Wind Patents (Class 290/44)
  • Patent number: 11448188
    Abstract: Methods of operating a wind turbine (1) having a generator (10) and a power converter (60). The methods may comprise: determining a reduced first power setpoint (94) in response to an operational condition; reducing active power from a line-side converter (66) to an electrical grid (80) according to the reduced first power setpoint (94); determining a reduced power setpoint (92) for a machine-side converter (62); reducing a torque applied to the generator (10) by the machine-side converter (62) such that active power according to the reduced second power setpoint (92) is produced by the generator (10); and dissipating a power surplus in one or more resistive elements (68) as long as the second power setpoint is superior to the first power setpoint. Wind turbines configured for such methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Javier Sanchez Navarro, Domenico Ricchiuto, Leonardo Mandrioli, Oriol Caubet Busquet
  • Patent number: 11448195
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sensor arrangement for use on a wind turbine. The sensor arrangement comprises a rotor blade-related sensor, which is arranged in/on a rotor blade, and a non-rotor blade-related sensor, wherein the sensor signals, which are associated with the rotor blade-related sensor, are processed by fusion with the sensor signals which are associated with the non-rotor blade-related sensor. The invention also relates to a method for operating a wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2022
    Assignee: FOS4X GMBH
    Inventor: Manuel Mai
  • Patent number: 11441537
    Abstract: A method for controlling a wind turbine and an associated wind turbine. The wind turbine is operated according to an operating point, wherein the operating point is determined at least by a pitch angle and a tip speed ratio, wherein one of the operating points corresponds to a maximum power coefficient, wherein, in a partial load range, the wind turbine is operated at an operating point which differs from the operating point with the maximum power coefficient. The distance of the operating point from the operating point with the maximum power coefficient is set in accordance with a measured turbulence measure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventor: Ralf Messing
  • Patent number: 11441539
    Abstract: A method of controlling, by inertia emulation, electric power generators provided with rotational inertia and connected to the electricity grid with electric power converters includes the steps of measuring grid frequency and/or frequency over-time variation over a rated frequency value; providing a threshold value for, and comparing, the grid frequency or frequency over-time variation; and converting part of the kinetic energy of the generator rotor into electric power to provide additional supporting power to the variation of the grid frequency, wherein the additional supporting power is calculated as a function of the frequency and/or the frequency over-time variation and of a predetermined variable inertia coefficient, the additional power is supplied until the grid frequency variation is restored, and/or the injected power has fallen below a preset limit value, and the coefficient of inertia is calculated by emulating the inertial behavior of synchronous machines, and as a function of rotation velocity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Inventors: Andrea Bonfiglio, Alessandro Giuseppe Labella, Renato Procopio
  • Patent number: 11441544
    Abstract: A method for operating at least two floating offshore wind turbines (1) is disclosed. The wind turbines (1) are operated at respective first operating positions (7), and a previous and/or a future expected wear impact on each wind turbine (1) is estimated. At least one wind turbine (1) to be relocated to a respective second operating position (9) is identified, based on the estimated wear impact. The identified wind turbines (1) are moved to respective second operating position (9) and operated there.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Jesper Rømer Hansen
  • Patent number: 11441542
    Abstract: A method for estimating a wind speed at a wind turbine is disclosed, said wind turbine comprising a rotor carrying a set of wind turbine blades, each wind turbine blade having a variable pitch angle. A blade torsion contribution, representing torsion introduced in the wind turbine blades, is derived, based on an obtained rotational speed, ?, of the rotor, and an obtaining a pitch angle, ?, of the wind turbine blades. An adjusted pitch angle, ??, is calculated as a sum of the obtained pitch angle, ?, and the derived blade torsion contribution, and a wind speed, vest, is estimated, based on the obtained rotational speed, ?, and the calculated adjusted pitch angle, ??. An accurate and reliable estimate for the wind speed is thereby obtained. The wind turbine may be controlled in accordance with the estimated wind speed, vest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Martin Atzler, Thomas Scheel, Lars Finn Sloth Larsen
  • Patent number: 11441538
    Abstract: A wind turbine includes a tower, an aerodynamic rotor operable at a variable rotor speed and having a plurality of rotor blades each having an adjustable rotor blade setting angle and a generator for generating an electrical output power. An operating characteristic curve is prespecified for operating the wind turbine. The operating characteristic curve indicates a relationship between the rotor speed and the output power. A controller is provided, which sets the output power in accordance with the operating characteristic curve depending on the rotor speed. The the operating characteristic curve has a starting rotation speed to which the rotor speed increases as soon as the wind turbine starts when a sufficient wind speed is reached. The starting rotation speed is defined depending on a tower natural frequency of the wind turbine and/or depending on a detected turbulence measure of the prevailing wind.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2022
