Patents by Inventor Karsten Warfen

Karsten Warfen 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: 12071933
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a wind power plant, a wind power plant designed to carry out the method, and a corresponding computer program product. In the method for operating a wind power plant comprising a rotor having angle-adjustable rotor blades and a generator rotationally connected thereto and having a controllable torque, the torque of the generator is limited to a maximum value which is linked to the blade pitch angle of the rotor blades such that the maximum value at the switch-on blade pitch angle value is less than or equal to the rated torque value (MNenn) and the maximum value at a rated blade pitch angle which deviates from the switch-on blade pitch angle is equal to the rated torque value (MNenn).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Service GmbH
    Inventors: Karsten Warfen, Timo Gosch-Pleß
  • Patent number: 11939958
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a wind turbine, to a wind turbine designed to carry out the method, and to a computer program product. The method for operating a wind turbine comprising a rotor with rotor blades that can be angularly adjusted via a turbine controller, in which a state variable that reflects the current thrust of the rotor is detected, has the following steps: a) ascertaining a short-term average value of the state variable; b) ascertaining the difference between the short-term average value of the state variable and the detected current state variable; c) ascertaining a first target blade angle correction value from the ascertained difference; and d) taking into consideration the target blade angle correction value while adjusting the blade angle by means of the turbine controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Service GmbH
    Inventors: Karsten Warfen, Timo Gosch-Pleß
  • Patent number: 11859594
    Abstract: A management system for controlling a wind turbine according to prescribed rules and a safety system, separate from the management system, for monitoring the wind turbine on the basis of operational characteristic values, wherein the safety system transfers the wind turbine to a safe plant state independently of the management system if safety-critical operational characteristic values violate safety parameters stored in the safety system, in order to change at least one safety parameter stored in the safety system a parameter block comprising the at least one safety parameter and at least two safety features is supplied to the safety system and accepted by the safety system only after a positive check on the safety features, wherein the check on at least one of the safety features requires comparison against check information available directly on the wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Service GmbH
    Inventors: Karsten Warfen, Stefan Behl
  • Patent number: 11746748
    Abstract: A method of operating a wind energy installation wherein a rotor has a first rotor blade which can be angularly adjusted, a first adjustment drive for adjusting the rotor blade, and a safety control system. In a normal mode of operation, the first adjustment drive is supplied with energy from a source and is controlled by a first pitch control system. In a failure mode of operation, the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive is switched from the source to an energy storage device and the safety control system monitors a position and/or movement of the first rotor blade. The first rotor blade is adjusted by the first adjustment drive in a direction of a predetermined stopping position, while the safety control system, as a function of the monitored position and/or movement, enables or effects a deactivation of a first power supply shut-off device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Service GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Hör, Stefan Behl, Karsten Warfen
  • Patent number: 11668282
    Abstract: A method of operating a wind energy installation having a rotor with at least one rotor blade that is angularly adjustable by an adjustment drive. In response to the occurrence of at least one special operating case, in particular at least one malfunction case, the rotor blade is adjusted in a direction of a shutdown position by the adjustment drive. In the shutdown position, a supply of energy from an energy storage device to the adjustment drive is switched off and/or a pitch brake for holding the rotor blade in its current position is closed. In response to at least one activation signal, the rotor blade is adjusted by the adjustment drive in an adjustment mode of operation while the special operating case is still ongoing, in particular while the malfunction case is still ongoing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Service GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Hör, Stefan Behl, Karsten Warfen
  • Patent number: 11549488
    Abstract: The method according to the invention for operating a wind turbine, comprising a tower and a rotor arranged at the top of the tower and having at least one rotor blade, which can be adjusted about a blade setting axis, has a first operating mode in which the at least one rotor blade has an operating angular position about the blade setting axis and a wind-force-dependent rotation of the rotor is converted into electrical power using a generator unit, which power is delivered from the wind turbine into an electrical network and/or stored, and a second operating mode in which the at least one rotor blade is adjusted by at least 60° and/or max. 110° about the blade setting axis relative to the operating angular position into a damping angular position, and a counter torque braking the rotor is controlled based on a vibration of the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy Service GmbH
    Inventors: Karsten Warfen, Timo Gosch-Pleß
  • Publication number: 20220120257
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a wind power plant, a wind power plant designed to carry out the method, and a corresponding computer program product. In the method for operating a wind power plant comprising a rotor having angle-adjustable rotor blades and a generator rotationally connected thereto and having a controllable torque, the torque of the generator is limited to a maximum value which is linked to the blade pitch angle of the rotor blades such that the maximum value at the switch-on blade pitch angle value is less than or equal to the rated torque value (MNenn) and the maximum value at a rated blade pitch angle which deviates from the switch-on blade pitch angle is equal to the rated torque value (MNenn).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2019
