherein the generator is adapted to be connected to a grid, wherein the method comprises: adjusting at least one wind turbine parameter to increase the rotational speed of the wind rotor; increasing the rotational speed of the wind rotor; during increasing of the rotational speed of the wind rotor determining if the wind turbine would exceed a predetermined amount of energy to be fed into the grid at the actual wind rotor rotational speed; and during increasing of the rotational speed of the wind rotor connecting the wind turbine to the grid if determining that the wind turbine would exceed the predetermined amount of energy to be fed into the grid. Further, the present disclosure relates to a wind turbine comprising a wind rotor, wherein the wind rotor is mechanically connected to a generator for transmitting the rotational power of the wind rotor having at least one rotor blade to the rotor of the generator, wherein the output current of the generator is adapted to be selectively connected to a grid by a circuit breaker, the wind turbine further comprising a control device adapted to close or to trip the circuit breaker, wherein the control device is adapted to perform the method disclosed herein. | 06-16-2011 |
20110140424 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE, METHOD FOR DETERMINING THE TEMPERATURE OF A PERMANENT MAGNET AND CONTROLLER FOR A WIND TURBINE - The disclosure concerns a method for operating a wind turbine having an electrical system, the electrical system comprises a permanent magnet generator having a rotor and a stator, and a power electronic device electrically connected to the permanent magnet generator, wherein the power electronic device and a circuit breaker are electrically disposed in series between the permanent magnet generator and a grid, wherein the permanent magnet generator has permanent magnets and a generator winding into which a voltage is induced by the permanent magnets when the rotor is rotating, the method comprising: generating a signal for tripping the circuit breaker based on a field modification that is modifying the field of the permanent magnets of the permanent magnet generator. Further, the disclosure concerns a method for determining the temperature of at least one permanent magnet of a permanent magnet machine and a controller for a wind turbine. | 06-16-2011 |
20110140425 | Method and System For Controlling Wind Turbine Rotational Speed - A wind turbine includes a drive train and a brake configured to reduce a rotational speed of the drive train. The wind turbine also includes a brake control system operatively coupled to the brake. The brake control system is configured to selectively operate the brake based on an oscillational characteristic of at least one component of the wind turbine. | 06-16-2011 |
20110140426 | WIND TURBINE HAVING VARIABLE HEIGHT AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME - A wind turbine includes a rotor having a hub and at least one rotor blade, wherein the operating height of the hub is adjustable. Further, a method for operating a wind turbine is provided, which includes varying the height of the wind turbine. | 06-16-2011 |
20110140427 | SYSTEM, DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED MONITORING AND OPERATION OF WIND TURBINES - A method for use in operating one or more wind turbines is provided. An exception condition and, optionally, one or more parameters are received from a wind turbine controller. A correction is determined based at least in part on the exception condition and/or the parameters. The correction is applied, facilitating resolution of the exception condition. The method may be practiced for multiple wind turbine controllers, such as the wind turbine controllers within a site or the wind turbine controllers within multiple sites. | 06-16-2011 |
20110140428 | MONITORING AND CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHOD AND WIND POWER PLANT EQUIPPED WITH THE SAME - It is an object to reduce influence on a utility grid by reducing a rapid change in active power, and to extend the life of a wind power plant while controlling active power output in response to a request from the utility grid. A monitoring and control apparatus applied to a wind power plant including a plurality of wind turbine generators includes an electric power control unit that controls the wind turbine generators so as to reduce output of the wind power plant in a stepwise manner, when an active power reduction request from a utility grid side is output. | 06-16-2011 |
20110140429 | SYSTEMS FOR CONTACTLESS POWER TRANSFER - A system includes a first coil mechanically coupled to a first component and electrically coupled to a power source. The system further includes a second coil mechanically coupled to a second component and configured to receive power from the first coil via a magnetic field. At least one of the first and second components includes a rotatable component. The system also includes a field focusing element disposed between the first coil and the second coil and configured as a self resonant coil having a standing wave current distribution to focus the magnetic field onto the second coil and enhance the coupling between the first coil and the second coil. | 06-16-2011 |
20110140430 | Method and System for Providing Increased Turbine Output for Doubly Fed Induction Generator - A system and method for supplying increased frequency supporting current from a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) to assist in maintaining grid stability is provided. The output capability of a line side converter associated with the DFIG is enhanced by significantly increasing the current handling capacity of electric switches forming the converter. A dynamic brake is also provided across a DC link bus coupling the line side converter to another converter coupled to the rotor of the DFIG. The dynamic brake is controlled based on the voltage across the DC link bus. | 06-16-2011 |
20110140431 | WIND TURBINE FARM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING AT LEAST ONE WIND TURBINE - A method of controlling a wind turbine that includes at least one rotor shaft and at least one blade operatively coupled to the rotor shaft includes measuring a first wind turbine operational condition that is representative of a blade deflection value and generating a first operational condition signal based on that first wind turbine operational condition. The wind turbine also includes a drive train including at least one rotor shaft and an electric generator. The method also includes measuring at least one second wind turbine operational condition and generating at least one second operational condition signal. The method further includes changing the blade deflection value by changing the second operational condition. | 06-16-2011 |
20110140432 | CONTROL METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR A WIND POWER INSTALLATION IN CASE OF GRID FAULTS - The present invention relates to a method and system for controlling a wind power installation connected to an electrical power grid, in case of a fault in said grid. | 06-16-2011 |
20110140433 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A VARIABLE SPEED WIND TURBINE - in a method of controlling a variable speed wind turbine, said wind turbine comprising a double-fed asynchronous generator having rotor windings and stator windings and means for controlling the wind turbine speed, the method comprises the following steps:—measuring or calculating, based on measured parameters, the active electrical power (P | 06-16-2011 |
20110148110 | Monitoring of blade frequencies of a wind turbine - A method for monitoring blade frequencies of a wind turbine and a monitoring system are provided. An accelerometer is attached to a rotating hub of a wind turbine measuring vibrations of the hub. To extract vibration signals originating from each blade, the vibration signals are combined with measuring signals from the azimuth angle sensor. Alternatively, the azimuth angle is found by using the measured accelerations in two directions representing the centrifugal forces and vibrating forces of the hub and feeding these signals into a phase locked loop unit establishing a phase of the rotating hub representing the azimuth angle. To extract each blade frequency, a Fast Fourier Transformation is used on the signals from the accelerometer. To monitor a severe change in each blade frequency, each blade frequency is compared to other blade frequencies and an alarm is set when a given level is reached and the wind turbine is stopped. | 06-23-2011 |
20110148111 | TURBINE - The invention concerns a turbine driving a power conversion means, the power conversion means comprising several power conversion units, preferably of approximately similar power conversion capacity, that have coupling means for coupling the power conversion units to the turbine, the turbine having measuring means for determining the rotation speed of the turbine and/or a flow speed of the turbine driving flow of wind or water and a control system for controlling the coupling means in dependence of the determined rotation speed and/or flow speed. In accordance with the invention the control system has means for activating and deactivating the coupling means for the different the power conversion units so that the power conversion units are used equally. | 06-23-2011 |
20110148112 | Control System and a Method for Controlling a Wind Turbine - A control system for controlling operation of a wind turbine, a wind turbine having such a control system and a method for controlling a wind turbine are disclosed. The control system comprises a first sensor device and a second sensor device, each being arranged for measuring the same control parameter used for controlling operation of the wind turbine. The first sensor device has a first set of operating failure conditions, and the second sensor device has a second set of operating failure conditions. The first set of operating failure conditions comprises at least one operating failure condition which does not form part of the second set of operating failure conditions. The system further comprises a third sensor device for detecting an operating failure condition of the first sensor device and/or of the second sensor device. The control system is adapted to select between controlling operation of the wind turbine on the basis of control parameters measured by the first sensor device or on the basis of control parameters measured by the second sensor device, based on measurements performed by means of the third sensor device. Thereby a redundant system for measuring the control parameter is obtained, allowing reliable measurements of the control parameter, even under conditions where the first sensor device fails. | 06-23-2011 |
20110148113 | VIBRATION DAMPING OF WIND TURBINE SHAFT - A damper which effectively dampens vibrations experienced by a shaft in a drive train of a wind turbine generator, such as a main shaft of the WTG, is disclosed. The damper includes a vibration sensor adapted to provide a vibration signal in response to the vibrations of the shaft, an electromagnet adapted to provide an electromagnetic force to the shaft, and a controller operably coupled to the vibration sensor and the electromagnet. The controller is adapted to generate command signals to provide a suitable drive current to the electromagnet in response to the vibration signal, and the electromagnet is adapted to provide an electromagnetic force to the shaft and thereby actively dampen the vibrations of the shaft. | 06-23-2011 |
20110148114 | Method and System for Operating a Wind Power Plant Comprising a Number of Wind Turbine Generators - This invention relates to a method and a system for operating a wind power plant ( | 06-23-2011 |
20110148115 | DEEP OFFSHORE FLOATING WIND TURBINE AND METHOD OF DEEP OFFSHORE FLOATING WIND TURBINE ASSEMBLY, TRANSPORTATION, INSTALLATION AND OPERATION - A deep off-shore floating wind turbine apparatus and methods of manufacturing, operating, maintaining, protecting and conveying the wind turbine apparatus. The wind turbine includes a rotor converting a motion of air into a movement of the rotor, a hub housing equipment that transforms the movement of the rotor into a useful form of energy, and a tower supporting the hub on one end. The wind turbine further includes a base floating substantially at water surface and movable with respect to the underlying solid surface. The tower is connected to the floating base on the second end. The wind turbine also includes a tilting mechanism tilting the wind turbine into a substantially horizontal orientation and bringing it back into an upright position, as well as a rotating mechanism operable to control azimuth orientation of the wind turbine. | 06-23-2011 |
20110156388 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR SYSTEM - It is an object to provide a wind turbine generator system that can promptly restore the system voltage in the event of, for example, a low voltage phenomenon. A controller | 06-30-2011 |
20110156389 | WIND TURBINE CONTROL METHOD - The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine of the type including a rotor, a generator, a frequency converter, a control unit and means for connecting to a wind farm grid, using means for receiving a local voltage reference value (V | 06-30-2011 |
20110156390 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE - The proposed invention describes an alternative for machines with at least one power unit ( | 06-30-2011 |
20110156391 | POWER PRODUCTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - A control system for an energy production facility includes a plant controller for receiving an indication of a measured power output of the energy production facility that includes power generators and produces output signals. The system also includes a processing unit operably coupled to the plant controller and responsive to executable computer instructions when executed on the processing unit cause the plant controller to: create an output signal that causes an energy storage device to discharge in the event power reserves of the power generators can not met the requested ramp down rate; and create an output signal that causes the energy storage device to charge up in the event that the power capability of the power generators can meet the requested ramp down rate. | 06-30-2011 |
20110156392 | WIND TURBINE CONTROL - Wind turbine systems and methods are provided. The wind turbine system includes a plurality of coaxial, counter-rotating turbine assemblies. First and second shroud assemblies define a generally spherical volume containing the first and second turbine assemblies. The first and second shroud assemblies each include a shroud member that is controlled in response to information from a wind sensor to selectively shield or expose portions of the respective turbine assemblies to the wind by changing the rotational position of the shroud members about the system axis. The turbine assemblies are interconnected to a generator for the production of electrical power. | 06-30-2011 |
20110156393 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR, ACTIVE DAMPING METHOD THEREOF, AND WINDMILL TOWER - A wind turbine generator, an active damping method thereof, and a windmill tower in which vibrations of the wind turbine generator itself or the windmill tower can be reduced at low cost are provided. The acceleration due to vibrations of a nacelle is detected with an accelerometer attached to the nacelle. In an active damping unit, a pitch angle of windmill blades for generating a thrust on the windmill blades so as to cancel out the vibrations of the nacelle is calculated on the basis of the acceleration, and the pitch angle is output as a blade-pitch-angle command δθ* for damping. On the other hand, in a pitch-angle control unit, a pitch angle of the windmill blades for controlling the output to be a predetermined value is calculated, and the pitch angle is output as a blade-pitch-angle command θ* for output control. The blade-pitch-angle command δθ* for damping is combined with the blade-pitch-angle command θ* for output control using a subtracter. The pitch angle of the windmill blades is controlled on the basis of the resulting blade-pitch-angle command after combining. | 06-30-2011 |
20110163543 | SIGNAL LINE WIRING IN NACELLE OF WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - A wind turbine generator includes: a nacelle provided with a plurality of modules; a controller provided in a first module out of the plurality of modules; a first device provided in a second module out of the plurality of modules. The controller and the first device are connected with a device-side connection mechanism and a controller-side connection mechanism to allow electrical communications between the controller and the first device. The device-side connection mechanism includes: a first connection element; and a first multicore cable including a plurality of signal lines with one end connected to the controller and the other end connected to the first connection element. The device-side connection mechanism provides an electrical connection between the first connection element and the first device. | 07-07-2011 |
20110163544 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A POWER DISSIPATING UNIT IN A WIND TURBINE - A variable speed wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine comprises a generator, a power converter for converting at least a portion of electrical power generated by the generator wherein the power converter comprises a generator side converter, a grid side converter and a DC (direct current) link therebetween, a power dissipating unit operatively coupled to the DC link and a controller. The controller is adapted to determine a DC link voltage error signal, the DC link voltage error signal being the difference between a function of an actual DC link voltage and a function of a predefined reference DC link voltage, determine a DC link error power based on the DC link voltage error signal, determine a feed forward power and generate a duty ratio for operating the power dissipating unit based on the DC link error power and the feed forward power. | 07-07-2011 |
20110163545 | WIND TURBINE FOR WIND POWER GENERATION - A wind turbine for wind power generation accommodated a heat-generating device therein is always properly cooled by accurately detecting clogging of a filter. A wind turbine accommodates a heat-generating device and includes a column disposed in an upright position on a foundation, a nacelle disposed on a top end of the column, and a rotor head supported by the nacelle so as to be rotatable about a substantially horizontal axis, and the wind turbine includes an intake which is provided in an outer surface of the wind turbine and through which outside air is taken into the wind turbine to cool the heat-generating device; an exhaust which is provided in the outer surface of the wind turbine and through which air inside the wind turbine is discharged outside the wind turbine; an impurity-removing mechanism disposed in a flow path of air from the intake to the exhaust to remove impurities contained in the outside air; and a control unit for determining the condition of the impurity-removing mechanism by comparing, as a parameter serving as a criterion for determining the condition of the impurity-removing mechanism, latest data obtained while a wind speed outside the wind turbine is substantially stable with reference value data input in advance and serving as a reference. | 07-07-2011 |
20110163546 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A POWER DISSIPATING UNIT IN A WIND TURBINE - A variable speed wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine comprises a generator, a power converter for converting at least a portion of electrical power generated by the generator wherein the power converter comprises a generator side converter, a grid side converter and a DC (direct current) link therebetween, a power dissipating unit operatively coupled to the DC link and a controller. The controller is adapted to determine a DC link voltage error signal, the DC link voltage error signal being the difference between a function of an actual DC link voltage and a function of a predefined reference DC link voltage, determine a DC link error power based on the DC link voltage error signal, determine a feed forward power and generate a duty ratio for operating the power dissipating unit based on the DC link error power and the feed forward power. | 07-07-2011 |
20110175352 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A VARIABLE SPEED WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - Methods of controlling a variable speed wind turbine generator connected to a power grid. The method may include measuring the frequency, f, of the power grid, controlling the speed of the generator for optimizing the power delivered to the power grid, and setting limits for the generator speed. The setting of the limits for the generator speed is performed in dependency of the measured frequency of the power grid. This provides a dynamical set of limits providing improved possibilities of optimizing the power production. | 07-21-2011 |
20110175353 | Wind farm power control based on matrix reflecting a power load distribution between individual wind turbines - A method for controlling the operation of a wind farm with a plurality of wind turbines is disclosed A setpoint vector is defined, wherein each component of the setpoint vector represents an individual power setpoint of one of the plurality of wind turbines. A dependency matrix, which reflects a desired power generation distribution between different wind turbines of the plurality of wind turbines, is determined. A power reference vector is calculated by multiplying the dependency matrix with the setpoint vector, such that the power reference vector comprises a coordinated power setpoint for each wind turbine. The operation of the wind farm is controlled based on the calculated power reference vector. A superordinate control system, a wind farm, a computer-readable medium and a program element, which are adapted for performing and/or for controlling the above described wind farm operation control method are further disclosed. | 07-21-2011 |
20110175354 | Method and a controlling arrangement for controlling an AC generator - The present disclosure relates to a method and a controller for controlling an AC generator which is used in convection with a wind turbine having variable speed. The multi-phase generator is connected to a controllable converter and is controlled to provide a desired power or a desired torque. An AC reference signal is generated, which would provide the desired power or torque. A P+Resonant converter may be used to control an electrical characteristic of the generator in view of the reference, by applying control signals to the controllable converter. Thereby, the need to transform the electrical characteristic into a rotating frame may be eliminated which provides for a less complex controller. | 07-21-2011 |
20110175355 | TURBINE FARM HAVING AN AUXILIARY POWER SUPPLY - A turbine farm comprises a plurality of individual turbines each having an auxiliary component circuit. The farm further comprises; a master transformer arranged to be coupled between each of the plurality of individual turbines and an electrical grid and an auxiliary transformer coupled between the sub-station transformer and the auxiliary component circuit in each of the individual turbines. When in use power is transmitted from the sub-station transformer back to each auxiliary component circuit. | 07-21-2011 |
20110175356 | CONTROL OF WIND PARK NOISE EMISSION - According to the present invention is provided a method of control of noise emission from a wind park in operation, the wind park comprising a plurality of wind turbines. The method comprises the steps of•providing measurements of at least one wind speed and of at least one wind direction to a park noise emission emulation module including for each of two or more of the plurality of wind turbines a wind turbine noise emission model being suitable for producing a prediction of noise emission from the wind turbine as a function of at least one operational characteristic, the geographical position of each of the plurality of wind turbines, and the geographical position of at least one noise immission point,•emulating the noise level at the at least one noise immission point as a result of noise emitted by the plurality of wind turbines, and•controlling the operation of the wind park from the result of the emulation so as to prevent the noise level at the at least one noise immission point from exceeding a predetermined threshold level. Furthermore, the invention relates to a wind park. | 07-21-2011 |
20110181045 | MONITORING DEVICE FOR PITCH SYSTEMS OF WIND ENERGY SYSTEMS - A wind energy installation, monitoring device, and method. An exemplary wind energy installation includes a rotor including at least one blade and a generator configured to be driven by the rotor to produce electrical energy. The installation also includes a pitch device configured to vary the at least one blade of the rotor. The pitch device includes a power supply unit with a battery, an actuating drive, a monitoring unit, and a load module configured to switch the actuating drive between an operating mode and a test mode. In the test mode, the actuating drive forms a preselectable defined load for the battery. Accordingly, a high and reproducible load not dependent upon environmental conditions may be applied to conduct a stress test, even during ongoing operation. | 07-28-2011 |
20110187103 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING OUTPUT OF THE SAME - It is an object to supply, to the utmost extent, reactive power according to a demand of a utility grid side while maintaining the power factor within a predetermined range. The wind turbine generator system includes a main controller | 08-04-2011 |
20110187104 | PITCH DRIVE APPARATUS OF WIND GENERATOR AND WIND GENERATOR - The invention provides a pitch drive apparatus of a wind generator and the wind generator capable of, with a simple structure, preventing reliability of the pitch drive apparatus from being deteriorated. The wind generator includes a wind turbine rotor blade having a blade root mounted so as to be turnable around an axis center O with respect to a rotor head, and a pitch drive apparatus for turning and driving the wind turbine rotor blade around the axis center O to change a pitch angle thereof. The pitch drive apparatus has an electric cylinder functioning as a linear actuator. | 08-04-2011 |
20110187105 | MAINTENANCE OPERATION METHOD FOR WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - The present invention provides a maintenance operation method for a wind turbine generator and a wind turbine generator, which can effectively utilize a phase advance capacitor equipped in the wind turbine generator and contribute to the phase factor improvement of the system side. A maintenance operation method for a wind turbine generator including an induction generator | 08-04-2011 |
20110187106 | WIND-TURBINE-GENERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM, WIND FARM, AND WIND-TURBINE-GENERATOR CONTROL METHOD - A wind-turbine control system is provided for each of a plurality of wind turbine generators constituting a wind farm, sends wind-turbine data about a controlled wind turbine generator to the wind-turbine control systems provided for the other wind turbine generators, and receives wind-turbine data about the other wind turbine generators from the wind-turbine control systems provided for the other wind turbine generators. Then, the wind-turbine control system controls the controlled wind turbine generator based on the wind-turbine data about the controlled wind turbine generator and the wind-turbine data about the other wind turbine generators. Therefore, the control of the wind turbine generators constituting the wind farm can be changed more swiftly according to the operational condition of the wind farm. | 08-04-2011 |
20110187107 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - A wind turbine generator capable of easily stopping wind turbine blades at an appropriate position in a short time is provided. A pitch control device controls the pitch angle to a feather side to reduce the rotational speed of the wind turbine blades to a predetermined speed upon receiving a stop signal instructing stopping the rotation of the wind turbine blades, and, on the basis of a detection result of an angle detection device, a brake disc and a brake device are driven and controlled so that the rotation of the wind turbine blades is stopped at a desired position. | 08-04-2011 |
20110187108 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - When a rotor is suddenly accelerated, a wind turbine generator is stopped without exerting a mechanical impact on both a tower and wind turbine blades. When the rotational speed of a wind turbine rotor is suddenly accelerated, a control unit controls the driving speed of the blades so as to change from high speed to low speed, stepwise or continuously, when a pitch-angle control unit drives the pitch angle of the blades to a feathering side. | 08-04-2011 |
20110187109 | Wind Power Generation Apparatus, Wind Power Generation System and Power System Control Apparatus - A power system control apparatus which controls a power system electrically connected to a wind power generation apparatus having a wind turbine which receives wind and rotates, a generator which generates electric power by the rotating wind turbine, and a power converter which converts the electric power generated by the generator. The power system control apparatus includes a voltage detector for detecting a voltage of the power system, a reactive power command value generation unit for generating a reactive power command value from a voltage detection value of the voltage detector, and a transmission unit for transmitting the reactive power command value to the wind power generation apparatus. Output fluctuation of the generator is suppressed, and reactive power according to the reactive power command value is transmitted from the wind power generation apparatus to the power system. | 08-04-2011 |
20110193343 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND BLADE PITCH ANGLE CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - The present invention provides a wind turbine generator and a blade pitch angle control method thereof in which an aerodynamic imbalance of a wind turbine rotor at the time of shutdown is further reduced, the maximum load of a wind turbine is further reduced, and the wind turbine generator can be reduced in weight and cost. The wind turbine generator includes a collective pitch angle controller | 08-11-2011 |
20110193344 | Control Network for Wind Turbine Park - A wind park comprising a plurality of wind turbines that are coupled to each other via a control network. Control data, for example, data derived from sensors may be exchanged between the wind turbines via the control network, thereby allowing the wind turbines of the wind park to adjust operational parameters based on data received from other wind turbines of the wind park. | 08-11-2011 |
20110193345 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - An object is to provide a wind turbine generator that is capable of continuously operating an auxiliary unit even when a grid fault occurs. Provided is a wind turbine generator including an auxiliary-unit breaker provided in a power line that connects an auxiliary unit to a power grid, wherein the auxiliary-unit breaker has a current-resisting capacity within a range that tolerates a current that flows in a low-voltage event and does not exceed a tolerable current of a motor provided in the auxiliary unit. | 08-11-2011 |
20110198846 | VARIABLE-SPEED POWER GENERATOR AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - Reactive power is supplied in accordance with a reactive-power supply instruction from a power grid while ensuring a variable-speed range of a wound-rotor induction generator. A variable-speed power generator includes a prime mover that generates motive power by using natural energy; an electric generator that includes a stator having a primary winding and a rotor having a secondary winding, the stator and the rotor being connected to a power grid, and that generates electric power based on the motive power generated by the prime mover; and a power converter connected to the stator and the rotor, wherein the power converter does not supply reactive power to the power grid, and wherein the variable-speed power generator includes a power-converter controller that causes the electric generator to operate at a rotation speed set to be higher than or equal to a synchronous speed and increases reactive power supplied to the power grid when a reactive-power supply instruction for supplying reactive power to the power grid is obtained from the power grid. | 08-18-2011 |
20110198847 | DISTRIBUTED ELECTRICAL GENERATION SYSTEM - A distributed electrical generation system includes a plurality of turbines, generators, diode bridges, transformers and high voltage diodes. The system further includes a HVDC-cable and a high voltage inverter bridge. Each turbine drives a respective one of a plurality of electrical generators producing an alternating current. Each electrical generator is electrically connected to an associated diode bridge and each diode bridge rectifies the alternating current to a direct current. Each diode bridge is electrically connected to an associated transformer and each transformer steps up the direct current to a high voltage direct current. Each transformer is electrically connected in parallel to a high voltage direct current cable by associated high voltage diodes. The high voltage direct current cable is electrically connected to the high voltage inverter bridge. The high voltage inverter bridge converts the direct current to alternating current. | 08-18-2011 |
20110204629 | Shadow Control of Wind Turbines - A rotor of a wind turbine may cast an intermittent shadow onto an object in the vicinity of the turbine. A shadow-control system stops the wind turbine, based on a shadow-related shut-down condition. The condition is based on a result of a comparison between a direct-light intensity and an indirect-light intensity being beyond a direct-to-indirect light threshold. A set of light sensors measures the direct- and indirect-light intensities. A sensor measures the direct light intensity when irradiated by the sun, and the indirect-light intensity when not irradiated by the sun. The set of light sensors to provide the measured direct- and indirect-light intensities for the comparison consists of two sensors, an eastward-oriented sensor and a westward-oriented sensor. | 08-25-2011 |
20110204630 | WIND POWER GENERATION SYSTEM AND OPERATION CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - The object is to reduce an output fluctuation in an interconnection node. Provided is an operation control method of a wind power generation system including a step of obtaining the output data of each wind turbine, a step of determining a correlation between output fluctuations of adjacent wind turbines by using output data, and a step of shifting, if a strong correlation is exhibited, a phase of output fluctuation of either one of the adjacent wind turbines by a period at which the strong correlation is exhibited. | 08-25-2011 |
20110204631 | HANDY TERMINAL FOR WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - A handy terminal for a wind turbine generator which the maintenance of the wind turbine generator, especially the maintenance work inside the nacelle, can be simplified while considering the safety of the maintenance operator. The handy terminal comprises a tower provided to stand on land or off-shore, a nacelle supported on the tower to be controlled to rotate in the yaw direction and a plurality of rotatable blades attached to the nacelle to be controlled to move their pitch, whereby the handy terminal is connectable to connecting ends respectively provided on the lower portion of the tower and the nacelle so as to perform various control of the wind turbine generator, the handy terminal further comprising: an operation button for generating operation signals for various control devices that are incorporated into a control circuit in the wind turbine generator; a display portion for displaying the operating state of the operation button; and a control portion for performing display control of the operation button, wherein the control portion of the operation button makes a mode selecting button to appear that selectively enables a maintenance mode or an operating mode of the wind turbine generator, and makes an operation button to appear that separately controls at least one of: a blade pitch control, a yaw brake control and an accessory motor provided on an oil circuit to control the blade pitch control and the yaw brake control that are incorporated in the wind turbine generator, correspondingly to a corresponding maintenance operation screen displayed on the display portion when the maintenance mode is selected from the selecting button. | 08-25-2011 |
20110204632 | Synchronous Induced Wind Power Generation System - A synchronous induced wind power generation system is provided, which is comprised of a rotatable turbine-generator section and a control system operable to rotate same in a direction corresponding to optimal wind conditions. The turbine-generator section has a horizontally disposed turbine therein in an interior area thereof, and orifices formed at either end thereof, with wider areas than the interior area, so as to form a funnel-like shape at either of the turbine-generator section. These funnel-shaped sections optimally funnel wind to the turbine, which is connected to a synchronous generator that runs at synchronous speed with an external power line in connection therewith. Further, turbine brakes are employed to modulate turbine power and speed, and the control system is operable to orient the turbine-generator section with respect to the direction of the wind and generation of power via control of the turbines and synchronous generator, and via receipt of sensor/detector data received from a plurality of sensors/detectors in communication therewith. | 08-25-2011 |
20110204633 | STARTING METHOD FOR ROTATING MACHINE AND STARTING METHOD FOR WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - A starting method is provided for a rotating machine which includes a main shaft, a main bearing rotatably supporting the main shaft and a main bearing lubricant pump circulating lubricant through the main bearing. The starting method includes steps of: rotating the main shaft to raise a temperature of the main bearing in a state in which the main bearing lubricant pump is not operated; and operating the main bearing lubricant pump to start supplying the lubricant to the main bearing after the step of raising the temperature of the main bearing. | 08-25-2011 |
20110204634 | Synchronous Induced Wind Power Generation System - A synchronous induced wind power generation system is provided, which is comprised of a horizontally rotatable turbine-generator section that wind vanes into the prevailing wind direction. The turbine-generator section has a horizontally disposed turbine therein, and air induction shrouds at either end thereof, the anterior areas of the air induction shrouds having larger areas than the interior area of the turbine-generator section, so as to induce a large differential air pressure across the turbine. The turbine is directly coupled to a synchronous AC generator that is synchronized with an external power line in connection therewith, and directly generates synchronous AC power. Further, turbine magnetic brakes are employed 1) during synchronization with the electrical line, 2) to modulate turbine power, and 3) to protect against overspeed during high wind and loss of load. | 08-25-2011 |
20110204635 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING WIND TURBINE POWER OUTPUT - A system and method for use in controlling a wind turbine's power output by a wind turbine controller. The method includes determining a predicted wind speed for the wind turbine, determining a current wind turbine power output, and determining a predicted wind turbine power output utilizing the predicted wind speed. The method also includes comparing the current wind turbine power output to the predicted wind turbine power output and adjusting the wind turbine power output based on the comparison of the current wind turbine power output and the predicted wind turbine power output. | 08-25-2011 |
20110204636 | WIND TURBINE AND OPERATING SAME - A method for operating a wind turbine erected in a body of water, comprising: measuring vibrations of the wind turbine during operation; identifying at least one periodic component of said measured vibrations, wherein said periodic component is associated with interaction of said body of water and said wind turbine; and, operating at least one controller of said wind turbine so that water-induced vibrations are reduced. | 08-25-2011 |
20110204637 | Apparatus For Coupling An Energy Storage System To A Variable Energy Supply System - A method for coupling an energy storage system to a variable energy supply system includes providing an energy storage system including at least one Vanadium redox battery and at least one battery charge controller. The method also includes electrically coupling the at least one battery charge controller to the variable energy supply system such that the at least one battery is configured to supply a substantially consistent energy output during fluctuating energy loads of the energy supply system. | 08-25-2011 |
20110204638 | WIND TURBINE WITH INTEGRATED ROTOR AND GENERATOR ASSEMBLY - A wind turbine and related methods for generating electrical current from wind energy. The wind turbine includes a rotatable substructure rotating about a vertical axis and a base assembly. A plurality of wind collectors are affixed to the periphery of the rotatable substructure and provide drag against wind passing the wind turbine to rotate the rotatable substructure. A plurality of permanent magnets are affixed to the rotatable substructure and rotate as the rotatable substructure turns. A plurality of wire windings are affixed to the base assembly such that the wire windings are exposed to magnetic fields of the permanent magnets as the substructure is rotated to generate an electrical current. The plurality of wire windings can be adapted to receive the electrical current and act as electromagnets for braking the rotatable substructure to slow or otherwise prevent the rotation of the rotatable substructure. | 08-25-2011 |
20110210549 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR ADJUSTING A YAW ANGLE OF A WIND TURBINE - A method of adjusting a yaw angle of a wind turbine. The wind turbine includes a nacelle that is rotatably coupled to a tower. The method includes coupling a yaw drive assembly to the nacelle for adjusting an orientation of the nacelle with respect to a direction of wind. A first sensor that is coupled to the wind turbine transmits at least a first monitoring signal that is indicative of an operating condition of the wind turbine to a control system. A yaw angle of the nacelle with respect to the direction of wind is calculated by the control system based at least in part on the first monitoring signal. The yaw drives assembly is operated to adjust a yaw of the nacelle based at least in part on the calculated yaw angle. | 09-01-2011 |
20110210550 | POWER GENERATION UNIT AND A METHOD GENERATING ELECTRIC ENERGY - The invention relates to a power generation unit. The unit has a turbine ( | 09-01-2011 |
20110210551 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR TESTING A MECHANICAL BRAKE OF A WIND ROTOR SHAFT OF A WIND TURBINE - The present disclosure relates to a method for testing a mechanical brake of a wind rotor shaft of a wind turbine, including: applying a predetermined desired brake torque to the mechanical brake; applying a predetermined drive torque to the wind rotor shaft by a motor; and, measuring a parameter indicative the rotational speed of the wind rotor shaft; and, determining the performance based on the measured value of parameter indicative for the rotational speed. | 09-01-2011 |
20110210552 | Asynchronous Power Generator for a Wind Turbine - An asynchronous power generator for a wind turbine is provided. The asynchronous power generator includes a voltage supply and a stator with stator coils supplied with an alternating voltage by the voltage supply. The voltage supply is configured to adjust the voltage supplied to the stator coils based upon an output power generated by the wind turbine. Further, a method of voltage control is provided. | 09-01-2011 |
20110210553 | Protection System of a Doubly-fed Induction Machine - The invention relates to a protection system of a doubly-fed induction machine, the system comprises a doubly-fed induction machine with a stator and a rotor, the stator of said doubly-fed induction machine is connected to a grid and the rotor of said doubly-fed induction machine is connected to the grid via a converter, said converter comprises a machine side converter, a DC-link and a line side converter. The system comprises additionally at least one crowbar, said crowbar is connected to the rotor, at least one DC-chopper provided in the DC-link, a converter controller and a separate protection device. The object of the present invention to provide a protection system and a protection method of a doubly-fed induction machine which can be easily used with high sampling rates and which provides a good protection for the doubly fed induction machine is resolved in that the DC-chopper and the crowbar are controlled with the separate protection device. | 09-01-2011 |
20110215576 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND METHOD OF CONTROLING THE SAME - The present invention provides a wind turbine generator and a method of controlling the same which can prevent the decline in power generation efficiency even when the generator is located where the wind is not always strong. The wind turbine generator mainly includes an anemometer, an anemoscope, a nacelle swiveling mechanism which turns a nacelle, and a control unit which controls the nacelle swiveling mechanism. The control unit controls the nacelle swiveling mechanism so as to swivel the nacelle based on the wind direction obtained from the measurement result of the anemoscope when the wind speed obtained from the measurement result of the anemometer is greater than a first threshold V | 09-08-2011 |
20110215577 | WIND TURBINE CONTROL METHODS FOR IMPROVING THE PRODUCTION OF ENERGY RECOVERING ENERGY LOSSES - Method of operation of a variable speed wind turbine ( | 09-08-2011 |
20110215578 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR SYSTEM - To shorten a startup interval to reach a synchronizing condition, a phase difference and an amplitude difference between the grid voltage and the stator voltage of one phase of a winding are obtained. The difference in amplitude is decreased prior to or in parallel to synchronizing the stator voltage with the grid voltage. The calculated compensation phase compensation value is used as an initial value for synchronizing at the next synchronizing operation. | 09-08-2011 |
20110221193 | WIND TURBINE AND POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM - A horizontal axis wind turbine for generating electrical energy for supply to an energy storage device having a limited energy storage capability. The wind turbine comprises: a rotor having a plurality of blades mechanically connected thereto for converting kinetic wind energy to rotation of the rotor at a rotational speed; a generator comprising a stationary portion and a rotatable portion connected to the rotor for interacting with the stationary portion to convert the rotation of the rotor into electrical energy for supply to the energy storage device; a sensor for sensing the rotational speed of the rotor and for outputting a signal indicative thereof and a braking system controllable to mechanically interact with the rotor to reduce the rotational speed of the rotor. The wind turbine further comprises processing circuitry operatively connected to the sensor and to the braking system for evaluating the signal output by the sensor and, if the rotational speed is above a predetermined threshold value, controlling the braking system to reduce the rotational speed through mechanical interaction with the rotor. | 09-15-2011 |
20110221194 | Rotational Speed Control of a Wind Turbine Based on Rotor Acceleration - It is described a method for controlling the rotational speed of a rotor of a wind turbine in particular at high wind speeds. The described method comprises (a) determining a rotor acceleration value, wherein the rotor acceleration value is caused by a temporal change of the rotational speed of the rotor, and (b) controlling the rotational speed of the rotor as a function of the rotor acceleration value. It is further described a control system for controlling the rotational speed of a rotor of a wind turbine, a wind turbine being equipped with such a control system and to a computer program, which is adapted for controlling and/or for carrying out the mentioned rotational speed control method. | 09-15-2011 |
20110221195 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POWER CONVERSION - A multilevel inverter is provided. The multilevel inverter includes a plurality of bridges, each bridge configured to receive a respective portion of an input DC power and convert the respective portion to a respective converted AC power. The multilevel inverter also includes at least one bridge controller for operating at least one of the plurality of bridges in a square waveform mode. The multilevel inverter further includes a plurality of transformers, each transformer coupled to a respective bridge and configured to increase a voltage level of the respective portion of converted AC power. The plurality of transformers further includes secondary windings coupled in series with the other secondary windings to combine the respective increased voltage level portions of the converted AC power. The multilevel inverter also includes a grid converter configured to provide output power for a power grid. | 09-15-2011 |
20110221196 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR WIND ENERGY SYSTEM - The description relates to generating power using wind energy. The current disclosure provides an opportunity to develop a new energy generating resource. According to some aspects, the apparatus uses a passive device to capture wind, and accelerate the wind toward a turbine and other fan or turbine blades to generate power in a confined structure. The foot print of the current design is scalable to individual users or businesses such as homes, industrial facilities, small business sites, as well as small power utilities such as wind farms. The passive devices to capture wind can have active electronic or mechanical controls to control the amount of wind flowing in the structure to generate power. | 09-15-2011 |
20110227342 | WIND TURBINE ROTOR AND METHOD OF CALIBRATING ROTOR BLADE PITCH - A wind turbine rotor comprising a hub with a rotor blade mounted to a bearing of the hub wherein the rotor blade has a longitudinal axis extending in a radial direction relative to an axis of rotation of the hub, and the rotor blade is rotatable about its longitudinal axis whereby the pitch of the rotor blade is adjustable, The rotor blade has a tag such as an RFID tag fixed on the rotor blade at a predetermined angular position about the longitudinal axis of the rotor blade; and a sensor is fixed on the hub for contactless sensing of the tag when the tag is in a predetermined angular position about the longitudinal axis of the rotor blade. Repeated and accurate calibration of rotor blade pitch is hereby made possible. | 09-22-2011 |
20110227343 | WIND POWER PLANT AND WIND-POWER-PLANT CONTROL METHOD - A wind power plant includes a wind turbine generator and an electrical storage device that supply electric power to a utility grid. A wind-turbine controller performs for the wind turbine generator an acoustic-noise suppression operation in which the rotational speed of blades is controlled in order to suppress acoustic noise, and also calculates a reduction in output power that is the difference in output power between the normal output power and the acoustic-noise-suppression output power. An electrical-storage-device controller causes the electrical storage device to be charged or discharged, based on the reduction in output power, the acoustic-noise-suppression output power, and the grid-demanded output power demanded from the utility grid. Therefore, the wind power plant can supply, to the utility grid, the electric power demanded from the utility grid even when the operation of suppressing the occurrence of acoustic noise is performed for the wind turbine generator. | 09-22-2011 |
20110241343 | Speed Setting System and Method for a Stall-Controlled Wind Turbine - A speed setting system that generates a speed control command for controlling the rotational speed of a stall-controlled wind turbine of a wind-powered machine. The speed setting system generates the speed command as a function of performance variation of the wind turbine due to environmental and/or other factors. The speed setting system utilizes a performance-compensation term that is slowly adjusted to compensate for relatively long-term performance variation. In one example, the performance-compensation term is adjusted only when the current power output of the wind turbine is at least 80% of the rated output power to ensure the wind speed is sufficiently high. | 10-06-2011 |
