Method Of Operation Patents (Class 416/1)
  • Patent number: 10941752
    Abstract: A variable-pitch multi-segment blade component comprises multiple blade segments and at least one variable-pitch guiding structure placed outside of the blade segments. The variable-pitch guiding structure comprises a guide rail fixed to one of the two adjacent blade segments and one or multiple guiding elements fixed to another one of the two adjacent blade segments, wherein the guiding elements are constructed to be guided and moved on the guide rail. The guiding element comprises multiple rolling elements. The variable-pitch guiding structure provides guiding and bearing type connection. The two adjacent blade segments are capable of rotating about a pitch axis of the blade segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2021
    Inventor: Fang Zhou
  • Patent number: 10927821
    Abstract: Examples are generally directed to techniques for controlling a temperature of a blade in a wind turbine system. One example of the present disclosure is a method of controlling a temperature of a blade in a wind turbine system. The method includes setting a target temperature, inputting physical conditions of the blade and ambient conditions about the blade into a processor, outputting a minimum amount of energy to a heating element of the blade required to reach the target temperature based on the physical conditions and ambient conditions, and adjusting the energy provided to the heating element to reach the target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Paul Badger, Luke Spandley, Stephen Buggy, Karl Gregory
  • Patent number: 10927678
    Abstract: Disclosed is a turbine vane having an airfoil in a cross section including a leading edge, a trailing edge, and a pressure surface and a suction surface connecting the leading edge and the trailing edge, the airfoil extending radially from a platform part to an end wall, wherein the trailing edge of the airfoil is provided with a cutback cut in a direction radially perpendicular to both the pressure surface and the suction surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: Doosan Heavy Industries Construction Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Mu Hyoung Lee, Sung Chul Jung
  • Patent number: 10920594
    Abstract: A turbine blade includes a base and an airfoil. The airfoil includes a skin extending from the base and defining a leading edge and a trailing edge opposite the leading edge. The trailing edge includes an inner edge disposed proximate to the base, an outer edge disposed distal the inner edge, and a tuning region edge disposed between the inner edge and the outer edge. The tuning region edge includes an upper transition edge, a middle transition edge, a lower transition edge, an upper tuning edge, and a middle tuning edge. The upper transition edge extends from the outer edge towards the inner edge. The middle transition edge is disposed between the upper transition edge and the inner edge. The lower transition edge is disposed between the middle transition edge and the inner edge. The upper tuning edge is disposed between the upper transition edge and the middle transition edge, being at least partially closer to the leading edge than the middle transition edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated
    Inventors: Joshua Tarquinio, Loc Duong
  • Patent number: 10914287
    Abstract: A method of operating a wind turbine having a rotor. Sensor data is received from one or more sensors of the wind turbine and maximum load values are obtained on the basis of the sensor data. The maximum load values are indicative of maximum loads acting on a component of the wind turbine such as a rotor blade. An estimated extreme load value, such as a 50-year return load, is obtained on the basis of the maximum load values and compared with a reference value. A maximum thrust limit is set on the basis of the comparison, and the wind turbine is operated in accordance with the maximum thrust limit so that a wind thrust force acting on the rotor does not exceed the maximum thrust limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2021
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Anders Steen Nielsen, Kasper Zinck, Gnana Sekaran
  • Patent number: 10907486
    Abstract: A turbomachine module includes a rotor supporting variable pitch blades, and an inner annular shaft, a blade pitch control device, a device for feathering at least one blade comprising at least one gas generator placed between a body and a movable member. The control device and the feathering device are situated radially between the shaft and the blades, the movable member is coupled with the at least one blade and capable, under the action of the gas generated and/or released by the generator, of being moved into a reference position wherein it entails a feathered position to the at least one blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: SAFRAN AIRCRAFT ENGINES
    Inventors: Nils Edouard Romain Bordoni, Michel Gilbert Roland Brault, Romain Guillaume Cuvillier, Guillaume Patrice Kubiak, Arnaud Nicolas Negri, Nathalie Nowakowski
  • Patent number: 10895245
