Wind Patents (Class 290/55)
  • Patent number: 10369874
    Abstract: Provided is an articulated bus including a front vehicle including a steering wheel and a rear wheel positioned on a rear side of the steering wheel in a front-rear direction of a vehicle, a rear vehicle disposed on a rear side of the front vehicle in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and mounted with an engine, an articulating portion that swingably connects the front vehicle and the rear vehicle to each other, and a hybrid system including an electric generator that functions as an electric motor and a generator, and an HV battery that stores electric energy generated by the electric generator and supplies electric energy to the electric generator, in which the HV battery is disposed on a roof of the front vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Assignee: Hino Motors, Ltd.
    Inventor: Atsushi Oko
  • Patent number: 10364794
    Abstract: A wheel-hub driven wind turbine apparatus is disclosed. One embodiment of the apparatus may include a body and at least one vertical-axis wind turbine blade mounted on the body to translate wind forces exerting on the at least one vertical-axis wind turbine blade to the body, causing the body to move. The apparatus may also include at least one wheel-hub attached to the body and configured to rotate when driven by the movement of the body. The apparatus may also include at least one generator coupled to the at least one wheel-hub to generate electrical power when driven by the rotation of the at least one wheel-hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: Yueli Electric (Jiangsu) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hangxian Liu, Yu Gong
  • Patent number: 10364793
    Abstract: An improved access to the bearing of a wind turbine rotor blade is provided. A rotor of a wind turbine, includes a rotor blade and a hub, whereby the rotor blade includes a root end and the root end is attached to a rotor blade bearing, and the rotor blade bearing is attached to the hub. The rotor blade includes a root section 6, adjacent to the root end, including the outer surface of the rotor blade. The root section of the rotor blade is covered by a housing. The housing includes a wall section that leads at least partially circumferentially around the root section of the rotor blade. The housing includes a cover section to at least partially close the gap between the wall section of the housing and the rotor blade. The housing defines an aisle that leads circumferentially around the root section of the rotor blade to provide access to the blade bearing and to allow a worker to perform service work at the blade bearing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S
    Inventors: Henning Ebbesen, Torben Lauritsen
  • Patent number: 10359028
    Abstract: A wind power generator system includes: a generator including a generator cavity; a separation device configured to perform multi-phase flow separation on an upwind direction flow and including an air inlet configured to introduce the upwind direction flow and an air outlet in communication with the generator cavity; and an exhaust fan in communication with the generator cavity and configured to exhaust hot air flow in the generator cavity. A fluid transfer device includes: a power equipment including an overheated cavity; a separation device configured to perform multi-phase flow separation on an upwind direction flow and including an air inlet and an air outlet; and an exhaust fan. With the wind power generator system and the fluid transfer device, the overheated cavity can be cooled by using air in the natural environment and the overheated cavity is prevented from being damaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: XINJIANG GOLDWIND SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shengjun Ma, Wanshun Ma
  • Patent number: 10359025
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for shutting down a wind power facility, said wind power facility comprising a power generator, a power converter comprising generator side and grid side converters being separated by an intermediate DC circuit, and power dissipation or power storage means being operatively connected to the intermediate DC circuit, the method comprising the steps of determining that the wind power facility needs to be shut down, and operating the generator side converter in accordance with a load time curve during shutdown of the wind power facility in order to avoid overloading of selected generator side converter components and the power dissipation or power storage means. Moreover, the present invention relates to a wind power facility for performing this method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Duy Duc Doan, John Godsk Nielsen, Per Bisgaard
  • Patent number: 10352305
    Abstract: A method and system for removing or installing a main shaft and attached main bearing assembly of a wind turbine from a bedplate installed atop a wind turbine tower using an assist motive system configured at a downwind end of the main shaft to push or pull the main shaft out of or into the bedplate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Darrick Adam Vanderwalker, Gregory Clarence Thomas, Jawan Qadir
  • Patent number: 10352303
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for wind power generation. In one aspect, a wind power generator includes a support base; inductors positioned over the support base in a circular array; an annulus ring track fixed to the base support and providing a circular track around which the inductors are located; an annulus ring rotor placed on the annulus ring track and engaged to rollers in the circular track so that the annulus ring rotor can rotate relative to the an annulus ring track, in which the annulus ring rotor include separate magnets to move through the circular array of inductors to cause generation of electric currents; and a wind rotor assembly coupled to the annulus ring rotor and including wind-deflecting blades that rotate with the rotor and a hollow central interior for containing a wind vortex formed from deflecting wind by the blades to convert into the electric energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Assignee: EIP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Steve Burkle
