Patents by Inventor Kelvin Hales

Kelvin Hales 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: 9556850
    Abstract: A method of controlling a wind turbine rotor blade, the blade comprising a pitch axis about which the blade can be pitched, and a flap movable to alter the aerodynamic profile of the blade, the method comprising the steps of: providing a pitch angle request (?) to a pitch actuator; determining an initial flap angle request (?_flap); providing a decoupled flap angle request (?) to a flap actuator; herein the decoupled flap angle request (?) is calculated from the pitch angle request (?) and the initial flap angle request (?_flap) such that the decoupled flap angle (?) provided to the flap actuator does not counteract the pitch angle request (?); and pitching the blade according to the pitch angle request (?) and moving the flap according to the decoupled flap angle request (?).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2017
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Jenny Goodman, Kelvin Hales
  • Publication number: 20170002796
    Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing an output power of a group of wind turbines are provided. A measure of life usage by at least one component of each of a plurality of the turbines is determined, and is compared to a threshold value for life usage for the component. Power output is preferentially reduced from those turbines having at least one component for which the measure of life usage exceeds the corresponding threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Chris SPRUCE, Kelvin HALES (DECEASED)
  • Publication number: 20160196370
    Abstract: The present invention relates to determining and setting wind turbine type maximum power level (301) and individual wind turbine maximum power level (308) for over-rating control.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 16, 2014
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Chris SPRUCE, Kelvin HALES
  • Patent number: 9234506
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and apparatus for determining a property of wind approaching a wind turbine. A light detection and ranging equipment may be used to determine a property of the wind at a plurality of locations ahead of a turbine. A wind flow model may be used to determine the property of wind expected at the rotor of the wind turbine based on the readings of the light detection and ranging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Ian Couchman, Robert Bowyer, Kelvin Hales, Christopher Palmer
  • Patent number: 9103327
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and apparatus for determining a property of wind approaching a wind turbine. A light detection and ranging equipment may be used to determine a property of the wind at a plurality of locations ahead of a turbine. A wind flow model may be used to determine the property of wind expected at the rotor of the wind turbine based on the readings of the light detection and ranging device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Ian Couchman, Robert Bowyer, Kelvin Hales, Christopher Palmer
  • Patent number: 9097236
    Abstract: Method of operating a wind power plant including the steps of: operating the wind power plant at an current parameter schedule (Pcurrent(v)) performing a wind prediction of wind data (Vw) for a time frame (?T) extending to a future time T, determining a desired fatigue load level (Fdesired) of a wind power plant component at the future time T, and during operation of said wind power plant generating an updated parameter schedule (Pdesired(v)) to provide the desired fatigue load level (Fdesired) at time T if exposed to the predicted wind conditions (Vw(t)) during said time frame (?T).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Yu Zhou, Eik Herbsleb, Chris Spruce, Kelvin Hales
  • Publication number: 20130280067
    Abstract: A method of controlling a wind turbine rotor blade, the blade comprising a pitch axis about which the blade can be pitched, and a flap movable to alter the aerodynamic profile of the blade, the method comprising the steps of: providing a pitch angle request (?) to a pitch actuator; determining an initial flap angle request (?_flap); providing a decoupled flap angle request (?) to a flap actuator; herein the decoupled flap angle request (?) is calculated from the pitch angle request (?) and the initial flap angle request (?_flap) such that the decoupled flap angle (?) provided to the flap actuator does not counteract the pitch angle request (?); and pitching the blade according to the pitch angle request (?) and moving the flap according to the decoupled flap angle request (?).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: October 24, 2013
    Applicant: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Jenny Goodman, Kelvin Hales
  • Publication number: 20130094961
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide methods, systems, and apparatus for determining a property of wind approaching a wind turbine. A light detection and ranging equipment may be used to determine a property of the wind at a plurality of locations ahead of a turbine. A wind flow model may be used to determine the property of wind expected at the rotor of the wind turbine based on the readings of the light detection and ranging device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Publication date: April 18, 2013
    Inventors: IAN COUCHMAN, Robert Bowyer, Kelvin Hales, Christopher Palmer
  • Publication number: 20130035798
    Abstract: Method of operating a wind power plant including the steps of: operating the wind power plant at an current parameter schedule (Pcurrent(v)) performing a wind prediction of wind data (Vw) for a time frame (?T) extending to a future time T, determining a desired fatigue load level (Fdesired) of a wind power plant component at the future time T, and during operation of said wind power plant generating an updated parameter schedule (Pdesired(v)) to provide the desired fatigue load level (Fdesired) at time T if exposed to the predicted wind conditions (Vw(t)) during said time frame (?T)
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Inventors: Yu Zhou, Eik Herbsleb, Chris Spruce, Kelvin Hales