Patents Assigned to Nordex Energy GmbH
  • Publication number: 20190055925
    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: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventors: Simon De Rijcke, Niels Hamann, Christian Wessels
  • Publication number: 20190058425
    Abstract: A method for controlling a wind turbine comprising inputting an actual value of rotational speed and a rotational speed setpoint into a control and outputting a set point value for a generator torque from the control. Inputting the set point value for the generator torque into a limiter with a predefinable upper and lower limit and outputting a limited torque value that is fed into a converter control. Increasing the actual value of the fed-in electrical power by an additional amount of power in response to a boost signal, wherein the fed-in electrical power and the additional amount of power are combined into an aggregated power setpoint value. Determining the set point value for the generator torque from the aggregated power setpoint value and applying the set point value for the generator torque in the boost operation to the limiter both as the upper limit and as the lower limit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2018
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventors: Simon De Rijcke, Niels Hamann, Christian Wessels
  • Patent number: 10202966
    Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade is provided. The wind turbine blade has a lightning receptor, a first electric line, and a potential equalization arrangement having a first electrode, which is connected to the lightning receptor, and a second electrode, which is connected to the first electric line, a spark gap being formed between the two electrodes, mutually facing sides of the two electrodes forming an air flow channel, which is arranged such that the ambient air that is incident when the wind turbine rotor blade is in operation flows through it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Lipka, Jochen Kremer
  • Patent number: 10199816
    Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade has a blade root, a lightning protection conductor for dissipating a lightning current toward the blade root, a suction side, a pressure side, a lightning receptor arranged on the suction side, a lightning receptor arranged on the pressure side, and an integrally formed lightning receptor base, which is arranged in the wind turbine rotor blade and on which the two lightning receptors and the lightning protection conductor are fastened, wherein the lightning receptor base includes two fastening rings, which each have an internal thread, into which one of the two lightning receptors is screwed, and an outer diameter and an outer side, wherein the outer sides of the fastening rings are arranged with a spacing of less than one outer diameter from one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventor: Nick Ohlerich
  • Publication number: 20180274519
    Abstract: A rotary joint of a wind turbine and toothing for a rotary joint is provided to reduce the production cost for a rotary joint and to enable a stiffening of the rotary joint. An inner ring or outer ring of a rotary joint (bearing) is not completely bored before the milling of the teeth. The material above the teeth is completely retained as a circumferential residual material ring in the blank of the inner ring or the outer ring. The individual teeth are milled by the milling tool only until the required tooth height is reached. The residual material above the teeth is completely retained circumferentially. It reinforces and stiffens the inner ring or the outer ring of the rotary joint. The individual teeth are stabilized at the end face by the residual material above the teeth at the transition to the solid material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 21, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventors: Christine MANTEUFFEL, Ibrahim MUHAMAD
  • Publication number: 20180258913
    Abstract: A method for controlling an active power in a wind farm having at least two wind turbines that supply active power comprises inputting a setpoint value for the active power of the wind farm into a wind farm model. The wind farm model outputs a modeled active power setpoint value. A system deviation is determined and input into a power controller, which outputs a controller manipulated variable. A feedforward control manipulated variable is determined independently of states of the wind farm or the active power. An overall manipulated variable is determined for the wind farm as the sum of the controller manipulated variable and the feedforward control manipulated variable. A correction value is determined based on the difference between the actual value of the active power and the modeled active power setpoint value and input into the wind farm model.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventors: Detlef Drossel, Florian Bode
  • Publication number: 20180258914
    Abstract: A method for controlling an active power in a wind farm comprises inputting an active power setpoint value into the wind farm model. Splitting the active power setpoint value of the wind farm among models of the wind turbines. Determining a modeled active power setpoint value of the wind farm as a sum of modeled active power setpoint values of the wind farm model. Determining a system deviation as a difference between the modeled active power setpoint value and an actual value of the active power output of the wind farm. Inputting the system deviation into a power controller which outputs a controller manipulated variable. Determining a feedforward controller manipulated variable independently of operating states of the wind turbines of the wind farm or the active power. Determining an overall manipulated variable as the sum of the freeforward controller manipulated variable (uff) and the controller manipulated variable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventors: Detlef Drossel, Florian Bode