  • Patent number: 10340695
    Abstract: Systems and methods for black-starting a power system using a battery energy storage system can be provided. In one example implementation, a method includes obtaining, by the one or more controllers, a signal requesting a black-start of the power system using the battery energy storage system. The method further includes increasing, by one or more controllers, a system bus voltage to a nominal voltage level using the battery energy storage system for a start period according to a start ramp. The method further includes maintaining, by one or more controllers, the system bus voltage at about the nominal voltage level using the battery energy storage system during a normal period following the start period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Wei Ren
  • Patent number: 10337503
    Abstract: A method and system are provided for removing or installing a main shaft and attached main bearing assembly of a wind turbine from a bedplate. The method and system use rigging and specialized tooling and procedures to perform the method in the field with the machine head remaining atop the tower or removed from the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Darrick Adam Vanderwalker, Jonathan Paul Signore, Gregory Clarence Thomas, Rodney Robert Redd, II, Kevin Tyler Eherts, Hunter Ryan Anderson
  • Patent number: 10337486
    Abstract: A generator device for generating an induced electrical power from the movement of a fluid stream. The generator device can include a circumferential casing that houses a stator, a power storage system and a power management system that receives the induced electrical power, and a propeller-rotor assembly located in the central opening of the casing and rotatably coupled to the casing. The propeller-rotor assembly has two or more propeller blades with distal ends opposite the axis of the propeller-rotor assembly to which magnets are attached. The device can also have a tether assembly for anchoring the generator device in a moving fluid stream and positioning the generator device so that the movement of fluid stream through the generator device causes the propeller-rotor assembly to rotate and, thereby, through interaction with the stator, to generate the induced electrical power. The generator device can be portable and easily deployed by a single user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Inventors: William Jasper White, Hunter Daniels Hartshorne
  • Patent number: 10340693
    Abstract: Systems and methods for continuously generating electric power using a renewable energy power source to continuously generate electrical energy are disclosed. An illustrative embodiment includes transmitting electrical power from the renewable energy power source to an electrolyzer to produce hydrogen gas, storing the hydrogen gas in a storage facility until production of power from the renewable energy power source drops below a predetermined threshold, and activating a secondary power generation system that converts the stored hydrogen to electrical energy. The stored hydrogen may be converted to electrical energy using a gas turbine generator or a fuel cell. The system further includes a reverse osmosis subsystem for purifying water for use in the electrolyzer and optional systems for providing the purified water to a community and for using the produced electricity to treat waste water to generate treated water that may be purified and supplied to the electrolyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Inventors: Lawrence D. Lansing, Jr., Lawrence D. Lansing
  • Patent number: 10330083
    Abstract: A wind turbine is having at least one rotor blade, a blade heating system for heating at least a portion of the at least one rotor blade, at least one temperature sensor for sensing the external temperature in the region, or in the environment, of the wind turbine, at least one air humidity sensor for sensing the air humidity in the region, or in the environment, of the wind turbine, and a control unit for activating the blade heating system if the temperature falls below a temperature limit value and if an air humidity limit value is exceeded, the temperature limit value being +5° C. and the air humidity limit value being 70%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: WOBBEN PROPERTIES GMBH
    Inventor: Christoph Hilling
  • Patent number: 10333377
    Abstract: A hybrid self-generation apparatus includes a vibration source based generation part installed in a mechanical apparatus and converting vibration energy generated during operation or movement of the mechanical apparatus into first electric energy; a wind power source based generation part installed in the mechanical apparatus and converting kinetic energy of air generated in periphery of the mechanical apparatus during operation or movement of the mechanical apparatus into second electric energy; and a power storage part storing the first electric energy and the second electric energy. Also, the wind power source based generation part includes at least one air controller, and the wind power source based generation part automatically operates or stops power generation according to a movement speed of the mechanical apparatus in accordance with operation of the at least one air controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: ELECTRONICS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS RESEARCH INSTITUTE
