Patents by Inventor Lothar Wittekind

Lothar Wittekind 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).

  • Publication number: 20160003220
    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: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2015
    Publication date: January 7, 2016
    Inventors: Karsten Warfen, Lothar Wittekind, Sören Bilges, Henning Leweke
  • Patent number: 8328514
    Abstract: A method for controlling operation of a wind turbine is described. The wind turbine includes a rotor having a plurality of rotor blades. The method includes measuring an atmospheric condition associated with the environment surrounding the wind turbine, providing the measured atmospheric condition to a processor, and determining at least one monitor set point limit based at least partially on the measured atmospheric condition. The method also includes applying the at least one monitor set point limit to wind turbine operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Renjith Viripullan, Thomas Edenfeld, Vijendra Singh Chauhan, Lothar Wittekind, Udo Ahmann
  • Patent number: 8212373
    Abstract: Method for increasing energy capture in wind plants includes providing a plurality of wind turbines having a variable speed control system including an initial rotational speed set point value which is a maximum rotational speed set point for wind turbines. Method includes obtaining at least two measured operational parameters from one or more sensors and comparing measured operational parameters to mechanical load of turbine. If mechanical load of turbine is decreased as a result of measured operational parameters, a speed control adjustment method is activated. Speed control adjustment method includes determining an adjusted rotational speed set point greater than initial rotational speed set point value in response to at least two measured and compared operational parameters and configuring control system with adjusted rotational speed set point where adjusted rotational speed set point increases maximum rotational speed set point of wind turbines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lothar Wittekind, Renjith Viripullan, Martin Staedler
  • Patent number: 8197207
    Abstract: A method for configuring blades of a wind turbine for low noise generation. The method includes providing at least one noise measuring device. The noise measuring device is arranged and disposed in a position to measure noise of the blades during rotation. The wind turbine is configured to include a rotational trigger, the rotational trigger being arranged to provide a signal at a predetermined rotational position of the wind turbine blades. One or more of the blades is configured with an aerodynamic modifying device. Noise level is measured with the noise measuring device during wind turbine operation. The noise produced by each of the blades is determined. The blades are configured in response to the noise determined for each of the blades. A method for measuring the noise level generated by an individual blade and a wind turbine configured for desired noise level are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Andreas Petersen, Lothar Wittekind, Heiko Kraft
  • Publication number: 20120091714
    Abstract: Method for increasing energy capture in wind plants includes providing a plurality of wind turbines having a variable speed control system including an initial rotational speed set point value which is a maximum rotational speed set point for wind turbines. Method includes obtaining at least two measured operational parameters from one or more sensors and comparing measured operational parameters to mechanical load of turbine. If mechanical load of turbine is decreased as a result of measured operational parameters, a speed control adjustment method is activated. Speed control adjustment method includes determining an adjusted rotational speed set point greater than initial rotational speed set point value in response to at least two measured and compared operational parameters and configuring control system with adjusted rotational speed set point where adjusted rotational speed set point increases maximum rotational speed set point of wind turbines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2011
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Lothar WITTEKIND, Renjith VIRIPULLAN, Martin STAEDLER
  • Patent number: 8093737
    Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine. The method includes providing a wind turbine having a variable speed control system, the control system having an initial rotational speed set point. At least two operational parameters are obtained from one or more sensors. An adjusted rotational speed set point greater than the initial rotational speed set point is determined in response to the operational parameter. The control system is configured with the adjusted rotational speed set point. A wind turbine and wind turbine plant are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Lothar Wittekind, Renjith Viripullan, Martin Staedler
  • Publication number: 20110064573
    Abstract: A method for controlling operation of a wind turbine is described. The wind turbine includes a rotor having a plurality of rotor blades. The method includes measuring an atmospheric condition associated with the environment surrounding the wind turbine, providing the measured atmospheric condition to a processor, and determining at least one monitor set point limit based at least partially on the measured atmospheric condition. The method also includes applying the at least one monitor set point limit to wind turbine operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventors: Renjith Viripullan, Thomas Edenfeld, Vijendra Singh Chauhan, Lothar Wittekind, Udo Ahmann
  • Publication number: 20100284787
    Abstract: A method for configuring blades of a wind turbine for low noise generation. The method includes providing at least one noise measuring device. The noise measuring device is arranged and disposed in a position to measure noise of the blades during rotation. The wind turbine is configured to include a rotational trigger, the rotational trigger being arranged to provide a signal at a predetermined rotational position of the wind turbine blades. One or more of the blades is configured with an aerodynamic modifying device. Noise level is measured with the noise measuring device during wind turbine operation. The noise produced by each of the blades is determined. The blades are configured in response to the noise determined for each of the blades. A method for measuring the noise level generated by an individual blade and a wind turbine configured for desired noise level are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Andreas PETERSEN, Lothar WITTEKIND, Heiko KRAFT
  • Publication number: 20090295160
    Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine. The method includes providing a wind turbine having a variable speed control system, the control system having an initial rotational speed set point. At least two operational parameters are obtained from one or more sensors. An adjusted rotational speed set point greater than the initial rotational speed set point is determined in response to the operational parameter. The control system is configured with the adjusted rotational speed set point. A wind turbine and wind turbine plant are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: GE WIND ENERGY GMBH
    Inventors: Lothar WITTEKIND, Renjith VIRIPULLAN, Martin STAEDLER