Patents Assigned to REpower System AG
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Patent number: 8106525Abstract: A wind energy installation is provided with a generator driven by a rotor with adjustable rotor blades to produce electrical energy, with a pitch adjustment device to adjust the blades, which pitch adjustment device includes an emergency circuit with an energy store to actuate a blade actuating motor. A shunt branch is provided with a current-balancing device in parallel with the energy store, the current balancing device configured to control the current shunt branch depending on a feedback current from the blade actuating motor. A current balancing circuit is provided with which the feedback current occurring in the overrunning state is dissipated in controlled fashion via a shunt branch and therefore the electrical energy store is protected from a damaging feedback current. This prevents a damaging rise in the voltage of the electrical energy store and a rise in the motor speed of the blade actuating motor during overrunning operation.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2007Date of Patent: January 31, 2012Assignee: REpower Systems AGInventor: Heinz-Hermann Letas
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Publication number: 20120006578Abstract: A wind energy installation includes a tower and a nacelle arranged at the top of the tower such that it can swivel in the azimuth direction. The installation also includes a plurality of cables which are guided via a loop from the tower into the nacelle, the cables being held at a distance from one another in the loop by means of rotationally fixed and loose holders. The holders each have receptacles for attachment of the cables with a predetermined circumferential separation. The holders include a lower rotationally fixed guide ring and an aligning upper loose guide ring. A loop guide is formed such that the loop is subdivided by means of the rotationally fixed lower guide ring into a curved untwisted area and an extended twisted area.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 22, 2010Publication date: January 12, 2012Applicant: REpower Systems AGInventor: Matthias Schubert
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Patent number: 8084875Abstract: A wind energy installation includes a wind rotor, a double-fed asynchronous generator driven by the wind rotor, a converter provided with a first part on the generator side connected to a rotor and a second part on the network side connected to a stator of the generator, and a control device providing converter regulation. A mode selector can be switched between a normal operating mode and a reduced voltage operating mode, in which the excitation of the generator is reduced compared to the normal operating mode. The under-excitation produces an additional reactive current, thus reducing the rotor voltage. The rotor voltage can be limited even when the load is high and the network frequency or voltage is incorrect. The usable rotation speed range of the wind energy installation can be extended to provide a more powerful generator with a higher rating, without changing the converter.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2008Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: REpower Systems AGInventor: Heinz-Hermann Letas
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Publication number: 20110238371Abstract: A method for determining the state of a braking apparatus of a wind energy installation can include obtaining data relating to load behavior of the braking apparatus, recording a measured value during a time period between a start of a braking process and an end of the braking process, and determining a brake state characteristic value based on the data and the measured value. A wind energy installation for performing the method can include a braking apparatus, a sensor, a control unit configured to instruct the sensor to record a measured value in a time period between a start of a braking process and an end of a braking process, a data memory configured to store data relating to load behavior of the braking apparatus, and a computation module configured to determine a brake state characteristic value based on the data and the measured value.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 25, 2011Publication date: September 29, 2011Applicant: REpower Systems AGInventors: Jens Altemark, Matthias Brueckner
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Patent number: 7989974Abstract: A method for regulating a wind energy installation including a rotor-driven generator, a converter connected to the generator, and a controller that regulates power emitted into an energy transmission system to within a limit value involves determining a maximum current value in a connection path, determining a current reserve value for power emitted into an energy transmission system, and determining a correction value for following a limit value of the emitted power from the maximum current value and the current reserve value. The wind energy installation and the method for its regulation also includes the use of a limitation device configured to set a phase angle between an emitted current and voltage of an electrical system in response to a selection signal in such a way that primarily active power or primarily reactive power is fed into the energy transmission system when the maximum current value is reached.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2006Date of Patent: August 2, 2011Assignee: REpower Systems AGInventors: Jens Fortmann, Jens Altemark, Jörg Zeumer
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Publication number: 20110175620Abstract: A wind energy installation test device for defined production of grid system faults, and a method thereof. The test device can include an output configured to connect to a wind energy installation, an input configured to connect to a grid system, and a switching device for connection of an electrical disturbance component relating to a grid system parameter. An autotransformer can be used for the electrical disturbance component. The grid system in a sound state can be connected to a primary winding connection and the grid system in a disturbed state with respect to the grid system parameter can be output at a secondary winding connection.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2009Publication date: July 21, 2011Applicant: REpower Systems AGInventor: Heinz-Hermann Letas
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Publication number: 20110101690Abstract: A wind farm in which electrical power produced in the wind farm is transported via a wind-farm-internal network to a substation. Upon being transferred to an external network, the electrical power is transformed to a voltage which is higher by a selectable step-up ratio than the voltage in the wind-farm-internal network. The electrical load level on a wind energy installation in the wind farm is determined, and the step-up ratio is adjusted as a function of the electrical load level. Accordingly, it is possible to influence the voltage in the wind-farm-internal network such that the wind energy installations are subject to a lower electrical load level.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2009Publication date: May 5, 2011Applicant: REpower Systems AGInventors: Jens Fortmann, Friedrich Koch
