Patents by Inventor Hartmut Scholte-Wassink

Hartmut Scholte-Wassink has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9404478
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a method of operating a wind turbine including operating the wind turbine in a noise reduction mode based on at least one set point of a wind turbine parameter such that noise produced by said wind turbine remains below a predefined noise emission level, obtaining an actual air density related value, and applying a correction factor to the at least one set point of a wind turbine parameter is provided. The correction factor is determined in dependence of said actual air density related value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hartmut Scholte-Wassink, Saskia Honhoff, Benoit Petitjean
  • Publication number: 20160102653
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Publication date: April 14, 2016
    Inventors: Werner BARTON, Hartmut SCHOLTE-WASSINK
  • Patent number: 8989877
    Abstract: A system for controlling a machine includes a first model, a second model, a controller, and a comparator. During a first cycle, the first model generates a response signal to the controller while the second model generates a predicted parameter signal. During the first cycle, the comparator transmits a feedback signal to the second model if a predetermined threshold is not met. A method for controlling a machine includes transmitting a response signal from a first model to a controller, generating a control signal to the machine, and generating a predicted parameter value in a second model. The method further includes transmitting a feedback signal to the second model if a predetermined threshold is not met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Hartmut Scholte-Wassink
  • Publication number: 20130334817
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 14, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Inventor: Hartmut Scholte-Wassink
  • Publication number: 20130280066
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a method of operating a wind turbine including operating the wind turbine in a noise reduction mode based on at least one set point of a wind turbine parameter such that noise produced by said wind turbine remains below a predefined noise emission level, obtaining an actual air density related value, and applying a correction factor to the at least one set point of a wind turbine parameter is provided. The correction factor is determined in dependence of said actual air density related value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Inventors: Hartmut Scholte-Wassink, Saskia Honhoff, Benoit Petitjean
  • Patent number: 8366389
    Abstract: A wind turbine and methods for controlling wind turbine thrust are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes measuring a tilt angle of a wind turbine in a loaded position using a measuring device. The wind turbine includes a tower, a nacelle mounted on the tower, a rotor coupled to the nacelle, and a plurality of rotor blades coupled to the rotor. The method further includes comparing the tilt angle to a predetermined tilt angle for the wind turbine and, if the tilt angle exceeds the predetermined tilt angle, adjusting a pitch of at least one of the plurality of rotor blades such that the tilt angle is less than or equal to the predetermined tilt angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Till Hoffmann, Hartmut Scholte-Wassink
  • Patent number: 8267655
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine, the wind turbine including at least one movable portion which is movable during operation of the wind turbine and at least one movable portion device including at least one of a movable portion transmitter or a movable portion receiver, the movable portion transmitter or the movable portion receiver being disposed at the least one movable portion; the method including: at least one of sending to or receiving from at least three reference points at least one signal by at least one of the movable portion transmitter or movable portion receiver; and determining at least one operational parameter of the wind turbine depending on at least one characteristic of the at least one received signal. Further the present disclosure relates to a wind turbine arrangement and a system for controlling a wind turbine, comprising a controller of the wind turbine and a movable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Friedrich Loh, Hartmut Scholte-Wassink, Till Hoffmann, Juergen Esser
  • Patent number: 8188610
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Hartmut Scholte-Wassink
  • Patent number: 8177505
    Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a method and a measuring device adapted for determining a rotational position of at least one rotor blade of a wind turbine. The method includes a step of measuring a gravity induced blade moment of the at least one rotor blade. Then, an actual rotational position of the rotor blade is determined from the measured gravity induced blade moment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Hartmut Scholte-Wassink
  • Patent number: 8169098
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hartmut Scholte-Wassink, Anders Wickstroem, Martin Essing
  • Publication number: 20120078390