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Messing, Mustafa Onur Kimilli, Frank Zimmermann, Maik Nitsche, Matthias Giesler
  • Patent number: 11434873
    Abstract: A solution to optimally manage those requirements ensuring on the one hand, that the requirements set by the grid operators are appropriately and accurately accomplished at a point of interconnection (POI) and on the other hand, preventing the wind turbines from over fulfilling the requirements, for example, by remaining connected at voltages levels higher or lower than the ones required which, although possible, may cause higher loads and currents in the wind turbines than needed to fulfill the requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: NORDEX ENERGY SPAIN, S.A.
    Inventors: Teresa Arlabán Gabeiras, Jose Miguel García Sayés, Ricardo Royo García, Miguel Núñez Polo
  • Patent number: 11434869
    Abstract: A vertical wind turbine that includes a plurality of vertical vanes which is secured to a vertical vane axis so as to be rotatable independently of one another about a respective vane rotational axis and which are rotatably mounted about a vertical rotor rotational axis on a common circular path. A method for operating a vertical wind turbine, in which method pitch angles of vertical wind turbine vanes driven about a respective vertical vane axis are specified. The vertical wind turbine is operated in a particularly efficient and material-preserving manner by control of the pitch angles, at least in a partial load mode of the vertical wind turbine, such that the vanes rotate with a substantially constant tip-speed ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Inventors: Thomas Hans Hug, Christian Oram
  • Patent number: 11434871
    Abstract: Embodiments herein described provide systems and techniques for performing black start operations. For example, one embodiment provides a method for performing black start operations. The method generally includes operating a wind turbine in a wind park in a first mode to provide power to an alternating-current (AC) grid using a control system. The control system may include a reactive power control leg and an active power control leg. The method also includes switching operation of the wind turbine from the first mode to a second mode based on an indication to perform a black start of an electrical grid and by activating a controller with an integral action to thereby increase output power of the wind turbine, the controller being coupled between the reactive power control leg and the active power control leg, and providing power to the electrical grid while operating in the second mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventor: Tusitha Abeyasekera
  • Patent number: 11437808
    Abstract: A wind turbine includes a superconducting generator having an armature and a superconducting field winding set. The armature includes at least one multiphase armature winding set having a plurality of armature windings. The superconducting field winding set is separated by a gap from the armature. The superconducting field winding set includes a plurality of field windings, wherein one of the armature winding set and superconducting field winding set is connectable to rotate with a rotating component of the wind turbine and another of the armature and the superconducting field winding set being non-rotating. The wind turbine also includes a controllable power converter coupled to the at least one multiphase armature winding set and a controller configured to control switching operations of the controllable power converter to effect a phase shift among the plurality of armature windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nathaniel Benedict Hawes, Yuntao Xu, Nidhishri Tapadia, David Allan Torrey, Anbo Wu
  • Patent number: 11431226
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a generator and a wind turbine. The generator includes an active cooling loop and a passive cooling loop that are isolated from each other and both are in communication with external environment. The active cooling loop includes cavities that are in communication with each other and located at two respective ends of the generator in an axial direction, an air gap between a rotor and a stator of the generator, and radial channels arranged at intervals and distributed along the axial direction of the stator. A cooling device in communication with the external environment is disposed in the active cooling loop. The passive cooling loop includes an axial channel extending through the stator in the axial direction and an outer surface of the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: XINJIANG GOLDWIND SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jinhui Li, Junwei Liu, Wenhua Xu
  • Patent number: 11421654
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a wind power plant, WPP, comprising a plurality of wind turbine generators, WTGs, connected to an electrical grid, the method comprising: setting a plant power reference (Ptotal) according to an electrical value of the electrical grid; determining an inertia delta power reference (IRdeltaP) required for the WPP to meet a power demand in response to a change in the electrical value; adding the inertia delta power reference and the plant power reference (Ptotal) to form a power reference (Ptotalref); deriving an overboost reference (PrefOB) as the difference between the power reference (Ptotalref) and an available power value; dispatching the power reference (Ptotalref) to each wind turbine generator; dispatching the overboost reference (PrefOB) to each wind turbine generator. The invention also relates to a wind power plant control system and a wind power plant comprising a control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Jorge Martinez Garcia, Kouroush Nayebi, Dumitru-Mihai Valcan, Mu Wei
