Patents by Inventor Jens Altemark

Jens Altemark 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: 9416772
    Abstract: A wind power plant is characterized in that a measurement device (18) is provided for the determination of the load on an electric motor (13, 14), wherein the control device (16, 17) reduces the load on the motor (13, 14) by reducing the rotational speed of the rotor (11), by changing the blade angle of the at least one rotor blade (12, 12?) and/or by reducing the output of the wind power plant (10) when a preselectable first load limit of the electric motor (13, 14) is exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: SENVION SE
    Inventors: Jens Altemark, Heinz-Hermann Letas, Eckart Hopp, Thomas Kruger
  • Patent number: 9104187
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a wind energy installation or wind farm. The system includes a control unit configured to process control variables and a transfer module. The transfer module has an input interface for receiving control commands and an output interface for transmitting control variables to the control unit. The transfer module has multiple transfer logic elements each configured to convert a control command to a control variable. The transfer module has a switching device for switching between the transfer logic elements. As a result, the wind energy installation or wind farm can be connected to an electrical grid in which the control commands are transmitted in a different format than that of the control variables of the control unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: SENVION SE
    Inventors: Roman Bluhm, Sebastian Friederich, Jens Altemark
  • Patent number: 8764393
    Abstract: A method for operating a wind power plant (WEA) before or during the performance of maintenance work on the wind power plant (WEA). At least one physical condition of the surroundings outside the wind power plant (WEA) induced by wind movement outside the wind power plant (WEA) is detected as an external physical condition. At least one physical condition of a component of the wind power plant (WEA) influenced by wind movement outside the wind power plant (WEA) is detected as an internal physical condition. The at least one external physical condition and/or at least one internal physical condition are evaluated. The at least one external physical condition is compared with a predetermined reference value for the external physical condition. The at least one internal physical condition is compared with a predetermined reference value for the internal physical condition. Depending on the comparison, at least one warning message is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Senvion SE
    Inventors: Martin Von Mutius, Jens Altemark, Alf Trede
  • Patent number: 8659439
    Abstract: An offshore wind farm can include at least two wind energy installations for generating electrical power from wind, at least two acoustic warning devices, and a visibility measuring device for detecting visibility. After detection of a visibility below a visibility limit value, an activation signal can be applied to the at least two acoustic warning devices. One or more synchronization modules can be provided which determine the points in time of the acoustic signals to be emitted by at least one of the acoustic warning devices in relation to the acoustic signals of the other acoustic warning devices. Accordingly, this facilitates the navigation along an offshore wind farm and enables safe circumnavigation. Also, the impression of a contiguous area can be conveyed to the ships by the synchronized emission of the warning signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: REpower Systems SE
    Inventors: Lorenz-Heinrich Carstensen, Jens Altemark
  • Patent number: 8433541
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring the operation of a wind energy installation. State data relating to the wind energy installation is recorded and discrepancies are found between the state data and an associated comparison value. A failure probability of the wind energy installation is determined based on any found discrepancy. An availability value for the wind energy installation is determined from the ratio of the actually produced amount of electrical energy to the total amount of energy which can potentially be produced. The availability value and the failure probability are then combined to form a repair priority, which is associated with the wind energy installation. Accordingly, more uniform operation of wind energy installations can be achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: REpower Systems AG
    Inventor: Jens Altemark
  • Patent number: 8335594
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating a wind farm intended for connection to an electric power network, which wind farm includes at least three wind turbine generator systems. At least one actual value for a wind speed or a parameter associated with wind speed is determined for each wind turbine generator system which are divided at least temporarily into predetermined groups. A first disconnect value is assigned to one group of wind turbine generator systems and a second different disconnect value is assigned to a second group of wind turbine generator systems. Actual values are assigned to disconnect values, and compared thereto. When the actual value exceeds the disconnect value the associated group of wind turbine generator systems is automatically disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: REpower Systems AG
    Inventors: Jens Altemark, Martin von Mutius, Dirk Steudel
  • Patent number: 8260467
    Abstract: A method and a system are for determining of the compatibility of control software, which is designed for standard parameters, with a wind energy installation which is operated using operating parameters. The method is an automatic method in which the operating parameters of the wind energy installation and the standard parameters of the control software are first transmitted to a computation unit. The computation unit determines discrepancies between the operating parameters and the standard parameters. A decision on compatibility is made on the basis of the discrepancies. The system includes a logic module which is designed to make the decision. This method makes it easier to automatically update the control software for a wind energy installation. There is no longer any need to manually check the compatibility of the new version of the control software before the new version of the control software can be installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: REpower Systems AG