    Inventors: Young Il Kim, Byeong Cheol Choi, Hyo Chan Bang, Geon Min Yeo, Sun Hwa Lim, Dae Geun Park, Soon Yong Song
  • Patent number: 10323543
    Abstract: A thermal energy storage system includes one or more components from a Rankine Cycle power plant such as steam turbine and other equipment. The system can include a thermal storage material, a heat source that is heated by running electricity through a heating element for heating the thermal storage material, and a heat exchange for generating steam using the thermal energy stored in the thermal storage material. The system can be configured to store energy during periods of low electricity demand or abundant supply. The system can be configured to generate electricity using the stored thermal energy to generate steam and run one or more turbines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignee: Third Power, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew I. Rosenfeld, Bikram Chatterji
  • Patent number: 10316820
    Abstract: A wind turbine system to provide electrical power in areas not connected to the electrical power grid. The wind turbine system includes a frame and a rotatable shaft supported by the frame. A ring and idler gear assembly is coupled to the rotatable shaft. An upper rotor assembly is coupled to the rotatable shaft. The upper rotor assembly is configured to rotate in a first direction and thereby to rotate the rotatable shaft in a first direction. A lower rotor assembly is coupled to the ring and idler gear assembly. The lower rotor assembly is configured to rotate in a second direction which is opposite of the first direction and thereby to rotate the rotatable shaft in the first direction via the ring and idler gear assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Inventor: Robert R. West
  • Patent number: 10316481
    Abstract: Described is an infrastructure for recovering and storing energy received from wave motion of lakes or sea water basins, comprising a floating or fixed quay, jetty or pier (10) substantially consisting of a platform (11) in the lower part of which are fixed walls (12, 13, 14) equipped with openings (17) for the passage of the wave motion towards inner chambers (15, 16), wherein the inner chambers comprise units for recovering the energy from the wave motion, comprising floats (18) connected by kinematic means (19, 20) to at least one transmission shaft (22) in turn associated with a unit (24) which transforms the mechanical energy into directly usable or storable electricity, the kinematic means (19, 20) being capable of converting the sussultatory motion of the floats (18) into rotary motion of the shaft (22) allowing the recovery of electricity from the relative transformation unit (24).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2019
    Inventors: Davide Lorenzi, Lorenzo Luminari
  • Patent number: 10309375
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind energy plant with a nacelle, a generator located in the nacelle, a tower and a yaw bearing to adjust the nacelle orientation into the wind, such that the yaw bearing is located under the nacelle in a vertical yaw displacement and the nacelle is supported on the yaw bearing above a vertical shaft section of the same length as the yaw displacement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventors: Jochen Röer, Alexander Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 10294920
    Abstract: A method for operating a turbine having a rotor including a hub and at least one blade rotatably arranged around its longitudinal axis at the hub, an induction generator having a stator and rotor coupled to the turbine shaft, a pitch drive system having an actuator, a control system, and a measuring device. The method includes: measuring the operational value of a component of the pitch drive system and adjusting the angle to the target pitch angle, wherein the wind turbine is operated according to at least two operational modes. During a first mode, a first target pitch angle is determined at least according to a power curve of the wind turbine or measured wind speed. During a second mode, a second target pitch angle is determined by adding a pitch offset to the first target pitch and is activated when the measured operational value exceeds a predefined activation threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Werner Gerhard Barton, Hartmut Scholte-Wassink, Christoph Wolters
  • Patent number: 10273938
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control system for a wind turbine. The wind turbine comprises a power generator configured to generate power dependent on a power request. The control system comprises a ramp rate limiter configured to restrict a rate of change of the power request according to a rate of change limit and configured to determine the rate of change limit dependent on a power difference between the power request and an estimated available wind power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Martin Ansbjerg Kjær, Jesper Sandberg Thomsen, Jacob Krogh Kristoffersen, Jacob Deleuran Grunnet
  • Patent number: 10273933
    Abstract: A wind turbine blade root having: an annular structure extending about a main axis and made of a composite material including a matrix and reinforcing fibers; first longitudinal reinforcing elements, which are incorporated in the annular structure, extend in the direction of the main axis, and are spaced apart in a circle about the main axis; and an annular reinforcing element connecting the first longitudinal reinforcing elements and having first coupling portions for connection to the first longitudinal reinforcing elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: WINDFIN B.V.