  • Patent number: 11416951
    Abstract: An equipment management system 100 comprises a manager 210 configured to manage information on a plurality of power generation facilities 300 having a power generation equipment 310 connected to a power grid configured by a power transmission network; and a controller 230 configured to, when defect information on defect of a power generation equipment 310 provided in a first power generation facility, which is one of the plurality of power generation facilities, is acquired, predict defect of a power generation equipment 310 provided in a second power generation facility, which is different from the first power generation facility. The controller 230 is configured to predict the defect of the power generation equipment 310 provided in the second power generation facility based on the cause of the defect of the power generation equipment 310 provided in the first power generation facility.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: KYOCERA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Taku Nakayama, Kei Iwata, Takashi Furukawa
  • Patent number: 11408398
    Abstract: The wind turbine comprises at least one controller arranged to control a function of the wind turbine, and a data storage unit arranged to store controller specific data for the at least one controller, where the data storage unit is associated with the at least one controller to enable communication of the controller specific data between the data storage unit and the at least one controller. The method comprises detecting a connection between a programming enabling key and a connection interface dependent on a presence of the programming enabling key in proximity of the connection interface, initiating a programming mode wherein a control unit is enabled to receive controller specific data or wind turbine specific data from which the controller specific data can be determined, and obtaining the controller specific data or the wind turbine specific data via a manual action or via a trusted data source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Peter Delgado Grove, David Steele
  • Patent number: 11411519
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling a doubly fed induction generator wind turbine converter system in case of a sub-synchronous resonance event, the method comprising the steps of detecting the sub-synchronous resonance event, and switching from a first control mode to a second control mode in response to detecting the predetermined event, wherein the second control mode comprises the step of setting at least one rotor current controller parameter on the basis of a generator speed of the doubly fed induction generator. The predetermined event may also be a fault ride through event. The present invention further relates to a doubly fed induction generator wind turbine converter system being capable of handling such events.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Poul Møhl Dyrlund, Gert Karmisholt Andersen, Torsten Lund, Hamid Soltani
  • Patent number: 11401918
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a wind turbine. Accordingly, a controller of the wind turbine detects an oscillation in the power output of the wind turbine during a recovery from a transient event. In response to detecting the oscillation, a portion of the power output during a peak phase of the oscillation is stored in an energy storage device. A portion of the stored power is then discharged during a valley phase of the oscillation in order to reduce an amplitude of the oscillation of the power output that is delivered to the power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Jishnu Kavil Kambrath, Veena Padmarao, Kapil Jha, Nithya Anand, Arvind Kumar Tiwari
  • Patent number: 11401914
    Abstract: Provided is a method for operating a wind turbine that includes a rotor operable with variable rotor speed and having rotor blades with adjustable pitch angles. Wind causes a rotor thrust acting on the rotor depending on the rotor speed and depending on a common pitch angle. In partial load, when the wind is below rated speed, the turbine is controlled by a rotor speed curve, defining the rotor speed for each operating point of the turbine. In a normal mode when the operation of the turbine is not throttled, a normal rotor speed curve in combination with a normal common pitch angle is used, and in a throttled mode when the thrust is to be limited, a throttled rotor speed curve, different from the normal rotor speed curve, in combination with a throttled common pitch angle, different from the normal common pitch angle, is used to reduce the thrust.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Lehn, Dimitrios Bekiropoulos
  • Patent number: 11402541
    Abstract: A system and method for forecasting perceived transitions to the four annual seasons in geographic areas is disclosed. The perceived transitions are identified by comparing forecasted daily temperatures in each geographic area to thresholds generated based on normal daily temperatures in those geographic areas. The forecasted daily temperatures may be calculated using both forecasted temperatures and forecasted perceived ambient temperatures (calculated using both temperature and humidity, cloud cover, sun intensity, and/or wind speed).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: AccuWeather, Inc.
