Wind Patents (Class 290/44)
  • Patent number: 10823148
    Abstract: A wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine comprises: a generator (162), one or more power converters (20) arranged between the generator and a point of connection to a main transformer (5), and one or more wind turbine electrical components (8, 9, 10). The main transformer (5) is configured to connect a busbar (60) to an auxiliary wind turbine transformer, wherein the busbar is configured to receive electrical power from an electrical grid with a main voltage. The wind turbine electrical components are configured to be connected to the auxiliary wind turbine transformer (6), wherein a selection of the wind turbine electrical components is further configured to be connected to the busbar through a service voltage transformer (7) when the main transformer (5) is disconnected from the busbar. Systems comprising such wind turbines are also provided. Methods for connecting a wind turbine main transformer to a grid are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Removables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Javier Cilla Garcia, Kevin Schoenleber, Sergi Rates Palau
  • Patent number: 10823147
    Abstract: A wind farm is presented. The wind farm includes a plurality of wind turbine stations, where each wind turbine station includes a wind turbine and a generator sub-system. The generator sub-system includes a doubly-fed induction generator configured to generate an alternating current voltage and a wind turbine station power converter. The wind farm further includes a power collection sub-system that includes a power bus and a sub-station power converter. The wind farm also includes a control system configured to determine a wind speed metric, estimate a corresponding frequency metric, calculate a desirable frequency based on the wind speed metric and frequency compensation ranges of the wind turbine station power converters, and generate and communicate control commands to the sub-station power converter based on the desirable frequency to allow the sub-station power converter to update a line frequency of a power bus voltage based on the desirable frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Govardhan Ganireddy, Rajib Datta
  • Patent number: 10823146
    Abstract: A method for monitoring and controlling a wind turbine to minimize rotor blade damage includes receiving sensor data from one or more sensors indicative of at least one blade parameter of the rotor blade over a predetermined time period. The method also includes trending the sensor data for the predetermined time period with respect to at least one wind parameter. Further, the method includes determining at least one characteristic of the trended sensor data. Moreover, the method includes comparing the at least one characteristic of the trended sensor data to an operating threshold. In addition, the method includes implementing a control action if the comparison of the at least one characteristic of the trended sensor data and the operating threshold indicates blade damage is occurring or is likely to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Clovis Dillon Vaughn, Robert Peter Slack, Michael James Rizzo
  • Patent number: 10823145
    Abstract: A method and a device for use in variable-pitch control of a wind turbine, in said method: if a current wind speed is continuously maintained at a small wind speed, then periodically detecting whether a maintained duration of a current pitch angle of a wind turbine reaches a preset duration; once the preset duration is reached, switching a current minimum pitch angle to another minimum pitch angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: Beijing Goldwind Science & Creation Windpower Equipment Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Jie Zhou, Hao Tang, Qingtian Wang
  • Patent number: 10819119
    Abstract: A method for wind power curtailment optimization comprises calculating the power flow for a power network for the day-ahead; calculating a contingency analysis for the power network for the day-ahead, comprising forecasted power generation, power consumption and topology of said power network, together with a set of contingency scenarios; calculating a sensitivity factor of a power flow for each power network branch to a power injection by each wind power plant, wherein the sensitivity factor is calculated only for the periods of time of the day-ahead for which overloaded branches have been detected during the solving of the power flow or during the solving of the contingency analysis; selecting a subset of the wind power plants having at least one sensitivity factor above a predetermined threshold as curtailment candidates; and calculating the wind power curtailment restricted to the selected subset of wind power plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: CENTRO DE INVESTIGAÇÃO EM ENERGIA REN-STATE GRID S.A
    Inventors: Francisco Alexandre Ganho Da Silva Reis, Rui Pinto Quádrio Alves, Caihao Liang, Xiang Zutao
  • Patent number: 10819262
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a power generation system including a double-fed induction generator, a power converter, and a controller. The double-fed induction generator includes a rotor and a stator coupled to a grid. The power converter includes a rotor side converter coupled to the rotor of the generator, a grid side converter coupled to the grid, and a DC bus coupled between the rotor side converter and the grid side converter. The controller includes a rotor side controller for controlling the rotor side converter and a grid side controller for controlling the grid side converter. The rotor side controller includes a compensator having a transfer function and configured to counter a negative resistance effect of the generator to suppress sub-synchronous oscillations. The present invention further discloses a system for suppressing sub-synchronous oscillations and a method for controlling operation of a power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yunjie Gu, Yuxiang Wang, Jiao Liu, Zhuohui Tan, David Smith, Wei Ren, Wuhua Li
  • Patent number: 10819269
    Abstract: A power generation and storage system is provided that supplies power to a power grid. The system includes a wind turbine, a doubly-fed induction generator coupled to the wind turbine, and one or more DC energy sources. A controller determines power requirements for the power grid and controls the operation of the wind turbine and the DC energy sources to meet the power requirements of the power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: INVENTUS HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Rachana Vidhi, Daniel M. Brake, Ryan K. McMorrow
  • Patent number: 10817789
    Abstract: Aspects of the subject technology relate to methods and systems for recommending an energy storage device. In some aspects, a method of the subject technology can include steps for aggregating consumption data for a customer, receiving energy production data for each of a plurality of energy production sources, and determining a utilization efficiency score for each of the plurality of energy storage devices based on the consumption data and the energy production data. In some aspects, methods of the subject technology can also include steps for ranking two or more of the energy storage devices based on the utilization efficiency. In some aspects, machine-readable media are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: OPower, Inc.