    Inventor: Amedeo Sabbadin
  • Patent number: 10233904
    Abstract: This invention is a wind turbine support assembly comprising that can include an anchored buoy connected to a main anchor line; a docking line attached to the floatable support and the anchored buoy for securing the floatable support to the anchored buoy; a trolley removably and slidably attached to the main anchor line; a secondary anchor line attached to the trolley and a secondary anchor; and, a drop line removably attached to the secondary anchor configured to lower the secondary anchor in proximity to the main anchor so that the trolley, secondary anchor line, and secondary anchor is configured to provide an anchor support structure for the main anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Inventor: Gerald L. Barber
  • Patent number: 10236687
    Abstract: In a full-scale converter system both the grid-side inverter unit and the generator-side inverter unit have a series convection of parallel inverters and form a generator-side and grid-side voltage-center-point at a voltage level between those of the inverters connected in series. The voltage-center-points are electrically connected by a center-line conductor that has a cross-section between 30% and 70% of that of a positive or negative potential conductor. The converter system continues conversion operation in the event of a fault in an inverter of a first converter-string, with non-faulty inverters of the converter system, as the center-line conductor is dimensioned by said cross-section to carry a compensation current resulting from an unbalanced active power-output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: John Godsk Nielsen, Søren Andersen, Lars Helle, Duy Duc Doan
  • Patent number: 10236810
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a split wind-turbine-converter system with at least one generator-side converter and at least one grid-side converter arranged at distant locations, and a DC-link in the form of an elongated conductor arrangement with at least one positive and at least one negative conductor. The impedance of the DC-link conductor arrangement is determined by means of DC-voltage sensors. The voltages between the positive and the negative conductors are determined at the generator-side converter and at the grid-side converter, and the difference between the voltages is determined. The impedance of the DC-link conductor arrangement is determined by putting the determined voltage difference in relation to the DC current flowing through the DC-link conductor arrangement. If the impedance exceeds a given impedance threshold a fault state is recognized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Søren Andersen, John Godsk Nielsen, Duy Duc Doan
  • Patent number: 10190602
    Abstract: A cooling fan includes a frame base including a frame wall, a bottom plate and a cover plate for enclosing and defining a containing space. The vane wheel is installed in the containing space and provided for producing a cooling forced airflow when the vane wheel is in a forward rotation status and forming a strong wind area, and producing a dust discharging forced airflow when the vane wheel is in a reverse rotation status. The moving baffle module is rotably installed in the strong wind area, and the frame base includes a dust discharging opening configured to be corresponsive to the periphery of the strong wind area, and the dust discharging forced airflow is affected by the moving baffle module to discharge dust from the dust discharging opening to the outside.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Han-Tsung Hsin, Shih-Hao Feng
  • Patent number: 10190436
    Abstract: A power transmission system for use with a turbine, a turbocharger, or a compressor has a housing, a first shaft mounted within the housing, a second shaft rotatably mounted within the housing and positioned exterior of the first shaft, a second set of blades affixed to the first shaft, and a second set of blades affixed to the second shaft. The first set of blades is positioned adjacent to the second set of blades. The first set of blades are rotatable in a direction opposite to the second shaft and the second set of blades. A shroud is affixed to an outer periphery of one of the sets of blades so as to have a portion overlying at least a portion of an outer periphery of the other of the first and second sets of blades. A power receiver is driven by the second shaft so as to convert rotational energy of the second shaft into energy or motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Inventor: Jay Haskin
  • Patent number: 10184455
    Abstract: Horizontal axis W/T of low wind speeds of propeller type, bearing a main rotor of three blades (1), while in the space between two successive blades (1) and diametrically opposite to the third, an additional 4th blade (2) also of propeller type but of significantly longer length, is interposed. This additional blade (2) is not permanently coupled but selectively engaged in the system of the W/T at low wind speeds, contributing to the startup and enhancing the energy production. The blade (2) bears diametrically opposite a counterweight (15) to balance the forces developed, and rotates in a plane parallel to the main rotor. The coupling of the blade (2) is preferably made at the stand-by state or at low wind speed operation of the W/T, while the uncoupling will be performed during operating state and at the rated power. The blade (2) after uncoupling, gets in vertical position and remains immobilized attached to the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Inventors: Emmanuil Dermitzakis, Aristeidis Dermitzakis
  • Patent number: 10184449
    Abstract: A wind turbine of a VAWT type (Vertical Axis Wind Turbine) having axis of rotation substantially perpendicular to the wind direction, with Flettner rotors (7) having axes substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the turbine, said Flettner rotors (7) arranged in a rotary body of the turbine, the turbine having an inner cylinder (6) situated between the Flettner rotors (7), said inner cylinder (6) rotating in the direction opposite to the direction of rotation of said rotary body and Flettner rotors (7). The cylinder (6) is situated at a distance from the rotors (7) such that its rotary motion causes an increase of a pressure difference on sides of the rotors (7), resulting from the Magnus effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: HOUSE OF INVENTORS SP. ZO.O.
