Wind Patents (Class 290/44)
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Patent number: 11965483Abstract: A method for operating a wind farm having a first wind power installation and a second wind power installation, to an associated wind power installation and to an associated wind farm. The second wind power installation is located in the wake of the first wind power installation in at least one wake wind direction. A tip-speed coefficient is determined from the ratio of a second tip-speed ratio of the second wind power installation and a first tip-speed ratio of the first wind power installation and a pitch-angle coefficient is determined from the ratio of a second pitch angle of the second wind power installation and a first pitch angle of the first wind power installation.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2023Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbHInventors: Ralf Messing, Malte Heyen
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Patent number: 11959461Abstract: A method for controlling wind turbines of a wind farm is disclosed. The wind farm is positioned at a site which includes one or more turbulence generating structures, such as hills, valleys, trees or buildings. A wind direction at the site of the wind farm is detected, and one or more upstream wind turbines and one or more downstream wind turbines are identified, based on the detected wind direction, where each of the upstream wind turbines is arranged in front of one or more of the downstream wind turbines, as seen in the wind direction. If it is detected that turbulent wind conditions are occurring, based on measurements performed by the wind turbines of the wind farm, then at least one of the upstream wind turbines is controlled based on measurements performed by at least one wind turbine which is a downstream wind turbine relative to the upstream wind turbine.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2020Date of Patent: April 16, 2024Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/SInventors: Marco Frank, Michael Franz, Gernot Schelch
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Patent number: 11952981Abstract: Provided is a method for controlling a wind power installation, the wind power installation having a generator for the generation of electric current, the generator having an air gap with a variable air gap thickness, the wind power installation being controlled in a part load range by means of a control regulation, the wind power installation being controlled in a manner which is dependent on the air gap thickness, the control regulation being selected or set in a manner which is dependent on the air gap width.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbHInventors: Nils Noffke, Uli Krause, Tilko Nietsch
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Patent number: 11942788Abstract: Example embodiments of systems, devices, and methods are provided herein for energy systems having multiple modules arranged in cascaded fashion for storing power from one or more photovoltaic sources. Each module includes an energy source and converter circuitry that selectively couples the energy source to other modules in the system over an AC interface for generating AC power or for receiving and storing power from a charge source. Each module also includes a DC interface for receiving power from one or more photovoltaic sources. Each module can be controlled by control system to route power from the photovoltaic source to that modules energy source or to the AC interface. The energy systems can be arranged in single phase or multiphase topologies with multiple serial or interconnected arrays. The energy systems can be arranged such that each module receives power from the same single photovoltaic source, or multiple photovoltaic sources.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2022Date of Patent: March 26, 2024Assignee: TAE Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Mikhail Slepchenkov, Roozbeh Naderi
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Patent number: 11936327Abstract: A hybrid power-generator system includes an engine, an electric generator, first and second rectifiers, first and second DC-DC voltage converters, a DC bus, an inverter, and one or more controllers. The system provides a unique method of joining two power sources such that the relative proportion utilized can be changed to any value seamlessly, such as to avoid daily and/or seasonal variations in utility charges. Since the AC output portion of the circuit is independent of the utility grid, power can be supplied at variable frequencies to motor loads with significant positive impacts in load efficiency. Power increases required by the load(s) that occur rapidly can utilize the electrical grid to assist for the brief transient, allowing the engine, which is maintained at a fixed and wide-open-throttle position, to continue operation and in a more gradual process to resume its blend target for power generation.Type: GrantFiled: June 23, 2022Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Tecogen Inc.Inventors: Joseph Gehret, Robert A. Panora, Jian Wen
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Patent number: 11933272Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for stabilizing a rotor of a wind turbine during a time period following an abnormal grid event, the method comprising the steps of detecting an occurrence of the abnormal grid event, reducing an allowable rotor thrust from a first thrust limit to a second thrust limit, detecting that the abnormal grid event has ended, and maintaining the second thrust limit a selected time period after the abnormal grid event has ended. The present invention further relates to a wind turbine controller and a computer program product for performing this method.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2019Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/SInventor: Anders Druedahl Thurlow
