Abstract: An electrical training simulator allows students to assemble electrical circuits, including motor control circuits, utilizing a variety of lab schematics. The electrical training simulator allows an instructor to induce faults into the student-assembled circuit, thereby requiring the student to apply troubleshooting skills utilizing the lab schematic and digital multimeter to analyze and locate the introduced fault in the circuit. Electrical components are fixedly attached to a component mounting plate. In one embodiment of the invention, the instructor introduces the faults through a fault control panel attached to the electrical training simulator, where the fault control panel is not within view of the student. In another embodiment, the faults may be introduced wirelessly through a remote controller.

Abstract: A wind turbine including a synchronous generator that converts rotary motion of a hub or rotor of the wind turbine to a variable frequency alternating current (AC) power. The wind turbine further includes a primary power system located within the wind turbine that transforms the variable frequency AC power to high voltage direct current (HVDC) power and provides the HVDC power to a load over an HVDC transmission line. A method corresponding to the flow of power through the wind turbine and a wind park comprised of a plurality of the wind turbines are also provided.

Abstract: A power supply system having a spot network is disclosed. The spot network may include first and second power output lines, and first and second accessory power circuits connected in parallel to the first and the second power output lines, respectively. Each of the first and the second accessory power circuits may have a transformer and a circuit breaker connected together to protect the spot network by coordinating impedance of the transformer with trip characteristics of the circuit breaker.

Abstract: A yaw-drive system for a wind turbine housed in a movable-in-yaw nacelle affixed atop a tower on a roller bearing. A round-look high-flux core material forms the stator of a circular linear yaw motor. The stator is affixed to the tower and is stationary. A plurality of magnets is affixed to the nacelle in proximity with the core material, such that as the stator is excited in quadrature the nacelle rotates on the roller bearings about a yaw pivot.

Abstract: An industrial control system for use in power generating plants, manufacturing plants, oil and gas processing plants, utility sub-stations, utility grid switching yards, and wind or fluid-flow turbine generating systems. A master controller such as a master control unit or turbine control unit (MCU or TCU) printed circuit board (PCB) is located in an enclosure. A plurality of input/output I/O subsystems is located at a remote points-of-control for the remote I/O subsystems. A plurality of serial analog, digital, or frequency input/output fiber optic communication ports is located at the master controller printed circuit board, one port for each of the I/O subsystems. Fiber-optic cables connect the fiber optic communication ports on the master controller printed circuit board to fiber optic communication ports on the I/O subsystems. Means are provided at the master controller to distribute serialized I/O signals to the remote I/O subsystems over the fiber-optic cables.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for an emergency feathering control of a wind turbine during emergency feathering of the turbine blades that is independent of a turbine control and pitch control unit. A variable pitch rate controller generates commands to drive an AC servo motor for blade feathering. A first pitch rate is obtained with a back-up storage unit, such as a super capacitor. The commands from the controller vary the pitch rate of the blades during feathering in an emergency to a second pitch rate that is different from the first pitch rate.

Abstract: A safety system and method for monitoring the safety of a windmill turbine is disclosed. A protection safety master (PSM) controller is coupled to one or more input/output modules via an optic conductor. Safety components are individually coupled to and monitored by the modules. The modules are distributed throughout a wind turbine tower and provide status information about the safety components to the PSM controller. Based on data received, the PSM controller independently determines whether a fail-safe reaction should be initiated and initiates the fail-safe reaction accordingly.

Abstract: Methods and system are provided for operating an energy producing device when a utility grid is unavailable. The energy producing device includes a power system receiving power from a generator of the energy producing device. The power system includes a main power component and an accessory power component, where the received power is provided to the main power component and accessory power component depending upon the availability of the utility grid. The main power component provides the received power to the utility grid and the accessory power component provides power to accessories of the energy producing device, wherein the power includes the received power and power from an energy storage device included within the accessory power component.

Abstract: A wind turbine includes a wind turbine tower and a power electronic control system located within the wind turbine tower. The power electronic control system includes heat generating components. The heat generating components are directly mounted to the inner surface of the wind turbine tower dissipating the heat generated by the heat generating components directly to the inner surface of the wind turbine tower. In this way, a good thermal conducting path to the entire wind turbine tower is provided. A method for conducting heat generated in electronic equipment housed within a wind turbine tower uses the tower as a heat sink for cooling purposes.

Abstract: A sealed covering for exposed portions of electrical wires at an end of a protective tube, which houses a bus bar and has a cover shield, includes a plug. The plug includes two opposed hinged shells forming, when closed, a cavity for receiving a cable and a flange for engaging the cover shield. A method for enclosing at least one electrical splice between at least one electrical wire and at least one bus bar employs the sealed covering.