    Inventor: Barry Fischer
  • Patent number: 10815972
    Abstract: A method for assessing or validating wind turbine or wind farm performance produced by one or more upgrades is provided. Measurements of operating data from wind turbines in a wind farm are obtained. Baseline models of performance are generated, and each of the baseline models is developed from a different portion of the operating data. A generating step filters the wind turbines so that they are in a balanced randomized state. An optimal baseline model of performance is selected from the baseline models and the optimal baseline model includes direction. The optimal baseline model of performance and an actual performance of the wind farm or wind turbine is compared. The comparing step determines a difference between an optimal baseline model of power output and an actual power output of the wind farm/turbine. The difference is reflective of a change in the power output produced by the upgrades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Scott Charles Evans, Danian Zheng, Raul Munoz, Samuel Bryan Shartzer, Brian Allen Rittenhouse, Samuel Davoust, Alvaro Enrique Gil, Nurali Virani, Ricardo Zetina
  • Patent number: 10815966
    Abstract: A platform may obtain reference data that is indicative of an expected orientation of a wind turbine at one or more past times and use the reference data to determine the expected orientation of the wind turbine at each such times. In addition, the platform may obtain measurement data that is indicative of a measured orientation of the wind turbine at each of the one or more past times and use the measurement data to determine the measured orientation of the wind turbine at each such time. Thereafter, the platform may determine an orientation offset for the wind turbine based on a comparison between the expected and measured orientation of the wind turbine at each of the one or more past times and then cause the orientation offset to be applied to at least one nacelle orientation reported by the wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Uptake Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Burns, Benedict Augustine
  • Patent number: 10808680
    Abstract: A method for reducing loads of a wind turbine when a rotor blade of the wind turbine is stuck. The method includes continuously monitoring, via a controller, a loading effect of the stuck rotor blade of the wind turbine. The method also includes providing, via the controller, a predetermined schedule that relates the monitored loading effect of the stuck rotor blade of the wind turbine with a yaw angle for a nacelle of the wind turbine. In addition, the method includes yawing, via the controller, the nacelle of the wind turbine away from an incoming wind direction according to the predetermined schedule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Carlos Alberto Concha, Samuel David Draper
  • Patent number: 10804707
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling wind turbines providing reactive power are provided. In particular, a method for controlling a power system that includes a controller and one or more wind turbines electrically connected to a power grid through a point of interconnection can be provided. The method can include receiving signals from a sensor associated with the wind turbines. The method can also include determining wind turbines that are operating in low wind or no wind operating conditions based, at least in part, on the one or more of the sensor signals. The method can also include determining a reactive power capability of the wind turbines operating in low wind or no wind conditions and generating control signals based, at least in part, on the reactive power capability of the wind turbines. The method can also include controlling an operational state of the wind turbines based on the control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick Djan-Sampson, Alfredo Sebastian Achilles, Enno Ubben
  • Patent number: 10801472
    Abstract: A method of controlling a power value of an offshore wind energy system in which a power set point is provided. The power set point is a power factor set point and/or a reactive power set point. At least one instantaneous reactive power state factor of the offshore wind energy system is provided, and an active power correction value is determined as a function of the provided power set point and the provided instantaneous reactive power state factor. The active power of the offshore wind energy system is controlled as a function of the determined active power correction value in such a way that the provided power set point is at least complied with.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: innogy SE
    Inventors: Christian Feltes, Jörn Runge
  • Patent number: 10797511
    Abstract: An energy storage system includes a photovoltaic energy field, a stationary energy storage device, an energy converter, and a controller. The photovoltaic energy field converts solar energy into electrical energy and charges the stationary energy storage device with the electrical energy. The energy converter converts the electrical energy stored in the stationary energy storage device into AC power at a discharge rate and supplies a campus with the AC power at the discharge rate. The controller predicts a required load of the campus and an electrical generation of the photovoltaic energy field across a time horizon and optimizes a cost function subject to a set of constraints to determine a discharge rate of the AC power to achieve a desired power factor. At least one of the set of constraints applied to the cost function ensures that the energy converter can convert the electrical energy stored in the stationary energy storage device into AC power having the determined power factor and discharge rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Michael J. Wenzel, Kirk H. Drees, Camille M. Aucoin