    Abstract: Pitch cylinders for adjusting a pitch angle of a blade, methods of assembling pitch cylinders, and the use of pitch cylinders in wind turbines are disclosed. The pitch cylinder includes a cylinder barrel having a first thread with a first pitch, a piston arranged in and extending out of the cylinder barrel for coupling to a blade or hub, and a trunnion to couple the cylinder barrel to the other of the blade or hub. The cylinder barrel extends through the trunnion. The trunnion has a first thread with a second pitch different from the first pitch, and a sleeve arranged between the trunnion and the cylinder barrel that extends through the sleeve. The sleeve has an inner sleeve thread with the first pitch engaged with the first cylinder barrel thread and an outer sleeve thread with the second pitch engaged with the first trunnion thread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2021
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Lasse Køgs Andersen, Erik Garde, Simon Kabus, Jesper Lykkegaard Neubauer
  • Patent number: 10865771
    Abstract: A method for controlling a wind turbine having rotor blades with an adjustable blade angle, comprising the steps operating the wind turbine in a partial load mode for wind velocities up to a nominal wind velocity, wherein in the partial load mode, a fixed partial load angle is provided for the blade angle, operating the wind turbine in a full load mode for wind velocities above the nominal wind velocity, wherein in the full load mode the blade angle is enlarged with increasing wind velocity and has values above the partial load angle, and wherein in the partial load mode, starting from a predetermined operating state, the blade angle is reduced as compared with the partial load angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventors: Andree Altmikus, Wolfgang De Boer, Ralf Messing
  • Patent number: 10865778
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention describe a method for ascertaining a value of an ice buildup quantity on at least one rotor blade (111, 112) of a wind turbine (100) and to the use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: FOS4X GMBH
    Inventors: Mathias Müller, Thomas Schauss, Florian Rieger
  • Patent number: 10860038
    Abstract: An embodiment rotorcraft includes a main rotor, one or more flight controls connected to the main rotor and operational to control flight characteristics of the main rotor by pitching a nose of the rotorcraft upward, and a flight control computer (FCC) operable to determine an attitude command and to generate an adjusted attitude command by adjusting a magnitude of the attitude command according to an above ground level (AGL) altitude of the rotorcraft. The FCC is further operable to control a flight characteristic of the rotorcraft by sending the adjusted attitude command to one or more flight controls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventor: Luke Dafydd Gillett
  • Patent number: 10851807
    Abstract: An energy generating system that utilizes a movement of a fluid/gas includes a plurality of floor tiles, a fluid/gas, and a power generating unit. Preferably, the plurality of floor tiles is layered across an area with high foot traffic. The fluid/gas is confined in a fluid tank positioned underneath the plurality of floor tiles such that a pressure applied on the plurality of floor tiles is transferred onto the fluid/gas, and generates movement in the fluid/gas. The movement allows the fluid/gas to flow towards a plurality of turbines of the power generating unit through a piping network and a plenum passage, and rotate the plurality of turbines. The rotational movement of the turbines is converted into electrical energy by a generator of the power generating unit. The electrical output of the generator is stored in a battery bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: King Abdulaziz University
    Inventors: Hussain Bassi, Abdulhameed F. Alkhateeb
  • Patent number: 10829242
    Abstract: A rotor system is provided in one example embodiment and may include a rotor system may be provided and may include a drive link associated with a rotor hub of the rotor system, the drive link comprising an inner member and an outer member; and a sensor system mounted to the drive link, the sensor system to accommodate motions of the drive link to track rotor hub flapping. The sensor system for the rotor system may further include a sensor, the sensor comprising a sensor arm, wherein the sensor is mounted proximate to the inner member of the drive link; and a sensor link, the sensor link comprising a first end portion moveably coupled to the sensor arm, a second end portion coupled to the outer member of the drive link, and an angled portion between the first end portion and the second end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Kyle T. Cravener, Tyler Wayne Baldwin
  • Patent number: 10830208
    Abstract: A method for identifying a blade run-away condition in the event of a pitch system failure of a rotor blade of a wind turbine includes determining, via one or more sensors, an actual rotor loading of the wind turbine. The method also includes determining, via a turbine controller, an estimated rotor loading of the wind turbine based on at least one of one or more operating conditions of the wind turbine or one or more wind conditions of the wind turbine. Further, the method includes determining a difference between the actual rotor loading and the estimated rotor loading. The method also includes determining whether the blade run-away condition is present based on the difference. The method may also include implementing a corrective action that mitigates loads caused by the blade run-away condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Santiago Tomas, Raveendra Penmatsa, Soeren Georg, Ramy Michael Souri, Ryan Michael Sunyak, Darren John Danielsen, Robert Peter Slack
