Patents by Inventor Andre Langel

Andre Langel has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 10910842
    Abstract: System for providing electrical power to wind turbine components comprising a busbar, an electrical grid, and an auxiliary power source for selectively providing electrical power to the busbar with an auxiliary power voltage, wherein the main voltage is different from the auxiliary power voltage. The system includes one or more wind turbines comprising a wind turbine generator, a main transformer for connecting the wind turbine generator to the busbar, one or more wind turbine components, and an auxiliary wind turbine transformer. The wind turbine components are arranged to be selectively connected to the main transformer and the busbar through a first path or a second path. The system is configured to select the first path if the voltage at the busbar is the main voltage and to select the second path if the voltage at the busbar is the auxiliary power voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Sergi Rates Palau, Kevin Schoenleber, Andre Langel
  • Patent number: 10541523
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a cable securement assembly for protecting cables and/or cable bundles within a wind turbine. The cable securement assembly includes a cable spacer having an inner surface and an outer surface separated by a thickness and one or more fastening components. The inner surface defines an open center configured to receive the plurality of cables therein. The inner surface defines a plurality of cable locations defined by one or more through holes configured through the thickness. The one or more fastening components are configured to secure one or more of the plurality of cables at each cable location via the through holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Jiahong Wang, Craig Dement, Jiemin Fu, Jay Leonard, Yang Liu, Roman Kolar, Edward Wayne Hardwicke, Andre Langel
  • Patent number: 10502196
    Abstract: A slip ring system for a wind turbine for electrically connecting a first electrical device and a second electrical device, wherein the first electrical device is mounted to a rotor of the wind turbine, and the second electrical device is mounted to a nacelle of the wind turbine, is provided. The slip ring system comprises a slip ring apparatus and a rotational damping apparatus, with which an electrical connection between the first electrical device and the second electrical device can be established. The slip ring apparatus has a rotatable component with a rotatable electrode and a non-rotatable support electrode, wherein the rotatable electrode is electrically connected to the first electrical device, and the support electrode is electrically connected to the second electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Stephan Kluemper, Andre Langel, Thomas Edenfeld, Xianglei Chen
  • Publication number: 20180358814
    Abstract: System for providing electrical power to wind turbine components comprising a busbar, an electrical grid, and an auxiliary power source for selectively providing electrical power to the busbar with an auxiliary power voltage, wherein the main voltage is different from the auxiliary power voltage. The system includes one or more wind turbines comprising a wind turbine generator, a main transformer for connecting the wind turbine generator to the busbar, one or more wind turbine components, and an auxiliary wind turbine transformer. The wind turbine components are arranged to be selectively connected to the main transformer and the busbar through a first path or a second path. The system is configured to select the first path if the voltage at the busbar is the main voltage and to select the second path if the voltage at the busbar is the auxiliary power voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 13, 2018
    Inventors: Sergi RATES PALAU, Kevin SCHOENLEBER, Andre LANGEL
  • Publication number: 20170328352
    Abstract: A slip ring system for a wind turbine for electrically connecting a first electrical device and a second electrical device, wherein the first electrical device is mounted to a rotor of the wind turbine, and the second electrical device is mounted to a nacelle of the wind turbine, is provided. The slip ring system comprises a slip ring apparatus and a rotational damping apparatus, with which an electrical connection between the first electrical device and the second electrical device can be established. The slip ring apparatus has a rotatable component with a rotatable electrode and a non-rotatable support electrode, wherein the rotatable electrode is electrically connected to the first electrical device, and the support electrode is electrically connected to the second electrical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2016
    Publication date: November 16, 2017
    Inventors: Stephan Kluemper, Andre Langel, Thomas Edenfeld, Xianglei Chen
  • Patent number: 9745959
    Abstract: A wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a transformer having a low-voltage side and a high-voltage side. The transformer is configured to step up a voltage of the low-voltage side of the transformer to a voltage of an external grid. The wind turbine further includes an electrical power generating unit which is connected to the low-voltage side of the transformer and configured to feed an ac-power to the low-voltage side of the transformer. A charging device of the wind turbine is connected to the low-voltage side of the transformer and configured to charge the low-voltage side of the transformer when the generator does not feed ac-power to the low-voltage side of the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Andre Langel