    Inventors: Rosemary Radich, Tim Loftus, Jennifer Akers, Michael R. Root
  • Patent number: 11396862
    Abstract: The present invention relates to control of a wind turbine where nacelle vibration is reduced by use of blade pitching. The nacelle vibrations are reduced based on a position signal of the nacelle. A pitch signal is determined based on the position signal and applied to the pitch-adjustable rotor blades in order to reduce nacelle vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2022
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Fabio Caponetti, Jesper Sandberg Thomsen
  • Patent number: 11390362
    Abstract: A floating wind power platform for offshore power production includes a floating unit, wherein the floating unit includes a first, a second and a third interconnected semisubmersible column each having a longitudinal column central axis and each being arranged in a respective corner of the floating unit, a first and second wind turbine, arranged to the first and second semisubmersible columns, respectively, via a first and second tower respectively, wherein the first and second towers have a first and second longitudinal tower central axis, respectively, wherein the first and second semisubmersible columns are arranged in the floating unit with a first and second angle (?1, ?2) respectively, with respect to a reference direction (z), and directed away from each other, wherein the first and second longitudinal tower central axes are parallel to the first and second longitudinal column central axes, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: FREIA OFFSHORE AB
    Inventors: Niklas Hummel, Magnus Rahm, Eduard Dyachyk
  • Patent number: 11384735
    Abstract: A reduced profile wind tower system includes a slim cylindrical spinal core extending up vertically from a foundation. A turbine nacelle is mounted on a top end of the core. Wind turbine blades extend out from the nacelle. A plurality of axially loaded tubular arms, braced by the core, are spaced around the core and link to the core through continuous shear wings or discrete bracket assemblies. The tubular arms and shear wings extend up from said foundation. The tubular arms can be set either vertically or slightly sloped; cables may substitute for the tubular arms and a pontoon may substitute for an on ground foundation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Inventor: Nissim Agassi
  • Patent number: 11384731
    Abstract: A method of controlling a wind turbine for the avoidance of edgewise vibrations. The method includes the steps of determining a whirling mode frequency of a rotor blade of the wind turbine; determining an avoidance zone based on the whirling mode frequency, the avoidance zone being a rotor speed range; receiving a rotor speed setpoint; and either adjusting the rotor speed to a value outside the rotor speed range if the rotor speed setpoint is within the rotor speed range or adjusting the rotor speed to a value corresponding to the rotor speed setpoint if the rotor speed setpoint is outside the rotor speed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Thomas Hedegaard Bachmann, Anders Steen Nielsen
  • Patent number: 11388044
    Abstract: A computer-program product, a system, and a computer-implemented method include a processor(s) obtaining a configuration of a network including configurations of multiple network nodes and configurations of the network communication devices. The program code automatically models the network to generate a system model. The program code derives, from the system model, a loop-free Bayesian inference model, by generating a loop-free Bayesian network from the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: Peraton Labs Inc.