20110248499 | WIND TURBINE COMPRISING INSULATION MONITORING SYSTEM - The present invention concerns a wind turbine comprising a generator, a controller and a measurement equipment connected to the generator, the measurement equipment being adapted to measuring at least one quality parameter indicating the quality of generator insulation of the generator, and the measurement equipment being adapted to transmitting the at least one quality parameter to the controller, wherein the controller is adapted to evaluate the at least one quality parameter according to a quality criterion and set up an alarm signal in accordance with the evaluation. Further, the invention relates to a method for upgrading a wind turbine. | 10-13-2011 |
20110248500 | CONTROL OF A WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - A method for controlling a wind turbine generator is disclosed. The method comprises comparing an output power reference value and an actual output power value in a first control block with a first controller having a first control dynamics, comparing the output from the first control block with an actual generator shaft power value in a second control loop with a second controller having a second control dynamics, to determine a generator control signal, wherein the output power reference value is fed-forward and summed with the output of the first controller in the first control block. The disclosed method allows for fast reactions to changes in the output power reference value by the second controller regardless of the speed of the first controller. | 10-13-2011 |
20110248501 | Wind Power Plant - A method for moving a double-bladed rotor of a wind power plant into a parking position characterized by the orientation of the rotor blades in a horizontal plane and braking the rotor. | 10-13-2011 |
20110254272 | CYCLOID REDUCTION GEAR FOR WIND FORCE GENERATOR - A cycloid reduction gear for a wind force generator is provided. The wind force generator having generation blades and horizontal and vertical axes includes: a horizontal-axis reduction gear provided in a direction perpendicular to the vertical axis to rotate the generation blades in a horizontal direction; and a horizontal-axis rotation ring gear installed at the vertical axis and internally contacting with the horizontal axis reduction gear to rotate the vertical axis in a horizontal direction according to a rotation of the horizontal axis reduction gear. Thereby, the horizontal axis of the wind force generator can rotate according to a wind direction, and by combining and installing a reduction gear and a cycloid disk in the wind force generator, the horizontal axis moves in an appropriate reduced ratio and thus the wind force generator can stably operate according to a wind direction. | 10-20-2011 |
20110260454 | DEVICE FOR CONTROLLING A DOUBLE-FED ASYNCHRONOUS MACHINE - The invention relates to a device and method for controlling a double-fed asynchronous machine ( | 10-27-2011 |
20110260455 | VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE - A vertical axis wind turbine includes an upstanding support structure, a plurality of generators disposed on the support structure, a central shaft in rotatable communication with the generators and positioned along a central axis of the vertical-axis wind turbine, a plurality of struts extending from the central shaft, and a plurality of blades, each blade positioned at an end of a corresponding strut and oriented substantially vertically. The vertical axis wind turbine optionally includes strut ailerons, blade extension elements, or blade ailerons to increase the efficiency and duty cycle of the wind turbine. | 10-27-2011 |
20110266798 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND START-UP METHOD OF THE SAME - A start-up method of a wind turbine generator includes a step of increasing a pitch angle of a wind turbine blade from a feather pitch angle to a fine pitch angle. The step of increasing the pitch angle of the wind turbine blade includes steps of: determining based on first to n-th pitch angles (n≧2) greater than the feather pitch angle and smaller than the fine pitch angle and first to n-th rotational speed conditions associated with the first to n-th pitch angles, respectively, whether a control target rotational speed, which is a wind turbine speed or generator speed, satisfies the i-th rotational speed condition when the pitch angle reaches the i-th rotational speed out of the first to n-th pitch angles, the first to n-th pitch angles and the first to n-th rotational speed conditions being stored in a storage unit; decreasing the pitch angle to the (i−1)-th pitch angle or the feather pitch angle in a case that the control target rotational speed does not satisfy the i-th rotational speed condition when the pitch angle reaches the i-th pitch angle; and increasing the pitch angle to the (i+1)-th pitch angle or the fine pitch angle in a case that the control target rotational speed satisfies the i-th rotational speed condition when the pitch angle reaches the i-th pitch angle. | 11-03-2011 |
20110266799 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR SYSTEM - A wind turbine generator system can regulate the rotational velocity of the wind turbine within an operation range even when the wind velocity suddenly changes and can perform continuous operation of the wind turbine. The wind turbine generator system includes a generator connected to the shaft of the wind turbine and a converter connected to the generator. When the rotational velocity of the wind turbine is within a predetermined range, power outputted from the generator is controlled so as to follow the instruction concerning the generator output given from the wind turbine to the converter. When the rotational velocity of the wind turbine is out of the predetermined range, the power outputted from the generator is controlled without following the instruction concerning generator output given from the wind turbine to the converter. | 11-03-2011 |
20110266800 | PROTECTION CIRCUIT APPLIED TO WIND POWER GENERATION SYSTEM EMPLOYING DOUBLE-FED INDUCTION GENERATOR - There is provided a protection circuit that protects a power converter connected to a secondary winding of a double-fed induction generator, the protection circuit including a rectifying unit connected to the secondary winding and configured to rectify an electric power coming through the secondary winding, a power consumption unit configured to consume the electric power rectified by the rectifying unit, and a switching unit connected to the power consumption unit in series and configured to switch to adjust the electric power flowing into the power consumption unit. | 11-03-2011 |
20110285129 | WIND TURBINE AND A METHOD FOR MONITORING A WIND TURBINE - According to the inventive concept, there is provided a wind turbine with at least one blade. The wind turbine comprises a first accelerometer mounted at a first radial position of the blade and being adapted to determine a first acceleration value, and a second accelerometer mounted at a second radial position of the blade different from the first radial position, and the accelerometer being adapted to determine a second acceleration value. The wind turbine further comprises a controller adapted to generate a signal based on said first and second acceleration values. There is also provided a method for monitoring a blade of a wind turbine. | 11-24-2011 |
20110285130 | Power System Frequency Inertia for Wind Turbines - A wind turbine system and method are provided. The wind turbine system includes a wind turbine operable to supply wind power to an utility system; a synchronous generator coupled to the utility system; a grid measurement device arranged for measuring the current and power that is exchanged between the synchronous generator and the utility system; a controller for adjusting the output power of the wind turbine as a function of the power and current that is measured by the grid measurement device; and a means of communication between the grid measurement device, controller and/or the wind turbine, wherein the wind turbine is configured to provide current and power to the utility system as a function of the measured power and current of the grid measurement device. | 11-24-2011 |
20110291413 | MODULAR ELECTRIC GENERATOR FOR VARIABLE SPEED TURBINES - An electric power generation system may be constructed of multiple similar generator modules arranged between a rotor and a stator. The rotor may be coupled to and/or integrated with a turbine that is configured to rotate in the presence of a fluid stream such as wind or water. Each generator module may have a rotor portion configured to generate a magnetic field having at least one characteristic that changes with respect to the rotational speed of the rotor. Each generator module may further have a stator portion configured to generate an alternating electric current responsive to the magnetic field. The generated electric current may be controlled by the stator portion of the generator module in order to magnetically control the rotational speed of the rotor and the turbine. Separation between the rotor and stator portions of the generator module may be magnetically maintained. | 12-01-2011 |
20110291414 | WIND POWER GENERATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - Provided is a wind power generation system intending to suppress an increase of torque when a voltage in a utility grid is restored, and to reduce a load to devices due to the torque. The blade control unit controls the pitch angle of the wind turbine blades such that a rotation speed of the power generator becomes equal to or greater than a synchronous rotation speed when the power control unit de-actuates the operations of the converter and the inverter, and controls the pitch angle of the wind turbine blades such that the pitch angle matches a target pitch angle that is determined based on one of a wind speed, a rotation speed of the power generator, and a requested output power when the power control unit re-actuates the operations of the converter and the inverter. | 12-01-2011 |
20110291415 | WIND TURBINE AND METHOD FOR MONITORING THE GAP LENGTH BETWEEN A ROTOR AND A STATOR OF THE WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - Wind turbine comprising a generator section with a generator rotor and a generator stator. A first air gap is defined between a first surface of the generator rotor and the stator, and magnets and electro conductive windings are provided at opposite sides of the first air gap to create a magnetic field over the first air gap during operation. The wind turbine comprises distance measurement means arranged to measure the radial length of a second air gap defined between a second surface of the generator rotor and a stationary part of the generator section. The second air gap is located at a radial distance from the first air gap at a position where there is no interference of a magnetic field generated by the magnets over the first air gap, and the length of the second air gap corresponds directly to the length of the first air gap. This enables accurate measurement and monitoring of the air gap length. A method for monitoring the gap length between a rotor and a stator of a wind turbine generator is also disclosed. | 12-01-2011 |
20110291416 | USE OF PITCH BATTERY POWER TO START WIND TURBINE DURING GRID LOSS/BLACK START CAPABILITY - A method of operating a wind power plant during grid loss is disclosed. The method includes powering a blade pitch drive of the wind power plant by an energy storing unit, and adjusting the pitch of the rotor blades of the wind power plant by means of the blade pitch drive, wherein a rotor shaft keeps rotating and the wind power plant enters a self-sustaining power generating mode upon adjustment of the pitch of the blades. | 12-01-2011 |
20110298213 | HANDY TERMINAL FOR WIND TURBINE GENERATOR, WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND WIND POWER SITE - A handy terminal for a wind turbine generator that can prevent management of control logics of control devices for controlling operation of the wind turbine generator from becoming cumbersome. The handy terminal for the wind turbine generator comprises, a connecting portion that connects to a connecting end provided on the wind turbine generator, an operating ends group that generate operation signals to selectively enable control logics included in a control circuit that is incorporated in the wind turbine generator, and a display portion that displays the operating state of the operating ends, wherein the operation signals generated by the operating ends group are operation signals that selectively enables the operating or maintenance control logics of the control circuit of the corresponding wind turbine generator connected via the connecting portion, that are common to the other wind turbine generators in the same site. | 12-08-2011 |
20110298214 | Vertical Axis Fluid Turbine - A fluid turbine, comprising an inner shaft comprising a first number of concave vanes coupled thereto, the first number of concave vanes forming a number of rows of vanes, and an outer shaft, coaxial to the inner shaft, comprising a second number of concave vanes coupled thereto, the second number of concave vanes forming a number of rows of vanes in which adjacent rows of vanes alternate between the first number of vanes and the second number of vanes, in which the first number of vanes rotate axially in a first direction, in which the second number of vanes rotate axially in a second direction, and in which the concave surface of the first and second number of concave vanes define a fluid gathering surface. | 12-08-2011 |
20110304140 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND SOUNDNESS DIAGNOSIS METHOD THEREOF - An accumulator is provided in an oil circuit of the pressure supply device and has a gas chamber for storing the pressure generated by the oil pump. A gas pressure judgment unit judges a soundness on the gas pressure of the gas chamber of the accumulator. A pitch movement judgment unit judges whether the pitch movement is performed soundly by the oil pressure accumulated in the accumulator if the gas pressure judgment unit judges that the gas pressure is sound. A start judgment unit judges a start condition to start the gas pressure judgment unit every predetermined period or when a start switch is operated. | 12-15-2011 |
20110304141 | AC-CONNECTION OF AN OFF-SHORE WIND-PARK TO AN ON-SHORE ELECTRICITY GRID AND BOOSTER TRANSFORMER FOR SUCH AN AC-CONNECTION - The present invention relates to a method for switching-in an electricity grid of an off-shore wind park to an on-shore electricity grid, to a booster transformer modified for switching-in an electricity grid of an off-shore wind park to an on-shore electricity grid and to an AC-connection for operating an electricity grid of an off-shore wind-park switched-in to an on-shore electricity grid. | 12-15-2011 |
20110304142 | FACILITY FOR PRODUCING ELECTRICAL ENERGY FROM WIND - A facility for producing electrical energy has a plurality of shrouds, a plurality of wind turbines, a power system, a plurality of modules, a pivotal mounting system, and a support structure. Each shroud has a throat which increases the velocity of the prevailing wind passing through the shroud. The plurality of wind turbines are each operably positioned in the throat of one of the plurality of shrouds. The power system is adapted for converting mechanical energy from the plurality of wind turbines to electrical energy. The support tower includes a central tower for supporting the shrouds and wind turbines above the surface, and may further include peripheral towers, guys, and/or other structural components. | 12-15-2011 |
20110309620 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND NACELLE TURNING METHOD - A wind turbine generator is provided with: a nacelle mounting a wind turbine rotor; a yaw drive device generating drive force for causing yaw turning of the nacelle; a brake mechanism generating braking force for braking the turning of the nacelle; a control system controlling the yaw drive device and the brake mechanism; and a wind speed measurement device measuring wind speed. When detecting occurrence of a high wind speed state based on the wind speed while the nacelle is turned by the yaw drive device, the control device provides braking force for the nacelle by using the brake mechanism in response to the detection of the occurrence of the high wind speed state. | 12-22-2011 |
20110309621 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING OPERATION OF A WIND TURBINE - A method for controlling operation of a wind turbine and a method for controlling operation of a plurality of wind turbines positioned in a wind farm are disclosed. According to the method, a pitch and rotational speed curve, e.g. a θ versus λ curve, is selected from a group of pitch and rotational speed curve, and the wind turbine is operated in accordance with the selected curve for a short period, while monitoring at least one target parameter, e.g. power production or loads on one or more components. This is repeated for each of the curves of the group of pitch and rotational speed curves. This is also repeated a predetermined number of times, i.e. each curve is selected in turn a predetermined number of times. Based on the monitored target parameters an optimum curve is determined from the group of pitch and rotational speed curve, and the wind turbine is operated in accordance with this optimum curve. The method ensures that the applied curve is in fact optimal for the specific wind turbine, at the specific site and under the specific conditions. Thereby the wind turbine can be operated in a more optimal manner, e.g. with respect to power production and/or loads or wear on components. | 12-22-2011 |
20110309622 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR, ACTIVE DAMPING METHOD THEREOF, AND WINDMILL TOWER - A wind turbine generator, an active damping method thereof, and a windmill tower in which vibrations of the wind turbine generator itself or the windmill tower can be reduced at low cost are provided. The acceleration due to vibrations of a nacelle is detected with an accelerometer attached to the nacelle. In an active damping unit, a pitch angle of windmill blades for generating a thrust on the windmill blades so as to cancel out the vibrations of the nacelle is calculated on the basis of the acceleration, and the pitch angle is output as a blade-pitch-angle command δθ* for damping. On the other hand, in a pitch-angle control unit, a pitch angle of the windmill blades for controlling the output to be a predetermined value is calculated, and the pitch angle is output as a blade-pitch-angle command θ* for output control. The blade-pitch-angle command δθ* for damping is combined with the blade-pitch-angle command θ* for output control using a subtracter. The pitch angle of the windmill blades is controlled on the basis of the resulting blade-pitch-angle command after combining. | 12-22-2011 |
20110316277 | Blade Pitch Control in a Wind Turbine Installation - The present invention relates to a blade pitch controller for a floating wind turbine structure, wherein the floating wind turbine structure may include a support structure supporting a rotor having a number of blades. The controller may include standard blade pitch control means and active damping means. The standard blade pitch control means is arranged to control a blade pitch using a transfer function between a rotor speed error and the blade pitch. The active damping means is arranged to further control the blade pitch on the basis of a speed of a point on the wind turbine structure by converting the speed of a point on the wind turbine structure into a rotor speed error and using the same transfer function that is used in the standard blade pitch control means to convert the rotor speed error into a correction to the blade pitch. | 12-29-2011 |
20110316278 | Locking Device for the Rotor of Wind Turbines - The invention relates to a wind turbine comprising a tower, a nacelle that is located on the tower and is provided with a machine support, a rotor shaft bearing and a generator, and comprising a rotor with a rotor shaft, a rotor hub and at least one rotor with at least one rotor blade that is fixed to the rotor hub. According to the invention, the wind turbine has a locking device established by a locking bolt that can be driven into a locking bolt recess in order to positively lock the rotor. The invention is characterized in that the locking bolt is located on the rotor hub and the locking recess is located on the nacelle. | 12-29-2011 |
20110316279 | Wind Turbines with Diffusers for the Buildings or Structures - One example of our system makes it easier to bring the wind turbines to the residential and densely populated areas. The systems can be cascaded together to supply a bigger population or area. Since most of the system is hidden, it looks better for appearance of the city/houses. It has less of noise problem near houses, and less bird and bat mortality rates, with less radar interferences, less maintenance worker hazard, and less shipping/installation cost. This technology addresses e.g. Energy and Power Management Systems for harvesting wind energy by wind-catcher tower and diffuser augmented wind turbines. For example, we discuss the placement of diffusers at the intake of the wind turbines, inside a wind-catcher tower, to significantly increase the efficiency of the wind energy capture, plus the modular design of the wind-catcher tower. Various designs for the system and components are presented here. | 12-29-2011 |
20120001428 | WIND ENERGY SYSTEM - A wind energy system continuously responsive to changes in wind direction and speed. The system includes a low-profile, rotatably-mounted turbine assembly. The turbine assembly includes a wind tunnel with a “cow catcher” style wind gatherer. The tunnel defines a narrowed throat portion between the inlet and outlet to increase the wind speed. A turbine mounted on a stand is fitted inside the outlet end of the tunnel, and may be movable fore and aft in response to changes in wind speed. A control system receives regular wind change forecasts from a third party, and automatically repositions the rotating turbine assembly in response to real-time predicted changes in wind vector and may also move the turbine axially relative to the throat in the tunnel in response to real-time predicted changes in wind speed. Additionally, the turbine may be turned out of the wind to avoid excessively high winds. | 01-05-2012 |
20120007362 | TURBINE ASSEMBLY - A turbine assembly ( | 01-12-2012 |
20120013124 | MECHANICAL WIND TURBINE AND METHOD OF USE - A mechanical wind mill is provided for producing electricity through the power of wind energy. The wind turbine may include a plurality of gears which may be interchanged to control the rotational velocity of the wind turbine to most efficiently produce electricity. Including in the plurality of gears are the set of gears which may be slid along a shaft to best control the rotational velocity, but which may be changed as wind speed changes. The gears are mounted on a shaft, which is connected to a generator that is capable of producing electricity by rotation of said shaft. | 01-19-2012 |
20120019001 | WIND TURBINE, DRIVE TRAIN ASSEMBLY, WIND TURBINE NACELLE SYSTEM, METHODS FOR CONVERTING ROTATIONAL ENERGY AND METHODS FOR BUILDING A NACELLE AND FOR RE-EQUIPPING A WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine with a drive train connecting a drive unit with a generator assembly is provided. The generator assembly includes a first generator with a first stator and a first rotor, the first rotor being directly connected to the drive train, and at least a second generator indirectly coupled to the drive train via a gear box. Further, a drive train assembly, a wind turbine nacelle system, a method for converting rotational energy into electrical energy, a method of building a nacelle and methods of re-equipping a wind turbine are provided. | 01-26-2012 |
20120025525 | PITCH DRIVE APPARATUS OF WIND GENERATOR AND WIND GENERATOR - The present invention provides a pitch drive apparatus of a wind generator and the wind generator constituted not to affect a main shaft or a gear box, and capable of preventing reliability from being deteriorated. The pitch drive apparatus includes a wind turbine blade ( | 02-02-2012 |
20120025526 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING WIND TURBINE GEARBOX HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE - A system and method are provided to monitor the health and performance of a wind turbine gearbox. A plurality of sensors coupled to the wind turbine gearbox provide input to a controller. The controller generates output information that includes performance and health information of the wind turbine gearbox based on the input received from each of the sensors. | 02-02-2012 |
20120025527 | SYSTEM AND METHOD TO PROVIDE CONSTANT SPEED MECHANICAL OUTPUT IN A MACHINE - A system to provide constant speed mechanical output in a wind turbine is provided. The system includes at least one electrical machine configured to convert a rotary mechanical power received from a main gear to a machine electrical power. The system further includes one or more electrical converters electrically coupled to the machine and configured to convert the machine electrical power from a direct current (DC) power to an alternate current (AC) power or from the alternate current (AC) power to the direct current (DC) power, where the converters generate a differential electrical power. A torque converter is electrically coupled to the electrical converters and generates a constant speed mechanical output employing the differential electrical power received from the one or more electrical converters. | 02-02-2012 |
20120025528 | MAGNETOSTRICTIVE SENSOR SYSTEM AND METHOD - A magnetostriction-based sensor system for sensing force on a wind turbine rotor shaft having multiple localized magnetized domains sensitive to magnetostriction. The sensor system includes at least two sets of first and second magnetometers. The signals from the at least two sets of first and second magnetometers can be utilized to determine torsional and linear forces being exerted on the wind turbine rotor shaft. | 02-02-2012 |
20120025529 | System and Methods for Monitoring Oil Conditions of a Wind Turbine Gearbox - A method for monitoring the condition of oil contained within a gearbox of a wind turbine is disclosed. The method generally includes receiving a signal corresponding to a measurement of an oil parameter of the gearbox, comparing the measurement to a predetermined limit for the oil parameter, assigning a severity level based on the comparison of the measurement to the predetermined limit and determining a recommended course of action for the wind turbine based on the severity level. | 02-02-2012 |
20120025530 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR CONTROLLING THE AMPLITUDE MODULATION OF NOISE GENERATED BY WIND TURBINES - In one aspect, a method for controlling the amplitude modulation of the noise generated by wind turbines is disclosed. The method may include determining a rotor position of a first wind turbine, determining a rotor position of a second wind turbine, determining if the first and second wind turbines are operating in-phase and, in the event that the first and second wind turbines are operating in-phase, adjusting an operating condition of at least one of the first wind turbine and the second wind turbine so that the first and second wind turbines operate out-of-phase. | 02-02-2012 |
20120032442 | BLADE ANGLE ADJUSTMENT DRIVE FOR A WIND POWER PLANT - A blade angle adjustment drive for a wind power plant having an electrical converter, an electric motor electrically coupled to the converter, and a monitoring unit which monitors the operation of the converter and identifies a malfunction in the operation of the converter. The operation of the converter may be interrupted at least temporarily based on the malfunction. An interruption prevention unit is selectively operable to prevent an interruption in the operation of the converter by the monitoring unit when the bade angle adjustment drive is in an emergency operation state. | 02-09-2012 |
20120032443 | ENERGY GENERATING INSTALLATION, ESPECIALLY WIND POWER INSTALLATION - An energy generating installation, especially a wind power station, includes a drive shaft connected to a rotor ( | 02-09-2012 |
20120038154 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR POWERING A WIND TURBINE - The invention related to a method for powering a wind turbine following a grid voltage failures. After the presence of grid power has been once again detected, the Grid Connection Control System (GCCS) is then powered by an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS). The GCCS closes the grid switch that had been powering the power protection equipment. | 02-16-2012 |
20120038155 | STEP UP CONVERTER FOR A WIND POWER PLANT - The present invention relates to a back-up power system | 02-16-2012 |
20120038156 | ELECTRICAL ENERGY GENERATING INSTALLATION DRIVEN AT VARIABLE ROTATIONAL SPEEDS, WITH A CONSTANT OUTPUT FREQUENCY, ESPECIALLY A WIND POWER INSTALLATION - An energy generating installation, especially a wind power station, includes a drive shaft connected to a rotor ( | 02-16-2012 |
20120038157 | Synchronous Induced Wind Power Generation System - A synchronous induced wind power generation system is provided, comprised of a horizontally rotatable turbine-generator section that wind vanes into the prevailing wind direction. The turbine-generator section has a horizontally disposed turbine shaft therein, and air induction shrouds at either end thereof, the anterior areas of the air induction shrouds having larger areas than the interior area of the turbine-generator section, so as to induce a larger differential air pressure across the turbine. The turbine is directly coupled to a synchronous AC generator that is synchronized with an external power line in connection therewith, and directly generates synchronous AC power. Further, turbine magnetic brakes and/or adjustable pitch directrix blades are employed to control the speed of rotation of the turbine 1) during synchronization with the electrical line, 2) to modulate turbine power, and 3) to protect against overspeed during high wind and loss of load. | 02-16-2012 |
20120043758 | METHOD OF DETERMINING A PHASE VALUE OF A PHASE ASSOCIATED WITH AN OSCILLATORY TOWER MOVEMENT OF A TOWER OF A WIND TURBINE, DEVICE FOR DETERMINING A PHASE VALUE OF A PHASE ASSOCIATED WITH AN OSCILLATORY TOWER MOVEMENT OF A TOWER OF A WIND TURBINE, AND METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND TURBINE - A method is provided of determining a phase value of a phase associated with an oscillatory tower movement of a tower of a wind turbine. The method includes measuring a quantity representative of the oscillatory tower movement, and determining the phase value based on the measured quantity. In an exemplary embodiment, the determination of the phase value is includes applying a Fourier Transformation on the measured quantity. | 02-23-2012 |
20120043759 | MULTIPLE CABINETS - An electric power generating device comprising a wind power plant | 02-23-2012 |
20120043760 | EMERGENCY POWER SUPPLY DEVICE - The invention relates to an emergency power supply device for a rotor blade adjustment system ( | 02-23-2012 |
20120056425 | STAND ALONE OPERATION SYSTEM FOR USE WITH UTILITY GRADE SYNCHRONOUS WIND TURBINE GENERATORS - Methods and system are provided for operating an energy producing device when a utility grid is unavailable. The energy producing device includes a power system receiving power from a generator of the energy producing device. The power system includes a main power component and an accessory power component, where the received power is provided to the main power component and accessory power component depending upon the availability of the utility grid. The main power component provides the received power to the utility grid and the accessory power component provides power to accessories of the energy producing device, wherein the power includes the received power and power from an energy storage device included within the accessory power component. | 03-08-2012 |
20120056426 | CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine has a rotor with a hub that houses a remote sensing device such as a Lidar for each blade. Each Lidar has one or more look directions that extend generally radially along the respective blade in front of the blade. The Lidar has multiple range gates and wind parameters sensed at each range may be used to control surfaces on the blade such as a trailing edge flap. | 03-08-2012 |
20120056427 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE ROTATIONAL SPEED OF A WIND TURBINE - A method controls the rotational speed of a wind turbine having a tower, a nacelle mounted on the tower and a drive train which includes a rotor having at least one rotor blade. The rotor is rotatably mounted about a rotor axis in the nacelle. The drive train further includes a generator configured to be driven by the rotor. In a nacelle-fixed reference system, the rotational speed (ω | 03-08-2012 |
20120056428 | VEHICLE WIND TURBINE - Systems and methods of capturing and channeling air through a wind turbine mounted atop a truck (or vehicle roof) are disclosed. The air can be channeled through a specially designed truck roof into an inlet of a wind turbine. In other aspects, ductwork can be used to channel and direct air captured while the truck is in motion. The wind turbine can be a traditional propeller-based turbine. In other aspects, air foil technologies can be employed to increase air flow to and through a turbine. | 03-08-2012 |
20120056429 | METHOD OF OPERATING A ROTOR BLADE ADJUSTMENT DRIVE - Disclosed is a method for operating a rotor blade adjustment drive for a wind turbine, in which an electric working load ( | 03-08-2012 |
20120061957 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE IN A POWER-REDUCED MODE OF OPERATION - A method of operating a wind turbine. A rain sensor and a control unit are configured to control the operation of the wind turbine. The wind turbine has a power-reduced mode of operation and a non-power-reduced mode of operation. In the power-reduced mode of operation a noise emitted by the wind turbine is lower than in the non-power-reduced mode of operation. Precipitation is detected by the rain sensor. A signal representative of the precipitation is generated and transmitted. The signal representative of the precipitation is received by the control unit. One mode of operation is selected from one of the power-reduced mode of operation and the non-power-reduced mode of operation, depending on the signal representative of the precipitation by the control unit. The wind turbine is controlled by the control unit to operate in the selected mode of operation. | 03-15-2012 |
20120061958 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - An object of the present invention is to provide a wind turbine generator and an operation control method thereof, which takes measures against issues such as noise, bird strike and a friction heat of a bearing shaft. The wind turbine generator | 03-15-2012 |
20120061959 | OUTPUT CONTROL METHOD AND OUTPUT CONTROL UNIT FOR WIND POWER PLANT - A control method for a wind turbine generator and storage battery unit connected to a power grid in parallel, includes calculating total active power and total reactive power, and switching between: a first mode in which the generator outputs turbine required active power and reactive power that can be outputted by the generator and the battery unit outputs battery required active power and battery required reactive power which correspond to a difference between the total active power and the turbine required active power and a difference between the total reactive power and the turbine required reactive power respectively; and a second mode in which the battery required active power is maintained and the battery required reactive power is reduced while the turbine reactive power is increased by an amount of the reduction of the battery required reactive power wherein apparent power exceeds a set battery unit apparent power. | 03-15-2012 |
20120061960 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR SYSTEM AND WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - An object of the present invention is to make use of wind energy as effectively as possible and increase the amount of generated energy that is supplied to a power system. A power storage apparatus is interposed between and electrically connected to a wind turbine generator and a power system. The wind turbine generator outputs, to the power system side, an amount of active power obtained by subtracting auxiliary machine loss, which is power consumed by an auxiliary machine, from the maximum active power that can be output by a generator, and if the amount of active power output from the wind turbine generator exceeds a limited power value set for the power transmission end, a charge/discharge controller that controls the power storage apparatus causes the power storage apparatus to be charged with part of the power output from the wind turbine generator. | 03-15-2012 |
20120061961 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - An object of the present invention is to, if a frequency decrease has occurred in a power system, avoid a trip in a wind turbine generator and reliably contribute to recovery of the frequency of the power system. The present invention provides a wind turbine generator that, if a predetermined frequency decrease that requires PFR has occurred in the power system, calculates a marginal active power based on the difference between a predetermined rotational speed lower limit value, which is obtained by providing the parallel-off rotational speed with a predetermined margin, and a measured value of the shaft rotational speed, and generates an active power command value based on the marginal active power. | 03-15-2012 |
20120061962 | BLADE PITCH CONTROL SYSTEM, WIND TURBINE GENERATOR, AND BLADE PITCH CONTROL METHOD - A wind turbine generator generates power through rotation of a rotor to which a plurality of blades are pivotally coupled and includes a pitch-angle control section that outputs a pitch-angle command value that indicates the amount of change in the pitch angle of each of the blades, hydraulic cylinders each of which changes the pitch angle of the corresponding blade based on the corresponding pitch-angle command value output from the pitch-angle control section, and load measurement sections that measure blade-root loads. A set value indicating that wind received by the wind turbine generator has a biased wind speed distribution is set in advance in the pitch-angle control section. Only when a calculated pitch-angle command value exceeds the set value, the pitch-angle control section outputs a pitch-angle command value beyond pitch command limit values. Therefore, in the wind turbine generator, a higher load than necessary is not imposed on a drive unit for the pitch angle of each of the blades in a case of a normal wind speed or a wind speed distribution caused by the normal wind speed, and the blade-root load can be sufficiently reduced even in a case of a wind speed distribution that occurs when a strong wind is received. | 03-15-2012 |
20120061963 | Power system frequency inertia for power generation system - A power generation system is provided. The power generation system including a power generation unit operable to supply electrical power to an utility system; a synchronous machine coupled to the utility system; a grid measurement device arranged for measuring the current and power that is exchanged between the synchronous machine and the utility system; a controller for adjusting the output power of the power generation unit as a function of the power and current that is measured by the grid measurement device; and a communication link between the grid measurement device, controller and/or the power generation unit. The power generation unit is configured to provide current and power to the utility system as a function of the power and current that is measured by the grid measurement device. | 03-15-2012 |
20120061964 | POWER PLANT CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INFLUENCING HIGH VOLTAGE CHARACTERISTICS - A control system for a power plant is provided, configured to influence actual HV characteristics of an HV power line at a point-of-interconnection to a grid. The control system includes an MV-compliant measurement system configured for connection with an MV power line of the power plant, and an evaluation unit. The evaluation unit is connected to the MV-compliant measurement system and is configured to determine calculated HV characteristics of the HV power line based on measurement values received from the MV-compliant measurement system at the MV power line and based on a model of a transformer. The transformer transforms from medium voltage on the MV power line to high voltage on the HV power line. The evaluation unit is configured to generate a control signal based on the calculated HV characteristics in order to control the power plant for influencing the actual HV characteristics of the HV power line. | 03-15-2012 |
20120061965 | VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE WITH ELECTRONICALLY CONTROLLED ASSISTED START MECHANISM AND CONTROLLED AIRFLOW - A wind turbine generator includes: a rotor including a vertical shaft and blades radially extending from the shaft, the rotor is characterized by a breakaway torque that is greater than the torque required to maintain rotation; a generator operationally coupled to the rotor shaft; a rotatable airfoil shaped housing enclosing at least a portion of the rotor blades and exposing at least a portion of the rotor blades; a motor mechanism operatively coupled to the rotor shaft; sensors adapted to determine wind speed; a processor operatively coupled to the sensors and the motor mechanism, wherein, in reaction to input received from the sensors, the processor provides a control signal to the motor mechanism to assist the rotation of the rotor shaft when the wind speed is below the speed needed to induce breakaway torque and above the threshold required to rotate the rotor once the initial resistance is overcome. | 03-15-2012 |
20120061966 | WIND POWER GENERATION CONTROL DEVICE AND WIND POWER GENERATION CONTROL METHOD - A wind power generation control device which controls a wind power generator using a wind turbine blade having a fixed pitch angle is provided. The wind power generation control device which controls the wind power generator in which an output current value outputted by the wind power generator is detected, an output voltage value outputted by the wind power generator is detected, a rotational speed of the wind turbine blade is detected, and on the basis of the detected output current value at the current time, the detected output voltage value at the current time, and the detected rotational speed at the current time, output power at the rotational speed at the current time is calculated, and on the basis of the calculated output power and blade aerodynamic properties, which are properties inherent to the wind turbine blade, the wind power generator is controlled so that an optimal amount of power corresponding to the wind speed can be efficiently obtained in a relatively low wind speed region and a wind power generation control method for controlling the wind power generator are provided. | 03-15-2012 |
20120068460 | CONVERTIBLE BEARING FOR A WIND TURBINE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SAME - A bearing assembly for a wind turbine includes a bearing housing and a bearing surface defining a passageway configured to receive a shaft. The bearing surface includes a stationary portion and a movable portion, the movable portion being defined by a movable member coupled to the bearing housing. The movable member is movable between a first position, wherein the movable portion is flush with the stationary portion such that the bearing surface is smooth, and a second position wherein the movable portion is spaced from the stationary portion to define a fluid cavity in the bearing surface. A method of operating a plain bearing assembly includes operating the plain bearing assembly as a hydrostatic plain bearing during low dynamic conditions and operating the plain bearing assembly as a hydrodynamic plain bearing during high dynamic conditions. | 03-22-2012 |
20120068461 | Wind Energy System - The invention relates to a wind energy system having a support ( | 03-22-2012 |
20120068462 | Method of and device for determining a common blade frequency of a rotor of a wind turbine, and method of operating a wind turbine - A method of determining a common blade frequency of a rotor of a wind turbine is provided. The method includes measuring a vibration quantity representative of a vibration of a component of the wind turbine, and determining the common blade frequency based the measured vibration quantity. | 03-22-2012 |
20120068463 | Wind Turbine Apparatus, Systems and Methods - A wind turbine is disclosed. The wind turbine includes comprising an inflatable portion comprising one or more blades and a device for rotatably driving the inflatable portion at a predetermined rate for a predetermined time. | 03-22-2012 |
20120074699 | WIND ENERGY PLANT AND ENERGY TRANSMISSION DEVICE FOR A WIND ENERGY PLANT - A wind energy plant has a rotor with a rotor hub mounted on a pod and a plurality of rotor blades adjustable by corresponding electrical drives. An electrical generator is connected to the rotor for supplying energy to electrical loads arranged in the rotor hub. A primary part of a rotary transformer arranged concentric to a rotor bearing is connected to the pod and a secondary part of the rotary transformer is arranged in the rotor hub and co-rotates with the rotor hub. A first frequency converter is connected between the primary part and a supply voltage source for generating a high-frequency field voltage from a low-frequency supply voltage, and a second frequency converter is connected between the secondary part and the electrical loads for generating a low-frequency load voltage from a transformed high-frequency field voltage. | 03-29-2012 |
20120074700 | SYSTEM AND ASSEMBLY FOR POWER TRANSMISSION AND GENERATION IN A WIND TURBINE - Various power transmission and generation systems and assemblies are provided for a wind turbine. In one embodiment, a power generation system is provided including a transmission having an input axially aligned with an output, the input configured to receive rotary motion generated by a wind driven rotor head, the input located downwind of the output, an electromagnetic apparatus having an input configured to be coupled to the transmission output, and a bearing configured to radially support both the transmission output and the electromagnetic apparatus input. In this way, a common bearing may support both the transmission and electromagnetic apparatus, allowing for a more compact and efficient design while retaining service and repair capabilities. | 03-29-2012 |
20120080881 | SYSTEM, DEVICE, AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATED MONITORING AND OPERATION OF WIND TURBINES - A method for use in operating one or more wind turbines is provided. An exception condition and, optionally, one or more parameters are received from a wind turbine controller. A correction is determined based at least in part on the exception condition and/or the parameters. The correction is applied, facilitating resolution of the exception condition. The method may be practiced for multiple wind turbine controllers, such as the wind turbine controllers within a site or the wind turbine controllers within multiple sites. | 04-05-2012 |
20120091712 | Wind Powered System for Reducing Energy Consumption of a Primary Power Source - Provided is a wind powered system for reducing energy consumption of a power source, such as an internal combustion engine or an electric motor. In one embodiment, the wind powered system comprises a wind turbine operatively connected to an internal combustion engine, for example via a direct mechanical connection, a hydrostatic drive system or a pneumatic drive system in order to reduce the amount of fuel required by the engine to operate an electricity generating means. A controller may be optionally provided to modulate the load on the wind turbine in order to maximize the extraction of available power according to local wind conditions. In another embodiment, the wind turbine is connected to an air compressor for providing a supply of air in order to offset energy consumption of a conventional compressed air system. | 04-19-2012 |
20120091713 | Method and system for adjusting a power parameter of a wind turbine - A method for adjusting a power parameter of a wind turbine is disclosed. The method includes determining a load parameter indicative of a mechanical load of the wind turbine; estimating a turbulence of a wind speed based on the determined load parameter; and adjusting the power parameter relating to a power of the wind turbine based on the estimated turbulence. A system for adjusting a power parameter of a wind turbine is also described. | 04-19-2012 |
20120091714 | WIND PLANT AND METHOD FOR INCREASING ENERGY CAPTURE IN A WIND PLANT - Method for increasing energy capture in wind plants includes providing a plurality of wind turbines having a variable speed control system including an initial rotational speed set point value which is a maximum rotational speed set point for wind turbines. Method includes obtaining at least two measured operational parameters from one or more sensors and comparing measured operational parameters to mechanical load of turbine. If mechanical load of turbine is decreased as a result of measured operational parameters, a speed control adjustment method is activated. Speed control adjustment method includes determining an adjusted rotational speed set point greater than initial rotational speed set point value in response to at least two measured and compared operational parameters and configuring control system with adjusted rotational speed set point where adjusted rotational speed set point increases maximum rotational speed set point of wind turbines. | 04-19-2012 |
20120091715 | VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE WITH SPEED REGULATION AND STORM PROTECTION SYSTEM - An embodiment of Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) concept with vanes coupled to central shaft thorough supports that are connected in such a way that vanes can be moved closer or further away from the central shaft of the wind turbine. The rotational speed of the wind turbine can be regulated by adjusting the distance of the vanes. Additionally, the turbine can be put into storm protection mode by bringing the vanes right next to the central shaft where the profile of the wind turbine is reduced to minimum. | 04-19-2012 |
20120098262 | Energy production device from an omnidirectional Bi-axial flow - Lower ecologic and visual impact, associated with high energy production, is the main goals of this invention | 04-26-2012 |
20120098263 | WIND ENERGY PLANT AND DRIVE DEVICE FOR ADJUSTING A ROTOR BLADE - The invention relates to a wind energy plant comprising a rotor having a rotor hub which is mounted on a gondola and a plurality of rotor blades. An electric generator is connected to the rotor. The invention also relates to an electric drive device which is designed as a direct drive and used to adjust a rotor blade which is arranged in a concentric manner on the rotor hub in relation to rotor blade bearing and a permanently excited synchronous motor. A stator of the synchronous motor comprises a coil body which is mounted on the motor hub. A rotor of the synchronous motor is arranged at an axial distance with respect to the stator for forming an axially extending air gap. Said rotor also comprises a permanent magnet arrangement on a support plate which is connected to a rotor blade shaft. | 04-26-2012 |
20120104752 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND TIDAL CURRENT GENERATOR AND OPERATION METHOD THEREOF - An object of the invention is to provide a wind turbine generator or a tidal current generator which is equipped with a hydraulic transmission and achieves a superior power generation efficiency, and a operation method thereof. The wind turbine generator | 05-03-2012 |
20120104753 | CONTROL SYSTEM OF WIND POWER GENERATOR, WIND FARM, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING WIND POWER GENERATOR - A wind power generator generates power through a rotation of a rotor and is interconnected, and operated with its power generation output previously limited in order to be able to further supply the power to a power system in response to a decrease in system frequency. Thus, a concentrated control system derives a required restricted amount corresponding to a power generation output required to respond to the decrease in system frequency, derives a value by subtracting an amount corresponding to a latent power generation output with which the power generation output can be increased, from the required restricted amount, and sets a restricted amount of the power generation output in each wind power generator to perform the operation with the power generation output previously limited to respond to the decrease in system frequency, based on the above value. | 05-03-2012 |
20120104754 | WIND TURBINE WITH LVRT CAPABILITIES - Systems and methods (“utility”) for providing Low Voltage Ride Through (LVRT) capabilities for wind turbines are disclosed. The utility includes a directly connected synchronous generator ( | 05-03-2012 |