  • Publication number: 20170237248
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a cable securement assembly for protecting cables and/or cable bundles within a wind turbine. The cable securement assembly includes a cable spacer having an inner surface and an outer surface separated by a thickness and one or more fastening components. The inner surface defines an open center configured to receive the plurality of cables therein. The inner surface defines a plurality of cable locations defined by one or more through holes configured through the thickness. The one or more fastening components are configured to secure one or more of the plurality of cables at each cable location via the through holes.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2014
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: Jiahong WANG, Craig DEMENT, Jiemin FU, Jay LEONARD, Yang LIU, Roman KOLAR, Edward Wayne HARDWICKE, Andre LANGEL
  • Publication number: 20170097110
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a wind turbine drip loop cable securement assembly. The assembly includes at least one flexible ring component and a plurality of flexible straps circumferentially mounted to the flexible ring component. More specifically, the flexible ring component has an inner surface and an outer surface separated by a thickness. The inner surface defines an open center configured to receive the one or more cables therein. Further, the flexible straps have a first end and a second end. Thus, the first end is configured to be mounted to an interior wall of a tower of the wind turbine, whereas the second end is configured to be mounted to the outer surface of the ring component so as to minimize movement of the cables.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Publication date: April 6, 2017
    Inventors: Sirin Hamsho, Timothy W. Jayko, Andre Langel
  • Publication number: 20160311641
    Abstract: A system for installing an electric cable in a tower of a wind turbine is provided. This system comprises at least one cable drum designed for carrying and controlled releasing of at least one electric cable for a wind turbine. Further, the system contains a drum support for rotatably supporting said at least one cable drum, wherein the drum support is configured to be mounted within an interior of a segment of the tower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2015
    Publication date: October 27, 2016
    Inventor: Andre Langel
  • Patent number: 9088150
    Abstract: An overvoltage clipping device for clipping an overvoltage occurring at a main transformer of a wind turbine is provided. The overvoltage clipping device includes a detection unit for detecting an actual voltage level at the main transformer. The determination unit which is operatively connected to the detection unit determines whether the actual voltage level is above a predetermined reference voltage level. At least one switching unit is provided which is operatively connected to the determination unit for electrically coupling at least two transformer terminals of the main transformer. The control unit drives the switching unit if the detected actual voltage level is above the predetermined reference voltage level such that the at least two transformer terminals are electrically coupled to each other by the switching unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Andre Langel
  • Publication number: 20130307271
    Abstract: A wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a transformer having a low-voltage side and a high-voltage side. The transformer is configured to step up a voltage of the low-voltage side of the transformer to a voltage of an external grid. The wind turbine further includes an electrical power generating unit which is connected to the low-voltage side of the transformer and configured to feed an ac-power to the low-voltage side of the transformer. A charging device of the wind turbine is connected to the low-voltage side of the transformer and configured to charge the low-voltage side of the transformer when the generator does not feed ac-power to the low-voltage side of the transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Andre LANGEL
  • Publication number: 20130301167
    Abstract: A transformer arrangement for a wind energy system is described. The transformer arrangement includes a transformer core; a primary winding wound around the transformer core and adapted for being connected to an electrical load; a first secondary winding wound around the transformer core and adapted for being connected to a power source; and a control system for controlling the first transformer. Further, the transformer arrangement includes a part of a second secondary winding adapted for being connected to a power source and adapted for reducing at least one of for the voltage of the first secondary winding and the voltage applied to the electrical components of the wind turbine in the case of an overvoltage event.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventor: Andre Langel
  • Publication number: 20130234434