Abstract: A wind powered turbine with low voltage ride-through capability. An inverter is connected to the output of a turbine generator. The generator output is conditioned by the inverter resulting in an output voltage and current at a frequency and phase angle appropriate for transmission to a three-phase utility grid. A frequency and phase angle sensor is connected to the utility grid operative during a fault on the grid. A control system is connected to the sensor and to the inverter. The control system output is a current command signal enabling the inverter to put out a current waveform, which is of the same phase and frequency as detected by the sensor. The control system synthesizes current waveform templates for all three-phases based on a sensed voltage on one phase and transmits currents to all three-phases of the electrical system based on the synthesized current waveforms.

Abstract: A wind turbine includes a wind turbine tower and a power electronic control system located within the wind turbine tower. The power electronic control system includes heat generating components. The heat generating components are directly mounted to the inner surface of the wind turbine tower dissipating the heat generated by the heat generating components directly to the inner surface of the wind turbine tower. In this way, a good thermal conducting path to the entire wind turbine tower is provided. A method for conducting heat generated in electronic equipment housed within a wind turbine tower uses the tower as a heat sink for cooling purposes.

Abstract: A wind powered turbine with low voltage ride-through capability. An inverter is connected to the output of a turbine generator. The generator output is conditioned by the inverter resulting in an output voltage and current at a frequency and phase angle appropriate for transmission to a three-phase utility grid. A frequency and phase angle sensor is connected to the utility grid operative during a fault on the grid. A control system is connected to the sensor and to the inverter. The control system output is a current command signal enabling the inverter to put out a current waveform, which is of the same phase and frequency as detected by the sensor. The control system synthesizes current waveform templates for all three-phases based on a sensed voltage on one phase and transmits currents to all three-phases of the electrical system based on the synthesized current waveforms.

Abstract: A wind powered turbine with low voltage ride-through capability. An inverter is connected to the output of a turbine generator. The generator output is conditioned by the inverter resulting in an output voltage and current at a frequency and phase angle appropriate for transmission to a three-phase utility grid. A frequency and phase angle sensor is connected to the utility grid operative during a fault on the grid. A control system is connected to the sensor and to the inverter. The control system output is a current command signal enabling the inverter to put out a current waveform, which is of the same phase and frequency as detected by the sensor. The control system synthesizes current waveform templates for all three-phases based on a sensed voltage on one phase and transmits currents to all three-phases of the electrical system based on the synthesized current waveforms.

Abstract: A wind powered turbine with low voltage ride-through capability. An inverter is connected to the output of a turbine generator. The generator output is conditioned by the inverter resulting in an output voltage and current at a frequency and phase angle appropriate for transmission to a three-phase utility grid. A frequency and phase angle sensor is connected to the utility grid operative during a fault on the grid. A control system is connected to the sensor and to the inverter. The control system output is a current command signal enabling the inverter to put out a current waveform, which is of the same phase and frequency as detected by the sensor. The control system synthesizes current waveform templates for all three-phases based on a sensed voltage on one phase and transmits currents to all three-phases of the electrical system based on the synthesized current waveforms.

Abstract: A variable speed system for use in systems, such as, for example, wind turbines, is described. The system comprises a wound rotor induction generator, a torque controller and a proportional, integral derivative (PID) pitch controller. The torque controller controls generator torque using field oriented control, and the PID controller performs pitch regulation based on generator rotor speed.

Abstract: A power generating system wherein a variable speed turbine is mounted on top of a tower or tethered underwater. The reactive component of turbine generated electrical power is corrected automatically through electronic switched power-factor capacitor banks that are divided into sub-system modules coupled to a central turbine park sub-station. The sub-system modules are of a fixed size and are easily adaptable to different turbine generator types, sizes and groupings. By employing SCR switched power factor capacitors grouped in sub-system modules of fixed size, coupled to a central turbine park sub-station, the converter allows fast, real time control of the utility interconnected power line voltage or power factor.

Abstract: A variable speed wind turbine employing a rotor connected to a multiplicity of synchronous generators with wound field or permanent magnet rotors. A passive rectifier and an inverter are used for power transfer back to the grid. A Turbine Control Unit (TCU) commands a required generator torque based on rotor speed and power output of the turbine inverters. Torque is controlled by regulating the DC current by control of the inverter. A main-shaft-damping filter is provided by measurement of the DC bus voltage. In high winds the turbine remains at a constant average output power through a constant torque command and a varying pitch command to a rotor pitch servo system. A set point is fixed at the inverter output such that output VAR load is minimized running the turbine at very nearly unity power factor. Dynamic VAR and power factor control is provided by a separate VAR apparatus.

Abstract: A variable speed system for use in systems, such as, for example, wind turbines, is described. The system comprises a wound rotor induction generator, a torque controller and a proportional, integral derivative (PID) pitch controller. The torque controller controls generator torque using field oriented control, and the PID controller performs pitch regulation based on generator rotor speed.

Abstract: A variable speed system for use in systems, such as, for example, wind turbines, is described. The system comprises a wound rotor induction generator, a torque controller and a proportional integral derivative (PID) pitch controller. The torque controller controls generator torque using field oriented control, and the PID controller performs pitch regulation based on generator rotor speed.