  • Patent number: 10797627
    Abstract: A compressed air turbine DC power generator system, comprising: an aerodynamic turbine engine; a direct current generator (2) used for generating a direct current by using power output of the aerodynamic turbine engine as a driving input; and a control unit (3) used for controlling the rotating speed of the aerodynamic turbine engine to generate the power output and adjusting the output current and/or the output voltage of the direct current generator (2). The compressed air turbine DC power generator system is miniaturized and has high integration level, effectively overcomes the disadvantages such as low power density and great vibration noise of a power generation system with an internal combustion engine, and has a high industrial application value. The compressed air turbine DC power generator system can be used as an auxiliary power supply in the development process of an electric automobile, thereby effectively resolving the problem of range anxiety of a pure electric automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: SUZHOU DSM GREEN POWER LTD.
    Inventor: Walter Wu
  • Patent number: 10788014
    Abstract: A method for delivering controlling capacity to a regenerative power generating unit driven by a strongly fluctuating primary energy source includes routine determination of the actual uncertainty with which compliance with the target value for the controlling capacity ?PRL is achieved, in consideration of the fluctuating primary energy source, routine calculation of a dynamic security margin based upon the actual uncertainty, routine adjustment of the target value (Ptarget) on the basis of the requisite controlling capacity and the dynamic security margin. Statistical uncertainty is determined and the target value is then dynamically offset such that a corresponding buffer margin (security margin) is generated: large in the event of high uncertainty, low in the event of low uncertainty. Under consistent wind conditions, the security margin is significantly narrower, thus resulting in a larger target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: SENVION GmbH
    Inventor: Jens Geisler
  • Patent number: 10790668
    Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine system, and associated system, provides real and reactive power to a grid. The wind turbine system includes a generator with a power converter and an integrated reactive power compensation device. A total reactive power demand (Qcmd) is made on the wind turbine system at a first grid state, and is allocated to generator reactive power (Qg) and compensation device reactive power (Qmvb). A first reactive power droop scheme is determined that includes a reactive power droop value applied to one or both of the control loops for (Qg) and (Qmvb) at the first grid state. Upon detection of a grid fault, the first reactive power droop scheme is changed to a second reactive power droop scheme by changing the reactive power droop values applied to one or both of the (Qg) and (Qmvb) control loops during recovery from the grid fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kasi Viswanadha Raju Gadiraju, Olive Ray, Jayanti Navilgone Ganesh, Arvind Kumar Tiwari
  • Patent number: 10784689
    Abstract: An electrical power system includes a cluster of electrical power subsystems, each of the electrical power subsystems including a power converter electrically coupled to a generator having a generator rotor and a generator stator. Each of the electrical power subsystems defines a stator power path and a converter power path for providing power to the power grid. The converter power path includes a partial power transformer. The electrical power system further includes a subsystem breaker configured with each of the electrical power subsystems, and a cluster transformer for connecting each cluster of electrical power subsystems to the power grid. The electrical power system further includes a cluster power path extending between each subsystem breaker and the cluster transformer, and a distortion filter electrically coupled to the cluster transformer. The distortion filter reduces harmonics in current flowing from the electrical power subsystems to the cluster transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Govardhan Ganireddy, Saurabh Shukla, Rajni Burra, Robert Gregory Wagoner, Anthony Michael Klodowski, Yashomani Kolhatkar
  • Patent number: 10784686
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for control systems for improving stability of electrical grids by temporarily reducing voltage output of electrical generators responsive to transient events on an electrical grid. In one example of the disclosed technology, a controller is coupled is to an automatic voltage regulator, which in turn adjusts excitation current of an electrical generator responsive to changes in frequency detected for the electrical grid. Reducing the output voltage temporarily allows for smaller generators to provide power to the microgrid. Methods for selecting parameters determining how the controller generates a regulation signal used to adjust the excitation current are further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: Kevin P. Schneider, Francis K. Tuffner, Jacob Hansen, Yingying Tang, Nikitha Radhakrishnan, Priya Thekkumparambath Mana
  • Patent number: 10784685
