Patents by Inventor Christoph Schulten
Christoph Schulten 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).
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Publication number: 20240035444Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods (100, 200) for ramping up the power output of a wind turbine (10). A method (100) comprises increasing (110) electric power output from an initial power value (61) at a first power ramp rate (63); and when reaching an intermediate power value (69), increasing (120) the electric power output to a target power value (59) at a second power ramp rate (67) different from the first power ramp rate (63). The intermediate power value (69) is the sum of the initial power value (61) and a predetermined power difference (71).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2023Publication date: February 1, 2024Inventors: Christoph SCHULTEN, Nithya ANAND, Miriam MONROS GARRIGOSA, Marta LOPEZ GONZALEZ
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Patent number: 11879433Abstract: A method (1000-1001) for operating a wind turbine (100) including a rotor (106) having rotor blades (108) and a power conversion system (118, 210, 234) mechanically connected with the rotor (106), configured to convert input motive power into electrical output power, and electrically connected to a network (242) for feeding the electrical output power (P) to the network is provided. The method includes determining (1100) a current frequency (f) of the network (242), and, when the current frequency (f) is equal to or lower than a threshold frequency (fthresh), operating (1300) the power conversion system (118, 210, 234) at an electrical output power (P) which is increased by an electrical output power increase (PI) in accordance with a monotonic function (PI(f)) of the current frequency (f) limited to a maximum value (PImax).Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2022Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.Inventor: Christoph Schulten
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Publication number: 20220364544Abstract: A method (2000) for operating a wind turbine (100) including a rotor (106) having rotor blades (108) and a power conversion system (118, 210, 234) mechanically connected with the rotor (106), configured to convert input motive power into electrical output power, and electrically connected to a network (242) for feeding the electrical output power (P) to the network is provided. The method includes initializing (2000), at a first time (t0), the wind turbine to operate in an overproduction operating mode in which the electrical output power (P(t)) of the power conversion system is increased from an initial electrical output power of the power conversion system by providing kinetic energy stored in the rotor. At a second time (t2), decreasing (2200) the electrical output power, and integrating a reference power (Pref, P0) to determine an energy recovery value (Erec) are started.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2022Publication date: November 17, 2022Inventor: Christoph Schulten
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Publication number: 20220364543Abstract: A method (1000-1001) for operating a wind turbine (100) including a rotor (106) having rotor blades (108) and a power conversion system (118, 210, 234) mechanically connected with the rotor (106), configured to convert input motive power into electrical output power, and electrically connected to a network (242) for feeding the electrical output power (P) to the network is provided. The method includes determining (1100) a current frequency (f) of the network (242), and, when the current frequency (f) is equal to or lower than a threshold frequency (fthresh), operating (1300) the power conversion system (118, 210, 234) at an electrical output power (P) which is increased by an electrical output power increase (PI) in accordance with a monotonic function (PI(f)) of the current frequency (f) limited to a maximum value (PImax).Type: ApplicationFiled: May 11, 2022Publication date: November 17, 2022Inventor: Christoph Schulten
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Patent number: 11255309Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine connected to a power grid in response to one or more grid events occurring in the power grid includes monitoring, via one or more sensors, the power grid (such as a frequency thereof) so as to detect one or more grid events occurring in the power grid. In response to detecting one or more grid events occurring in the power grid, the method includes increasing mechanical inertia of a rotor of the wind turbine during a first time frame after one or more grid events occurs in the power grid. After the first time frame, the method includes providing a required additional power output to the power grid during a subsequent, second time frame so as to stabilize the power grid after one or more grid events occurs in the power grid.Type: GrantFiled: August 28, 2018Date of Patent: February 22, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Christoph Schulten
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Publication number: 20210148332Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a wind farm. Accordingly, a demand signal is received from the electrical grid. The farm-level controller also receives a plurality of capability metrics from each wind turbines, which include, at least, a steady-state power availability, a transient power availability and a responsive capability of each wind turbine. The farm-level controller determines a power production capability profile for each wind turbine and determines the availability of each wind turbine to meet at least a portion of the demand signal based on the power production capability profiles. The farm-level controller also determines which portion of the demand signal to be satisfied by each wind turbine based on the availability and the power production capability for each wind turbine.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2019Publication date: May 20, 2021Inventors: Charles Joseph Kosuth, Patrick Hammel Hart, Alina Fatima Moosvi, Enno Ubben, Christoph Schulten, Alev Akbulut
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Patent number: 10989169Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a wind farm. Accordingly, a demand signal is received from the electrical grid. The farm-level controller also receives a plurality of capability metrics from each wind turbines, which include, at least, a steady-state power availability, a transient power availability and a responsive capability of each wind turbine. The farm-level controller determines a power production capability profile for each wind turbine and determines the availability of each wind turbine to meet at least a portion of the demand signal based on the power production capability profiles. The farm-level controller also determines which portion of the demand signal to be satisfied by each wind turbine based on the availability and the power production capability for each wind turbine.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2019Date of Patent: April 27, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Charles Joseph Kosuth, Patrick Hammel Hart, Alina Fatima Moosvi, Enno Ubben, Christoph Schulten, Alev Akbulut