    Abstract: An overvoltage clipping device for clipping an overvoltage occurring at a main transformer of a wind turbine is provided. The overvoltage clipping device includes a detection unit for detecting an actual voltage level at the main transformer. The determination unit which is operatively connected to the detection unit determines whether the actual voltage level is above a predetermined reference voltage level. At least one switching unit is provided which is operatively connected to the determination unit for electrically coupling at least two transformer terminals of the main transformer. The control unit drives the switching unit if the detected actual voltage level is above the predetermined reference voltage level such that the at least two transformer terminals are electrically coupled to each other by the switching unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Inventor: Andre Langel
  • Patent number: 8519568
    Abstract: A wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a transformer having a low-voltage side and a high-voltage side. The transformer is configured to step up a voltage of the low-voltage side of the transformer to a voltage of an external grid. The wind turbine further includes an electrical power generating unit which is connected to the low-voltage side of the transformer and configured to feed an ac-power to the low-voltage side of the transformer. A charging device of the wind turbine is connected to the low-voltage side of the transformer and configured to charge the low-voltage side of the transformer when the generator does not feed ac-power to the low-voltage side of the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Andre Langel
  • Patent number: 8426995
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a wind turbine power generator (118) including a stator (120) comprising at least one stator segment (120, 121), a rotor (122) rotatably mounted in the stator (120, 121) and one or more conversion assemblies (210, 220, 222) is provided. The one or more power conversion assemblies (210, 220) are attached to the at least one stator segment (120, 121).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Andre Langel
  • Patent number: 8405251
    Abstract: A power supply device adapted for supplying electrical power to a load comprises a first electrical generator adapted for providing a first output current having a first phase angle; at least a second electrical generator adapted for providing a second output current having a second phase angle independent of the first phase angle; and a combination unit adapted for combining the first output current and the second output current to a combination current having reduced harmonics compared to the first and second output currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Werner Barton, Andre Langel
  • Publication number: 20120139344
    Abstract: A wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a transformer having a low-voltage side and a high-voltage side. The transformer is configured to step up a voltage of the low-voltage side of the transformer to a voltage of an external grid. The wind turbine further includes an electrical power generating unit which is connected to the low-voltage side of the transformer and configured to feed an ac-power to the low-voltage side of the transformer. A charging device of the wind turbine is connected to the low-voltage side of the transformer and configured to charge the low-voltage side of the transformer when the generator does not feed ac-power to the low-voltage side of the transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2011
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventor: Andre LANGEL
  • Publication number: 20120133142
    Abstract: According to the present disclosure, a wind turbine power generator (118) including a stator (120) comprising at least one stator segment (120, 121), a rotor (122) rotatably mounted in the stator (120, 121) and one or more conversion assemblies (210, 220, 222) is provided. The one or more power conversion assemblies (210, 220) are attached to the at least one stator segment (120, 121).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Inventor: Andre LANGEL
  • Publication number: 20110133563
    Abstract: A power supply device adapted for supplying electrical power to a load comprises a first electrical generator adapted for providing a first output current having a first phase angle; at least a second electrical generator adapted for providing a second output current having a second phase angle independent of the first phase angle; and a combination unit adapted for combining the first output current and the second output current to a combination current having reduced harmonics compared to the first and second output currents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 20, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Werner BARTON, Andre Langel
  • Patent number: 7884492
    Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing heat loss in a generator system are provided. The generator system includes an electrical generator and a power converter. The method includes generating electricity in the generator at a first power factor and converting electricity in the converter at a second power factor in a first mode of operation and generating electricity in the generator at a third power factor wherein the third power factor is greater than the first power factor and converting electricity in the converter at a fourth power factor wherein the fourth power factor is less than the second power factor in a second mode of operation such that the power output of the generator system in the second mode of operation is substantially equal to the power output of the generator system in the first mode of operation and the generator currents are facilitated being reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Qimou Xiong, Xiang Yu, Yu Zhou, Yingming Zhang, David Smith, Giesbert Krueger, Andre Langel