Abstract: Apparatus and method for operating vehicles and other technical equipment by way of a haptic operating device having a rotating unit. Selectable menu items are displayed on a display unit, and a menu item being selected by rotating the rotating unit. The rotating unit latches at a number of haptically perceptible latching points during rotation. The number and rotational position of the haptically perceptible latching points is dynamically changed.

Abstract: Systems and methods enable yaw offsets on wind turbines in a wind farm. A wind turbine yaw controller receives a present wind direction signal from a local wind direction sensor and aligns the wind turbine in a substantially perpendicular direction based upon the present wind direction signal. A yaw controller is retrofitted between the wind direction sensor and the yaw controller to provide an adjusted wind direction signal to the yaw controller based upon the present wind direction signal and a yaw offset signal. An offset table relating yaw offsets with wind direction signal values may be stored locally at a wind turbine or at a site controller in communication with the wind tribune. Each wind turbine in the wind farm may be retrofitted with the yaw controller to enhance the power output of the wind farm by adjusting the wake effect between wind turbines of the wind farms.

Abstract: One example includes a wind farm power control system. The system includes a wind farm controller configured to monitor a power characteristic at a high-side of a generator step-up (GSU) transformer. The high-side of the GSU transformer is coupled to a point-of-interconnect (POI) that provides power from the wind farm to a power grid. The system also includes an automatic voltage regulator (AVR) configured to monitor a voltage of a power bus associated with a low-side of the GSU transformer, the power bus being provided power from a plurality of feeder groups. Each of the plurality of feeder groups includes a plurality of wind turbines. The AVR can be further configured to regulate the power characteristic at the high-side of the GSU transformer to within a predetermined range of amplitudes based on the voltage of the power bus.

Abstract: A minicomputer has a processor and a display unit and a communication unit and a haptic operating device. The haptic operating device has a rotatable rotating unit with a rotational resistance which can be changed by way of a control device. Selectable menu items are displayed on a display unit and a menu item is selected by rotating the rotating unit. A rotational resistance of the rotating unit is dynamically changed during a rotation of the rotating unit and the rotating unit is latched at a plurality of haptically perceptible latching points during the rotation of the rotating unit.

Abstract: Systems and methods to incorporate control of reactive power produced by a variable reactive power output inverter that is installed in an existing installed power generation site. A reactive power output command value limiter is integrated with the variable reactive power output inverter. The reactive power command limiter iteratively: receives a reactive power command value, determines a threshold reactive power output value based on present real power output, determines that the reactive power command value exceeds the threshold reactive power output value, changes, based on the determining that the reactive power command value exceeds the threshold reactive power output value, the reactive power output command input value to a limited value reactive power output command that is one of equal to or less than the threshold reactive power output value, and outputs the limited value reactive power output command to the variable reactive power output inverter.

Abstract: A valve device, a damper with a valve device, and a method for operating the same are described. The valve device is formed with a flow channel through which a magnetorheological medium flows. A magnetic circuit device provides a magnetic field in the flow channel. The magnetic circuit device includes a hard magnetic magnet component and at least one electrical coil that can be controlled by a control device. The magnetic circuit device has two segments, which differ in the dynamic magnetic properties thereof. Thus, by way of a magnetic pulse that can be output by the electrical coil, a specific inhomogeneity of the magnetic field in the flow channel can be set and can be stored in the hard magnetic magnet component.

Abstract: A system for generating power includes a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) system that provides control commands to a plurality of turbine controllers to cause a windfarm to output power at a level within power parameters in a setpoint. Each turbine controller is installed at a corresponding wind turbine of a plurality of wind turbines in the windfarm. The system also includes a backup system comprising a programmable logic controller (PLC). The PLC receives turbine state information from the SCADA system that characterizes an operational state of each of the plurality of wind turbines in the windfarm and detects that the SCADA system is offline. The PLC also selectively provides start and stop commands to a plurality of terminal interface units (TIUs) to cause the windfarm to output power at a level within the power parameters identified in the setpoint in response to the detecting.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for monitoring wind turbines, generally comprising: measuring sound levels of a plurality of wind turbines; checking the sound levels of each of the plurality of wind turbines against sound levels of others of the plurality of wind turbines; detecting that one of the plurality of wind turbines is an anomalous wind turbine based upon the checking; and generating a corrective action alarm signal identifying the anomalous wind turbine based upon the detecting.

Abstract: A voltage pattern analysis system and method may automate aspects of the process of mapping or assigning utility meters to a specific transformer or other distribution node by identifying misassociated meters and correcting a system-wide transformer assignment or distribution node assignment. When a meter's voltage signal does not correlate well with other meters' voltage signals on the same transformer, the meter is likely misassociated to that transformer. A pairwise voltage signal correlation may be computed for all meters assigned to a transformer and a voltage signal correlation for every transformer in the system, or a subset thereof, may be imputed. Individual meter correlations may then be compared with the transformer correlation. For meters identified as misassociation candidates, transformers or other distribution nodes within a specified radius may be considered for reassignment of the meter.

