Natural Fluid Current Patents (Class 416/41)
  • Patent number: 11879432
    Abstract: A controller structure for a wind turbine having an aerodynamic rotor with at least one rotor blade, wherein the controller structure is designed to control a rotation speed of the rotor of the wind turbine, wherein the controller structure is designed as a cascade control arrangement and has an outer control loop and an inner control loop, wherein the inner control loop receives an input signal which comprises a change in the rotation speed, an acceleration of the rotation speed, a function of the change in the rotation speed and/or a function of the acceleration of the rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventor: Enno Von Aswege
  • Patent number: 11873799
    Abstract: Air cooling device for the air cooling of a generator of a wind power installation by means of wind, comprising a cooling unit of the generator with a cooling unit outer surface, the wind flowing onto said cooling unit outer surface for the air cooling of the generator during the operation of the wind power installation, wherein an air deflector is arranged on the cooling unit outer surface of the cooling unit and has a first air deflection unit which extends outwardly at an acute angle starting from the cooling unit outer surface and forms with the cooling unit a converging first air deflection channel, which is configured in an operating state of the wind power installation to deflect the wind for the air cooling in the direction of the cooling unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventors: Hussam Daboul, Wojciech Giengiel, Jochen Stemberg
  • Patent number: 11841004
    Abstract: A controller structure for a wind turbine having an aerodynamic rotor with at least one rotor blade, wherein the controller structure is designed to control a rotation speed of the rotor of the wind turbine, wherein the controller structure is designed as a cascade control arrangement and has an outer control loop and an inner control loop, wherein the inner control loop receives an input signal which comprises a change in the rotation speed, an acceleration of the rotation speed, a function of the change in the rotation speed and/or a function of the acceleration of the rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventor: Enno Von Aswege
  • Patent number: 11754043
    Abstract: Controlling a wind turbine by obtaining a movement signal indicative of a vibrational movement of a wind turbine tower is described. An actuator signal is determined based on the movement signal, the actuator signal being determined to produce a desired force to counteract the vibrational movement of the tower. A pitch reference offset signal for each one of a plurality of pitch-adjustable rotor blades is determined based on the actuator signal. An integration is then applied to the pitch reference offset signals to determine modified pitch reference offset signals based on the integrated pitch reference offset signals. A pitch signal for each of the blades is determined based on the modified pitch reference offset signals, the pitch signals being arranged to adjust the blades to provide the force that counteracts the vibrational movement of the tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Keld Hammerum, Jesper Sandberg Thomsen
  • Patent number: 11739736
    Abstract: A wind power installation with an azimuth bearing having an azimuth gearing, and at least one azimuth drive, which is coupled to an azimuth gear mechanism corresponding to the azimuth gearing. The azimuth gear mechanism has a drive pinion which is rotatable about a pinion axis, wherein the drive pinion is configured to engage in the corresponding azimuth gearing of the azimuth bearing, wherein the pinion axis has a predefined reference orientation. The wind power installation comprises at least one sensor device which is configured to detect a deviation of the orientation of the pinion axis relative to the reference orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Kroh
  • Patent number: 11732692
    Abstract: Provided is a device and a method of damping front and backward movements of a tower of a wind turbine, wherein the wind turbine includes the tower and a rotor, the rotor being mounted at the top of the tower to rotate about a rotational axis in which the front and backward movements of the tower occur, and the rotor has a plurality of blades, wherein each blade has at least one corresponding active add-on member which is actuated by a corresponding actuator to alter aerodynamic properties of the blade. Each add-on member is actuated by the corresponding actuator to alter the aerodynamic properties of the blade in a manner that the rotor is configured to damp the front and backward movements of the tower of the wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventors: Per Egedal, Thomas Esbensen, Gustav Hoegh
  • Patent number: 11703030
    Abstract: A yaw control device includes a bottom horizontal plate, a top horizontal plate, a first vertical plate, and a second vertical plate. An aperture is positioned between first and second edges of the bottom horizontal plate, and is closer to a third edge of the bottom horizontal plate than to a fourth edge of that plate. A bottom edge of the first vertical plate is attached to a first edge of the bottom horizontal plate. An upper edge of the first vertical plate is attached to a first edge of the top horizontal plate. A bottom edge of the second vertical plate is attached to a second edge of the bottom horizontal plate. An upper edge of the second vertical plate is attached to a second edge of the top horizontal plate. The third edges of the horizontal plates are adapted to rotate about a shaft inserted through the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: WIND BUZZ LTD.