    Inventor: Jerzy Boleslaw Wasilewski
  • Patent number: 10180162
    Abstract: A rolling-element bearing includes a first ring having two raceways and at least one second ring having two raceways and rolling elements between the rings, and a ring raceway width is defined as an axial distance between the axially outer ends of the first ring raceways. A radially extending integral mounting flange extends from the first ring at a location between first and second sides of the first ring, and the flange has an axial abutment surface. A first shoulder extends from the first side toward the axial abutment surface. The first axial abutment surface is located an axial distance from the first side of the first ring, the axial distance being 10% to 50% of the ring raceway width, and a ratio of an outer diameter of the mounting flange to the width of the first ring raceways is from 5 to 25.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET SKF
    Inventors: Peter Scheibner, Jonas Kristensen, Mats Persson, Jesko-Henning Tanke
  • Patent number: 10167846
    Abstract: An eduction industrial power system is provided. The system includes one or more vertical-axis wind turbine power plants. Wind is accelerated through a multi-floor eductor of the power plant. Each floor of the eductor is configured with a constricted portion designed to increase the air speed through the eductor, such that low speed winds enter the eductor and much higher speed winds exit it. A plurality of rotor-blade assemblies disposed in the constricted portion of each floor of the multi-floor eductor are mounted to, and rotate, a shared vertical-axis rotor shaft to generate electricity, via a generator. The electricity generated can be stored, used or channeled to an electrical grid, as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: US Wind Technology LLC
    Inventor: Manucher Azmudeh
  • Patent number: 10145362
    Abstract: A method of handling a direct drive generator of a wind turbine is provided. The direct drive generator comprises a stator and a rotor concentrically arranged about an axis of the direct drive generator. The method includes steps of placing the direct drive generator on a support structure, fixing a selected one of the stator or the rotor to the support structure, connecting actuator means to a remaining one of the stator or the rotor, and rotating the remaining one of the stators or the rotor using the actuator means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Uffe Eriksen, Peder Hykkelbjerg Hansen, Henrik Anton Jensen
  • Patent number: 10144510
    Abstract: A system which includes a stoppable rotor which is configured to launch a stopped rotor aircraft into flight. The system also includes one or more wind turbines which are configured to generate electricity while the stopped rotor aircraft is flying, where the stoppable rotor is stopped at least some of the time while electricity is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Kitty Hawk Corporation
    Inventor: Damon Vander Lind
  • Patent number: 10125741
    Abstract: A wind turbine rotor comprising a hub (1) from which a plurality of blades (2) project to a radius of at least 50 meters. Each blade comprising a hollow fairing supported by a central spar. Each blade has a thickness t at a radius r; characterized in that when r=0.5 R, t>0.3 T, where R is the radius of the blade and T is the thickness of the blade at the root end. By being thicker for a greater proportion of the blade, the aerodynamic performance of this part of the blade is worse, but this is more than compensated for as it allows better aerodynamic performance where it matters more, namely at the outer part of the blade. It also allows larger blades to be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: Blade Dynamics Limited
    Inventors: Paul Trevor Hayden, David Anthony Whiley
  • Patent number: 10107253
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus to test a generator of a hydrokinetic turbine are disclosed herein. An example method includes positioning a rim generator of a hydrokinetic turbine assembly on a testing apparatus prior to assembling the rim generator with the hydrokinetic turbine; orienting a rotational axis of the rim generator substantially vertically; and measuring a first output performance of the rim generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: THE BOEING COMPANY
    Inventor: Bryan Sydnor
  • Patent number: 10100644
    Abstract: A spinner for use in a gas turbine engine includes a body and an aft ring coupled to the body. The body is symmetrically formed by filament winding around a central axis. The aft ring includes a band coupled to the body and a plurality of fairings that extend outward in a radial direction from the band away from the central axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Erin M. Romanowski, Eric W. Engebretsen, Matthew A. Scott
  • Patent number: 10087991
    Abstract: A ball bearing that provides an inner race, an outer race, at least one row of balls and at least one cage for spacing apart the row of balls and having a wire extending inside a rolling space delimited by the outer race and the inner race. The bearing also provides at least one seal that includes coupling means for fastening to the wire of the cage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: AKTIEBOLAGET
    Inventors: Laurent Varnoux, Bruno Constant, Olivier Verbe
  • Patent number: 10087915