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Patent number: 10975847Abstract: A method for controlling a wind farm connected to an electrical grid includes receiving, via a farm-level controller, a frequency signal from the electrical grid. If the frequency signal is indicative of a frequency event occurring in the electrical grid, the method includes implementing, via the farm-level controller, a control scheme for providing frequency regulation and power-swing stabilization for the electrical grid. For example, the control scheme includes receiving, via the farm-level controller, individual output boost capabilities from each of the plurality of wind turbine generators, calculating, via the farm-level controller, a power command based on the individual output boost capabilities and based on one or more grid code requirements of the electrical grid, distributing, via the farm-level controller, the power command to each of the wind turbine generators.Type: GrantFiled: November 8, 2019Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Christoph Schulten
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Publication number: 20200072194Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine connected to a power grid in response to one or more grid events occurring in the power grid includes monitoring, via one or more sensors, the power grid (such as a frequency thereof) so as to detect one or more grid events occurring in the power grid. In response to detecting one or more grid events occurring in the power grid, the method includes increasing mechanical inertia of a rotor of the wind turbine during a first time frame after one or more grid events occurs in the power grid. After the first time frame, the method includes providing a required additional power output to the power grid during a subsequent, second time frame so as to stabilize the power grid after one or more grid events occurs in the power grid.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 28, 2018Publication date: March 5, 2020Inventor: Christoph Schulten
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Patent number: 8222757Abstract: A method of identifying a load on a wind turbine is provided. The method includes sensing accelerations of a rotor in a plurality of dimensions via at least one acceleration sensor and transmitting, from the acceleration sensor, signals indicative of the sensed accelerations to a control system. The method also includes receiving, at the control system, the transmitted signals from the acceleration sensor and identifying, via the control system, a load on the wind turbine based on the received signals.Type: GrantFiled: June 5, 2009Date of Patent: July 17, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Christoph Schulten
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Patent number: 8210811Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a rotor including at least one rotor blade and a pitch drive system coupled to the at least one rotor blade. The pitch drive system is adapted for pitching the rotor blade. The method includes: determining an actual value of a first variable indicative of an overspeed state of the wind turbine; determining an actual value of a second variable of the wind turbine correlated to the rate of change over time of the first variable; and, estimating an occurrence of an overspeed state of the wind turbine from at least the determined actual values of the first and second variables. The pitch drive system pitches the rotor blade for aerodynamically braking the rotor based on the result of the estimation.Type: GrantFiled: August 16, 2010Date of Patent: July 3, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Friedrich Loh, Detlef Menke, Christoph Schulten, Gert Torbohm
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Publication number: 20120027589Abstract: A wind turbine (10) is provided. The wind turbine includes a rotor (18), at least one rotor blade (22) coupled to the rotor, and a yaw system (92). The yaw system (92) includes at least one yaw motor (94) for adjusting a yaw angle of the wind turbine (10). The yaw system (92) is configured for generating a yaw drive signal corresponding to at least one of: i) a property from the at least one yaw motor (94); or ii) a control signal for operating the at least one yaw motor. The wind turbine (10) further includes an asymmetric load control assembly (100) configured to receive the yaw drive signal. The asymmetric load control assembly (100) is further configured to mitigate an asymmetric load acting on the rotor (18) using the yaw drive signal. A control system for operating a wind turbine (10) and a method thereof are also provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 26, 2011Publication date: February 2, 2012Inventors: Christian Haag, Ulf Axelsson, Mikael Bjõrk, Christoph Schulten, Gert Torbohm
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Patent number: 8022565Abstract: A control system for a wind turbine, the control system having at least one measurement device configured to measure at least one operating condition of the wind turbine and a first controller. The first controller is configured to calculate an operating limit of the wind turbine based on the measured operating condition and to adjust the operating limit based on a limiting condition of a component of the wind turbine.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2009Date of Patent: September 20, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hartmut Scholte-Wassink, Mark Edward Cardinal, Anthony Michael Klodowski, Till Hoffmann, Jignesh G. Gandhi, Sidney Allen Barker, Gert Torbohm, Christoph Schulten
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Publication number: 20110142620Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a rotor including at least one rotor blade and a pitch drive system coupled to the at least one rotor blade. The pitch drive system is adapted for pitching the rotor blade. The method includes: determining an actual value of a first variable indicative of an overspeed state of the wind turbine; determining an actual value of a second variable of the wind turbine correlated to the rate of change over time of the first variable; and, estimating an occurrence of an overspeed state of the wind turbine from at least the determined actual values of the first and second variables. The pitch drive system pitches the rotor blade for aerodynamically braking the rotor based on the result of the estimation.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2010Publication date: June 16, 2011Inventors: Friedrich LOH, Detlef MENKE, Christoph SCHULTEN, Gert TORBOHM
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Publication number: 20100133831Abstract: A control system for a wind turbine, the control system having at least one measurement device configured to measure at least one operating condition of the wind turbine and a first controller. The first controller is configured to calculate an operating limit of the wind turbine based on the measured operating condition and to adjust the operating limit based on a limiting condition of a component of the wind turbine.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 13, 2009Publication date: June 3, 2010Inventors: Hartmut Scholte-Wassink, Mark Edward Cardinal, Anthony Michael Klodowski, Till Hoffmann, Jignesh G. Gandhi, Sidney Allen Barker, Gert Torbohm, Christoph Schulten
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Publication number: 20100133814Abstract: A method of identifying a load on a wind turbine is provided. The method includes sensing accelerations of a rotor in a plurality of dimensions via at least one acceleration sensor and transmitting, from the acceleration sensor, signals indicative of the sensed accelerations to a control system. The method also includes receiving, at the control system, the transmitted signals from the acceleration sensor and identifying, via the control system, a load on the wind turbine based on the received signals.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 5, 2009Publication date: June 3, 2010Inventor: Christoph Schulten