    Inventors: Jens Altemark, Markus Book, Anton Kupper
  • Patent number: 8157523
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the operation of a wind energy plant (10), wherein the wind energy plant (10) has a rotor (11) with a rotor axis and at least one rotor blade (15, 15?) arranged on the rotor (11), wherein the rotor blade (15, 15?) is adjustable or adjusted around a rotor blade axis with a predetermined rotor blade pitch angle. Further, at least one rotor blade (15, 15?) is rotated into an idle position, the rotation of the rotor blade (15, 15?) is braked after a first predetermined rotational position of the rotor blade (15, 15?) is reached and the stand-still position of the rotor blade (15, 15?) reached as a result of the braking procedure is captured. Furthermore, the invention relates to a wind energy plant (10) with a rotor (11) and at least one angle-adjustable rotor blade (15, 15?) arranged on the rotor (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Repower Systems AG
    Inventors: Karsten Warfen, Jens Altemark
  • Publication number: 20110238371
    Abstract: A method for determining the state of a braking apparatus of a wind energy installation can include obtaining data relating to load behavior of the braking apparatus, recording a measured value during a time period between a start of a braking process and an end of the braking process, and determining a brake state characteristic value based on the data and the measured value. A wind energy installation for performing the method can include a braking apparatus, a sensor, a control unit configured to instruct the sensor to record a measured value in a time period between a start of a braking process and an end of a braking process, a data memory configured to store data relating to load behavior of the braking apparatus, and a computation module configured to determine a brake state characteristic value based on the data and the measured value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: REpower Systems AG
    Inventors: Jens Altemark, Matthias Brueckner
  • Patent number: 7989974
    Abstract: A method for regulating a wind energy installation including a rotor-driven generator, a converter connected to the generator, and a controller that regulates power emitted into an energy transmission system to within a limit value involves determining a maximum current value in a connection path, determining a current reserve value for power emitted into an energy transmission system, and determining a correction value for following a limit value of the emitted power from the maximum current value and the current reserve value. The wind energy installation and the method for its regulation also includes the use of a limitation device configured to set a phase angle between an emitted current and voltage of an electrical system in response to a selection signal in such a way that primarily active power or primarily reactive power is fed into the energy transmission system when the maximum current value is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: REpower Systems AG
    Inventors: Jens Fortmann, Jens Altemark, Jörg Zeumer
  • Publication number: 20100314874
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a wind energy installation or wind farm. The system includes a control unit configured to process control variables and a transfer module. The transfer module has an input interface for receiving control commands and an output interface for transmitting control variables to the control unit. The transfer module has multiple transfer logic elements each configured to convert a control command to a control variable. The transfer module has a switching device for switching between the transfer logic elements. As a result, the wind energy installation or wind farm can be connected to an electrical grid in which the control commands are transmitted in a different format than that of the control variables of the control unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2008
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: REpower Systems AG
    Inventors: Roman Bluhm, Sebastian Friederich, Jens Altemark
  • Patent number: 7840312
    Abstract: A wind farm includes a plurality of wind energy installations which generate electrical energy to be output to a power supply system and a wind farm master for controlling the wind energy installations. Each wind energy installation includes a generator which is driven by a rotor, and the wind farm master includes a power control device having a plurality of loops. This plurality of loops includes a fast loop that includes a controller which acts on a first group of the wind energy installations and a slow loop that includes a controller which acts on a second group of the wind energy installations, the fast controller having a substantially higher dynamic than the slow controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: REpower Systems AG
    Inventors: Jens Altemark, Holger Becker, Sebastian Friederich
  • Patent number: 7830030
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a wind energy system wherein when a first settable boundary value (G1) is reached by a first parameter (M1) a process is automatically started whose course is monitored by measuring a second parameter (M2). By comparing the measured values of the second parameter (M2) with a second settable boundary value (G2), the first settable boundary value is changed upon reaching the second boundary value (G2) by the second parameter (M2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: REpower Systems AG
    Inventor: Jens Altemark
  • Publication number: 20100183440
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method for operating a wind power plant (WEA), preferably before or during the performance of maintenance work on the wind power plant (WEA), wherein —at least one physical condition of the surroundings outside the wind power plant (WEA) induced by wind movement outside the wind power plant (WEA) is detected as an external physical condition, and/or at least one physical condition of a component of the wind power plant (WEA) influenced by wind movement outside the wind power plant (WEA) is detected as an internal physical condition; —the at least one external physical condition and/or at least one internal physical condition are evaluated; —the at least one external physical condition is compared with a predetermined reference value for the external physical condition, and/or the at least one internal physical condition is compared with a predetermined reference value for the internal physical condition; —depending on the comparison at least one warning message is generated, in partic
