Patents by Inventor Werner Gerhard Barton

Werner Gerhard Barton 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: 20230147903
    Abstract: It is provided a wind turbine and methods of operating a wind turbine as described herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2022
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: Werner Gerhard Barton, Parag Rameshchandra Dharmadhikari
  • Publication number: 20230067244
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system comprising a structure being prone to lightning strikes and icing, wherein the structure comprises a shielding arrangement electrically connected to a lightning arrangement, an electric heating arrangement connected to a power source for mitigating icing of the structure, and an electrical insulation arrangement being effectively provided between the shielding arrangement and the electric heating arrangement. A power source is configured for applying a predetermined amount of electric test- and/or maintenance-energy such that the electric test- and/or maintenance-energy is effectively present between the shielding arrangement and the electric heating arrangement. A determination device is electrically connected to the shielding arrangement and to the electric heating arrangement in a way that the shield-heating-voltage and/or the shield-heating-current being present between the shielding arrangement and the electric heating arrangement can be determined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2022
    Publication date: March 2, 2023
    Inventors: Parag Rameshchandra Dharmadhikari, Stephan Klümper, Victor Miranda, Werner Gerhard Barton
  • Patent number: 11552584
    Abstract: The system and method described herein provide grid-forming control of a power generating asset having a generator, such as a double-fed generator, connected to a power grid. Accordingly, a stator-frequency error is determined for the generator. The components of the stator frequency error are identified as a damping component corresponding to a tower damping frequency and a stator component. Based on the stator component, a power output requirement for the generator is determined. This power output requirement is combined with the damping power command to develop a consolidated power requirement for the generator. Based on the consolidated power requirement, at least one control command for the generator is determined and an operating state of the generator is altered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Veena Padmarao, Kapil Jha, Subbarao Tatikonda, Arvind Kumar Tiwari, Werner Gerhard Barton, Vaidhya Nath Venkitanarayanan, Shan Shine
  • Patent number: 11456645
    Abstract: A method for controlling an inverter-based resource having an asynchronous machine connected to a power grid to provide grid-forming control of the inverter-based resource includes coupling at least one additional device to terminals of a first converter of the inverter-based resource. Further, the method includes emulating, via a controller, at least one of the at least one additional device or the first converter as a first virtual synchronous machine. Moreover, the method includes coordinating, via the controller, operation of the first virtual synchronous machine and a second converter of the inverter-based resource using a vector-control approach to control at least one of voltage and frequency at a point of interconnection between the inverter-based resource and the power grid in a closed loop manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Shan Shine, Kapil Jha, Veena Padmarao, Arvind Kumar Tiwari, Subbarao Tatikonda, Werner Gerhard Barton
  • Publication number: 20220190681
    Abstract: A method for controlling an inverter-based resource having an asynchronous machine connected to a power grid to provide grid-forming control of the inverter-based resource includes coupling at least one additional device to terminals of a first converter of the inverter-based resource. Further, the method includes emulating, via a controller, at least one of the at least one additional device or the first converter as a first virtual synchronous machine. Moreover, the method includes coordinating, via the controller, operation of the first virtual synchronous machine and a second converter of the inverter-based resource using a vector-control approach to control at least one of voltage and frequency at a point of interconnection between the inverter-based resource and the power grid in a closed loop manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2020
    Publication date: June 16, 2022
    Inventors: Shan Shine, Kapil Jha, Veena Padmarao, Arvind Kumar Tiwari, Subbarao Tatikonda, Werner Gerhard Barton
  • Patent number: 10865773
    Abstract: A method for compensating for flicker induced by a wind turbine power system connected to a power grid includes operating a power converter of the wind turbine power system based on a nominal reactive current command and a nominal torque command. In response to receiving a periodic torque command modifier, the method includes determining a reactive current command modifier for the power converter based on one or more operational parameters of the wind turbine power system and/or the power grid and the torque command modifier. The method also includes simultaneously modifying the nominal reactive current command as a function of the reactive current command modifier and the nominal torque command as a function of the torque command modifier. Accordingly, modifying the nominal torque command causes low-frequency voltage variations in the power grid and simultaneously modifying the reactive current command attenuates the low-frequency voltage variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David Smith, Werner Gerhard Barton
  • Publication number: 20200370536
    Abstract: A method for compensating for flicker induced by a wind turbine power system connected to a power grid includes operating a power converter of the wind turbine power system based on a nominal reactive current command and a nominal torque command. In response to receiving a periodic torque command modifier, the method includes determining a reactive current command modifier for the power converter based on one or more operational parameters of the wind turbine power system and/or the power grid and the torque command modifier. The method also includes simultaneously modifying the nominal reactive current command as a function of the reactive current command modifier and the nominal torque command as a function of the torque command modifier. Accordingly, modifying the nominal torque command causes low-frequency voltage variations in the power grid and simultaneously modifying the reactive current command attenuates the low-frequency voltage variations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: David Smith, Werner Gerhard Barton
  • Patent number: 10294920
    Abstract: A method for operating a turbine having a rotor including a hub and at least one blade rotatably arranged around its longitudinal axis at the hub, an induction generator having a stator and rotor coupled to the turbine shaft, a pitch drive system having an actuator, a control system, and a measuring device. The method includes: measuring the operational value of a component of the pitch drive system and adjusting the angle to the target pitch angle, wherein the wind turbine is operated according to at least two operational modes. During a first mode, a first target pitch angle is determined at least according to a power curve of the wind turbine or measured wind speed. During a second mode, a second target pitch angle is determined by adding a pitch offset to the first target pitch and is activated when the measured operational value exceeds a predefined activation threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2019
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Werner Gerhard Barton, Hartmut Scholte-Wassink, Christoph Wolters