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Patent number: 11927978Abstract: A control apparatus is configured to control driving of a power generation apparatus including a motor and a power generator. The control apparatus includes a processor configured to calculate: (i) a first adjustment force command value for controlling the motor in accordance with a deviation between an observed value and a reference value of a rotation speed of the power generator; (ii) a correction value for compensating for a delay of an electric output of the power generator; and (iii) a second adjustment force command value for controlling the motor by adding the first adjustment force command value and the correction value.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2022Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Takaharu Hiroe, Kazunari Ide, Ryo Sase
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Patent number: 11929638Abstract: The present invention relates to a wind turbine comprising an internal power supply grid for distributing power to a number of power consuming units of the wind turbine, the wind turbine further comprising a power backup system connected to the internal power supply grid for supplying power to said internal power supply grid during a grid fault, wherein the power backup system comprises a power storage module providing a total backup voltage that falls within a nominal voltage range of the internal power supply grid of the wind turbine.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2020Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/SInventors: Morten Bagger Søgaard, Niels Erik Danielsen, Alun Jones, Carsten Lindgaard Jensen
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Patent number: 11923688Abstract: An exemplary two-step method for power system inertia online estimation is described. The first step is to accurately estimate the POI-level aggregated inertia. The second step is to calculate the system-level inertia constant by weighting all the POI-level aggregated inertia and to monitor the inertia spatial distribution. In one example embodiment, the PMU is installed at POI, the frequency spatial difference is considered, and the mechanical power is carefully treated.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2023Date of Patent: March 5, 2024Assignee: NORTH CHINA ELECTRIC POWER UNIVERSITYInventors: Tianshu Bi, Cheng Wang, Jiahao Liu, Guoyi Xu
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Patent number: 11913429Abstract: A method for operating a generator of a wind turbine includes generating, via a controller, a time series of a plurality of operating signals of the generator. The method also includes applying at least one algorithm to the time series of the plurality of operating signals of the generator to generate a processed time series of the of the plurality of operating signals of the generator. Moreover, the method includes identifying, via the controller, patterns in the processed time series of the plurality of operating signals of the generator to identify one or more of at least one slip event occurring in the slip coupling or a surface health of the slip coupling. Further, the method includes implementing, via the controller, a control action when the at least one slip event occurring in the slip coupling is identified or the surface health of the slip coupling is indicative of degradation in the slip coupling.Type: GrantFiled: April 29, 2021Date of Patent: February 27, 2024Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.Inventors: Shahid Ali, Rupam Mukherjee, Jishnu Kavil Kambrath, Veena Padmarao, Arvind Kumar Tiwari, Benjamin Simon Engels, Norman Arnold Turnquist
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Patent number: 11905931Abstract: Provided is controller for a wind turbine including a power controller unit for controlling a power output of an electric generator included in the wind turbine. The power controller unit operates the electric generator according to a speed reference value and a power reference value, the speed reference value and a power reference value being chosen along a linear operating trajectory in a power vs speed graph, the linear operating trajectory including a point corresponding to the nominal power and the nominal generator speed. The power controller unit includes a slider command for selecting the angular position of the linear operating trajectory in the power vs speed graph.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2020Date of Patent: February 20, 2024Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/SInventors: Per Egedal, Michael Stoettrup
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Patent number: 11898539Abstract: Provided is a method for controlling a wind power system, that is to say a wind power installation or a wind farm comprising a plurality of installations, for feeding electrical power from wind into an electrical supply grid, and for damping low-frequency oscillations, in particular subsynchronous resonances, in the grid, wherein the grid has a line voltage with a nominal line frequency, wherein a damping control with a closed control circuit is used for damping the low-frequency oscillations, and the damping control for damping the low-frequency oscillations controls a feed-in of electrical power into the grid using a wind system control, the damping control is designed for a controlled system comprising the grid, the wind power system, and the wind system control, or parts thereof, wherein the damping control is designed such that it prevents and/or damps weakly damped modes in the closed control circuit.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2019Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbHInventors: Aramis Schwanka Trevisan, Angelo Mendonca, Jair Cassoli
