Patents Assigned to REpower System AG
  • Publication number: 20090224543
    Abstract: A method for the operation of a wind power plant (10) with a rotor (12), which has at least one angle-adjustable rotor blade (14), wherein the wind power plant (10) is operated in a first operating mode (71) and/or a second operating mode (75). In the first operating mode (71) a braking process of the rotor (12) is initiated when a rotational speed of the rotor (12) is exceeded, which lies above a first rotational speed threshold value. Also, a method for the operation of a wind power plant (10) with a rotor (12), which has at least one angle-adjustable rotor blade (14), wherein an operating parameter is monitored and a braking process of the rotor (12) is initiated when an operating parameter threshold value is reached.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 10, 2009
    Applicant: REPOWER SYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Dirk Steudel, Martin Von Mutius
  • Patent number: 7586205
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for regulation of the rotational speed (52) of a rotor on a wind energy unit with a generator and a rotor blade. The first set parameter is a pitch angle (Pitch) of the rotor blade and the second set parameter is the torque of the generator. The system comprises a pitch angle control or regulation device (32), a torque control or regulation device (33), a first device for determination of a first rotational speed set value (28) (first rotational speed set value determination device (29)) and a second device (26) for determination of a second rotational speed set value (29) (second rotational speed set value determination device (26)). The first rotational speed set value (28) may be supplied to the pitch angle control or regulation device (32) and the second rotational speed set value (29) may be supplied to the torque control or regulation device (33), wherein the first and second rotational speed set value (28, 2)) may be different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Repower Systems AG
    Inventor: Thomas Krueger
  • Patent number: 7585157
    Abstract: A rotor blade for a wind power station includes a profiled member that is provided with a relative thickness which decreases towards the outside from a root to a tip of the blade. The profiled member has a leading edge and a trailing edge as well as a suction side and a pressure side while generating a negative pressure relative to the pressure side on the suction side when being flown against by moved air, the negative pressure resulting in buoyancy. The suction side of the rotor blade encompasses a device for optimizing flow around the profiled member. The device is provided with at least one planar element that extends substantially in the direction of flow, protrudes from the suction side, and is arranged in the zone of a transversal flow which runs from the root to the tip of the blade on the suction side of the profiled member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Repower Systems AG
    Inventors: Peter Quell, Marc Petsche
  • Publication number: 20090210200
    Abstract: A method for providing operating data of a wind farm comprising a plurality of wind farm components. The operating data of the wind farm components are recorded and are stored in the relevant wind farm component. The operating data are sent to a plurality of receivers using a push method. The method simplifies the management of the operating data and requires only minimal transmission capacity in the data line of the wind farm component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Publication date: August 20, 2009
    Applicant: REpower Systems AG
    Inventors: Guntram KUNFT, Ralf ELSNER, Markus BOOK, Matthias PRINZ
  • Patent number: 7571013
    Abstract: A method for optimization of operating parameters of a wind energy installation defines an upper and a lower interval limit value for a parameter to be optimized. The method includes carrying out a cycle with alternate operations of the wind energy installation with the interval limit values, with a data record in each case being produced with a target variable over a variable number of repetitions. The data records relating to the interval limit values are evaluated to form a quality measure, and the interval limit value with the poorer quality measure is identified. Then, at least the interval limit value with the poorer quality measure is replaced by shifting through a step value ? in a direction of another interval limit value. The cycle is then repeated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: REpower Systems AG
    Inventor: Jens Altemark
  • Publication number: 20090159549
    Abstract: A method for handling a wind powerplant's rotor hub (11) or to handle a wind powerplant's rotor (10) using a hoist, in particular for erecting a wind powerplant or for assembling or disassembling a rotor (11) to and from such a powerplant, in particular a hub (11) or a rotor (10) being configured by means of one assembly side to the wind powerplant's tower, the hub (11) or rotor (10) being raised or held by the hoist. In the raised state, the hub (11) is tilted by a tilting mechanism (15) acting on it out of the initial, raised position by a predetermined angle of tilting, or the rotor (10) is tilted by a tilting mechanism (15) acting on the rotor blade roots of the rotor (10) through a predetermined angle of tilting. A mechanism (15) to handle a wind powerplant's rotor hub (11) of a wind powerplant's rotor (10), in particular for assembling or dismantling a rotor to or from its wind powerplant.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: June 25, 2009