    Inventors: Chi Leung Lau, David Shur, Qiong Shen, Kiran Rege, Rajesh Krishnan, Ta Chen, Andrzej Cichocki, Tom Banwell
  • Patent number: 11387653
    Abstract: A device for testing a power module of a set of power modules connected together includes reactive power compensation means capable of compensating the reactive power transferred between a tested power module and the other power modules, and means for monitoring the power generated by the tested power module including means for comparing said generated power with at least one threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventor: Regis Peron
  • Patent number: 11387699
    Abstract: A generator, which may be used in a wind turbine, has a first stationary component carrying a first winding configuration and a second rotating component carrying a second winding configuration. The second rotating component includes a body portion and a plurality of teeth spaced around and extending radially from the body portion. The second winding configuration is arranged in slots defined between adjacent teeth. A housing is arranged around and rotates with the body portion. A heat exchange circuit is arranged on the second rotating component and includes a coolant channel defined in the teeth; a pump; and a heat exchanger arranged on the housing so as to rotate with the housing, the heat exchanger transverse to a rotational direction of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Roelof Willem Schuring, Lana Maria Osusky, Andrew Thomas Cross, David Allan Torrey
  • Patent number: 11378057
    Abstract: A method for controlling yawing of a wind turbine, wherein an efficiency information is determined based on previous yaw activities, wherein the efficiency information reflects a relationship between an effective angular change between at least two yaw positions of the previous yaw activities, and a corresponding accumulated angular movement between the at least two yaw positions, wherein the yawing is controlled based on the determined efficiency information is provided. Further, a wind turbine and a device as well as a computer program product and a computer readable medium are suggested for performing the method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S
    Inventor: Thomas Esbensen
  • Patent number: 11378673
    Abstract: A Doppler radar system includes a Doppler radar processor, a memory in communication with radar processor and a transmit/receive controller. The memory includes computer readable instructions that cause the Doppler radar processor to transmit a radar signal toward the airborne object at a frequency; receive reflected radar signals off of the airborne object, including frequencies produced as a result of Doppler effect due to relative motion between features of the airborne object and the radar system; and Fourier transform the received signals into the frequency domain. Peak frequencies and their harmonic frequency families are sorted and identified. The logarithm of the Fourier transform is calculated to generate a quefrency cepstrum. To identify features producing cyclic, periodic Doppler frequency patterns, peak quefrencies and rahmonic families associated with a quefrency peak are sorted and identified. The rotational state of the airborne object based on the identified quefrency families is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Tod M. Schuck, David B. Reese, Mark A. Friesel
  • Patent number: 11378059
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a wind. Accordingly, a current condition of a generator of the wind turbine is determined, and an approach of the current condition to a current-dependent limit is detected. The speed of the generator is affected so as to alter a rotor/stator balance of the generator such that the current-dependent limit is not exceeded and the wind turbine can operate at a rated power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Graham McClure, Ramy Souri
  • Patent number: 11371486
    Abstract: The invention relates to an assembly for monitoring and/or controlling a wind turbine. The assembly includes a first strain sensor for measuring a first blade bending moment of a rotor blade of a wind turbine in a first spatial direction; a second strain sensor for measuring a second blade bending moment of a rotor blade of a wind turbine in a second spatial direction, which differs from the first spatial direction; an arrangement for determining constant components of forces and moments of the rotor blades provided in the wind turbine; and a controller for combining the first blade bending moment, the second blade bending moment and the constant components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: FOS4X GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Schmid, Thomas Schauss
  • Patent number: 11365719
    Abstract: A method for forecasting power production of at least one wind turbine, the wind turbine forming part of a wind farm arranged at a site. Global weather forecast data is received at a central data centre. A site specific forecast is then generated at the central data centre, based on the global weather forecast data. The site specific forecast from the central data centre is sent to a local data centre, e.g. arranged at the site of the wind farm. Site specific data is received at the local data centre and comprises site specific weather data and/or site specific wind turbine data measured at the site. The site specific forecast is then updated at the local data centre, using the site specific data. Finally, a power production forecast of the at least one wind turbine is generated based on the updated site specific forecast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Tomislav Maric, Martin Qvist, Line Storelvmo Holmberg
  • Patent number: 11358716
    Abstract: A system for electric power production from wind includes a glider having an airfoil, an on-board steering unit, a flight controller for controlling the steering unit, and a connection unit for a tether. The system further includes a ground station including a reel for the tether, a rotating electrical machine connected to the reel, and a ground station controller for controlling the reel and the rotating electrical machine. A master controller operates the system in at least first and second operation modes. In the first operation mode electric power is produced with the rotating electrical machine from rotation of the reel caused by reeling out the tether using a lift force generated upon exposure of the airfoil of the airborne glider to wind. In the second operation mode, the reel is driven by the rotating electrical machine, thereby reeling in the tether onto the reel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: AMPYX Power B.V.
