Patents by Inventor Hubert Oing
Hubert Oing 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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Patent number: 10954917Abstract: A method for reducing loads of a wind turbine includes determining a wind speed at the wind turbine. Further, the method includes determining an operational state of the wind turbine. The method also includes determining whether a rotor of the wind turbine is imbalanced beyond a predetermined threshold when the operational state corresponds to a predetermined operational state as a rotor imbalance beyond the predetermined threshold is indicative of a pitch fault in one or more of the rotor blades. In addition, the method includes yawing a nacelle of the wind turbine to a predetermined angular position when the wind speed exceeds a predetermined speed threshold and the rotor is imbalanced beyond the predetermined threshold.Type: GrantFiled: July 17, 2018Date of Patent: March 23, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hubert Oing, Robert Peter Slack, Darren John Danielsen, Santiago Tomas
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Publication number: 20200025170Abstract: A method for reducing loads of a wind turbine includes determining a wind speed at the wind turbine. Further, the method includes determining an operational state of the wind turbine. The method also includes determining whether a rotor of the wind turbine is imbalanced beyond a predetermined threshold when the operational state corresponds to a predetermined operational state as a rotor imbalance beyond the predetermined threshold is indicative of a pitch fault in one or more of the rotor blades. In addition, the method includes yawing a nacelle of the wind turbine to a predetermined angular position when the wind speed exceeds a predetermined speed threshold and the rotor is imbalanced beyond the predetermined threshold.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 17, 2018Publication date: January 23, 2020Inventors: Hubert Oing, Robert Peter Slack, Darren John Danielsen, Santiago Tomas
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Patent number: 10337495Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for reducing vortex-induced vibrations of a tower of a wind turbine. The wind turbine has a nacelle mounted atop the tower. The nacelle has a rotor with a rotatable hub having at least one rotor blade mounted thereto. The rotor blade has a first pitch position. Thus, the method includes measuring, via one or more sensors, an acceleration of the nacelle. The method also includes determining a rotor speed of the rotor. Further, the method includes determining a second pitch position for the rotor blade based on the acceleration of the nacelle and the rotor speed and pitching the rotor blade to the second pitch position if the rotor speed is below a speed threshold and the acceleration of the nacelle is above an acceleration threshold. As such, the second pitch position disturbs vortices caused by interactions between the tower and the rotor blade as the rotor blade passes in front of the tower so as to reduce vortex-induced vibrations of the tower.Type: GrantFiled: May 19, 2016Date of Patent: July 2, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jorge Gonzalez Castro, Hubert Oing
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Patent number: 10001108Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a rotor with at least one rotor blade. The method includes determining an actual value of at least one of a first variable indicative of a failure state of the wind turbine and a second variable of the wind turbine correlated to a status of the wind turbine or an ambient status. The method further includes estimating an occurrence of a detrimental overspeed state of the wind turbine from at least one of the determined actual values, wherein a variable speed limit is adjusted based on the result of the estimation. The method further includes operating the wind turbine having regard to the variable speed limit. A control system for performing this method and a wind turbine including the control system is provided.Type: GrantFiled: January 9, 2013Date of Patent: June 19, 2018Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Hubert Oing
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Publication number: 20170335823Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for reducing vortex-induced vibrations of a tower of a wind turbine. The wind turbine has a nacelle mounted atop the tower. The nacelle has a rotor with a rotatable hub having at least one rotor blade mounted thereto. The rotor blade has a first pitch position. Thus, the method includes measuring, via one or more sensors, an acceleration of the nacelle. The method also includes determining a rotor speed of the rotor. Further, the method includes determining a second pitch position for the rotor blade based on the acceleration of the nacelle and the rotor speed and pitching the rotor blade to the second pitch position if the rotor speed is below a speed threshold and the acceleration of the nacelle is above an acceleration threshold. As such, the second pitch position disturbs vortices caused by interactions between the tower and the rotor blade as the rotor blade passes in front of the tower so as to reduce vortex-induced vibrations of the tower.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 19, 2016Publication date: November 23, 2017Inventors: Jorge Gonzalez Castro, Hubert Oing
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Publication number: 20140191506Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a rotor with at least one rotor blade. The method includes determining an actual value of at least one of a first variable indicative of a failure state of the wind turbine and a second variable of the wind turbine correlated to a status of the wind turbine or an ambient status. The method further includes estimating an occurrence of a detrimental overspeed state of the wind turbine from at least one of the determined actual values, wherein a variable speed limit is adjusted based on the result of the estimation. The method further includes operating the wind turbine having regard to the variable speed limit. A control system for performing this method and a wind turbine including the control system is provided.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 9, 2013Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventor: Hubert OING
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Patent number: 8662842Abstract: A method and system for detecting asymmetric utilizing longitudinal tower acceleration data may include: providing a rotorspeed acceleration monitoring system; determining from the rotorspeed acceleration monitoring system whether a rotorspeed acceleration is above a rotorspeed acceleration limit; determining whether a rotor-mass imbalance condition exists; and determining whether a longitudinal tower acceleration coincides with icing on a rotor.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2010Date of Patent: March 4, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hubert Oing, Bastian Sundermann, Christian Siuts