20120104755 | WIND FARM CONTROL SYSTEM, WIND FARM, AND WIND FARM CONTROL METHOD - To prevent disconnection of wind turbine generators due to changes in wind conditions even if the wind turbine generators is operated to limit the power output. A plurality of wind turbine generators that generate electric power by the rotation of rotors are provided in a wind farm are interconnected and are operated while the power outputs are limited in advance so as to be able to further supply electric power to a utility grid in response to a decrease in the frequency or voltage of the utility grid. The rotational speed of the rotor, which is a physical quantity related to increase and decrease in the power output of the wind turbine generator, is measured for each of the wind turbine generators by a wind-turbine control system, and the limitation amount of the power output of the wind turbine generator is set for each of the wind turbine generators by a central control system on the basis of the rotational speed of the rotor measured. | 05-03-2012 |
20120104756 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE - The invention concerns a method of operating a wind power installation. The wind power installation has a circuit for measuring the frequency prevailing in the electrical supply network connected to a control device for controlling operation of the wind power installation. It is proposed that the power delivered by the generator of the wind power installation to the network is increased quickly and for a short period above the currently prevailing power of the wind power installation if the network frequency of the electrical network is below the desired target frequency of the network by a predetermined frequency value. | 05-03-2012 |
20120104757 | WIND TURBINE HAVING AN ACTIVE PITCH ANGLE CONTROL DURING AN IDLING SITUATION - Wind turbine comprising: a tower (13) and a nacelle (21) housing a generator (19) driven by a wind rotor; measuring devices of at least wind speed V, generator speed Ω, pitch angle θi of each blade, power P, wind turbine accelerations in two perpendicular directions Ax, Ay, yaw angle Yw; azimuth position of the wind rotor AZ in which the control system connected to said measuring devices and to at least pitch and torque control actuators is also arranged for performing an active pitch angle regulation when the wind turbine is in an idling situation above V | 05-03-2012 |
20120104758 | METHOD FOR AUTOMATICALLY STARTING A WIND TURBINE AND A WIND TURBINE FOR CARRYING OUT THE METHOD - A method automatically starts a wind turbine after an outage of an electrical supply grid. In the method, at least one measurement value is acquired as to a climatic variable in the wind turbine during the outage of the electrical supply grid. At least one acquired measurement value is recorded and a warning signal is generated prior to a starting of the wind turbine when the at least one recorded measurement value exceeds a predetermined maximum value or drops below a predetermined minimum value. | 05-03-2012 |
20120104759 | Multi Directional Augmenter and Diffuser - This invention relates to an augmenter system for the increase of power generation primarily used for utilizing wind energy. The augmenter system includes an augmenter having a plurality of walls, such as flexible walls, connected to each other with supporting horizontal elongated members. The augmenter is used in conjunction with a blade system and an air flow regulation or furling system to achieve optimal power output. The augmenter includes a relatively lightweight, low cost flexible wall structure to enhance an air flow into impact impellers associated with the blade system. In one arrangement, the blade system defines a swept area with a height to diameter ratio of greater than four. In one arrangement, the blade system defines a swept area with a height to diameter ratio of greater than ten. | 05-03-2012 |
20120112458 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND YAW ROTATION CONTROL METHOD FOR WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - There is provided a yaw rotation control method for a wind turbine generator that does not require a yaw motor and is advantageous for a reduction in cost and a reduction in size and weight of a nacelle. A control unit performs, according to a deviation between wind direction information (θw) obtained from a wind direction detecting unit and a present state yaw angle (θz) obtained from a yaw rotating position detecting unit, yaw rotation control for outputting pitch angle command values (θ | 05-10-2012 |
20120112459 | Vertical vane wind turbine having peripheral weight distribution - A wind turbine system includes a turbine having a plurality of semi-cylindrical vanes supported in a cylindrical array by rotatable top, center and bottom plates. The supporting plates are joined to a center shaft which in turn is rotatably supported. A plurality of alternators are driven by the center shaft through a pulley and belt arrangement. The vanes are positioned at the periphery of the cylindrical array and occupy less than one-third of the radial distance of the support plates. | 05-10-2012 |
20120112460 | PROBING POWER OPTIMIZATION FOR WIND FARMS - Embodiments of the invention are generally related to optimizing performance of a wind power plant. A controller may be configured to sequentially, for each wind turbine in a wind power plant, adjust the power production by a predefined amount, and determine whether the adjustment of power production from the wind turbine results in an increase in overall power production from the wind farm. Adjustments in power production of the wind turbines may be continuously made so that power production of the wind power plant approaches the maximum possible value. | 05-10-2012 |
20120119495 | WIND FARM, WIND POWER PLANT IN A WIND FARM AND OPERATING CONTROL FOR THIS PURPOSE - Wind farm and method of controlling operation of a wind farm. The wind farm including a plurality of wind power plants, each equipped in a same manner with a pivoted rotor structure and a control device for controlling the operation of the individual wind power plants. The control device is structured and arranged to synchronize the rotary motions of the rotor structures of at least some of the plurality of wind power plants. | 05-17-2012 |
20120119496 | Wind Turbine Having A Device For Minimizing Loads - A wind turbine comprising a tower, an energy conversion unit arranged on the tower, a rotor, which is connected to the energy conversion unit and has two rotor blades fastened to a hub, a measuring system arranged in the hub for measuring the mechanical deformation of the hub, and an individual blade controller for setting the blade pitch angle of the rotor blades. The measuring system is designed to detect the distance between two defined locations opposite each other in the hub, and the individual blade controller is designed to set the blade pitch angle of both rotor blades, on the basis of the distance measured between the defined locations or the distance change measured between the defined locations, in such a way that a minimum rotor pitch torque M | 05-17-2012 |
20120133132 | WIND-POWER-STATION CONTROL APPARATUS AND WIND-POWER-STATION CONTROL METHOD - A wind-power-station control apparatus is provided in a wind power station having a plurality of wind turbine generators. To reduce the electrical power supplied from the wind power station to the utility grid, the wind-power-station control apparatus performs, for a wind turbine generator whose actual output electrical power is small relative to the maximum electrical power that can be output, among the plurality of wind turbine generators, output-power reduction control for reducing the output power thereof and increasing the rotational speed of the rotor thereof. Thus, even when control for reducing the output power is performed for the wind turbine generator, it is possible to suppress waste of the wind energy received by the blades and to increase the total annual amount of generated electrical power. | 05-31-2012 |
20120133133 | Method and System for Controlling an Electric Device of a Wind Turbine - A method for controlling an electric device of a wind turbine is disclosed. The method includes: receiving a state signal of a utility grid electrically connected to the electric device; and controlling an operation of the electric device based on the state signal. Further, a system for controlling an electric device of a wind turbine and a wind turbine are provided. | 05-31-2012 |
20120133134 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DAMPING VIBRATIONS IN A WIND ENERGY SYSTEM - A method for influencing vibrations in an operating wind energy system is described. The wind energy system includes a tower including a tower top and an intermediate tower area; and a rotor and a generator arranged at the tower top. The method includes determining the vibration of the intermediate tower area of the wind energy system; and influencing the vibrations of the intermediate tower area dependent on the determined vibrations of the intermediate tower area by adjusting an operating parameter of the wind energy system. | 05-31-2012 |
20120133135 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR SYSTEM VIBRATION DETECTING DEVICE AND METHOD - A wind turbine generator system vibration detecting device and method are provided. The device comprises: a plurality of vibration sensors arranged on components of a wind turbine generator systems; at least one vibration switch arranged on a nacelle of the wind turbine generator system to detect a vibration signal of the nacelle and sends a fault signal to a control module if the detected vibration signal is larger than a turn-on threshold of the vibration switch; a vibration estimating module connected with the vibration sensors for processing vibration signals generated by the vibration sensors according to preset weighted values and a weighted formula in order to acquire a vibration state data, and comparing the vibration state data with a preset fault value and sending the fault signal to the control module if the vibration state data is not less than the fault value in accordance with the comparison. | 05-31-2012 |
20120133136 | ADJUSTABLE WIND-RESISTANCE WINDMILL WITH INDICIA - A windmill having a substantially vertical tower to which a rotatable hub is mounted. At least three arms extend substantially horizontally from the hub and terminate in cones having louvers that can be opened and closed, such as by a servo motor and linkage. A computer receives a signal from a wind direction sensor and actuates the opening and closing of the louvers to optimize wind resistance depending upon the orientation of the cone relative to the wind direction. Indicia are preferably placed on one or both sides of the louvers. | 05-31-2012 |
20120133137 | WIND TURBINE SYSTEM COMPRISING A DOUBLY FED INDUCTION GENERATOR - A wind turbine includes a gearbox coupled to a rotatable shaft for increasing speed of the rotation of the rotatable shaft, a doubly fed induction generator for generating electrical power from the rotations of the rotatable shaft comprising a stator and a rotor wherein the stator and the rotor comprise a plurality of stator slots and a plurality of rotor slots respectively and a tooth winding wound in at least one of the plurality of stator slots and the plurality of rotor slots wherein the tooth winding includes a fractional slot per pole per phase ratio, and a partial power converter electrically coupled to the doubly fed induction generator for controlling the electrical power for delivery to a power grid. | 05-31-2012 |
20120133138 | PLANT POWER OPTIMIZATION - Embodiments of the invention are generally related to optimizing performance of a wind power plant. A controller may be configured to determine that a first wind turbine is in the wake of a second wind turbine and that power production at the first wind turbine can be increased by reducing power production at the second wind turbine. The controller may be further configured to cause the second wind turbine to reduce power production. | 05-31-2012 |
20120133139 | Method for controlling wind turbines, and devices therefore - A wind turbine control master unit has a communication interface and a signal processing unit. The communication interface is configured to receive a rotor rotational speed of at least a first and a second wind turbine over a communication link. The signal processing unit is configured to determine a synchronized rotor speed value based on a mean value of the rotor rotational speeds. The signal processing unit is configured to calculate a synchronized azimuth angle value based on integrating the synchronized rotor speed value. Further, the communication interface is configured to send the synchronized rotor speed value and the synchronized azimuth angle value over a communication link. Also, a signal light control module and a wind turbine in connection with the control master unit are provided. | 05-31-2012 |
20120139240 | METHOD FOR REDUCING LOADS IN A WIND TURBINE - Loads reduction method in a wind turbine for power-grid disconnection during a wind gust, which uses a control system made up of three loops used to correct the speed at which the wind turbine blades are moved to the feathered position throughout a controlled emergency stop, with a non-linear law that takes into account blade position, tower vibrations and generator rotation speed limits. | 06-07-2012 |
20120139241 | DYNAMIC ADJUSTMENT OF POWER PLANT OUTPUT BASED ON ELECTRICAL GRID CHARACTERISTICS - Method, power plant, and computer program product for use in controlling power output by a power plant. The power plant includes a wind farm with a plurality of wind turbines, a grid power converter (such as one or more HVDC links), a sensor to measure the frequency of a power grid, and a supervisory controller. The supervisory controller implements a control algorithm that adjusts the power output from the power plant in response to the frequency of the power grid dropping below a first target frequency by changing the pitch of the blades of at least one wind turbine, increasing the level of a portion of the power contributed by at least one wind turbine, or increasing the level of the power output by the grid power converter. | 06-07-2012 |
20120139242 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING A BENDING MOMENT OF A SHAFT IN A WIND TURBINE - A system and method for adjusting a bending moment of a shaft in a wind turbine are disclosed. The system includes a pillow block accepting the shaft therethrough, a sensor mounted to the pillow block and measuring deformation of the pillow block, and a control system communicatively coupled to the sensor. The control system is configured to adjust a rotor blade in response to the deformation of the pillow block. The method includes measuring a deformation of a pillow block, and adjusting a rotor blade in response to the deformation of the pillow block. The pillow block accepts the shaft therethrough. | 06-07-2012 |
20120139243 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RESONANCE DAMPENING IN WIND TURBINES - A resonance damping system for a wind turbine having a generator connected to a power grid, the resonance damping system comprising an adaptive resonance damper, operable to provide a control signal for the generator, wherein the variable torque signal of the adaptive resonance damper is automatically adjusted according to a parameter which represents a grid condition. | 06-07-2012 |
20120139244 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROL OF WIND TURBINES - A method of controlling at least one wind turbine, comprising selecting a first effective operational curve from a plurality of operational curves, and applying the first effective operational curve to control at least one wind turbine. The operational curves may be operational curve segments. | 06-07-2012 |
20120139245 | OPERATING METHOD FOR A WIND PARK - The present invention concerns a method of operating a wind park having a plurality of wind power installations. A wind power installation includes an electrical energy storage means associated with the wind power installation to store electrical energy which is consumed for starting up the wind power installation after stoppage and consumed for emergency shutdown of the wind power installation. In some embodiments, the wind power installation includes a control system to control taking of energy from the electrical energy storage means for an emergency shutdown procedure such that a sufficient emergency shutdown reserve is maintained in the electrical energy storage means to start a first wind power installation without consuming energy from a network. | 06-07-2012 |
20120139246 | ASYNCHRONOUS GENERATOR SYSTEM AND WIND TURBINE HAVING AN ASYNCHRONOUS GENERATOR SYSTEM - The present invention relates to an asynchronous generator system for a wind turbine, and a wind turbine with such a system, and the method for operating and starting up such a wind turbine. Herein, the asynchronous generator system is developed especially simply and thus cost-effectively and is able to go through wind storms and the increase of rotational speed associated therewith. | 06-07-2012 |
20120139247 | WIND POWER PLANT HAVING AN ADJUSTABLE POWER RESERVE - A wind power plant, including a generator driven by a rotor in order to generate electrical power and a controller that includes a pitch module for adjusting a pitch angle of blades of the rotor. The controller has an input for a required power reserve and determines a target pitch angle depending on an operating point of the wind power plant. A secondary pitch controller is also provided, which includes a detector for available power and a dynamic offset module. Input signals for the available reserve power determined by the detector, the required reserve power and the generated electrical power are applied to the dynamic offset module, which is designed to determine a value for a pitch angle offset. An activation element varies the target pitch angle by the pitch angle offset. | 06-07-2012 |
20120139248 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE - The invention relates to a method for controlling a wind power plant having a rotor ( | 06-07-2012 |
20120146331 | METHOD FOR REDUCING VIBRATIONS OF A WIND TURBINE AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR REDUCING VIBRATIONS - A method for reducing vibrations of a wind turbine includes a plurality of set points characterizing set values of operation parameters of the wind turbine. The method includes measuring an acceleration force value corresponding to acceleration forces acting on the turbine, and determining whether the measured acceleration force value is above a predetermined threshold value. Furthermore, in case it is determined that the acceleration force value is above the predetermined threshold value, the set point value of at least one set point of the plurality of set points is modified in order to reduce the vibrations in such a way that a power output of the wind turbine is not reduced. | 06-14-2012 |
20120146332 | Method for Operating a Pitch-Controlled Wind Turbine - The invention is directed to a method for operating a pitch-controlled wind turbine having a rotor blade adjustable about its longitudinal axis and having a generator wherein a set-point for a generator torque (M) is specified in dependence upon a rotational speed (n) of the generator or of the rotor. A transition point (n | 06-14-2012 |
20120146333 | Systems for Load Reduction in a Tower of an Idled Wind-Power Unit and Methods Thereof - Systems and methods for reducing dynamic loading in an idled wind power unit include sensing at least one parameter indicative of dynamic loading and executing a reduced torque brake mode, which may comprise a controlled brake and brake-release sequence, with the turbine braking system when the sensed parameter exceeds a selected value. The reduced torque brake mode absorbs energy and reduces dynamic loading thereby. | 06-14-2012 |
20120161442 | TURBINE SPEED STABILISATION CONTROL SYSTEM - A closed loop turbine speed control system for a turbine power production system including a closed loop hydrostatic transmission system for the transfer of energy from a wind turbine rotor to a generator. A displacement actuator is arranged for receiving a displacement control signal from the control system and for controlling a displacement of the displacement motor. The control system includes a turbine rotor speed feedback control loop for calculating the displacement control signal based on deviations of a turbine rotor actual rotational speed from a turbine rotor set rotational speed. In addition a hydraulic pressure meter measures the hydraulic pressure of the hydrostatic system and provides a hydraulic pressure signal as an input to a pressure feedback control loop for stabilizing the displacement control signal based on the hydraulic pressure signal. | 06-28-2012 |
20120161443 | WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine utilizes a rotor assembly rotating about a substantially horizontal shaft, wherein said rotational motion is converted to a substantially vertical rotational motion through a shaft extending down from the nacelle located near the top of the tower structure to a mechanical room located at a lower altitude relative to the top of the tower. Said lower mechanical room houses some of the large heavy operational components of the turbine such that the turbine is not as top heavy as conventional turbines, and maintenance of the turbine is improved through ease of access to the lower altitude mechanical room. | 06-28-2012 |
20120161444 | WIND TURBINE PROVIDING GRID SUPPORT - A variable speed wind turbine is configured to provide additional electrical power to counteract non-periodic disturbances in an electrical grid. A controller monitors events indicating a need to increase the electrical output power from the wind turbine to the electrical grid. The controller is configured to control the wind turbine as follows: after an indicating event has been detected, the wind turbine enters an overproduction period in which the electrical output power is increased, wherein the additional electrical output power is taken from kinetic energy stored in the rotor and without changing the operation of the wind turbine to a more efficient working point. When the rotational speed of the rotor reaches a minimum value, the wind turbine enters a recovery period to re-accelerate the rotor to the nominal rotational speed while further contributing to the stability of the electrical grid by outputting at least a predetermined minimum electrical power. | 06-28-2012 |
20120169051 | Emergency Adjustment Device for Blade Pitch Adjustment Systems for Wind Energy Installations - An adjusting device for rotor blades of a wind power plant is disclosed. An AC motor is provided for adjusting the angle setting of the rotor blades. An input serves for receiving an input alternating current. A frequency converter is provided for generating a second alternating current having a second frequency, wherein the second alternating current drives the AC motor. Additionally, a DC voltage source and an inverter are provided for converting the voltage provided by the DC voltage source into an alternating current for the AC motor. The inverter is thereby separated from the frequency inverter. | 07-05-2012 |
20120169052 | Wind Power Plant with a plurality of Wind Power Devices and Method for Controlling the Wind Power Plant - A wind power plant for converting wind power of a wind field into electrical energy. The wind power plant includes at least one wind power device having a wind measurement device. Furthermore, the wind power plant comprises a central storage device in which wind profile patterns are stored in a wind profile pattern table. The wind measurement device predictively detects current wind measurement values. The wind power plant has a central pattern recognition device that correlates the current wind measurement values of the wind measurement device with the stored wind profile patterns of the wind profile pattern table. A central control device individually controls each single wind power device of the wind power plant as a function of a wind profile pattern determined by correlation. | 07-05-2012 |
20120169053 | Atmospheric Measurement System - A magnitude and direction, or a measure responsive thereto, of a velocity (V) of a first portion ( | 07-05-2012 |
20120175878 | WIND POWER PLANT AND A METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND POWER PLANT - A method for operating a wind power plant having turbine blades is provided. The method includes performing a monitoring operation to determine whether ice has formed on the turbine blades and, if there is ice on the turbine blades, removing the ice. To remove the ice, the turbine blades are driven alternatingly in opposite directions such that vibrations in the turbine blades are generated. A wind power plant designed to carry out the method is also provided. | 07-12-2012 |
20120175879 | GENERATOR - A wind turbine assembly comprising, an elongate generally cylindrical rotor operable to rotate about an axis, an elongate rotor housing that houses the rotor and which is adapted to be secured to a roof, and a flow regulator adapted to regulate wind flow to the rotor, wherein the flow regulator is orientatable in an open orientation, a closed orientation and a partially open orientation. | 07-12-2012 |
20120181789 | Method And Systems For Detecting Electrical Discharges In A Machine - A monitoring system for use in detecting an electrical discharge within at least one component of a machine includes at least one sensor coupled to the machine for measuring an operating condition of the at least one component. The monitoring system includes a signal analysis module configured to receive a signal representative of the measured operating condition and to calculate an asymmetry value based on the signal received. The monitoring system includes a detection module coupled to the signal analysis module for detecting an electrical discharge within the at least one component based on the asymmetry value. | 07-19-2012 |
20120187681 | WIND TURBINE AND A METHOD FOR POWERING ONE OR MORE HYDRAULIC PITCH ACTUATORS - A wind turbine for producing power to a utility grid includes a rotor having one or more blades, wherein the rotor further includes one or more hydraulic pitch actuators for actively controlling the pitch angle of one or more of the blades. The wind turbine also includes one or more actuator hydraulic pumps adapted for powering the hydraulic pitch actuators, wherein the one or more actuator hydraulic pumps are powered by a normal operation energy source. The wind turbine further includes an emergency hydraulic pump also adapted for powering the hydraulic actuators, the emergency hydraulic pump being powered by an electrical energy storage. A method for powering one or more hydraulic pitch actuators for actively controlling the pitch angle of one or more blades of a wind turbine is also disclosed. | 07-26-2012 |
20120187682 | ELECTRO-HYDRODYNAMIC WIND ENERGY SYSTEM - A system for electro-hydrodynamically extracting energy from wind includes an upstream collector that is biased at an electric potential and induces an electric field. An injector introduces a particle into the electric field. The wind drag on the particle is at least partially opposed by a force of the electric field on the particle. A sensor monitors an ambient atmospheric condition, and a controller changes a parameter of the injector in response to a change in the atmospheric condition. | 07-26-2012 |
20120187683 | Method for the oscillation damping of a drive train in a wind turbine, wind turbine and use of a braking device - A method for the oscillation damping of a drive train in a wind turbine is proposed. The drive train connects a rotor to a generator. Parameter values representing an oscillation of the drive train are calculated and, on the basis of the calculated parameter values, damping forces which counteract the oscillation of the drive train are exerted in a controlled manner on the drive train by a braking device. | 07-26-2012 |
20120187684 | DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD TO LOWER STARTING TORQUE FOR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - The present disclosure describes lowering of the starting torque for an alternator or motor. The disclosure also describes the integrated torque management system, torque control logic and torque control method. The current process may be adopted for any motor or alternator that has to manage the starting torque for optimal performance. The disclosure also provides a method, system and a device to allow any energy generating system to rotate at lower speeds to improve the efficiency of power generators. | 07-26-2012 |
20120193915 | REACTIVE VOLTAGE CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIND POWER FIELD OF DOUBLE-FED WIND POWER-GENERATING UNIT - The invention provides a reactive voltage control system and method for wind power field of double-fed wind power-generating unit. The system comprises dispatching center equipment, a power management module for the wind power field and a plurality of controllers for the double-fed wind power-generating unit, wherein the dispatching center equipment is used for calculating a reactive power set value of the wind power field; the power management module for the wind power field is used for distributing the reactive power set value in the wind power field; and the controllers for the double-fed wind power-generating unit are used for controlling corresponding double-fed wind power-generating unit to perform reactive power compensation. According to the reactive voltage control system and the reactive voltage control method for the wind power field of the double-fed wind power-generating unit, the reactive output capability of the double-fed wind power-generating unit can be fully exerted. | 08-02-2012 |
20120193916 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AS WELL AS PARAMETER ACQUISITION SYSTEM AND METHOD THEREOF - The present invention discloses a wind turbine generator as well as a parameter acquisition system and a method thereof. The acquiring system comprises: at least one sensor, arranged in the hub of the wind turbine generator and configured to acquire environment operation parameters of the hub, and a data processing module, comprising a parameter acquisition unit, a parameter reading unit and a storage unit, wherein the parameter acquisition unit is connected with each sensor and configured to obtain environment operation parameters acquired by the each sensor; the parameter reading unit is connected with pitch drivers in the wind turbine generator and configured to read load characteristic parameters of the pitch drivers; the storage unit is connected with the parameter acquisition unit and the parameter reading unit and configured to store the environment operation parameters and load characteristic parameters. | 08-02-2012 |
20120193917 | PITCH CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIND TURBINE - The invention discloses a pitch control system for a wind turbine and a method, comprising a main controller, a secondary controller, a motor and a pitch gearbox, wherein the main controller is connected with a plurality of the secondary controllers through a communication bus; each blade corresponds to one controller and at least two motors, and one pitch gearbox is driven by each motor. The main controller is used for calculating a pitch expected value according to wind speed as well as power and rotation speed of a generator; and the motor is driven by the secondary controller according to the pitch expected value, so as to drive the pitch gearbox and hence drive the blades to vary a pitch angle. | 08-02-2012 |
20120193918 | WIND TURBINE CONTROL METHODS AND SYSTEMS - Improved wind turbine control methods and systems. The invention relates to a method for the operation of a variable speed wind turbine having pitch and torque control means that include additional steps for providing to the pitch control means in case of a wind gust a pitch angle reference increment Dθref in the amount needed for avoiding that the aerodynamic torque added by the wind gust exceeds a predetermined limit. The present invention also relates to a wind turbine comprising a control system arranged for performing an additional regulation in case of wind gust | 08-02-2012 |
20120200085 | WIND ENERGY GENERATING SYSTEM - A wind energy generating system includes a driving unit driving a shaft and a power generating module is connected to the driving unit and includes a first stator and a first rotor which rotates relative to the first stator. A blade is fixed to the first rotor by a link. A solar power unit is fixed to the power generating module. A power storage unit is located in the driving unit and a control unit is connected to the driving unit. A detection unit is electrically connected to the control unit. The first rotor rotates relative to the first stator to generate electric power and the detection unit detects the speed of the blade and adjusts the speed of the shaft to increase the relative speed between the first rotor and the first stator, or to slow the speed of the relative speed to protect the blade. | 08-09-2012 |
20120200086 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING WIND FARM WHEN WIND SPEED VARIES ABRUPTLY - The present invention relates to a method and system for controlling a wind farm when a ramp up or ramp down rate of the wind farm does not satisfy a grid-code or corresponding criteria due to an abrupt change in wind speed. The method and system for controlling a wind farm includes the steps of measuring speed and direction of wind performed outside the wind farm, sequentially controlling wind turbines if the wind speed abruptly changes considering a time for the wind to arrive at the wind turbines, determining the number of wind turbines to be controlled simultaneously so that the wind farm may satisfy the grid-code at this point, grouping the wind turbines, determining a control sequence and a control time of each group, and adjusting a control end time if stopping times of adjacent groups are overlapped when the wind turbines are stopped. | 08-09-2012 |
20120200087 | Management System for Operating a Wind Energy Plant and Method Using the Management System - A management system for a wind energy plant including at least one control unit, and a method using the management system are disclosed. The management system is used to coordinate component modules of the wind energy plant with vibration damping modules and/or load reduction modules, wherein a sensor system supplies data of the operating states of the component modules for a system analysis. For this purpose, reactive vibrations and/or predictive forecasts of vibrations of the wind energy plant, and predictive disturbance variables are registered, and the vibration damping modules and/or load reduction modules in the control unit are activated, wherein an actuator carries out damping measures and/or load reduction measures on the component modules in accordance with the vibration damping modules and/or load reduction modules of the control unit. | 08-09-2012 |
20120205911 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING A DC LINK VOLTAGE OF A POWER CONVERTER CONNECTING AN ELECTRIC GENERATOR OF A WIND TURBINE WITH A POWER GRID - A method is provided for controlling a DC link voltage of a power converter connecting an electric generator of a wind turbine with a power grid. The method includes determining the rotational speed of a rotor of the electric generator. The method further includes determining a strength of harmonic components of the rotational speed of the rotor, wherein the harmonic components have frequency components being different from a fundamental rotational frequency of the electric generator. The method also includes determining a damping reference signal as a function of the determined strength of the harmonic components, and controlling the DC link voltage of the power converter in response to the determined damping reference signal. A corresponding control system is also provided. | 08-16-2012 |
20120205912 | WIND-TURBINE-GENERATOR CONTROL APPARATUS, WIND TURBINE GENERATOR SYSTEM, AND WIND-TURBINE-GENERATOR CONTROL METHOD - A wind-turbine control device controls a wind turbine generator in which a rotor having a plurality of blades receives wind and rotates. The generator generates electrical power through the rotation of the rotor. The electrical power is supplied to a utility grid, and electric energy to be supplied to the utility grid can be changed according to a change in the frequency of the utility grid. The wind-turbine control device includes a subtracter to calculate a frequency change, which is the difference between a measurement value of the frequency of generated output power of the wind turbine generator and a set value of the frequency of the generated output power of the wind turbine generator. The wind-turbine control device further includes a limiter to limit a change in the electrical power corresponding to the frequency change calculated by the subtracter, based on the rotational speed of the generator. | 08-16-2012 |
20120205913 | WIND TURBINE CONTROL METHODS FOR IMPROVING THE PRODUCTION OF ENERGY - Method of operation of a variable speed wind turbine ( | 08-16-2012 |
20120211982 | CONTROLLER FOR WIND TURBINE GENERATOR, WIND TURBINE GENERATOR, AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - If blades have been struck by wind that has reached a power reduction start wind speed that is lower than a conventional cut-out wind speed at which torque acting on a main shaft reaches the torque limit, a wind turbine generator performs torque reduction control for causing the change in the torque when wind speed is higher than the power reduction start wind speed to be different from change in the torque when wind speed is lower than the power reduction start wind speed so as to prevent the torque from exceeding the torque limit at the conventional cut-out wind speed. For example, if the wind striking the blades reaches the power reduction start wind speed, the wind turbine generator sets the slope of change in torque lower than that before the power reduction start wind speed is reached. Accordingly, the wind turbine generator can reduce the load acting on a device and suppress a reduction in power even if the blades are struck by strong wind. | 08-23-2012 |
20120211983 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING AN ELECTROMECHANICALGENERATOR - A method for operating an electromechanical generator is provided, the method comprising: determining a magnetic field reference parameter based on an electromagnetic power reference representing a desired output of the electromechanical generator, determining a scaling factor for adjusting an air-gap magnetization level of the electromechanical generator to reduce loss in operating the electromechanical generator, modifying the magnetic field reference parameter with the scaling factor; and operating the electromechanical generator based on at least the modified magnetic field reference parameter. | 08-23-2012 |
20120211984 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR SYSTEM FAULT PROCESSING METHOD AND SYSTEM - A wind turbine generator system fault processing method and a wind turbine generator system fault processing system are provided. The method comprises: receiving a detection signal sent by a detection element for detecting a running state of a part of a wind turbine generator system, and setting a fault bit corresponding to the part of the wind turbine generator system in a fault state or a non-fault state according to the detection signal; detecting whether the fault bit corresponding to the part of the wind turbine generator system is in the fault state; acquiring a fault control word corresponding to a fault bit of the fault state; and determining whether a part corresponding to the fault bit of the fault state has non-halting fault according to the fault control word, and if so, performing fault reset processing on the fault bit of the fault state. | 08-23-2012 |
20120211985 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A WIND ENERGY SYSTEM AND WIND SPEED SENSOR FREE WIND ENERGY SYSTEM - A method for controlling a wind energy system is provided wherein the method comprises determining the effective wind speed taking into account the load on the rotor blades of said wind energy system exerted by the wind is provided. A computer-readable medium is provided that provides instructions which when executed by a computing platform cause the computing platform to perform operations wherein the operations include the method according to embodiments described herein. Further, a wind energy system having a calculation unit adapted for calculating the effective wind speed by taking into account the load on the rotor blades of said wind energy system exerted by the wind is provided. Further, a wind speed sensor free wind energy system having a generator for generating electric energy and a controller for shutting down and/or starting the electric energy generation in dependence of the wind speed is provided. | 08-23-2012 |
20120211986 | WIND SENSOR SYSTEM USING BLADE SIGNALS - The present invention relates to a wind-velocity-field measurement system for use in a wind turbine having a rotor with two or more blades, comprising at least one sensor-signal obtained by measuring a physical quantity on at angle least one of the blades, the physical quantity being indicative of at least one wind-velocity-field characteristic; a table ( | 08-23-2012 |
20120217746 | WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes at least one generator adapted to generate electric power and a plurality of electrical converter units adapted to convert electric power generated by the generator and electrically connectable or connected to the generator and to a utility grid. The generator includes a stator being segmented in stator segments. Each stator segment includes a plurality of stator windings. The stator windings of the respective stator segments are divided into at least a first and a second group of stator windings with each group including at least one stator winding. Several or all first groups of stator windings are electrically connected to a first electrical converter unit and several or all second groups of stator windings are electrically connected to a second electrical converter unit. | 08-30-2012 |
20120217747 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRIC POWER GENERATED BY A WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - A method of controlling a wind turbine generator is provided, the wind turbine generator converting mechanical energy to electrical. The method comprises: determining an electromagnetic power reference representing the electromagnetic power generated by the wind turbine generator, wherein the electromagnetic power reference is determined based on a desired output of the wind turbine generator; controlling the electrical power generated by the wind turbine generator using a control signal, wherein the control signal is derived from the electromagnetic power reference and is modified in dependence on an inverse power function of the wind turbine generator by incorporating minimal copper loss constraint and stator voltage limiting constraint such that non-linearity of the wind turbine generator plant is compensated in the control loop and it operates at its maximum efficiency. One effect of the method is that classical linear control loop design can be employed in spite of the plant being a non-linear identity. | 08-30-2012 |
20120217748 | WIND TURBINE STAND STILL LOAD REDUCTION - The invention relates to a method of controlling a wind turbine comprising a tower, a nacelle located on the tower, and a rotor mounted on the nacelle and comprising a hub and at least one blade, the wind turbine further comprising a yaw drive system for rotating the nacelle in relation to the tower about a substantially vertical axis, and/or a pitch drive system for rotating the blade around a longitudinal axis there of the method comprising, during a stand-still, non-power-producing situation of the wind turbine due to high wind speeds, continuously or periodically rotating, by means of the yaw drive system, the nacelle so as to vary the direction of the wind in relation to the rotor, and/or continuously or periodically rotating, by means of the pitch drive system, the blade so as to vary the direction of the wind in relation to the blade. | 08-30-2012 |
20120217749 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WIND FARMS WITH AEROGENERATIONS PROVIDED WITH MODULAR CONVERTERS - A control system ( | 08-30-2012 |
20120223523 | WIND TURBINE - The disclosure relates to a wind turbine having a machine support ( | 09-06-2012 |
20120235409 | ACCURATE ESTIMATION OF THE CAPACITY AND STATE OF CHARGE OF AN ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM USED IN WIND FARMS - Embodiments of the invention provide techniques and apparatus for accurately estimating an aged capacity (E | 09-20-2012 |
20120242084 | Collapsible Horizontal Axis Wind Generator - A low wind, lightweight horizontal axis wind generator with two adjustable rotor assemblies that include at least one set of lightweight blades that can be manually or automatically unfurled or furled in low, moderate and high winds. In one embodiment, each blade has an airfoil shape in cross-sectional with a rounded leading edge and a thin tailing edge. In a second embodiment, each blade is sail shaped made of one thin cover or panel that assumes a concave cup-like configuration in the wind. In both embodiments, the blade are made of lightweight flexible material supported by an inner frame. In one embodiment, the cover moves longitudinally over the inner frame. In the second embodiment, the cover moves laterally over the inner frame. The unfurling and furl of the blades are controlled by a voltage sensor that constantly measures the voltage output of the generator and/or by wind sensors. | 09-27-2012 |
20120242085 | Motor Yaw Drive System for a Wind Turbine - A yaw-drive system for a wind turbine housed in a movable-in-yaw nacelle affixed atop a tower on a roller bearing. A round-look high-flux core material forms the stator of a circular linear yaw motor. The stator is affixed to the tower and is stationary. A plurality of magnets is affixed to the nacelle in proximity with the core material, such that as the stator is excited in quadrature the nacelle rotates on the roller bearings about a yaw pivot. | 09-27-2012 |
20120248770 | High Altitude Wind Power Generator with Kite and Dual Purpose Circular Fan - Disclosed apparatus enables us to harvest wind power in high altitude atmosphere by taking advantage of kite, airfoil and dual purpose circular fan. The kite keeps the wind power turbines floated at high altitude when wind power is sufficient enough to sustain them. With help of stepping motor, the circular fan can be positioned either in vertical or horizontal position. In former position, the fan drives wind turbine to generate power as it is in angle of attack. In latter position, the turbine is converted into electrical motor with power provided from external source. It drives the fan providing floating forces when wind speed is too slow to keep the apparatus floated only by the kite or while the apparatus is ascending or descending. | 10-04-2012 |
20120248771 | ICE DETECTION METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WIND TURBINE GENERATORS USING SUN RADIATION SENSORS - The present invention defines a system and method aiming at measuring the direct solar radiation received by a wind turbine generator in order to detect ice formation. The measured value is subsequently compared to a theoretical radiation curve wherein measured values on a cloudy day will be well below theoretical curves. Ice detection is made considering the presence of clouds and temperature. Measured parameters are preferably the direct sun radiation transmittance and ambient temperature. | 10-04-2012 |
20120248772 | CONTROL DEVICE OF WIND TURBINE GENERATOR, WIND TURBINE GENERATOR, WIND FARM, AND CONTROL METHOD FOR WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - An object is to rapidly recover from a voltage drop in a power grid. When the value of a grid voltage detected by a grid voltage detection unit has fluctuated so as to satisfy a condition set in advance for a reference value, a control device controls a wind turbine generator such that a reactive current corresponding to a required output current that is determined by an active current and the reactive current and that indicates an output level to a power grid on the basis of the detection result from the grid voltage detection unit is output to the power grid. | 10-04-2012 |
20120261917 | Black Start of Wind Turbine Devices - A wind turbine device having in one embodiment a diesel generator to initialize a black start in case of a blackout of an electricity network is disclosed. For performing the black start, the diesel generator provides a predetermined voltage to a power output of the wind turbine device in order to imitate the electricity network in its running state. A wind park is also disclosed, the wind park having in one embodiment at least two wind turbine devices. In one embodiment a wind park controller provides the same reference value for the phase angle φ for the at least two turbines. | 10-18-2012 |
20120261918 | ATMOSPHERIC ENERGY EXTRACTION DEVICES AND METHODS - An apparatus for producing electricity includes a tower capable of adding moisture at the top of the tower to hot-dry air so as to generate a downdraft of wind within the interior of the tower, vanes coupled to the exterior of the tower that at least partially define elongated pockets at the exterior of the tower, flaps located within the pockets configured to redirect incident wind downwards, and at least a first wind tunnel configured to receive the redirected incident wind so as to convert such wind to electricity. | 10-18-2012 |
20120261919 | CONTROL SYSTEM OF WIND POWER GENERATOR, WIND FARM, AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING WIND POWER GENERATOR - A wind power generator generates power through a rotation of a rotor and is interconnected, and operated with its power generation output previously limited in order to be able to further supply the power to a power system in response to a decrease in system frequency. Thus, a concentrated control system derives a required restricted amount corresponding to a power generation output required to respond to the decrease in system frequency, derives a value by subtracting an amount corresponding to a latent power generation output with which the power generation output can be increased, from the required restricted amount, and sets a restricted amount of the power generation output in each wind power generator to perform the operation with the power generation output previously limited to respond to the decrease in system frequency, based on the above value. | 10-18-2012 |
20120261920 | ROTARY MOTOR ACTUATOR AND HORIZONTAL AXIS WIND TURBINE - Provided is a rotary motor actuator capable of simplifying the manufacture and assembly process. | 10-18-2012 |
20120267892 | WIND POWER GENERATING SYSTEM - According to the present invention, there is provided a wind power generating system, having a plurality of plasma airflow generating units, each including a first electrode and a second electrode arranged being separated from the first electrode with a dielectric film and generating plasma airflow owing to dielectric barrier discharge when voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode; and at least one plasma power source which supplies voltage to the plasma airflow generating units, wherein the plasma airflow generating units are arranged at a blade of the wind power generating system and are supplied with voltage as being separated into a plurality of lines separately for each of the lines. | 10-25-2012 |
20120274067 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - An object of the present invention is to provide a wind turbine generator in which a communication channel can be added in communication between a hub and a nacelle, without making a modification to the design of a silo ring. The present invention provides a wind turbine generator in which communication between the hub and the nacelle is performed by superimposing an into signal onto AC power carried over an AC power line between the hub and the nacelle via the slip ring. | 11-01-2012 |
20120274068 | ATMOSPHERIC ENERGY EXTRACTION DEVICES AND METHODS - An apparatus for producing electricity includes a tower capable of adding moisture at the top of the tower to hot-dry air so as to generate a downdraft of wind within the interior of the tower, vanes coupled to the exterior of the tower that at least partially define a plurality of elongated pockets at the exterior of the tower, flaps located within the pockets configured to redirect incident wind downwards, and at least a first wind tunnel configured to receive the redirected incident wind so as to convert such wind to electricity. | 11-01-2012 |
20120280499 | Generator Frequency Controlled Load Shifting - In a power generation system that includes a ram air turbine that drives an electric generator and at least one electric bus that couples alternating current electric power from the electric generator to at least one electric load, a method of maintaining the speed of the ram air turbine within a desired range of speeds that comprises the step of uncoupling the at least one electric bus from the electric generator when the frequency of the alternating current falls under a desired minimum frequency. | 11-08-2012 |
20120280500 | WIND POWER GENERATION SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME - A wind power generation system | 11-08-2012 |
20120280501 | WIND POWER GENERATION SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME - A wind power generation system | 11-08-2012 |