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METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACCESS CONTROL TO INSTALLATION CONTROL SYSTEMS OF WIND ENERGY INSTALLATIONS
Publication number: 20110055584Abstract: A method for access control to installation control systems of wind energy installations. The method includes receiving a requested user name and a requested password, wherein authorizations and checking information are coded in the requested password. The method further includes decoding the authorizations and the checking information from the requested password, checking the requested user name on the basis of the decoded checking information, checking the decoded authorizations if the check of the requested user name on the basis of the decoded checking information has a positive result, and allowing access to an installation control system of a wind energy installation when the decoded authorizations are sufficient. A wind energy installation for implementing the method includes an installation control system and a decoding unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2010Publication date: March 3, 2011Applicant: REpower Systems AGInventors: Stefan Meier, Andre Hartung, Guntram Kunft -
Publication number: 20110047300Abstract: A method for automatic configuration parameter monitoring for wind energy installations. The method includes generating a nominal configuration parameter set for a wind energy installation, storing the nominal configuration parameter set in a database, automatically detecting an actual configuration parameter set for the wind energy installation, automatically comparing the nominal configuration parameter set with the actual configuration parameter set, and outputting a warning message in the event of discrepancies between the actual configuration parameter set and the nominal configuration parameter set. A system for implementing the method can include a wind energy installation with a communication unit, a server, and a database.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2010Publication date: February 24, 2011Applicant: REpower Systems AGInventors: Bjoern SOENNICHSEN, Sven Peters
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Publication number: 20110037262Abstract: A wind energy installation including a wind rotor, a doubly-fed asynchronous generator driven by the wind rotor, a converter, and a controller configured to determine an operating torque for an operating rotation-speed, the operating torque not exceeding a maximum torque. The installation also includes a frequency-adaptive torque limiter having a classifier—for an overfrequency or underfrequency, a torque shifter configured to reduce the maximum torque in the event of frequency discrepancies, and an inhibitor configured to block the torque shift at an underfrequency. The installation further includes a frequency-dependent rotation-speed limiter configured to interact with the classifier such that a lower limit rotation-speed is increased only at an overfrequency and an upper limit rotation-speed is reduced only at an underfrequency.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2010Publication date: February 17, 2011Applicant: REpower Systems AGInventor: Thomas KRUEGER
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Publication number: 20110031762Abstract: A wind energy installation includes a rotor, a generator driven by the rotor, and a converter for generating electrical power which is output into a power supply system via a transformer. The installation also includes an open-loop control system having an open-loop converter control unit. The open-loop control system supplies an actuating signal for a reactive component to the converter. The installation further includes a voltage measurement device arranged on the transformer. The voltage signal of the voltage measurement device is applied to an input of a state-dependent setpoint value shifter, whose output signal is applied to a limitation module for the reactive component acting on the converter. With this configuration, the installation can be better protected and the transformer can be better utilized.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 14, 2009Publication date: February 10, 2011Applicant: REpower Systems AGInventor: Heinz-Hermann Letas
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Publication number: 20100332042Abstract: A wind farm includes a plurality of wind energy installations, a transfer point at which electrical energy produced by the wind energy installations is transferred to a public electricity grid system and for which nominal values are preset, and a measurement sensor configured to measure electrical actual values at the transfer point. The wind farm also includes a master regulator associated with an upper control level and configured to use upper nominal values and upper actual values at the upper control level to determine a preset for a lower control level, and a plurality of submaster regulators associated with the lower control level and configured to use the preset as a lower nominal value and, on the basis of the lower nominal value and a lower actual value, determine presets for the wind energy installations. A high level of control accuracy can thus be achieved even in large wind farms.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 25, 2010Publication date: December 30, 2010Applicant: REpower Systems AGInventors: André Riesberg, Hennig Rademacher, Hennig Harden, Guntram Kunft
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Publication number: 20100320762Abstract: A method for controlling a converter of a wind energy installation. The converter is connected to the rotor of a doubly-fed asynchronous generator in order to feed electrical power into an electrical grid and comprises a generator-side inverter, a grid-side inverter, and at least one converter regulator for regulating and/or controlling current output from at least one of the inverters to the doubly-fed asynchronous generator and/or to the electrical grid. The method includes detecting a change in output real power, determining whether the detected change satisfies a predefined condition, and changing a nominal value of reactive power to be output in an opposite sense to a change in real power at the grid-side inverter and in a same sense as the generator-side inverter when the predefined condition is satisfied.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 18, 2009Publication date: December 23, 2010Applicant: REpower Systems AGInventors: Heinz-Hermann Letas, Jens Fortmann