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Karsten Warfen, Timo Gosch-Pleß
  • Publication number: 20220018331
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a wind turbine, to a wind turbine designed to carry out the method, and to a computer program product. The method for operating a wind turbine comprising a rotor with rotor blades that can be angularly adjusted via a turbine controller, in which a state variable that reflects the current thrust of the rotor is detected, has the following steps: a) ascertaining a short-term average value of the state variable; b) ascertaining the difference between the short-term average value of the state variable and the detected current state variable; c) ascertaining a first target blade angle correction value from the ascertained difference; and d) taking into consideration the target blade angle correction value while adjusting the blade angle by means of the turbine controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 28, 2019
    Publication date: January 20, 2022
    Inventors: Karsten Warfen, Timo Gosch-Pleß
  • Publication number: 20220003209
    Abstract: A method of operating a wind energy installation having a rotor with at least one rotor blade that is angularly adjustable by an adjustment drive. In response to the occurrence of at least one special operating case, in particular at least one malfunction case, the rotor blade is adjusted in a direction of a shutdown position by the adjustment drive. In the shutdown position, a supply of energy from an energy storage device to the adjustment drive is switched off and/or a pitch brake for holding the rotor blade in its current position is closed. In response to at least one activation signal, the rotor blade is adjusted by the adjustment drive in an adjustment mode of operation while the special operating case is still ongoing, in particular while the malfunction case is still ongoing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Oliver Hör, Stefan Behl, Karsten Warfen
  • Publication number: 20220003206
    Abstract: A wind energy installation includes a rotor with a first rotor blade that is angularly adjustable, a first adjustment drive for adjusting the first rotor blade, a safety control device/system, a first reversing device for supplying energy to the first adjustment drive from an energy source via the first reversing device to adjust the first rotor blade in a first direction and to adjust the first rotor blade in a second direction opposite to the first direction. A second reversing device can be switched over by the safety control device/system for supplying energy to the first adjustment drive from an energy storage device in a first special mode of operation via the second reversing device in a first switching position to adjust the first rotor blade in the first direction and in a second switching position to adjust the first rotor blade in the second direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Oliver Hör, Stefan Behl, Karsten Warfen
  • Publication number: 20220003208
    Abstract: A method of operating a wind energy installation wherein a rotor has a first rotor blade which can be angularly adjusted, a first adjustment drive for adjusting the rotor blade, and a safety control system. In a normal mode of operation, the first adjustment drive is supplied with energy from a source and is controlled by a first pitch control system. In a failure mode of operation, the supply of energy to the first adjustment drive is switched from the source to an energy storage device and the safety control system monitors a position and/or movement of the first rotor blade. The first rotor blade is adjusted by the first adjustment drive in a direction of a predetermined stopping position, while the safety control system, as a function of the monitored position and/or movement, enables or effects a deactivation of a first power supply shut-off device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2021
    Publication date: January 6, 2022
    Inventors: Oliver Hör, Stefan Behl, Karsten Warfen
  • Publication number: 20210285419
    Abstract: The method according to the invention for operating a wind turbine, comprising a tower and a rotor arranged at the top of the tower and having at least one rotor blade, which can be adjusted about a blade setting axis, has a first operating mode which the at least one rotor blade has an operating angular position about the blade setting axis and a wind-force-dependent rotation of the rotor is converted into electrical power using a generator unit, which power is delivered from the wind turbine into an electrical network and/or stored, and a second operating mode in which the at least one rotor blade is adjusted by at least 60° and/or max. 110° about the blade setting axis relative to the operating angular position into a damping angular position, and a counter torque braking the rotor is controlled based on a vibration of the tower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Publication date: September 16, 2021
    Inventors: Karsten WARFEN, Timo GOSCH-PLER
  • Publication number: 20210071639
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a wind turbine, a wind turbine designed to perform this method and a corresponding computer program product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2019
    Publication date: March 11, 2021
    Inventors: Karsten Warfen, Stefan Behl
  • Patent number: 10794367
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring moments of a wind turbine, comprising a carrier pin that can be fixedly connected to a bedplate of a nacelle of the wind turbine, which is arranged on a tower and can be adjusted with respect to yaw, a torque support of a gearbox of the wind turbine being mountable on the carrier pin via an elastomer body, and to a method for operating a wind turbine and the corresponding wind turbine. The carrier pin is provided with one or more sensors that are designed and arranged to detect strains and/or shears of the carrier pin, a signal processing and/or evaluation unit being provided, which is connected to the sensor(s) and which can determine, during operation of the wind turbine, from measurement signals of the sensors, pitch moments and/or yaw moments that act upon the torque support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2020