20120286509 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE AND WIND TURBINE SUITED THEREFOR - In a wind turbine, when a deviation of a grid voltage from a certain regular grid voltage range occurs, current residual grid voltage is measured, current wind speed is measured, a certain time period starting with the detecting of the change in grid voltage is defined depending on the value of the residual grid voltage, and the wind turbine is operated within the defined time period depending on the value of the residual grid voltage in a certain operating mode that deviates from regular operation with respect to the effective power, and the wind turbine is operated again in the regular operating mode after the grid voltage has normalized again within the defined time period, or is shut off at the end of the time period if the deviation of the grid voltage persists. | 11-15-2012 |
20120286510 | WIND POWER GENERATION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME - Provided is a wind power generation system intending to suppress an increase of torque when a voltage in a utility grid is restored, and to reduce a load to devices due to the torque. The blade control unit controls the pitch angle of the wind turbine blades such that a rotation speed of the power generator becomes equal to or greater than a synchronous rotation speed when the power control unit de-actuates the operations of the converter and the inverter, and controls the pitch angle of the wind turbine blades such that the pitch angle matches a target pitch angle that is determined based on one of a wind speed, a rotation speed of the power generator, and a requested output power when the power control unit re-actuates the operations of the converter and the inverter. | 11-15-2012 |
20120286511 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR SYSTEM - A wind turbine generator system can regulate the rotational velocity of the wind turbine within an operation range even when the wind velocity suddenly changes and can perform continuous operation of the wind turbine. The wind turbine generator system includes a generator connected to the shaft of the wind turbine and a converter connected to the generator. When the rotational velocity of the wind turbine is within a predetermined range, power outputted from the generator is controlled so as to follow the instruction concerning the generator output given from the wind turbine to the converter. When the rotational velocity of the wind turbine is out of the predetermined range, the power outputted from the generator is controlled without following the instruction concerning generator output given from the wind turbine to the converter. | 11-15-2012 |
20120292903 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE - A method is provided for operating a wind turbine with a rotor having a rotor blade adjustable in its blade pitch angle. A generator is connected to the rotor and a measurement unit captures an actual value of a variable representative of a rotational speed of the generator. A set-point for a generator torque is provided and the set-point thereof is corrected. An actual value of a variable representative of a rotational speed of the generator is captured. A set-point for the torque as a function of the captured actual value is provided and the set-point for the torque as a function of a parameter for air density is corrected. A pitch angle value is captured and the set-point for the torque is increased when the captured value for the pitch angle exceeds a minimum value and has been corrected on the basis of an air density parameter. | 11-22-2012 |
20120292904 | METHOD FOR EMULATION OF SYNCHRONOUS MACHINE - The present invention relates to electric energy sources, such as a single wind power turbine or wind power plant, that are interfaced with the utility grid through power electronic converters. In particular, the present invention relates to specific techniques and methodologies for power electronic converters for stabilizing the utility grid during transient conditions and for providing similar stability mechanisms that are inherently present in electric synchronous generators while maintaining the possibility for fast and decoupled following of set points for generated active and/or reactive powers. | 11-22-2012 |
20120292905 | METHOD OF IN SITU CALIBRATING LOAD SENSORS OF A WIND TURBINE BLADE - A method of in situ calibrating load sensors of a horizontal axis wind turbine is described. The method comprises the steps of: a) determining a rotor azimuth angle of a first wind turbine blade, b) determining a pitch angle of the first wind turbine blade, c) measuring loads in a first cross-section of the first wind turbine blade using the first load sensors, d) calculating theoretical loads based on at least the rotor azimuth angle and the pitch angle of the blade determined in steps a) and b), e) comparing the loads measured in step c) with the theoretical loads calculated in step d), and f) calibrating the first load sensors based on the comparison of step e), wherein the calibration are based only on measurements carried out, when the generator is cut out. | 11-22-2012 |
20120299298 | WIND TURBINE CONTROL METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR COLD CLIMATE AND LOW ALTITUDE CONDITIONS - A method for the operation of a variable-speed wind turbine having pitch and torque control means that includes additional steps for providing to the torque control means, in case of an environmental situation where the air density ρ is greater than a predetermined value ρ | 11-29-2012 |
20120306202 | Wind Power Generation System and Method for Additional Installation of Wind Power Generator Therein - The present invention provides a wind power generation system capable of suppressing an increase in output variation involved in additional installation of a wind power generator without the need for a large storage battery capacity. For example, an output variation rate at a predetermined period of an existing wind power generator in an existing wind-power generating station is determined in advance, and charge/discharge control for a storage battery device is performed to reduce an output variation in a system output of the existing wind power generator so that an output variation rate of the wind-power generating system after the additional installation of the wind power generator does not exceed the determined output variation rate of the existing wind power generator. | 12-06-2012 |
20120306203 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE IN THE EVENT OF A GRID ERROR AND A WIND TURBINE FOR CARRYING OUT SAID METHOD - The invention is directed to a method for operating a wind turbine in the event of a grid error. The wind turbine has a rotor having a rotor blade adjustable in its blade pitch angle, a generator and a unit for capturing an actual value of the rotational speed of the generator, a value of the blade pitch angle and an actual value of a variable which is representative of a generator torque. The method includes recognizing a grid error; capturing the actual value of the generator torque and actual value of rotational speed of the generator when a grid error was recognized; determining a change in torque; capturing the pitch angle; determining a corrective value for the pitch angle in dependence upon the change in the generator torque and the value for the pitch angle; and, determining a corrected set-point for the pitch angle. | 12-06-2012 |
20120306204 | METHOD AND CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTROLLING A REACTIVE POWER SOURCE - The present invention relates to a method for controlling a reactive power source in a wind power plant, the method comprising the steps of providing a wind turbine reactive power control signal and providing an active power reference signal, said active power reference signal being a measure of an active power production of the wind power plant. A control signal for the reactive power source is generated by combining the wind turbine reactive power control signal and the active power reference signal in such a way that the control signal for the reactive power source becomes a weighted signal of the wind turbine reactive power control signal. Moreover, the present invention relates to control units and wind power plants suitable for carrying out the present invention. | 12-06-2012 |
20120313374 | ELECTRIC GENERATOR FOR A WIND TURBINE, WIND TURBINE AND METHOD OF DRIVING A WIND TURBINE - An electric generator for a wind turbine, a wind turbine including such an electric generator and a method of driving such a wind turbine are provided. The electric generator includes a generator rotor and a generator stator concentrically arranged around a generator axis and at a distance from each other. The electric generator further includes a distance sensor arrangement including at least one distance sensor adapted to sense the distance between the generator rotor and the generator stator and to provide a sensor signal including an information about the sensed distance. | 12-13-2012 |
20130001945 | METHOD FOR THE IDENTIFICATION OF THE DRIVE TRAIN MAIN FREQUENCY IN A WIND TURBINE - Method for the identification in operation of the drive train main vibration frequency of a wind turbine, comprising online steps of: a) obtaining a input signal (r) of the generator speed (Ω); b) filtering the generator speed input signal (r) for obtaining a generator speed signal (r | 01-03-2013 |
20130001946 | METHOD AND CONTROLLER FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRIC POWER PRODUCTION UNIT, IN PARTICULAR A WIND TURBINE - A method for controlling an electric power production unit, in particular a wind turbine, connected to a utility grid, includes obtaining information regarding an event at a point in time, wherein the event relates to at least one of electric power delivered to the utility grid and electric power extracted from the utility grid at the point in time, and automatically adapting, before the point in time, a power transfer between the power production unit and the utility grid based on the information. Further a corresponding controller and a wind park are described. | 01-03-2013 |
20130001947 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR, ACTIVE DAMPING METHOD THEREOF, AND WINDMILL TOWER - A wind turbine generator, an active damping method thereof, and a windmill tower in which vibrations of the wind turbine generator itself or the windmill tower can be reduced at low cost are provided. The acceleration due to vibrations of a nacelle is detected with an accelerometer attached to the nacelle. In an active damping unit, a pitch angle of windmill blades for generating a thrust on the windmill blades so as to cancel out the vibrations of the nacelle is calculated on the basis of the acceleration, and the pitch angle is output as a blade-pitch-angle command δθ* for damping. On the other hand, in a pitch-angle control unit, a pitch angle of the windmill blades for controlling the output to be a predetermined value is calculated, and the pitch angle is output as a blade-pitch-angle command θ* for output control. The blade-pitch-angle command δθ* for damping is combined with the blade-pitch-angle command θ* for output control using a subtracter. The pitch angle of the windmill blades is controlled on the basis of the resulting blade-pitch-angle command after combining. | 01-03-2013 |
20130009397 | WIND POWER GENERATION DEVICE - Provided is a wind power generation apparatus to which general purpose inverters are applicable. An inverter in a constant-voltage mode is used. While a wind power generator is generating electricity, switching circuits are turned on and off at a controlled duty cycles to intermittently short-circuit an armature winding, boosting the voltage and controlling the rotational speed of a windmill rotating blade, with the result that the voltage applied to the inverter is made constant. At the activation, in order to prevent an excessive voltage from being generated while an inverter is changing from the stand-by state to the activated state, ON/OFF control of a switching circuit is performed to switch between the output voltage of a rectifier and the voltage generated at a resistor, with the result that the voltage is controlled and maintained at an appropriate value. | 01-10-2013 |
20130015660 | WIND POWER PLANT WITH OPTIMAL POWER OUTPUT - Controlling a wind power plant comprising at least one wind turbine generator for producing power to an electrical grid where the amount of said power is based on a signal response in a voltage signal in said electrical grid due to a change in power output into said electrical grid. | 01-17-2013 |
20130015661 | Stay Cable for Structures - A mast is erected to support a load. At least one stay cable supports the mast. The stay cable has an end and an opposite end. The end of the stay cable attaches to an upper region of the mast. The opposite end of the stay cable anchors at earth. The stay cable is oriented at an angle not exceeding ten degrees. | 01-17-2013 |
20130015662 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR A WIND TURBINEAANM Bertolotti; FabioAACI Bad BentheimAACO DEAAGP Bertolotti; Fabio Bad Bentheim DEAANM Van Schelve; JensAACI SchuttorfAACO DEAAGP Van Schelve; Jens Schuttorf DE - The invention relates to a control device for a wind power plant having an electrical system and a rotor including a plurality of rotor blades driven by wind, and outputting a mechanical rotor power to the electrical system. The system converts the mechanical rotor power at least partially into electrical power. The control device includes a blade sensor associated with at least one of the rotor blades and measuring at least one physical property of the rotor blade dependent on at least one characteristic value of a wind field describing the wind at the location of the rotor. The blade sensor generates a blade sensor signal characterizing the physical property. The control device also includes an estimation unit to determine an estimated value for the electrical power as a function of the blade sensor signal. | 01-17-2013 |
20130020804 | PITCH DRIVE DEVICE CAPABLE OF EMERGENCY OPERATION FOR A WIND OR WATER POWER PLANT - A pitch drive device capable of emergency operation by adjusting the rotor blade pitch of a wind or water power plant. The pitch drive device includes an inverter device and a three-phase current drive motor preferably a three-phase IPM synchronous motor. A direct current power storage device can be substantially directly connected to an intermediate direct current circuit, at least for emergency operation, between a rectifier device and the inverter device for at least briefly supplying power to the synchronous motor, so that the IPM synchronous motor can be operated under speed control when the intermediate circuit voltage UZK is falling. The device enables speed-controlled emergency operation of the pitch drive device at high torque when an intermediate circuit voltage UZK is falling in emergency operation, wherein the direct current energy storage device can, improve the efficiency as an energy buffer, and reduce current transfer via the rotor slip ring. | 01-24-2013 |
20130026756 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR OPERATING A WIND FARM WITHIN VOLTAGE LIMIT - A method for determining a limit value of a wind turbine reference operational variable is described The wind turbine being connected to a connection node to which a utility grid is connected. The method includes: obtaining a first input signal indicative of a connection node limit voltage; obtaining a second input signal indicative of a connection node voltage; and determining the limit value of the wind turbine reference operational variable based on the first signal and the second signal. Further a corresponding arrangement is described. | 01-31-2013 |
20130026757 | WIND ENERGY PLANT HAVING A BLADE HEATER - A wind energy plant comprising a rotor having blades and a generator driven by said rotor for generating electric energy. The pitch of the blades can be adjusted and a pitch system for adjusting the pitch angle of the blades is provided, which is supplied by a hub power source. An additional electric load is provided on the hub. A pitch power control device is provided which dynamically distributes the power of the hub power source between the pitch system and the additional electric load and further acts on the pitch system such that the power consumption thereof during high-load operation is reduced. Thus, the power consumption of the pitch system during high-load operation can be reduced and additional power provided for operating the additional load. Even high-performance additional loads, such as a blade heater, can be operated in this way, without having to boost the hub power source. | 01-31-2013 |
20130026758 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AEROGENERATORS FOR PRODUCING ELECTRICAL ENERGY - A method for controlling an aerogenerator ( | 01-31-2013 |
20130026759 | DYNAMIC INERTIA REGULATION - A wind energy installation having a wind rotor, a generator which is driven thereby and interacts with a converter in order to produce electrical power, rotation-speed regulation and converter control which interacts therewith, wherein the rotation-speed regulation outputs a nominal rotation speed signal (n | 01-31-2013 |
20130033040 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING WIND TURBINES FROM DAMAGE - A wind turbine has a Lidar device to sense wind conditions upstream of the wind turbine. Signals from the wind turbine are processed to detect an extreme event. On detection the system controller takes the necessary evasive action depending on the nature and severity of the extreme condition detected. This may include a significant reduction in power generated, complete shutdown of the generator and yawing of the nacelle and rotor to reduce loading on the rotor blades. | 02-07-2013 |
20130038059 | ARRANGEMENT FOR GENERATING A CONTROL SIGNAL FOR CONTROLLING AN ACCELERATION OF A GENERATOR - An arrangement is provided for controlling a power output of a power generation system by controlling an acceleration of a generator of a power generation system. The arrangement includes an input terminal for receiving an input signal indicative of an actual grid frequency of a utility grid, a control circuit for generating a control signal, and an output terminal to which the control signal is supplied. The control circuit is adapted for receiving the input signal, for determining whether the actual grid frequency is above a predefined threshold, and, if the input signal indicates that the actual grid frequency is above the predefined threshold, for generating the control signal based on the input signal. The control signal is indicative of an acceleration of the generator. The power output of the power generation system is controlled by controlling the acceleration of the generator. Further a power generation system is described. | 02-14-2013 |
20130038060 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND POWER PARK AND A WIND POWER PARK CONTROLLED BY SUCH METHOD - A method for controlling a wind power park including the steps of: collecting information relating to meteorological conditions at the location of the wind power park, estimating for each of a plurality of the wind turbines the production costs per unit energy at different load levels of the respective wind turbine, collecting information from a utility grid operator relating to energy prices and possible requirements relating to the amount of power delivered from the wind power park to the utility grid, controlling the wind power park by deciding on a total amount of power to be delivered from the wind power park and distributing the decided power production between individual wind turbines, and repeating the above steps in order to obtain a dynamic control of the wind power park. Further, a wind power park being controlled by such method is disclosed. | 02-14-2013 |
20130038061 | COLLECTOR ANTI-WEARING AND LUBRICATION SYSTEM FOR VARIABLE SPEED WIND TURBINE - A variable speed wind turbine having a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG), includes an exciter machine mechanically coupled to the DFIG and a power converter placed between a rotor of the DFIG and the exciter machine. Thus, the power converter is not directly connected to the grid avoiding the introduction of undesired harmonic distortion and achieving a better power quality fed into the utility grid. Moreover, the variable speed wind turbine includes a power control and a pitch regulation. | 02-14-2013 |
20130043679 | Wind Power Generator - A wind power generator comprises a first power generator including a rotor arranged so as to be coaxial with a rotation shaft and generates electric power by the rotation of the rotor, a flywheel which is coaxial with the rotation shaft and arranged through a one-way clutch so that when the rotation shaft increases its speed, the flywheel is in an integrally rotating state with the rotation shaft, and when the rotation shaft reduces its speed, the flywheel is separated from the rotation shaft to rotate inertially, a second power generator including a rotor arranged so as to be coaxial with the flywheel and rotate integrally with the flywheel generates the electric power by the rotation of the rotor with the rotation of the flywheel, and an output portion which externally outputs any one of the electric powers generated by the first and second power generators. | 02-21-2013 |
20130049363 | PERMANENT MAGNET MACHINE CONTROL SYSTEM - A permanent magnet (PM) machine system is provided having a PM machine and a controller in communication with the PM machine. The PM machine has a q-axis voltage feedback signal and a pullout torque that represents a peak torque that the PM machine generates. The controller includes a q-axis current regulator that produces a commanded q-axis voltage that is supplied to the PM machine. The controller also includes at least one control logic for monitoring the q-axis voltage feedback signal of the PM machine. | 02-28-2013 |
20130056985 | WIND-POWER GENERATION SYSTEM WITH OVER-SPEED PROTECTION AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - A wind-power generation system with an over-speed protection is disclosed. The system is provided to convert wind energy into mechanical energy by a wind turbine, and mechanical energy is converted into electric energy by the wind turbine driving a generator. Also, electric energy is delivered to a power grid. The wind-power generation system mainly includes an AC crowbar, a fuse, and a DC chopper. The AC crowbar or the DC chopper is provided to consume superfluous energy outputted from the generator, thus providing an over-load operation to brake the wind turbine when the wind turbine operates under a first stage over-speed operation. Finally, the generator is isolated from the generator-side converter by disconnecting the fuse when the wind turbine operates under a second stage over-speed operation. | 03-07-2013 |
20130062880 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING WIND TURBINES FROM FATIGUE DAMAGE - A wind turbine has a Lidar device to sense wind conditions upstream of the wind turbine including wind speed, direction and turbulence. Signals from the Lidar are processed to detect an event which could give rise to low cycle fatigue loading on one or more components of the wind turbine. On detection the system controller takes the necessary evasive action depending on the nature and severity of the extreme condition detected. This may include a significant reduction in power generated through reduction in rotor speed or torque, complete shutdown of the generator and yawing of the nacelle and rotor in response to a change in wind direction. | 03-14-2013 |
20130076036 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR POWER GENERATION - A fluid flow-powered generator and a method for using the same are described herein. The generator has a rotatable frame, with a first wing and a second wing. The first wing and second wing are pivotally mounted to the frame to allow the angle of attack to be adjusted. A controller is also provided to direct adjustment of the angle of attack of the first wing and the second wing in a coordinated manner while the fluid flow-powered generator is in use. In certain embodiments, the fluid flow-powered generator is operable as an oscillating generator and in other embodiments, the fluid flow-powered generator is operable as a rotating generator. The rotating generator can be arranged along a horizontal axis or a vertical axis. Additionally, certain horizontally oriented generators may be operated as either oscillating generators or rotating generators. | 03-28-2013 |
20130076037 | METHOD AND CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTROLLING CENTRAL CAPACITORS IN WIND POWER PLANTS - The present invention relates to a control system and an associated method for controlling an amount of reactive power delivered from a wind power plant to an associated power supply grid, the control system comprising a wind power plant controller and a number of wind turbine controllers each being in communication with said wind power plant controller, wherein the wind power plant controller is adapted to provide a grid voltage reference in response to a required total amount of reactive power to at least one wind turbine controller and operating a Switched Capacitor bank. | 03-28-2013 |
20130088009 | Method to Prevent Over Torque of Yaw Drive Components in a Wind Turbine - A method for preventing over torque and failure of yaw system components in a wind turbine is disclosed. The method may include providing a yaw system having a yaw drive including a drive motor for facing a nacelle positioned on the yaw system in a preferred wind direction. The method may also include preventing operation of the drive motor beyond a normal operating region on a torque-speed curve of the drive motor to avoid torques that may damage the yaw system components. | 04-11-2013 |
20130088010 | PITCH SYSTEM FOR A WIND ENERGY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A PITCH SYSTEM - A pitch system of a wind energy system includes an emergency energy store for moving a rotor blade into a safety position in the event of the failure of an external energy supply. The emergency energy store can be tested, for example to assess aging, by supplying electrical energy to an actuating device configured to set a pitch angle of a rotor blade even in a normal operating mode of the wind energy system temporarily exclusively from the emergency energy store. This configuration ensures reliable operation of a wind energy system. | 04-11-2013 |
20130093186 | WIND-POWER GENERATION SYSTEM AND OPERATION CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - An object is to improve the accuracy of power factor adjustment. Power-factor command values corresponding to individual wind turbines are determined by correcting a predetermined power-factor command value for an interconnection node using power factor correction levels set for the individual wind turbines. | 04-18-2013 |
20130099494 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND YAW CONTROL METHOD FOR WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - A wind turbine generator, which is a wind turbine generator that turns a nacelle in the yaw direction by using the force that acts on turbine blades, includes a yaw brake device that stops the turning of the nacelle in the yaw direction and a control device that controls the yaw brake device so that the turning speed of the nacelle falls within a predetermined range. Therefore, the wind turbine generator can make the turning speed of the nacelle constant. | 04-25-2013 |
20130099495 | POWER CONTROL METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR WIND GENERATING SET - The invention provides a power control method and a power control system for a wind generating set. The method comprises: acquiring an actual torque T | 04-25-2013 |
20130099496 | OCEAN WAVE ENERGY SYSTEM - An ocean wave energy system for generating power from ocean waves includes a platform supporting an array of hollow columns whose respective lower ends are in fluidic communication with ocean waves and whose respective upper ends are in air communication with a turbine arrangement such that wave motion occurring at the lower ends is operable to cause air movement within the columns for propelling the turbine arrangement to generate power output. The system further includes one or more position-adjustable and/or angle-adjustable submerged structures near the lower ends of the columns for forming ocean waves propagating in operation towards the lower ends of the columns to couple the waves in a controllable manner into the hollow columns. | 04-25-2013 |
20130099497 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REDUCING YAW ERROR IN WIND TURBINES - A wind turbine with a rotor comprising one or more rotor blades and a hub, the hub being attached to a nacelle, a yaw system for rotating the rotor to orient it in a wind direction, and one or more line of sight detectors for detecting a component of wind velocity. The one or more detectors are mounted such that they rotate under the action of the yaw system. A control system is coupled to the one or more detectors and is arranged to compare the detected wind velocity component with a wind velocity value and control the yaw system in response to the comparison. The nacelle can be rotated under control of the control system until the yaw error is substantially zero. | 04-25-2013 |
20130106107 | WIND TURBINE HAVING A CONTROL METHOD AND CONTROLLER FOR PERFORMING PREDICTIVE CONTROL OF A WIND TURBINE GENERATOR | 05-02-2013 |
20130106108 | METHOD FOR THE OPERATION OF A WIND TURBINE | 05-02-2013 |
20130106109 | WIND POWER INSTALLATION AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING THE ROTOR ROTATION AXIS | 05-02-2013 |
20130113212 | Wind Power Generator System, and Control Method for the Same - This invention is intended to provide a wind power generator system or method for controlling a wind power generator system, designed to implement switching-initiated smooth energy changeover without leading to a complex system configuration. | 05-09-2013 |
20130119660 | WIND-POWER GENERATION SYSTEM AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME - An object is to reduce a decrease in the amount of electric power supplied due to the occurrence of a gust of wind during an output-power limiting operation. Provided is a wind-power generation system in which, in the case where an output-power limiting operation for decreasing the grid frequency is performed, when at least one wind turbine is disconnected depending on the wind conditions, the output power of the other wind turbines in operation is increased. | 05-16-2013 |
20130119661 | Horizontal Axis Radial Wind Turbine - A wind turbine and housing combination may include a horizontal axis radial wind turbine and a housing surrounding the turbine, the housing being incorporated with a cupola or gable roof of a building. The turbine may include an axle, a plurality of blade sections extending radially from the axle, and a generator operatively coupled to a first end of the axle. Each blade section may include a curved drag surface that provides a stall surface normal to the direction of an anticipated wind flow. The generator may be adapted to produce electricity when the axle is rotated. The housing may include a plurality of louvers and a motor operatively coupled to the plurality of louvers. Each louver may be capable of having (i) a closed position that prevents wind from entering the housing and (ii) an open position that permits wind to enter the housing. The housing may be adapted to be attached to an apex of a gable roof of a building. | 05-16-2013 |
20130119662 | WIND TURBINE CONTROL - Wind turbine systems and methods are provided. The wind turbine system includes a plurality of coaxial, counter-rotating turbine assemblies. First and second shroud assemblies define a generally spherical volume containing the first and second turbine assemblies. The first and second shroud assemblies each include a shroud member that is controlled in response to information from a wind sensor to selectively shield or expose portions of the respective turbine assemblies to the wind by changing the rotational position of the shroud members about the system axis. The turbine assemblies are interconnected to a generator for the production of electrical power. | 05-16-2013 |
20130119663 | WIND TURBINE WITH ADDITIONAL ROTOR MOMENT OF INERTIA AND A METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE WITH ADDITIONAL ROTOR MOMENT OF INERTIA - This invention relates to a wind turbine having an additional mass each placed between a mounting end and a free end of at least two rotor blades. This invention further relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine with a pitch system for pitching a blade in a pitch angle and with blades with a mass for increased inertia, which wind turbine is operated in a normal operation mode in which a generator has a generator speed at a generator torque, and which wind turbine is to remain electrically coupled to a grid during a low voltage condition and with supplied current specifications, torque reference, power references, or according to a grid code. | 05-16-2013 |
20130127165 | WIND POWER ELECTRICITY GENERATING SYSTEM AND RELATIVE CONTROL METHOD - A snow groomer, equipped with a winch assembly to aid handling of the snow groomer on steep slopes, has a frame; a user interface; a control unit; and the winch assembly, which has a support structure fixed or connected to the frame, a drum that rotates with respect to the support structure about an axis, a cable fixed or connected at one end to the drum and wound about the drum, an actuator assembly for rotating the drum about the axis, and a sensor for determining the position of the drum about the axis; the control unit being configured to control the cable as a function of the position of the drum and the geometry of the drum. | 05-23-2013 |
20130127166 | Central Wind Turbine Power Generation - A wind power conversion apparatus for efficiently generating electric power is disclosed. The apparatus includes at least one blade, the at least one blade being configured to rotate when exposed to wind, a fluid pump mechanically coupled to the at least one blade and configured to pressurize fluid from a low pressure fluid to a high pressure fluid, a fluid motor fluidly coupled to the fluid pump and configured to rotate an output shaft in response to the high pressure fluid and thereby providing the low pressure fluid, and an electric generator mechanically coupled to the fluid motor and configured to generate electric power in response to the rotation of the output shaft of the fluid motor. | 05-23-2013 |
20130134709 | Wind Turbine With Variable Speed Auxiliary Generator and Load Sharing Algorithm - An assembly for retrofitting fixed speed, doubly fed and fully converted wind turbines. A differential having an output shaft coupled to the main generator and a control shaft to change a ratio between differential input and output and coupled to the auxiliary generator. The main generator operates at constant frequency and is coupled to an electric power grid without a power converter. A variable speed auxiliary generator may be coupled to the electric grid through auxiliary power electronics. A controller may during low loads assign a full load to the auxiliary generator, during typical loads assign a variable shared load between the auxiliary and main generators based on an optimization algorithm and during high loads assign a fixed shared load between the auxiliary and main generators based on the internal gear ratio of the differential. For step-down differentials, at high loads the full load may go to the main generator. | 05-30-2013 |
20130134710 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONVERTER SWITCHING FREQUENCY CONTROL - A system for power conversion includes a power converter having switching elements, a detector, and a controller is provided. The detector detects a parameter and provides electrical signals indicative of the parameter. The controller receives the electrical signals transmitted from the detector, and sends commands to instruct the power converter to perform power conversion by operating the switching elements in accordance with switching signals at a different frequency in response to a detection of the system condition. A method for operating the system is also provided. | 05-30-2013 |
20130134711 | WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine ( | 05-30-2013 |
20130134712 | DIRECT DRIVE WIND TURBINE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN AIR GAP - A direct drive wind turbine comprising a rotor and a generator, the rotor comprising a hub and a plurality of blades and being rotatably mounted on a frame, and the generator comprising a generator rotor and a generator stator, further comprising one or more dampers arranged between the rotor and the generator rotor and extending at least partially in an axial direction. | 05-30-2013 |
20130140817 | CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A WIND PARK - A control system for a wind park includes a plurality of limit controllers. Each limit controller is configured to output a limit value set based upon a specific grid code requirement. A selection unit compiles a limit value set from the plurality of limit value sets according to a number of grid code requirements. The control system further includes a plurality of main controllers, wherein a main controller is configured to generate a setpoint for one or more wind turbines of the wind park according to the compiled limit value set. Further, a wind park and a method of controlling a wind park are provided. | 06-06-2013 |
20130140818 | CONTROLLING OF NOISE EMISSON OF A WIND PARK - A method of controlling noise emission of a wind park includes monitoring noise emitted from the wind park by detecting and identifying noise emitted by some or all of the plurality of the wind park's wind turbines and estimating the level thereof. If the level of the monitored noise exceeds a predetermined noise threshold the wind park controller commands one or more of the wind turbines, chosen by the importance of its or their relative influence on the noise emitted from the wind park to the measuring location, to change operation to an operation mode with reduced noise emission. | 06-06-2013 |
20130140819 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE AT IMPROVED POWER OUTPUT - A method for operating a wind turbine is disclosed. The wind turbine comprises a rotor having a set of wind turbine blades, said rotor being mounted on a tower. The method comprises the steps of: Providing a curve defining optimal pitch angle as a function of tip speed ratio for the wind turbine blades or as a function of wind speed. Modifying at least a part of said optimal pitch angle curve by applying a safety buffer, e.g. at tip speed ratios and/or pitch angles where there is a risk that the blades may stall and/or that overload is caused to the wind turbine, thereby obtaining a safety modified pitch angle curve. Operating the wind turbine in accordance with the safety modified pitch angle curve. Measuring one or more parameters providing information regarding wind conditions and/or loads on one or more components of the wind turbine, during operation of the wind turbine. Adjusting the safety buffer, based on said measurements, thereby obtaining an adjusted pitch angle curve, and operating the wind turbine in accordance with the adjusted pitch angle curve. The safety buffer is applied in order to ensure that the blades of the wind turbine do not stall and/or that the wind turbine is not overloaded, but it has the effect that the wind turbine is operated in a suboptimal manner from an energy production view. Since the safety buffer is adjusted based on measured parameters, it can be reduced if it is detected that the actual operating conditions are less severe than expected. This allows the wind turbine to be operated in a more optimal manner, thereby increasing the energy production of the wind turbine. | 06-06-2013 |
20130140820 | WIND-POWER PRODUCTION WITH REDUCED POWER FLUCTUATIONS - A method of operating at partial load a wind turbine ( | 06-06-2013 |
20130147194 | ELECTRICITY GENERATION SYSTEM THAT WITHSTANDS VOLTAGE DIPS - The invention comprises a doubly-fed generator ( | 06-13-2013 |
20130147195 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ADAPTING THE LOAD ON AN ELECTRIAL AND/OR ELECTRONIC COMPONENT IN A WIND TURBINE - A method is provided for adjusting the stress on an electrical and/or electronic subassembly in a wind turbine. The method includes determining for the electrical and/or electronic subassembly an expected service life up to the point when a maintenance indicator value is reached, which represents a state of the subassembly at which, on the basis of conditions defined in advance, the subassembly should be maintained The method also includes comparing the expected service life against the time point for the next maintenance of the wind turbine. The method further includes controlling the wind turbine and/or at least one other wind turbine in an area around the wind turbine in such a way that the stress on the electrical and/or electronic subassembly is reduced. | 06-13-2013 |
20130154262 | QUICK START-UP OF WIND TURBINE GENERATORS - A wind farm is provided that is capable of quickly starting up without delay after an electrical grid becomes available after an outage. According to one embodiment, the wind farm comprises one or more main WTGs and an auxiliary WTG having a substantially lower start-up energy requirement than the one or more main WTGs. The auxiliary WTG is coupled to supply power to the one or more main WTGs to prepare the one or more main WTGs for start-up. | 06-20-2013 |
20130154263 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR NOISE-CONTROLLED OPERATION OF A WIND TURBINE - A method for noise-reduced operation a wind is provided. The method includes determining a wind speed during normal operation of the wind turbine and determining a weighted rotor speed setpoint for a rotor of the wind turbine so that a noise emission of the wind turbine for the wind speed is reduced compared to nominal noise emission of the wind turbine at the wind speed. Using the weighted rotor speed setpoint, a torque setpoint for a power conversion assembly connected to the rotor is determined. The torque setpoint is applied to the power conversion assembly to control the wind turbine. | 06-20-2013 |
20130161949 | METHOD, PARK CONTROLLER AND PROGRAM ELEMENT FOR CONTROLLING A WIND FARM - The disclosure relates to a method for controlling a wind farm, the wind farm includes at least two wind turbines, the method includes determining the required power, determining fatigue load versus power curves for each wind turbine, and based on the determined fatigue load versus power curves attributing different power settings to the wind turbines such that sum of the power settings of all wind turbines is equal to the required power. Furthermore, the invention concerns a park controller for controlling a wind farm and a program element for controlling a wind farm. | 06-27-2013 |
20130161950 | WIND POWER GENERATING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - A control method for a wind power generating system includes the following procedures. When a rotational speed control condition is satisfied, a wind turbine is switched to operate under a rotational speed control mode to limit the electricity power by a maximum power point shifting manner. When a speed of an external wind is greater than a predetermined wind speed, the wind turbine is switched to operate under a safety mode to decrease a rotational speed of the wind turbine by a maximum torque extraction manner to protect the wind power generating system. A wind power generating system is also disclosed herein. | 06-27-2013 |
20130161951 | METHOD FOR DETERMINING A VOLTAGE BOUNDING RANGE - A method is provided for determining a voltage bounding range defining a range of a wind turbine reference voltage for a wind turbine for controlling an output voltage of the wind turbine at a wind turbine output terminal The method includes obtaining information regarding an electrical characteristic of a transmission line connecting the wind turbine output terminal to a point of common coupling to which plural other wind turbines are connectable. The method further includes defining the voltage bounding range based on the electrical characteristic of the transmission line. | 06-27-2013 |
20130161952 | Method for controlling a wind turbine - A method for controlling a wind turbine with a rotor and at least one rotor blade, and a control unit are disclosed. The method is characterised in adjusting a pitch angle of the rotor blade and determining the limit of an input value based on the adjusted pitch angle, wherein the input value includes information about the turbine rotational speed. | 06-27-2013 |
20130161953 | WIND POWERED ENERGY AMPLIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present invention is comprised of a wind powered energy amplification method and systems for capturing wind power and harvesting tangentially amplified energy. The harvested tangentially amplified energy is converted, processed and stored for use for generating continuous, on demand and stand by electricity to supply electricity. The present invention is further comprised of methods and systems for extracting, processing and storing water and carbon dioxide to supply water and supply carbon dioxide. | 06-27-2013 |
20130161954 | WIND POWERED ENERGY AMPLIFICATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present invention is comprised of a wind powered energy amplification method and systems for capturing wind power and harvesting tangentially amplified energy. The harvested tangentially amplified energy is converted, processed and stored for use for generating continuous, on demand and stand by electricity to supply electricity. The present invention is further comprised of methods and systems for extracting, processing and storing water and carbon dioxide to supply water and supply carbon dioxide. | 06-27-2013 |
20130161955 | CONTROL METHOD FOR A WIND TURBINE - The invention relates to a method of controlling a wind turbine having a rotor with pitchable wind turbine blades and a generator for producing power, where a pitch reference value for the wind turbine blades is determined, and an operational parameter representing a loading on the wind turbine rotor exerted by the wind is measured at time intervals. A variation parameter reflecting a variation of the operational parameter over time is determined and used in the determination of a minimum pitch limit value of the pitch reference value. The wind turbine is then controlled according to the pitch reference value only if the pitch reference value is above or equal to the minimum pitch limit value, and otherwise according to the minimum pitch limit value. | 06-27-2013 |
20130161956 | Estimation of Wind Conditions at a Wind Turbine - The risk of an extreme gust of wind hitting a wind turbine is estimated by gathering data from one or more sensors for use as training data. This data is acquired over a period of time and is converted in to a feature vector for a given time period by a statistical measure. A number of feature zones are formed, each zone relating to a different estimate of risk with each feature vector being assigned to a risk category. The risk category is defined with reference to the value of one or more chosen turbine parameters at the time the data was acquired. The feature zones are formed from from a measure of distance such as the mean and co-variance of feature vectors from within a given category. Live data is processed by measuring the mahalonobis distance from the feature vector of the live data to the centre of each zone and the risk of an extreme gust is assessed as that of the feature zone to which the mahalonobis distance is lowest. | 06-27-2013 |
20130168962 | Vehicle Based Windmill Apparatus - The present invention generally relates to vehicle based power generation. Specifically, this invention relates to a vehicle based windmill apparatus capable of generating power via a wind turbine attached to an adjustable arm that raises and lowers out of a vehicle, depending on certain variables. The wind turbine can be utilized to generate power during deceleration by using wind force to turn the turbine, which in turn generates power while also having the secondary benefit of creating additional drag to help slow or stop the vehicle. | 07-04-2013 |
20130168963 | CONTROL OF ELECTRIC OUTPUT OF A WIND PARK - A method of controlling an electric output of a wind park is carried out jointly by wind turbines with their local wind-turbine controllers and a central wind-park controller. The central wind-park controller generates a reference value for a wind turbine, based on the measured value of an electric quantity at a point of common measurement, and provides it to the local wind-turbine controller. The local wind-turbine controller produces a voltage or a reactive-power in the electric grid at the location of the wind turbine corresponding to the reference value, but which is corrected by a local correction. The local correction takes into ac count a voltage or a reactive-power change expected at the point of common measurement for the electric current supplied by the wind turbine due to the electric impedance of the grid connection to the point of common measurement. | 07-04-2013 |
20130175798 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING, SHIPPING, DISTRIBUTING, AND STORING HYDROGEN - These inventions related to systems and methods for producing, shipping, distributing, and storing hydrogen. In one embodiment, a hydrogen production and storage system includes a plurality of wind turbines for generating electrical power; a power distribution control system for distributing, and converting the electrical power from the wind turbines, a water desalination and/or purification unit which receives and purifies seawater, and an electrolyzer unit that receive electrical power from the power distribution system and purified water from the desalination units and thereby converts the water into hydrogen and oxygen. After its production, hydrogen is stored, transported, and distributed in accordance with various embodiments. | 07-11-2013 |
20130175799 | Wind Power Plant and Method for the Controlled Shutdown of a Wind Power Plant - The invention relates to a wind power plant having a main controller. A set of condition parameters is fed to the main controller. The main controller determines settings for the operation of the wind power plant from the condition parameters. According to the invention, a minimal controller and a monitoring module are further provided. The minimal controller determines a setting for the pitch angle and/or pitch speed from a subset of the condition parameters. In the event of an error in the processing of the main controller, the monitoring module transfers the control over the wind power plant to the minimal controller. The invention further relates to a method for operating such a wind power plant. The wind power plant can be shut down in a controlled manner by means of the minimal controller according to the invention if an error occurs in the main controller. | 07-11-2013 |
20130175800 | WIND FARM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND FARM - A method for operating a wind farm and to a wind farm is disclosed. When a wind farm and the wind energy installations involve target values for the reactive power being prescribed by a farm regulatory device, said target values for the reactive power ignored by the control units when controlling the respective wind energy installation in the event of a power supply system fault in the power supply system. Only when the power supply system fault has been rectified are said target values considered by the control units again for controlling the respective wind energy installation. | 07-11-2013 |
20130175801 | WIND FARM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND FARM - A method for operating a wind farm comprising several wind turbines that are connected to an internal grid of the wind farm is disclosed. In said method, during a mains failure the electrical consumers of the wind turbines are supplied with electrical energy by a mains replacement supply unit. Each electrical consumer of the wind turbines is assigned to one of at least two groups and according to the group assignment is always switched on by an operation control unit when required, or only switched on if there is a sufficient power reserve. The wind farm is designed to carry out said method. | 07-11-2013 |
20130181449 | System and Method for Controlling a Variable Speed Ratio Friction Wheel Drive Train on a Wind Turbine - A system and method for controlling operation of a friction wheel drive train for a wind turbine is disclosed. The control system may include a system controller capable of regulating an output rotational speed of one or more generators driven by the drive train, at least one electrical sensor in at least indirect communication with the system controller for providing measurements thereto, at least one electrical contactor for establishing a connection between the one or more generators and a grid and an actuation system in at least indirect contact with the system controller and operating under command thereof to regulate the output rotational speed of the one or more generators. | 07-18-2013 |
20130181450 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE - A method for operating a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a rotor adapted to rotate at an optimal speed. The method includes determining a turbulence parameter; and operating the wind turbine at a speed that is increased by a speed deviation amount as compared to the optimal speed. The speed deviation amount is dependent on the turbulence parameter. A wind turbine ( | 07-18-2013 |