  • Patent number: 10822105
    Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a crossing threshold used in determining a rotational speed of a propeller of an aircraft engine. An initial value for the crossing threshold is set. A sensor signal is received that comprises a first series of pulses indicative of passage of position markers about a circumference of a propeller shaft. A detection signal is generated that comprises a second series of pulses indicative of within the first series of pulses that have a zero-crossing transition and a magnitude that exceeds the crossing threshold. The rotational speed of the propeller is determined from the detection signal. The crossing threshold is adjusted as a function of the rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Ella Yakobov, Ian Farrell
  • Patent number: 10823141
    Abstract: A method for reducing loads of a wind turbine includes determining an angular pitch speed parameter of the rotor blade of the wind turbine. The method also includes determining an operational state of the wind turbine. Further, the method includes comparing the angular pitch speed parameter to a predetermined parameter threshold during turbine shutdown and/or a commanded pitch event. If the operational state corresponds to a predetermined operational state, the method includes yawing a nacelle of the wind turbine away from an incoming wind direction when the angular pitch speed parameter is below the predetermined parameter threshold during the turbine shutdown and/or the commanded pitch event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Darren John Danielsen, Philip James Verzella, Jignesh Govindlal Gandhi, Ramy Michael Souri, James Paul Davidson, Christopher Lee Tschappatt
  • Patent number: 10823153
    Abstract: A rotor blade uses hot-air, for example exhaust from a generator positioned inside a nacelle of a wind turbine, for de-icing and/or anti-icing. The rotor blade has an airfoil section and a cavity enclosed therein. A flow path inside the cavity, for flow of the hot-air, extends from a root section towards a tip section. Exhaust holes, fluidly connected with the flow path, at an outer surface of the airfoil section emit the hot-air from the airfoil section. The rotor blade includes a cover plate positioned at the outer surface of the airfoil section and masking the exhaust holes, thereby creating an external flow space between the exhaust holes and the cover plate's inner surface. The cover plate guides the hot-air over the outer surface of the airfoil section after the hot-air exits, via the exhaust holes, the airfoil section and before the hot-air escapes the rotor blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2020
    Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY A/S
    Inventors: Peder Bay Enevoldsen, Lennart Froelund
  • Patent number: 10816429
    Abstract: A method is provided during which surface data indicative of a measured surface geometry of a component is received. The surface data is processed to provide model data indicative of a solid model of the component. The model data is processed to determine a center of gravity distance of the component. A moment weight of the component is determined based on the center of gravity distance of the component and a measured weight of the component. The moment weight is communicated with the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Raytheon Technologies Corporation
    Inventor: John T. Pickens
  • Patent number: 10815967
    Abstract: A method for operating a first wind turbine and a second wind turbine, the second wind turbine being located in the wake of the first wind turbine. A prediction model is fed with a current wind value of the first wind turbine, in order to predict a future time point at which the area swept by the rotor of the second wind turbine becomes partially overlapped by the wake of the first wind turbine. The second wind turbine reacts to the prediction in that a control signal is generated in order to alter the pitch angle of a rotor blade of the second wind turbine relative to the pitch angle of another rotor blade of the second wind turbine. The invention additionally relates to a control system suitable for executing the method. Implementation of the disclosed method by a control system can reduce the loading of the second wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Senvion GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Geisler, Jesse Ben Benjamin Schmuck
  • Patent number: 10815971
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for determining at least one blade state parameter of a wind turbine blade, wherein the system is configured to: obtain blade data relating to the wind turbine blade from a sensor system associated with the wind turbine blade; compare at least one reference model of at least a portion of the wind turbine blade with the blade data; identify a reference model in dependence on the comparison; and determine at least one blade state parameter in dependence on the identified reference model. The blade data may take the form of an image, for example a 3-dimensional measurement such as a point cloud representing at least a portion of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Jacob Deleuran Grunnet, Johnny Nielsen, Jes Rasmussen, Claus Thybo