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Patent number: 8240990Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing asymmetric rotor load in a wind turbine includes calculating a time delay for pitching each blade toward feather upon initiation of a shutdown condition. The blades with the larger blade angle begin moving toward feather with an initial pitch rate, while the blade with the smallest blade angle begins moving toward feather with a final pitch rate. Once all the blades have reached approximately an identical blade angle, the blades move simultaneously together to feather at the final pitch rate. By introducing the time delay for pitching the blades having higher blade angles at the final pitch rate, a simple, time-based correction of initial conditions during shutdown reduces the extreme loads on turbine components.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2007Date of Patent: August 14, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Leonardo Cesar Kammer, Hubert Oing
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Publication number: 20110318165Abstract: A method and system for detecting asymmetric utilizing longitudinal tower acceleration data may include: providing a rotorspeed acceleration monitoring system; determining from the rotorspeed acceleration monitoring system whether a rotorspeed acceleration is above a rotorspeed acceleration limit; determining whether a rotor-mass imbalance condition exists; and determining whether a longitudinal tower acceleration coincides with icing on a rotor.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2010Publication date: December 29, 2011Inventors: Hubert Oing, Bastian Sundermann, Christian Siuts
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Patent number: 7944067Abstract: A system and method for reducing rotor loads in a wind turbine that includes a brake and one or more rotor blades coupled to a rotor. Upon detection of a loss of counter torque and a blade-pitch failure in at least one rotor blade, a processor reduces a generator overspeed threshold value by a predetermined amount and determines a brake-release threshold value. The brake is applied to slow the rotor if the generator/rotor speed exceeds the reduced generator/rotor overspeed threshold value. In addition, the brake is applied to slow the rotor until the generator/rotor speed is below the brake-release threshold value. The rate of change of the pitch angle of the rotor blade may be varied as the blade moves toward feather in response to the detected blade-pitch failure.Type: GrantFiled: April 1, 2008Date of Patent: May 17, 2011Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Leonardo Cesar Kammer, Axel Braicks, Hubert Oing
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Patent number: 7708524Abstract: A method and system for detecting asymmetric utilizing lateral tower acceleration data may include: providing a lateral tower acceleration monitoring system; determining from the lateral tower acceleration monitoring system whether a lateral tower acceleration is above an acceleration limit; determining whether a rotor-mass imbalance condition exists; and determining whether the lateral tower acceleration coincides with icing on a rotor.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2006Date of Patent: May 4, 2010Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Bastian Sundermann, Christian Siuts, Hubert Oing
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Publication number: 20090243295Abstract: A system and method for reducing rotor loads in a wind turbine that includes a brake and one or more rotor blades coupled to a rotor. Upon detection of a loss of counter torque and a blade-pitch failure in at least one rotor blade, a processor reduces a generator overspeed threshold value by a predetermined amount and determines a brake-release threshold value. The brake is applied to slow the rotor if the generator/rotor speed exceeds the reduced generator/rotor overspeed threshold value. In addition, the brake is applied to slow the rotor until the generator/rotor speed is below the brake-release threshold value. The rate of change of the pitch angle of the rotor blade may be varied as the blade moves toward feather in response to the detected blade-pitch failure.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 1, 2008Publication date: October 1, 2009Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Leonardo Cesar Kammer, Axel Braicks, Hubert Oing
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Patent number: 7573149Abstract: An apparatus and method for extending the power-capture region of a wind turbine during certain operating conditions is disclosed. The actual set point of an operational parameter is selected so as to be maintained at a predetermined number of standard deviations away from an operating limit during certain operating conditions. For example, the operational parameter may be a rotor/generator speed and the operating condition may be a mean wind speed that exceeds a predetermined wind speed.Type: GrantFiled: December 6, 2007Date of Patent: August 11, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Leonardo Cesar Kammer, Mark Edward Cardinal, Hubert Oing
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Publication number: 20090146424Abstract: An apparatus and method for extending the power-capture region of a wind turbine during certain operating conditions is disclosed. The actual set point of an operational parameter is selected so as to be maintained at a predetermined number of standard deviations away from an operating limit during certain operating conditions. For example, the operational parameter may be a rotor/generator speed and the operating condition may be a mean wind speed that exceeds a predetermined wind speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2007Publication date: June 11, 2009Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Leonardo Cesar Kammer, Mark Edward Cardinal, Hubert Oing
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Publication number: 20090148286Abstract: An apparatus and method for reducing asymmetric rotor load in a wind turbine includes calculating a time delay for pitching each blade toward feather upon initiation of a shutdown condition. The blades with the larger blade angle begin moving toward feather with an initial pitch rate, while the blade with the smallest blade angle begins moving toward feather with a final pitch rate. Once all the blades have reached approximately an identical blade angle, the blades move simultaneously together to feather at the final pitch rate. By introducing the time delay for pitching the blades having higher blade angles at the final pitch rate, a simple, time-based correction of initial conditions during shutdown reduces the extreme loads on turbine components.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 6, 2007Publication date: June 11, 2009Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Leonardo Cesar Kammer, Hubert Oing
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Publication number: 20080152493Abstract: A method and system for detecting asymmetric utilizing lateral tower acceleration data may include: providing a lateral tower acceleration monitoring system; determining from the lateral tower acceleration monitoring system whether a lateral tower acceleration is above an acceleration limit; determining whether a rotor-mass imbalance condition exists; and determining whether the lateral tower acceleration coincides with icing on a rotor.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2006Publication date: June 26, 2008Inventors: Bastian Sundermann, Christian Siuts, Hubert Oing