Patents by Inventor Frank T. Ormel

Frank T. Ormel 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).

  • Methods for operating a wind turbine
    Patent number: 8738192
    Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine having at least one blade includes determining an ambient air operating envelope and controlling a power output of the wind turbine at least partially based on the determined ambient air operating envelope. Determining an ambient air operating envelope includes measuring at least one of an ambient air temperature, an ambient air pressure, an ambient air humidity, and wind turbine power output. The method also includes comparing at least one of a measured ambient air temperature, a measured ambient air humidity and a measured ambient air pressure to predetermined ambient air temperature, pressure and humidity values. The method further includes referencing the predetermined ambient air temperature, pressure and humidity values to at least one operational parameter of the wind turbine. The method also includes determining if an existing wind turbine power output is within a range associated with the determined ambient air operating envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ulrich Uphues, Craig Leonard Christenson, Donald Rogers, Peter Gregg, Henk-Jan Kooijman, Ryan LeClair, Thomas Siebers, Frank T. Ormel
  • METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE
    Publication number: 20080112807
    Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine having at least one blade includes determining an ambient air operating envelope and controlling a power output of the wind turbine at least partially based on the determined ambient air operating envelope. Determining an ambient air operating envelope includes measuring at least one of an ambient air temperature, an ambient air pressure, an ambient air humidity, and wind turbine power output. The method also includes comparing at least one of a measured ambient air temperature, a measured ambient air humidity and a measured ambient air pressure to predetermined ambient air temperature, pressure and humidity values. The method further includes referencing the predetermined ambient air temperature, pressure and humidity values to at least one operational parameter of the wind turbine. The method also includes determining if an existing wind turbine power output is within a range associated with the determined ambient air operating envelope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2006
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Ulrich Uphues, Craig Leonard Christenson, Donald Rogers, Peter Gregg, Henk-Jan Kooijman, Ryan LeClair, Thomas Siebers, Frank T. Ormel
  • Method, system and computer program product for nacelle wind speed correction
    Patent number: 7363808
    Abstract: A technique for correcting measurement error in data produced by a nacelle-based anemometer and for determining free stream wind speed for a wind turbine involves ascertaining parameters related to the wind turbine and the operation thereof, and using the parameters and data from the nacelle based anemometer as inputs to an algorithm to provide for determination of corrected wind speed data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frank T. Ormel, Alexander Donth, Thomas Siebers, Clement Faucherre, Henning Luetze