    Abstract: A self-installing offshore column stabilized semi-submersible platform has at least one vertical buoyant ballastable column, a telescoping keel tank or stiffened damper plate movably connected with the vertical column that extends and retracts relative to a lower end thereof, and a non-collapsible turbine tower or a tilt and telescoping tower coupled to an upper end of the vertical column that telescopes and reciprocates relative thereto between a horizontal retracted position and an axially extended vertical position. A wind turbine with blades is coupled to a top portion of the tower assembly. The relative position and weight of the keel tank or damper plate is selectively adjustable to raise or lower the center of gravity of the entire mass of the semi-submersible platform including the wind turbine and tower assembly with respect to the center of buoyancy of the platform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Inventor: Nagan Srinivasan
  • Patent number: 10060413
    Abstract: A wind turbine assembly is provided. The assembly includes a support structure and a wind turbine mounted on the support structure. The wind turbine includes a front face with blades defining a surface area to engage incoming wind, a roll axis about which the wind turbine can rotate in response to incoming wind to drive an electric generator, where the support structure defines a horizontal tilt axis about which the wind turbine can pitch forward and backward. The tilt axis divides the surface area of the wind turbine into upper and lower portions of unequal size, such that incoming wind on the front face of the wind turbine applies unequal force to the upper and lower portions of the surface area of the wind turbine to induce pitch of the wind turbine about the tilt axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Natural Power Concepts, Inc.
    Inventor: John Pitre
  • Patent number: 10060410
    Abstract: A gravity power and desalination technology system is provided, including a heat storage apparatus, an inner tube portion, a hot-air and vapor generator, and venting holes, a corrugated tube portion, an outer tube portion, an updraft wind power generator, and an artificial hydro power generator. The heat storage apparatus is provided in a lower portion and configured. The inner tube portion has an inner vent portion inside and disposed vertically over the heat storage apparatus. The hot-air and vapor generator is disposed between the heat storage apparatus and the inner tube portion. The venting holes are bored through the inner tube portion obliquely outwards. The corrugated tube portion is provided on a top portion of the outer tube portion. The updraft wind power generator and the artificial hydro power generator are installed in the lower portions of the inner vent portion and the outer vent portion, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Inventor: Dongho Kim
  • Patent number: 10047724
    Abstract: A wind turbine system includes 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 including 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Inventor: Jean-Francis Kisovec
  • Patent number: 10018187
    Abstract: The application relates to wind turbine tower section production methods and in particular to methods of manufacturing a plurality of elongate tower segments for forming a wind turbine tower section, the tower section constructed from a plurality of elongate tower segments connected along their respective longitudinal edges. The tower section is formed from a plurality of cans connected end to end and is divided into elongate segments by cutting along two or more cut lines extending along the length of the tower. A method of providing a horizontal flange at the end of a wind turbine tower is also discussed, as is a vertical flange preassembly including a pair of vertical flanges for connecting the longitudinal edges of adjacent first and second tower segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Bo Michel
  • Patent number: 10018188
    Abstract: A wind turbine with a tower; a nacelle supported by said tower; at least one unit to be cooled and arranged in the tower or the nacelle; a tower mounted heat exchange structure arranged outside the nacelle and tower; and a circuit facilitating a flow of a fluid medium between the at least one unit and the heat exchange structure. To improve thermal convection with the ambient space, the heat exchange structure comprises a set of panels mutually angled and extending outwards from the tower such that a flow of ambient air can pass transversely trough the panels and thereby cool the unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Jesper Nyvad, Thue Søndergård Thomsen
  • Patent number: 10018182
    Abstract: 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Inventor: Darryl Orne Farr
  • Patent number: 9997978
    Abstract: One feature pertains to an apparatus that includes a segmented collector region, a hollow tower, and one or more turbines. The segmented collector region includes a plurality of sectors each capable of receiving compostable matter that heats air within the sectors as the compostable matter composts. The hollow tower includes a first end and a second end, where the first end of the hollow tower is coupled to the segmented collector region to allow airflows from the heated air in the plurality of sectors to flow from the plurality of sectors to the first end of the tower and then rise up through the hollow tower to the second end of the tower. The one or more turbines are positioned in a path of at least one of the airflows to generate electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventor: Henry Hovakimian