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Patent number: 11898540Abstract: Provided is a method for feeding electrical power into an electrical supply network using a converter-controlled infeed apparatus. The apparatus feeds into a local network section of the electrical supply network at a network connection point. The network has further infeed apparatuses and consumers for consuming electrical power. The local section has a ratio of power able to be fed in using converters to a total power able to be fed in by all infeed apparatuses of at least 50%. A controller controls the infeed of the electrical power depending on a network state of the network. The controller has control behavior that depends on a network characteristic of the local section. The network characteristic is dependent on at least one property of the local section and at least one property of a further network section of the network or a determination that no further network section is present.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2021Date of Patent: February 13, 2024Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbHInventor: Johannes Brombach
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Patent number: 11894681Abstract: A system and method are provided for damping power system oscillations in a power system network having one or more local inverter-based generators within a plant, the plant connected to a grid at a point of intersection (POI). The system and method include a plant-level controller or local controller that receives one or more grid signals having a characteristic indicative of a power system oscillation. The plant-level controller or local controller generates an auxiliary signal from the grid signals that is used by the local controller of the inverter-based generators. At the local controller, the auxiliary signal is used to modulate reactive power output from the inverter-based generator to change a voltage at the POI, the voltage change damping the power system oscillations.Type: GrantFiled: October 1, 2021Date of Patent: February 6, 2024Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Bishnu Sapkota, Alfredo Sebastian Achilles, Il-Do Yoo
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Patent number: 11885304Abstract: A wind turbine system includes: a ring gear; a yaw drive unit including a pinion gear meshing with the ring gear, the yaw drive unit being configured to rotate the pinion gear; a yaw brake unit configured to generate a braking force for inhibiting rotation of the ring gear; a load information acquiring unit configured to acquire an external load applied to the ring gear; and a control unit configured to release the braking force of the yaw brake unit when a rotational torque generated on the ring gear by the yaw drive unit has been larger than the external load acquired by the load information acquiring unit, in switching the ring gear from a stationary state to a rotating state.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2022Date of Patent: January 30, 2024Assignee: NABTESCO CORPORATIONInventor: Osamu Nohara
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Patent number: 11879435Abstract: A turbine controller system and method for a fluid-driven power generation unit may include an electrical circuit that connects to a power source and a rotor of a generator of the fluid-driven power generation unit. A turbine control circuit, which may include multiple circuits, may receive data from sensors or from external sources and may generate a signal to control the generator based on a determination that at least one weather condition exists. Control may be effectuated by motoring the rotor of the generator to mitigate a potential impact of the determined at least one weather condition on the fluid-driven power generation unit.Type: GrantFiled: June 21, 2023Date of Patent: January 23, 2024Assignee: AEROMINE TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventor: Carsten Hein Westergaard
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Patent number: 11876380Abstract: The hybrid power generation system includes a renewable energy power generation device and a rotary power generation device connected to a common alternating-current power system. In the system, if renewable energy or an output fluctuates, a correction value calculated based on the fluctuation amount is added to a control parameter as a feedforward component, controlling the rotary power generation device.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2019Date of Patent: January 16, 2024Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINE & TURBOCHARGER, LTD.Inventors: Kohei Sakamoto, Yoshimi Okazaki
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Patent number: 11870251Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a power generating system having a power generating subsystem connected to a point of interconnection (POI). A first and a second data signal are obtained corresponding to a feedback signal of an electrical parameter regulated at the POI, the second data signal having a signal fidelity that is higher than that of the first data signal. A correlation value between the first and second data signals is obtained by filtering a value difference between the first and second data signals and is applied to a setpoint value for the electrical parameter regulated at the POI. The modified setpoint value and the second data signal are combined to generate a setpoint command for the power generating subsystem that is used for controlling generation of power at the power generating subsystem to regulate the electrical parameter at the POI.Type: GrantFiled: August 4, 2021Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Patrick Hammel Hart, Alfredo Sebastian Achilles, Randal Voges