Abstract: A magnetorheological transmission device and a method for influencing the coupling intensity of two components, which can be coupled and whose coupling intensity can be influenced. To influence the coupling intensity, a channel is provided, which contains a magnetorheological medium with magnetically polarizable particles. A magnetic field generating unit generates a magnetic field in the channel in order to influence the magnetorheological medium in the channel. An outer component encloses an inner component. At least one of the two components is mounted via a separate bearing. A distance between the outer and inner components at least 10 times as great as a typical mean diameter of the magnetically polarizable particles in the magnetorheological medium. The magnetic field of the magnetic field generating unit can be applied to the channel in order to selectively chain together the particles and/or release them.

Abstract: Groups of wind turbines at a wind farm are controlled based on detection of volant animal swarms. A risk score is defined for each of a plurality of wind turbine groups of the wind farm at a default risk score based on predetermined data. A respective operational parameter is set for each wind turbine of each of the wind turbine groups based on the respective risk score. The presence of a volant animal swarm is detected in a region associated with a given one of the wind turbine groups via a volant animal detection system. The risk score of the given one wind turbine group and an adjacent wind turbine group is changed from the default risk score to temporary risk scores in response to detection of the volant animal swarm.

Abstract: A controller of a power generation system can control coupling of a photovoltaic (PV) array to an inverter coupled to a power grid. The controller can also monitor an output voltage of a DC energy storage source disconnectedly coupled to the inverter and monitor an output power of the inverter. The controller can also couple the PV array to the DC energy storage source and adjust an effective output voltage of the PV array based on the output voltage of the DC energy storage source to charge the DC energy storage source.

Abstract: Various embodiments determine a remaining battery capacity of a battery in an energy storage battery support system. In one embodiment, a battery is operated at a state of charge which may include being charged, being discharged, and being idle. A change in the state of charge is detected after a duration of time. The amount of remaining battery capacity is calculated based upon the duration of time and the state of charge of the battery during the duration of time. The operating, detecting and calculating are repeated until the amount of remaining battery capacity reaches a predetermined value. The remaining battery capacity after the duration of time is calculated using the battery capacity at the beginning of the duration of time. The battery may be used as an energy source in an electric power distribution grid. The battery is replaced when the remaining battery capacity reaches an end-of-useful-life value.

Abstract: Groups of wind turbines at a wind farm are controlled based on detection of volant animal swarms. A risk score is defined for each of a plurality of wind turbine groups of the wind farm at a default risk score based on predetermined data. A respective operational parameter is set for each wind turbine of each of the wind turbine groups based on the respective risk score. The presence of a volant animal swarm is detected in a region associated with a given one of the wind turbine groups via a volant animal detection system. The risk score of the given one wind turbine group and an adjacent wind turbine group is changed from the default risk score to temporary risk scores in response to detection of the volant animal swarm.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for waking a battery pack from a dormant mode via shaking. The battery pack has a piezo electric device coupled to a semiconductor control circuit providing a power path between a positive terminal of a battery cell and a boot input of an ASIC charge/discharge controller powered by the battery cell. Shaking of the piezo electric device energizes the semiconductor control circuit, which engages the power path to power the initial booting of the ASIC charge/discharge controller.

Abstract: A transmission apparatus has two components that move in translation relative to one another and a coupling gap between the components containing a magnetorheological medium. The gap is formed and sealed outwardly at first and second ends so that the magnetorheological medium remains in the coupling gap as a sort of controllable friction lining, irrespective of a coupling between the components, in accordance with the magnetic field applied in the coupling gap. One of the components has plurality of radially extending arms that carry a magnetic field generation device. Each magnetic field generation device has an electric coil with a least one winding extends completely beside the central axis and at a distance therefrom. Different poles of the magnetic field generation devices are provided at the adjacent ends of adjacent arms of a component. The coupling gap is connected to a reservoir of magnetorheological medium.

Abstract: A system can include a data server that calculates a risk level of each of a plurality of wind turbines at a turbine site based at least in part on a base risk level and mortality data that characterizes a mortality of a volant animal caused by a given wind turbine of the plurality of wind turbines. The system can also include a turbine monitor server that stores the risk level of each wind turbine in a database and generates a graphical dashboard based on data in the database. The system can further include a turbine site control server that retrieves data from the database and sets cut-in speed of each of the plurality of wind turbines based on the data retrieved from the database.

Abstract: A foldable utility cart is lightweight and easily conveyed up and down a wind turbine for transporting parts and tools used for repair and maintenance of a wind turbine. A set of wheels allow the cart to be easily rolled along the nacelle and an attachment bar secures the cart to a guidance rail.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for operating vehicles by way of a haptic operating device having a rotating unit. Selectable menu items are displayed on a display unit, and a menu item being selected by rotating the rotating unit. The rotating unit latches at a number of haptically perceptible latching points during rotation. The number and rotational position of the haptically perceptible latching points is dynamically changed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for allocating electrical current among battery sets connected in a substantially parallel configuration. A respective state of health is determined for each respective battery set in a plurality of battery sets. The respective state of health reflects a respective present amount of total energy able to be stored by each respective battery set relative to a specification of the respective battery set. A respective allocation of electrical current for each battery set in the plurality of battery sets is determined based on the respective state of health for each respective battery set. A current flow through each respective battery set is configured to its respective allocation of electrical current based on determining the respective allocation.