    Inventor: Yossi Al-Yagon
  • Patent number: 11698122
    Abstract: A drive system includes a planetary gear set having first and second rotatable input members connected in driven relation with respective first and second power sources, and a rotatable output member connected in driving relation with a working piece, the first and second rotatable input members being connected in differentially rotatable communication with the output member. The input members are operable to vary the rotation and direction of the output member and the connected working piece. In an aspect, the output member is rotatable about an axis for driving the working piece, and the first and second input members are also rotatable about the axis. In a further aspect, the first and second input members include coupling regions for coupling the first and second power sources on-axis with the drive system. In a further aspect, the second power source is a hydraulic input motor concentric with the first input member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey L. Lubben
  • Patent number: 11680557
    Abstract: A wind turbine is provided. The turbine includes a support having an axis of rotation, a generator, a plurality of blades rotatably mounted on the support about the axis of rotation, the blades being moveable between a retracted position generally parallel with the axis of rotation and a fully deployed position generally perpendicular with the axis of rotation, the blades being connected to the generator such that rotation of the blades in a direction induced by wind causes the generator to produce electricity, and the provision of electricity to the generator rotates the blades, and a controller connected to the generator and configured to deliver a flow of current to the generator that is sufficient to move the blades from the retracted position toward the fully deployed position and insufficient to move the blades all the way to the fully deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Natural Power Concepts, Inc.
    Inventor: John Pitre
  • Patent number: 11629703
    Abstract: A nacelle of a wind turbine generator comprising: a base frame (10) that is separate from and which supports a main bearing housing (12), in use, the base frame (10) being configured to connect with a lower portion of the main bearing housing (12); and a nacelle structure (8) that is separate from and which is connected to the base frame (10) at a first connection, wherein that nacelle structure (8) extends away from the base frame (10) and defines at least in part an interior nacelle volume; characterised in that the nacelle structure (8) is connected to the main bearing housing (12) by way of a second connection at a point arranged above a plane of a rotor axis of the main bearing housing (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Joël Saraiva Nunes, Morten Hedegaard Petersen, Thomas Astrup
  • Patent number: 11613335
    Abstract: A cycloidal dynamic propulsion or positioning system for a ship in water that exhibits a direction of flow, including a frame, a rotor mounted to be movable in rotation on the frame about a main axis at right angles to the flow, including a plurality of arms extending radially with respect to the main axis, a main motor equipped with a rotary coder and driving the rotor in rotation, for each arm, a blade mounted to be movable in rotation on the arm about a secondary axis parallel to the main, for each blade, a secondary motor equipped with a rotary coder and driving the blade in rotation, for at least one blade, a load sensor able to evaluate the loads exerted on the blade, and a control unit connected to each coder, strain sensor and motor and controlling the rotation of each motor in terms of angle and speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: ECOLE NATIONALE SUPERIEURE D'ARTS ET METIERS
    Inventors: Thomas Damay, Frédéric Hauville, Jacques-André Astolfi
  • Patent number: 11524765
    Abstract: The invention relates to a test stand comprising a support (19, 25) which is moveably connected to a wall (18, 18?, 18?), a base, a frame (26) of the test stand or another part of the test stand and can be moved on a predetermined path; an actuator (22) which is connected to the support and by means of which the support (19, 25) that can be moved on the predetermined path, two clamping devices (13) respectively comprising a ball joint, wherein one of the two clamping devices (13) is seemed to the support (19, 25) and the other of the two clamping devices (13) is arranged in an axis (10) with the first of the two clamping devices (13), such that a test body (1) is clamped between the two clamping devices (13) on outer surfaces of the test body and can be maintained by the clamping devices (13), and a test force exerted by a test body by moving the support (19, 25) through the first of the two clamping devices (13) acts essentially along the axis (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2022
    Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V.
