Patents by Inventor Till Hoffmann

Till Hoffmann 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: 9893563
    Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to a wind turbine electrical power configured to minimize power losses. The power system includes a generator having a generator stator and a generator rotor, a power converter electrically coupled to the generator, a main transformer electrically coupled to the power converter and the power grid, and an auxiliary transformer. More specifically, the main transformer is connected to the power grid via a voltage line comprising a voltage switch gear. Thus, the auxiliary transformer is connected directly to the voltage line, i.e. rather than being connected to the grid through the main transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Till Hoffmann, Werner Gerhard Barton, Hartmut Scholte-Wassink
  • Publication number: 20170229907
    Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to a wind turbine electrical power configured to minimize power losses. The power system includes a generator having a generator stator and a generator rotor, a power converter electrically coupled to the generator, a main transformer electrically coupled to the power converter and the power grid, and an auxiliary transformer. More specifically, the main transformer is connected to the power grid via a voltage line comprising a voltage switch gear. Thus, the auxiliary transformer is connected directly to the voltage line, i.e. rather than being connected to the grid through the main transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Publication date: August 10, 2017
    Inventors: Till Hoffmann, Werner Gerhard Barton, Hartmut Scholte-Wassink
  • Publication number: 20160356266
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for reducing vibrations of a tower (e.g. a tubular steep tower or a lattice tower structure) of a wind turbine. The method includes continuously determining a torsional movement of the tower based at least in part on measurements obtained from one or more sensors. Another step includes continuously determining, via a controller, a control command for one or more pitch drive mechanisms of the wind turbine based on the torsional movement. Thus, the method also includes operating the one or more pitch drive mechanisms based on the control command so as to dampen the torsional movement of the tower.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2015
    Publication date: December 8, 2016
    Inventors: Arne Koerber, Till Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 9080553
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for control of redundant devices in a wind turbine is provided, comprising operating a first redundant device and at least one other redundant device such that the first redundant device is expected to fail before any of the at least one other redundant devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christian Haag, Joseph Law, Till Hoffmann
  • Publication number: 20130187382
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for control of redundant devices in a wind turbine is provided, comprising operating a first redundant device and at least one other redundant device such that the first redundant device is expected to fail before any of the at least one other redundant devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2012
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Inventors: Christian HAAG, Joseph Law, Till Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 8366389
    Abstract: A wind turbine and methods for controlling wind turbine thrust are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes measuring a tilt angle of a wind turbine in a loaded position using a measuring device. The wind turbine includes a tower, a nacelle mounted on the tower, a rotor coupled to the nacelle, and a plurality of rotor blades coupled to the rotor. The method further includes comparing the tilt angle to a predetermined tilt angle for the wind turbine and, if the tilt angle exceeds the predetermined tilt angle, adjusting a pitch of at least one of the plurality of rotor blades such that the tilt angle is less than or equal to the predetermined tilt angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Till Hoffmann, Hartmut Scholte-Wassink
  • Patent number: 8360722
    Abstract: A method of validating a wind turbine including a rotor includes intentionally inducing a loading imbalance to the rotor. The method also includes measuring the loading imbalance induced to the rotor, transmitting a signal representative of the measured loading imbalance to a calibration module, and at least one of detecting an error and calibrating at least one component of the wind turbine based on the signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Till Hoffmann, Gert Torbohm, Jignesh Gandhi, Robert Peter Slack
  • Patent number: 8360723
    Abstract: A method is presented that reduces vibrations of a wind turbine in a situation where yawing of a wind rotor of said wind turbine is at least temporarily not possible. The method includes adjusting a first pitch angle of a first rotor blade and a second pitch angle of a second rotor blade such that the first and second pitch angles differ by at least 30 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Bart Veldkamp, Christoph Hessel, Jacob Nies, Till Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 8353667
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for adjusting a yaw angle of a wind turbine comprising a rotor having a plurality of rotor blades and a hub are provided. The method is adapted for adjusting the yaw angle from an actual yaw angle to a desired yaw angle and comprises the steps of measuring a wind direction at the location of the wind turbine, measuring the yaw angle of the wind turbine and/or determining a wind direction relative to the nacelle orientation, calculating a pitch angle of at least one rotor blade as a function of the measured wind direction and the measured yaw angle and/or the wind direction relative to the nacelle orientation, and adjusting the pitch angle of the rotor blades according to the calculated pitch angle such that a yaw momentum is generated for changing the yaw angle from the actual yaw angle to the desired yaw angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Till Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 8267655
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine, the wind turbine including at least one movable portion which is movable during operation of the wind turbine and at least one movable portion device including at least one of a movable portion transmitter or a movable portion receiver, the movable portion transmitter or the movable portion receiver being disposed at the least one movable portion; the method including: at least one of sending to or receiving from at least three reference points at least one signal by at least one of the movable portion transmitter or movable portion receiver; and determining at least one operational parameter of the wind turbine depending on at least one characteristic of the at least one received signal. Further the present disclosure relates to a wind turbine arrangement and a system for controlling a wind turbine, comprising a controller of the wind turbine and a movable portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Friedrich Loh, Hartmut Scholte-Wassink, Till Hoffmann, Juergen Esser
  • Patent number: 8262354
