Patents by Inventor Nathan L. Post

Nathan L. Post 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: 20240328387
    Abstract: Systems and methods of predicting performance of one or more wind turbines are provided. Exemplary methods include entering data inputs and analyzing and estimating the data inputs. The data inputs include nacelle position information and/or wind condition information. A wake model is determined based on the analysis and estimating of the data inputs. Wind turbine behavior predictions are generated including predicted power outputs of the wind turbines and predicted effects of waking on the predicted power outputs. The data inputs can be adjusted to improve the wind turbine behavior predictions, and the wake model can be corrected by machine learning. By focusing on an observable quantity—power—based on other observable quantities like wind speed, yaw error, nacelle position, disclosed embodiments enable optimization to start immediately after the hardware and software are installed, and as the controller operates more in the field, additional training and validation data are collected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2024
    Publication date: October 3, 2024
    Inventors: Peter Bachant, Peter Ireland, Brian Burrows, Venkatakrishna Vadlamudi, Nathan L. Post, Mohit Dua, Danian Zheng
  • Publication number: 20240309842
    Abstract: Systems and methods of driving a nacelle to a target nacelle yaw position are provided in which an auxiliary yaw position control system is coupled to a turbine control unit. The auxiliary yaw position control system receives a first signal representing a current nacelle yaw position and a second signal representing a target nacelle yaw position. The auxiliary yaw position control system determines, based upon the current nacelle yaw position and the target nacelle yaw position, whether and in which direction the nacelle needs to move to be in the target nacelle yaw position and sends nacelle yaw actuation signals to the turbine control unit. If it is safe to accept the nacelle yaw actuation signals, the auxiliary yaw position control system commands the yaw drive so it moves to the target nacelle yaw position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 8, 2024
    Publication date: September 19, 2024
    Inventors: Danian Zheng, Nathan L. Post, Aaron Hall, Karthikeyan Appuraj, Peter Bachant
  • Patent number: 12056759
    Abstract: The present embodiments relate to augmented reality (AR) device managed object selection and acquisition processing. The client, via a client AR device, can view objects in an environment. The system can process sensor data depicting the environment to identify objects in the environment and determine whether the client has selected a detected object. The system can authenticate an identity of the client (e.g., via iris scanning) and initiate an acquisition process for one or more selected objects. The client can select objects, authenticate the client as an authenticated user, and/or initiate the acquisition process on the AR device directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Ravi Durairaj, Sean C. Mitchem, Ruthie Lyle, Nolan Serrao, Nathan L. Post
  • Publication number: 20230272775
    Abstract: Systems and methods of autonomous farm-level control and optimization of wind turbines are provided. Exemplary embodiments comprise a site controller running on a site server. The site controller collects and analyzes yaw control data of a plurality of wind turbines and wind direction data relating to the plurality of wind turbines. The site server determines collective wind direction across an area occupied by the plurality of wind turbines and sends yaw control signals including desired nacelle yaw position instructions to the plurality of wind turbines. The site controller performs wake modeling analysis and determines desired nacelle positions of one or more of the plurality of wind turbines. The desired nacelle yaw position instructions systematically correct static yaw misalignment for all of the plurality of wind turbines. Embodiments of the disclosure provide means to perform whole site or partial site level controls of the yaw controllers of a utility scale wind turbine farm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2023
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventors: Nathan L. Post, Danian Zheng, Peter Bachant, Mohit Dua
  • Patent number: 11710280
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an environmental scanning tool that generates a digital model representing the surroundings of a user of an extended reality head-mounted display device. The environment is imaged in both a depth map and in visible light for some select objects of interest. The selected objects exist within the digital model at higher fidelity and resolution than the remaining portions of the model in order to manage the storage size of the digital model. In some cases, the objects of interest are selected, or their higher fidelity scans are directed, by a remote user. The digital model further includes time stamped updates of the environment such that users can view a state of the environment according to various timestamps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)
    Inventors: Ravi Durairaj, Marta Argumedo, Sean C. Mitchem, Ruthie Lyle, Nolan Serrao, Bharat Prasad, Nathan L. Post
  • Patent number: 11680556
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a retrofit auxiliary nacelle yaw position control system that enables advanced nacelle yaw position control of a wind turbine by comparing a desired nacelle yaw position signal with the actual nacelle yaw position and generating a virtual relative wind direction signal that is provided to the existing turbine control unit. This method and system enable implementation of wake steering, collective yaw optimization and dynamic yaw optimization of a collection of wind turbines referred to as a wind plant. Modification of the existing turbine control unit is not required, greatly simplifying the implementation process of advanced yaw control strategies on existing wind plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: WindESCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan L. Post, Brendan F. Taylor, Peter Bachant, Jonathan A. Kossuth, Mohit Dua
  • Patent number: 11639710
    Abstract: Systems and methods of autonomous farm-level control and optimization of wind turbines are provided. Exemplary embodiments comprise a site controller running on a site server. The site controller collects and analyzes yaw control data of a plurality of wind turbines and wind direction data relating to the plurality of wind turbines. The site server determines collective wind direction across an area occupied by the plurality of wind turbines and sends yaw control signals including desired nacelle yaw position instructions to the plurality of wind turbines. The site controller performs wake modeling analysis and determines desired nacelle positions of one or more of the plurality of wind turbines. The desired nacelle yaw position instructions systematically correct static yaw misalignment for all of the plurality of wind turbines. Embodiments of the disclosure provide means to perform whole site or partial site level controls of the yaw controllers of a utility scale wind turbine farm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2023
    Assignee: WindESCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan L. Post, Danian Zheng, Peter Bachant, Mohit Dua
  • Publication number: 20220412313