    Inventors: Malo Rosemeier, Alexandros Antoniou
  • Patent number: 11499521
    Abstract: The present application discloses a power generation device so as to solve the generator set overspeed problem. The power generation device comprises: a stand column; and at least one generator set located on the stand column. The generator set comprises a support, blades connected to the support, and a power generator generating power by means of rotation of the blades, and an adjustment device located on the support and used for adjusting a windage area of the blades by moving or rotating the blade according to a wind speed. The wind power generation device may reduce an effective windage area to zero when the wind force is too high, thereby improving stability and applicability in a changeable environment and prolonging the service life of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2022
    Inventor: Jun Jin
  • Patent number: 11466659
    Abstract: A multirotor wind turbine (1) comprising a yaw arrangement (6) and a tower (2) is disclosed. A load carrying structure comprises first and second arms (3) extending from the yaw arrangement (6) and carrying energy generating units (4). the yaw arrangement (6) comprises an outer wall part (7) arranged coaxially with the tower (2) and forming a closed ring extending circumferentially about an outer surface of the tower (2), thereby forming a space (8) between the tower (2) and the outer wall part (7). The outer wall part (7) and the outer surface of the tower (2) are rotatable relative to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Torben Ladegaard Baun, Jesper Lykkegaard Neubauer, Leif Christoffersen, Per Holten-Møller, Anders Yde Wollesen
  • Patent number: 11428150
    Abstract: A rotational combustion engine that generates force from the reciprocal motion and centripetal motion of one or more pistons that is then converted into rotational motion of a first cam and second cam wherein the cams are separated by a 2-3 degree horizontal offset and an angle of 60 degrees as well as camshaft assembly and driving shaft to provide power to an entity such as an automobile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Inventor: Matthew Jackson
  • Patent number: 11319921
    Abstract: A wind turbine (1) comprising a tower (2), a nacelle (3) and a hub (7) is disclosed. The hub (7) comprises a blade carrying structure (4) with one or more wind turbine blades (5) connected to thereto. Each of the wind turbine blades (5) defines an aerodynamic profile having a thickness which varies along a length of the wind turbine blade (5). Each of the wind turbine blades (5) is connected to the blade carrying structure (4) via a hinge (6) at a hinge position of the wind turbine blade (5), each wind turbine blade (5) thereby being arranged to perform pivot movements relative to the blade carrying structure (4) between a minimum pivot angle and a maximum pivot angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Thomas S. Bjertrup Nielsen, Peter Bjørn Andersen
  • Patent number: 11300100
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine system with a plurality of wind turbine modules each with a rotor. A control system is arranged to execute a shutdown procedure with a first control command for terminating power production from a first subset of wind turbine modules resulting in a thrust force change with a reduced thrust force from the wind on a first part of the support structure carrying the first subset of wind turbine modules. A second control command is applied to a second subset of wind turbine modules for enabling thrust control of the second subset of wind turbine modules to oppose the thrust force change at the first part. Thus, there is obtained an improved and cost-effective way of stabilizing a wind turbine system with multiple rotors during shutdown.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2022
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventor: Kim Hylling Sørensen
  • Patent number: 11041480
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind turbine system comprising a support structure with a plurality of wind turbine modules mounted to the support structure. A control system is arranged to enter a service mode wherein service can be performed in the wind turbine system by applying a first control command to a first subset of wind turbine modules for terminating power production. A second control command is applied to a second subset of wind turbine modules for bringing the second subset of wind turbine modules into an damping mode where each of the wind turbine modules of the second subset is operated and/or positioned to damp vibrations, actively and/or passively, of at least one wind turbine module of the first subset of wind turbine modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Erik Carl Lehnskov Miranda, Claus Thyge Pedersen, Jacob Brøchner
  • Patent number: 10837419
    Abstract: A device for recovering hydraulic energy of a swell includes a casing and a rotor. In embodiments, a rotor of the device for recovering the hydraulic energy of the swell includes a rim, a hub mounted inside the rim and secure with the rim, and a blade extending radially between the hub and the rim. The blade may be deformable under the pressure effect of the liquid medium flow and the rotor may include a holding means configured to hold the blade in a first deformed configuration for a liquid medium flow in a first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2020
    Inventor: Emile Droche
  • Patent number: 10753338