    Abstract: The present invention provides a connecting device adapted for connecting a hub and a main shaft of a wind turbine. The connecting device comprises at least one sensor bolt connecting the hub and the main shaft, wherein a stress detection element is mounted inside the sensor bolt. The stress detection element is adapted to detect a length variation of the sensor bolt and to output a sensor signal indicative of the length variation of the sensor bolt. A signal output device is used for outputting the sensor signal which is indicative of a stress applied to the sensor bolt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Till Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 8120194
    Abstract: A method for controlling an operation of a wind turbine. A meteorological condition is received from a meteorological sensor. An operating threshold value is calculated at least in part by applying a continuous function to the meteorological condition. An operation of the wind turbine is controlled based at least in part on the calculated operating threshold value. For example, the wind turbine may be disabled if a current wind speed exceeds a maximum wind speed that is calculated based on an ambient air temperature or ambient air density.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Till Hoffmann, Julian Quindt
  • Publication number: 20120027586
    Abstract: A wind turbine and methods for controlling wind turbine thrust are disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes measuring a tilt angle of a wind turbine in a loaded position using a measuring device. The wind turbine includes a tower, a nacelle mounted on the tower, a rotor coupled to the nacelle, and a plurality of rotor blades coupled to the rotor. The method further includes comparing the tilt angle to a predetermined tilt angle for the wind turbine and, if the tilt angle exceeds the predetermined tilt angle, adjusting a pitch of at least one of the plurality of rotor blades such that the tilt angle is less than or equal to the predetermined tilt angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2011
    Publication date: February 2, 2012
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Till Hoffmann, Hartmut Scholte-Wassink
  • Publication number: 20110268569
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine, the wind turbine including at least one movable portion which is movable during operation of the wind turbine and at least one movable portion device including at least one of a movable portion transmitter or a movable portion receiver, the movable portion transmitter or the movable portion receiver being disposed at the least one movable portion; the method including: at least one of sending to or receiving from at least three reference points at least one signal by at least one of the movable portion transmitter or movable portion receiver; and determining at least one operational parameter of the wind turbine depending on at least one characteristic of the at least one received signal. Further the present disclosure relates to a wind turbine arrangement and a system for controlling a wind turbine, comprising a controller of the wind turbine and a movable portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Inventors: Friedrich LOH, Hartmut Scholte-Wassink, Till Hoffmann, Juergen Esser
  • Patent number: 8029233
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine including a wind rotor shaft, a rotary encoder for measuring the azimuth angle of the wind rotor shaft, wherein the wind turbine further includes at least one impulse generating device including at least one first part and at least one second part, wherein the at least one first part is rotating with the wind rotor shaft and the least one second part is disposed stationary with respect to the wind rotor shaft such that the at least one first part moves by the at least one second part; wherein the method includes: encoding the azimuth angle of the wind rotor shaft by the rotary encoder into a rotation value; generating an impulse when one of the at least one first part moves by one of the at least one second part of the impulse generating device; comparing the rotation value at the time of a detected impulse with a reference value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Till Hoffmann, Julian Quindt
  • Patent number: 8022565
    Abstract: A control system for a wind turbine, the control system having at least one measurement device configured to measure at least one operating condition of the wind turbine and a first controller. The first controller is configured to calculate an operating limit of the wind turbine based on the measured operating condition and to adjust the operating limit based on a limiting condition of a component of the wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hartmut Scholte-Wassink, Mark Edward Cardinal, Anthony Michael Klodowski, Till Hoffmann, Jignesh G. Gandhi, Sidney Allen Barker, Gert Torbohm, Christoph Schulten
  • Publication number: 20110142593
    Abstract: A method of validating a wind turbine including a rotor includes intentionally inducing a loading imbalance to the rotor. The method also includes measuring the loading imbalance induced to the rotor, transmitting a signal representative of the measured loading imbalance to a calibration module, and at least one of detecting an error and calibrating at least one component of the wind turbine based on the signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Till Hoffmann, Gert Torbohm, Jignesh Gandhi, Robert Peter Slack, Kirk Gee Pierce
  • Publication number: 20110142622
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a method for controlling a wind turbine including a wind rotor shaft, a rotary encoder for measuring the azimuth angle of the wind rotor shaft, wherein the wind turbine further includes at least one impulse generating device including at least one first part and at least one second part, wherein the at least one first part is rotating with the wind rotor shaft and the least one second part is disposed stationary with respect to the wind rotor shaft such that the at least one first part moves by the at least one second part; wherein the method includes: encoding the azimuth angle of the wind rotor shaft by the rotary encoder into a rotation value; generating an impulse when one of the at least one first part moves by one of the at least one second part of the impulse generating device; comparing the rotation value at the time of a detected impulse with a reference value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Inventors: Till HOFFMANN, Julian Quindt
  • Publication number: 20110133457
    Abstract: A method for controlling an operation of a wind turbine. A meteorological condition is received from a meteorological sensor. An operating threshold value is calculated at least in part by applying a continuous function to the meteorological condition. An operation of the wind turbine is controlled based at least in part on the calculated operating threshold value. For example, the wind turbine may be disabled if a current wind speed exceeds a maximum wind speed that is calculated based on an ambient air temperature or ambient air density.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2010
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Inventors: Till Hoffmann, Julian Quindt
  • Publication number: 20110076142
    Abstract: A method is presented that reduces vibrations of a wind turbine in a situation where yawing of a wind rotor of said wind turbine is at least temporarily not possible. The method includes adjusting a first pitch angle of a first rotor blade and a second pitch angle of a second rotor blade such that the first and second pitch angles differ by at least 30 degrees.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Inventors: Bart VELDKAMP, Christoph Hessel, Jacob Nies, Till Hoffmann