    Abstract: An electrical power subsystem includes a generator comprising a generator stator and a generator rotor, and a power converter electrically coupled to the generator. The power converter includes a plurality of rotor-side converters electrically coupled in parallel, a line-side converter, and a regulated DC link electrically coupling the plurality of rotor-side converters and the line-side converter. The electrical power subsystem further includes a stator power path for providing power from the generator stator to the power grid, and a converter power path for providing power from the generator rotor through the power converter to the power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Govardhan Ganireddy, Saurabh Shukla, Sumeet Singh Thakur, Robert Gregory Wagoner, Anthony Michael Klodowski, Yashomani Kolhatkar
  • Patent number: 10784684
    Abstract: A distributed control node enables total harmonic control. The control node measures current drawn by a load, including harmonics of the primary current. A metering device can generate an energy signature unique to the load including recording a complex current vector for the load in operation identifying the primary current with a real power component and a reactive power component, and identifying the harmonics with a real power component, a reactive power component, and an angular displacement relative to the primary current. The control node can control a noise contribution of the load due to the harmonics as seen at a point of common coupling to reduce noise introduced onto the grid network from the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: XSLENT ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Stefan Matan, Fred C. Horton, Frank P. Marrone
  • Patent number: 10774749
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a fluid-based system are disclosed. The systems and methods may include a model processor for generating a model output, the model processor including a set state module for setting dynamic states, the dynamic states input to an open loop model based on the model operating mode, where the open loop model generates current state derivatives, solver state errors, and synthesized parameters as a function of the dynamic states and a model input vector. A constraint on the current state derivatives and solver state errors is based on mathematical abstractions of physical laws that govern behavior of a component of a cycle of a control device. The model processor may further include an estimate state module for determining an estimated state of the model based on at least one of a prior state, the current state derivatives, the solver state errors, and the synthesized parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: RAYTHEON TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Boris Karpman, Richard P. Meisner, Matthew Donald, Thomas E. Case
  • Patent number: 10774809
    Abstract: Controlling a power converters during over voltage condition. A wind turbine signal is monitored for detection of an over voltage of the grid and upon detection of the over voltage, an over-modulation mode is initiated wherein the grid side converter is operated with a modulation index being increased in an over-modulation range at least during a sub-period of the over-modulation mode, and upon the detection of the operational condition, a DC-voltage adjustment mode is initiated wherein the DC voltage of the DC link is decreased from a second voltage level towards a first voltage level at least during a sub-period of the DC-voltage adjustment mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Ciprian Biris, Kent Tange, Duy Duc Doan, Torsten Lund, Gert Karmisholt Andersen
  • Patent number: 10774808
    Abstract: A wind turbine comprises a permanent magnet synchronous generator, a main converter, a main converter controller, a wind turbine master controller and an electrical power supply stage comprising an electrical energy storing device. A startup of the wind turbine can be performed using electrical energy from the electrical energy storing device independent from a power supplying grid and/or a combustion engine. After startup, the wind turbine can be operated in an island mode by controlling an intermediate voltage of the main converter by the main converter controller and retrieving power from the synchronous generator independent from the electrical energy storing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: ADWEN GMBH
    Inventors: Patrick Achenbach, Wilhelm Janssen
  • Patent number: 10766369
    Abstract: A system for using the Earth's magnetic field to provide supplemental power to a machine having a motor, the system comprising: a computer; wires; and energy storing devices all in controlled electrical communication with each other; wherein the wires can collect electrical energy from the Earth's magnetic field while the machine is put in motion by a power source powering the motor; wherein the collected electrical energy is stored in the energy storing devices or used to power the motor; and wherein each wire from the wires is folded and placed radially in a cylinder, to extend across a diameter of the cylinder, to achieve a maximum length for each of the wires, a maximum total length of the plurality of wires, and such that at least a wire has a correct position relative to the Earth's magnetic field lines of flux at any given time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Inventors: Albert James Lovshin, Neal Rogers
  • Patent number: 10767628
    Abstract: The invention relates to control of a wind turbine comprising a plurality of multi-axial accelerometers mounted at different positions in the nacelle and/or in a top portion of the tower. The position and orientation of each accelerometer as mounted is obtained, accelerations in at least two different directions by each accelerometer are measured during operation of the wind turbine. From a number of predetermined mode shapes for the movement of the wind turbine is then determined an absolute position of at least one of the accelerometers during operation of the wind turbine based on the measured accelerations, the mount position and orientation of each accelerometer and the pre-determined mode shapes. Hereby a more precise absolute position during operation is obtained which can be used in the controlling of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Tobias Gybel Hovgaard, Johnny Nielsen, Peter Fogh Odgaard