  • Patent number: 9995275
    Abstract: A mastless vertical axis wind turbine that comprises a plurality of sails that rotate about a vertical axis under the influence of wind. A platform is connected to and in tension with the plurality of sails at one or more points about the bottom of the plurality of the sails. Also, an external frame is connected to and in tension with the plurality of sails at one or more points about the top of the plurality of the sails. The external frame itself comprises a plurality of legs that converge above the plurality of sails at a central point about the vertical axis of rotation and extend beyond the path swept by the plurality of sails. A coupling mechanism connects one or more of the plurality of legs to the plurality of sails and allows the sails to rotate about the vertical axis of rotation while the legs remain stationary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Inventor: Steven C. Hench
  • Patent number: 9932959
    Abstract: Disclosed are a system, a method and an apparatus of diffuser nozzle augmented wind turbine. In one embodiment, a method includes attaching a nozzle with a streamlined opening to a diffuser to direct an air flow into a wind turbine. In addition, the method includes increasing a wind speed approaching a set of turbine blades within a shrouded wind turbine configuration. The method also includes recirculating the air within the shroud configuration to increase an output power generated through the wind turbine. The system is composed of diffuser and nozzle integrated and non-integrated with and without a flange. In one embodiment, a method includes increasing a pressure differential of a wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: KING ABDULAZIZ CITY FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Khalid M. H. Al-Shibl
  • Patent number: 9929611
    Abstract: A rotor of a wind turbine rotary electric machine has a tubular structure extending and configured to rotate about an axis of rotation; a plurality of active segments parallel to and arranged about the axis of rotation and fitted to the tubular structure; and a plurality of cooling channels formed in the tubular structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: WINDFIN B.V.
    Inventors: Matteo Casazza, Georg Folie, Maddalena Renier, Daniele Franco
  • Patent number: 9929608
    Abstract: An electric motor is provided. The stator includes a core and a stator cage. The stator core is comprised of a plurality of axially stacked laminations. The stator cage includes a pair of end plates positioned adjacent the axial ends of the rotor core. The stator cage also includes at least one axially extending bar that interconnects the end plates. The stator core, the end plates, and the at least one bar are interconnected to form an integral body that is supported on the motor frame. The at least one bar presents opposite ends and includes a bore that projects axially from one of the ends. The bore is exposed to facilitate lifting of the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Friedman, Ronald W. Schmidt, John T. Scoble, III
  • Patent number: 9926912
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for estimating an overall wind coherence acting on a wind turbine and using same to dynamically adapt the gain or bandwidth of pitch or torque or yaw control logic within a wind turbine. The method includes generating, via sensors, a plurality of sensor signals reflective of wind conditions near the wind turbine. The method also includes filtering, via at least one filter, the sensor signals at a predetermined frequency range considered damaging for turbine sub-system loading. Thus, the method also includes estimating an overall damaging wind coherence acting on the wind turbine as a function of distance-normalized wind coherences, which themselves are derived from auto and cross-covariances of pairs of filtered signals. The distance normalization uses a model of natural coherence dissipation with distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ameet Shridhar Deshpande, Timothy J. McCoy, Sandeep Gupta
  • Patent number: 9909560
    Abstract: An energy conversion system having two or more enclosures supported in a vertically-stacked configuration by an enclosure support. The enclosures are airfoil-shaped and enclose multiple oppositely-rotating fluid turbines. Fluid directing structures formed in the enclosure direct fluid into and out of the enclosure, including through the turbines. The fluid directing structures are parallel slats formed into the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Inventor: Daniel F. Hollenbach
  • Patent number: 9903349
    Abstract: A solar chimney includes an elongated chamber having the general configuration of an hourglass. The chamber includes one or more heat exchangers for heating air in the chamber by solar energy. A turbine in the chamber is driven by updrafts of air created in the chamber, and the turbine drives an electric generator or other machine. An exhaust wind turbine assists in the production of such updrafts. A vertical axis wind turbine harnesses energy of wind in the environment of the chimney, and such energy is used to drive the exhaust wind turbine. Excess wind energy is stored for later use. A set of extendable and retractable vanes, mounted externally of the chimney, deflects wind, in the environment of the chimney, towards the vertical axis wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Inventor: Pitaya Yangpichit