  • Patent number: 10815831
    Abstract: Embodiments of a frequency independent damper assembly are disclosed. In some embodiments, the damper assembly includes a damper housing, a damper plunger and a support spring. The damper plunger is disposed at least partially within the housing and movable within to define a first primary damper cavity and a second primary damper cavity. The support spring includes a plurality of flexible elements coupled to the damper housing and disposed radially outward of the first primary damper cavity and the second primary damper cavity. The support spring defines a first accumulator cavity and a second accumulator cavity. A flow-through channel couples the first accumulator cavity to the second accumulator cavity. A gas bearing including the frequency independent damper assembly is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Bugra Han Ertas
  • Patent number: 10800517
    Abstract: Aerial vehicles may be equipped with propellers having pivotable blades that are configured to rotate when the propellers are not rotating under power. A pivotable blade may rotate about an axis of a propeller with respect to a hub until the pivotable blade is coaligned with a fixed blade. When the propeller is rotating, a lifting force from the blade may cause the blade to rotate to a deployed position that is not coaligned with the fixed blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Vedran Coralic, Cyriel Notteboom, David Moro Ludena
  • Patent number: 10781796
    Abstract: A clamping apparatus for positioning a main bearing of a wind turbine includes a push component arranged between a main flange of a main shaft of the wind turbine and a cover of the main bearing. Further, the clamping apparatus includes a spacer plate located within a gap between the cover and the main bearing. As such, the push component is configured to apply a force to the cover so as to push the spacer plate against the main bearing such that the main bearing is pushed into and secured in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Darrick Adam Vanderwalker, Kevin Tyler Eherts
  • Patent number: 10774814
    Abstract: Described is a system for monitoring deflection of turbine blades of a wind turbine comprising a tower. The system comprises a position detecting apparatus mounted to the wind turbine comprising a plurality of position detection components each collecting data regarding a field of detection through which a segment of the turbine blades passes, wherein the position detection components are monitoring distinct fields of detection to collect distances of a plurality of segments of each one of the turbine blades travelling through the fields of detection. The system further comprises a deflection controller configured to receive the collected distances and to determine deflection of the turbine blades accordingly. An associated method comprises collecting distances of a plurality of distinct segments of the turbine blades when the turbine blades travel within a plurality of fields of detections, and processing the collected distances to determine clearance between the turbine blades and the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignees: INNERGEX INC., INSTITUT NATIONAL D'OPTIQUE
    Inventors: Vincent David, Daniel Cantin, Robert Guillemette, Jonathan Cloutier
  • Patent number: 10767634
    Abstract: A blade icing state identification method and apparatus for a wind generator set are disclosed. The method includes setting a preset wind speed threshold and a preset rotating speed threshold, and setting the preset rotating speed threshold as a lower limit value of a maximum limited rotating speed of the wind generator set operating under a limited power condition; comparing a current wind speed and a current rotating speed of the wind generator set with the preset thresholds respectively; progressively increasing a blade icing possibility index when the current wind speed is greater than the preset wind speed threshold and the current rotating speed of the wind generator set is smaller than the preset rotating speed threshold, and otherwise, progressively decreasing the blade icing possibility index; and determining that blades are in an icing state when the blade icing possibility index is greater than a preset index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: BEIJING GOLDWIND SCIENCE & CREATION WINDPOWER EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jie Zhou, Chi Yu, Jianjun Yang
  • Patent number: 10753341
    Abstract: The invention provides a lightning protection system for wind turbine blades with optimized injection means of lightning currents in conductive components of their shells. The injection means comprise a current receptor element (27; 47; 67) connected to the input cable of lightning currents and arranged over an area of a shell close to an electrically conductive component (22; 42; 62) and a current injection element (28; 48; 68; 69, 69?) arranged over the electrically conductive component (22; 42; 62) and connected to the current receptor element (27; 47; 67) by at least two distribution cables (31, 32; 51, 52, 53; 71, 72, 73, 74).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY INNOVATION & TECHNOLOGY, S.L.