  • Patent number: 10767627
    Abstract: Method for control of the torque performance of an electric pitch motor (1). A control system (2) comprises a first unit (3) controlling the pitch angle of the rotor blade, a second unit (7) which compares a reference speed Sr with an actual speed Sa of the motor (1) rotational speed. The second unit (7) controls the motor (1) rotational speed, a third unit (10) which regulates the motor (1). The control system (2) comprises a first overload device (13) and a second overload device (14). The second overload device (14) receives an error-speed signal Se, which is the difference between Sr and Sa recorded by the second unit (7). The second overload unit (14) compares See with a maximum allowable speed value, Smax, and the second overload device (14) sends a signal to the motor (1) for the regulation of the torque performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: DEIF A/S
    Inventors: Jesper Thomsen, Christian Nielsen, Torben Rønnow, Jacob Danielsen
  • Patent number: 10767626
    Abstract: The present application discloses a computer program product, a method and an apparatus for yaw control of wind turbine generator system. The method for yaw control of wind turbine generator system includes: obtaining a real-time parameter of wind condition according to a predetermined length of time; performing vector analysis of the obtained parameter of wind condition to obtain a direction angle of prime wind energy; controlling yaw of the wind turbine generator system according to the direction angle of the prime wind energy. The employment of the computer program product, the method and apparatus for yaw control of wind turbine generator system provides relatively accurate data to the wind turbine generator system, improves the accuracy of the yaw of the generator system, thereby increasing the utilization rate of the wind energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: BEIJING GOLDWIND SCIENCE & CREATION WINDPOWER EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yongqiang Jiang, Zhiqiang Qiao
  • Patent number: 10767633
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and wind turbine for determining a dynamic twist of one or more blades. One or more first signals are received from a first wireless sensor attached to a blade of a wind turbine and a first angle is determined based on the received first signals. One or more second signals are received from a second wireless sensor attached to a blade of a wind turbine and spaced apart from the first wireless sensor by a predetermined distance. A second angle is determined based on the received second signals. A dynamic twist of the blade is determined based on the determined first angle, the determined second angle and the predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventor: Srikanth Narayanan
  • Patent number: 10761242
    Abstract: A weather forecasting system has weather forecasting logic that receives weather data from a satellite or other source, such as radar. The weather forecasting logic processes such data to identify cumulus clouds. For each cumulus cloud identified, the weather forecasting logic applies interest field tests and feeds the results into formulas derived based on measurements from current and past weather events. The model determines a score indicating the likelihood of the cumulus cloud forming precipitation and a score indicating the likelihood of the cumulus cloud forming lightning in the future within a certain time period. Based on such scores, the weather forecasting logic predicts in which geographic regions the identified cumulus cloud will produce precipitation and/or lightning during the time period. The predictions of the weather forecasting logic may then be used to provide a weather map thereby providing users with a graphical illustration of the areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: Board of Trustees of the Unviersity of Alabama, for and on behalf of the University of Alabama in Huntsville
    Inventor: John R. Mecikalski
  • Patent number: 10760551
    Abstract: A method and device for monitoring a fault of a wind power generator set. The method includes the following steps: performing (101) fault identification on a component in a wind power generator set; and presenting (102) an identified fault using a three-dimensional model of the component. The device includes corresponding identifying module (61) and presenting module (62). By using the method and device, the fault monitor can intuitively observe the fault existed in the component, which not only is beneficial for taking effective fault processing measures before a minor fault evolves into a serious fault and thus reduces the harm of the fault, but also reduces the experience requirements for the fault monitor and avoids the process that the fault monitor in the prior art analyzes a two-dimensional curve to identify whether there is a fault in the component according to his experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: BEIJING GOLDWIND SCIENCE & CREATION WINDPOWER EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhiqiang Qiao, Xinan Tang, Kang Li
  • Patent number: 10760548