    Assignee: SENVION GMBH
    Inventors: Karsten Warfen, Eckart Hopp
  • Publication number: 20190093636
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for measuring moments of a wind turbine, comprising a carrier pin that can be fixedly connected to a bedplate of a nacelle of the wind turbine, which is arranged on a tower and can be adjusted with respect to yaw, a torque support of a gearbox of the wind turbine being mountable on the carrier pin via an elastomer body, and to a method for operating a wind turbine and the corresponding wind turbine. The carrier pin is provided with one or more sensors that are designed and arranged to detect strains and/or shears of the carrier pin, a signal processing and/or evaluation unit being provided, which is connected to the sensor(s) and which can determine, during operation of the wind turbine, from measurement signals of the sensors, pitch moments and/or yaw moments that act upon the torque support.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2018
    Publication date: March 28, 2019
    Inventors: Karsten WARFEN, Eckart HOPP
  • Patent number: 10167848
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a system for monitoring an individual blade adjustment of a wind turbine which includes a tower, a rotor which is arranged on the tower and has at least two rotor blades whose blade angle can be adjusted individually, and a blade adjustment system, wherein the blade adjustment system includes a blade controller and sensors for sensing individual actual blade angles of the at least two rotor blades, wherein an individual blade controller is included which receives a collective set point blade angle from the blade controller and which actuates at least two rotor blades with respectively individual set point blade angles, as well as a corresponding wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Senvion GmbH
    Inventors: Karsten Warfen, Lothar Hendus, Sören Bilges, Henning Leweke
  • Patent number: 9938961
    Abstract: A method for operating a wind energy installation having a tower, a nacelle arranged on the tower, the azimuth of which can be adjusted, and a rotor having at least one rotor blade, the blade angle of which can be adjusted, in which tower oscillations are detected and monitored during operation using at least one measuring apparatus and power operation is switched off if a sliding average of the tower oscillations exceeds a tower oscillation limit value. The tower oscillation limit value is defined, at least during load operation of the wind energy installation, as at least one limit value function which is dependent on a sliding average of prevailing wind speed and/or a parameter associated therewith, and has different functional dependencies in a plurality of different value ranges of the prevailing wind speed or the parameter associated therewith. The invention also relates to a wind energy installation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Senvion SE
    Inventors: Henning Leweke, Karsten Warfen
  • Patent number: 9670904
    Abstract: A hydraulic actuation device (1) for a brake device of a wind turbine including a hydraulic control line (10), which runs from a hydraulic system circuit (P) of a wind turbine to at least one brake cylinder (2) of a brake device. At least one restrictor (13) is arranged in the control line (10). At least one branch line (14) includes a pressure regulating member (15) that branches off from the control line (10) upstream of the restrictor (13) in the pressure build-up direction, bypassing the restrictor (13), and leads back into the control line (10) downstream of the restrictor (13). The pressure regulating member (15) open when the pressure present on the output side is low, but closes when the pressure at the pressure regulating member (15) on the output side of the pressure regulating member (15) exceeds a preset closing pressure (PS).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Senvion SE
    Inventor: Karsten Warfen
  • Patent number: 9567975
    Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine (10). The wind turbine (10) is operated with variable rotational speed between predeterminable minimum and maximum rotational speeds. A characteristic variable (51) of an oscillation of the wind turbine (10) is detected. The wind turbine (10) includes a tower (14) and a rotor (13). An open-loop or closed-loop control device (36, 50) provides open-loop control or closed-loop control of the rotational speed of the rotor (13) between a minimum rotational speed and a maximum rotational speed during a power-supplying operation of the wind turbine. A sensor (40) detects a characteristic variable (51) of an oscillation of the wind turbine (10) and the minimum rotational speed is changed depending on the characteristic value (51) of the oscillation. The minimum rotational speed is altered depending on the characteristic variable (51) of the oscillation by the open-loop or closed-loop control device (36, 50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Senvion SE
    Inventors: Marco Hansen, Karsten Warfen
  • Patent number: 9309866
    Abstract: A method for the operation of a wind power plant (11) with a rotor (9), which has at least one rotor blade (10), wherein at least one part of the rotor blade (10) will be or is rotated around a longitudinal axis of the rotor blade (10) by a blade angle () wherein the rotation of the at least one part of the rotor blade (10) occurs with a pre-settable blade angle adjustment rate (?), wherein the rotor (9) is operated speed variably and wherein the blade angle adjustment rate () is restricted by a pre-settable blade angle adjustment rate limit (G, G?, G1-G4). Furthermore, a wind power plant (11) with a rotor (9), which receives at least one rotor blade (10), wherein at least one part of the rotor blade (10) is rotatable around a longitudinal axis of the rotor blade (10) by a blade angle (), wherein a blade angle adjustment rate is pre-settable and the blade angle adjustment rate () is restricted by a blade angle adjustment rate limit (G, G?, G1-G4).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: SENVION SE
    Inventors: Karsten Warfen, Henning Leweke