    Inventors: Victor March Nomen, Juan Madoz Zabalegui
  • Patent number: 10737751
    Abstract: A hybrid paddle for use in both a standing and a kneeling position is disclosed. The paddle has a shaft terminating in a blade at each end. At or near each throat or junction between the shaft and a blade is a handle. The handle has a grip sufficiently offset from the blade to allow a user to grip the handle without his or her hand colliding with the blade. While kneeling, the user grips the shaft with both hands, and alternates the placement of the blades in the water. While standing, the user grasps the handle with one hand and the shaft with the other hand, and a single blade is placed in the water. In this way, the same paddle is used in both the standing and kneeling positions, and the user can alternate between standing and kneeling as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Inventor: Brian Dobbins
  • Patent number: 10717521
    Abstract: An aircraft includes an airframe; an extending tail; a counter rotating, coaxial main rotor assembly including an upper rotor assembly and a lower rotor assembly; and a translational thrust system positioned at the extending tail, the translational thrust system providing translational thrust to the airframe; wherein a ratio of (i) the hub separation between the hub of the upper rotor assembly and the hub of the lower rotor assembly to (ii) a radius of the upper rotor assembly is between about 0.1 and about 0.135.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2020
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven D. Weiner, Mikel Brigley, David H. Hunter
  • Patent number: 10711764
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a wind turbine system comprising a first pair of wind turbines mounted to a support structure by a first support arm arrangement, and a second pair of wind turbines mounted to the support structure by a second support arm arrangement. The first and second support arm arrangements are mounted to the support structure at a respective yaw unit so as to yaw about the major axis of the support structure. Moreover, the wind turbine system further includes a control system that is configured to control the yaw angle of each of the first and second support arm arrangements, wherein the control system is configured to identify the presence of a predetermined shutdown condition and, in response, the control system is operable to control the yaw angles of the first support arm arrangement and the second support arm arrangement to a predetermined safe state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Torben Ladegaard Baun, Erik Carl Lehnskov Miranda
  • Patent number: 10697439
    Abstract: A method for evaluating performance of a wind turbine includes operating the wind turbine in a first operational mode. The method also includes generating a first set of operational data relating to the first operational mode. More specifically, the first set of operational data includes, at least, a first parameter and a second parameter. Further, the first and second parameters of the first set are measured during different time periods during the first operational mode. The method further includes changing the first operational mode to a second operational mode. Moreover, the method includes generating a second set of operational data relating to the second operational mode. The second set of operational data also includes, at least, a first parameter and a second parameter. Thus, the method includes determining a performance characteristic of the first and second operational modes based on the first and second sets of operational data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Frederick Wilson Wheeler, Danian Zheng, James Huu Phan, Brian Allen Rittenhouse
  • Patent number: 10689104
    Abstract: A system and method for attaching a damper to a tail rotor blade includes a cuff that is integral with the rotor blade. The cuff has upper and lower lugs formed by extending a skin over a blade core of the rotor blade. The skin extends past the blade core to the root end of the rotor blade. The rod end of the damper is inserted into an opening between the lugs. The rod end of the damper is coupled to the blade with a bolt through aligned holes in the lugs. The cuff also couples the rotor blade to the grip inside the cuff. The cuff includes a same material as that forming the skin. Sacrificial buffer pads are applied to interior faces of the lugs. The buffer pads permit a distance between the lugs to be machined within a tolerance without removing skin from the cuff.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: TEXTRON INNOVATIONS INC.