    Abstract: Methods for calculating a maximum safe over-rated power demand for a wind turbine operating in non-standard conditions include the steps of determining a value indicative of a risk of exceeding an ultimate design load during operation in a standard operating condition, and establishing a maximum over-rated power demand corresponding to a maximum power that the turbine may produce under the non-standard operating condition without incurring an increased risk of exceeding the ultimate design load, with respect to operation in the standard condition. A method of over-rating a wind turbine, a wind turbine controller, a wind turbine and a wind power plant are also claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventor: Chris Spruce
  • Patent number: 10756658
    Abstract: Systems and methods for allocating reactive power production in a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) wind turbine system including a DFIG and a power converter including a line side converter and a rotor side converter are provided. A method can include obtaining a reactive power production requirement, obtaining one or more operating parameters for the DFIG and the line side converter, and determining a priority ratio based at least in part on the one or more operating parameters. The priority ratio can be a ratio of reactive power production between the DFIG and the line side converter. The method can further include controlling the DFIG and the line side converter based at least in part on the reactive power production requirement and the priority ratio such that the combined reactive power production from the DFIG and the line side converter meet the reactive power production requirement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Gregory Wagoner, Talha Haque, Edward Wayne Hardwicke, Jr., David Scott Wilmer
  • Patent number: 10749343
    Abstract: A method which is suitable for a system having a frequency converter and a generator, both of which are connected to a power grid, includes obtaining sub-synchronous components of the grid voltage and determining damping current set points according to the sub-synchronous components to compensate for sub-synchronous resonances of the grid. Damping current set points are determined by receiving the sub-synchronous components of the grid voltage and returning damping current set points as outputs. A variable damping gain is adjusted according to the sub-synchronous frequency of the grid, such that the required compensation level can be adapted to the frequency converter for damping sub-synchronous resonance of the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: INGETEAM POWER TECHNOLOGY, S.A.
    Inventors: Beatriz Gil Lizarbe, Carlos Girones Remirez, Eduardo Sanz Ceballos
  • Patent number: 10749347
    Abstract: A direct current power system. The direct current power system includes a direct current bus system, a solar power system, an energy storage system, a wind power system, a rectifier system and an inverter system. The solar power system includes a plurality of solar panels, is electrically coupled to the energy storage system and is configured to supply a first direct current power at 48 volts. The energy storage system includes a plurality of battery stacks and is configured to supply a second direct current power at 380 volts to the direct current bus system. The wind power system includes at least one wind turbine assembly and is configured to supply a third direct current power at 380 volts to the direct current bus system. The rectifier system is configured to supply a fourth direct current power at 380 volts to the direct current bus system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: Pitt-Ohio Express LLC
    Inventors: James A. Maug, James P. Fields
  • Patent number: 10742149
    Abstract: A method and associated system for operating a power generation system to provide real and reactive power to a load includes, with a power converter having switching elements, receiving power from a generator and generating the reactive power within an operating range of generator rotor speed. As the generator rotor speed changes and approaches synchronous speed, a control command is generated to decrease a switching frequency of the switching elements in the power converter from a first switching frequency to a second switching frequency, wherein the reactive power output of the power converter is maintained or increased at the second switching frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kasi Viswanadha Raju Gadiraju, Olive Ray, Kapil Jha, Yashomani Yashodhan Kolhatkar
  • Patent number: 10742148
    Abstract: An electric rotating machine having a stator and a rotor, wherein the rotor is provided with rotor windings connected to electric contacts to carry a field current. A control device is provided to adjust the field current carried by the rotor windings. At least one sensor is provided to give information about the temperature at the location of the at least one sensor. The at least one sensor is located on or embedded in the rotor windings, and the at least one sensor is connected to the control device such that the control device is able to read the information given by the at least one sensor. The control device is further arranged to adjust the field current carried by the rotor windings and/or power output or power input of the electric rotating machine based on the information given by the at least one sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: INNIO JENBACHER GMBH & CO OG
    Inventors: Tobias Siegfried Bathon, Freddy Eduardo Alcazar Barrientos, Logeswaran Partheeban
  • Patent number: 10740507