20130181451 | WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION WITH TEMPERATURE MONITORING FOR THE TRANSFORMER - A wind turbine having a generator for generating electrical energy and a transformer is disclosed. The transformer is designed to receive electrical energy from the generator on a secondary side and to discharge said electrical energy again on a primary side at a higher voltage. The wind turbine also comprises a temperature monitoring means for the transformer. The voltage supply to the temperature monitoring means is fed from the primary side of the transformer. The temperature monitoring means is thereby independent of the control system of the wind turbine. The temperature monitoring means reduces the risk of the transformer overheating. A method for operating such a wind turbine is also disclosed. | 07-18-2013 |
20130187382 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROL OF REDUNDANT DEVICES IN A WIND TURBINE - A method and apparatus for control of redundant devices in a wind turbine is provided, comprising operating a first redundant device and at least one other redundant device such that the first redundant device is expected to fail before any of the at least one other redundant devices. | 07-25-2013 |
20130187383 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE USING ADAPTIVE REFERENCE VARIABLES - It is described an arrangement for determining a target value of an operational variable of a wind turbine, the arrangement comprising: at least one input terminal for receiving at least one operational parameter of the wind turbine; a determining unit adapted to determine a target value of an operational variable of the wind turbine based on the operational parameter. Further, a corresponding method and a wind turbine are described. | 07-25-2013 |
20130187384 | METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND TURBINE, WIND TURBINE, WIND TURBINE CONTROLLING SYSTEM, AND PROCESSING SYSTEM - According to an embodiment, a method of operating a wind turbine comprising a DC-to-AC voltage converter is provided, the wind turbine being connectable to a grid via the DC-to-AC voltage converter, the method comprising: determining a line voltage of a power line connecting the DC-to-AC voltage converter to the grid; if the determined line voltage exceeds a predefined voltage threshold value, injecting reactive current into the power line, wherein the amount of reactive current injected is chosen such that an output voltage of the DC-to-AC voltage converter is kept within a predetermined voltage range. | 07-25-2013 |
20130187385 | WIND-TURBINE-GENERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM, WIND TURBINE GENERATOR, WIND FARM, AND WIND-TURBINE-GENERATOR CONTROL METHOD - A turbine controller of a wind turbine generator includes a generated-output-power command value creating section that creates a generated-output-power command value and an optimum-upper-and-lower-limit limiting section that limits the generated-output-power command value by means of an upper limit value and a lower limit value of the generated output power that are determined based on a power curve indicating the relationship between the generated output power and the rotational speed of the generator. Furthermore, the turbine controller includes a limit-value creating section that creates, when the grid frequency is increased above a predetermined reference frequency, a frequency-dependent limit value serving as an upper limit value of the generated-output-power command value, according to the increase in grid frequency; and a first upper-limit limiting section that limits the upper limit value of the generated-output-power command value limited by the optimum-upper-and-lower-limit limiting section, by means of the frequency-dependent limit value. | 07-25-2013 |
20130193686 | SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR DETERMINING PITCH ANGLES FOR A WIND TURBINE DURING PEAK SHAVING - A method for determining pitch angles for at least one rotor blade of a wind turbine during peak shaving is disclosed. The method may generally include receiving a signal with a controller associated with a peak shaving parameter of the wind turbine and determining a target pitch angle for the at least one rotor blade based on a mathematical relationship between the target pitch angle and the peak shaving parameter, wherein the mathematical relationship is modeled as a non-linear function. | 08-01-2013 |
20130200618 | HIGH EFFICIENCY WIND TURBINE - A wind driven generator may have a first rotating element associated with a first set of vanes distributed so as to be driven by wind in a first rotational direction about an axis of rotation. A second element is associated with a second set of vanes distributed so as to be driven by the wind in a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction concentric with the axis of rotation of the first rotating element. The first rotating element has magnetic elements disposed thereon that project a magnetic field towards and onto the second rotating element. The second rotating element has electromagnetic coils disposed thereon, the electromagnetic coils being exposed to the magnetic field projected from the first rotating element. | 08-08-2013 |
20130200619 | ELECTRIC GENERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD - The invention describes a system and a method for controlling an electric generator connected to the power grid during a voltage drop in the power grid, the system comprising a back-to-back converter ( | 08-08-2013 |
20130200620 | WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a generator, an output thereof being connectable to a power grid via a power transmission path, the power transmission path comprising a generator side converter coupled to the output of the generator, a grid side converter coupled to the power grid, and a DC link coupled between the generator side converter and the grid side converter. For diverting the generator power, a load dump arrangement is provided which includes at least one resistor, a plurality of switches, and a plurality of electrical connections which electrically connect the at least one resistor to the output of the generator and across the DC link via the plurality of switches. One common and configurable load dump is used for both converter system failures and grid failures. As compared to two separate load dumps for converter failures and grid failures, the single load dump will require a smaller space for a wind turbine. Thus, the weight and size of the power converter system may be reduced. | 08-08-2013 |
20130200621 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE USING OSCILLATION DETECTION - A method for controlling a wind turbine is provided. The method includes monitoring an electrical quantity at an output terminal of the wind turbine. The electric quantity has an amplitude and periodically varying with a grid frequency. The method further includes detecting an oscillation of the amplitude and decreasing active power output from the wind turbine at the output terminal depending on the detected oscillation. | 08-08-2013 |
20130207391 | VARIABLE SPEED ELECTRIC MACHINE AND METHOD FOR GENERATING ELECTRIC ENERGY - A variable speed electric machine and a method for generating electric energy is provided. The electric machine includes an outer stator with a first set of field windings. Further, the electric machine includes a modulator outer rotor that is concentric and is located proximate to the outer stator. The modulator outer rotor is operatively coupled to an input shaft. Furthermore the electric machine includes a permanent magnet inner rotor concentric to the modulator outer rotor. The electric machine also includes an inner stator with a second set of field windings. The inner stator is concentric to the inner rotor and is operatively coupled to an electric grid. The outer stator, the modulator outer rotor, inner stator and the inner rotor are magnetically coupled with each other so as to maintain a constant electric frequency at the inner stator. | 08-15-2013 |
20130207392 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING WIND FARM - Systems and methods for operating a wind farm are disclosed. The wind farm includes a wind generator. The method includes detecting an atmospheric condition at a location spaced apart from the wind generator, and communicating a control signal to the wind generator. The control signal is based on the atmospheric condition. The method further includes adjusting the wind generator according to the control signal before the atmospheric condition is experienced by the wind generator. | 08-15-2013 |
20130207393 | WIND FARM HARMONIC PREDICTOR AND METHOD FOR PREDICTING HARMONICS - A harmonic predictor for a wind farm comprising at least two wind turbines, each having a generator with a converter for generating electrical energy. The harmonic predictor determines the harmonic component expected from the wind farm in order to limit the harmonic component to a harmonic limit. The harmonic predictor comprises a calculation module, an iteration module and a summing module. The calculation module calculates a complex mean value over at least one period of the harmonic component of one of the wind turbines and determines a first equivalent vector therefrom. The iteration module successively connects the calculation module to at least one other of the wind turbines to form at least one second equivalent vector. The summing module sums the equivalent vectors to form a total vector and compares the total vector with the harmonic limit. | 08-15-2013 |
20130207394 | GENERATOR TORQUE CONTROL METHODS - A wind turbine typically includes a generator and a rotating mechanical system having a natural period. The present invention relates to a method of controlling generator torque that minimises oscillations in the speed of the generator rotor. In the event of a grid fault or transient, or a fault in the power converter, the generator torque is decreased at a substantially constant rate with respect to time as shown in graph (c). The rate at which the generator torque is decreases is proportional to the nominal rated torque of the generator and inversely proportional to an integer multiple of the natural period of the rotating mechanical system. | 08-15-2013 |
20130214534 | METHOD FOR OPERATING WIND FARM AND OPERATION CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WIND FARM - An operation control system for a wind farm having wind turbines includes: a remaining-lifetime estimation unit for estimating remaining lifetime of a component of each wind turbine; a sales-income estimation unit for estimating, for each wind turbine, an income from sales of electric power under a plurality of output control conditions; a maintenance-cost estimation unit for estimating, for each wind turbine, maintenance cost based on the remaining lifetime of the component under each of the plurality of power limit conditions; a power-limit-condition selection unit for selecting, for each wind turbine, a power limit condition that maximizes income obtained from the wind farm, based on the income from sales of electric power and the maintenance cost estimated for each wind turbine under each of the power limit conditions; and an operation command unit for sending an operation command to each wind turbine based on the selected power limit condition. | 08-22-2013 |
20130214535 | METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND TURBINE AND WIND TURBINE - A method of operating a wind turbine has the following steps: receiving ( | 08-22-2013 |
20130214536 | WIND-TURBINE-GENERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM, WIND TURBINE GENERATOR, AND WIND-TURBINE-GENERATOR CONTROL METHOD - A power-converter controller is provided in a wind turbine generator which is interconnected to a utility grid and in which a generator generates electrical power by rotation of a rotor having blades. The power-converter controller includes a voltage sensor that measures a generator terminal voltage, resonance-component extracting sections that extract an electrical resonance component generated due to the interconnection from a measurement result measured by the voltage sensor, and a control section and a control section that control a current that flows to the utility grid so as to suppress the resonance component, on the basis of the resonance component extracted by the resonance-component extracting sections. Accordingly, the power-converter controller can more effectively suppress the resonance generated due to the interconnection of the wind turbine generator to the utility grid. | 08-22-2013 |
20130221669 | WIND TURBINE CONTROL DEVICE AND METHOD FOR REDUCING FLUCTUATION OF GRID FREQUENCY WHEN GRID DISTURBANCE OCCURS, AND WIND TURBINE GENERATOR SYSTEM THEREOF - When a grid disturbance occurs, output power control is performed for each wind turbine so as to reduce fluctuation of a frequency of an output power of the wind turbine at an early stage of the grid disturbance. The output power control is performed for each wind turbine so as to reduce fluctuation of a grid frequency at an interconnection point, in a late stage of the grid disturbance. | 08-29-2013 |
20130221670 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR SYSTEM, CONTROL APPARATUS THEREFOR, AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - An object is to swiftly respond to a demand made in terms of electric energy from the grid side when an output-power reduction operation is performed. A wind-turbine-generator-system control apparatus includes: an output-power predicting section that estimates a future output-power prediction curve from wind-condition prediction information indicating predicted future wind conditions; and a first setting section that divides the output-power prediction curve into a predetermined number of time segments and sets, for each of the time segments, a first target electric-power value for making reserve electric energy in the corresponding time segment match demand reserve electric energy demanded by the grid side. The output power of each of the wind turbines is controlled based on the first target electric-power value. | 08-29-2013 |
20130221671 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR SYSTEM, CONTROL APPARATUS THEREFOR, AND CONTROL METHOD THEREFOR - In a control apparatus for a wind turbine generator system, a wind turbine classifying unit classifies a plurality of wind turbines into a first wind turbine group that does not satisfy a rated wind speed condition and a second wind turbine group that satisfies the rated wind speed condition. A first controlling unit releases, for the wind turbines of the first wind turbine group, the output power reducing operation and causes the wind turbines of the first wind turbine group to perform an output power corresponding to a wind condition. A second controlling unit supplements a first deviation, which is a difference between a total output power of the first wind turbine group and a target output power, with an output power from the wind turbine of the second wind turbine group. | 08-29-2013 |
20130234433 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR SYSTEM AND OPERATION CONTROL METHOD THEREOF - An object of the present invention is to provide a wind turbine generator system and an operation control method thereof, which has a superior operation efficiency and stability at a low wind speed and during the occurrence of a gust and is equipped with Ride Through function at Grid low voltage condition. The wind turbine generator comprises a hydraulic pump of a variable displacement type which is rotated by the main shaft, a hydraulic motor of a variable displacement type which is connected to the generator, and a high pressure oil line and a low pressure oil line which are arranged between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor. An accumulator is connected to the high pressure oil line via an accumulator valve. ACC valve control unit controls opening and closing of the accumulator valve based on at least one of wind speed and the state of the grid. | 09-12-2013 |
20130234434 | OVERVOLTAGE CLIPPING DEVICE FOR A WIND TURBINE AND METHOD - An overvoltage clipping device for clipping an overvoltage occurring at a main transformer of a wind turbine is provided. The overvoltage clipping device includes a detection unit for detecting an actual voltage level at the main transformer. The determination unit which is operatively connected to the detection unit determines whether the actual voltage level is above a predetermined reference voltage level. At least one switching unit is provided which is operatively connected to the determination unit for electrically coupling at least two transformer terminals of the main transformer. The control unit drives the switching unit if the detected actual voltage level is above the predetermined reference voltage level such that the at least two transformer terminals are electrically coupled to each other by the switching unit. | 09-12-2013 |
20130234435 | METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE - A method and system for reducing a disturbance of an electric grid signal in a wind turbine is provided. The method includes providing a generator for the wind turbine system, and, coupling a power converter to the generator, the power converter. The power converter is configured to monitor at least one of a negative sequence component and a positive sequence component of a signal transmitted from an electric grid, determine if a disturbance exists based on the monitored signal, determine at least a portion of a magnitude of the negative sequence component of the signal, and, orient a voltage of the signal based on the determined magnitude negative sequence component to modify the instantaneous power flow through the power converter. | 09-12-2013 |
20130234436 | OUTPUT CONTROL APPARATUS AND OUTPUT CONTROL METHOD FOR WIND TURBINE - An output control apparatus for a wind turbine, including an output difference calculation unit; a maximum output rate setting unit; an output command value calculation unit; and an output control unit, wherein the maximum output rate setting unit is configured so that the larger an absolute value of the difference is, the higher the maximum output rate is set at least in a range that the absolute value of the difference is not greater a threshold value. | 09-12-2013 |
20130234437 | Method to control the operation of a wind turbine - A method to control the operation of a wind turbine above a wind speed threshold value and a wind turbine designed to execute the method are provided. Electrical output power of the wind turbine is produced by its rotating blades and fed into a grid, which is connected with the wind turbine. The wind turbine is controlled by a first control loop and a second control loop. The wind speed is determined and compared with a certain predefined wind speed threshold value. Wind turbulences are determined and compared with a predefined wind turbulence threshold value. The first control loop and the second control loop are activated when the wind speed reaches or exceeds the wind speed threshold value. The activated first control loop controls the output power dependent on the wind speed. The activated second control loop controls the rotational speed of the rotating blades dependent on the wind turbulences. | 09-12-2013 |
20130241200 | HIGH-PERFORMANCE WIND TURBINE GENERATOR THAT CAN BE DRIVEN IN HORIZONTAL/VERTICAL AXIS DIRECTIONS WITH THE USE OF 3D ACTIVE INTELLIGENT TURBINE BLADES - Provided is a 3D active intelligent-type high-performance wind turbine generator. The 3D active intelligent-type high-performance wind turbine generator may be driven in horizontal/vertical axis directions. This novel wind turbine generator includes blades for driving a generator shaft of which cross sections are arranged symmetrically to increase the efficiency of the wind turbine generator and a cylindrical type cam and cam follower for controlling the angle of each blade in every direction to an optimum condition, so as to guide a working fluid having kinetic energy to be introduced at right angles to the direction of the cross section of each blade, thereby maximizing the driving force of the blades. Thus, the wind turbine generator may operate satisfactorily even at a low initial start-up wind speed and may be driven in any horizontal/vertical axis directions. | 09-19-2013 |
20130241201 | Wind Turbine and Method for Operating a Wind Turbine - A method is employed for operating a wind turbine. Electrical energy is produced by means of a generator and is fed into an electrical power network. The electrical energy is fed to the secondary side of a transformer at a low voltage and is output on the primary side of the transformer at a higher voltage. The potential on the primary side of the transformer is undefined. In the method, a measured value of the voltage between the primary side of the transformer and the earth potential is first recorded. The measured value is compared with a predefined limit value. The electrical energy produced by the generator is changed if the measured value exceeds the limit value. A wind turbine is designed to carry out the method. Faults in the medium voltage network can be reacted to without an additional star point on the primary side of the transformer being required. | 09-19-2013 |
20130241202 | ELECTRICAL YAW DRIVE FOR A WIND TURBINE, WIND TURBINE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE - An electrical yaw drive for a wind turbine is described, wherein the wind turbine includes a wind turbine nacelle and a wind turbine tower. The electrical yaw drive has an asynchronous motor, an excitation capacitor bank and dump loads, wherein the excitation capacitor bank and the dump loads are electrically connectable to windings of the asynchronous motor. Furthermore, a wind turbine with such an electrical yaw drive and a method for operating such a wind turbine are described. | 09-19-2013 |
20130249214 | POWER GENERATING APPARATUS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY TYPE AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME - In view of the problems above, it is an object of the present invention is to provide a power generating apparatus of renewable energy type which can achieve a desired output of the hydraulic motor and a stable power generation regardless of changes of the renewable energy as well as a method of operation such an apparatus. The power generating apparatus which generates power from a renewable energy source, includes a rotating shaft | 09-26-2013 |
20130249215 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND FARM, WIND FARM CONTROLLER AND WIND FARM - The disclosure concerns a method for operating a wind farm, the wind farm includes a wind turbine, and an energy storage device, the wind farm being connected to an external grid, the method comprising determining a demanded active power, determining a demanded reactive power, determining power production of the wind turbine, and charging the energy storage device, when the power production is above the demanded active power, the demanded reactive power, or the vector sum of demanded active power and demanded reactive power. Furthermore, corresponding wind farm controllers, wind farms, program elements, and computer readable media are subject of the current disclosure. | 09-26-2013 |
20130257050 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND FARM, WIND FARM CONTROLLER, WIND FARM, COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM AND PROGRAM ELEMENT - A method is provided for controlling a wind farm connected to a grid. The wind farm includes a wind farm emergency generator and at least a first wind turbine. The first wind turbine includes a wind turbine transformer, a wind turbine converter and auxiliary equipment. The method includes detecting a lost grid connection, providing active power to the auxiliary equipment via the wind farm emergency generator, providing reactive power via the wind turbine converter. | 10-03-2013 |
20130257051 | OVER-RATING CONTROL OF WIND TURBINES AND POWER PLANTS - A wind turbine power plant comprises a plurality of wind turbines, each having a rated output and under the control of a power plant controller. The power plant also has a rated output which may be over-rated in response to one or more electricity pricing data, power plant age and operator demand. This may comprise a schedule of output set point changes which effect seasonal or intraday changes in electricity prices or which reflect aging of the power plant. It may also reflect the price of electricity on spot or futures markets. Once the over-rating of the power plant has been set, the output may be increased by over-rating individual turbines or operating turbines at rated power if the sum of the rated outputs of the turbines exceeds or is equal to the new power plant output set point. | 10-03-2013 |
20130257052 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING TEMPERATURE OF GEAR BOX FOR WIND POWER GENERATOR - Provided is a system for controlling temperature of a gear box for a wind power generator gear box. The system for controlling a temperature according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes: a temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the gear box; a temperature adjustment unit configured to adjust the temperature of the gear box in accordance with the temperature of the gear box which is measured by the temperature sensor; a pitch adjustment unit configured to adjust a pitch angle of the blade; and a control unit configured to control the pitch adjustment unit so that the blade is rotated at a rotating speed for heating when the measured temperature of the gear box is lower than a range of a normal operating temperature of the gear box. | 10-03-2013 |
20130264822 | WIND POWER GENERATING SYSTEM - A wind power generating system includes a wind turbine, a control unit and a load unit. The wind turbine includes a blade module and an electric generator, in which the blade module is driven by an external wind force to in turn drive the electric generator for generating a power. The control unit controls the wind turbine according to operation characteristics and a speed of the external wind force, such that the wind turbine operates in a normal mode, a rotational speed controlling mode, or a safe mode. The load unit is electrically coupled to the control unit and receives the power generated by the wind turbine. | 10-10-2013 |
20130264823 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE HAVING A ROTOR HUB SUPPORTING AT LEAST ONE ROTOR BLADE - A method for operating a wind turbine which includes a rotor hub supporting a rotor blade is disclosed. The method includes: a) detecting changes in the aerodynamic performance of the rotor blade; b) determining a first control rule; c) determining a first power output information indicating a first power output based on the first control rule; d) changing an operational parameter and choosing a second control rule such that the first control rule is replaced by the second control rule; e) determining a second power output information indicating a second power output based on the second control rule. c) comparing the first and second power output information. If the second power output exceeds the first power output, repeating a)-f) with the second control rule being used as the first control rule in b); otherwise repeating a)-f), whereby a different second control rule is applied in d). | 10-10-2013 |
20130264824 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A POWER GENERATION SYSTEM - A method for operating a power generation system coupled to a power grid during a grid unbalance event, a method for determining an injection current to be supplied into a power grid by a power generation system, and a method for addressing an asymmetric grid fault in a power grid connected to a power generation system are provided. The methods may be carried out based on a reactive or an active power/current priority. | 10-10-2013 |
20130270823 | Method for Enhancing Low Voltage Ride Through Capability on a Wind Turbine - A method for providing a normal operation of a wind turbine during unstable voltage events at an electric transmission grid using a ferroresonant transformer is disclosed. The method may include providing at least one auxiliary wind turbine component powered through a ferroresonant transformer. The method may further include providing a substantially constant output voltage to the auxiliary component(s) connected to the ferroresonant transformer in an event of an over voltage spike at the electric transmission grid and providing a substantially constant output voltage for a limited period of time to the auxiliary component(s) in an event of a low voltage at the electric transmission grid. The method may additionally include filtering damaging harmonic frequencies from the electric transmission grid during a normal voltage power supply. | 10-17-2013 |
20130270824 | VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE - A turbine assembly is provided. The turbine assembly includes a plurality of sails and a generator assembly configured to convert rotation thereabout to power. A brake assembly may be provided. The brake assembly may include a magnet assembly that rotates with rotation of the plurality of sails, a conducting plate initially spaced-apart from the magnet assembly, and an actuator for translating the conducting plate relative to the magnet assembly during rotation thereof to thereby induce eddy currents that create a magnetic field acting on the conducting plate to impart a retarding force to control the rotational speed thereof. A control module is configured to control the actuator to adjust the spacing between the magnet assembly and the conducting plate in order to maintain the turbine assembly at a predetermined speed. | 10-17-2013 |
20130270825 | Wind Power Generator - In a wind power generator, a nacelle is located on an upper portion of a support rod, a rotor head having wind turbine blades fitted thereto is rotatably supported to a front end side of the nacelle, and a main shaft rotating integrally with the rotor head, a gear box coupled with the main shaft which rotates while the wind turbine blades receive a wind power, a power generator having a rotor driven by a shaft output of the gear box, a brush, and a slip ring, and a humidity management device controlling humidity inside of the power generator having the brush and the slip ring, are installed in an interior of the nacelle. | 10-17-2013 |
20130270826 | WIND TURBINE WITH A PRIMARY AND A SECONDARY GENERATOR AND METHOD OF OPERATING SUCH WIND TURBINE - This invention relates to a wind turbine of variable speed type including: a wind turbine tower; a nacelle on said wind turbine; a wind turbine rotor hub rotatably mounted at said nacelle, said wind turbine rotor hub having at least one wind turbine blade mounted thereon and a shaft coupled to said wind turbine rotor hub and to, optionally via a gear box, a primary generator which via power lines has a primary stator electrically connected to a grid connection and a primary rotor electrically connected to a back-to-back converter at a generator side converter end wherein the back-to-back converter at a grid side converter end is electrically connected to the grid connection. The wind turbine further includes a secondary generator coupled to the shaft via a mechanical coupling and electrically connected to the primary rotor of the primary generator and the generator side converter end of the back-to-back converter. | 10-17-2013 |
20130270827 | OVER-RATING CONTROL IN WIND TURBINES AND WIND POWER PLANTS - Wind turbines of a wind power plant may be selectively over-rated by measuring the difference between the nominal and actual power plant outputs and deriving an over-rating request signal based on that difference which is sent to each turbine. The same value may be sent to each turbine. Alternatively, each turbine may be given its own over-rating amount based on an optimisation of the turbine. Over-rating may also be used when external economic factors such as energy costs are sufficiently high to out-weigh any potential harmful effect of over-rating. The fatigue lifetime of turbines and their critical components may also be taken into account when deciding whether and to what extent to implement an over-rating command. | 10-17-2013 |
20130277969 | Wind park control system - A wind park control system for controlling wind turbines of a wind park during a plant controller handover is provided. A plurality of plant controllers compute control values on the basis of system input data, which plant controllers are realized to operate in parallel. One of the plant controllers operates as an active plant controller for computing control values for controlling the wind turbines. One further plant controller operates as a standby plant controller. An output means continually issues control values to the wind turbines of the wind park. A handover arrangement for handing over control from the hitherto active plant controller to an operative standby plant controller is provided such that that standby plant controller then assumes the function of active plant controller. Further, a wind park, a method of controlling a wind park, and a method of performing a plant controller handover in a wind park are provided. | 10-24-2013 |
20130277970 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF WIND TURBINE CONTROL - In one aspect, embodiments of a method of controlling a power rating of a wind turbine are described. One embodiment of the method comprises retrieving, by a computing device, one or more preset values from a memory, wherein the one or more preset values include at least an initial torque setpoint for a wind turbine; determining, by the computing device, an adjusted torque setpoint for the wind turbine based at least in part on one or more operating conditions received from one or more measurement devices associated with the wind turbine; and adjusting a real power output rating of the wind turbine based on the determined adjusted torque setpoint. In one aspect, the computing device can be a controller for the wind turbine. | 10-24-2013 |
20130277971 | HORIZONTAL AXIS WIND TURBINE SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Systems and methods for operating horizontal axis wind turbine systems are disclosed. A system includes a turbine rotor and a rotor blade adapted to rotate about a horizontal axis, two vertical shafts, a plurality of gears adapted to translate a rotational motion of the turbine rotor into counter-rotating vertical rotational motions of the shafts, and two generators fixed to a tower, adapted to translate a rotational motion of the shafts into electrical power. A method of operating a horizontal axis wind turbine system includes obtaining a turbine rotor and a rotor blade adapted to rotate about a horizontal axis, obtaining two vertical shafts, obtaining a plurality of gears, and obtaining two generators fixed to a tower, translating a rotational motion of the turbine rotor into counter-rotating vertical rotational motions of the shafts using the gears, and translating a rotational motion of the shafts into electrical power using the generators. | 10-24-2013 |
20130277972 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE IN A WIND POWER PLANT - Embodiments herein control a wind turbine in a wind power plant where the wind turbine includes a wind turbine controller and at least one connected wind turbine component. Upon receiving a packet containing a “write/read” instruction, the wind turbine controller effectuates a write instruction by changing a set point associated with an attribute of a component in the wind turbine. The controller retrieves information data resulting from performing the write instruction from the component and transmits the information data to a central controller. The invention performs a fast and simple control loop by means of transmitting both the write and the read instruction within one single data packet. | 10-24-2013 |
20130277973 | METHODS FOR CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE CONNECTED TO THE UTILITY GRID, WIND TURBINE AND WIND PARK - Methods for controlling a wind turbine connected to the utility grid by detecting status of the utility grid, and controlling one or more rotor blades and/or emitted power to the grid in returning to the operational wind turbine settings of normal grid mode, as well as wind turbines and wind parks comprising at least two wind turbines. | 10-24-2013 |
20130285377 | Method And System For Harnessing Wind Energy Using A Tethered Airfoil - The present disclosure is directed at a method and system for harnessing wind energy using a tethered airfoil. During a traction phase, wind is allowed to extend a kite tether. Wind energy that is harnessed through extension of the kite tether is mechanically stored prior to using the wind energy that is stored to generate electricity. During a retraction phase, the wind energy that is mechanically stored during the traction phase is used to retract the kite tether. Beneficially, the mechanical storage allows the kite tether to be retracted without relying on electricity from an electrical grid. | 10-31-2013 |
20130285378 | ELECTRO-HYDRODYNAMIC WIND ENERGY SYSTEM - A system for electro-hydrodynamically extracting energy from wind includes an upstream collector that is biased at an electric potential and induces an electric field. An injector introduces a particle into the electric field. The wind drag on the particle is at least partially opposed by a force of the electric field on the particle. A sensor monitors an ambient atmospheric condition, and a controller changes a parameter of the injector in response to a change in the atmospheric condition. | 10-31-2013 |
20130292942 | WIND POWER GENERATION ASSEMBLY - A wind power generation assembly having a rotatable base. Attached to the base are a plurality of arcuate panels that surround a turbine assembly. The center axis of the base and the center axis of the turbine assembly are offset. The panels are positioned to capture the wind and redirect the wind energy to the turbine assembly. | 11-07-2013 |
20130292943 | WIND TURBINE SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND TURBINE SYSTEM - A method of operating a wind turbine system includes: determining, by an industrial process controller, if an actual wind speed value, received from an anemometer, of a wind at a location of the wind turbine system is less than a predetermined minimum wind speed value. If so, then calculating a command speed value that will cause a variable-speed drive to drive the motor/generator and a sail assembly at a speed that the sail assembly would turn if the actual wind speed value was the minimum wind speed value, such that the sail assembly turns and provides a visual effect. If not, then calculating a command speed value based on the actual wind speed value such that the variable-speed drive and the motor/generator will operate in a braking mode to recover a braking energy of a load of the wind on the sail assembly. | 11-07-2013 |
20130292944 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRIC FIELDS IN ELECTRO-HYDRODYNAMIC APPLICATIONS - An electro-hydrodynamic system that extracts energy from a gas stream, which includes an injector that injects a first species of particles having the same polarity into the gas stream, wherein particle movement with the gas stream is opposed by a first electric field; an electric field generator that generates a second electric field opposing the first, such that the net electric field at a predetermined distance downstream from the injector is approximately zero; an upstream collector that collects a second species of particles having a polarity opposite the first particle species; a downstream collector that collects the charged particle; and a load coupled between the downstream collector and the upstream collector, wherein the load converts the kinetic energy of the gas stream into electric power. | 11-07-2013 |
20130300115 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPTIMIZING POWER GENERATION IN A WIND FARM TURBINE ARRAY - A method for controlling turbines in a wind farm turbine array is shown and described. The method includes using a cascade of self-optimizing controllers to in an attempt to maximize the power generated by at least a portion of the wind farm turbine array, wherein at least one of the self-optimizing controllers for an upstream turbine is configured to control the upstream turbine in an attempt to maximize the combined total of (a) the power output of the upstream turbine and (b) the power output of at least one downstream turbine. | 11-14-2013 |
20130300116 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR DAMPING A SHAFT OSCILLATION - A method for damping an oscillation of a rotational speed of a shaft of a wind turbine is described. A converter is connected between a generator and a wind turbine output terminal. The rotational speed of the shaft or the generator is measured. A DC-link voltage reference varying in dependence with the rotational speed is determined. A DC-link voltage of a DC-link of the converter according to the DC-link voltage reference is controlled. | 11-14-2013 |
20130300117 | WIND TURBINE SYSTEM AND METHOD USING VOLTAGE GENERATING MATERIAL - A system for a wind turbine comprises: one or more devices ( | 11-14-2013 |
20130300118 | WIND TURBINE CONTROL FOR A WEAK GRID BY REDUCING ACTIVE POWER OUTPUT - A method is provided for controlling a wind turbine connected to a node connected to a utility grid. The node also has a plurality of other wind turbines connected to it. The method includes measuring a quantity indicative of a slope of a voltage at the node in dependence of active power delivered to the node, determining that the slope is smaller than a negative slope limit, and performing a measure, in order to increase the slope above the slope limit. | 11-14-2013 |
20130307270 | Fire System for a Wind Turbine - A fire detection and suppression system for a wind turbine is disclosed. The fire detection and suppression system may be capable of independent operation without input from the wind turbine. The fire detection and suppression system may further be capable of generating and communicating a fire signal to the wind turbine for conveying a fire within the wind turbine. The wind turbine may take actions to shut down and put itself in a protected condition depending upon the location of the detected fire. | 11-21-2013 |
20130307271 | INRUSH CURRENT PROTECTION FOR WIND TURBINES AND WIND FARMS - A wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a transformer having a low-voltage side and a high-voltage side. The transformer is configured to step up a voltage of the low-voltage side of the transformer to a voltage of an external grid. The wind turbine further includes an electrical power generating unit which is connected to the low-voltage side of the transformer and configured to feed an ac-power to the low-voltage side of the transformer. A charging device of the wind turbine is connected to the low-voltage side of the transformer and configured to charge the low-voltage side of the transformer when the generator does not feed ac-power to the low-voltage side of the transformer. | 11-21-2013 |
20130313826 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - A system for a wind turbine generator comprising: a set of voltage limiting elements, and a controller configured to bypass the voltage limiting elements when a line voltage is below a predetermined threshold, and configured to connect each voltage limiting element in series between a grid side converter and a turbine transformer of the wind turbine generator, and to determine a current control reference signal for controlling the grid side converter (to generate a determined current) when the line voltage is above the predetermined threshold. | 11-28-2013 |
20130313827 | THERMAL PROTECTION OF ELECTRICAL GENERATING COMPONENTS UNDER CONTINUOUS ACTIVE POWER GENERATION - The present invention relates to systems and methods for maintain the active power production of a fluid turbine and regulating the temperature of an electrical generating component by controlling the reactive power production. A thermal parameter of the electrical generating component is monitored. If the electrical generating component exceeds a thermal parameter the reactive power production of the turbine is reduced. A fluid turbine may be de-rated to further reduce an electrical generating component's thermal parameter. A fluid turbine may shut down to further reduce an electrical generating component's thermal parameter. A fluid turbine's power production is re-started when the electrical generating component returns to an acceptable thermal parameter. | 11-28-2013 |
20130313828 | ASSEMBLY OPERATING IN A VARIABLE REGIME - The invention relates to electromechanical assemblies comprising an alternator, especially of high power, typically greater than or equal to IMW, and a converter, the alternator comprising a rotor driven in rotation, by a wind turbine for example, and more particularly to wound rotor synchronous alternators. The drive can also take place by means of a tide-driven, hydraulic or marine-current-driven generator. An alternator comprises in a manner known per se a field winding, generally at the rotor, supplied with DC current either by split rings and brushes, or by an exciter, so as to generate in an armature winding, generally at the stator, an AC voltage. | 11-28-2013 |
20130320676 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CORRECTING NACELLE WIND VELOCITY OF WIND POWER GENERATOR - A system and method for correcting a nacelle wind velocity of a wind power generator are provided. The nacelle wind velocity correction system includes: a measurement information collection unit that collects a nacelle wind velocity that is measured by a nacelle anemometer that is installed on a nacelle of the wind power generator; a wind velocity difference generator that generates nonlinear wind velocity difference information of a nacelle wind velocity on a unit basis by calculating a wind velocity difference between a standard wind velocity of a met tower that is measured for a predetermined period and the nacelle wind velocity; a correction unit that generates a nonlinear correction equation using the nacelle wind velocity and the nonlinear wind velocity difference information and that calculates a nacelle correction wind velocity according to the nonlinear correction equation; and a controller that controls an operating state of the wind power generator according to a preset cut-in speed and cut-out speed using the nacelle wind velocity. | 12-05-2013 |
20130328309 | MATRIX CONVERTER APPARATUS FOR WIND-POWER GENERATION, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING MATRIX CONVERTER, WIND-POWER GENERATOR APPARATUS, WIND FARM, AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING WIND TURBINE - A matrix converter apparatus for wind-power generation according to an embodiment includes a matrix converter and a controller. The controller adds information about a voltage phase of the power grid or information about a voltage phase of the generator to a power-grid-side power factor to generate information about a current phase, and generates a control signal for controlling the matrix converter based on the information about the current phase. | 12-12-2013 |
20130334817 | WIND TURBINE ROTOR CONTROL - A method for operating a wind turbine is provided. The method includes determining a wind condition, determining for the wind condition expected azimuthal positions of a rotating wind rotor of the wind turbine, and determining for the wind condition desired azimuthal positions of the rotating wind rotor so that at least one of a load balance of the rotating wind rotor and a power uptake of the rotating wind rotor is improved compared to the expected azimuthal positions. | 12-19-2013 |
20130334818 | Dynamic Braking on a Wind Turbine During a Fault - A braking system for a wind turbine is disclosed. The braking system may include a DC chopper connected to a DC bus and a super capacitor capable of being connected to the DC chopper through a switch. The DC chopper may be controlled by a control system to enable one of charging, discharging, idle or system off modes of the super capacitor. | 12-19-2013 |
20130334819 | WIND POWER PLANT - The present invention concerns a module carrier for fixing electric modules provided for controlling one or more pitch drives of a wind power installation to a rotor hub of the wind power installation comprising a main body for carrying the electric modules, wherein the rotor hub is adapted to rotate about a substantially horizontal rotor axis, and the main body is adapted to be fixed in front of the rotor hub in the axial direction of the rotor axis. | 12-19-2013 |
20130341922 | Method and module for measuring the rate of change of frequency of waveforms related to converter units in wind turbine generators - Method and module for measuring the rate of change of frequency of a waveform related to a converter unit of a wind turbine generator, comprising: measuring an instantaneous value of said rate of change of frequency of the waveform, calculating a first filtered value of said rate of change of frequency, said first filtered value having good accuracy but low time response, and calculating a second filtered value of said rate of change of frequency said second filtered value having a good time response but low accuracy, comparing said first and second filtered values and selecting that an output value of said measured rate of change is based on said first or second filtered values depending on said comparison. | 12-26-2013 |
20140001758 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR RESPONDING TO A GRID EVENT, SUCH AS FAST UNDER FREQUENCY COMBINING DEMAND RESPONSE, INERTIAL RESPONSE AND SPINNING RESERVE | 01-02-2014 |
20140001759 | METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND TURBINE AS WELL AS A SYSTEM SUITABLE THEREFORE | 01-02-2014 |
20140008912 | METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND TURBINE AS WELL AS A SYSTEM SUITABLE THEREFOR - According to a method of the present invention, a method of operating a wind turbine comprising a power generator, a generator side converter connected to the power generator, a line side converter connected to a power grid through power components, and a DC-link connected between the generator side converter and the line side converter is provided, the method comprising: monitoring the grid voltages on the power grid for overvoltage events; if an overvoltage event is detected, operating the line side converter in an overmodulation range for at least a part of the duration of the overvoltage event. | 01-09-2014 |
20140015249 | WIND POWER GENERATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING EXCITATION SYNCHRONOUS GENERATOR THEREOF - A stand-alone wind power generation system and a method for controlling an excitation synchronous generator thereof are provided. In this method, an input wind power is transformed into an electrical power and outputted to a load. With the use of a coaxial configuration, a windmill, a speed-increasing gearbox, the excitation synchronous generator, and a motor are integrated in the same shaft. The output voltage of the generator is stabilized by an excitation field control. With the use of a motor servo control, the speed of generator can be stabilized under a wind disturbance condition. Therefore, the output power and frequency can be stable. A power flow management unit can control battery sets to charge and discharge, so as to accomplish the proposed control method. | 01-16-2014 |
20140015250 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine includes a grid side converter coupled to a grid via a power line. The method includes determining a first active power reference and a first reactive power reference indicating a requested amount of active power and reactive power, respectively, depending on at least a wind turbine operation strategy; determining a positive and negative sequence components of a grid voltage; determining indications of an actual amount of active power and reactive power to be supplied by the grid side converter to the grid, respectively; generating a parameters defining a proportion of positive sequence current component and negative sequence current component to be injected by the grid side converter in order to supply active power and reactive power; and supplying, with the grid side converter, active and reactive power to the power line based on the current reference. | 01-16-2014 |
20140015251 | SAFETY SYSTEM FOR A WIND TURBINE - The invention provides a safety system for a wind turbine comprising a tower with a nacelle, and a rotor with blades and a connected drive train. The safety system comprises at least one load sensing system for providing a load signal significant for a load on the tower or rotor, and an electronic system which based on the load signal brings the wind turbine to a safe condition. | 01-16-2014 |
20140015252 | METHODS FOR ADJUSTING THE POWER OUTPUT OF A WIND TURBINE - A method for adjusting the power output of a wind turbine ( | 01-16-2014 |
20140021720 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ADAPTIVELY CONTROLLING WIND PARK TURBINES - A wind turbine park ( | 01-23-2014 |