  • Patent number: 10066599
    Abstract: A spar cap assembly is for a wind turbine rotor blade. The spar cap assembly has a spar cap reinforced with carbon fibers, comprising a lightning conductor, which is arranged so as to run along the spar cap, and at least one potential-equalizing element, which establishes an electrical connection between the spar cap and the lightning conductor. The carbon fibers of the spar cap, the lightning conductor and the at least one potential-equalizing element are embedded in a common polymer matrix and are configured as a prefabricated assembly for integration into a wind turbine rotor blade half-shell after the curing of the polymer matrix.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventors: Nick Ohlerich, Hendrik Klein, Nils-Hendric Schall
  • Patent number: 10066608
    Abstract: A method for repairing an electrical heating element of a wind turbine rotor blade has the steps of identifying a region of the heating element that has a defect and applying a thermally conductive repair layer to the identified region. The repair layer is thermally conductive and is electrically insulating at least on an underside facing the defect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventors: Bernhard Krueger, Tobias Ahrens
  • Patent number: 10062272
    Abstract: Method for testing a rotor blade ice detection system for a wind turbine, the rotor blade ice detection system being configured to output a warning in the event of icing of a rotor blade being monitored, the method having the following steps of: acquiring data relating to a rotor blade to be monitored, providing at least one value of an operating and/or environmental parameter, modifying the at least one value provided in such a manner that the at least one modified value differs from an actual value of the parameter, evaluating the data relating to the rotor blade to be monitored and the at least one modified value via the rotor blade ice detection system, and testing whether the rotor blade ice detection system outputs a warning.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventor: Stefan Magnus
  • Patent number: 9765646
    Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade is for mounting on a rotor hub covered by a spinner having a rotor blade opening and includes a wind turbine rotor blade body having a fastening section and a longitudinal section. The fastening section is configured for fastening the rotor blade body on the rotor hub. The longitudinal section is arranged inside the rotor blade opening when the wind turbine rotor blade is mounted on the rotor hub. The longitudinal section and the rotor blade opening conjointly define an annular gap therebetween when the wind turbine rotor blade is mounted on the rotor hub. A cover profile is fastened on the wind turbine rotor blade and covers the annular gap. The cover profile has a circular ring-shaped outer edge and a circular ring-shaped inner edge. The inner edge is disposed at a radial distance from the wind turbine rotor blade. An annular-shaped cover element is fastened on the wind turbine rotor blade and bridges the radial distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Lipka
  • Patent number: 9689377
    Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade includes: a rotor blade root; a rotor blade tip; an electrical heating device; a first lightning receptor disposed in the region of the rotor blade tip; precisely two lightning conductors leading from the lightning receptor to the rotor blade root; a second lightning receptor arranged at a distance to the rotor blade tip and connected to one of the lightning conductors; and, each one of the two lightning conductors being electrically conductively connected to the electrical heating device at a multiplicity of points between the rotor blade root and the rotor blade tip so as to cause equipotential bonding between the two lightning conductors via the electrical heating device in response to a lightning strike to the rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventors: Hendrik Klein, Nick Ohlerich
  • Patent number: 9664177
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for cleaning a brake of a wind turbine. The brake has a brake disc and at least one brake unit, wherein the brake disc and the brake unit can be moved relative to one another via a drive. The method includes fastening a cleaning plate to the brake disc; releasing at least one brake unit; moving the brake disc and the brake unit relative to one another so that the cleaning plate is moved past a brake pad of the brake unit while making applied contact engagement to the brake pad; and, dismounting the cleaning plate from the brake disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventor: Ocke-Philipp Hansen
  • Patent number: 9605649
    Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade has a longitudinal axis, a blade root, a blade tip, a pressure side, a suction side and an aerodynamic profile which, in a longitudinal section of the rotor blade, has a profile chord and a thick trailing edge. The rotor blade includes a multiplicity of flow deflection elements which are arranged on the thick trailing edge and have respective inflow surfaces which are shaped and arranged such that a radial flow running in the direction from the blade root toward the blade tip is diverted by the inflow surface in the direction of the profile chord.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventor: Doosttalab Mehdi
  • Patent number: 9541068
    Abstract: A method for making a wind turbine member wherein a plurality Of components are arranged in a mold. The inner side of the mold determines a surface of the wind turbine member. The components are connected to one another. At least one of the components is a prefabricated structural element which has a fixed geometry with an outer surface. The prefabricated structural element has a positioning projection protruding out of the outer surface and the mold has, on its inner side, a positioning receptacle. The positioning projection is inserted positively into the positioning receptacle to determine the disposition of the prefabricated structural element in the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventors: Dirk Austinat, Marco Frankowski
  • Patent number: 9482208
    Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade is assembled from a first and a second rotor blade half shell made of a fiber-reinforced plastics material. An electrical heating arrangement includes a first heating element connected to the first rotor blade half shell and having a blade root end and a blade tip end and a second heating element connected to the second rotor blade half shell also having a blade root end and a blade tip end. The heating arrangement also includes a third heating element connected to the rotor blade half shells and having a blade root end and a blade tip end. The blade tip ends of the first, second and third heating elements are mutually electrically connected. The blade root ends of the first, second and third heating elements are connected to respective electrical connecting lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventors: Astrid Loewe, Oskar Renschler, Philipp Rindt
  • Patent number: 9461572
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a method for controlling a wind turbine connected to a three-phase electrical supply grid during an asymmetrical grid fault. The method is configured for wind turbines with a doubly-fed induction generator. The reactive current to be fed into the electrical supply grid in the negative phase-sequence system is generated by the line-side and the rotor-side converter in a coordinated manner and depends on the line voltage. The reactive current to be fed into the electrical supply grid is distributed among the rotor-side and line-side converters. As a result, even in the case of severely asymmetrical grid faults, the reactive current to be fed into the electrical supply grid can be provided and excessive loading of the rotor-side converter can be prevented using simple means. The invention is also directed to a wind turbine for performing the above method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Wessels
  • Patent number: 9410533
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine rotor blade having a blade root, a blade tip, two interconnected rotor blade half shells, which include a fiber-reinforced plastics material, and an electrical heating element, which is arranged on an outer side of the rotor blade and has a blade root end and a blade tip end, wherein the blade tip end is connected via an electrical line leading to the blade root and at least a first segment of the electrical line, which is arranged on an inner side of one of the rotor blade half shells, is made of a carbon fiber material. Further, the present invention relates to a method for making a wind turbine rotor blade having an electrical heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventors: Astrid Loewe, Oskar Renschler, Philipp Rindt
  • Patent number: 9347427
    Abstract: A wind turbine rotor blade having an aerodynamic profile which is formed in a longitudinal section of the rotor blade and which has a pressure side, a suction side, a profile leading edge and a profile trailing edge with a thickness of 3 mm or greater, characterized by a plurality of bristles which are arranged on the profile trailing edge and which are arranged in a suction-side row and in a pressure-side row, the suction-side row forming an aerodynamic surface which forms a smooth continuation of the suction side, and the pressure-side row forming an aerodynamic surface which forms a smooth continuation of the pressure side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventor: Gunter Fischer
  • Patent number: 9316203
    Abstract: A blade connection for a rotor blade of a wind turbine having a plurality of receptacles which extend in the longitudinal direction of the rotor blade and can each receive a longitudinal bolt and are in contact with a component having an inner thread for the longitudinal bolt. The rotor blade is manufactured from two materials, at least in the region of the blade connection, wherein a first material is a composite material, and a second material is a composite material provided with at least one reinforcement layer made of metal and/or ceramic. The receptacles are composed of the first material and the second material is bonded to the first material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2016
    Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventor: Christian Guenther