    Applicant: REPOWER SYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Alf Trede, Oliver Heinecke, Carsten Eusterbarkey
  • Patent number: 7550862
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine comprising a machine housing (12) equipped with a rotor (14), which is mounted to pivot on a sub-structure (10). Wind parameters and an electromechanical quantity are determined by means of measuring devices (21, 22, 23). To enable the machine housing (12) to track the wind, the wind turbine is equipped with a pivoting device (11) comprising a controller (8). The wind turbine is also equipped with a calibration module (2), which is configured to determine an effective mass of the electromechanical quantity using the wind speed. In addition, the turbine comprises an evaluation device (4) comprising a classifier (40), which is used to form a first average value for a first class, for which the wind direction is positive and a second average value for a second class, for which the wind direction is negative. A difference is determined by means of a comparator and a calibration signal is emitted to the controller (8) of the pivoting device (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: REpower Systems AG
    Inventor: Jens Altemark
  • Publication number: 20090115191
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the operation of a wind energy plant (10), wherein the wind energy plant (10) has a rotor (11) with a rotor axis and at least one rotor blade (15, 15?) arranged on the rotor (11), wherein the rotor blade (15, 15?) is adjustable or adjusted around a rotor blade axis with a predetermined rotor blade pitch angle. Further, at least one rotor blade (15, 15?) is rotated into an idle position, the rotation of the rotor blade (15, 15?) is braked after a first predetermined rotational position of the rotor blade (15, 15?) is reached and the stand-still position of the rotor blade (15, 15?) reached as a result of the braking procedure is captured. Furthermore, the invention relates to a wind energy plant (10) with a rotor (11) and at least one angle-adjustable rotor blade (15, 15?) arranged on the rotor (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: REPOWER SYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Karsten Warfen, Jens Altemark
  • Patent number: 7528496
    Abstract: A method for operating at least one wind turbine with a rotor and an electric generator coupled to the rotor for delivering electrical power into an energy distribution system with the aid of a control device ensures that the wind turbine operates within its operating range. The wind turbine is controlled in response to the change of a system operating parameter and for a period of time, in such a manner that a higher power is fed into the system than belongs to the operating range of the steady-state operation. The same conditions also apply to a method for providing control power or primary control power for an electric energy generator and distributor system to which a multiplicity of power stations including wind turbines is connected, and to a wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: REpower Systems AG
    Inventor: Jens Fortmann
  • Publication number: 20090102196
    Abstract: A method and a system are for determining of the compatibility of control software, which is designed for standard parameters, with a wind energy installation which is operated using operating parameters. The method is an automatic method in which the operating parameters of the wind energy installation and the standard parameters of the control software are first transmitted to a computation unit. The computation unit determines discrepancies between the operating parameters and the standard parameters. A decision on compatibility is made on the basis of the discrepancies. The system includes a logic module which is designed to make the decision. This method makes it easier to automatically update the control software for a wind energy installation. There is no longer any need to manually check the compatibility of the new version of the control software before the new version of the control software can be installed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicant: REpower Systems AG
    Inventors: Jens ALTEMARK, Markus BOCK, Anton KUPPER
  • Publication number: 20090021014
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: REpower Systems AG
    Inventor: Heinz-Hermann LETAS
  • Publication number: 20090001726
    Abstract: A wind energy installation includes a tower provided with rotor blades that are adjusted using a servomotor connected to a pitch circuit and an emergency circuit. During normal operation the rotor blades are actuated by the pitch circuit and during emergency operation are actuated by the emergency circuit. The emergency circuit has an electric energy store, a switching device, connection lines to the servomotor and a protection device which includes comprises a power flow detector module (60) designed for determining whether electric power flows into or from the servomotor and a discharge module designed to limit the voltage and/or current in the emergency circuit in the case of a power flow from the servomotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2007
    Publication date: January 1, 2009
    Applicant: REpower Systems AG
    Inventors: Karsten Warfen, Heinz-Hermann Letas
  • Patent number: 7470111