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: REPOWER SYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Martin Von Mutius, Jens Altemark, Alf Trede
  • Publication number: 20100181769
    Abstract: A wind power plant is characterized in that a measurement device (18) is provided for the determination of the load on an electric motor (13, 14), wherein the control device (16, 17) reduces the load on the motor (13, 14) by reducing the rotational speed of the rotor (11), by changing the blade angle of the at least one rotor blade (12, 12?) and/or by reducing the output of the wind power plant (10) when a preselectable first load limit of the electric motor (13, 14) is exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 19, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: REPOWER SYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Jens Altemark, Heinz-Hermann Letas, Eckart Hopp, Thomas Krüger
  • Publication number: 20100179773
    Abstract: A method and system for monitoring the operation of a wind energy installation. State data relating to the wind energy installation is recorded and discrepancies are found between the state data and an associated comparison value. A failure probability of the wind energy installation is determined based on any found discrepancy. An availability value for the wind energy installation is determined from the ratio of the actually produced amount of electrical energy to the total amount of energy which can potentially be produced. The availability value and the failure probability are then combined to form a repair priority, which is associated with the wind energy installation. Accordingly, more uniform operation of wind energy installations can be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2010
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: REpower System AG
    Inventor: Jens Altemark
  • Publication number: 20090289804
    Abstract: An offshore wind farm can include at least two wind energy installations for generating electrical power from wind, at least two acoustic warning devices, and a visibility measuring device for detecting visibility. After detection of a visibility below a visibility limit value, an activation signal can be applied to the at least two acoustic warning devices. One or more synchronization modules can be provided which determine the points in time of the acoustic signals to be emitted by at least one of the acoustic warning devices in relation to the acoustic signals of the other acoustic warning devices. Accordingly, this facilitates the navigation along an offshore wind farm and enables safe circumnavigation. Also, the impression of a contiguous area can be conveyed to the ships by the synchronized emission of the warning signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2009
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: REpower Systems AG
    Inventors: Lorenz-Heinrich CARSTENSEN, Jens ALTEMARK
  • Patent number: 7571013
    Abstract: A method for optimization of operating parameters of a wind energy installation defines an upper and a lower interval limit value for a parameter to be optimized. The method includes carrying out a cycle with alternate operations of the wind energy installation with the interval limit values, with a data record in each case being produced with a target variable over a variable number of repetitions. The data records relating to the interval limit values are evaluated to form a quality measure, and the interval limit value with the poorer quality measure is identified. Then, at least the interval limit value with the poorer quality measure is replaced by shifting through a step value ? in a direction of another interval limit value. The cycle is then repeated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: REpower Systems AG
    Inventor: Jens Altemark
  • Patent number: 7550862
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine comprising a machine housing (12) equipped with a rotor (14), which is mounted to pivot on a sub-structure (10). Wind parameters and an electromechanical quantity are determined by means of measuring devices (21, 22, 23). To enable the machine housing (12) to track the wind, the wind turbine is equipped with a pivoting device (11) comprising a controller (8). The wind turbine is also equipped with a calibration module (2), which is configured to determine an effective mass of the electromechanical quantity using the wind speed. In addition, the turbine comprises an evaluation device (4) comprising a classifier (40), which is used to form a first average value for a first class, for which the wind direction is positive and a second average value for a second class, for which the wind direction is negative. A difference is determined by means of a comparator and a calibration signal is emitted to the controller (8) of the pivoting device (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: REpower Systems AG
    Inventor: Jens Altemark
  • Publication number: 20090115191
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the operation of a wind energy plant (10), wherein the wind energy plant (10) has a rotor (11) with a rotor axis and at least one rotor blade (15, 15?) arranged on the rotor (11), wherein the rotor blade (15, 15?) is adjustable or adjusted around a rotor blade axis with a predetermined rotor blade pitch angle. Further, at least one rotor blade (15, 15?) is rotated into an idle position, the rotation of the rotor blade (15, 15?) is braked after a first predetermined rotational position of the rotor blade (15, 15?) is reached and the stand-still position of the rotor blade (15, 15?) reached as a result of the braking procedure is captured. Furthermore, the invention relates to a wind energy plant (10) with a rotor (11) and at least one angle-adjustable rotor blade (15, 15?) arranged on the rotor (11).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2008
    Publication date: May 7, 2009
    Applicant: REPOWER SYSTEMS AG
    Inventors: Karsten Warfen, Jens Altemark