    Abstract: The present invention relates to control of a wind turbine system comprising a plurality of wind turbine modules mounted to a common support structure, i.e. to control of a multi-rotor wind turbine system. The invention discloses a control system for a multi-rotor wind turbine system which comprises local controllers operable to control the wind turbine modules in accordance with local control objectives and a central controller configured to monitor the operation of the wind turbine system and based thereon calculate the local control objectives. The central controller is implemented as a model predictive controller (MPC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Erik Carl Lehnskov Miranda, Tobias Gybel Hovgaard
  • Patent number: 10557456
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to apparatus and methods for preventing power dips associated with power ramping in wind turbines. One embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method for stabilizing power output in a wind turbine, which includes tracking a rate of change in an external reference, such as an external power reference or external torque reference, computing a feed-forward pitch angle adjustment according to the rate of change in the external power reference, and sending the feed-forward pitch angle adjustment to the wind turbine to adjust a pitch angle of rotor blades simultaneously with adjusting power output according to the external reference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Martin Ansbjerg Kjær, Carsten Nørlund Thomsen, Robert Bowyer, Jesper Sandberg Thomsen
  • Patent number: 9644604
    Abstract: A vertical axis wind turbine including a turbine rotor having an axis of rotation and at least one blade spaced from and mounted for rotation about the rotation axis of the turbine. The blade has at least one longitudinal surface substantially parallel to the rotation axis and for engagement, in use, with wind incident on the turbine rotor. The blade is a two part blade with a first leading blade portion pivotably connected to a second trailing blade portion. The turbine includes pitch control means and camber control means for controlling the pitch and camber of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: SUPERVAWT LIMITED
    Inventor: James Frederick Carnac Whinney
  • Patent number: 9644608
    Abstract: A method and system for shutting down a wind turbine is presented. The method includes determining one or more pitch positions for one or more rotor blades of the wind turbine such that a sum of potential energy and kinetic energy in the wind turbine is minimized. The method further includes pitching the one or more rotor blades from an operating position to the determined pitch positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rogier Sebastiaan Blom, Rosa Castañé Selga, Matthijs Leonardus Gerardus Boerlage
  • Patent number: 9279412
    Abstract: A control system is presented for controlling operation of a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) for generating energy from an incoming fluid flow. The control system comprises at least one flow affecting arrangement associated with at least one blade of the VAWT and a control unit connected to said flow affecting arrangement, the flow affecting arrangement comprising two flow affecting units located in two opposite sides of the blade respectively at a leading edge thereof, each flow affecting unit being operable for creating a blowing jet at the respective side of the blade thereby inducing an increase in a fluid flow momentum, the control unit being configured and operable for selectively activating the flow affecting units in alternating fashion according to a predetermined time pattern to oscillate the blowing jet at the opposite sides of the blade.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Technion Research and Development Foundation Ltd.
    Inventors: David Greenblatt, Benyamin Sasson, Magen Schulman
  • Patent number: 9197116
    Abstract: The invention relates to an annular rotor having a hollow shaft for an electric machine. In order to allow transport of such a machine, particularly for a very large model, the rotor is divided in the circumferential direction into a plurality of partial annular rotor segments (1). The rotor further comprises a hollow shaft, wherein the closed ring shape of the rotor can be broken by separating the rotor segments (1) from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Martin Junge, Andreas Jöckel
  • Patent number: 9188106
    Abstract: Disclosed is a wind turbine with a nacelle and a rotor. The rotor includes a number of blades and a hub, the nacelle and the hub being connected with each other in an interface region so that a drive train extends from the hub into the nacelle. The wind turbine further includes a transport system for transporting hydraulic and/or pneumatic fluid from the nacelle into the hub. The transport system includes a rotary unit as a connection through which the fluid passes a part of which rotary unit rotates in operation together with the hub which rotary unit is positioned in the interface region. Further disclosed is a transport system and methods of operating, maintenance and construction of such wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Uffe Eriksen
  • Patent number: 9140237
    Abstract: A windmill can include a first blade assembly including a plurality of blades, a sprocket and chain assembly configured to turn the first blade assembly in and out of an incoming wind, a wheel assembly, such that the wheel assembly supports the first blade assembly, and a fan assembly configured to move the sprocket and chain assembly to turn the first blade assembly a quarter turn for avoidance of damage to the windmill from a damaging wind. An ice-catcher may also move the blades out of damaging wind. The invention may include multiple blade assemblies attached to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Inventor: Eldon Leonard Stroburg
  • Patent number: 9133823