20140028023 | SIGNAL TRANSMISSION SYSTEM FOR A WIND ENERGY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRANSMITTING SIGNALS IN A WIND ENERGY SYSTEM - A wind energy system is described including a nacelle, a rotor rotatably connected to the nacelle, and a power line for transmitting electrical energy between the nacelle and the rotor. The power line includes a transmitting device between the rotor and the nacelle. Further, the wind energy system also includes a first modulation device connected to the power line at a nacelle facing side of the power line for modulating and demodulating signals to be transmitted via the transmitting device, and a second modulation device connected to the power line at a rotor facing side of the power line for modulating and demodulating signals to be transmitted via the transmitting device. Further, a signal transmission system for a wind energy system and a method for establishing a signal transmission system in a wind energy system are provided. | 01-30-2014 |
20140028024 | Wind turbine control method - A wind turbine control method is described comprising the detection of the presence of an anomaly in the aerodynamic profile of the blades and operation of the wind turbine in accordance not only with the determination of said anomaly, but also taking into account the characteristics thereof. | 01-30-2014 |
20140028025 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING A BLADE POSITION AND FOR ENDING A SAFETY RUN - A wind turbine assembly has a hub, a rotor blade, a bearing that can be installed between the rotor blade and the hub, and an adjusting device. The rotor blade is arranged on the hub so as to be rotatable substantially its longitudinal axis. The adjusting device comprises at least one electric adjusting motor, which drives a gear connected to the rotor blade by means of a drive pinion, a converter coupled to an electric network and controlling the adjusting motor, and a control unit for the adjusting motor. The adjusting device comprises means for producing a signal that depends on the adjustment position of the rotor blade and an evaluating unit for comparing the signal or a derivative of the signal. | 01-30-2014 |
20140035284 | WIND PARK CONTROL SYSTEM - A wind park control system for controlling reactive power output of wind turbines is described. The wind park delivers active power and reactive power to a utility grid. A total amount of reactive power required by the utility grid and an individual amount of reactive power for each wind turbine are determined. A capability scheme having an order for selecting the wind turbines to deliver reactive power is calculated based on the individual amount of reactive power and the total electrical power loss contributed by each connection of the wind turbines to the utility grid. An actual amount of reactive power provided by the wind turbines is adjusted. The reactive power output of each wind turbine is controlled based on the capability scheme. The wind turbines are selected for delivering reactive power in the order of the capability scheme so that the total amount of reactive power is fulfilled. | 02-06-2014 |
20140035285 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING WIND TURBINES FROM EXTREME EVENTS - A wind turbine has a Lidar ( | 02-06-2014 |
20140042745 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SPEED AND TORQUE OF A WIND TURBINE DURING POST-RATED WIND SPEED CONDITIONS - A method and system for controlling a wind turbine generator at wind speeds in excess of rated wind speed to detect wind speeds and, at rated wind speed, control generator torque and generator rotational speed to achieve a rated power for the wind turbine generator. As wind speed increases beyond the rated wind speed, one of generator torque or generator rotational speed is increased and the other of generator rotational speed or generator torque is proportionally decreased to maintain the generator power substantially constant at rated power. | 02-13-2014 |
20140042746 | SHOCK SENSOR FOR WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - A vibration sensor ( | 02-13-2014 |
20140049046 | WIND POWER PLANT WITH HIGHLY RELIABLE REAL-TIME POWER CONTROL - The present invention relates to a fault-tolerant control system for a wind power plant comprising a plurality of power units, the control system comprising control means for generating a replica of essentially concurrent power unit set-point values, a data communication network for transmitting the essentially concurrent power unit set-point values to the plurality of power units and a plurality of decentralised voting means being arranged so that a decentralised voting means is assigned to each power unit, each decentralised voting means being adapted to select one power unit set-point value out of the replica of power unit set-points. The present invention further relates to an associated method. | 02-20-2014 |
20140054892 | WIND TURBINE PITCH CONTROL SYSTEM - A pitch control system for a wind turbine is disclosed. The pitch control system may generally include a motor having an armature and a winding and a grid power source configured to supply electrical power to the motor. The pitch control system may also include a plurality of switching components configured to control a first current through the armature independent of a second current through the winding. In addition, the pitch control system may include an auxiliary switching component electrically coupled between the grid power source and at least a portion of the switching components. The auxiliary switching component may be configured to be opened when a grid voltage of the grid power source exceeds a first voltage threshold. | 02-27-2014 |
20140054893 | HYDRAULIC TRANSMISSION METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR WIND TURBINES - A hydraulic transmission for a wind turbine that includes a rotor, one or more blades mounted to the rotor, a hydraulic pump mechanically connected to the rotor, and a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor are connected to one another by a high pressure circuit. The hydraulic pump maybe a variable displacement hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor may include a variable displacement hydraulic motor. The wind turbine, including the rotor, the blades of the rotor, the hydraulic pump, and the hydraulic motor may be controlled according to different approaches. | 02-27-2014 |
20140054894 | WIND TURBINE INCLUDING OPTICAL SENSOR SYSTEM - A wind turbine includes an optical sensor system comprising one or more optical sensors comprising: a sensor membrane; a light source for illuminating a surface of the sensor membrane; an optical dispersive element arranged to disperse the light from the light source; and a light detector for receiving a portion of the dispersed light beam after reflection from the surface of the sensor membrane and dispersion of the light beam by the optical dispersive element. The wavelength of the light received at the light detector varies as a function of the displacement of the sensor membrane and the light detector operatively provides an output based on changes in the wavelength of the received light. The wind turbine is operable based on an input to a wind turbine control system received from the optical sensor system. | 02-27-2014 |
20140062085 | VOLTAGE CONTROL FOR WIND TURBINE GENERATORS - A voltage control system for a wind turbine generator may include a reactive power regulator configured to control reactive power production by the wind turbine generator by adjusting a voltage setpoint for the generator. The reactive power regulator may have a first time constant and the voltage setpoint may be defined between an upper limit and a lower limit. The system may also include a voltage limit regulator configured to adjust at least one of the upper limit or the lower limit for the voltage setpoint based on a voltage-related parameter. In addition, the system may include a voltage regulator coupled to the reactive power regulator. The voltage regulator may be configured to control real power production by the wind turbine generator based on the voltage setpoint. The voltage regulator may have a second time constant, wherein the first time constant is numerically greater than the second time constant. | 03-06-2014 |
20140062086 | Reactive Power Regulation - The present invention relates to a method of reactive power regulation in a wind turbine comprising a local reactive power control system adapted to operate in a central control mode and a local control mode, a method of reactive power regulation in a wind park connected to an electrical grid, and to a wind park. | 03-06-2014 |
20140070535 | METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE USING DYNAMIC BRAKING IN RESPONSE TO A GRID EVENT - A method and system for dissipating energy in a direct current (dc) bus of a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) converter during a grid event is described. In one aspect, the method comprises monitoring operating conditions of an electrical system, the electrical system comprising at least a DFIG generator and a line side converter and a rotor side converter connected by a dc bus having a dynamic brake connected thereto; detecting an overvoltage on the dc bus or a condition indicative of an overvoltage on the dc link is detected, the overvoltage on the dc bus or condition indicative of the overvoltage caused by a grid event; and causing energy in the dc link to be dissipated using the dynamic brake. | 03-13-2014 |
20140070536 | VOLTAGE CONTROL IN A DOUBLY-FED INDUCTION GENERATOR WIND TURBINE SYSTEM - Systems and methods for regulating voltage in a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) system are provided. More particularly, the voltage of the auxiliary power feed in a DFIG wind turbine system can be regulated by outputting reactive power from a power converter to a reactive element coupled between the auxiliary power feed and a stator bus. The reactive element can include a winding of the transformer used to couple the wind turbine system to the electrical grid and/or an inductive element coupled between the output of the power converter and the stator bus. The voltage of the auxiliary power feed can be maintained within a reduced operating range while an increased operating range can be provided for wind turbine system | 03-13-2014 |
20140070537 | WIND TURBINE - There is provided a wind power installation having a component to be monitored and a crack detection unit. In that case the crack detection unit has at least one thread or fiber which is fastened directly on the component to be monitored. The crack detection unit further has a crack detector which serves to detect whether the thread or fiber is or is not cracked. | 03-13-2014 |
20140070538 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING WIND TURBINES FROM EXTREME EVENTS - A wind turbine has a scanning Lidar arranged on the nacelle. The Lidar has a single scanning beam which scans about a substantially vertical axis to sense wind related data in a measurement volume a predetermined distance from the Lidar. Fast Fourier transforms of data from a plurality of points in the measurement volume are analysed to derive a peak velocity and a measure of variance. A controller receives the peak velocity and measure of variance as inputs and generates an output if the controller determines that the input data shows that the wind conditions are such that damage to the wind turbine is likely. | 03-13-2014 |
20140070539 | WIND TURBINE AND METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND TURBINE - A method of operating a wind turbine comprising a rotor, a multi winding generator having a plurality of independent sets of control windings and a plurality of independent power electronic converters for controlling each set of control windings independently, the method comprising in a normal operation mode, the plurality of power electronic converters controlling the sets of control windings in substantially the same way, whereas in a positioning mode for positioning a rotor of a wind turbine in one of one or more predetermined angular positions, one of the independent power electronic converters controlling its corresponding set of control windings in a substantially different manner than at least one other independent power electric converter. The invention further relates to a wind turbine adapted to work in at least two different operating modes. | 03-13-2014 |
20140077495 | SYSTEM FOR CONVERTING WIND ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY THROUGH THE FLIGHT OF POWER WING PROFILES TETHERED TO THE GROUND BY CABLES OF A FIXED LENGTH, WITHOUT PASSIVE PHASES, AND WITH AUTOMATIC ADAPTATION TO WIND CONDITIONS - Wind energy is converted into electrical or mechanical energy through the flight of at least one power wing profile tethered via one or more cables to a ground unit moved by the power wing profile along a path of alternating displacement for driving a generator, where the path of alternating displacement is orientable so as to set itself in a direction substantially orthogonal to the direction of the wind. During the phases of flight of the power wing profile in conditions of generation of energy the length of the cables is kept constant. | 03-20-2014 |
20140084587 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE GENERATOR SYSTEM - The present invention concerns a method of controlling a wind power installation connected to an electric network having a generator with an aerodynamic rotor with an adjustable rotary speed, in which the wind power installation can be operated at an operating point which is optimum in relation to prevailing wind conditions at an optimum rotary speed, wherein the wind power installation is operated for a transitional period of time or lastingly at a non-optimum operating point at a non-optimum rotary speed and the non-optimum rotary speed is higher than the optimum rotary speed. | 03-27-2014 |
20140091571 | Wind Turbine System - A wind turbine system includes a tower, a nacelle which is supported on the tower, a plurality of blades which are rotatably supported to the nacelle via a hub, and a generator which generates electricity by rotating the blades, wherein in case the tower shifts from vertical direction, the wind turbine system is controlled so that a force with an opposite direction to the tower shifting direction is added by wind. | 04-03-2014 |
20140091572 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND ENERGY PLANT - The present invention concerns a method of operating a wind power installation comprising a pod with an electric generator for generating electric current and an aerodynamic rotor coupled to the generator and having one or more rotor blades, including the steps: operating the wind power installation when ice accretion on the rotor blades can be certainly excluded, and stopping the wind power installation when ice accretion on the rotor blades is detected, and time-delayed stoppage or prevention of restarting of the wind power installation when an ice accretion was not detected but is to be expected, and/or time-delayed resumption of operation of the wind power installation when a stoppage condition which led to stoppage of the wind power installation has disappeared again and ice accretion was not detected and ice accretion or the formation of an ice accretion is not to be expected. | 04-03-2014 |
20140097618 | METHOD OF OPERATING A VARIABLE SPEED WIND TURBINE - A method of operating a wind turbine having a rotor with a plurality of blades, and one or more pitch mechanisms for rotating the blades is disclosed. The method comprises a sub-nominal zone of operation and a supra-nominal zone of operation for wind speeds above the nominal wind speed. The sub-nominal zone of operation comprises a first, a second and a third operational range. The first operational range extends from a cut-in wind speed to a first wind speed, wherein the rotor speed is kept substantially constant at a first value. The second operational range extends from the first wind speed to a second wind speed, wherein both the rotor speed and generator torque are varied as a function of wind speed. The third operational range extends from the second wind speed to the nominal wind speed, wherein the rotor speed is kept substantially constant at a second value, and wherein in the second operational range, the generator torque, T, is determined in accordance with T=k·ω | 04-10-2014 |
20140097619 | WIND TURBINE CONTROL METHOD - A wind turbine control method is described based on the performance of various measurements of the oscillations of the nacelle of the wind turbine for the purpose of carrying out a series of calculations, the results of which allow parameterisation of certain actions on different wind turbine elements in order to dampen oscillations. In summary, it may be said that the object of the invention described herein is a wind turbine control method whereby the oscillations of the nacelle of the wind turbine are dampened in the presence of voltage dips in particular and, in general, in any event that is susceptible of reducing active current generation capacity. | 04-10-2014 |
20140103651 | Method and system for utilization a fluctuated wind - The present method and system provides: conversion of always fluctuating wind into a variable AC electrical power P through wind turbine and electrical generator; consuming its variable AC power with accordance of an equation P−Pc−Pv=0; conversion of the variable AC power is drawing from two phases of an electrical generator into an AC power connected to an electrical grid through an six-pulls diode rectifier, first heat energy exchanger, DC capacitor and DC-AC inverter; conversion a variable AC power drawing from third phase of an electrical generator into heat through switches connected to a neutral line or into a constant voltage DC power through an six-pulls bridge rectifier, second heat energy exchanger and DC capacitor; permanently keeping the rectified variable DC voltage is higher than a DC constant voltage at the buffer capacitor. | 04-17-2014 |
20140103652 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SELECTING WIND TURBINE GENERATORS IN A WIND PARK FOR CURTAILMENT OF OUTPUT POWER TO PROVIDE A WIND RESERVE - Methods and systems of selecting wind turbine generators in a wind park for curtailment of output power to provide a wind reserve are described herein. One method comprises providing a wind park comprised of a plurality n of wind turbines each having an individual possible power output and the wind park has a combined possible power output of X, where X comprises a summation of the individual possible power output of the n wind turbines; setting a power setpoint Y for the wind park, wherein Y≦X and X−Y comprises a wind reserve; selecting, on a non-spatial basis, n−1 or fewer wind turbines from the wind park for power output curtailment; and curtailing power output of one or more of the selected n−1 or fewer wind turbines such that a total power output of the wind park comprises Y. | 04-17-2014 |
20140103653 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF SELECTING WIND TURBINE GENERATORS IN A WIND PARK FOR CHANGE OF OUTPUT POWER - Methods and systems of selecting wind turbine generators in a wind park for a change in output power are described herein. One method comprises providing a wind park comprised of a plurality n of wind turbines; selecting, on a non-spatial basis, n-1 or fewer wind turbines from the wind park for a change in power output; and changing power output of one or more of the selected n-1 or fewer wind turbines. | 04-17-2014 |
20140103654 | OUTPUT CONTROL DEVICE, METHOD AND PROGRAM FOR WIND FARM - A wind farm output control device includes a potential estimator estimating a maximum electrical energy outputtable, by each wind power generation device, a control amount determiner determining, based on the estimated maximum power amount, a control amount for an effective power of each wind power generation device and/or a reactive power thereof in a wind farm, and a control amount distributor distributing the control amount based on an available power generation amount of each wind power generation device. The potential estimator estimates the maximum power amount based on a pitch angle of blades, an angular speed deviation of a power generator, and a conversion loss of the wind power generation device. Within the range of the estimated maximum power amount, the control amount for the output by the wind farm is distributed within a range where each wind power generation device is outputtable according to the wind condition. | 04-17-2014 |
20140103655 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIND POWER DISPATCH IN A WIND FARM - A system for wind power dispatch that includes a wind farm controller for controlling operation of wind turbines in a wind farm and regulating real time power output of the wind farm. The system also includes a wind power dispatch management system for computing a difference between a predefined power output and the real time power output and dispatching a transient wind farm reserve to reduce the difference or, if the transient wind farm reserve is insufficient to reduce the difference, additionally or alternatively dispatching a storage reserve to reduce the difference. | 04-17-2014 |
20140103656 | WIND POWER GENERATION SYSTEM, DEVICE USING WIND POWER GENERATION SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SAME - A wind turbine able to generate power irrespective of a presence of and a state of a power grid is disclosed. Specifically, a wind power generation system is provided with a wind turbine, the wind turbine including a blade that rotates in response to the wind, a generator that rotates with rotation of the blade to generate power, and an auxiliary machine that controls a pitch angle of the blade. The auxiliary machine is driven by the generated power of a downwind type wind turbine to which a permanent magnet type generator is mounted and which generates power in a state in which a blade of the downwind type wind turbine rotating in response to the wind faces downwind. | 04-17-2014 |
20140103657 | Turbine Having Optimized Efficiency - The invention relates to a turbine and to the implementation method thereof, said turbine comprising a blade mounted such that it can rotate about a central axis and an electromagnetic synchronous machine arranged with the blade in such a way as to modify the angular rotation speed of the blade in order to optimize the mechanical efficiency of the blade as a function of the speed of the incident fluid acting on the blade. | 04-17-2014 |
20140110940 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR USE IN OPERATING POWER GENERATION SYSTEMS - A control system is provided. The control system includes a turbine controller that is configured to generate at least a first signal that is representative of pitch control commands for a plurality of turbine blades and a second signal that is representative of the pitch control commands for the turbine blades. A first pitch controller is coupled to the turbine controller, wherein the first pitch controller is configured to receive the first signal and to implement the pitch control commands for each of the turbine blades in response to receiving the first signal. A second pitch controller is coupled to the turbine controller and to the first pitch controller, wherein the second pitch controller is configured to receive the second signal and to implement the pitch control commands to each of the turbine blades when the first pitch controller is unable to implement the pitch control commands. | 04-24-2014 |
20140110941 | WIND FARM AND A METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND FARM - According to an aspect of the invention, a wind farm is provided. The wind farm includes a plurality of wind turbines and a wind farm controller. The controller is configured to detect a high wind condition from at least one wind turbine in the wind farm, reduce a parameter setpoint of at least one other wind turbine, and increase a cut-out wind speed threshold of the at least one other wind turbine. | 04-24-2014 |
20140117668 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING WIND FARM - Systems and methods for operating a wind farm are disclosed. The method includes detecting an operating condition of an upwind wind generator, the upwind wind generator located upstream of a downwind wind generator relative to a wind flow direction. The method further includes communicating a control signal to the downwind wind generator. The control signal is based on the operating condition. The method further includes beginning to adjust the downwind wind generator according to the control signal before the wind flow is experienced by the downwind wind generator. | 05-01-2014 |
20140125058 | WIND TURBINE OPTICAL WIND SENSOR - The invention comprises a wind turbine optical wind sensor | 05-08-2014 |
20140138949 | FAULT HANDLING SYSTEM FOR DOUBLY FED INDUCTION GENERATOR - Fault Ride Through (FRT) transient management system configured to enhance the FRT capability doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG)-based wind turbines. A grid side converter (GSC) introduces shunt and series compensation for normal operation and voltage dips, respectively. A braking resistor may be added to smooth switching transients from shunt to series interfaces and dissipate excessive power from the GSC. To attain a flexible control solution for balanced and unbalanced fault conditions, the transient management scheme may employ positive and negative sequence controllers. The system dynamics for the series compensation topology may be analyzed using small-signal linear model. Based on the mathematical model, the controller may be tuned to balance voltage regulation performance and transient stability margins with consideration of various operating conditions. The system benefits from a low component count, simple protection structure, and improved FRT performance with effective compensation to the electric grid. | 05-22-2014 |
20140145439 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING YAW BACKUP TO A WIND FARM - A yaw backup system is provided. The yaw backup system includes an energy storage medium for storing auxiliary power. The yaw backup system also includes a yaw controller for coordinating delivery of power from the energy storage medium to a yaw motor for controlling a yaw angle of a wind turbine during grid loss conditions. The yaw controller executes the steps of receiving wind direction signals over time from a sensor, altering a tolerance level of a wind turbine based on changes in the wind direction signals over time and controlling delivery of power to the yaw motor from the auxiliary power of the energy storage medium based on the tolerance level to control the yaw angle for reducing a load on the wind turbine induced by wind. | 05-29-2014 |
20140145440 | VARIABLE WIND TURBINE HAVING A POWER DISSIPATING UNIT; A METHOD OF OPERATING A POWER DISSIPATING UNIT IN A WIND TURBINE - A variable speed wind turbine is provided. The variable speed wind turbine comprises a generator, a power converter for converting at least a portion of electrical power generated by the generator, the power converter comprising a generator-side converter, a grid-side converter and a DC (direct current) link therebetween, a power dissipating unit operatively coupled to the DC-link, and a controller. The controller is adapted to receive a request to reduce power output from the wind turbine, determine a feed forward power signal based on a reference generator power and a desired turbine power, and operate the power dissipating unit based on the feed forward power signal. | 05-29-2014 |
20140145441 | Stall Controller And Triggering Condition Control Features For A Wind Turbine - Control features for a wind turbine that control the turbine over a range of wind speeds and under triggering conditions with reduced noise, cost, and reliability issues associated with other such controls. Control is accomplished via control electronics, which adjust the torque produced by the electrical output generation device (e.g., alternator) within the wind turbine. During normal operation, torque is adjusted for optimum aerodynamic performance and maximum output of power. In winds above rated power, the control circuit regulates torque to lower aerodynamic performance, as necessary to maintain desired power level output. In triggering conditions, such as during simultaneous control circuit failure and loss of some portion of the electrical output generation device in extreme winds, wind turbine control is accomplished by increasing torque (e.g., via a separate controller) from the electrical output generation device via shorting of windings, so as to cause retardation of blade rotation. | 05-29-2014 |
20140152010 | METHOD AND SYSTEMS FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE WHEN RECOVERING FROM A GRID CONTINGENCY EVENT - A method for controlling operation of a wind turbine included within a power generation and delivery system is described. The method includes receiving, by a controller, a power command signal, wherein the power command signal indicates recovery from the grid contingency event; and increasing, in a non-uniform manner, power injected into a grid by a power conversion assembly in response to the power command signal wherein the controller controls the power conversion assembly. | 06-05-2014 |
20140152011 | REDUNDANT POWER SUPPLY ARCHITECTURE - The present invention relates to a redundant power supply system for wind turbine control systems, said power supply system being adapted to supply power to one or more power consumers of a wind turbine control system, the redundant power supply system comprising a first power rail, a second power rail, and switching means being adapted to select the first or the second power rail so as to provide power to at least part of a power consumer from either the first power rail or the second power rail. The invention further relates to an associated method. | 06-05-2014 |
20140152012 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR UTILIZING AN ACTIVE COMPENSATOR TO AUGMENT A DIODE RECTIFIER - The subject matter described herein includes an active compensatory augmented diode bridge rectifier system. According to one aspect, the system comprises a generator unit configured to generate a current flow comprised entirely of active current and a diode rectifier configured to receive the active current from the generator unit, to direct the active current to a connected power grid, and to receive a reactive current. The system further includes an active compensator configured to optimize the generator unit to produce the active current and to generate the reactive power used to facilitate the operation of the diode rectifier. | 06-05-2014 |
20140152013 | METHOD OF YAWING A ROTOR OF A WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine ( | 06-05-2014 |
20140159367 | OPERATING A WIND TURBINE AND A WIND FARM IN DIFFERENT GRID STRENGTH - A method for controlling a wind turbine is proposed. The wind turbine is in a wind farm and connected to a point of common coupling that is connected to a utility grid. At least one quantity indicative of a short circuit ratio of the utility grid is measured. A control parameter of a control system controlling the wind turbine and the wind farm is adjusted. based on the measured value of the quantity. | 06-12-2014 |
20140159368 | WIND GENERATOR WITH ENERGY ENHANCER ELEMENT FOR PROVIDING ENERGY DURING PERIODS OF NO WIND AND LOW WIND CONDITIONS - The present invention is a new and novel wind generator system particularly suitable for small wind applications that harnesses low velocity wind effectively. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wind generator system comprises a drive shaft; one or more retreating blades and one or more advancing blades attached to the drive shaft and extending radially outwardly therefrom; a generator assembly coupled to the drive shaft and effective for generating electrical power; and a housing having an inner chamber for receiving the blades and a wind directional apparatus that operates to adjust the speed of the wind and to channel wind along a desired flow pathway towards the one or more of the retreating blades and blocks airflow from impinging on one or more advancing blades. | 06-12-2014 |
20140167415 | METHOD OF WIND TURBINE YAW ANGLE CONTROL AND WIND TURBINE - The present invention relates to the wind power engineering and to the method of controlling a yaw angle of the wind turbine, equipped with a horizontal rotor shaft as well as to the wind turbine for implementing the method. According to the method of the present invention, the time difference between the time moments when the rotor blades are in the lower vertical position, the said time moments derived from the reference signal of the sensor connected to the rotor shaft, and the time moments when the blades are on one line with the wind direction and the tower, the said time moments_derived from the periodic signal of the spurious amplitude modulation generated by the AC generator and caused by aerodynamic interaction between the blades and the tower, is used as the indication of actual position of the wind turbine rotor relative to the wind direction. The wind turbine of the present invention comprises a yaw controller including the functional units suitable for generating a control signal for rotating a nacelle of wind turbine based on the given time difference in order to compensate the existing yaw error. | 06-19-2014 |
20140167416 | System and Method for Controlling Speed and Torque of a Wind Turbine During Post-Rated Wind Speed Conditions - A method and system for controlling a wind turbine generator detect wind speeds and, at a first defined wind speed, control generator torque and generator rotational speed to achieve a pre-defined power for the wind turbine generator at the first defined wind speed. As wind speed increases beyond the first defined wind speed, one of generator torque or generator rotational speed is increased and the other of generator rotational speed or generator torque is proportionally decreased to maintain the generator power substantially constant at the pre-defined power. | 06-19-2014 |
20140175795 | CONTROL SYSTEM, METHOD AND PROGRAM, AND FLOATING WIND TURBINE GENERATOR PROVIDED THEREWITH - The control system of this floating wind turbine generator is a control system of a floating wind turbine generator in which the control system controls a pitch angle control section by a pitch angle instruction value calculated on the basis of signals detected by a second sensor detecting a relative angle between a nacelle and a tower and a third sensor detecting a yaw angle from a reference position of the tower so that a signal detected by a first sensor detecting wind direction deviation relative to a vertical direction of a rotation plane of wind turbine blades indicates an angle within a predetermined range from the vertical direction of the rotation plane of the wind turbine blades, and controls a yaw driving device by a yaw driving instruction value calculated on the basis of the signals detected by the second sensor and the third sensor. | 06-26-2014 |
20140175796 | WIND TURBINE HAVING A HTS GENERATOR WITH A PLURALITY OF PHASES - The present invention relates to a wind turbine having a wind turbine tower with a nacelle provided on the top to which a rotor hub with one or more wind turbine blades is rotatably mounted by a rotor shaft. A generator is arranged in the nacelle, wherein the superconducting rotor coils induce a current in the stator coils when the rotor is rotated, and wherein the stator coils are arranged in at least four phases. One or more converter modules convert the power output from the generator so that it matches the power of a power grid. The generator side of the converter modules comprises a number of rectifying circuits equal to the phases in the generator, while the power grid side comprises a number of inverting circuits equal to the phases of the power grid. This allows the transient of the electromagnetic brake torque relative to the nominal electromagnetic torque of the generator to be reduced. The ripples of the electromagnetic torque are also reduced since the switching frequency of the converter is increased. This in turn reduces the mechanical stresses occurring in the drive train in the event of a failure or error occurring in one of the converter modules. The present invention also relates to a method of operation of such a wind turbine where the defective converter module is selectively switched off and the wind turbine is put into operation again at a lower operation level. | 06-26-2014 |
20140175797 | WIND ENERGY CAPTURE DEVICE FOR A SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING ELECTRICITY FROM JETSTREAMS - A jet stream wind energy capture device including two pair of parallel sail line tracks. Each track pair includes chain support beams; a plurality of rotatable chain gears connected to the support beams of each track; and sail-line chains that ride upon the chain gears. Generator(s) are attached to the gears. At least one sail is attached to the chains whereby the sails move along the tracks in a cyclical downwind and upwind path thereby moving the chains to rotate their chain gears, which in turn provides energy to the generator(s). | 06-26-2014 |
20140183864 | Arrangement and Method for Avoiding Stray Currents in Wind Power Plants - The invention relates to a method and an arrangement for avoiding stray currents in a wind power plant. There is an insulating power source having a galvanic decoupled secondary side, an electrical load coupled to the secondary side of the insulating power source through an electrical conductor and a stray current sensitive mechanical component of the wind power plant. The insulating power source is located at a first side of the stray current sensitive mechanical component and the load is located at a second side of the stray sensitive mechanical component. The electrical conductor is coupled to a common ground potential at the second side. | 07-03-2014 |
20140191506 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE - A method for operating a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a rotor with at least one rotor blade. The method includes determining an actual value of at least one of a first variable indicative of a failure state of the wind turbine and a second variable of the wind turbine correlated to a status of the wind turbine or an ambient status. The method further includes estimating an occurrence of a detrimental overspeed state of the wind turbine from at least one of the determined actual values, wherein a variable speed limit is adjusted based on the result of the estimation. The method further includes operating the wind turbine having regard to the variable speed limit. A control system for performing this method and a wind turbine including the control system is provided. | 07-10-2014 |
20140191507 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING POWER FLOW WITHIN A WIND PARK SYSTEM, CONTROLLER, COMPUTER PROGRAM AND COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS - The invention relates to a method for controlling power flow within a wind park system ( | 07-10-2014 |
20140203559 | CONNECTION FOR IMPROVED CURRENT BALANCING BETWEEN PARALLEL BRIDGE CIRCUITS - A connection for parallel bridge circuits in a power converter is provided. In particular, a power converter can be used to provide a desired power to a load, such as a generator, motor, electrical grid, or other suitable load. The power converter can include a plurality of bridge circuits coupled in parallel. A bridge output of each of the parallel bridge circuits can be coupled together at the load instead of at the power converter. In particular, the parallel bridge circuits can be coupled together at a location that is physically proximate the physical location of the load, such as at a plurality of terminals associated with the load. By doing so, stray inductance associated with conductors used to couple the bridge outputs of the parallel bridge circuits to the load can be effectively coupled between the parallel bridge circuits. | 07-24-2014 |
20140203560 | WIND TURBINE AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING ROTOR BLADE PITCH ANGLE IN WIND TURBINE - Wind turbines and methods for adjusting pitch angles of rotor blades in wind turbines are provided. A method includes monitoring an operational value of the wind turbine, and providing the operational value to a controller, the controller utilizing a proportional integral derivative control algorithm to adjust the pitch angle. The method further includes adjusting a gain factor for the proportional integral derivative control algorithm to a first gain value when the operational value is within a first operational region, and adjusting a gain factor for the proportional integral derivative control algorithm to a second gain value when the operational value is within a second operational region. The second gain value is different from the first gain value, and the second operational region is different from the first operational region. | 07-24-2014 |
20140203561 | VARIABLE INPUT SYNCHRONOUS OUTPUT DRIVETRAIN FOR WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine drivetrain is disclosed. The wind turbine drivetrain includes a planetary gearbox. The planetary gearbox includes a carrier rotatably driven at a first input rotational speed, and a planet gear rotatably mounted to the carrier. The planetary gearbox further includes a sun gear rotatably coupled to the planet gear, and a ring gear rotatably coupled to the planet gear. One of the carrier, the sun gear, or the ring gear is selectively rotatably driven at a second input rotational speed. The wind turbine drivetrain further includes an output gear rotatably driven by the planetary gearbox at an output rotational speed, and a motor selectively operable to rotatably drive the one of the carrier, the sun gear, or the ring gear. | 07-24-2014 |
20140203562 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE INCLUDING CONROLLING YAW OR OTHER PARAMETERS - A system and method for controlling a wind turbine, including controlling yaw or other parameters. In accordance with an embodiment, each of several basic operating parameters of a wind turbine can be measured to provide turbine operating parameters, including both turbine current parameters and turbine operating extremes. Key operating parameters of the controller itself are also monitored. External/ambient measurement devices or sensors can be used to provide measurements about the environment as a whole, such as external/ambient wind data or other external data. The turbine operating parameters are used by the controller logic to calculate measured energy production. The external/ambient measurements are used by the controller logic to calculate estimated energy production. Comparing these indications provides useful feedback, such as diagnostics and/or efficiency; and/or can be used to control yaw or other parameters in a wind turbine. | 07-24-2014 |
20140203563 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING POWER OUTPUT FROM A WIND TURBINE OR WIND POWER PLANT - A LIDAR or other remote sensing apparatus is mounted on a wind turbine to sense one or more wind parameters. An extreme event detector processing signals from the LIDAR to determine whether a given sensed parameter will, when it arrives at the turbine, exceed a predetermined value and represent an extreme event. On detection of an extreme event, the detector outputs an extreme event signal to a controller. The controller controls overrating of the turbine in response to a variety of sensed parameters and selectively operates the turbine at above rated wind speed. On receipt of the extreme event signal the overrating is overridden to prevent damage to turbine components. The controller may be a power plant controller and the override signal may override only overrating at the turbine which has detected the extreme event, or a plurality of turbines. | 07-24-2014 |
20140217729 | REMOTE SENSING SYSTEM FOR WIND TURBINES - Embodiments of the invention generally relate to using remote sensing equipment such as a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) device to detect wind characteristics for use by wind turbines of a wind park. A wind park controller may received raw wind data from the remote sensing device and determine one or more turbines that can use the raw wind data. The raw wind data may be converted to customized data for each of the one or more wind turbines. Upon being provided the customized wind data, the one or more wind turbines may adjust one or more operational characteristics to improve power production or avoid damage to turbine components. | 08-07-2014 |
20140217730 | POWER DISSIPATING ARRANGEMENT IN A WIND TURBINE - A power dissipating arrangement for dissipating power from a generator in a wind turbine is provided. The generator comprises a plurality of output terminals corresponding to a multi-phase output. The power dissipating arrangement comprises a plurality of dissipating units, a plurality of semiconductor switches, a trigger circuit for switching the semiconductor switches and a control unit for controlling the operation of the trigger circuit, thereby controlling the switching of the semiconductor switches. Each dissipating unit includes a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of each dissipating unit is coupled to each output terminal of the generator. Each semiconductor switch includes a first terminal anode, a second terminal and a gate terminal. The first terminal of each semiconductor switch is coupled to the second terminal of each dissipating unit and the second terminal of the semiconductor switch is coupled to the second terminal of another dissipating unit, such that the second terminal of each dissipating unit is coupled to the first terminal of one semiconductor switch and the second terminal of another semiconductor switch. The trigger circuit is coupled to the gate terminal of the plurality of the semiconductor switches for switching the semi-conductor switches. | 08-07-2014 |
20140217731 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR, METHOD, AND PROGRAM THEREOF - A rotor having a plurality of wind turbine blades, a generator to be driven by rotation of the rotor, a pitch angle controller for controlling a pitch angle of the wind turbine blades according to a speed of a generator, and a comparing and selecting section are provided. When the voltage of the utility grid is a predetermined value or less, the pitch angle controller controls the pitch angle so that the wind turbine blades do not move to a fine side. Further, the comparing and selecting section compares a temporary pitch angle command value determined based on the speed of the generator with a previous value of a pitch angle command value, and when the temporary pitch angle command value is a command for controlling the wind turbine blades closer to the fine side than the previous value, outputs the previous value as a current pitch angle command value. | 08-07-2014 |
20140232113 | METHOD FOR REDUCING VIBRATIONS OF A WIND TURBINE AND CONTROL SYSTEM FOR REDUCING VIBRATIONS - A method for reducing vibrations of a wind turbine includes a plurality of set points characterizing set values of operation parameters of the wind turbine. The method includes measuring an acceleration force value corresponding to acceleration forces acting on the turbine, and determining whether the measured acceleration force value is above a predetermined threshold value. Furthermore, in case it is determined that the acceleration force value is above the predetermined threshold value, the set point value of at least one set point of the plurality of set points is modified in order to reduce the vibrations in such a way that a power output of the wind turbine is not reduced. | 08-21-2014 |
20140232114 | WIND POWER DEVICE WITH DYNAMIC SAIL, STREAMLINED CABLE OR ENHANCED GROUND MECHANISM - An improved wind power device for wind energy conversion or vehicle propulsion. Among many possibilities contemplated, the device may have a moving sail with tethered wings ( | 08-21-2014 |
20140239638 | METHOD FOR PROVIDING A FREQUENCY RESPONSE FOR A COMBINED CYCLE POWER PLANT - The disclosure refers to a method for providing a frequency response for a combined cycle power plant connected to an electric grid. The combined cycle power plant includes a gas turbine engine and a steam turbine engine. The steam turbine engine includes a boiler, a steam turbine, a pump, a condenser, a bypass for the steam turbine, a steam admission control valve. The steam turbine engine operates with the bypass closed or at least partly open to supply steam from the boiler to the condenser bypassing the steam turbine, and/or with the steam admission control valve at least partly open. The method comprises regulating the output load of the combined cycle power plant by regulating the steam admission control valve and/or by regulating the steam flow through the bypass in response to a frequency change of the electric grid. The output of the gas turbine can also be adjusted, such that steam generated by the boiler is sufficient to achieve the target load for the steam turbine. | 08-28-2014 |
20140239639 | CONTROLLING WIND TURBINE - The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for controlling a wind turbine. The method includes: dividing a plurality of wind turbines into at least one group based on a similarity in status information of the plurality of wind turbines; in response to having detected a fault in a first wind turbine of the plurality of wind turbines, searching a group to which the first wind turbine belongs for a second wind turbine matching status information of the first wind turbine; and controlling the first wind turbine based on parameters from the second wind turbine. | 08-28-2014 |
20140239640 | WIND POWER PLANT AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING WIND TURBINE GENERATOR IN A WIND POWER PLANT - A wind power plant comprises at least a first and one or more other wind turbine generators ( | 08-28-2014 |
20140246855 | Generator-Fault-Tolerant Control for a Variable-Speed Variable-Pitch Wind Turbine - A fault-tolerant control system and method for variable-speed variable-pitch wind turbines with an inverter-fed generator. When generator faults are detected, the generator torque and/or flux is limited to prevent propagation of the faults and possible failure and shutdown of the generator. The control system and method improves on two-loop control methods for variable-speed variable-pitch wind turbines and provides improved power delivery under fault conditions. | 09-04-2014 |
20140246856 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE COUPLED TO A POWER GRID - According to the present disclosure, a method of operating a wind turbine ( | 09-04-2014 |
20140246857 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE - One embodiment of the invention relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine, having the steps of detecting an internal fault signal which is generated in the first wind turbine and which indicates a disruption of the first wind turbine; receiving at least one external fault signal which is generated outside of the first wind turbine and which indicates a disruption of another wind turbine; and evaluating the internal fault signal dependent on the at least one external fault signal. | 09-04-2014 |
20140252768 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRIC POWER GENERATED BY A WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - A method of controlling a wind turbine generator is provided, the wind turbine generator converting mechanical energy to electrical. The method comprises: determining an electromagnetic power reference representing the electromagnetic power generated by the wind turbine generator, wherein the electromagnetic power reference is determined based on a desired output of the wind turbine generator; controlling the electrical power generated by the wind turbine generator using a control signal, wherein the control signal is derived from the electromagnetic power reference and is modified in dependence on an inverse power function of the wind turbine generator by incorporating minimal copper loss constraint and stator voltage limiting constraint such that non-linearity of the wind turbine generator is compensated in the control loop and it operates at its maximum efficiency. One effect of the method is that classical linear control loop design can be employed in spite of the plant being a non-linear identity. | 09-11-2014 |
20140265329 | METHOD TO DE-ICE WIND TURBINES OF A WIND PARK - A method of de-icing wind turbines of a wind park is provided. At least a first wind turbine and a second wind turbine are assigned to the wind park. The first wind turbine produces a first electrical output power, which exceeds a first power threshold value. The second wind turbine produces a second electrical output power, which falls below a second power threshold value. The first output power and the second output power are reported to a power controller of the wind park. The power controller detects that the first electrical output power exceeds the first power threshold value and the power controller detects that the second electrical output power falls below the second power threshold value. The power controller initiates a de-icing procedure being executed at the second wind turbine until the second electrical output power exceeds the first threshold value. | 09-18-2014 |
20140265330 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATICALLY STOPPING A WIND TURBINE - A system and method for stopping a wind turbine in a battery charging circuit includes a step to terminate battery charging by opening a first switch between an electrical generator coupled to the wind turbine and the battery. A second switch between the electrical generator output terminals is then closed in order to short the generator, create a drag on the wind turbine and ultimately stop its rotation. The signal to open the first switch is generated by a battery charge monitor which when sensing a full charge on the battery will open the first switch and close the second switch. In another embodiment, there is a wind turbine auto stop signal generator connected to the battery monitor to close the second switch upon receipt of a signal indicating full battery charge from the battery monitor. In yet another embodiment there is a remotely located control computer networked to the battery monitor and the wind turbine auto stop signal generator. In still another embodiment the computer is able to receive data inputs from a variety of sources, such as weather services, to assess conditions dangerous to wind turbine operation. | 09-18-2014 |
