Patents Examined by Thomas K Quigley
  • Patent number: 11976622
    Abstract: A buoyant wave energy device is disclosed that incorporates an open-bottomed tube of substantial length in which is partially enclosed a first body of water that oscillates in response to wave action. The device incorporates a buoy to which an upper end of the tube is connected and inside of which is trapped a second body of water of substantial mass. A differential phase in the oscillations of the water trapped in the tube, and the oscillations of the buoy of augmented mass, result in the periodic compression of a pocket of air trapped at the top of the tube, and in the subsequent expulsion of pressurized air through a turbine, thereby generating electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Lone Gull Holdings, Ltd.
    Inventors: Garth Alexander Sheldon-Coulson, Brian Lee Moffat, Daniel William Place
  • Patent number: 11965485
    Abstract: A method of determining an orientation of a nacelle of a wind turbine, wherein the nacelle carries a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensor, the method comprising: yawing the nacelle between a series of orientations; obtaining locus data based on a series of calibration positions measured by the GNSS sensor, wherein each calibration position is measured by the GNSS sensor when the nacelle is in a respective orientation of the series of orientations; storing the locus data; after storing the locus data, measuring a new position with the GNSS sensor; and determining the orientation of the nacelle on the basis of the stored locus data and the new position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Lars Glavind, Johnny Nielsen
  • Patent number: 11962262
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine as virtual synchronous machine by determining the synchronous machine rotational speed rotational speed and the synchronous machine angle. The virtual synchronous machine rotational speed is determined based on a combination of a feedback of a damping power, a power reference for a desired power output of the wind turbine, a grid power supplied by the wind turbine to a power grid and a chopper power dissipated by the chopper and an inertial integration model, the synchronous machine angle is determined based on an integration of the synchronous machine rotational speed, and the damping power is determined based on the virtual synchronous machine rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: John Godsk Nielsen, Torsten Lund, Esmaeil Ebrahimzadehveshareh
  • Patent number: 11952920
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for storing and recovering electricity generated from conventional/renewable energy sources. A thermal energy storage vessel contains thermal storage fluid (“TSF”) comprising a eutectic ternary nitrate molten salt, induction heating elements, turbine pumps, a heat exchanger, and various data acquisition sensors like thermocouples and thermistors. The immersion heating elements receive the electricity generated from conventional and/or renewable energy source to heat the eutectic ternary nitrate molten salt to the desired temperature. Coiled tubing is deployed within the thermal containment vessel to be distribution systems for the power cycle working gas and heat exchange for the power cycle working gas. The power cycle working gas is delivered under pressure to a steam turbine. The turbine converts the energy into mechanical shaft work to drive an electricity generator to produce electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Inventor: Guy James Daniel
  • Patent number: 11952982
    Abstract: A method for providing a requested real power including receiving the requested real power at a transmission feed-in point; using a real power band with an upper band limit and a lower band limit, each of which is disposed with an offset from the requested real power. The real power band furthermore comprises at least one control threshold value between the upper band limit and the lower band limit. The method includes controlling at least one regenerative energy generator depending on the at least one control threshold value, in particular in order to provide the requested real power as transmission power at the transmission feed-in point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Brombach
  • Patent number: 11953027
    Abstract: An offshore wind turbine erected in a body of water including a generator, a base, a nacelle, a tower having a first end mounted to the base and a second end supporting the nacelle, an electrolytic unit electrically powered by the generator to produce hydrogen from an input fluid, in particular water, and a fluid supply assembly for supplying the input fluid from a fluid inlet arranged below a water level to the electrolytic unit arranged above the water level, wherein the fluid supply assembly includes a pump and a fluid connection between the fluid inlet and the electrolytic unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy A/S
    Inventors: Finn Daugaard Madsen, Mikkel Serup
  • Patent number: 11952983
