Abstract: A method of performing communication between a satellite and a ground segment, the satellite comprising a platform and a payload, the ground segment includes at least one satellite control center configured to generate or process data associated with the satellite platform, the satellite control center directly communicating with the satellite platform on a dedicated channel, referred to as platform channel, wherein the method comprises a step of directly communicating, between the mission control center and an on board processing unit which is configured to manage at least a part of the payload of the satellite, telecommand or telemetry data of the part of the payload of the satellite, on another dedicated channel, referred to as signalling channel, the signalling channel and the platform channel being distinct.

Abstract: Tension leg platform structure for wind turbines It comprises a buoyant structure (110), a platform (120) and at least one anchoring tendon (30) for connecting the platform (120) to a seabed (20) comprising at least a hybrid structure with at least one pre-stressed cable (31) and a pre-stressed concrete structure (32) associated therewith. The anchoring tendons(30) may comprise segments of a given length.

Abstract: Methods of operating a variable speed wind turbine as a function of a wind speed, the wind turbine having a rotor with a plurality of blades, a generator having a rated output power, and one or more pitch mechanisms for rotating the blades around their longitudinal axis, and a system for varying a torque of the generator. The methods comprise a sub-nominal zone of operation for wind speeds below a nominal wind speed and a supra-nominal zone of operation for wind speeds at or above the nominal wind speed, wherein at wind speeds at or near the nominal wind speed, the generator is allowed to generate more than its rated output power for a limited period of time. Also disclosed are wind turbines and wind farms adapted to perform these methods.

Abstract: A method of real-time monitoring of the operation of a wind turbine in an operational region of theoretically constant power coefficient is disclosed. The method comprises measuring the electrical power generated by the wind turbine, a representative wind speed, and an ambient temperature. The wind power available to the wind turbine for a given moment in time may be calculated based on the measured ambient temperature and measured representative wind speed. The aerodynamic power captured by the wind turbine at the same moment in time may be determined based on the measured electrical power generated. And the practical power coefficient may be calculated by dividing the aerodynamic power captured by the calculated available wind power.

Abstract: Generator test benches and back-to-back testing systems and methods are disclosed. A test bench (110) may comprise a single fixed structure and a shaft (132). The single fixed structure may include a common base (160) fixed to the ground and a hollow body (115) with a central pillar (117) connecting them. The shaft may be arranged inside the hollow body and may have a first end extending beyond a first opening and a second end extending beyond a second opening of the hollow body. The shaft may be connectable to rotors (124A, 124B) of two generators (120A, 120B). The single fixed structure may be connectable to the stators of the generators (122A, 122B).

Abstract: Tension leg platform structure for wind turbines It comprises a buoyant structure (110), a platform (120) and at least one anchoring tendon (30) for connecting the platform (120) to a seabed (20) comprising at least a hybrid structure with at least one pre-stressed cable (31) and a pre-stressed concrete structure (32) associated therewith. The anchoring tendons(30) may comprise segments of a given length.

Abstract: Methods of operating a variable speed wind turbine as a function of a wind speed, the wind turbine having a rotor with a plurality of blades, a generator having a rated output power, and one or more pitch mechanisms for rotating the blades around their longitudinal axis, and a system for varying a torque of the generator. The methods comprise a sub-nominal zone of operation for wind speeds below a nominal wind speed and a supra-nominal zone of operation for wind speeds at or above the nominal wind speed, wherein at wind speeds at or near the nominal wind speed, the generator is allowed to generate more than its rated output power for a limited period of time. Also disclosed are wind turbines and wind farms adapted to perform these methods.

Abstract: A method of real-time monitoring of the operation of a wind turbine in an operational region of theoretically constant power coefficient is disclosed. The method comprises measuring the electrical power generated by the wind turbine, a representative wind speed, and an ambient temperature. The wind power available to the wind turbine for a given moment in time may be calculated based on the measured ambient temperature and measured representative wind speed. The aerodynamic power captured by the wind turbine at the same moment in time may be determined based on the measured electrical power generated. And the practical power coefficient may be calculated by dividing the aerodynamic power captured by the calculated available wind power.