    Abstract: A wind turbine equipped with a tower, a nacelle rotatably mounted on the tower, a rotor rotatable at the nacelle about a rotor axis of rotation and including one rotor hub and at least one rotor blade which is coupled by a blade bearing to the rotor hub while rotatable about a blade adjustment axis. The blade bearing includes an inner ring firmly affixed to the rotor hub and an outer ring that is fitted with a toothing and that is firmly connected to the rotor blade. The rotor blade is rotatable by a blade adjustment drive including a drive motor actuating a drive pinion meshing with the outer toothing of the outer ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: Repower Systems AG
    Inventor: Matthias Schubert
  • Publication number: 20080303281
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the operation of a wind power plant (11) with a rotor (10) and a rotating apparatus (20, 22, 24) connected with the rotor (10), wherein a rotor speed (nR) and a rotating apparatus speed (n) are interrelated via a specifiable transmission ratio, wherein the rotating apparatus speed (n) is determined, and wherein a rotational speed measurement value (rpmi) is captured for the determination of the rotating apparatus speed (n). The method according to the invention is characterized in that the rotational speed measurement value (rpmi) is corrected with an intermittently variable correction value (rpmi,c) so that the determined rotating apparatus speed (rpmi,f) results, and wherein the determined rotating apparatus speed (rpmi,f) is fed as the actual value into a regulation apparatus (36) of the wind power plant (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2008
    Publication date: December 11, 2008
    Applicant: REPOWER SYSTEMS AG
    Inventor: Thomas Krueger
  • Publication number: 20080290664
    Abstract: Provided herein is a wind energy installation including a generator for production of electrical energy, a rotor which drives the generator and has variable pitch rotor blades and a central control device, and individual pitch devices provided individually for the rotor blades. The individual pitch devices may include an adjustment drive, a communication link to the central control device and a regulator, the rotor blades being adjustable in order to slow down the wind energy installation to a shut-down position. The individual pitch devices may also include a disturbance situation detector which is designed to identify abnormal operating states and to move the rotor blades to a shut-down position. Also provided herein is the method of operating such a wind energy installation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2006
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: REpower Systems AG
    Inventor: Thomas Kruger
  • Publication number: 20080265577
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: REpower Systems AG
    Inventors: Jens Fortmann, Jens Altemark, Jorg Zeumer
  • Publication number: 20080240922
    Abstract: The invention relates to a connection between components of a wind turbine. More specifically, the present invention relates to components for a wind turbine having a diameter of more than 0.5 m, preferably more than 1.0 m, and more preferably more than 1.5 m. The wind turbine includes two components that are connected together, whereby each component has a contact surface. The surface of the contact surface of a first component is softer than the surface of the contact surface of a second component. Further, the surface of the contact surface of the second component is annealed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: REPOWER SYSTEMS AG
    Inventor: Carsten Eusterbarkey
  • Patent number: 7407342
    Abstract: This invention entails a wind energy system for offshore use with a longitudinal direction (L) running substantially vertically to an ocean surface in the erected state and with a plurality of feet determined for making contact with the ocean bottom whose extensions in the longitudinal direction (L), especially the depth and/or relief of the ocean bottom, are adapted to a predetermined erection site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: REpower Systems AG
    Inventor: Marc Seidel
  • Publication number: 20080136188
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for regulation of the rotational speed (52) of a rotor on a wind energy unit with a generator and a rotor blade. The first set parameter is a pitch angle (Pitch) of the rotor blade and the second set parameter is the torque of the generator. The system comprises a pitch angle control or regulation device (32), a torque control or regulation device (33), a first device for determination of a first rotational speed set value (28) (first rotational speed set value determination device (29)) and a second device (26) for determination of a second rotational speed set value (29) (second rotational speed set value determination device (26)). The first rotational speed set value (28) may be supplied to the pitch angle control or regulation device (32) and the second rotational speed set value (29) may be supplied to the torque control or regulation device (33), wherein the first and second rotational speed set value (28, 2)) may be different from each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: REPOWER SYSTEMS AG
    Inventor: Thomas Krueger
  • Publication number: 20080118342
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine and a method for operating the wind turbine planted in the floor of a body of water. The wind turbine includes a support structure and a rotor, which is arranged on the support structure. The rotor has a rotor blade. The wind turbine operates in a trundle mode in order to reduce the oscillations in the support structure created through mechanical impacts on the support structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: REPOWER SYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Marc Seidel, Martin Von Mutius, Dirk Steudel