Patents Examined by Thomas K Quigley
-
Patent number: 11293403Abstract: A method for preventing catastrophic damage in a drivetrain of a wind turbine includes receiving, via a controller, a speed measurement of the generator of the drivetrain. The method also includes determining an electrical torque of a generator of the drivetrain of the wind turbine. The method further includes estimating, via the controller, a mechanical torque of the rotor as a function of at least one of the electrical torque and the speed measurement of the generator. Further, the method includes comparing, via the controller, the estimated mechanical torque to an implausible torque threshold, wherein torque values above the implausible torque threshold speed values greater that the implausible speed threshold. Moreover, the method includes implementing, via the controller, a control action for the wind turbine when the estimated mechanical torque exceeds the implausible torque threshold.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2019Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mark Edward Cardinal, Drake Joseph Viscome, Mathew Doyle Angel
-
Patent number: 11289974Abstract: The disclosure is directed to an apparatus for generating energy in response to a vehicle wheel rotation. The apparatus may include a first roller comprising a curved roller surface configured to be positioned in substantial physical contact with a first wheel of the vehicle. The first roller may be configured to rotate in response to a rotation of the first wheel. The apparatus may further include a first shaft rotatably couplable to the first roller such that rotation of the first roller causes the first shaft to rotate. The apparatus may further include a first generator operably coupled to the first shaft. The generator may be configured to generate an electrical output based on the rotation of the first shaft and convey the electrical output to an energy storage device or to a motor of the vehicle that converts electrical energy to mechanical energy to rotate one or more wheels of the vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: August 24, 2021Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Inventor: Anthony Macaluso
-
Patent number: 11286904Abstract: A method for use in controlling a wind turbine generator of a wind power plant based on a condition of a power converter or a component forming part of a power converter in the wind power plant. The method comprises determining the initial condition of the power converter or a component forming part of a power converter and determining the evolution of the condition from the initial condition based on notional power reference values of the wind turbine generator. The method further comprises comparing the evolution of the condition to a predetermined threshold and determining, from the comparison, a time period by which the condition of the power converter or a component forming part of a power converter will substantially equal the predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2018Date of Patent: March 29, 2022Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/SInventors: Gert Karmisholt Andersen, Lars Helle, Poul Møhl Dyrlund, Morteza Rabi, Duy Duc Doan
-
Patent number: 11242840Abstract: An ocean water power-generator for generation of renewable energy.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 2020Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Inventor: Yik Hei Sia
-
Patent number: 11242841Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a wind turbine based on a collective pitch-offset. Accordingly, a wind condition acting on a rotor of the wind turbine is determined, and a first collective pitch angle for the plurality of rotor blades is set, and the wind turbine is operated. A thrust of the rotor based, at least in part, on the wind condition is determined, and an actual collective pitch angle is calculated. A collective pitch offset is determined based on the difference between the first collective pitch angle and the actual collective pitch angle. The collective pitch offset is integrated with at least one pitch setpoint command. The at least one pitch setpoint command is transmitted to a pitch control mechanism of the wind turbine.Type: GrantFiled: October 15, 2020Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Bernard Landa, Samuel Bryan Shartzer, Shuang Gu
-
Patent number: 11242842Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for forecasting a farm-level power output of a wind farm having a plurality of wind turbines. The method includes collecting actual operational data and/or site information for the wind farm. The method also includes predicting operational data for the wind farm for a future time period. Further, the method includes generating a model-based power output forecast based on the actual operational data, the predicted operational data, and/or the site information. In addition, the method includes measuring real-time operational data from the wind farm and adjusting the power output forecast based on the measured real-time operational data. Thus, the method also includes forecasting the farm-level power output of the wind farm based on the adjusted power output forecast.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2017Date of Patent: February 8, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert August Kaucic, Zhanpan Zhang, Subhankar Ghosh, Hongyan Liu, Necip Doganaksoy
-
Patent number: 11236728Abstract: The exemplary embodiments herein provide an airborne power generation assembly comprising an airborne power generation unit, a submersible platform, an electrified tether winch attached to the submersible platform, an electrified tether connecting between the electrified tether winch and the airborne power generation unit, and a power output exiting from the submersible platform. Embodiments include an underwater docking station with a docking station tether connecting the submersible platform to the underwater docking station. The submersible platform or the underwater docking station may be anchored to the sea bed. Other embodiments include winches for the sea bed anchor tethers and docking station tether.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2020Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: WINDLIFT LLCInventors: Rob Creighton, Andrew Stough