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Patent number: 11867148Abstract: Delivery of a high volume of floating systems for wind turbines can make floating wind economic. The delivery can involve the standard design of sections, such as “tubes” or “cans,” comprising a rolled plate and ring stiffeners. The delivery can then involve the transportation of the sections in block to an assembly site that is closer to the planned installation point. The sections are used to manufacture floating vessels, such as semi-submersibles, buoyant towers, and/or spars, at the assembly site, which can include a barge with cranes. For semi-submersibles, the delivery can then involve the installation of the Tower, the nacelle, and blades using the barge cranes. Alternatively, for spars or buoyant towers, the nacelle and blades can be installed at an off-shore location using a platform, such as a standard jack-up vessel or a crane jacket.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2022Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Trendsetter Vulcan Offshore, Inc.Inventors: James V Maher, Kim Mittendorf
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Patent number: 11870386Abstract: The system and method described herein provide control for a power generating asset having a double-fed generator connected to an electrical grid. Accordingly, a non-deliverable component and a deliverable component of a total power output of a generator of the power generating asset is determined via a controller. A compensation module of the controller then determines a first control signal based, at least in part, on the non-deliverable component. The first control signal is configured to establish a modified rotor current setpoint. Additionally, a buffer module of the controller then determines a buffer control signal for a DC energy buffer based, at least in part, on the non-deliverable component. The DC energy buffer is operably coupled between a line-side converter and a rotor-side converter of a power converter of the power generating asset.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2021Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Dustin Howard, Alfredo Sebastian Achilles
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Patent number: 11867157Abstract: A method of cooling a wind turbine. A cooling system is operated with a first setpoint temperature to cool the wind turbine over a first period. The method comprises measuring a temperature of the wind turbine over the first period to obtain temperature measurements; allocating each of the temperature measurements to a temperature range, wherein one or more of the temperature ranges are critical temperature ranges; and for each critical temperature range, comparing a parameter indicative of a number of the temperature measurements allocated to the critical temperature range with a threshold; selecting a second setpoint temperature on the basis of the comparison(s); and operating the cooling system with the second setpoint temperature over a second period. An equivalent method is also disclosed in which a power setting of the wind turbine is changed on the basis of the comparison(s).Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2019Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventor: Michael Staghøj
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Patent number: 11870265Abstract: Provided is a method for feeding electrical power into an electrical supply network having a network voltage using a wind turbine having an inverter, which has a DC voltage intermediate circuit having an intermediate circuit voltage and a chopper circuit connected to the intermediate circuit for discharging electrical energy from the intermediate circuit. The method includes feeding electrical power into the network in a normal operation if no network fault has been detected, detecting a fault if the network voltage falls below an undervoltage value, interrupting or reducing the feed if the fault has been detected, and ending the interruption or reduction if the end of a network fault is detected. During the fault and/or from the end of the fault, the fed-in power is limited to a limit, and, to limit the power, the intermediate circuit voltage is limited using the chopper circuit depending upon the limit.Type: GrantFiled: January 15, 2020Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbHInventors: Alfred Beekmann, Ingo MacKensen, Kai Busker
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Patent number: 11867154Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of operating a wind turbine with an operational parameter where values of the operational parameter are obtained by different sensors and compared to determine the validity of the value. A first value and a second value of the operational parameter are obtained different sensors and validated by comparing the two values. The wind turbine being operated using a validated value as the operational parameter. The two sensors are selected among a trained machine learning model, a reference sensor and a computerized physical model.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2020Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/SInventors: Goncalo Artur Duarte Pereira, Ines Pinto Frutuoso, Johnny Nielsen, Jens Van Schelve
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Patent number: 11852120Abstract: A method of adjusting at least one rotor blade of a wind turbine which includes the steps of receiving a command for adjustment of the rotor blade at an adjustment speed, ascertaining a current moment of inertia of the rotor blade and acceleration of the rotor blade until reaching the adjustment speed, wherein the acceleration until reaching the adjustment speed is limited in dependence on the ascertained moment of inertia. A system and a wind turbine.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2021Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbHInventors: Ulf Schaper, Lukas Wernicke, Kai-Uwe Wegner
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Patent number: 11854411Abstract: Systems and methods coordinate drone flights in an operating windfarm. A drone flight path that is removed from any location where the drone is conducting observations of a wind turbine and that extends through at least part of a windfarm to a destination location is determined. A respective wake pattern along at least one portion of the drone fight path is determined based on respective operating parameters for each of at least one wind turbine in the windfarm. Flight time commands to adjust at least one respective operating parameter of the respective wind turbine to reduce the effect of the respective wake pattern at a point ahead of the drone on the drone flight path are sent by a windfarm controller controlling the at least one wind turbine.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2020Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: Florida Power & Light CompanyInventors: Christopher H. McLemore, Eric D. Schwartz, Steven J. Shelp, Travis B. Pedriani
