Patents Assigned to Repower Systems AG
  • Patent number: 8961143
    Abstract: A rotor blade of a wind power plant in which the rotor blade has a longitudinal extension that extends from a rotor blade root substantially to a rotor blade tip. At least in one region of the rotor blade, an aerodynamic cross-sectional profile is provided, which has a leading edge (nose) and a trailing edge, which are connected via a suction side and a pressure side of the cross-sectional profile. The rotor blade is subdivided at least in a longitudinally extended section into a front rotor blade section with the leading edge and a rear rotor blade section with the trailing edge. The rear region of the front rotor blade section and the adjacent front region of the rear rotor blade section are connected through an I-beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Repower Systems AG
    Inventors: Jens Kulenkampff, Claus Weegen, Mario Kontis
  • Patent number: 8283803
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: RePower Systems AG
    Inventors: Jens Fortmann, Friedrich Koch
  • Patent number: 8189353
    Abstract: A method for the operation of a converter of a power-generating generator system that can be connected to an electrical AC network, and the use of the converter is provided. The converter is operated by a regulation device regulating the converter as an active audio frequency block. At least one audio frequency current of at least one specified audio frequency is detected. An AC current progression that is to be transmitted to the converter in the regulation device is determined, where at least one audio frequency current is at least partially impressed on the AC current progression. The AC current progression in the converter is generated. The AC current progression generated by the converter is then supplied to the AC network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Repower Systems AG
    Inventor: Heinz-Hermann Letas
  • Patent number: 8167575
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Repower Systems AG
    Inventor: Carsten Eusterbarkey
  • Patent number: 8169097
    Abstract: A method for the operation of a wind power plant (10), wherein in particular the wind power plant (10) will be or is switched off after a shutdown signal is triggered by a safety shutdown device (20) that is logically superordinate to an operating control system. The wind power plant (10) is released for operation by means of an operating device (41) that is spatially separated from the wind power plant (10) after a safety shutdown. An energy supply system with at least one wind power plant (10) and safety chain on a wind power plant are also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Repower Systems AG
    Inventor: Roland Weitkamp
  • Patent number: 8157523
    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: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Repower Systems AG
    Inventors: Karsten Warfen, Jens Altemark
  • Patent number: 8157522
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the calibration of at least one sensor (11-14) of a wind power plant (10). The invention also relates to a wind power plant (10). The calibration process according to the invention is captured by the at least one sensor (11-14). The measurement value (30, 31), which is a measure for the load of a component (15-17), is evaluated, wherein the wind power plant has at least the moveable component (15, 15?, 15?, 16, 17), wherein the component (15-17) is pivoted or rotated around a predeterminable axis (19, 20). The wind power plant according to the invention is provided with a calibration module for the automatic calibration of at least one sensor (11-14), which measures the load of a movable component (15-17) of the wind power plant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Repower Systems AG
    Inventor: Detlef Bolz
  • Patent number: 8143734
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Repower Systems AG
    Inventors: Dirk Steudel, Martin Von Mutius
  • Patent number: 8133029
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotor blade attachment (17), in particular of a wind power plant (1), for the connection of a rotor blade (5) with an attachment device (4), including a transverse pin (20, 20?) and a connecting device (13, 21), which can be brought together to establish an operative connection, wherein the connecting device (13, 21) defines a longitudinal axis. The rotor blade attachment (17) is characterized in that the transverse pin (20, 21?) in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the connecting device has a higher bending stiffness than transversally to the longitudinal axis (18). An alternative rotor blade attachment (17) is characterized in that the transverse pins (20, 20?) are arranged in at least two rows (33, 34), wherein at least a first row (33) is arranged closer to the blade-root-side end (19) of the rotor blade (5) than at least a second row (34).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Repower Systems AG
    Inventors: Peter Quell, Urs Bendel, Matthias Schubert, Carsten Eusterbarkey
  • Patent number: 8123485
    Abstract: A rotor hub (10) of a wind power plant for a rotor, in particular with at least one rotor blade is provided, wherein a hub core body (12) and at least one hub outer body (16) are connected together by means of a flange connection (18). The rotor hub (10) is further characterized in that the flange connection (18) is constructed with a predetermined tilt angle (?) towards the rotational axis (24) of the rotor, wherein the tilt angle (?) of the flange connection (18) is constructed larger than the tilt angle (?) of the rotor blade connection surface of the hub outer body (16). Furthermore, a wind power plant may be provided with the rotor hub (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Repower Systems AG