    Abstract: A system for controlling a machine includes a first model, a second model, a controller, and a comparator. During a first cycle, the first model generates a response signal to the controller while the second model generates a predicted parameter signal. During the first cycle, the comparator transmits a feedback signal to the second model if a predetermined threshold is not met. A method for controlling a machine includes transmitting a response signal from a first model to a controller, generating a control signal to the machine, and generating a predicted parameter value in a second model. The method further includes transmitting a feedback signal to the second model if a predetermined threshold is not met.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventor: HARTMUT SCHOLTE-WASSINK
  • Publication number: 20120027586
    Abstract: A wind turbine and methods for controlling wind turbine thrust are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes measuring a tilt angle of a wind turbine in a loaded position using a measuring device. The wind turbine includes a tower, a nacelle mounted on the tower, a rotor coupled to the nacelle, and a plurality of rotor blades coupled to the rotor. The method further includes comparing the tilt angle to a predetermined tilt angle for the wind turbine and, if the tilt angle exceeds the predetermined tilt angle, adjusting a pitch of at least one of the plurality of rotor blades such that the tilt angle is less than or equal to the predetermined tilt angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Till Hoffmann, Hartmut Scholte-Wassink
  • Patent number: 8073556
    Abstract: A system for controlling a machine includes a first controller, a second controller, and a comparator. During a first cycle, the first controller generates a control signal to the machine while the second controller generates a predicted parameter signal. During the first cycle, the comparator transmits a feedback signal to the second controller if a predetermined threshold is not met. A method for controlling a machine includes transmitting a control signal from a first controller to the machine and generating a predicted parameter value in a second controller. The method further includes transmitting a feedback signal to the second controller if a predetermined threshold is not met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Hartmut Scholte-Wassink
  • Patent number: 8057174
    Abstract: A control device is provided which is adapted for controlling at least one operational parameter of a wind turbine including a machine nacelle and a rotor having at least one rotor blade. The control device includes an input adapted for inputting a signal which is indicative of environmental data of the wind turbine, an evaluation unit adapted for generating at least one control signal on the basis of currently acquired environmental data and on the basis of previously acquired environmental data, and an output adapted to output the control signal adapted for adjusting the at least one operational parameter of the wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Hartmut Scholte-Wassink
  • Publication number: 20110268568
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a hydraulic pressure system for providing fluid pressure to actuate at least one hydraulic yaw motor for adjusting the yaw of a nacelle of a wind energy system independently of electrical power. The hydraulic pressure system includes a connection portion connectable to a main drive train of the wind energy system, the main drive train transmitting kinetic energy generated by wind energy. The hydraulic pressure system is adapted to be driven by the kinetic energy of the main drive train via the connection portion to provide the fluid pressure. The present disclosure further relates to a hydraulic yaw adjustment system for adjusting the yaw of a nacelle of a wind energy system independently of electrical power, the hydraulic yaw adjustment system including the hydraulic pressure system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventor: Hartmut SCHOLTE-WASSINK
  • Publication number: 20110268569
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine, the wind turbine including at least one movable portion which is movable during operation of the wind turbine and at least one movable portion device including at least one of a movable portion transmitter or a movable portion receiver, the movable portion transmitter or the movable portion receiver being disposed at the least one movable portion; the method including: at least one of sending to or receiving from at least three reference points at least one signal by at least one of the movable portion transmitter or movable portion receiver; and determining at least one operational parameter of the wind turbine depending on at least one characteristic of the at least one received signal. Further the present disclosure relates to a wind turbine arrangement and a system for controlling a wind turbine, comprising a controller of the wind turbine and a movable portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Friedrich LOH, Hartmut Scholte-Wassink, Till Hoffmann, Juergen Esser
  • Patent number: 8039982
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Hartmut Scholte-Wassink
  • Patent number: 8022566
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Friedrich Loh, Hartmut Scholte-Wassink
  • Patent number: 8022565
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hartmut Scholte-Wassink, Mark Edward Cardinal, Anthony Michael Klodowski, Till Hoffmann, Jignesh G. Gandhi, Sidney Allen Barker, Gert Torbohm, Christoph Schulten
  • Patent number: 8018082
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hartmut Scholte-Wassink, Andreas Kirchner, Enno Ubben