    Inventors: Glenn Alan Shimek, Nathan Patrick Green, Robert Alan Self, Mark Adam Wiinikka
  • Patent number: 10669986
    Abstract: A method and system for improving the balance of a rotor in a wind turbine, including; determining blade load data associated with a selected rotor blade pair; determining, based on the blade load data, pitch imbalance data associated with the selected rotor blade pair, wherein the pitch imbalance data associated with a rotor blade pair is based on measurements of at least blade loading, rotor speed and wind speed; and, determining and applying pitch control inputs to one or both of the selected rotor blade pair in order to reduce the severity of the rotor imbalance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventor: Jacob Krogh Kristoffersen
  • Patent number: 10669857
    Abstract: A method for producing turbine rotor blades or the base bodies thereof includes a) providing the base body, which has, following one another along a longitudinal axis, a blade root, a blade platform and a blade airfoil, b) sensing a value of at least one parameter of the base body, at least one of the parameters representing a vibrational property of the base body, c) comparing the sensed value with a predetermined target interval, d) if the sensed value lies outside the target interval, reducing the mass of the base body, wherein the reduction of the mass takes place at the blade root and/or on the blade platform by introducing at least one recess and/or by reducing a dimension below the corresponding target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Fathi Ahmad, Radan Radulovic
  • Patent number: 10669988
    Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine to avoid stall during derating thereof includes providing an initial pitch setting for one or more rotor blades of the wind turbine. Further, the method includes operating the wind turbine based on a rated power curve with the one or more rotor blades fixed at the initial pitch setting. Further, the method includes identifying at least one condition of the wind turbine that is indicative of stall. The method also includes derating the wind turbine. Further, the method includes modifying the initial pitch setting to an updated pitch setting when the at least one condition is identified.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Monika Marwaha, Nadine Schuell, Pranav Soni, Gert Torbohm
  • Patent number: 10669996
    Abstract: A method of making a wind turbine blade component incorporating a lightning protection system, the method comprising: providing a mould surface; arranging a forming element on the mould surface; providing an electrically conductive layer; reinforcing the electrically conductive layer in a predetermined region to create a reinforced zone; arranging the electrically conductive layer over the forming element so that the reinforced zone is superimposed on the forming element; arranging one or more structural components on the electrically conductive layer; consolidating the structural components under vacuum to form a blade shell having an integrated electrically conductive layer adjacent an outer surface of the shell; removing at least part of the forming element from the blade shell to define a recess in the outer surface of the shell so as to expose the reinforced zone of the electrically conductive layer; electrically connecting the electrically conductive layer at the reinforced zones to a respective electri
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Daniel Whitehouse, Richard Baker
  • Patent number: 10662924
    Abstract: The invention relates to a control apparatus and method for controlling the rotor blades of a wind turbine, and in particular to controlling the rotor blades during an extreme wind event. An extended mode of operation of the wind turbine rotor beyond the cut-out wind speed is provided. In the extended mode of operation, the pitch of the wind turbine blades is actively controlled so that the rotor and the generator idle at a designated rotational speed. The rotational speed may be relatively high, say 15 to 20% of the nominal speed, compared with minimal speeds experienced by purely feathered wind turbine blades, and may be further controlled as a function of the incident wind speed. Output power control in the extended mode may be zero but is preferably a low, but non-zero value. The output power so produced may then be used as an auxiliary power source for controlling the wind turbine in situations where the utility grid fails.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Fabio Caponetti, Ian Couchman, Thomas Krüger, Ali Zaib, Carsten Nørlund Thomsen
  • Patent number: 10662927
    Abstract: A device and method for rotating a rotor of a wind power generator and a wind power generator are provided. The device includes at least two rotating units, and each of the rotating units includes a telescopic cylinder, a mounting base configured to connect a fixed end of the telescopic cylinder to a stand of the wind power generator, and detachably connected to the stand; and a pin arranged at a movable end of the telescopic cylinder, configured to be releasably fixed to the rotor, and configured to drive the rotor to rotate relative to the stand by a stroke movement of the telescopic cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: JIANGSU GOLDWIND SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhu Zhang, Huixun Li, Yanhui Li, Xingang Zhang, Xiang Zhao, Ye Li
  • Patent number: 10655601
    Abstract: A method for the individual pitch control of the rotor blades of a wind turbine is provided herein. In some embodiments, the method includes measuring an acceleration by an acceleration sensor in a rotor blade of the wind turbine; high-pass filtering of a signal of the acceleration sensor in order to determine a time-variant variable; and setting the pitch of the first rotor blade of the wind turbine using the time-variant variable, the pitch setting being part of an individual pitch control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: fos4X GmbH