    Abstract: Systems and methods for planning a wind farm are provided. One example aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method for planning a wind farm. The method includes determining, by one or more processors, a load for a plurality of wind conditions for a plurality of circumferential sections for a tower of a wind turbine. The method includes accessing, by the one or more processors, a model that predicts wind conditions over a time period. The method includes determining, by the one or more processors, a load sustainment parameter for the plurality of circumferential sections for the predicted wind conditions over the time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vikas Saxena, Prashanth Kumar Reddy Vaddi, Pranav Soni, Giridhar Nagraj Ron, Mohan Muthu Kumar Sivanantham, Ingo Paura
  • Patent number: 10742040
    Abstract: A system for determining (a) forecast error and/or (b) scaling error for wind power generation is provided, the system utilizing generated and forecast time series for power generation derived from wind and analyzing temporal correlations in the wind fluctuations to quantify: (a) the forecast error defined by deviations between the high frequency components of the forecast and generated time series, and (b) a scaling error defined by a degree that temporal correlations fail to be predicted for an accurate predictor of wind fluctuations. Wind fluctuations may exhibit multi-fractal behavior at the turbine level and/or may be rectified to a fractal structure at the grid level. A memory kernel may be used to reduce the forecast and scaling errors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Assignee: Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology School Corporation
    Inventor: Mahesh M. Bandi
  • Patent number: 10731632
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a control of a wind turbine in connection with power boosting or fast increase of active power production. A boost command is received (63) and based on the current operational state and the boost level a predicted control trajectory is calculated using a model predictive control (MPC) routine (64). The wind turbine is controlled using the calculated control trajectory during the power boost (65).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Tobias Gybel Hovgaard, Peter Fogh Odgaard
  • Patent number: 10731631
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a wind power generation system, which comprises a wind turbine for generating mechanical energy; a generator for converting the mechanical energy into electrical energy; a converter for converting the electrical energy to expected power for supplying to a grid, wherein a rotor of the generator is connected to converter, an output of a stator of the generator and an output of a converter are both connected to the grid; a controller for controlling the converter to absorb rotor-side reactive power Qrotor and to increase line-side reactive power Qline, so as to meet a reactive power demand of the grid, when a rotor speed is less than a predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Zhuohui Tan, Yang Liu, Wenguang Pan
  • Patent number: 10731633
    Abstract: Power generation stabilization control systems and methods include monitoring a frequency of the power grid. In response to detecting a frequency event occurring in the power grid, the method includes activating a control scheme in order to meet one or more grid requirements of the power grid. The control scheme includes increasing a power output of the wind turbine to, at least, a pre-event measured grid power. Further, the control scheme includes calculating a power correction factor for a power set point as a function of, at least, the frequency event. Moreover, the control scheme includes adjusting the power set point via the power correction factor such that the power output follows a predetermined trajectory. In addition, the control scheme includes controlling, via a turbine controller, the wind turbine based on the adjusted power set point for as long as the control scheme is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahesh Ayiranazhi Cailakam, Alfredo Sebastian Achilles, Jignesh Govindlal Gandhi, Arne Koerber
  • Patent number: 10731629
    Abstract: The present invention relates a power plant controller (PPC), the power plant controller to control produced power from a wind power plant (WPP), the wind power plant comprises at least a plurality of wind turbine generators, the wind power plant being connected to an electrical grid, wherein the power plant controller, in the event of receiving a signal indicative of a predefined event in the wind power plant, is capable of controlling the wind power plant so that the produced power, from the wind power plant to the electric grid, is a negative amount of active power. The invention also relates to a method for controlling a wind power plant connected to an electrical grid, the wind power plant comprises a plurality of wind turbine generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Jorge Martinez Garcia, Kouroush Nayebi, Rubin Panni
  • Patent number: 10724501
    Abstract: Methods of operating a set of wind turbines for providing a total power demand to a grid according to a grid requirement are provided. A first group of wind turbines is configured to generate an individual active power based on an individual set-point. First individual set-points are generated for the first group such that the set of wind turbines generates the total active power. If a selection of the first group of wind turbines is operating within an individual exclusion range, the operation of the se wind turbines is limited to a maximum period. When the maximum period is reached, second individual set-points are generated to cause these wind turbines to operate outside exclusion range, and third individual set-points are generated for one or more other wind turbines to cause the set of wind turbines to generate the total active power. Systems suitable for such methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2020
    Assignee: GE Renewable Technologies Wind B.V.