  • 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
  • Patent number: 9828971
    Abstract: System and methods for optimizing operation of a wind turbine are disclosed. In one aspect, the method also includes determining, via a converter controller of a power converter, a tap position of a tap changer configured between the power grid and a primary winding of a transformer. Another step includes calculating, via the converter controller, a primary voltage of the primary winding as a function of the tap position. The method also includes implementing, via the converter controller, a control action if the primary voltage or a measured secondary voltage of a secondary winding of the transformer is outside of a predetermined voltage range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Igor Berroteran Gil, Anthony Michael Klodowski, Werner Gerhard Barton
  • Patent number: 9745957
    Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to a method for initializing a startup sequence of a wind turbine. The method includes a step of defining a plurality of operating conditions of the wind turbine. As such, upon satisfaction of the plurality of operating conditions, a run-ready signal may be generated, wherein the run-ready signal indicates a readiness of a power converter of the wind turbine to generate power. The method may also include defining a subset of the plurality of operating conditions, wherein the subset of operating conditions are independent of speed conditions of the wind turbine. Another step of the method includes generating a spin-ready signal for the wind turbine upon satisfaction of the subset of operating conditions. The method may also include controlling a rotor of the wind turbine based at least in part on the spin-ready signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Allen Seymour, Anthony Michael Klodowski, David Smith, Igor Berroteran Gil, Werner Gerhard Barton
  • 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: 20170082090
    Abstract: A method for operating a turbine having a rotor including a hub and at least one blade rotatably arranged around its longitudinal axis at the hub, an induction generator having a stator and rotor coupled to the turbine shaft, a pitch drive system having an actuator, a control system, and a measuring device. The method includes: measuring the operational value of a component of the pitch drive system and adjusting the angle to the target pitch angle, wherein the wind turbine is operated according to at least two operational modes. During a first mode, a first target pitch angle is determined at least according to a power curve of the wind turbine or measured wind speed. During a second mode, a second target pitch angle is determined by adding a pitch offset to the first target pitch and is activated when the measured operational value exceeds a predefined activation threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2015
    Publication date: March 23, 2017
    Inventors: Werner Gerhard BARTON, Hartmut SCHOLTE-WASSINK, Christoph WOLTERS
  • Patent number: 9494139
    Abstract: A method for controlling the power output of a wind turbine, which includes a transformer with multiple taps, is provided. The method includes sensing a voltage of the transformer during operation of the wind turbine, determining the reactive power, and automatically maintaining a set value of the reactive power by controlling the output voltage of the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Werner Gerhard Barton, Carsten Junge, Stephan Wachtel, Michael Ginzburg
  • Patent number: 9458831
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a renewable energy system based on actual reactive power capability of the renewable energy system are provided. The reactive power output of the renewable energy system can be controlled based at least in part on an initial reactive power limit. The initial reactive power limit can be determined based on rated reactive power for the power generation units in the renewable energy system. When a difference between a reactive power demand and the actual reactive power production of the renewable energy system fall outside a threshold, the initial reactive power limit can be adjusted to a corrected reactive power limit that is closer to the actual reactive power capability of the renewable energy system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Enno Ubben, Werner Gerhard Barton, Carsten Junge, Arnim Smolenski
  • Publication number: 20160237990
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a renewable energy system based on actual reactive power capability of the renewable energy system are provided. The reactive power output of the renewable energy system can be controlled based at least in part on an initial reactive power limit. The initial reactive power limit can be determined based on rated reactive power for the power generation units in the renewable energy system. When a difference between a reactive power demand and the actual reactive power production of the renewable energy system fall outside a threshold, the initial reactive power limit can be adjusted to a corrected reactive power limit that is closer to the actual reactive power capability of the renewable energy system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Enno Ubben, Werner Gerhard Barton, Carsten Junge, Arnim Smolenski
  • Publication number: 20160146191
    Abstract: System and methods for optimizing operation of a wind turbine are disclosed. In one aspect, the method also includes determining, via a converter controller of a power converter, a tap position of a tap changer configured between the power grid and a primary winding of a transformer. Another step includes calculating, via the converter controller, a primary voltage of the primary winding as a function of the tap position. The method also includes implementing, via the converter controller, a control action if the primary voltage or a measured secondary voltage of a secondary winding of the transformer is outside of a predetermined voltage range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2014
    Publication date: May 26, 2016
    Inventors: Igor Berroteran Gil, Anthony Michael Klodowski, Werner Gerhard Barton
  • Publication number: 20160032896
    Abstract: A method for controlling the power output of a wind turbine, which includes a transformer with multiple taps, is provided. The method includes sensing a voltage of the transformer during operation of the wind turbine, determining the reactive power, and automatically maintaining a set value of the reactive power by controlling the output voltage of the transformer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 4, 2016
    Inventors: Werner Gerhard BARTON, Carsten JUNGE, Stephan WACHTEL, Michael GINZBURG
  • Publication number: 20150252784
    Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to a method for initializing a startup sequence of a wind turbine. The method includes a step of defining a plurality of operating conditions of the wind turbine. As such, upon satisfaction of the plurality of operating conditions, a run-ready signal may be generated, wherein the run-ready signal indicates a readiness of a power converter of the wind turbine to generate power. The method may also include defining a subset of the plurality of operating conditions, wherein the subset of operating conditions are independent of speed conditions of the wind turbine. Another step of the method includes generating a spin-ready signal for the wind turbine upon satisfaction of the subset of operating conditions. The method may also include controlling a rotor of the wind turbine based at least in part on the spin-ready signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Publication date: September 10, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert Allen Seymour, Anthony Michael Klodowski, David Smith, Igor Berroteran Gil, Werner Gerhard Barton