    Abstract: A vertical axis wind turbine includes a support axis and a wind wheel. The wind wheel includes a rotation base, plural rotation stand sets, plural deflection structures, plural blades, and plural deflection-limiting structures corresponding to the plural blades. The rotation base is rotatably disposed on the support axis. The plural rotation stand sets may define a rotation plane. A first end of each rotation stand set is fixedly disposed on the rotation base. Each blade is pivotally coupled to a second end of the corresponding rotation stand set through the corresponding deflection structure. Consequently, an angle of attack of the blade in an airflow is correspondingly adjusted. When one of the plural blades is deflected, the corresponding deflection-limiting structure generates a first rotational torque in a first rotating direction or a second rotational torque in a second rotating direction so as to rotate the rotation base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: NATIONAL TIAWAN OCEAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shenq-Yuh Jaw, Jiahn-Horng Chen, Ching-Yeh Hsin
  • Patent number: 9115697
    Abstract: A rotary turbine including at least one blade is disclosed. The rotary turbine includes a blade arrangement in which the orientation of the at least one blade movably changes relative to the fluid flow and also changes relative to an orbital path taken by the rotary turbine thereby increasing flow area usage and minimizing friction. Certain embodiments of the present disclosure include a rotary turbine with blade orientations that are linearly coupled to the orbital orientation of the turbine. Other embodiments of the present disclosure include a rotary turbine with blade orientations that are non-linearly coupled to the orbital orientation of the turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Inventor: Jeffrey M. Lucas
  • Publication number: 20150147176
    Abstract: A fluidic rotor rotary machine has a rotor comprising at least one blade (4) mounted on an arm (2) rotating about a main axis (1) of the rotor, the rotor being held by a support structure (5) in an orientation such that said axis (1) is essentially perpendicular to the fluid flow direction, the blade (4) being pivotally mounted about a rotational axis (3) parallel to the main axis (1), the machine being characterized in that it comprises means for generating a relative rotational movement of the blade (4) relative to the arm (2) at the rotational axis (3), thereby varying the blade angle, said means comprising an eccentric mechanism rotating on said blade rotational axis. Application in particular to propellers and generators operating according to Lipp-type or Voith-Schneider-type kinematics, with possible mode switching.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: ADV TECH
    Inventors: Arnaud Curutchet, Stephane Grismangin, Renaud Fourton, Gabriel Corde
  • Publication number: 20150139796
    Abstract: The invention regards a method for controlling the pitch angle of at least one wind turbine blade in a rotor connected to a main shaft on a wind turbine, the method comprises the steps of determining; a first component of the wind vector which is upwind, horizontal and aligned with the main shaft direction and, a second component of the wind vector which is upwind, perpendicular to the first component of the wind vector, wherein the first component of the wind vector and the second component of the wind vector are determined by use of at least one ultrasonic sensor mounted on the rotor, whereby the pitch angle is controlled based on the first component of the wind vector and the second component of the wind vector.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Inventors: Jesper Kjær Hansen, Jørgen Højstrup
  • Publication number: 20150132128
    Abstract: The invention provides a wind turbine, a control system for a wind turbine and a method for controlling a wind turbine where asymmetry in load on the rotor is compensated by individual pitching by comparing a load distribution over the rotor plane with a threshold value. To avoid unnecessary compensation, the threshold value is adjusted based on a loading of the wind turbine or based on climate conditions under which the turbine operates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: Ali Zaib, Kenneth Tougaard Simonsen
  • Patent number: 8979492
    Abstract: A method for determining and applying a pitch angle offset signal for controlling a rotor frequency of a rotor of a wind turbine is disclosed. The method includes obtaining a motion quantity indicative of a motion of the rotor and determining the pitch angle offset signal based on the motion quantity such that the pitch angle offset signal is adapted to be used for adjusting a blade pitch angle of a rotor blade mounted at the rotor for controlling the rotor frequency in order to reduce a time span during which the rotor is in a critical motion region. A corresponding system and a method for controlling a rotor frequency are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Thomas Esbensen, Gustav Hoegh
  • Publication number: 20150037151
    Abstract: Disclosed is a power generation device (1), comprising a shaft column (11) and at least two blade units (12-17), wherein the blade units (12-17) are sheathed onto the shaft column (11) and capable of rotating around the shaft column (11), the adjacent s blade units rotate in opposite rotational directions, each blade unit (12-17) has a plurality of arm portions (121-171) and a plurality of movable blades (122-172), the arm portions (121-171) extend radially outwardly from the shaft column (11), each of the movable blades is connected to one side of the corresponding arm portion and, after passing through a first radial centre line (19) of the shaft column (11), expands gradually, and after being expanded, does not interfere with the adjacent blade unit, the first radial centre line (19) is parallel to a fluid flow direction, and each of the movable blades is gradually closed after it rotates through a rotation angle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2012