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Patent number: 11855577Abstract: A regulating module for a rotary electric machine having an operating mode in which a battery of the vehicle is disconnected. The regulating module includes a rotor module and a stator module. The rotor module is arranged to generate a first intermediate setpoint (I_RotRef) on the basis of which is generated the first output quantity (V_Rot) for controlling the rotor, said first intermediate setpoint being determined on the basis of a power potential reference signal (Pdc_MaxRef) and of a speed of rotation (W) of the rotor and being independent of a power or of a control torque of the machine. The stator module is arranged to generate a second intermediate setpoint on the basis of which is generated the second output quantity for controlling the stator, said second intermediate setpoint being determined on the basis of the output voltage of the machine.Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2022Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Assignee: VALEO EQUIPEMENTS ELECTRIQUES MOTEURInventors: Francois Xavier Bernard, Luc Kobylanski, Alice Achache
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Patent number: 11841002Abstract: Method and apparatus for monitoring a wind turbine having an electrical component. An exterior temperature and power loss associated with the electrical component is obtained, and a thermal model describing the electrical component is executed, based on the exterior temperature and power loss, to determine an internal temperature of the electrical component. A further thermal model describing the electrical component is executed, based on the internal temperature and an exterior component temperature, to predict a future thermal condition of the electrical component in order to monitor operation of the wind turbine.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2022Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/SInventors: Ciprian Biris, Ole Damm Kristensen, Shirin Yousefizadeh
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Patent number: 11843252Abstract: A method for damping sub-synchronous control interactions (SSCI) in a grid-forming inverter-based resource connected to an electrical grid includes receiving, via a controller, a current feedback signal in a synchronous reference frame. The method also includes rotating, via the controller, the current feedback signal to a new reference frame associated with a sub-synchronous frequency range. Further, the method includes determining, via the controller, a sub-synchronous component of the current feedback signal. Moreover, the method includes rotating, via the controller, the sub-synchronous component of the current feedback signal back to the synchronous reference frame. In addition, the method includes determining, via the controller, a voltage command associated with sub-synchronous damping for the inverter-based resource as a function of the sub-synchronous component and a virtual resistance setting.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2021Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Dustin Howard
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Patent number: 11831197Abstract: A load shed module configured to be connected in series between a power supply and a load is disclosed. A separate load shed module is connected in series between each load and the power supply. The load shed module determines the frequency of the voltage supplied from the power supply. Based on the frequency, the load shed module determines if utility power is connected or if a generator is connected. If the generator is connected and the frequency of the voltage goes outside of a desired operating range for a preset time, the load shed module disconnects the load from the power supply. Each load shed module includes a priority setting and reconnects its corresponding load after a predetermined time corresponding to the priority setting.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2021Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Generac Power Systems, Inc.Inventors: Brendan Pancheri, Greg Wischstadt, Robert Iles, Andy Phillips, Taesik Yu, Sungmin Lee
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Patent number: 11828271Abstract: A composite nacelle cover (1;22) equipped with main machinery components (9a;9b;10) for a wind turbine has a composite wall (3,4,5,6,7) constituting a first load-carrying structure for at least one component of a first part (9a;9b) of the main machinery components. The length of the conventional load-carrying frame can be reduced and a lot of weight of the overall nacelle structure be eliminated.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2020Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: Jupiter Bach A/SInventor: Ulrik Raimund
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Patent number: 11831164Abstract: Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media including instructions for a dual-channel fluid turbine controller. A dual-channel fluid turbine controller includes at least one processor configured to: receive, via an AC channel coupled to an AC output of a fluid turbine, first signals indicating fluctuations in power generated by the fluid turbine operating beneath a grid power supply threshold; access an MPPT protocol; determine a correspondence between the first signals and a portion of the MPPT protocol; apply the portion of the MPPT protocol to a generator of the fluid turbine to generate greater power than would be generated in an absence of the MPPT protocol, wherein the generated power is stored as energy in a capacitor associated with the generator; receive, via a DC channel, second signals indicating a level of energy stored in the capacitor; and use the second signals to determine when to release the stored energy.Type: GrantFiled: May 10, 2023Date of Patent: November 28, 2023Assignee: FLOWER TURBINES, INC.Inventors: Mark Daniel Farb, Jonathan Forbes