    Abstract: Systems and methods of autonomous farm-level control and optimization of wind turbines are provided. Exemplary embodiments comprise a site controller running on a site server. The site controller collects and analyzes yaw control data of a plurality of wind turbines and wind direction data relating to the plurality of wind turbines. The site server determines collective wind direction across an area occupied by the plurality of wind turbines and sends yaw control signals including desired nacelle yaw position instructions to the plurality of wind turbines. The site controller performs wake modeling analysis and determines desired nacelle positions of one or more of the plurality of wind turbines. The desired nacelle yaw position instructions systematically correct static yaw misalignment for all of the plurality of wind turbines. Embodiments of the disclosure provide means to perform whole site or partial site level controls of the yaw controllers of a utility scale wind turbine farm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Nathan L. Post, Danian Zheng, Peter Bachant, Mohit Dua
  • Patent number: 11313351
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a retrofit auxiliary nacelle yaw position control system that enables advanced nacelle yaw position control of a wind turbine by comparing a desired nacelle yaw position signal with the actual nacelle yaw position and generating a virtual relative wind direction signal that is provided to the existing turbine control unit. This method and system enable implementation of wake steering, collective yaw optimization and dynamic yaw optimization of a collection of wind turbines referred to as a wind plant. Modification of the existing turbine control unit is not required, greatly simplifying the implementation process of advanced yaw control strategies on existing wind plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: WindESCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Nathan L. Post, Brendan F. Taylor, Peter Bachant, Jonathan A. Kossuth, Mohit Dua
  • Patent number: 11300102
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a data processing and control augmentation system capable of identifying overloading of one or more wind turbine assemblies and providing information to a wind farm controller to reduce a power output of each overloaded turbine. The augmentation system thus reduces the power output of each overloaded turbine and, in turn, reduces loads applied to the wind turbine assembly, such as for a period of time until conditions favorably change. A described analysis of the present disclosure is able to utilize several incoming data streams from sensors so arranged to measure wind effects on blades to calculate and compare cyclic loads to threshold limits to o keep the loads within design limits. The control strategy reduces premature failure of components within the wind turbine assembly, and can be applied across an entire wind farm, even with only a subset of wind turbine assemblies being retrofitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: WindESCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohit Dua, Nathan L. Post, Jonathan A. Kossuth, Brendan F. Taylor, David Hastings
  • Publication number: 20220010769
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a retrofit auxiliary nacelle yaw position control system that enables advanced nacelle yaw position control of a wind turbine by comparing a desired nacelle yaw position signal with the actual nacelle yaw position and generating a virtual relative wind direction signal that is provided to the existing turbine control unit. This method and system enable implementation of wake steering, collective yaw optimization and dynamic yaw optimization of a collection of wind turbines referred to as a wind plant. Modification of the existing turbine control unit is not required, greatly simplifying the implementation process of advanced yaw control strategies on existing wind plants.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Publication date: January 13, 2022
    Inventors: Nathan L. Post, Brendan F. Taylor, Peter Bachant, Jonathan A. Kossuth, Mohit Dua
  • Publication number: 20200284239
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a data processing and control augmentation system capable of identifying overloading of one or more wind turbine assemblies and providing information to a wind farm controller to reduce a power output of each overloaded turbine. The augmentation system thus reduces the power output of each overloaded turbine and, in turn, reduces loads applied to the wind turbine assembly, such as for a period of time until conditions favorably change. A described analysis of the present disclosure is able to utilize several incoming data streams from sensors so arranged to measure wind effects on blades to calculate and compare cyclic loads to threshold limits to o keep the loads within design limits. The control strategy reduces premature failure of components within the wind turbine assembly, and can be applied across an entire wind farm, even with only a subset of wind turbine assemblies being retrofitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2020
    Publication date: September 10, 2020
    Inventors: Mohit Dua, Nathan L. Post, Jonathan A. Kossuth, Brendan F. Taylor, David Hastings
  • Patent number: 10539119
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a data processing and control augmentation system capable of identifying overloading of one or more wind turbine assemblies and providing information to a wind farm controller to reduce a power output of each overloaded turbine. The augmentation system thus reduces the power output of each overloaded turbine and, in turn, reduces loads applied to the wind turbine assembly, such as for a period of time until conditions favorably change. A described analysis of the present disclosure is able to utilize several incoming data streams from sensors so arranged to measure wind effects on blades to calculate and compare cyclic loads to threshold limits to o keep the loads within design limits. The control strategy reduces premature failure of components within the wind turbine assembly, and can be applied across an entire wind farm, even with only a subset of wind turbine assemblies being retrofitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: WindESCo, Inc.
    Inventors: Mohit Dua, Nathan L. Post, Jonathan A. Kossuth, Brendan F. Taylor, David Hastings
  • Publication number: 20190010923
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure include a data processing and control augmentation system capable of identifying overloading of one or more wind turbine assemblies and providing information to a wind farm controller to reduce a power output of each overloaded turbine. The augmentation system thus reduces the power output of each overloaded turbine and, in turn, reduces loads applied to the wind turbine assembly, such as for a period of time until conditions favorably change. A described analysis of the present disclosure is able to utilize several incoming data streams from sensors so arranged to measure wind effects on blades to calculate and compare cyclic loads to threshold limits to o keep the loads within design limits. The control strategy reduces premature failure of components within the wind turbine assembly, and can be applied across an entire wind farm, even with only a subset of wind turbine assemblies being retrofitted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Publication date: January 10, 2019
    Inventors: Mohit Dua, Nathan L. Post, Jonathan A. Kossuth, Brendan F. Taylor, David Hastings