-
Patent number: 11239778Abstract: This method for stabilizing the rotation speed of a hydraulic machine having S-characteristic and comprising a distributor (9) is adapted to modify a water flow, so that the machine can be coupled to a grid. The method comprises the steps of calculating an orientation of the distributor (9); and orienting the distributor according to the calculated orientation. The method further comprises the steps of providing an electric torque to the machine so as to reach a target speed.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2018Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Inventors: Renaud Guillaume, Theophane Foggia, Quentin Alloin
-
Patent number: 11236732Abstract: A generator, in particular of a wind power installation, for generating electric current, comprising a rotor and a stator having stator teeth and grooves arranged between said stator teeth for receiving at least one stator winding, wherein a measuring device is provided to determine the deflection of at least one stator tooth of the stator in connection with the generator, wherein the measuring device is connected to at least one measuring unit, which is embodied as a strain gauge.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2019Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbHInventor: Peter Rosenbusch
-
Patent number: 11230387Abstract: A motor driven propulsor of an aircraft includes magnets disposed in fan shrouds of fan blades connected with a fan hub, a stator having individual conductive coils in a nacelle located radially outside of the fan hub, and a distributed inverter assembly having several inverter power stages and gate drivers, each of the inverter power stages coupled with a separate gate driver of the gate drivers and a separate coil of the coils in the stator. Each of the gate drivers is configured to individually control supply of direct current to the corresponding inverter power stage. Each of the inverter power stages is configured to convert the direct current supplied to the inverter power stage to an alternating current that is supplied to the corresponding coil in the stator to rotate the magnets and the fan blades around a center line of the fan hub for propelling the aircraft.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2020Date of Patent: January 25, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Narendra Digamber Joshi, Konrad Weeber, Michael Solomon Idelchik
-
Patent number: 11223265Abstract: An electric generator comprising a rotor housing; a rotor mounted in the rotor housing, with two opposed main faces; permanent magnets circumferentially arranged in front of one of the main faces of the rotor; coils circumferentially arranged in front of the other one of the main faces of the rotor; the rotor being configured for, upon rotation, vary a magnetic flux through the coils produced by the permanent magnets, so as to generate electromotive forces in said coils; wherein the coils are arranged outside of the rotor housing. Also a valve for gas cylinder, equipped with a corresponding electric generator.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2018Date of Patent: January 11, 2022Assignees: Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST), Rotarex S.A.Inventors: Mathieu Gerard, Jérôme Polesel Maris
-
Patent number: 11209022Abstract: The VEHICLE WITH TRAVELING WAVE THRUST MODULE APPARATUSES, METHODS AND SYSTEMS include force or forces applied to an arc-like flexible sheet-like material to create a deformed crenated strip fin with strained-deformations. The strained-deformations take on a sinusoid-like form that express the internal energy state of the flexible sheet-like material after it has been configured into a crenated strip fin. After being incorporated into a mechanism with couplings that prevent the crenated strip fin from returning to its un-strained state, the strained-deformations persist. Actuators may be used to sequentially rotate vertebrae attached to the fins causing the travel of sinusoid-like deformations along the fins. The fin, fin actuator or actuators, power source and central controller may be incorporated into a thrust module. Two thrust modules couple to each other via roll actuators and flexible coupling members may form a vehicle with exceptional maneuverability.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2019Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: Pliant Energy Systems LLCInventors: Benjamin Pietro Filardo, Daniel S. Zimmerman, Michael I. Weaker
-
Patent number: 11208984Abstract: Provided are a method and an apparatus for controlling a pitch of a wind turbine under an extreme turbulence wind condition. The method includes: obtaining a first pitch parameter for a current time; obtaining a historical second pitch parameter in a predetermined time period before the current time; determining an updated threshold based on the obtained historical second pitch parameter; comparing the first pitch parameter for the current time with the determined updated threshold; and updating the first pitch parameter for the current time based on a result of the comparison.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2018Date of Patent: December 28, 2021Assignee: XINJIANG GOLD WIND SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Yongming Li, Shuchun Zhao
-
Patent number: 11204017Abstract: Embodiments herein describe validating an emergency stop signal before activating a brake within a wind turbine. The emergency stop signal is received from a control node of a plurality of control nodes distributed throughout the wind turbine, and the emergency stop signal indicates that the wind turbine should be shut down. The wind turbine is shut down by transmitting a shutdown signal to the plurality of control nodes. Upon determining there is no indication a person is present within the wind turbine, the emergency stop signal is validated. Additionally, upon determining the emergency stop signal is valid, a brake within the wind turbine is activated to bring the rotor to a stop.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2018Date of Patent: December 21, 2021Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/SInventors: Lars Rohrmann Andersen, Peter Gjellerup Schiønning, David Steele