    Inventor: Peter Quell
  • Patent number: 8057158
    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: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Repower Systems AG
    Inventors: Marc Seidel, Martin Von Mutius, Dirk Steudel
  • Patent number: 8052394
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotor blade (60) of a wind energy plant with a top side (suction side) and a bottom side (pressure side) wherein profiles (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) with a front edge and a back edge (62) in cross-section are designed along a longitudinal axis between a rotor blade root and a rotor blade tip, one designed-based direction of air inflow (31, 32, 33, 34, 35) is predetermined for each profile (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) and the profiles (21, 22, 23, 24, 25) in the outer area facing the rotor blade tip are designed with a relative thickness of less than 30%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Repower Systems AG
    Inventors: Marc Petsche, Urs Bendel
  • Patent number: 7939955
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a wind energy installation (10), in which the wind energy installation (10) has a rotor (12, 13, 22), at least one rotor blade (14) with an adjustable angle, a mechanical brake device (19) for braking the rotor (14), an operational control device (15, 15?) and a safety system (16, 20). The invention also relates to a corresponding wind energy installation (10). The method according to the invention is defined by the following method steps: braking of the rotor (12, 13, 22) by means of an angular adjustment (28) with an average angular adjustment rate of less than 8.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Repower Systems AG
    Inventors: Stefan Steiner, Martin Von Mutius
  • Patent number: 7741728
    Abstract: A wind turbine with a rotor and a generator driven by, the rotor generates electrical power and delivers it to a power system. A control unit controlling the operation of the plant includes a reactive-power control module. The control unit includes also a determining device for a safe minimum active power. Furthermore, and a limiting device for the reactive-power control module, wherein the reactive power is limited to such a measure that the safe minimum active power is still available, taking into consideration the available power. As a result, the total current generated, apart from the active current required for the safe operation of the plant, can be fed into the power system as reactive current as backup in the case of a voltage drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Repower Systems AG
    Inventors: Jens Fortmann, Heinz-Hermann Letas
  • Patent number: 7629702
    Abstract: Reduction in power output or rotor speed of a wind turbine above a defined limit value, the reduction not being implemented based on the measured wind speed, but on an input value which on one hand is easily detected physically and by control technology and on the other hand is a good indicator of mechanical stresses on the wind turbine. The invention uses the rotor-blade angle as the input value in a manner that starting at the limit value, the reduction in power output or in rotor speed is adjusted as a function of the rotor-blade angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2009
    Assignee: Repower Systems AG
    Inventor: Matthias Schubert
  • 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
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7276808
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tower for a wind power station comprising a machine pod disposed on the tower and a rotor mounted on the machine pod so as to be rotatable about an essentially horizontal axis. Said rotor is provided with at least one blade. The tower is composed of a tubular upper section that is connected to a lower section which is embodied as a lattice tower in a transition zone. The lattice tower encompasses at least three corner posts. The upper tower section forms at least one sixth of the entire tower. The cross section of the lower tower section below the transition zone is greater than the cross section of the upper tower section while the transition zone is configured such that the cross section of the lower tower section is adjusted to the cross section of the upper tower section so as to optimize power flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Repower Systems AG
    Inventors: Roland Weitkamp, Uwe Hinz, Stephan Schäfer
  • Patent number: 7275912
    Abstract: The invention relates to a management system for the operation of a wind turbine, which regulates the power output of the turbine. The wind turbine includes a rotor with at least one rotor blade that is positioned at an adjustable angle to the rotor. The management system regulates the rotor speed within a predefined wind speed range by varying the rotor blade angle in order to set a nominal output and reduces the output in excess of a defined wind-speed-dependent threshold value. The threshold value is a defined rotor blade limiting angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2007
    Assignee: Repower Systems AG
    Inventor: Dirk Steudel