    Inventor: Piera Jordi Carulla
  • Patent number: 10711767
    Abstract: A method for the maintenance of a first wind energy installation from a group of wind energy installations. In the method, a future maintenance time period is identified in which a boost power of the group of wind energy installations is greater than a prescribed threshold value, wherein the boost power results from a wind speed predicted for the future maintenance time period, said wind speed being greater than a rated wind speed. The power of the first wind energy installation is reduced after the start of the maintenance time period and a boost power is drawn from a plurality of wind energy installations from the group of wind energy installations. A maintenance process is carried out at the first wind energy installation. The invention furthermore relates to a control unit suitable for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Senvion GmbH
    Inventors: Jan Lütjen, Dennis Thiessen
  • Patent number: 10711765
    Abstract: A method is provided for controlling a wind turbine that has a generator that is controlled via a converter in a boost operation, in which an electrical power that is fed into an electrical transmission network is increased via a generative deceleration of the generator. The method comprises using a control to determining a set point value for a generator torque depending on an actual value of a rotational speed. The determined set point value for the generator torque is applied to a generator via a limiter with a predefinable upper and lower limit. Determining the set point value for the generator torque in boost operation that leads to an increased fed-in electrical power in response to a boost signal; and limiting a temporal change of the set point value for the generator torque in a recovery operation in response to a recovery signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: Nordex Christian
    Inventors: Simon De Rijcke, Niels Hamann, Christian Wessels
  • Patent number: 10711768
    Abstract: A tower bottom cooling device for a wind turbine includes a tower and a heat sink configured to cool a heat generating component arranged at a bottom of the tower; a main air duct is provided inside the tower, and the heat sink is disposed inside the main air duct; a first fan is arranged in the main air duct, and is configured to drive air in the main air duct to flow to cool the heat sink; and the main air duct and an external environment of the tower together form an open cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: JIANGSU GOLDWIND SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventors: Lizhou Wu, Dazhi Pan, Mingyang Xu, Ye Li
  • Patent number: 10707791
    Abstract: An electrical generator (114) and a power electronics interface (115) for a direct-drive turbine (110). The turbine (110) may include a rotor (112) for transforming kinetic (from, e.g., wind, water, steam) into mechanical energy, the generator (114) for transforming the mechanical into electrical energy, and the power electronics interface (115) for conditioning the electrical energy for delivery to a power distribution grid (124). The interface (115) includes a three-phase single-stage boost inverter (120) for converting a lower DC voltage into a higher AC voltage, and which uses a synchronous reactance of the generator (114) as a DC-link inductance. The turbine (110) has neither the gearbox of indirect-drive designs nor the electrolytic capacitor bank of conventional direct-drive designs, while still allowing for a substantially smaller number of generator poles, resulting in reduced size, weight, complexity, and cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Kansas State University Research Foundation
    Inventor: Behrooz Mirafzal
  • Patent number: 10707684
    Abstract: A method for feeding electrical power at a network connection point into an electrical supply network by at least one wind power installation includes generating electrical power from wind, feeding the generated electrical power or a portion thereof into the electrical supply network, offering an instantaneous reserve for additionally feeding or reducing the feeding into the electrical supply network in order to support the electrical supply network, and additionally feeding electrical power or reducing the fed-in power up to the offered instantaneous reserve, depending on a network property and/or an external requirement. The method is operative to support the electrical supply network. A reserve level of the offered instantaneous reserve is settable as an offer level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: Wobben Properies GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Brombach
  • Patent number: 10707789
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a power converter in a wind turbine system are provided. The wind turbine system can include a generator and a power converter. The power converter can include a plurality of switching devices and a current damping module. A method can include determining, by a control device, a flux magnitude of an air-gap between a rotor and a stator in the generator. The method can further include determining, by the control device, an orientation adjustment reference signal for the current damping module based at least in part on the flux magnitude. The method can further include controlling, by the control device, the power converter based at least in part on the orientation adjustment reference signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wei Ren, Einar Vaughn Larsen