    Inventor: Richard Ruiterkamp
  • Patent number: 11346326
    Abstract: A wind turbine including a rotor blade hub, a generator, and a magnetic transmission which is connected at the drive side to the rotor blade hub and at the driven side to the generator. The magnetic transmission is in the form of a multi-stage, in particular two-stage, magnetic transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventors: Samer Mtauweg, Falko Bürkner, Johannes Brombach
  • Patent number: 11349365
    Abstract: A stator segment of a stator of a dynamoelectric machine includes slotted laminations arranged axially one behind the other, such that substantially axially extending slots are formed. Coils are arranged in the slots, wherein one coil side or two coil sides of different coils are arranged in a slot. The laminations have at least one open slot on their outer boundary sides parallel to the slot. The coil sides are fixed in the open slots by an amagnetic fastener on the stator segment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2022
    Assignee: FLENDER GMBH
    Inventors: Robin Brenner, Artur Deutsch, Norbert Schönbauer, Michael Weger
  • Patent number: 11340306
    Abstract: An object is to predict a deterioration state of a secondary battery even in an environment where temperature and a charging voltage change. A lifetime estimation device of the secondary battery includes a measuring unit for measuring the capacity of the secondary battery in the full charging state; a temperature sensing unit for sensing the ambient temperature of the secondary battery; and a storage unit for storing a table of a proportional coefficient corresponding to temperature in advance, and a predicted deterioration line of the secondary battery is calculated with the use of a nonlinear regression equation approximated to a measured deterioration line obtained by the measuring unit. The lifetime estimation device may construct a lifetime estimation system with the use of a neural network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: SEMICONDUCTOR ENERGY LABORATORY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Isa, Akihiro Chida, Ryota Tajima
  • Patent number: 11339762
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for controlling wind turbine power. The method includes: determining a compensation value for target active power based on a power difference between a net grid-connected power and the target active power; determining a setpoint value of active power based on the target active power and the compensation value; and performing a current-varying control and a pitch control based on the setpoint value of active power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: BEIJING GOLDWIND SCIENCE & CREATION WINDPOWER EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xianyou Wu, Shuowen Xiao
  • Patent number: 11336098
    Abstract: A power plant control system for a first renewable energy power plant comprising one or more renewable energy generators. The power plant control system comprises receiving means for receiving a power delivery demand from a transmission grid operator; control means configured to control the one or more renewable energy generators of the first renewable energy power plant so as to supply power that targets the received power delivery demand; and communication means configured to transmit a request to one or more further renewable energy power plant control systems to request operation of one or more power compensation units associated with respective ones of the further renewable energy power plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Manoj Gupta, Ravi Kumar, Kouroush Nayebi, Vajira Suminda Ganepola
  • Patent number: 11333131
    Abstract: A method of identifying a fault in a system of gears in a wind turbine is provided. The method determines two or more centre harmonic frequency amplitudes according to vibrations of the system of gears and determines a plurality of sideband amplitudes of each of the centre harmonic frequency amplitudes. Further, the method sums the centre harmonic frequency amplitudes to calculate a total centre harmonic frequency amplitude and sums each of the sideband amplitudes of the centre harmonic frequency amplitudes to calculate a total sideband amplitude. The method then determines a value indicative of damage incurred by the system of gears based upon the first centre harmonic frequency amplitude and the average sideband amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Pattabiraman Trichy Ramakrishnan, Mallikarjun Narayanpur
  • Patent number: 11326578
    Abstract: A control system and control method of a wind farm allows taking into account dynamic variations in the possibilities of reactive power generation of each wind turbine with respect to maximum reactive power generation capacities. The system is configured to receive from at least one first wind turbine of the wind turbines of the wind farm a maximum reactive power limit desired lower than a minimum reactive power capacity required. The system is configured to calculate the individual reactive power setpoints for each of the at least two wind turbines of the wind farm such that the individual reactive power setpoint for the at least one first wind turbine of the wind farm does not exceed the maximum reactive power limit desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: NORDEX ENERGY SPAIN S.A.U.