    Inventors: Mathias Müller, Matthias Schubert
  • Patent number: 10634121
    Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine during partial load operation includes determining a power output of the wind turbine. The method also includes determining whether the power output is below a rated power of the wind turbine. If the power output is at the rated power, the method includes maintaining a speed set point of the wind turbine equal to a rated speed set point. However, if the power output is below the rated power, then the method includes varying, via a controller, the speed set point of the wind turbine as a function of a torque of the wind turbine in a non-monotonic torque-speed relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ryan Andrew Risdon, Jignesh Govindlal Gandhi, Mark Edward Cardinal, Govardhan Ganireddy, Arne Koerber
  • Patent number: 10634118
    Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine includes determining a current temperature of a rotor blade and activating and deactivating a rotor blade heating device in dependence upon the determined current temperature. The current temperature is determined by assuming a temperature starting value and calculating a change in temperature taking into account at least one predefined characteristic variable for the temperature behavior of the rotor blade and at least one operating parameter of the wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventors: Ines Runge, Danela Jacob
  • Patent number: 10620599
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments pertain to a system that can include a high-level controller coupled to a low-level controller for controlling a physical asset. In one exemplary implementation, the high-level controller executes a first finite state machine for controlling a power generation unit via a network. The low-level controller executes a second finite state machine that may have fewer states than the first finite state machine. The second finite state machine places the low-level controller in a default mode of operation for controlling the power generation unit under various conditions such as when the high-level controller is controlling the physical asset during a normal mode of operation; when the high-level controller is revising the first finite state machine; when the high-level controller is controlling the physical asset using a revised first finite state machine; and/or upon detecting a loss of communications between the high-level controller and the low-level controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William Forrester Seely, John Raffensperger, Karl Minto
  • Patent number: 10605096
    Abstract: A blade includes an airfoil defined by a pressure side outer wall and a suction side outer wall connecting along leading and trailing edges and form a radially extending chamber for receiving a coolant flow. A rib configuration may include: a leading edge transverse rib connecting the pressure side outer wall and the suction side outer wall and partitioning the radially extending chamber into a leading edge passage within the leading edge of the airfoil and a central passage adjacent to the leading edge passage. One or both camber line ribs connect to a corresponding pressure side outer wall and suction side outer wall at a point aft of the leading edge transverse rib causing the central passage to extend towards one or both of the pressure side outer wall and the suction side outer wall, resulting in a flared center cavity aft of the leading edge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Brendon James Leary, Gregory Thomas Foster, Michelle Jessica Iduate, David Wayne Weber
  • Patent number: 10605232
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for determining the position of defects or damage on rotor blades (4) of a wind turbine (1) in an installed state, comprising the steps: a. a localisation instrument (5) is guided along the rotor blade (4) and the defect or damage is detected; b. the localisation instrument (5) has a GPS module (6) by means of which the GPS data of the localisation instrument (5) is detected at the defect or damage; c. the position of the investigated wind turbine (1) is detected by means of the GPS module (6); d. using the position data of the wind turbine (1), the hub height (n) of the wind turbine (1) is retrieved from a database and the distance (d) of the defect or damage of the rotor blade (4) from the hub (34) is calculated in an evaluation unit (8) from the difference between the GPS data of the localisation instrument (5) and the hub height (n) of the wind turbine and in accordance with the rotor blade position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Jochen Aderhold, Otto Lutz
  • Patent number: 10605233
    Abstract: A method of measuring load on a wind turbine, and a wind turbine for such load measuring, are disclosed. The wind turbine comprises at least one rotor blade and at least one load sensor associated with the rotor blade. At least one load sensor is located at a position on the rotor blade remote from both a flap bending moment axis and an edge bending moment axis of the rotor blade. At the position, a flap bending moment component and an edge bending moment component of the load on the rotor blade are measurable. A load value is measured from the load sensor, and the measured load value is used to determine a flap bending moment component of the load and an edge bending moment component of the load, and optionally or additionally an axial force component of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Morten Thøgersen, Fabio Caponetti, Dan Hilton
