Abstract: Among other things, the present disclosure relates to an alternator for high temperature applications, (i.e., an alternator capable of operating at temperatures greater than approximately 250° C.). The alternator for high temperature applications may include permanent magnets arranged in a topology which may enable the alternator and connected application system to start operating without an external or auxiliary power source. When used in geothermal applications, the alternator may be capable of using drilling fluid as a coolant.

Abstract: An adaptive method for adjusting blade pitch angle, and controllers implementing such a method, for achieving higher power coefficients. Average power coefficients are determined for first and second periods of operation for the wind turbine. When the average power coefficient for the second time period is larger than for the first, a pitch increment, which may be generated based on the power coefficients, is added (or the sign is retained) to the nominal pitch angle value for the wind turbine. When the average power coefficient for the second time period is less than for the first, the pitch increment is subtracted (or the sign is changed). A control signal is generated based on the adapted pitch angle value and sent to blade pitch actuators that act to change the pitch angle of the wind turbine to the new or modified pitch angle setting, and this process is iteratively performed.

Abstract: An adaptive for adjusting blade (312) pitch angle angle, and controllers (350) implementing such method, for achieving higher power coefficients. Average power coefficients are determined for first and second periods of operation for the wind turbine (310). When the average power coefficient for the second time period is larger than for the first, a pitch increment, which may generated based on the power coefficients, is added (or the sign is retained) to the nominal pitch angle value for the wind turbine (310). When the average power coefficient for the second time period is less than for the first, the pitch increment is subtracted (or the sign is changed). A control signal is generated based on the adapted pitch angle value and is sent to blade pitch actuators (318) that act to change the pit angle of the wind turbine (310) to the new or modified pitch angle setting, and this process is iteratively performed.

Abstract: A wind turbine tower assembly for storing compressed gas such as hydrogen. The tower assembly includes a wind turbine having a rotor, a generator driven by the rotor, and a nacelle housing the generator. The tower assembly includes a foundation and a tubular tower with one end mounted to the foundation and another end attached to the nacelle. The tower includes an in-tower storage configured for storing a pressurized gas and defined at least in part by inner surfaces of the tower wall. In one embodiment, the tower wall is steel and has a circular cross section. The in-tower storage may be defined by first and second end caps welded to the inner surface of the tower wall or by an end cap near the top of the tower and by a sealing element attached to the tower wall adjacent the foundation, with the sealing element abutting the foundation.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently capturing electrical energy from a variable-speed generator are disclosed. The system includes a matrix converter using full-bridge, multilevel switch cells, in which semiconductor devices are clamped to a known constant DC voltage of a capacitor. The multilevel matrix converter is capable of generating multilevel voltage wave waveform of arbitrary magnitude and frequencies. The matrix converter can be controlled by using space vector modulation.

Abstract: A system and method for efficiently capturing electrical energy from a variable-speed generator are disclosed. The system includes a matrix converter using full-bridge, multilevel switch cells, in which semiconductor devices are clamped to a known constant DC voltage of a capacitor. The multilevel matrix converter is capable of generating multilevel voltage wave waveform of arbitrary magnitude and frequencies. The matrix converter can be controlled by using space vector modulation.