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Publication number: 20100314874Abstract: A system and method for operating a wind energy installation or wind farm. The system includes a control unit configured to process control variables and a transfer module. The transfer module has an input interface for receiving control commands and an output interface for transmitting control variables to the control unit. The transfer module has multiple transfer logic elements each configured to convert a control command to a control variable. The transfer module has a switching device for switching between the transfer logic elements. As a result, the wind energy installation or wind farm can be connected to an electrical grid in which the control commands are transmitted in a different format than that of the control variables of the control unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 13, 2008Publication date: December 16, 2010Applicant: REpower Systems AGInventors: Roman Bluhm, Sebastian Friederich, Jens Altemark
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Publication number: 20100312409Abstract: A wind park includes at least two wind energy systems each comprising a generator and converter for generating electrical energy and a control system, a park master designed for active and idle power control that transmits a control signal for idle power via a communications network to the wind energy systems, and a connection network feeding generated electrical energy into a grid. The wind energy system can include an idle power regulator and a supplementary regulator, the control signals of each of which are linked together. Thus, a combination of idle power and voltage regulation is achieved that combines the advantages of each. Accordingly, the wind park can have high dynamic and stability notwithstanding erratic changes in the grid.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 4, 2008Publication date: December 9, 2010Applicant: REpower Systems AGInventors: Jorg Zeumer, Heinz-Hermann Letas, Jens Fortmann
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Patent number: 7840312Abstract: A wind farm includes a plurality of wind energy installations which generate electrical energy to be output to a power supply system and a wind farm master for controlling the wind energy installations. Each wind energy installation includes a generator which is driven by a rotor, and the wind farm master includes a power control device having a plurality of loops. This plurality of loops includes a fast loop that includes a controller which acts on a first group of the wind energy installations and a slow loop that includes a controller which acts on a second group of the wind energy installations, the fast controller having a substantially higher dynamic than the slow controller.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2005Date of Patent: November 23, 2010Assignee: REpower Systems AGInventors: Jens Altemark, Holger Becker, Sebastian Friederich
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Publication number: 20100283247Abstract: A wind energy installation control device includes a wind rotor, a generator driven by the wind rotor, a torque control unit configured to control a torque of the generator, and a control system. The control system includes a detector configured to identify a grid dip and an end of the grid dip, a residual torque transmitter configured to provide a preset value for a torque of the generator after identification of the grid dip, and an initializer configured to initialize a component of the torque control unit at the preset value. Accordingly, upon return of grid power after a grid dip, the vibration behaviour of a wind power system can be significantly improved. Overload of a drive train upon return of grid voltage can thus be reduced.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 4, 2008Publication date: November 11, 2010Applicant: REpower Systems AGInventor: Thomas Krueger
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Patent number: 7830030Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a wind energy system wherein when a first settable boundary value (G1) is reached by a first parameter (M1) a process is automatically started whose course is monitored by measuring a second parameter (M2). By comparing the measured values of the second parameter (M2) with a second settable boundary value (G2), the first settable boundary value is changed upon reaching the second boundary value (G2) by the second parameter (M2).Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2008Date of Patent: November 9, 2010Assignee: REpower Systems AGInventor: Jens Altemark
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Publication number: 20100276930Abstract: A network disturbance module for a control device of a wind energy installation having a generator driven by a wind rotor and a converter for producing electrical power fed into a network. The module includes a measurement device configured to measure at least one electrical parameter of the network, a detector configured to identify a network disturbance and output a switching signal, and a reference generator configured to produce a substitute reference vector for the converter based on the at least one electrical parameter. The module also includes a fault management unit comprising a fault classifier, the unit being configured to interact with the measurement device, detector, and reference generator such that, in the event of an undervoltage during island operation, a quick-action frequency regulator is activated. The regulator acts on the converter to vary a real-power feed P in the event of a discrepancy in a network frequency.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2008Publication date: November 4, 2010Applicant: REpower Systems AGInventor: Jens Fortmann
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Publication number: 20100253079Abstract: A wind energy installation connected to a network. The installation includes a tower and a pod having a wind rotor and a generator driven by the wind rotor. The installation further includes a converter configured to output electrical power, a control device provided with a temperature sensor and a heating device, and a preheating module. The preheating module includes a thermal switch configured to monitor a temperature of at least one component of the wind energy installation and a monitoring unit having an output device. The monitoring unit operates the heating device until the thermal switch reaches a threshold, whereupon the output device transmits an enable signal to start the wind energy installation. Operational reliability of the wind energy installation in low ambient temperatures can be thus improved.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2008Publication date: October 7, 2010Applicant: REpower Systems AGInventors: Soenke Bolln, Oliver Sievers, Michael Scheffner