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Patent number: 11821404Abstract: Provided is a method for computer-implemented monitoring of wind turbines in a wind farm each wind turbine including, an upper section being pivotable around a vertical yaw axis wherein the following steps are performed: i) obtaining a digital image of the upper section of the first wind turbine, the image being a current image taken by a camera installed on the upper section of the second wind turbine; ii) determining a yaw misalignment angle between the first and second wind turbines by processing the image by a trained data driven model, where the image is fed as a digital input to the trained data driven model and the trained data driven model provides the yaw misalignment angle as a digital output, the yaw misalignment angle being the obtuse angle between the rotor axis of the first wind turbine and the rotor axis of the second wind turbine.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2020Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Inventor: Bert Gollnick
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Patent number: 11808249Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling at least one wind turbine in case of a rotational overspeed situation, the method including: determining a current state related to the wind turbine; providing data related to the current state as input to a turbine model; predicting a load of at least one wind turbine component and power output of the wind turbine using the turbine model provided with the input for plural control strategies; comparing the predicted load and power output for the plural control strategies; and selecting that control strategy among the plural control strategies that satisfies a target criterion including the load and the power output.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 2019Date of Patent: November 7, 2023Inventor: Thomas Esbensen
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Patent number: 11802546Abstract: A plenum resident wind turbine sustainable energy generating system is disclosed. An example embodiment includes: a wind turbine assembly installed in a plenum of a heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit, the wind turbine assembly including a plurality of blades and a transverse shaft; and a generator coupled to the shaft of the wind turbine assembly.Type: GrantFiled: February 11, 2023Date of Patent: October 31, 2023Inventors: Kirk Mills, Kimberley Mills
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Patent number: 11795922Abstract: A wind turbine with a nacelle with a nacelle floor is thus provided. The wind turbine further has an aerodynamic rotor with at least two rotor blades. The wind turbine further has a tower, on which the nacelle is arranged. At least one first and second opening are provided in the nacelle floor. The first opening is used to transport first components of the wind turbine, and has corresponding first dimensions. The second opening has second dimensions, and is used to transport a transformer into the nacelle. The transformer has a floor that closes the second opening when the transformer has been conveyed through the second opening into the nacelle and mounted in the nacelle.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 2022Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbHInventors: Thomas Krausche, Ihno Coordes, Frank Knoop
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Patent number: 11795911Abstract: Aspects of the present invention relate to controlling a wind turbine having a tower damping system actuable to control components of vibrational movement of the tower, a side-side component of a vibrational movement of the tower in a horizontal plane; and a fore-aft component of the vibrational movement of the tower in the horizontal plane are determined; and a control signal based on the side-side and fore-aft components is determined such that the tower damping system produces a force that increases or decreases the vibrational movement of the tower such that the side-side and fore-aft components are substantially equal.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2019Date of Patent: October 24, 2023Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/SInventors: Jacob Deleuran Grunnet, Fabio Caponetti, Poul Brandt Christensen
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Patent number: 11788511Abstract: A first aspect of the invention provides a method of testing a yaw system (200) of a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising a rotor; the yaw system (200) comprising a yaw gear (202) coupled to the rotor so that rotation of the yaw gear (202) causes yaw rotation of the rotor, and first and second sub-systems (204a, 204b), the first sub-system (204a) comprising a first pinion gear (206a) and a first drive motor (208a) coupled to the yaw gear (202) by the first pinion gear (206a), the second sub-system (204b) comprising a second pinion gear (206b) and a second drive motor (208b) coupled to the yaw gear (202) by the second pinion gear (206b).Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2019Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventors: Søren Dalsgaard, Peter Bøttcher, Jesper Lykkegaard Neubauer, Anders Yde Wollesen, Julio Xavier Vianna Netø, Torben Ladegaard Baun