-
Patent number: 11168669Abstract: A method for wind converter management, first and second data associated with a group of first measurements and a second measurement of the wind converter may be collected respectively. An association between the group of first measurements and the second measurement of the wind converter may be obtained. A condition of the wind converter may be determined based on a comparison of the collected first and second data and the obtained association. Also, the apparatuses, systems, computer readable media and IoT systems for wind converter management.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2020Date of Patent: November 9, 2021Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Rongrong Yu, Niya Chen, Hailian Xie, Jiayang Ruan, Antti Vinko
-
Patent number: 11156207Abstract: The present invention relates to operation of a wind turbine using a power storage unit, such as a rechargeable battery, to power a group of power consuming units during grid loss. The wind turbine comprises a number of power consuming units being grouped into at least a first group and a second group, a first electrical converter for connecting the generator to the electrical grid, and a second electrical converter for connecting the electrical generator to the power storage unit. Upon detecting an occurrence of the grid loss, the generator is operated to ensure sufficient power of the power storage unit to operate the first group of power consuming units.Type: GrantFiled: June 8, 2018Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/SInventors: Torben Møller Hansen, Niels Erik Danielsen, Tusitha Abeyasekera, Lars Helle, Ghada Ali Diaa Hillawi, Laurids Givskov Jørgensen, Paw Rosenvard
-
Patent number: 11156196Abstract: A starting device is used in a starting system that includes a starting electric motor unit and a rotating electrical machine; the starting electric motor unit including a motor that rotates a pinion gear, and a pushing member that pushes out the pinion gear toward a ring gear, the ring gear rotating together with a crankshaft of an engine; the rotating electrical machine being connected to the crankshaft and rotating the crankshaft; the starting system being configured to push, using the pushing member, the pinion gear toward the ring gear, and drive the motor to rotate, based on driving force of the motor, the ring gear via the pinion gear, thus starting the engine. The starting device includes a drive instruction unit that instructs the rotating electrical machine to rotate the ring gear via the crankshaft during a pre-drive period before drive of the motor.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2019Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignees: DENSO CORPORATION, TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventors: Minoru Ishida, Minoru Okamiya, Takayuki Kogure, Hiroshi Enomoto, Takahisa Miura
-
Patent number: 11156201Abstract: A buoyant wave energy device is disclosed that incorporates an open-bottomed tube of substantial length in which is partially enclosed a first body of water that oscillates in response to wave action. The device incorporates a buoy to which an upper end of the tube is connected and inside of which is trapped a second body of water of substantial mass. A differential phase in the oscillations of the water trapped in the tube, and the oscillations of the buoy of augmented mass, result in the periodic compression of a pocket of air trapped at the top of the tube, and in the subsequent expulsion of pressurized air through a turbine, thereby generating electrical power.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 2019Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Lone Gull Holdings, Ltd.Inventors: Garth Alexander Sheldon-Coulson, Brian Lee Moffat, Daniel William Place
-
Patent number: 11159083Abstract: A wind power installation and a method for feeding a filtered alternating current into an electrical supply grid by the wind power installation are provided. The wind power installation includes at least one inverter having an inverter output for providing an inverter current. The at least one inverter is coupled at its inverter output to an active filter. The active filter filters the inverter current provided at the inverter output and provides the filtered alternating current for feeding into the electrical supply grid. The method includes providing the inverter current at the inverter output by switching at least one switch of the inverter, sensing the switching, and controlling the active filter based on the sensed switching to filter the inverter current provided at the inverter output and produce the filtered alternating current.Type: GrantFiled: July 22, 2019Date of Patent: October 26, 2021Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbHInventor: Christian Heyen
-
Patent number: 11149713Abstract: The present disclosure provides a control method, device and system for a wind turbine. The control method includes: acquiring current working conditions of a power system, a yaw system and a communication system of the wind turbine when a typhoon warning signal is received; determining a target control strategy corresponding to the current working conditions according to a preset corresponding relationship between control strategies and working conditions of the power system, the yaw system and the communication system, wherein the control strategies may include an active windward strategy for controlling the yaw system to face typhoon wind direction, a controlled passive leeward strategy for controlling the yaw system to face opposite to the typhoon wind direction, and a passive leeward strategy for adjusting the yaw system to face opposite to the typhoon wind direction; and controlling the wind turbine by using the target control strategy.Type: GrantFiled: May 17, 2018Date of Patent: October 19, 2021Assignee: XINJIANG GOLDWIND SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.Inventors: Gang Deng, Jinfeng Yin, Huixun Li, Xiang Zhao, Xianyou Wu