    Abstract: A method of determining an orientation of a nacelle of a wind turbine, wherein the nacelle carries a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) sensor, the method comprising: yawing the nacelle between a series of orientations; obtaining locus data based on a series of calibration positions measured by the GNSS sensor, wherein each calibration position is measured by the GNSS sensor when the nacelle is in a respective orientation of the series of orientations; storing the locus data; after storing the locus data, measuring a new position with the GNSS sensor; and determining the orientation of the nacelle on the basis of the stored locus data and the new position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Lars Glavind, Johnny Nielsen
  • Patent number: 11946451
    Abstract: A method for operating a wind power installation for the purpose of generating electrical power from wind, wherein the wind power installation has an aerodynamic rotor having rotor blades that can be adjusted in their blade angle, and the rotor is operated at a settable rated rotor speed, wherein a turbulence class at a site of the wind power installation is determined, and the rated rotor speed is defined in dependence on the determined turbulence class.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Messing, Hauke Maass, Florian Rubner, Christian Möller
  • Patent number: 11933270
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods for determining a maximum power setpoint for a wind turbine comprising determining a temperature of one or more wind turbine components, and determining one or more component temperature errors by determining a difference between the temperatures of the wind turbine components and a corresponding threshold temperature for the components. The methods further comprise determining a present power output of the wind turbine and determining the maximum power setpoint at least partially based at least on the component temperature errors, and on a present power output of the wind turbine. The present disclosure further relates to methods for determining a setpoint reduction and to wind turbine control systems and wind turbines configured for such methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventor: Isaac Pineda Amo
  • Patent number: 11916466
    Abstract: An apparatus may generate energy in response to a vehicle wheel rotation. The apparatus may include a roller, a shaft, and a generator. The roller may rotate in response to a movement or motion of the wheel and may apply a friction to the wheel to decrease a rotational velocity of the wheel. The shaft may rotate in response to a rotation of the roller. The generator may generate an electrical output based on rotation of the shaft and convey the electrical output to an energy storage device or to a motor of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Inventor: Anthony Macaluso
  • Patent number: 11905924
    Abstract: A spreader box for securing a tower having a flange to a pedestal having an embedded first bolt and second bolt includes a first surface coming into contact with the pedestal, a second surface coming into contact with the flange and a third surface and a fourth surface. The first, second, third and fourth surfaces form a hollow box-like shape. The spreader box also includes a first through-hole through the first and second surfaces for receiving the first bolt therethrough and a second through-hole through the first and second surfaces for receiving the second bolt therethrough.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Inventor: Brian K. Tri
  • Patent number: 11890944
    Abstract: A starter battery system for an air cooled engine rated at less than 50 horsepower. The system includes four lithium iron phosphate cells and a charging circuit configured to be powered by rotation of an air cooled engine. A voltage developed by the charging circuit is applied to the four lithium iron phosphate cells without battery management circuitry provided between the charging circuitry and the four lithium iron phosphate cells. An engine which includes at least one piston, a rotatable crankshaft coupled to the at least one piston, a starter motor configured to selectively initiate rotation of the crankshaft, a lithium-ion battery in electrical communication with the starter motor, the lithium-ion battery having at least one cell, and a charging system configured to be powered by motion of at least one component of the engine. The charging system is configured to continuously apply a voltage potential to the at least one cell while the engine is in a running condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Briggs & Stratton, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Zeiler, Richard J. Gilpatrick
  • Patent number: 11891983
    Abstract: A method of adapting noise emission configurations of plural wind turbines, the method including: determining total wind turbine related noise levels at plural locations; determining, among the plural locations, a critical location having a most critical, in particular highest, total wind turbine related noise level; if the most critical total wind turbine related noise level is above a noise threshold: reducing the noise emission configuration of a wind turbine having the highest noise to power impact ratio, is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S
    Inventors: Per Egedal, Tomas Rosenberg Hansen, Stefan Oerlemans
  • Patent number: 11891982