    Publication date: February 5, 2015
    Inventor: Sheng-Chu Tai
  • Patent number: 8946916
    Abstract: A variable speed wind turbine is configured to provide additional electrical power to counteract non-periodic disturbances in an electrical grid. A controller monitors events indicating a need to increase the electrical output power from the wind turbine to the electrical grid. The controller is configured to control the wind turbine as follows: after an indicating event has been detected, the wind turbine enters an overproduction period in which the electrical output power is increased, wherein the additional electrical output power is taken from kinetic energy stored in the rotor and without changing the operation of the wind turbine to a more efficient working point. When the rotational speed of the rotor reaches a minimum value, the wind turbine enters a recovery period to re-accelerate the rotor to the nominal rotational speed while further contributing to the stability of the electrical grid by outputting at least a predetermined minimum electrical power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventor: Germán Claudio Tarnowski
  • Patent number: 8939726
    Abstract: A partial pitch wind turbine blade in which the pitch system of the blade functions as a lightning receptor. As the pitch system is of a relatively large dimension, it is able to dissipate the effects of a lightning strike without damage, and removes the needs for additional blade features normally used to conduct lightning around or away from the pitch system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Envision Energy (Denmark) ApS
    Inventor: Peter Grabau
  • Patent number: 8899921
    Abstract: A wind turbine blade is configured such that the lift force from the blade airfoil is always normal, or nearly normal, to the shaft torque. This condition maximizes energy conversion. This objective may be achieved by a) having the airfoil chord always aligned to the actual wind direction (subject only to small angle of attack variations), and b) slowing the turbine rotation rate so that no blade twist is needed. As a result, blade tip speed due to shaft rotation is less than the wind speed, and preferably much less. This low tip speed eliminates any hazard to birds. The lift force from the blade airfoil directly drives the torque on the shaft, so the control problem simplifies to adjusting the blade angle of attack to keep the lift constant across varying wind speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Inventor: Earl McCune
  • Publication number: 20140308125
    Abstract: A wind turbine for power generation is provided. The wind turbine includes a power generating unit and a rotor having a plurality of blades. To control power output of the wind turbine, the blades are capable of being pitched by a blade pitch adjusting device. The wind turbine also includes a pitch control unit for controlling the blade pitch adjusting device. Furthermore, the wind turbine includes a load determining device for determining the blade load from the pitch activity of the blades.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 27, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventor: Henrik Stiesdal
  • Patent number: 8851838
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a displayable wind turbine. The displayable wind turbine includes a central shaft arranged vertically to a flow direction of fluid. Radially extending upper spokes are coupled to an upper hub. Radially extending lower spokes are coupled to a lower hub. Blades have first ends connected to an end of the upper hub and second ends connected to an end of the lower hub. A pitch control unit adjusts a blade pitch angle. A detection unit includes a fluid direction detection unit, a fluid velocity detection unit, a central shaft speed detection unit, and a central shaft position detection unit. A light emitting unit includes a printed circuit board and light emitting devices. A control unit controls operations of the pitch control unit and the light emitting unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Snu R&DB Foundation
    Inventor: Seung Jo Kim
  • Patent number: 8790068
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes a low-wind, dual-stage, vertical-axis, wind-generated power turbine comprising a structural support tower, at least four turbine assemblies stacked on top of one another within individual turbine bays, a central drive shaft connecting the turbine assemblies, a draft induction channel surrounding the drive shaft, a spiral blade running through the induction channel, a paddle turbine assembly at the base of the tower which propels the spiral blade, a blower source which powers the paddle turbine, a built-in solar system which feeds the blower, external, natural wind directional slats, and a high pressure, fluid-drive, Hydrabine turbine mechanically coupled to a transmission or CTV, coupled to a one Mega Watt output generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Inventor: Larry Cantwell
  • Patent number: 8764393