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Patent number: 11788508Abstract: A method for controlling a wind power installation includes measuring a grid voltage of an electrical power supply grid, setting a DC-link voltage at a converter of the wind power installation depending on the measured grid voltage and using a first time constant and a second time constant, wherein the first time constant is different than the second time constant.Type: GrantFiled: January 8, 2021Date of Patent: October 17, 2023Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbHInventors: Ingo Mackensen, Stefan Gertjegerdes, Christian Strafiel
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Patent number: 11781527Abstract: A method is provided for monitoring an operational parameter of a wind turbine. The method comprising defining a peer limit, measuring the operational parameter during operation of the wind turbine; and comparing the measured operational parameter to the peer limit. The wind turbine is a member of a peer group of wind turbines, each wind turbine of the peer group comprising a common characteristic. The peer limit is defined using measurements of the operational parameter measured on the wind turbines of the peer group of wind turbines.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2019Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/SInventor: Søren Dyøe Agger
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Patent number: 11784602Abstract: A motor controller for an electric motor is provided. The motor controller includes a voltage limiting circuit configured to be coupled to an alternating current (AC) source and is configured to limit a voltage at an output node of the AC source, a filter configured to be coupled to the AC source and is configured to produce a filtered line frequency AC signal, a rectifier coupled to the filter and configured to produce a direct current (DC) signal from the filtered line frequency AC signal, an inverter coupled to the rectifier and configured to produce an AC signal on an input node of the electric motor, and a line contactor coupled between the AC source and the input node of the electric motor and configured to supply the input node of the electric motor directly from the AC source to energize stator windings therewith when the inverter is disabled.Type: GrantFiled: June 27, 2022Date of Patent: October 10, 2023Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc.Inventor: Ludovic Andre Chretien
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Patent number: 11764582Abstract: A method for feeding electrical power into a grid at a grid connection point using a wind farm having installations connected to the point using transmission lines. The farm controller transmits active and reactive power specifications to the installations. A first power range is respectively specified at each installation and spans a range of values for active and reactive power to be fed in. The first power range has an active power limit to be complied with by the installation and a reactive power limit which can be reached by the installation and a second power range is specified at the grid connection point and spans a range of values for active and reactive power to be fed in. At least one installation respectively exceeds the active power limit, and the second power range is complied with by the wind farm at the grid connection point.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 2020Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbHInventor: Eckard Quitmann
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Patent number: 11764585Abstract: A wind power generation system includes a power generator body, an auxiliary device that assists the power generator body, and a power conversion apparatus that converts first AC power generated by the power generator body to second AC power, and outputs the second AC power to an electric power grid. The power conversion apparatus includes a first power conversion circuit, a second power conversion circuit, a power storage element that receives DC power from the first power conversion circuit via a first passing point, a breaker, and a control unit. When the power generator body is in a power generation standby state, the control unit sets a parallel-off mode and controls the second power conversion circuit to convert power of the power storage element to third AC power having a preset voltage. The auxiliary device is configured to receive the second AC power or the third AC power.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2018Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventor: Hiroyoshi Komatsu
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Patent number: 11757286Abstract: A method for providing frequency response for a plant coupled to an electric power grid, the plant having an intermittent energy source, comprising: measuring frequency of the power output from the plant and determining a first difference between the measured frequency and a frequency reference; measuring power output from the plant and storing the measured power output as a stored value; while the first difference is within a deadband, determining a second difference as a difference between a power reference and the measured power output; while the first difference indicates over-frequency, determining the second difference as a difference between the stored value and the measured power output; while the first difference indicates under-frequency, setting the second difference equal to the power reference; generating an error by limiting a sum of the first and second differences between error limits; generating a control signal; and, applying the control signal to the source.Type: GrantFiled: April 22, 2019Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: MERIT SI, LLCInventor: Dmitriy Anichkov
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Patent number: 11754045Abstract: A blade pitch controller for a wind turbine includes a nominal control system and a tower feedback loop. The tower feedback loop includes a filtering system. The filtering system is arranged to control wind turbine blade pitch so as to provide additional effective stiffness to the wind turbine in response to motion of the wind turbine which is above a filter frequency of the filtering system.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: EQUINOR ENERGY ASInventors: Bjørn Skaare, Emil Smilden