20140284926 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REAL-TIME LOAD CONTROL OF A WIND TURBINE - A system and method for load control of a wind turbine is disclosed. The method includes: selecting a plurality of wind turbine components for load monitoring; defining a load envelope for each of the selected components and storing the load envelopes in a controller, the load envelopes defining a maximum acceptable load capacity for the respective component that may be at or near the component's design capability; directly or indirectly monitoring loads on the selected components and generating corresponding load signals that are communicated to the controller; with the controller, determining if the loads acting on each of the selected components are within the component's respective load envelope; and the controller initiating corrective action in the event that the load acting on any one of the selected components exceeds the component's load envelope. | 09-25-2014 |
20140284927 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR, METHOD OF WIND TURBINE GENERATION, AND PROGRAM OF THE WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - When a low voltage event occurs in a utility grid, a load on a spindle system is repressed so that a damage is prevented. A rotor having a plurality of wind turbine blades, a generator to be driven by rotation of the rotor, and a pitch angle controller for controlling a pitch angle of the wind turbine blade according to a generator speed are provided, and when a voltage of a utility grid is a predetermined value or less, the pitch angle controller controls the pitch angle so that torsional vibration generated on a spindle system for transmitting the rotation of the rotor to a generator system is repressed. | 09-25-2014 |
20140291988 | Electric Generator - An electric generator (1) for the conversion of energy from a renewable energy source, such as wind energy, into electrical energy to be inserted into a local or remote network (R), which comprises a rotary electric machine (2) provided with means (3) for drawing energy from the renewable source and for converting into electrical energy, first control means (4) for regulating the functioning parameters of the machine (2), second control means (5) for regulating the parameters of the electrical energy generated by the machine (2), and connection means (6) for electrically connecting the second control means (5) to the network (R), wherein the machine (2) is positioned in a space (V) placed at a predetermined distance (h) with respect to a base (B) that is fixed or anchorable with respect to the ground (T). The first control means (4) are housed in a first case (7) placed inside the space (V), the second control means (5) are housed in a second case (8) that is different and spatially offset with respect of the first, and the second control means (5) are electrically connected to the first control means (4), to facilitate the mounting and the maintenance of the generator. | 10-02-2014 |
20140291989 | WIND TURBINE FOR GENERATING ELECTRIC ENERGY - A wind turbine configured to generate electric energy and feed electric energy to an electric power grid, the wind turbine having a blade assembly; an electric machine having a stator, and a rotor connected to the blade assembly to generate electric energy; a first switch converter connected to the electric machine to control stator electric quantities (I | 10-02-2014 |
20140291990 | SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING ELECTRICAL POWER TO A WIND TURBINE COMPONENT - Systems for providing electrical power to one or more wind turbine electrical components is provided comprising an electrical grid and an auxiliary power source for providing electrical power, and one or more wind turbines. Each of the wind turbines includes a wind turbine generator, one or more electrical components, a main voltage transformer for connecting the wind turbine generator to the grid and a switchgear arranged between the main voltage transformer and a point of connection to the grid. One or more switches for alternately connecting either said electrical grid or said auxiliary power source to the switchgears of the wind turbines are provided. The switchgears comprise a switchgear voltage transformer, the switchgear voltage transformer includes primary and secondary windings, the primary windings receiving power from the electrical grid or auxiliary power source, and the secondary windings delivering electrical power to the wind turbine electrical components. | 10-02-2014 |
20140300108 | MULTI BANDWIDTH VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS FOR A WIND POWER PLANT - The present invention relates to a wind power plant, with at least one wind turbine generator, where each of the at least one wind turbine generator has a first voltage controller with a first bandwidth, arranged for controlling a voltage level, and where the wind power plant has a power plant controller with a second voltage controller with a second bandwidth also arranged for controlling the voltage level, the first bandwidth is larger than the second bandwidth. The invention also relates to a method for controlling the voltage level of a wind power plant, by using multi bandwidth voltage controllers. | 10-09-2014 |
20140306451 | ADAPTIVE PITCH CONTROL SYSTEM FOR WIND GENERATORS - The adaptive pitch control system for wind generators is utilized in variable speed doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) systems. An adaptive neural network generates optimized controller gains for pitch control. The pitch controller parameters are generated using intelligent differential evolution, a type of genetic algorithm. A back propagation neural network is trained using the generated pitch controller parameters, thereby tuning the weights of the network according to the system states in a variable wind speed environment. | 10-16-2014 |
20140312620 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING GRID STABILITY IN A WIND FARM - A method for operating a wind farm having at least two wind turbines includes measuring wind velocity at a selectable distance in front of at least one wind turbine of the wind farm in an upwind direction of the wind turbine, generating a signal from said measured wind velocity, estimating the wind velocity at the location of the wind turbine based on the generated signal, measuring at least one grid parameter of the utility grid, and controlling power output of the wind turbine in response to the estimated wind velocity and the measured grid parameter. | 10-23-2014 |
20140312621 | WIND-POWER GENERATOR CONTROL SYSTEM, AND METHOD - A wind-power generator control system is provided. The wind-power generator control system includes a wind turbine, a power generator, a normally closed relay, and a control unit. The wind-power generator has a first output terminal and a second output terminal, and outputs a power output via the first and second output terminal when the wind turbine rotates. The normally closed relay is connected between the first and second output terminals. The control unit transmits a control signal to the normally closed relay by grid power. Also, when the normally closed relay does not receive the control signal, the first output terminal short-circuits the second output terminal by the normally closed relay for protecting the wind-power generator. When the normally closed relay receives the control signal, the first output terminal open-circuits the second output terminal by the normally closed relay for providing the power output. | 10-23-2014 |
20140312622 | WIND TURBINE AND A METHOD OF OPERATING THEREOF - A wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine comprises a generator, a power converter for converting at least a portion of electrical power generated by the generator, an energy dissipating unit and a controller. The power converter comprises a generator-side converter, a grid-side converter and a DC (direct current) link there between. The energy dissipating unit is operatively coupled to the DC-link The controller is adapted to activate the energy dissipating unit to dissipate energy from the DC-link in response to a shutdown request. | 10-23-2014 |
20140319838 | SWITCHING-BASED CONTROL FOR A POWER CONVERTER - A method for operating a power generation system that supplies power for application to a load is disclosed. The method may generally include receiving, at a power converter, an alternating current power generated by a generator operating at a speed that is substantially equal to its synchronous speed and converting, with the power converter, the alternating current power to an output power, wherein the power converter includes at least one switching element. In addition, the method may include receiving a control command to control a switching frequency of the at least one switching element and adjusting the switching frequency to an adjusted switching frequency that is substantially equal to a fundamental frequency of the load. | 10-30-2014 |
20140327243 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR WITH ADAPTIVE LOCKED SPEED OPERATION - An adaptive wind turbine generator (WTG) control system comprising a measurement system MS with sensors A1, A2, MC arranged to perform measurements of mechanical vibrations of one or more mechanical components of the WTG, at a plurality of operating conditions for the WTG. A storage unit SU stores, in a measurement database MD, measured data and corresponding operating condition OC data for the WTG. An operating condition manager OCM determines how to operate the WTG, including rotor speed PSC, according to a control algorithm in response to the data stored in the measurement database MD. Hereby, individual vibration measurements on critical components such as electric power generator and blades of the WTG can be taken into account in determining which rotor speed windows to avoid. This allow a more power efficient WTG, since a large safety margin around calculated or predetermined tabulated rotor speed windows can be avoided. Further, with a continuous update of the measurements, the control system can take into account variations in the vibration behaviour of the components over time. | 11-06-2014 |
20140339827 | DAMPING WIND TURBINE TOWER OSCILLATIONS USING GYROSCOPIC FORCES - A method and a control device for damping an oscillatory movement of the top of a tower of a wind turbine are provided. The described method includes (a) rotating a rotor being rotatably attached to a nacelle of the wind turbine with a rotational speed, and (b) yawing the nacelle of the wind turbine around an axis being aligned with the longitudinal axis of the tower with a yawing speed. Thereby, a yawing movement being associated with yawing the nacelle is coordinated with the oscillatory movement in such a manner that a gyroscopic torque resulting (i) from rotating the rotor and (ii) from yawing the rotor damps the oscillatory movement of the top of the tower. A wind turbine comprising such a control device and a computer program for controlling this method are also provided. | 11-20-2014 |
20140339828 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING OFFSHORE FLOATING WIND TURBINE PLATFORMS - A method for controlling an inclination of a floating wind turbine platform comprising a generator, a set of turbine blades connected to a shaft inside a turbine nacelle, the turbine nacelle being mounted onto a tower, and at least three stabilizing columns is presented. Each of the at least three stabilizing columns have an internal volume for containing ballast. Position data associated with an orientation of the floating wind turbine is received. A heel angle in reference to the floating wind turbine platform is determined based on the position data. A first signal for adjusting at least one of a blade pitch of the set of turbine blades, and a torque of the generator is sent based on the determined heel angle. A second signal for distributing the ballast among the at least three stabilizing columns is also sent. The second signal for distributing the ballast is based on the determined heel angle and the first signal. | 11-20-2014 |
20140339829 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLED SHUTDOWN OF WIND TURBINES - The present invention relates to a method for controlled shutdown of wind turbines. The method involves using a generator side converter, and optionally a DC chopper, as a generator load during controlled shutdown. In this way gearbox back-lashing and drive train oscillations can be avoided. The present invention also relates to a wind turbine capable of performing controlled shutdown in accordance with the before-mentioned method. | 11-20-2014 |
20140339830 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - A wind turbine generator is disclosed herein. In a described embodiment, the wind turbine generator comprises an electrical generator | 11-20-2014 |
20140346774 | DOUBLY-FED INDUCTION GENERATOR WIND TURBINE SYSTEM HAVING SOLID-STATE STATOR SWITCH - Wind turbine systems and methods are provided. An exemplary system includes a wind driven doubly fed induction generator having a rotor and a stator, the stator providing AC power to a stator bus. The system further includes a power converter coupled to the rotor of the doubly fed induction generator, the power converter providing an output to a line bus, and a transformer coupled to the stator bus. The system further includes a solid-state switch coupled between the stator bus and the transformer. | 11-27-2014 |
20140361537 | POWER OSCILLATION DAMPING BY A CONVERTER-BASED POWER GENERATION DEVICE - A power generation park is provided including a power output for providing electrical output power to an electricity network. A power generation device includes a converter device configured for receiving input power from a power generator and providing, in response hereto, the electrical output power to the power output. The power generation park further includes a controller configured for receiving an oscillation indicating signal indicative of a power oscillation in the electricity network, the controller further configured for providing a damping control signal in response to the oscillation indicating signal, the converter device configured for modulating the electrical output power in response to the damping control signal so as to damp the power oscillation in the electricity network. | 12-11-2014 |
20140361538 | Methods for Operating Wind Turbine System Having Dynamic Brake - Wind turbine systems and methods for operating wind turbine systems are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes gating on a dynamic brake switch of a dynamic brake in a wind turbine power converter when an experienced direct current (DC) bus voltage is equal to or greater than a threshold DC bus voltage. The method further includes disabling a threshold temperature rating for the dynamic brake switch when the dynamic brake switch is gated on, and gating off the dynamic brake switch when the experienced DC bus voltage is less than the threshold DC bus voltage. | 12-11-2014 |
20140361539 | Proportional Moving Air Power Transmission and Energy Collection and Control System - A proportional moving air power transmission and energy collection and control system includes a fixed vertical spindle, a vertical rotational hub and a plurality of wings being supported around the vertical hub in 360°. Each of the wings has a blunt leading end and a pointy trailing end and defining an outer surface and an inner surface. In a fully opened position, the trailing end of each wing is moved away from the vertical hub to a diameter of the wing assembly to drive the vertical hub to rotate. In a fully closed position, the wings are overlapped with each other end-to-end to form a hollow cylinder-like structure to furl, such that the diameter of the wing assembly is minimized for facing the wind at all direction. | 12-11-2014 |
20140361540 | WIND ENERGY DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS - Wind energy systems and devices comprise a nacelle, a rotor driven alternator housed in the nacelle, a rotor connected to the alternator, and a load control system in communication with the alternator. The rotor includes a rotor hub and three or more rotor blades, and each blade has a foil shape and is connected to the rotor hub by a full foil attachment mechanism. The alternator is configured to operate at low rpm and to increase rotation speed without a step-up mechanism. The load control system is configured to anticipate changes in wind speed and adjust alternator load such that when wind speed increases the load control system adjusts the alternator load to optimize rotor rpm and optimize tip-speed ratio. | 12-11-2014 |
20140361541 | Power Transfer Station - A power transfer system comprising a turbine for capturing wind energy; a plurality of driven devices which can be coupled to the turbine to be driven thereby; and a controller adapted to monitor a parameter relating to the energy output of the turbine and selectively load or unload one or more of the plurality of driven devices to maximise the efficiency of the turbine and maximise efficient power transfer from the turbine to one or more of the driven devices. The present invention efficiently power matches the available turbine energy with the energy capacity of the driven devices to thereby ensure the turbine and driven devices operate within an optimum range to minimise energy wastage and increase energy transfer efficiency. | 12-11-2014 |
20140367967 | WIND TURBINE ELECTRIC GENERATOR WITH TORQUE LIMITING BRAKE - A wind turbine system includes turbine blades ( | 12-18-2014 |
20140367968 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING A WIND GENERATOR IN THE EVENT OF VIOLENT WINDS AND WIND GENERATOR PROVIDED WITH SUCH A DEVICE - A device making it possible considerably and remotely to reduce the diameter of the rotor of a wind generator ( | 12-18-2014 |
20140375052 | REACTIVE POWER CONTROL DURING LOSS OF COMMUNICATION - A method of operating a wind turbine of a wind park is provided. In a first step a status of a communication connection to a wind park controller is checked. When the status of the communication connection is positive, the wind turbine will be operated in accordance with at least one reference set point received from the wind park controller. When the status of the communication connection is negative, a substitute reference set point will be determined as a function of a present power output of the wind turbine and the wind turbine will be operated in accordance with the substitute reference set point. | 12-25-2014 |
20140375053 | OPERATING A CONTROLLER FOR AN ENERGY PRODUCTION PLANT - A method is provided for operating a controller controlling an energy production plant including plural wind turbines each having an electrical output terminal connected to a common node. The method involves determining that a failure relating to the energy production plant has been overcome; receiving a first signal indicative of an actual value of an electrical quantity at the common node; receiving a second signal relating to a desired value of the electrical quantity at the common node; generating plural reference signals based on an intermediate value between the actual value and the desired value; and supplying the reference signals to the wind turbines, the reference signals controlling the wind turbines with respect to their electrical output at the output terminal such that the intermediate value of the electrical quantity at the common node is achieved. | 12-25-2014 |
20140375054 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING INERTIA IN WIND FARM - The present invention relates to a method of controlling a wind farm. A method of controlling inertia in a wind farm includes obtaining information about the frequency of an electrical grid which has been received from the electrical grid or calculated using the voltage of the wind turbine, receiving information about the rotor speed of the wind turbine, calculating the kinetic energy of the wind turbine using the information about the rotor speed, calculating an individual droop coefficient of the wind turbine using the calculated kinetic energy, and controlling the wind turbine using the calculated droop coefficient. | 12-25-2014 |
20140375055 | METHOD FOR DAMPING TORSIONAL VIBRATIONS IN A POWER GENERATION PLANT - A method for damping torsional vibrations in a power generation plant that includes a drive train, a rotor fitted at a rotor-side end of the drive train, and a generator driven via the drive train and fitted at a generator-side end of the drive train includes determining an angular difference between a first point and a second point on the drive train over time. The method further includes damping torsional vibrations in the drive train on the basis of the time profile of the determined angular difference by correspondingly presetting a load torque of the generator and a drive torque of the rotor. | 12-25-2014 |
20140375056 | METHOD OF OPERATING A POWER GENERATION SYSTEM - A method of operating a power generation system includes operating a power generation system to generate an electric power output. At least a portion of the electric power output is dissipated in a flow battery by charging the flow battery using the portion of the electric power output and self-discharging the flow battery. | 12-25-2014 |
20150008671 | PITCH DRIVE SYSTEMS AND METHODS - A wind turbine pitch drive system comprises an electric grid for supplying electrical power, a motor for driving a pitch actuator, an electronic converter for controlling the motor and a back-up energy storage unit for supplying electrical power. The electronic converter comprises a DC-link capacitor bank. The system furthermore comprises a switching device for selectively connecting the DC-capacitor bank link to the back-up energy storage unit, and a frequency generator for controlling the switching device. Also disclosed is a method for protecting a component of the electronic converter. | 01-08-2015 |
20150008672 | METHOD FOR DAMPING DRIVE TRAIN OSCILLATIONS IN A WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - The present invention relates a wind turbine generator with an electrical generator, a dump load unit, for dissipating power, a wind turbine power controller and a damping controller both arranged to control wind turbine components based on a damping reference signal, the damping reference signal is a combined signal, and comprises a first reference signal and a second reference signal, the second reference signal is an oscillating part, the wind turbine power controller is controlling the power from the electrical generator according to the first reference signal and the damping controller is controlling the dump load unit to dissipate power according to the second reference signal. The invention also relates to a method for damping oscillations with wind turbine generators. | 01-08-2015 |
20150008673 | Torque Control For A Wind Turbine Generator In Case Of Fault - A method and controller for controlling the torque in a wind turbine is described wherein the wind turbine is configured to deliver power via a converter to a public grid. The method comprises the steps of: receiving a fault signal; and, in response to said fault signal, a converter controller controllably ramping down the torque of said turbine from a nominal torque value to a predetermined low torque value within a predetermined time window selected from 0.2-2 seconds, preferably 0.5-1.5 seconds. | 01-08-2015 |
20150014992 | OPERATING WIND TURBINES AS DAMPING LOADS - A control device, method, and computer program for a wind park are provided, the wind park having a plurality of wind turbines for generating electric power, wherein the wind turbines are electrically interconnected by a wind park grid. The control device includes (a) a determining unit for determining whether a wind park load for consuming electric power from the wind park grid is to be enabled, (b) a calculating unit for calculating a power reference value for each of the plurality of wind turbines, the power reference value being indicative of the amount of power which the corresponding wind turbine should produce, and (c) a transmitting unit for transmitting the calculated power reference values to the corresponding wind turbines, wherein, if the determining unit has determined that the wind park load is to be enabled, at least one of the power reference values calculated by the processing unit is negative. | 01-15-2015 |
20150014993 | Overrun Protection for Wind Turbines - A braking system for a turbine of a wind powered includes a hydraulic machine connected to a drive shaft of the turbine. A pressure regulating valve in the supply line of the hydraulic machine determines the pressure delivered to the supply line by the hydraulic machine. A control that is responsive to the speed of rotation of the drive shaft modulates the pressure regulating valve so as to increase pressure in the supply line as the rotational speed exceeds a predetermined speed to apply a braking force to the drive shaft. | 01-15-2015 |
20150021912 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE - It is described a method and an arrangement for controlling a wind turbine ( | 01-22-2015 |
20150021913 | Solar Powered Wind Turbine Apparatus For Reducing Or Eliminating Wind Cut-in Speed - A method and an apparatus are provided for initiating rotation of blades of a wind turbine when wind speed is less than a cut-in speed. A solar powered wind turbine apparatus includes a solar dome with photovoltaic cells, operably connected to a rotor assembly, and an electric motor. The photovoltaic cells convert solar energy from incident sunlight into electrical energy. The electric motor electrically connected to the photovoltaic cells rotates the blades of the rotor assembly using the electrical energy from the photovoltaic cells. The electric motor powered by the photovoltaic cells initiates the rotation of the blades of the rotor assembly when wind speed is less than the cut-in speed, and therefore reduces or eliminates the cut-in speed required to rotate the blades. The blades of the rotor assembly thereafter continue to rotate in response to a force of wind on the blades and/or the powered electric motor. | 01-22-2015 |
20150021914 | Apparatus and Method for Reducing Current Ripple in Double Fed Induction Wind Power Generating System - The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for reducing current ripple in a double fed induction wind power generating system. More particularly, the apparatus comprises: a ripple current sensing unit for classifying the current of a rotor of a generator into normal current and ripple current which is a current component having a frequency that is the same as the frequency of a system power source on the basis of the value obtained by slip angle-based coordinate conversion of the current of the rotor, extracting the classified ripple current, and transmitting the extracted ripple current to a ripple current control unit; and a ripple current control unit for generating a compensation voltage value on the basis of the ripple current received from the ripple current sensing unit and adding the generated compensation voltage value to a reference rotor voltage value input to a converter of a rotor side of the generator so as to reduce the current ripple generated in the current of the rotor of the generator. Thus, according to the present invention, current ripple generated in the current flowing along the rotor of a double fed induction wind power generator during a voltage drop of a system power source may be reduced, thus improving the quality of the power being supplied to the system power source. | 01-22-2015 |
20150021915 | APPARATUS AND SYSTEMS WHICH GENERATE ELECTRIC POWER FROM WIND - An apparatus comprising: (a) a bladeless rotatable element with a smooth outer surface, said rotatable element connected to a drive mechanism; and (b) a dynamo powered by said drive mechanism so as to output an electric current. | 01-22-2015 |
20150028591 | VERTICAL AXIS WINDMILL WITH A DECELERATION CONTROL SYSTEM - A vertical axis windmill with a deceleration control system includes: a stationary shaft, a rotary shaft rotatably sleeved onto the stationary shaft, plural blades fixed to the rotary shaft, and a generator disposed between the stationary shaft and the rotary shaft. The deceleration control system includes a damping plate, a magnetic-force generating unit, a rectifier, and a control unit. The magnetic-force generating unit generates an eddy current to produce a damping effect. The rectifier converts AC voltage outputted from the generator into DC voltage. The control unit is coupled between the rectifier and the magnetic-force generating unit and sets a conduction level. When the DC voltage is lower than the conduction level, the rectifier and the magnetic-force generating unit are electrically disconnected from each other, and when the DC voltage is greater than the conduction level, the rectifier and the magnetic-force generating unit are electrically connected to each other. | 01-29-2015 |
20150028592 | Power Generating Apparatus Exploiting Wind Energy and Method for Operating Thereof - The invention is on the one hand a power generating apparatus exploiting wind energy, comprising a body ( | 01-29-2015 |
20150028593 | OPERATING METHOD FOR A WIND PARK - The present invention concerns a method of operating a wind park having a plurality of wind power installations. A wind power installation includes an electrical energy storage means associated with the wind power installation to store electrical energy which is consumed for starting up the wind power installation after stoppage and consumed for emergency shutdown of the wind power installation. In some embodiments, the wind power installation includes a control system to control taking of energy from the electrical energy storage means for an emergency shutdown procedure such that a sufficient emergency shutdown reserve is maintained in the electrical energy storage means to start a first wind power installation without consuming energy from a network. | 01-29-2015 |
20150035280 | DEVICE FOR THE ADJUSTMENT AND STABILIZATION OF WIND TURBINES - This invention pertains to a device by which electrical wind turbine generators are aligned to the wind by means of a wheel or wheels operated by electrical or hydraulic power, said wheel or wheels being in contact with the ground. The present invention also increases the stability of electrical wind turbine generators by providing additional support to the wind turbine structure against the force of the wind. | 02-05-2015 |
20150035281 | SMART POWER MANAGEMENT DURING VOLTAGE DIP IN WIND TURBINES - The present invention is directed to a method of reducing a mechanical load on the occurrence of voltage dip in the wind turbines. The wind turbine generator controller and the converter control unit work in combination to control the oscillation generated due to voltage dip in the wind turbine | 02-05-2015 |
20150035282 | POWER CONTROL SYSTEM OF AN ELECTRICAL GENERATION UNIT DESCRIPTION - The present invention can be included in the technical field of power control systems of electrical generation units comprising a supervisory regulation link applicable to a generation unit which calculates operating parameters or orders based on temporary averages of the power measurement. | 02-05-2015 |
20150042092 | ISOCHRONOUS WIND TURBINE GENERATOR CAPABLE OF STAND-ALONE OPERATION - A power generating device ( | 02-12-2015 |
20150042093 | METHOD FOR AVOIDING VOLTAGE INSTABILITY IN AN ELECTRICAL GRID OF AN OFFSHORE WIND PARK - Method for avoiding voltage instability in an electrical grid of an offshore wind park, the offshore wind park electrical grid being connected at a first end of a high voltage alternating current (HVAC) transmission and the main land electrical grid being connected at a second end of the HVAC transmission, each of the wind turbines being connected to the wind park electrical grid, the method comprises determining a main land phase angle at or near the second end of the HVAC transmission; measuring an individual wind turbine phase angle at one or more wind turbines; determining the difference between each of the measured individual wind turbine phase angles and the main land phase angle; and determining whether the difference between one of the measured individual wind turbine phase angle and the main land phase angle exceeds a threshold phase angle difference. | 02-12-2015 |
20150042094 | METHOD FOR THE CONTROL OF A WIND TURBINE WITH NO MAINS SUPPORT AVAILABLE - The invention relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine that comprises a generator, is provided to feed electrical power into an electricity supply grid but has not yet been connected to the electricity supply grid, comprising the steps: generating electrical power using the generator and supplying electrical elements of the wind turbine with the power generated, and to a wind turbine for generating electrical power from the wind and for feeding the electrical power generated into an electricity supply grid, wherein a method according to one of the preceding claims is carried out. | 02-12-2015 |
20150054280 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE - The invention concerns a method of operating a wind power installation for generating electrical power from wind, wherein the wind power installation is operated selectively in a first or a second operating mode, and the wind power installation in the first operating mode generates as much electrical power as is possible on the basis of the prevailing wind and the design of the wind power installation, and the wind power installation in the second operating mode generates less electrical power than in the first operating mode, wherein the wind power installation is controlled in the first operating mode with a first adjustment parameter set and in the second operating mode with a second adjustment parameter set different from the first adjustment parameter set, and when the wind power installation is operated in the second operating mode the power which can be generated at a maximum with the first adjustment parameter set or a differential power as the difference between that maximum power which can be generated and the power currently generated in the second operating mode, in dependence on the second adjustment parameter set, is ascertained, and/or the second adjustment parameter set is selected in dependence on a desired power reduction by which a power to be generated by the wind power installation is to be lower with respect to the power which can be generated at the maximum by the wind power installation in the first operating mode. | 02-26-2015 |
20150054281 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine is disclosed. The wind turbine includes comprising an inflatable portion comprising one or more blades and a device for rotatably driving the inflatable portion at a predetermined rate for a predetermined time. | 02-26-2015 |
20150054282 | AIRBORNE WIND ENERGY SYSTEM WITH ENHANCED POWER TRANSFER - An improved wind power device for wind energy conversion or vehicle propulsion. Among many possibilities contemplated, the device may have a moving sail with tethered wings ( | 02-26-2015 |
20150061289 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VOLTAGE CONTROL OF WIND GENERATORS - A method for reactive power generation for a wind turbine generator includes receiving a voltage command signal, and adjusting this voltage command signal as a function of the wind turbine reactive power. A reactive current is determined for the wind turbine generator in response to the adjusted voltage command signal and is transmitted to a controller of the wind turbine generator for generating a real and reactive power based on the reactive current command. | 03-05-2015 |
20150061290 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR VOLTAGE CONTROL OF WIND GENERATORS - A system and associated method for reactive power generation for a wind turbine generator includes receiving a higher-than-generator level voltage command signal. A reactive current is determined for the wind turbine generator in response to the voltage command signal and is transmitted to a controller of the wind turbine generator for generating a real and reactive power based on the reactive current command. A trim value may be generated and applied to the voltage command signal. | 03-05-2015 |
20150076822 | DAMPING AN OSCILLATORY MOVEMENT OF A NACELLE OF A WIND TURBINE - A method is provided for damping an oscillatory movement of a nacelle of a wind turbine. The nacelle is attached to a tower of the wind turbine. The method involves rotating the nacelle about a yawing axis with a yawing speed, the yawing axis being aligned with a longitudinal axis of the tower, changing the yawing speed, and coordinating the yawing speed with the oscillatory movement such that a torque resulting from the change of the yawing speed damps the oscillatory movement of the nacelle of the tower. | 03-19-2015 |
20150076823 | WIND TURBINE PERMANENT MAGNET SYNCHRONOUS GENERATOR (WT-PMSG) SYSTEM - A wind turbine-permanent magnet synchronous generator (WT-PMSG) system includes a variable speed permanent magnet synchronous generator and utilizes a static synchronous compensator (STATCOM) connected on the grid side of the system. A PI/PID controller is designed to apply modulation index control signals to the generator side-converter since the modulation index of the generator side-converter has been determined to have the higher controllability to damp the oscillatory modes of the system when the STATCOM is located at the grid side converter. The controller gains are tuned through a frequency based optimization procedure. This configuration dampens voltage instabilities to provide LVRT compliance. | 03-19-2015 |
20150076824 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE - A method of controlling a wind turbine in response to an overvoltage event in an electricity grid to which the wind turbine is connected is provided, which method includes the steps of controlling at least one auxiliary device to increase its consumption of reactive power, wherein an auxiliary device is a device used during normal operation of the wind turbine; and/or controlling at least one reactive power generating device to decrease its generation of reactive power, wherein a reactive power generating device is a device that generates reactive power during normal operation of the wind turbine. An overvoltage response arrangement adapted for controlling a wind turbine in response to an overvoltage event in an electricity grid to which the wind turbine is connected is also provided. A wind turbine having an overvoltage response arrangement and a wind park are also provided. | 03-19-2015 |
20150084337 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING SWITCHING ELEMENTS WITHIN A SINGLE-PHASE BRIDGE CIRCUIT - In one aspect, a method for controlling the operation of switching elements contained within a single-phase bridge circuit of a power convertor may include monitoring gate voltages of a first switching element and a second switching element of the single-phase bridge circuit and controlling the first and second switching elements so that each switching element is alternated between an activated state and a deactivated state. In addition, the method may include transmitting a gating command signal to adjust the first switching element from the deactivated state to the activated state when: a first gate drive command is received that is associated with switching the first switching element to the activated state; a second gate drive command is received that is associated with switching the second switching element to the deactivated state; and the gate voltage of the second switching element is less than a predetermined voltage threshold. | 03-26-2015 |
20150084338 | WIND TURBINE PROVIDING GRID SUPPORT - A variable speed wind turbine is arranged to provide additional electrical power to counteract non-periodic disturbances in an electrical grid. A controller monitors events indicating a need to increase the electrical output power from the wind turbine to the electrical grid. The controller is arranged to control the wind turbine as follows: after an indicating event has been detected, the wind turbine enters an overproduction period in which the electrical output power is increased, wherein the additional electrical output power is taken from kinetic energy stored in the rotor and without changing the operation of the wind turbine to a more efficient working point. When the rotational speed of the rotor reaches a minimum value, the wind turbine enters a recovery period to re-accelerate the rotor to the nominal rotational speed while further contributing to the stability of the electrical grid by outputting at least a predetermined minimum electrical power. | 03-26-2015 |
20150091302 | WIND POWER GENERATION SYSTEM, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING WIND POWER GENERATION SYSTEM, ROTARY ELECTRIC MACHINE SYSTEM, AND CONTROL DEVICE FOR ROTARY ELECTRIC MACHINE - A wind power generation system according to an aspect of an embodiment includes a rotary electric machine and a temperature rise control unit. The temperature rise control unit causes winding of the rotary electric machine to be energized so that the temperature of the rotary electric machine is raised. | 04-02-2015 |
20150097373 | SYSTEM FOR AUTOMATIC POWER ESTIMATION ADJUSTMENT - An automatic adjustment system for a variable-speed wind turbine is provided, having a power vector generator for generating a power vector (P | 04-09-2015 |
20150108756 | COOLING SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR WIND POWER GENERATOR AND WIND POWER GENERATOR SET - A cooling system and method for a wind power generator and a wind power generator set. The cooling system for a wind power generator includes air extraction pipelines and air discharge devices. The air extraction pipelines are located inside a generator case. A pipeline inlet in communication with a generator, a first pipeline outlet in communication with the outside of the generator case, and a second pipeline outlet in communication with the inside of the generator case are arranged on the air extraction pipelines, and the first and second pipeline outlets are provided with air doors. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the generator set in a high temperature environment is enhanced, and the temperature of the generator case is kept in a low temperature environment. The cost is lowered and the consumed energy is reduced. | 04-23-2015 |
20150108757 | TURBINE DRIVEN BY WIND OR MOTOR AND METHOD FOR GENERATING ELECTRICITY - A turbine for generating electrical power includes oppositely rotating wheels which can be driven primarily by wind for driving a plurality of electrical power generators, or by a motor which may be a diesel, solar, electrical, or alternative fuel motor. One or more of the generators can also function as motors for driving the wheels. A method for generating electrical power involves a pair of wheels which rotate oppositely on a central shaft and a plurality of generators driven by the rotation of the wheels for generating power. The rotation of the wheels can be adjusted to a desired speed having regard to the current velocity of the wind and by means of a motor which is connected to the wheels so as to impart rotation thereof. | 04-23-2015 |
20150115607 | Method of increasing of sensitivity and productivity of the wind generator with vertical axis at weak winds and device for his realization - A Method that consists of changing power of the payload and moment of resistance on the shaft of the wind generator in proportion to current wind speeds, and reduce speed of an air flow at meeting with blades of the wind engine of proportionally angular speed of a rotor. | 04-30-2015 |
20150115608 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE - A method for controlling a wind turbine may generally include operating the wind turbine at an initial power output that is greater than a rated power output associated with the wind turbine. The wind turbine may have an anticipated operational life at the rated power output. In addition, the method may include decreasing a power output of the wind turbine over time in order to maintain an actual operating life of the wind turbine substantially equal to or greater than the anticipated operational life. A final power output of the wind turbine at an end of the anticipated operating life may be less than the rated power output. | 04-30-2015 |
20150115609 | METHOD FOR CONFIGURING A WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION, AND WIND ENERGY INSTALLATION - The invention relates to a method for configuring a wind energy installation, comprising the following steps: predetermined parameters associated with the wind energy installation are selected from a control database for the purpose of configuring the wind energy installation, the selected parameters are stored on a mobile data storage medium, the selected parameters are transmitted from the mobile data storage medium to the wind energy installation, the selected parameters are implemented in the wind energy installation, the parameters implemented in the wind energy installation are read out by a monitoring device networked to the wind energy installation and to the control database, and the parameters which have been read out are compared with the predetermined parameters associated with the wind energy installation and stored in the control database. | 04-30-2015 |
20150115610 | INTEGRATED WIND TURBINE ACOUSTIC NOISE AND SHADOW-FLICKER DETECTION AND MITIGATION SYSTEM - An integrated wind turbine acoustic-noise and shadow-flicker recognition system, comprising monitors located at nearby locations and base-units installed in each wind turbine, is described. The system comprehensively addresses neighbors' concerns with potential sound- and flicker-based nuisance emissions. Each monitor includes a computer processor; a microphone and light-monitor; a two-way communication system for interaction with the base-unit; and a set of indicator-lights. Each base-unit includes a computer processor; a two-way communication system for interacting with local monitors; plus a display, data-ports, and programming interfaces. Collectively, computer processors in the monitors and base-units jointly assess acoustic, optical, and turbine operating data to signal a mitigation event. The methods used to determine a mitigation event are based on a unique signature-recognition methodology that relies on analysis of data received at both the turbine and at the monitored location. | 04-30-2015 |
20150115611 | FAULT TOLERANT WIND TURBINE CONVERTER - A wind turbine is arranged to operate in a fully-functional converter mode and a faulty-converter mode. A plurality of converters are arranged to share electric current in the fully-functional converter mode. The converters are dimensioned not only to operate at nominal active current but to provide an over-current margin to enable reactive current to be produced on top of the nominal active current in the fully-functional converter mode. In the fully-functional converter mode the converters are caused to produce reactive current on top of the nominal active current. In response to a fault of one or more of the converters, operation is changed from the fully-functional converter mode to the faulty-converter mode. In the faulty-converter mode, one or more other converters of the converter system are caused to produce additional active current by using their over-current margin to compensate at least partly for a reduction of active-current production due to the fault of one of the converters, and to reduce the reactive-current production by the other converter correspondingly. | 04-30-2015 |
20150123402 | MAGNETIC STRUCTURE COMBINING NORMAL MODE AND COMMON MODE INDUCTANCE - Magnetic components that can be used to provide normal mode and common mode inductance in a power system, such as a wind-driven doubly fed induction generator system, are provided. The magnetic components can include a structure that combines both normal mode inductors and common mode inductors on a common core. In particular, the magnetic components can include specific winding and core arrangements which couple a common mode inductor and a normal mode inductor onto a single core with at least three legs. The structure of the magnetic components can be smaller in size, can have lower weight, and can have a lower cost than typical solutions to providing common mode and normal mode inductance in a power system. | 05-07-2015 |
20150123403 | WIND POWER TURBINE FOR GENERATING ELECTRIC ENERGY - A wind power turbine configured to generate electric energy has: a supporting structure; a nacelle; a blade assembly which rotates with respect to the nacelle; a first and second electric machine having, respectively, a substantially coaxial first and second stator, and a first and second rotor coupled to the first and second stator to rotate about a first and second axis; a transmission configured to connect the first rotor to the second rotor; a control device configured to control the wind power turbine; and a detection system connected to the control device to detect relative movement between the first rotor and the second rotor. | 05-07-2015 |
20150123404 | FAULT TOLERANT WIND TURBINE CONVERTER - A wind turbine is arranged to operate in a fully-functional converter mode and a faulty-converter mode. A plurality of converters are arranged to share electric current in the fully-functional converter mode. The converters are dimensioned not only to operate at nominal active current but to provide an over-current margin to enable reactive current to be produced on top of the nominal active current in the fully-functional converter mode. In the fully-functional converter mode the converters are caused to produce reactive current on top of the nominal active current. In response to a fault of one or more of the converters, operation is changed from the fully-functional converter mode to the faulty-converter mode. In the faulty-converter mode, one or more other converters of the converter system are caused to produce additional active current by using their over-current margin to compensate at least partly for a reduction of active-current production due to the fault of one of the converters, and to reduce the reactive-current production by the other converter correspondingly. | 05-07-2015 |
20150130187 | METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND PARK - A wind turbine is provided having a first converter connected between an electric generator of the wind turbine and a DC link and a second converter connected between the DC link and an output of the wind turbine connectable to a utility grid. The wind turbine further includes a wind turbine controller adapted to control at least one of an output current of the wind turbine, an output voltage of the wind turbine, a reactive output power of the wind turbine, an output voltage of the DC link and an output current of the DC link. The wind turbine further includes a communication device adapted to receive a control signal and to set a control parameter of the wind turbine controller in accordance with the control signal. A network converter, method of operating a wind turbine, methods of operating a wind park and computer-readable storage medium are also provided. | 05-14-2015 |
20150130188 | AIRBORNE WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM WITH GROUND GENERATOR AND UNORTHODOX POWER CAPTURE OR TRANSFER - An airborne wind energy conversion system with a ground generator and unorthodox power capture or transfer means, including such embodiments as: a system with an ultra-long flexible wing, which serves both for power harvesting and power transfer; a system with a tethered wing, the tether having an airfoil cross section in at least a substantial part of its length and participating in power harvesting; a system with a very long semi-circular wing, harvesting and transferring wind power by its helical motion; a system in which a conventional wing both harvests wind power and excites waves in the tether, the waves transferring the power. | 05-14-2015 |
20150137518 | METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND PARK - A method of operating a wind park having a plurality of wind turbines is provided. The method includes determining a grid condition indicator indicative of the condition of a grid into which the wind park feeds; determining a first maximum power value of the wind park on the basis of the grid condition indicator; determining an operating margin on the basis of the grid condition indicator, for a grid condition indicator indicative of a weak grid; determining a second maximum power value on the basis of the operating margin; and curtailing the active power output of the wind park according to a maximum power value. A computer program product for carrying out the steps of such a method; an active power controller adapted for use in operating a wind turbine of a wind park; a wind turbine; and a wind park are also provided. | 05-21-2015 |