    Inventors: Jose Miguel Garcia Sayes, Guillermo Beriain Guembe, Alberto Garcia Barace, Javier Gil Guruceaga, Daniel Ortiz Irigoyen, Teresa Arlaban Gabeiras, Alejandro Gonzalez Murua, Ricardo Royo Garcia, Miguel Nunez Polo
  • Patent number: 11326579
    Abstract: An adaptive dynamic planning control method and system for a large-scale energy storage station. The method comprises: setting a structure and control target parameters of an adaptive dynamic planning control system; initializing the parameters and importing an initial state of a controlled object; calculating an original wind electricity power fluctuation rate at a current moment t and smoothing the original wind electricity power according to a change rate control strategy; calculating a smoothed wind storage power fluctuation rate, a power of an energy storage system, and a state of charge (SOC) of the energy storage system; initializing and training an evaluation module and an execution module; calculating and saving a control strategy, a smoothed wind storage power fluctuation rate, an energy storage power and a (SOC) at each moment; and outputting the control strategy at each moment, the smoothed wind storage power fluctuation rate, the energy storage power and the (SOC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignees: China Electric Power Research Institute Company Limited, State Grid Corporation of China
    Inventors: Xiangjun Li, Yuting He, Jingqiong Zhang, Dong Hui, Xuecui Jia
  • Patent number: 11322943
    Abstract: A method for controlling the rebuilding of an electrical supply network, wherein the electrical supply network has a first network section and at least one further network section, at least one wind farm is connected to the first network section, the wind farm can be controlled via a wind farm control room, the first network section is coupled to the at least one further network section via at least one switching device in order to transmit electrical energy between the network sections, the at least one switching device is set up to disconnect the first network section from the at least one further network section in the event of a fault, a network control station is provided for the purpose of controlling the at least one switching device, wherein, in the event of a fault during which a network fault acting on the first network section occurs, the first network section is disconnected from the at least one further network section by the at least one switching device, the wind farm control room interchanges
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Brombach
  • Patent number: 11319925
    Abstract: A method for wind turbine tower damping is disclosed, as well as an associated controller and wind turbine. The method comprises determining, using one or more sensor signals, dynamic state information for a tower of a wind turbine during power production, wherein the dynamic state information comprises a tower frequency. The method further comprises determining at least one control loop gain value using the tower frequency, and generating, using the at least one control loop gain value, one or more control signals for controlling a rotational speed of a rotor of the wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Fabio Caponetti, Jesper Sandberg Thomsen
  • Patent number: 11319928
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for wind power generation. In one aspect, a wind power generator includes a support base; inductors positioned over the support base in a circular array; an annulus ring track fixed to the base support and providing a circular track around which the inductors are located; an annulus ring rotor placed on the annulus ring track and engaged to rollers in the circular track so that the annulus ring rotor can rotate relative to the an annulus ring track, in which the annulus ring rotor include separate magnets to move through the circular array of inductors to cause generation of electric currents; and a wind rotor assembly coupled to the annulus ring rotor and including wind-deflecting blades that rotate with the rotor and a hollow central interior for containing a wind vortex formed from deflecting wind by the blades to convert into the electric energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: EIP TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Steve Burkle
  • Patent number: 11313354
    Abstract: A method for protecting a wind turbine from overloading during operation caused by a fault includes receiving, via a controller, a plurality of pitch signals from a plurality of pitch control mechanisms of a pitch system of the wind turbine, the pitch system configured to rotate a plurality of rotor blades mounted to a rotatable hub of a rotor of the wind turbine about respective pitch axes. Further, the method includes determining a collective pitch rate of the pitch system as a function of the plurality of pitch signals. The method also includes defining a minimum pitch rate threshold that varies with a speed parameter of the wind turbine. Moreover, the method includes receiving a first speed parameter of the wind turbine. In addition, the method includes comparing the collective pitch rate to the minimum pitch rate threshold for the first speed parameter. Thus, the method includes controlling the wind turbine based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Leonardo Cesar Kammer, Conner Brooks Shane, Dana Perry Martin