Abstract: A receiver including a fiber optic first input element, through which a signal carrying information circulates, a local laser block, a photo-detection block, and a block of differential demodulation is disclosed. The information-carrying signal of the optical fiber input and the beam of light generated by the local laser block provided in the receiver are coupled and detected in a block of optical detection, which converts the optical signal that carries information into an electrical signal that carries information, which is processed in a block of electrical demodulation, which performs a differential demodulation of its in-phase and quadrature components, combining them later. An optical receiver is obtained, featuring optical homodyne detection, being coincident the wavelengths of the input signal and the tuned beam of light, with a high tolerance to the phase noise, generated by the optical communications lasers, and with no need to use an optical phase-locked loop.

Abstract: Optical remote node (NR) device which is situated at a remote point in a fiber-optic metropolitan or access network, carries out the functions of connecting, and transmitting information between, various sections of the network in a passive manner without a power supply using various optical components which extract the necessary optical signals and optical pumping power from the network to which the remote node is connected, and introduces the optical signals from the sections which it connects into said network, and support equipment which is situated at a point in the network with a power supply, uses the network to provide the pumping power required by the remote nodes and has the electronics needed to carry out functions of monitoring the operation of the remote nodes and regulating their activity.

Abstract: The receiver comprises a first optical fibre input element (2) through which an information carrying element (S1) circulates, a local laser unit (3), an optical detection unit (4) and a differential demodulation unit (5). Characterised in that the information carrying signal (S1) of the input optical fibre (2) and the light beam (h1) generated by the local laser unit (3) are connected and detect in an optical detection block (4), which converts the information carrying signal (S1) into an electrical information carrying signal (S2) to be processed electrically in a demodulation unit (5) which performs a differential demodulation of the phase and quadrature components thereof, and subsequently combines same. The result in an optical receiver (1) with homodyne optical detection, the wavelengths of the input signal S1 and the synthonised light beam h1 coinciding, with high tolerance to the phase noise generated by optical communications lasers and not requiring use of an optical phase monitor (OPLL).

Abstract: Optical remote node (NR) device which is situated at a remote point in a fibre-optic metropolitan or access network, carries out the functions of connecting, and transmitting information between, various sections of the network in a passive manner without a power supply using various optical components which extract the necessary optical signals and optical pumping power from the network to which the remote node is connected, and introduces the optical signals from the sections which it connects into said network, and support equipment which is situated at a point in the network with a power supply, uses the network to provide the pumping power required by the remote nodes and has the electronics needed to carry out functions of monitoring the operation of the remote nodes and regulating their activity.

Abstract: The present development includes a first element of an optical fibre entrance by which an information carrying signal is transmitted, an optical detector block, a non-linear equalizer block and a final processor block. The development includes an electrical non-linear equalizer block, connecting the output of the optical detector block and the input of the final processor block that compensates the quadratic non-linear characteristic of the optical detector block. Both blocks thus may present a more linear joint characteristic between the electrical field envelope of the information carrying signal in the optical fibre and the electrical signal. Consequently, the final processor block can compensate, in a more effective form, for the linear distortions that the information carrying signal suffers in the transmission through the fibre.

Abstract: Method and system for mapping channels into a convolutional encoded time division multiplex in the downlink. In a transmission system comprising a plurality of stations, each station transmits in at least one channel, forming a plurality N of uplink channels that are transmitted, at an uplink information bit rate Ru, towards a destination station. Said destination station transmits in at least one downlink channel at a downlink information bit rate Rd, in such a manner that the relation Rd=N*Ru is satisfied. The number of the uplink channels N varies as a function of a change in a convolutional code rd applied to the downlink channel, so that N is an integer multiple of said variable convolutional code rd.

Abstract: Integrated multispot satellite communication system in a multimedia broadcasting network, mainly in digital video broadcasting (DVB) applications. The system employs the DVB-RCS mode in the uplink direction of the communication, i.e. towards the satellite, and multiplexes said signals into a DVB-S type signal in the downlink direction, i.e. the signal leaving the satellite, permitting a user to request broadband interactive services using standard stations both on the transmission side and on the reception side. A regenerator means on board the satellite serves to perform the multiplexing of said downlink signal.

Abstract: Method and system for mapping channels into a convolutional encoded time division multiplex in the downlink. In a transmission system comprising a plurality of stations, each station transmits in at least one channel, forming a plurality N of uplink channels that are transmitted, at an uplink information bit rate Ru, towards a destination station. Said destination station transmits in at least one downlink channel at a downlink information bit rate Rd, in such a manner that the relation Rd=N*Ru is satisfied. The number of the uplink channels N varies as a function of a change in a convolutional code rd applied to the downlink channel, so that N is an integer multiple of said variable convolutional code rd.