20150137519 | WIND POWER PLANT FREQUENCY CONTROL - The present invention relates to a method of operating a wind power plant, with at least one wind turbine generator connected to an electrical grid, wherein the method comprises the steps of monitoring a frequency parameter and comparing it with a frequency set point, as to select a low or high frequency event and determining a power reference to the a least one wind turbine generator, based on the frequency parameter, In case a high frequency event is detected, the power reference is determined as a minimum of a selection of at least a first and a second minimum power reference. And in case a low frequency event is detected, the power reference is determined as a maximum of a selection of at least a first and a second maximum power reference, dispatching the power reference to the at least one wind turbine generator. The invention also relates to a wind power plant operating according to the method. | 05-21-2015 |
20150137520 | WIND-POWER-PLANT CONTROL UPON LOW-VOLTAGE GRID FAULTS - A wind power plant connected to an electric grid. A central plant controller is configured to carry out a method of controlling an electric output of the wind power plant in the event of a transient low-voltage fault of the electric grid. The central plant controller is configured, after a fault stage in response to detection of a low-voltage fault during which the wind turbines ride through the grid fault, to control the wind power plant during a post-fault-support stage to provide only real power, or perform voltage control. The central plant controller is configured to resume control of the wind power plant according to the nominal-grid operation mode, which prevailed before the low-voltage fault, in a nominal-grid operation stage. | 05-21-2015 |
20150145251 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A POWER GENERATION SYSTEM WITHIN A POWER STORAGE/DISCHARGE MODE OR A DYNAMIC BRAKE MODE - In one aspect, a system for operating a power generation system within a battery storage/discharge mode or a dynamic brake mode may generally include a power convertor having a DC link, a switching module coupled to the DC link and a selector switch configured to selectively couple the switching module to one of a storage device or a resistive element of the power generation system. The selector switch may be movable between a first position, wherein the switching module is coupled to the storage device such that power is capable of being directed between the DC link and the storage device via control of the switching module, and a second position, wherein the switching module is coupled to the resistive element such that power is capable of being directed between the DC link and the resistive element via control of the switching module. | 05-28-2015 |
20150145252 | HYBRID CONVERTER AND WIND POWER GENERATING SYSTEM - The present invention discloses a hybrid converter and a wind power generating system, the hybrid converter comprising a voltage source converter, a line commutated converter and a line commutated converter, a positive DC terminal of the voltage source converter is connected to a negative DC terminal of the line commutated converter, a positive DC terminal of the line commutated converter is connected to a positive DC transmission line, a negative DC terminal of the voltage source converter is connected to a positive DC terminal of the line commutated converter, and a negative DC terminal of the line commutated converter is connected to a negative DC transmission line. The present invention features a self-commutating capability, can be directly connected to a wind farm to convert wind power to DC power, and is able to improve rated voltage and rated power of the hybrid converter, technology of each component thereof is mature, and system reliability thereof is high. | 05-28-2015 |
20150145253 | WIND TURBINE CONTROL AND MONITORING METHOD USING A WIND SPEED ESTIMATION BASED ON A LIDAR SENSOR - The invention is a method for controlling and/or monitoring a wind turbine | 05-28-2015 |
20150145254 | POWER GENERATION SYSTEM - Electric power obtained by wind power generation is used effectively. A power generation system in an embodiment includes: a wind power generation apparatus; a solar thermal power generation apparatus; and an electrothermal converting unit. The solar thermal power generation apparatus includes: a heater heating a heating medium by solar heat; and a heat exchanger exchanging heat of the heating medium heated by the heater and heat of a working fluid to operate a drive mechanism of a power generator. The electrothermal converting unit converts part of electric power generated by the wind power generation apparatus into heat to heat the heating medium. | 05-28-2015 |
20150292483 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THRUST-SPEED CONTROL OF A WIND TURBINE - The present subject matter is directed to a system and method for dynamically controlling a wind turbine. The method includes operating the wind turbine based on a thrust set point and a speed set point. A next step includes determining a desired change in actual speed of the wind turbine in response to control actuations starting from an instantaneous operating point. The method also includes determining a desired change in thrust of the wind turbine in response to control actuations starting from the instantaneous operating point. Next, the method determines at least one parameter set point that achieves the desired change in speed and the desired change in thrust and controls the wind turbine based on the parameter set point so as to maintain the actual thrust and the actual speed of the wind turbine within a certain tolerance of the thrust set point and the speed set point, thereby regulating loads acting on the wind turbine while simultaneously maintaining optimal or near optimal power output. | 10-15-2015 |
20150292484 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EXTENDING THE OPERATING LIFE OF A WIND TURBINE GEAR TRAIN BASED ON ENERGY STORAGE - A wind park controller and control method for a wind park ( | 10-15-2015 |
20150292485 | EXTREMUM SEEKING-BASED CONTROL METHOD FOR MAXIMUM OUTPUT TRACKING OF A WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - The present invention discloses an extremum seeking-based control method for maximum output tracking of a wind turbine generator, mainly comprising three steps of first closed-loop feedback, second closed-loop feedback, and third closed-loop feedback. The method for resisting mechanical fatigue of a double-fed variable speed constant frequency wind turbine generator by controlling mechanical torque while capturing maximum wind energy provided in the present invention is applied to a double-fed variable speed constant frequency wind turbine system by improving the control based on sliding mode extremum seeking with the following effects that, with regard to the maximum wind energy tracking effect, the rotating speed can be quickly adjusted to keep the tip speed ratio λ as its optimum value after the wind speed changes, so that the wind energy utilization coefficient is restored to the maximum value. | 10-15-2015 |
20150295529 | REACTIVE POWER CONTROL FOR WIND TURBINE GENERATORS - Wind farms and methods for operating wind farms are provided. A wind farm includes a plurality of wind turbine generators. A method includes determining an available reactive power value for each of the plurality of wind turbine generators. The method further includes distributing an individual reactive power command to each of the plurality of wind turbine generators. The individual reactive power command is individually tailored to each wind turbine generator of the plurality of wind turbine generators based on the available reactive power value for that wind turbine generator. | 10-15-2015 |
20150300318 | FAST RUN-BACK CONTROL INCLUDING PLANT LOSSES - The present invention relates to a method for operating a wind power plant, with at least one wind turbine generator and a power plant controller, the method includes the steps of receiving a request to reduce active power output from the wind power plant, dispatching a reference set point to the at least one wind turbine generator to lower a voltage level of the least one wind turbine generator, and the at least one wind turbine generator controls the voltage level of the least one wind turbine generator, to a new lower set point. The present invention also relates to a wind power plant where the method is implemented. | 10-22-2015 |
20150300320 | WIND POWER INSTALLATION AND METHOD FOR INJECTING ELECTRICAL ENERGY - The present invention relates to a method for injecting electrical energy into an electrical, three-phase grid, comprising the steps of: injecting current by means of an injection unit at a grid connection point, detecting an asymmetry in the grid, in particular a negative sequence component in the grid, injecting an asymmetrical current portion into the grid for, at least, partial compensation of the detected asymmetry, with injection of the asymmetrical current portion taking place such that the injection unit behaves like a consumer. | 10-22-2015 |
20150308406 | WIND TURBINE SHADOW FLICKER PROTECTION SYSTEM - A light intensity detection system for a wind turbine including a single light sensor adapted to measure the intensity of light, a housing for protecting the single light sensor from environmental influences, and a driving mechanism configured to allow the single light sensor to receive light from a first direction at a first time and from a second direction at a second time. | 10-29-2015 |
20150308411 | AIRBORNE WIND ENERGY SYSTEM WITH REDUCED INPUT TORQUE, BETTER TORQUE HANDLING AND OPTIMIZED SPEED - An airborne wind energy conversion system with lower input torque and/or better handling of the input torque. In one embodiment it has a ground generator, and a tether pulls an elongated member which is meshed with a gear of relatively small diameter. The system achieves relatively high initial RPM and relatively low initial torque. In another embodiment a wide and thin belt unwinds from a spool, having annulus-planet relation with the gear (like in a planetary gearbox). The gear is rotationally coupled to the rotor of the generator. In another aspect, the ratio of the wing air speed to the wind speed is normally below ⅔, which was taught as the optimum since Loyd. | 10-29-2015 |
20150308412 | A THREE-PHASE AC ELECTRICAL SYSYEM, AND A METHOD FOR COMPENSATING AN INDUCTANCE IMBALANCE IN SUCH A SYSTEM - A method for compensating an inductance imbalance in a three-phase alternating current electrical system is provided. An inductance imbalance is determined in the three-phase electrical system, an induction compensation device is selected based on the determination and thereafter applied within the three-phase electrical system. The induction compensation device is applied onto a power cable within the electrical system. A three-phase electrical system wherein an inductance imbalance is addressed with an inductance compensation device is further provided. A wind turbine generator comprising such a three-phase AC electrical system. | 10-29-2015 |
20150308413 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND FARM - The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for controlling a wind farm. The method includes operating the wind farm based on multiple control settings over a plurality of time intervals. A next step includes collecting one or more wind parameters of the wind farm over the plurality of time intervals and one or more operating data points for each of the wind turbines in the wind farm for the plurality time intervals. The method also includes calculating a contribution of the operating data points for each of the wind turbines as a function of the one or more wind parameters. Further steps of the method include estimating an energy production for the wind farm for each of the control settings based at least in part on the contribution of the operating data points and controlling the wind farm based on optimal control settings. | 10-29-2015 |
20150322921 | POWER PLANT GENERATION SYSTEM, METHOD FOR CONTROLLING WIND TURBINE GENERATORS, POWER PLANT CONTROLLER AND WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - According to an embodiment, a power generation system is provided comprising a wind power plant comprising a plurality of wind turbine generators and a power plant controller configured to signal, to at least a portion of the plurality of wind turbine generators, a voltage reference for the output voltage of the wind turbine generator wherein each wind turbine generator comprises a controller configured to control the wind turbine generator based on the voltage reference. | 11-12-2015 |
20150330361 | METHOD FOR ADJUSTING THE AZIMUTH OF A WIND POWER PLANT, AZIMUTH ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM AND WIND POWER PLANT - A method for adjusting the azimuth of a wind power plant, in which, during an azimuthal rotation of a machine housing with a rotor on a tower of the wind power plant, a constant residual pressure for generating a constant residual holding torque is applied to at least one azimuth braking device. Also an azimuth adjustment system for a wind power plant and to a wind power plant. In the disclosed method, the constant residual pressure and/or the constant residual holding torque are/is set as a function of at least one wind speed parameter before commencement of the azimuthal rotation, and the residual pressure and/or the residual holding torque are/is not changed during the azimuthal rotation, in particular during energization of azimuth drive motors. | 11-19-2015 |
20150330363 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR SWIFT POWER REGULATION - The present invention relates to a method for regulating a flow of power between a wind power facility and a power grid connected thereto. The method comprises the steps of determining whether power is to be delivered to or absorbed from the power grid, and at least partly disabling or at least partly enabling one or more power consuming auxiliary systems in response to said determination. Moreover, an arrangement for delivering additional power to a power grid is provided. | 11-19-2015 |
20150330368 | AIRBORNE WIND ENERGY SYSTEM WITH ROTARY WING, FLYING GENERATOR AND OPTIONAL MULTI-LEG TETHER - An airborne wind energy system with a rotary wing (a wind rotor) and a flying generator is disclosed. Among the features of the disclosed system: use of aerodynamic lift in combination with buoyant lift, supporting rotor blades with suspension cables, use of peripheral or mid-rotor power take off. Use of multiple rotary wings and other related methods and subcomponents are also described. Also, use of tether multi-legs (including tripods and quadro-pods) for support of airborne wind energy systems in flight is disclosed. | 11-19-2015 |
20150333677 | WIND TURBINE HAVING IMPROVED OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTION - A wind turbine comprises a wind rotor, a generator driven by the wind rotor, a converter, wherein the generator and the converter generate electrical energy output via a connecting line with an inductively acting line reactor to a grid, and an overvoltage protection device comprising a plurality of different active modules, which are designed in such a way that they each effect, in different ways, a reduction in the voltage at the output of the converter, a switching matrix, which connects and disconnects the different active modules, and a selector comprising an overvoltage classifier, which is designed to select a predetermined stage depending on the overvoltage and to actuate the switching matrix in such a way that successive ones of the active modules are disconnected, wherein the overvoltage classifier defines a plurality of overvoltage ranges by virtue of in each case the selector setting different switching groups. | 11-19-2015 |
20150333678 | CONVERTER AND OPERATING METHOD THEREOF - A converter and an operation method thereof are provided. A converter interconnected with a wind power generation farm includes a power monitor unit configured to detect a direct-current voltage of an entire system interconnected with the converter, a control unit configured to compare the detected direct-current voltage of the entire system with a reference voltage and adjust an alternating-current voltage that is supplied to the wind power generation farm to a preset value, and a switching unit configured to perform a switching operation based on the adjusted preset value to convert alternating-current power into direct-current power. | 11-19-2015 |
20150337800 | METHOD OF MANUFACTURING LARGE STEEL RINGS - A vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) is disclosed having air or water bearing supports. The VAWT may be configured to float. The VAWT may include a 360° rotor, having a precision machined noncorrosive bearing surface at its perimeter, with a system of wind capturing devices configured to collect kinetic energy of wind. The rotor may be supported by at least three air or water bearing supports positioned substantially at a perimeter of the rotor. Electrical generation components may be located substantially at the perimeter of the rotor. | 11-26-2015 |
20150337805 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE - A method for operating a direct drive wind turbine including determining a temperature difference between at least two components of a bearing, comparing the temperature information with an upper threshold temperature difference between the at least two components of the bearing, limiting rotational speed of a rotor and/or an at least one rotatably supported wind turbine component coupled to the rotor to a value unlike zero yet, below a wind turbine specific nominal rotational speed of the rotor and/or below the wind turbine specific nominal rotational speed of the at least one rotatably supported wind turbine component coupled to the rotor and/or limiting electric power output of the generator to a value unlike zero yet, below a wind turbine specific nominal electric power output of the generator, if the temperature difference between the at least two components of the bearing increases above the upper threshold temperature difference, is provided. | 11-26-2015 |
20150337807 | MOBILE OFFSHORE WIND TURBINE - A mobile offshore wind turbine may include a column, a base and a plurality of turbine blades. In one embodiment, the column is at a center piece of the base and a plurality of connecting rods radially extending from the column to connect with the turbine blade. The base may also include a side piece disposed on both sides of the center piece to increase the stability of the base. The turbine blade has a blade surface that resembles the shape of a sail, and the turbine blade is rotatably disposed on the corresponding connecting rod and vertically aligned with the column. In another embodiment, a controller may be disposed on the turbine blade to detect the direction of the wind and further control the moving direction of the mobile wind turbine. | 11-26-2015 |
20150337808 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING VOLTAGE AT POINT OF COMMON COUPLING OF WIND FARM - A system and method for controlling voltage at a point of common coupling of a wind farm including a plurality of wind turbines is provided. The method includes: calculating a first voltage error value, which is a difference between a reference voltage value of the point of common coupling and an actual voltage value of the point of common coupling; calculating a compensation reference voltage value based on the first voltage error value; calculating a second voltage error value by subtracting a voltage value of an output terminal of a wind turbine from a sum of a reference voltage value of the wind turbine and the compensation reference voltage value; calculating a reactive power compensation value corresponding to the second voltage error value; and injecting a reactive current corresponding to the reactive current compensation value into a power grid. | 11-26-2015 |
20150345466 | WIND POWER GENERATION SYSTEM AND WIND POWER GENERATION METHOD - A wind power generation system has a windmill, a lift improvement device, a power generator, a storage, and a controller. The windmill rotates when receiving an airflow. The lift improvement device has a capability of operating and halting, the lift improvement device increases a lift force to a blade of the windmill when operating. The power generator generates power by rotation of the windmill and a torque is generated in a direction suppressing rotation of the windmill. The storage stores a plurality of characteristic maps indicating characteristics of the torques of the power generator in relation to rotation speeds of the power generator. The controller controls a power generation amount of the power generator by switching and using the plurality of characteristic maps of the storage in correspondence with a state of operating or halting of the lift improvement device. | 12-03-2015 |
20150345473 | ON OR OFF GRID VERTICAL AXIS WIND TURBINE AND SELF CONTAINED RAPID DEPLOYMENT AUTONOOUS BATTLEFIELD ROBOT RECHARGING & FORWARD OPERATING BASE HORIZONTAL AXIS WIND TURBINE - Vertical axis wind turbine and horizontal wind turbine each with a rotary airfoil assembly that has helical swept airfoils whose free ends each have a spoiler. The vertical axis wind turbine has permanent magnet discs for levitating static weight of an entirety of the rotary airfoil assembly via magnetic repulsion. There is a hub or affixing the permanent magnet discs within a frame structure in a manner that counteracts both a coefficient of friction (“COF”) associated with rotation of the rotary airfoil assembly and ensuing bearing wear imparted from the rotary airfoil assembly. The horizontal axis wind turbine has collapsible telescoping towers. | 12-03-2015 |
20150345474 | METHOD OF CALCULATING AVAILABLE OUTPUT POWER OF WIND FARM - A method of calculating available output power of wind farm includes following steps. A space vector V | 12-03-2015 |
20150349688 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A POWER GENERATION SYSTEM CONNECTED TO A WEAK GRID - A method for controlling a power generation system connected to a weak grid may generally include operating a power converter of the system so as to produce current at or above a power factor threshold associated with a power factor operating requirement for the system, detecting that a generator speed of the system has increased over a period of time, detecting that a local reference voltage for the system has decreased within the same period of time over which the generator speed has increased and adjusting the operation of the power converter to produce current at a reduced power factor below the power factor threshold so as to increase a real power output of the system. | 12-03-2015 |
20150354402 | DETECTING BLADE STRUCTURE ABNORMALITIES - To identify abnormal behavior in a turbine blade, a failure detection system generates a “fingerprint” for each blade on a turbine. The fingerprint may be a grouping a dynamic, physical characteristics of the blade such as its mass, strain ratio, damping ratio, and the like. While the turbine is operating, the failure detection system receives updated sensor information that is used to determine the current characteristics of the blade. If the current characteristics deviate from the characteristics in the blade's fingerprint, the failure detection system may compare the characteristics of the blade that deviates from the fingerprint to characteristics of another blade on the turbine. If the current characteristics of the blade are different from the characteristics of the other blade, the failure detection system may change the operational mode of the turbine such as disconnecting the turbine from the utility grid or stopping the rotor. | 12-10-2015 |
20150354539 | High Frequency Bi-directional AC Power Transmission - A method may involve transmitting power between a tethered aerial vehicle equipped with wind turbines for generating power and a ground station configured to interconnect the generated power to an electrical distribution network. The power may be transmitted using high voltage, high frequency AC electrical signals, and transformers at the ground station and the aerial vehicle can scale the AC voltage for use at the respective locations. Converters at the ground station and the aerial vehicle can then convert the transformed voltage to DC. The AC voltage may be transmitted through the tether at a resonant frequency of the tether based in part on an internal capacitance between multiple conductive paths on the tether. | 12-10-2015 |
20150357819 | METHODS AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR CONTROLLING POWER GENERATORS - Methods and arrangements for controlling the reactive power of a power generator from an initial reactive power state to a desired reactive power state are disclosed. The power generator belongs to a power farm coupled to an electrical grid. During a transition state, changes in voltage and reactive power demand are detected and control of reactive power is passed from the power farm to the power generator controller, then to a transition controller and finally back to the power farm. The power generator may be a wind turbine and the power farm a wind farm. | 12-10-2015 |
20150361957 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO OPERATE A WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine system, comprising a tower, a plurality of blades, a rotor supported by the tower and rotatably coupled to the plurality of blades, a pitch control device for regulating pitch angles of the plurality of blades, a torque control device for regulating torque of the rotor, a processing subsystem programmed to slow down the wind turbine system by using the torque control device alone to slow down the rotor when the torque control device is fully capable of slowing down the rotor, and using both the torque control device and the pitch control device to slow down the rotor when the torque control device alone is not fully capable of slowing down the rotor. | 12-17-2015 |
20150365031 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE DURING AN ASYMMETRICAL GRID FAULT AND A WIND TURBINE - The invention is directed to a method for controlling a wind turbine connected to a three-phase electrical supply grid during an asymmetrical grid fault. The method is configured for wind turbines with a doubly-fed induction generator. The reactive current to be fed into the electrical supply grid in the negative phase-sequence system is generated by the line-side and the rotor-side converter in a coordinated manner and depends on the line voltage. The reactive current to be fed into the electrical supply grid is distributed among the rotor-side and line-side converters. As a result, even in the case of severely asymmetrical grid faults, the reactive current to be fed into the electrical supply grid can be provided and excessive loading of the rotor-side converter can be prevented using simple means. The invention is also directed to a wind turbine for performing the above method. | 12-17-2015 |
20150367918 | FLOATING WIND TURBINE PLATFORM WITH BALLAST CONTROL AND WATER ENTRAPMENT PLATE SYSTEMS - A floating wind turbine platform includes at least three stabilizing columns, where each stabilizing column has an internal volume for containing ballast. The floating wind turbine platform also includes a tower having mounted in vertical alignment over one of the columns, a turbine rotor coupled to an electrical generator mounted proximate to the upper end of the tower, main beams interconnected to the stabilizing columns, and water-entrapment plates attached to the lower ends of the stabilizing columns. The floating wind turbine platform further includes a ballast control system including an alignment sensor configured to detect a rotation of the tower, and a controller coupled to the alignment sensor for directing a transfer of the ballast from an internal volume of one column to another column upon the alignment sensor detecting rotation of the tower to adjust a vertical alignment of the tower. | 12-24-2015 |
20150369216 | WIND TURBINE SYSTEM - A wind turbine system comprises a current generator having a planar base member, a connection member secured at a geometrical center of the base member and configured to rotate about an axis transverse to a plane of the support member upon exertion of wind pressure on the wind turbine, a rotor assembly secured to the connection member for rotation about the axis, the rotor assembly spaced from the base member and comprising planar rotor members spaced from and parallel to one another; and a planar stator assembly secured to the base member and centered in a spacing between the rotor members, the stator assembly configured to generate a current upon rotation of the rotor assembly relative thereto. A control system supplies power from the generator to an electrical grid. A control system adjusts an angular position of the turbine blades. A wind sensor measures a differential wind pressure. | 12-24-2015 |
20150369217 | A METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND TURBINE PLANT - A method of operating a wind turbine plant is provided. Such a wind turbine plant comprises at least one transmission branch comprising a plurality of wind turbine generators and coupled to an electrical grid at a point of common coupling through at least one circuit breaker comprising a breaking capacity. The method comprises monitoring the electrical grid for a low voltage fault event; and if a low voltage fault event is detected: calculating a grid short circuit strength, determining a short circuit current limit if the grid short circuit strength requires an initial fault current contribution which exceeds the breaking capacity of the circuit breaker to be passed through the circuit breaker, determining a maximum fault current contribution based on the short circuit current limit and operating the wind turbine generators to provide to the electrical grid the maximum fault current contribution. | 12-24-2015 |
20150377213 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS TO OPERATE A WIND TURBINE SYSTEM - A wind turbine system is presented. The wind turbine system includes a tower, a plurality of blades, a rotor supported by the tower and rotatably coupled to the plurality of blades, a control unit programmed to predict a net energy of the tower at one or more future points in time, and if the predicted net energy is within a design limit, then continue with baseline operating control models for normal operation of the wind turbine system, if the predicted net energy exceeds the design limit, then use a non-linear tower damping model to generate tower damping commands to control tower damping of the wind turbine system. | 12-31-2015 |
20160003221 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE INCLUDING REVERSING AN ENERGY FLOW THROUGH A GENERATOR - Controlling operation of a wind turbine coupled to a power grid is disclosed. The power grid is monitored in order to determine whether or not there is a match between a demand for energy defined by power consumers connected to the power grid and supply of energy from power producers connected to the power grid. For instance, the price of energy may be monitored. In the case that the supply of energy from power producers exceeds the demand for energy, and a deficiency between the demand for energy and the supply of energy exceeds a first threshold value, the energy flow through the generator is reversed, thereby causing the generator to consume power received from the power grid. Thereby the deficiency can be reduced and the power grid can be stabilised. | 01-07-2016 |
20160009409 | STRUCTURE FOR PROVIDING AN AIRCRAFT WITH EMERGENCY ELECTRIC POWER | 01-14-2016 |
20160032891 | WIND TURBINE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE - The invention relates to a wind turbine that comprises a rotor ( | 02-04-2016 |
20160032893 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ENHANCED OPERATION OF WIND PARKS - A computer-implemented method of operating a wind turbine park including operating wind turbines includes recording a plurality of sound pressure measurements of the wind turbine park, thereby generating a sound recording. The method also includes calculating values for a plurality of acoustic features associated with the sound recording. The method further includes determining a relationship between the calculated values for the plurality of acoustic features and modeled acoustic features values resident within a probabilistic auditory model of the wind turbine park. The method also includes distinguishing a first contribution to the sound recording originating from the at least one operating wind turbine from a second contribution to the sound recording originating from non-wind turbine sources based on the determined relationship. | 02-04-2016 |
20160032896 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A POWER OUTPUT OF A WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - A method for controlling the power output of a wind turbine, which includes a transformer with multiple taps, is provided. The method includes sensing a voltage of the transformer during operation of the wind turbine, determining the reactive power, and automatically maintaining a set value of the reactive power by controlling the output voltage of the transformer. | 02-04-2016 |
20160040652 | WIND POWER PLANT HAVING FREQUENCY MEASUREMENT - A method for controlling a wind turbine which is connected to an electrical grid, detects a grid frequency present in the grid and in the case of which the power output is regulated on the basis of the grid frequency by a controller and, in particular, switches off the power feed into the electrical grid if a limit value of a grid frequency is exceeded, wherein a change in the grid frequency over time is detected, a rate of change is determined and the rate of change is compared with a rate of change limit value and a modified frequency value is used to regulate the power output in the event of the rate of change limit value being exceeded. | 02-11-2016 |
20160040653 | INERTIAL CONTROL METHOD OF WIND TURBINE - An inertial control method of a wind turbine includes the steps of: acquiring frequency information of a power grid; calculating a time variant droop coefficient when the frequency information is reduced below a preset range; and controlling the wind turbine using the calculated time variant droop coefficient, wherein the step of calculating a time variant droop coefficient includes the steps of: collecting rotor speed information changing according to the inertial control; and calculating the time variant droop coefficient using the collected rotor speed information. | 02-11-2016 |
20160043651 | CONTROLLING PARALLEL CONVERTER SYSTEMS FOR WIND TURBINES - A method of controlling a power unit having a plurality of converter modules coupled in parallel, is configured to convert DC into AC voltages or AC into DC voltage. The method includes (a) receiving a control value for each phase of each converter module, (b) obtaining a set of phase current values for each converter module, (c) generating a compensation value for each phase of each converter module based on the set of phase current values and a set of stored data, the set of data representative of non-linearity characteristics of the converter modules as functions of phase current value, (d) generating a compensated control value for each phase of each converter module based on the corresponding control value and compensation value, and (e) supplying the compensated control values to the respective converter modules. A controller, power unit, wind turbine, computer program and computer program product are similarly configured. | 02-11-2016 |
20160047359 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR HAVING AN EDDY CURRENT BRAKE, WIND TURBINE HAVING SUCH A GENERATOR, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A wind turbine generator includes an outer housing, a drive shaft rotatably mounted within the outer housing, stator and rotor assemblies positioned within the outer housing and movable relative to each other, a heat exchanger, and a blower having a rotating plate for generating a fluid flow circuit within the generator for transporting heat from the stator and rotor assemblies to the heat exchanger. An eddy current brake having a rotating member is located within the outer housing and is positioned in the fluid flow circuit such that fluid moving in the flow circuit cools the first rotating member. The blower and the eddy current brake may be integrated, such as by having the rotating plate of the blower serve as the rotating member of the eddy current brake. A wind turbine having such a generator, as well as a method of operating a wind turbine generator is also disclosed. | 02-18-2016 |
20160061188 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REGULATING POWER IN A WIND FARM - A method is provided. The method includes identifying a dispatch interval for dispatching power from a wind farm, determining an observation time interval and a control time interval in the dispatch interval, computing a farm power moving average of the power of the wind farm, computing a grid frequency moving average of a grid frequency, determining a farm power set point based on a predefined wind farm operating model using the farm power moving average and the grid frequency moving average, controlling one or more wind turbines in the wind farm during the control time interval based on the farm power set point to regulate a farm-level dispatch power. | 03-03-2016 |
20160061189 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVED ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS WITH SECURITY-ORIENTED PROBABILISTIC WIND POWER GENERATION DISPATCH - Embodiments provide systems, methods and apparatus for controlling an energy delivery system including providing an energy management system (EMS) having a wind power management (WPM) system and using the WPM system for determining sensitivity values for a plurality of wind farms within the energy delivery system; maximizing wind power generation from the plurality of wind farms within a set of security limits defined based on the sensitivity values; minimizing wind power generation loss from the plurality of wind farms; determining wind farm security-priority groups; minimizing wind power generation production cost based on cost priority of the wind farms in each security-priority group; and minimizing wind power generation production cost based on energy bids for each wind farm in each security-priority group. Numerous other aspects are provided. | 03-03-2016 |
20160065105 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING WIND TURBINE OPERATION - The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for optimizing operation of a wind turbine. The method includes providing a voltage regulator between a power grid and the wind turbine. The voltage regulator is configured to control at least one voltage condition of the wind turbine. Another step includes monitoring, via one or more sensors, at least one operating condition and at least one voltage condition of the wind turbine. The method also includes comparing, via a controller, at least one of the operating condition or the voltage condition with a predetermined threshold to determine a margin-to-threshold ratio. Thus, a further step includes controlling the voltage regulator based on the comparison so as to maximize the margin-to-threshold ratio. | 03-03-2016 |
20160069324 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND PARK - The invention relates to a method for supplying the electric power of a wind park comprising several wind turbines into an electric power supply grid, wherein each of the wind turbines provides an electric turbine output and the sum of all provided turbine outputs is supplied to the electric power supply grid as wind park output, and a turbine target value is specified for each of the wind turbines as a specification of the turbine output that is to be provided, and the turbine target value is controlled via a controller based on a control deviation rte, as a comparison of the supplied wind park output and a target value of the wind park output that is to be supplied. | 03-10-2016 |
20160069325 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IMPROVING REACTIVE CURRENT RESPONSE TIME IN A WIND TURBINE - The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for improving reactive current response time in a renewable energy power system connected to a power grid. The method includes providing, via a controller of the power system, a permissive logic relating to the power grid. Another step includes determining, via a controller of the renewable energy power system, a reactive current reference command for the renewable energy power system in response to the permissive logic being satisfied. The method also includes generating, via the controller, a reactive current pulse command for the renewable energy power system. Thus, the controller is configured to determine a total reactive current command by combining the reactive current reference command and the reactive current pulse command. Further, the method includes operating the renewable energy power system based on the total reactive current command so as to improve the current response time. | 03-10-2016 |
20160069326 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REDUCING WIND TURBINE OSCILLATIONS CAUSED BY GRID FAULTS - The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for operating a wind turbine in response to one or more grid events or faults occurring in a power grid. The method includes monitoring, via one or more sensors, a grid voltage of the power grid so as to detect one or more grid events occurring in the power grid. In response to detecting at least one grid event, a controller determines an operating catch point for the wind turbine component and applies a torque demand to the wind turbine component when the operating catch point is reached. Further, the torque demand may be based on an initial torque demand acting on the wind turbine component before the one or more grid events occurred. Therefore, applying the torque demand to the wind turbine component is configured to reduce oscillations occurring in the component caused by one or more grid faults. | 03-10-2016 |
20160076515 | METHOD FOR STARTING A WIND TURBINE IN A COLD CLIMATE ENVIRONMENT - A method of starting a wind turbine in a cold climate environment includes providing a wind turbine in the cold climate environment in a stand-still or near stand-still condition; allowing the rotation speed of the rotor to increase during start up of the wind turbine; optimizing heat generation within the gear box; and generating power using the wind turbine, wherein heat generation within the gear box is optimized prior to providing the generated electrical power to an electrical grid. Optimizing heat generation within the gear box may include maximizing internal power losses in the gear box during start up. This may allow the start up to be achieved without using external heaters. Aspects of this method may be used during periods of low wind conditions in cold climate environments so that once sufficient wind conditions are reestablished, the wind turbine is ready for immediate power production. | 03-17-2016 |
20160076518 | METHOD AND RELEVANT SYSTEM FOR CONVERTING MECHANICAL ENERGY FROM A GENERATOR ACTUATED BY A TURBINE INTO ELECTRIC ENERGY - A method and system for converting mechanical energy from a generator operated by a turbine into electric energy to be input into an electric network, comprising the following:
| 03-17-2016 |
20160084228 | DRIVE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING SUCH A DRIVE - A drive of an energy generation system with a drive shaft ( | 03-24-2016 |
20160084229 | METHOD AND CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTROLLING A REACTIVE POWER SOURCE - The present invention relates to a method for controlling a reactive power source in a wind power plant, the method comprising the steps of providing a wind turbine reactive power control signal and providing an active power reference signal, said active power reference signal being a measure of an active power production of the wind power plant. A control signal for the reactive power source is generated by combining the wind turbine reactive power control signal and the active power reference signal in such a way that the control signal for the reactive power source becomes a weighted signal of the wind turbine reactive power control signal. Moreover, the present invention relates to control units and wind power plants suitable for carrying out the present invention. | 03-24-2016 |
20160102653 | WIND TURBINE SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE SYSTEM BY POWER MONITORING - A method for controlling a wind turbine system is provided. The wind turbine system includes a power conversion assembly for converting electrical power into a converted electrical power. The method includes monitoring a power extraction parameter, wherein the power extraction parameter is indicative of the power extracted by the wind turbine system from the wind prior to being converted in the power conversion assembly. The method further includes controlling one or more operational variables of the wind turbine system in response to monitoring the power extraction parameter. | 04-14-2016 |
20160108893 | Portable Multiple Source Electrical Power Unit - A portable, non-fossil fuel, multiple source, electrical power unit that includes a lightweight wind generator assembly and an optional solar panel assembly partially disassembled and stored in a rigid, protecting container. The power unit includes a pivoting tower assembly made of a plurality of tower members that are removed and assembled in an end to end manner to form an elongated tower assembly. A nacelle and wind generator are attached to the distal end of the tower assembly. The wind generator is attached to a lightweight hub assembly that uses lightweight sail/airfoil shaped blades. In one embodiment, the container includes four pivoting outrigger legs. In a second embodiment, the container's four side panels fold downward. Concrete blocks may be used to hold the container upright. Mounted on the container is a solar panel assembly with at least one solar panel and a bank of rechargeable batteries. An electronic control assembly is also provided that enables the operator to control the electrical output from the wind and solar panel assemblies. | 04-21-2016 |
20160115940 | AIRFLOW GENERATION DEVICE AND WIND POWER GENERATION SYSTEM - An airflow generation device disposed on a moving body such as a windmill blade in which a conduction state of an electrode can be sufficiently secured, and the like are provided. An airflow generation device of an embodiment includes a base, a first electrode, and a second electrode, and generates an airflow when a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode. The base is formed of a dielectric having a flexibility. The first electrode is provided on a front surface side of the base. The second electrode is provided inside the base. Here, the first electrode includes a metal electrode part and an elastomeric electrode part. The metal electrode part is formed of a metal material. The elastomeric electrode part is formed by using an elastomeric material, and has a conductivity. Further, the elastomeric electrode part includes a portion covering the metal electrode part. | 04-28-2016 |
20160115942 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING AND CONTROLLING WIND TURBINES WITHIN A WIND FARM - In one aspect, a system for monitoring and controlling the operation of wind turbines located within a wind farm may generally include first and second wind turbines. The first wind turbine may include a first turbine controller configured to monitor an operating parameter(s) associated with the first wind turbine and provide a first control interface for controlling the operation of the first wind turbine. The second wind turbine may include a second turbine controller configured to monitor an operating parameter(s) associated with the second wind turbine and provide a second control interface for controlling the operation of the second wind turbine. The system may also include a secondary computing device coupled to the second turbine controller. The second turbine controller may be configured to provide the secondary computing device access to the first control interface in order to allow the operation of the first wind turbine to be controlled. | 04-28-2016 |
20160118786 | METHODS FOR OPERATING WIND TURBINE SYSTEM HAVING DYNAMIC BRAKE - Methods for operating a wind turbine system are provided. In one embodiment, a method includes adjusting a threshold direct current (DC) bus voltage for a dynamic brake in a wind turbine power converter above a reference DC bus voltage based on at least one system condition. The method further includes gating the dynamic brake on when an experienced DC bus voltage is equal to or greater than the threshold DC bus voltage, and inputting a dynamic brake condition into a controller when the dynamic brake is gated on. The method further includes determining if a grid fault has occurred, reducing power generation of the wind turbine if no grid fault has occurred, and blocking the power converter if a grid fault has occurred. The method further includes gating the dynamic brake off when the experienced DC bus voltage is less than the threshold DC bus voltage. | 04-28-2016 |
20160131109 | METHOD FOR FEEDING ELECTRICAL POWER INTO AN ELECTRICAL SUPPLY NETWORK - The invention relates to a method for feeding electrical power into an electrical supply network by means of at least a first and a second wind farm. A first electrical wind farm output is provided by the first wind farm to be fed into the electrical supply network and a second electrical wind farm output is provided by the second wind farm to be fed into the electrical supply network, and a total power output is generated from at least the first and second wind farm output and fed into the electrical supply network, wherein a central control unit for controlling the total power output that is fed in controls the provision of at least the first and second wind farm output. | 05-12-2016 |
20160146190 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR OPTIMIZING OPERATION OF A WIND FARM - Methods and systems for optimizing operation of a wind farm are disclosed. The method includes providing a farm-level wake model for the wind farm based on historical wake parameters corresponding to reference sets of interacting wind turbines in the wind farm. Another step includes monitoring one or more real-time wake parameters for wind turbines in the wind farm. A further step includes identifying at least two interacting wind turbines from the reference sets based on the wake parameters. Another step includes determining a wake offset angle between the interacting wind turbines as a function of at least one of a wind direction, a geometry between the interacting wind turbines, or a wake meandering component. The method also includes continuously updating the wake model online based at least partially on the wake parameters and the wake offset angle and controlling the interacting wind turbines based on the updated wake model. | 05-26-2016 |
20160146191 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING WIND TURBINE OPERATION - System and methods for optimizing operation of a wind turbine are disclosed. In one aspect, the method also includes determining, via a converter controller of a power converter, a tap position of a tap changer configured between the power grid and a primary winding of a transformer. Another step includes calculating, via the converter controller, a primary voltage of the primary winding as a function of the tap position. The method also includes implementing, via the converter controller, a control action if the primary voltage or a measured secondary voltage of a secondary winding of the transformer is outside of a predetermined voltage range. | 05-26-2016 |
20160146192 | WIND TURBINE POWER CONVERSION SYSTEM - The invention refers to a multilevel topology power converter (I) for electrical adaption of a low voltage alternating current (LVAC) of an electrical wind power generator ( | 05-26-2016 |
20160160839 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING INERTIA RESPONSE OF VARIABLE-SPEED WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - A method of controlling inertia response of variable-speed wind turbine generator includes following steps. A maximum wind power of the wind turbine is gotten through a wind speed ν | 06-09-2016 |
20160169199 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE | 06-16-2016 |
20160169202 | SHORT-TERM OPERATION OPTIMIZATION METHOD OF ELECTRIC POWER SYSTEM INCLUDING LARGE-SCALE WIND POWER | 06-16-2016 |
20160169204 | STATIC TESTING AND CALIBRATING METHOD FOR PID LINK OF CONTROL SYSTEM OF WIND TURBINE | 06-16-2016 |
20160173017 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING WIND TURBINES | 06-16-2016 |
20160177923 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INCREASING WIND TURBINE POWER OUTPUT | 06-23-2016 |
20160177924 | WIND POWER GENERATION CONTROL DEVICE AND WIND POWER GENERATION SYSTEM HAVING THE SAME | 06-23-2016 |
20160177925 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING WIND POWER PLANTS | 06-23-2016 |
20160201646 | IMPROVEMENTS FOR A NON-ROTATING WIND ENERGY GENERATOR | 07-14-2016 |
20160201650 | WIND POWER GENERATING SYSTEM | 07-14-2016 |
20160201651 | METHOD FOR FEEDING ELECTRIC POWER INTO A SUPPLY GRID | 07-14-2016 |
20160254769 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR STABILIZING SUB-SYNCHRONOUS INTERACTION OF A WIND TURBINE GENERATOR | 09-01-2016 |
20170234299 | A WIND POWER PLANT WITH REDUCED LOSSES | 08-17-2017 |
20180023547 | Hybrid Wind-Solar Power Generation System | 01-25-2018 |
20180023548 | WIND TURBINE ACCESS PANEL AND METHOD FOR SECURING SAME | 01-25-2018 |
20180026563 | ELECTRICAL POWER CIRCUIT AND METHOD OF OPERATING SAME | 01-25-2018 |
20190148949 | OPERATING A WIND TURBINE GENERATOR DURING AN ABNORMAL GRID EVENT | 05-16-2019 |