Patents by Inventor Michael R. Behnke

Michael R. Behnke 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: 8520417
    Abstract: The disclosure details implementations of apparatuses, methods, and systems for regulating DC bus voltages. In an implementation, the system is configured to regulate the DC bus voltage directly by operating at the DC bus rather than indirectly on the AC side of the DC bus. In one implementation, the DC voltage regulator is configured with components including a DC voltage regulator power control board, a switching device, a resistor, and a flyback diode. In one non-limiting implementation example, the DC voltage regulator may be used to control the DC bus voltage of a doubly fed induction generator of a wind turbine. In this implementation, the DC voltage regulator effectively protects the converter of the induction generator and also reduces the transient torques on the generator shaft during voltage irregularities. This, in turn, reduces excessive wear on the wind turbine gearbox by limiting fatigue loads on the gear teeth that may result from transient torques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2013
    Assignee: Acciona Windpower, S.A.
    Inventors: William L. Erdman, Michael R. Behnke, Miguel Núñez Polo, Ricardo Royo Garcia
  • Patent number: 8035240
    Abstract: The disclosure details implementations of apparatuses, methods, and systems for facilitating efficient operational characteristics for wind turbine generators. The system includes features that facilitate protecting the power semiconductors used in the power converters of variable speed power generation systems from excessive junction temperatures. These features may be achieved by implementing a synchronous speed avoidance (SSA) controller implemented to facilitate a determined active control range as an electrical torque/power-generator rotor speed controller. The determined active control range may be centered around a generator synchronous speed. The upper and lower bounds of the active control range are determined based on operational junction temperature characteristics of power semiconductors used within a power converter, reliability characteristics of the power semiconductors and/or current ratings of the power semiconductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Acciona Windpower, S.A.
    Inventors: William L. Erdman, Michael R. Behnke, Steve Tonks, Miguel Núñez Polo
  • Publication number: 20090008938
    Abstract: The disclosure details implementations of apparatuses, methods, and systems for facilitating efficient operational characteristics for wind turbine generators. The system includes features that facilitate protecting the power semiconductors used in the power converters of variable speed power generation systems from excessive junction temperatures. These features may be achieved by implementing a synchronous speed avoidance (SSA) controller implemented to facilitate a determined active control range as an electrical torque/power-generator rotor speed controller. The determined active control range may be centered around a generator synchronous speed. The upper and lower bounds of the active control range are determined based on operational junction temperature characteristics of power semiconductors used within a power converter, reliability characteristics of the power semiconductors and/or current ratings of the power semiconductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: William L. Erdman, Michael R. Behnke, Steve Tonks, Miguel Nunez Polo
  • Publication number: 20090008937
    Abstract: The disclosure details implementations of apparatuses, methods, and systems for regulating DC bus voltages. In an implementation, the system is configured to regulate the DC bus voltage directly by operating at the DC bus rather than indirectly on the AC side of the DC bus. In one implementation, the DC voltage regulator is configured with components including a DC voltage regulator power control board, a switching device, a resistor, and a flyback diode. In one non-limiting implementation example, the DC voltage regulator may be used to control the DC bus voltage of a doubly fed induction generator of a wind turbine. In this implementation, the DC voltage regulator effectively protects the converter of the induction generator and also reduces the transient torques on the generator shaft during voltage irregularities. This, in turn, reduces excessive wear on the wind turbine gearbox by limiting fatigue loads on the gear teeth that may result from transient torques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Inventors: William L. Erdman, Michael R. Behnke, Miguel Nunez Polo, Ricardo Royo Garcia