    Abstract: There is provided a method of controlling a wind turbine on starting or running up the wind turbine before the wind turbine is connected to an electrical supply grid or before the wind turbine is connected to the electrical energy supply grid again. The wind turbine has a rotor having a rotor arresting means, at least one rotor blade and at least one blade angle detection sensor for each rotor blade for detecting the blade angle of the rotor blade. The blade angle of the at least one rotor blade is detected by means of the blade angle detection sensor. Unlocking of the rotor arresting means is blocked until the detected at least one blade angle is within a predetermined angle range. In that way it is possible to ensure that the rotor arresting means is released only when the blades are for example in the feathered position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventors: Harald Wegmann, Timm Mross, Reinhard Cloppenburg
  • Patent number: 11894738
    Abstract: A turbomachine equipped with an embedded electric machine having a segmented and movable stator is provided. In one aspect, a turbomachine defines a radial direction and includes a rotating component, actuators, and an electric machine. The electric machine includes a rotor assembly rotatable with and operatively coupled with the rotating component. The electric machine also includes a stator assembly having a stator split into stator segments. Each one of the stator segments is movable by one of the actuators between a first position and a second position along the radial direction, the stator segments each being closer to the rotor assembly along the radial direction when in the first position than when in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Darek Tomasz Zatorski, Mohamed Osama
  • Patent number: 11891981
    Abstract: A generator-gearbox arrangement for a wind turbine includes a generator having a stator and a rotor interacting with one another, a functional component arranged on an end side of the generator and including an extension which points toward the rotor, and a magnetic rail brake arrangement including component parts fastened to the extension. The magnetic rail brake arrangement is designed to apply a braking action which is based on an operating principle of electromagnetic attraction between the magnetic rail brake arrangement and at least one of the rotor and the functional component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Flender GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Jöckel
  • Patent number: 11888421
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an electric generator and motor transmission system that is capable of operating with high energy, wide operating range and extremely variable torque and RPM conditions. In accordance with various embodiments, the disclosed system is operable to: dynamically change the output “size” of the motor/generator by modularly engaging and disengaging rotor/stator sets as power demands increase or decrease; activate one stator or another within the rotor/stator sets as torque/RPM or amperage/voltage requirements change; and/or change from parallel to series winding configurations or the reverse through sets of 2, 4, 6 or more parallel, three-phase, non-twisted coil windings with switchable separated center tap to efficiently meet torque/RPM or amperage/voltage requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Falcon Power, LLC
    Inventors: James L. Bailey, Harley C. McDonald
  • Patent number: 11879433
    Abstract: A method (1000-1001) for operating a wind turbine (100) including a rotor (106) having rotor blades (108) and a power conversion system (118, 210, 234) mechanically connected with the rotor (106), configured to convert input motive power into electrical output power, and electrically connected to a network (242) for feeding the electrical output power (P) to the network is provided. The method includes determining (1100) a current frequency (f) of the network (242), and, when the current frequency (f) is equal to or lower than a threshold frequency (fthresh), operating (1300) the power conversion system (118, 210, 234) at an electrical output power (P) which is increased by an electrical output power increase (PI) in accordance with a monotonic function (PI(f)) of the current frequency (f) limited to a maximum value (PImax).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventor: Christoph Schulten
  • Patent number: 11879434
    Abstract: A wind turbine control apparatus, method and non-transitory computer-readable medium are disclosed. The wind turbine control apparatus comprises a generator connected to a wind turbine with a drive train. The drive train comprises a rotor, a low speed shaft, a gear box, a high speed shaft, and a controller module. The controller module is configured to obtain a maximum power within a large range of varying wind velocities by operating the rotor at a neural network determined optimal angular speed for the current wind velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
    Inventors: Mohammad Kamal Hossain, Meer Abdul Mateen Khan
  • Patent number: 11879432
    Abstract: A controller structure for a wind turbine having an aerodynamic rotor with at least one rotor blade, wherein the controller structure is designed to control a rotation speed of the rotor of the wind turbine, wherein the controller structure is designed as a cascade control arrangement and has an outer control loop and an inner control loop, wherein the inner control loop receives an input signal which comprises a change in the rotation speed, an acceleration of the rotation speed, a function of the change in the rotation speed and/or a function of the acceleration of the rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventor: Enno Von Aswege