  • Patent number: 10598608
    Abstract: Provided is a method that enables an interior of a wind turbine blade to be safely inspected. A method of inspecting an interior of a wind turbine blade includes the steps of: placing, in the wind turbine blade, an inspection unit including a support frame, at least one wheel rotatably provided to the support frame, and inspection equipment attached to a front portion of the support frame in a traveling direction; and conveying the inspection unit from a blade root portion toward a blade tip portion of the wind turbine blade. The conveying step includes connecting at least one extension bar to a back end portion of the inspection unit, and sending the inspection unit by pushing the extension bar toward the blade tip portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Naota Watanabe, Keisuke Ota
  • Patent number: 10577089
    Abstract: A dual axis bifilar vibration absorber system including a first bifilar vibration absorber having a first support provided with a first cantilevered end including a first opening and a second cantilevered end including a second opening. The first opening is spaced from the second opening along a first axis. A first mass is operatively connected to the first support. A second bifilar vibration absorber is collocated with the first bifilar vibration absorber. The second bifilar vibration absorber includes a support member having a first opening element and a second opening element. The second opening element is spaced from the first opening element along a second axis that is substantially perpendicular to the first axis. A second mass is operatively connected to the support member. The first mass is selectively pivotable about the second axis, and the second mass is selectively pivotable about the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Z. Kevin Wang, Larry B. Eastman
  • Patent number: 10549840
    Abstract: An adjustable balance module for the balancing of rotatable blades. The adjustable blade balance module includes a frame that retains and covers an adjustment screw with a mass that translates along a threaded shaft of the adjustment screw. The adjustment screw is incrementally controlled by an adjustment dial that is accessible from an exterior surface of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Textron Innovations Inc.
    Inventor: Andrew Paul Haldeman
  • Patent number: 10543912
    Abstract: A rotary wing aircraft includes a rotor system rotatable about an axis relative to an airframe. A plurality of blade assemblies is mounted to the rotor system. A higher harmonic control system is operable to generate a harmonic load at the rotor system according to a higher harmonic control signal. An active vibration control system is operable to generate vibration forces about the aircraft according to an active vibration control signal. A controller is operable to issue the higher harmonic control signal and the active vibration control signal to coordinate the higher harmonic control system and the active vibration control system to reduce vibration within the airframe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: William A. Welsh, Vineet Sahasrabudhe
  • Patent number: 10519927
    Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a shear web for a rotor blade of a wind turbine and a method of manufacturing and assembling same. The rotor blade generally includes an upper shell member having an upper spar cap configured on an internal surface thereof and a lower shell member having a lower spar cap configured on an internal surface thereof. Further, the shear web extends between the spar caps along a longitudinal length of the blade. In addition, the shear web includes first and second outer pultruded layers at least partially encompassing a core material, wherein end portions of the first and second outer pultruded layers form compressed flanges at opposing ends of the shear web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Robert Tobin, Aaron A. Yarbrough, Daniel Alan Hynum, Christopher Daniel Caruso
  • Patent number: 10508504
    Abstract: An example slip-ring interface may include a first section and a second section rotationally independent from the first section. At least one conductor path between the first section and the second section may be selectively associated with and dedicated to the transmission of signals with a first signal type. At least one conductor path between the first section and the second section may be selectively associated with and dedicated to the transmission of signals with a second signal type. If error conditions occur, the signal types associated with one or more of the conductor paths may be changed so that signals of both the first and second signal types are transmitted across the interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services, Inc.
    Inventors: John R. Hardin, Jr., Christopher A. Golla, Jonathan P. Zacharko, David Yan Lap Wong, Daniel M. Winslow, Richard Thomas Hay, Kennedy Kirkhope, Clint P. Lozinsky
  • Patent number: 10502186
    Abstract: Methods and systems for controlling a wind turbine in a manner that takes into account the degree of loading of and damage to one or more components of the turbine are provided. An operational load on a wind turbine part is determined, and is used to compute a damage signal. The damage signal is indicative of the potential damage to the component or to the turbine as a whole that will result if action is not taken to reduce or mitigate the determined load. When the damage signal exceeds a pre-determined threshold, load-reducing wind turbine control means are activated to obviate the estimated damage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Thomas Krüger, Martin Atzler, Poul Brandt Christensen, Robert Bowyer