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Patent number: 11754463Abstract: A tower monitoring system for monitoring a remote tower for structural evaluation and analysis. The tower monitoring system includes a sensor unit that takes tower data readings that include displacement readings. The sensor unit provides the tower data readings to a ground control unit near the tower. A remote server is in communication with the ground control unit and includes a secondary source of data, such as historical data of the tower, current data or historic data from nearby towers, and nearby weather and geological data. The monitoring system implements a modal analysis to determine contributions to the displacement readings and alarms an operator if the modal readings indicate structural stress beyond a predetermined threshold. Data is saved and can be used in a trend analysis to review any changes in the tower displacement readings over a period of time.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2019Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Smart Tower Systems LLCInventor: David G. Brinker
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Patent number: 11754042Abstract: A control system of a wind power installation and/or a wind farm is provided. The control system has a plurality of operating modes and has an interface. The interface is configured for providing maximum adjustability of the wind power installation and/or the wind farm in critical power grid situations. The interface is configured to receive a signal of a power grid operator, as a result of which all of the plurality of operating modes are released and made available to the power grid operator.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2020Date of Patent: September 12, 2023Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbHInventor: Johannes Brombach
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Patent number: 11746756Abstract: A method of operating a wind turbine during a service, wherein the wind turbine comprises at least one rotor-nacelle assembly, the or each rotor-nacelle assembly comprising a rotor; the method comprising: detecting that a service is to be or is being carried out on the wind turbine; and, on detecting that a service is to be or is being carried out on the wind turbine, reducing an operating level of the or each rotor-nacelle assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 9, 2019Date of Patent: September 5, 2023Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/SInventors: Søren Dalsgaard, Torben Ladegaard Baun, Keld Hammerum, Torben Petersen
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Patent number: 11728646Abstract: A hybrid power generation system is formed by the combination of an energy storage system (ESS) and a rotating synchronous power generator (SPG). Energy is stored in or released from the ESS in response to measurements of the at least one angle parameter, selected from rotor, torque, or power angle of the SPG, to provide active frequency damping of electrical power output. The control of ESS energy exchange increases the stabilizing impact of the SPG inertia on the frequency of electricity in an electrical network or power grid. The hybrid power generation system can have an effective equal area criterion for stability limit that is greater than that of the SPG operating without the ESS. The hybrid power generation system can enable the electrical network to have a greater proportion of variable or distributed energy resource (DER) power generation systems without otherwise exceeding stability limits.Type: GrantFiled: June 3, 2020Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: Battelle Memorial InstituteInventors: Charles K. Vartanian, Eric Hsieh, Md Jan E. Alam
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Patent number: 11726232Abstract: A method for real-time prediction of wind conditions across a wind farm comprising a plurality of wind turbines, the wind farm being arranged at a wind farm site, is disclosed. A first library of site specific mean wind flow patterns related to the wind farm site, and a second library of non-site specific turbulence patterns, are provided. Weather data is measured at a plurality of positions within the wind farm site, and based on the measured weather data, a mean wind flow pattern is selected based on the first library and a turbulence pattern is selected based on the second library. A site specific wind flow field across the wind farm site is modelled, based on the selected mean wind flow pattern and the selected turbulence pattern, and wind conditions across the wind farm are predicted, based on the site specific wind flow field.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2022Date of Patent: August 15, 2023Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/SInventors: Ewan Machefaux, Kim Emil Andersen, Frank Ormel, Mogens Bjerning
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Patent number: RE49768Abstract: A wind power converter device is provided. The wind power converter device includes grid side converters, generator side converters and a DC bus module. Each of the grid side converters includes grid side outputs electrically coupled to a grid and a first and a second DC inputs. Each two of the neighboring grid side converters are connected in series at the second and the first DC inputs. Each of the generator side converters includes generator side inputs electrically coupled to a generator device and a first and a second DC outputs. Each two of the neighboring generator side converters are coupled in series at the second and the first DC outputs. The DC bus module is electrically coupled between the grid side converters and the generator side converters.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2020Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Inventors: Chang-Yang Wang, Li Cai, Yan-Song Lu