  • Patent number: 11307602
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and messages of the present invention provides IP-based messages associated with the grid elements, wherein each IP-based message includes an internet protocol (IP) packet that is generated autonomously and/or automatically by the grid elements, intelligent messaging hardware associated with the grid elements, at least one coordinator, and/or a server associated with the electric power grid and its operation, energy settlement, and/or financial settlement for electricity provided or consumed, transmitted, and/or curtailed or reduced. The IP packet preferably includes a content including raw data and/or transformed data, a priority associated with the IP-based message, a security associated with the IP packet, and/or a transport route for communicating the IP-based message via the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: CAUSAM ENTERPRISES, INC.
    Inventor: Joseph W. Forbes, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11306700
    Abstract: Provided is a method, computing system, and computer program product for reducing floating wind turbine loads induced by ocean waves by adjusting a blade pitch angle of at least one rotor blade of a floating wind turbine to minimize a moment imbalance at a platform top of the floating wind turbine caused by ocean wave activity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S
    Inventors: Jared Frank, Srinivas Guntur, Marco Masciola
  • Patent number: 11307549
    Abstract: A system includes a plurality of control devices that respectively control the states of a plurality of apparatuses and are connected to each other via communication lines. When each of the control devices determines a state target value of its own apparatus using the current state indicator value of the own apparatus, and the distributed controller input which is a function of the state indicator value of an apparatus adjacent to the own apparatus and the state indicator value of the own apparatus, the control gain which adjusts contribution of the distributed controller input to the state target value is determined based on a communication delay time between the control devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, Toyota School Foundation
    Inventors: Satoshi Kikuchi, Michihiro Kawanishi, Tatsuo Narikiyo, Ngoc Huynh Tran
  • Patent number: 11300107
    Abstract: Provided is a system for determining an amount of oscillating movement of a wind turbine, the wind turbine including a tower, a non-rotating upper part supported by the tower, a rotor having a rotor axis, and a generator for generating electric power. The system includes (a) a sensor unit adapted to provide a rotor speed signal indicative of a rotational speed of the rotor relative to the non-rotating upper part, (b) a filtering unit adapted to, based on the rotor speed signal provided by the sensor unit, provide a filtered signal including information associated with an oscillating movement of the wind turbine, and (c) a processing unit adapted to determine the amount of oscillating movement based on the filtered signal provided by the filtering unit. Furthermore, a wind turbine and a method are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S
    Inventors: Samuel H. Hawkins, Gustav Hoegh
  • Patent number: 11293406
    Abstract: According to the invention, the control system consists of one or more global controllers configured to receive state data from the tower structures and tendons, via sensors and control an operating state of the wind generators correspondingly in a calculation method for avoiding load peaks and/or avoiding resonances. In a preferred embodiment, a local controller is configured to also process status data of the sensors from a near field of a building around the respective local controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventor: Philipp Wagner
  • Patent number: 11293412
    Abstract: Provided is a busbar arrangement for a wind turbine generator, the wind turbine generator including a stator and a rotor arranged to rotate around an axis. The busbar arrangement includes a plurality of busbars for transporting electric power away from the generator, wherein each busbar is arranged at an individual radial distance from the axis and at an individual axial position along the axis. Furthermore, a wind turbine and a method of manufacturing a busbar arrangement is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Inventor: Thorkil Munk-Hansen