    Abstract: A method for operating a wind power plant (WEA) before or during the performance of maintenance work on the wind power plant (WEA). At least one physical condition of the surroundings outside the wind power plant (WEA) induced by wind movement outside the wind power plant (WEA) is detected as an external physical condition. At least one physical condition of a component of the wind power plant (WEA) influenced by wind movement outside the wind power plant (WEA) is detected as an internal physical condition. The at least one external physical condition and/or at least one internal physical condition are evaluated. The at least one external physical condition is compared with a predetermined reference value for the external physical condition. The at least one internal physical condition is compared with a predetermined reference value for the internal physical condition. Depending on the comparison, at least one warning message is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Senvion SE
    Inventors: Martin Von Mutius, Jens Altemark, Alf Trede
  • Publication number: 20140178195
    Abstract: A method and system for shutting down a wind turbine is presented. The method includes determining one or more pitch positions for one or more rotor blades of the wind turbine such that a sum of potential energy and kinetic energy in the wind turbine is minimized. The method further includes pitching the one or more rotor blades from an operating position to the determined pitch positions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Rogier Sebastiaan Blom, Rosa Castañé Selga, Matthijs Leonardus Gerardus Boerlage
  • Patent number: 8753080
    Abstract: An upwind wind turbine includes a tilting coupling mechanism configured to couple base end portions of blades to a hub such that the blades can tilt between a normal position and a retracted position in which the blades are tilted in a downwind direction relative to the normal position. The upwind wind turbine also includes a tilting drive operating in association with the tilting coupling mechanism to switch the positions of the blades and a rotation stop to stop the rotation of the rotor. When the blades are switched to the retracted position, the rotation stop is actuated to stop the rotor in a predetermined rotational position in which the blades can tilt without interference with the tower, and the tilting drive is actuated to tilt the blades to the retracted position after stop of the rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Kawasaki Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masafumi Morimoto
  • Patent number: 8714925
    Abstract: An aerodynamic brake assembly for use with an airfoil such as the blade of a wind turbine rotor comprises deployable upper and/or lower spoiler plates incorporated in or attached to the airfoil. The spoiler plates can deploy under the influence of centrifugal forces when the rotating airfoil or rotor blade reaches a pre-determined rotational speed. The aerodynamic brake assembly may be integrated within the airfoil or attached to the tip of the airfoil such that, when not deployed, the upper and lower spoiler plates have a profile that approximately conforms to the profile of the part of the airfoil to which it the brake assembly is attached. Thus in a non-deployed state, the spoiler plates have a non-detrimental effect on the performance of the airfoil, and may even contribute to its aerodynamic lift properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Dean Kamen, Christopher C. Langenfeld, Stanley B. Smith, III, Christopher M. Werner
  • Patent number: 8708654
    Abstract: A horizontal axis wind turbine with a ball-and-socket hub is disclosed. The hub provides for a second vertical axis, the hub axis, intersecting the center of the hub that enables a change in orientation of the rotor axis without changing the orientation of the main shaft axis. The cause for the rotation around the hub axis is an imbalance in torque applied by the blades across a wind shear axis due to a gradient in wind velocity. Rotation around the hub axis will continue until back-and-forth rotation of the blades is such that the torque is balanced across a wind shear axis and the rotor axis is set at an optimal angle. As changes in wind direction occur, the torque will become imbalanced, and the hub will rotate until a new optimal angle is achieved. The present turbine design allows for the hub to freely rotate ±20° around the hub axis and continuously maintain orientation of the rotor axis at an optimal angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Inventor: Arnold Ramsland
  • Patent number: 8702390
    Abstract: A wind turbine includes a hub including at least three spaced projections and a hub cap; at least three blades each including a root plate at one end, with the root plate including a sleeve having a hole on a windward side; at least three shaft members each interconnecting the root plate and a corresponding projection; at least three sets of four abutment plates each secured to either side of the root plate or either side of the projection; U-shaped steel torsion bars each having both ends at an inclined angle of about 15 to 25 degrees fastened in the abutment plate and disposing the root plate at an angle of about 4 to 10 degrees with respect to the corresponding projection; a spring on the rotation shaft on a leeward side of the hub; and pins each installed in a hub cap and sticking into the hole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: Chang Gung University
    Inventor: Ming-Tsung Sun
  • Patent number: 8649911
    Abstract: A technique is provided for operating a wind farm at increased rated power output. The technique includes sensing a plurality of operating parameters of the wind turbine generator, assessing the plurality of operating parameters with respect to respective design ratings for the operating parameters, and intermittently increasing a rated power output of the wind turbine generator based upon the assessment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Aaron John Avagliano, Ralph Teichmann, Kirk Gee Pierce, Paul David Hopewell, Ameet Shridhar Deshpande, Sukru Alper Eker
  • Patent number: 8647061
    Abstract: A wind turbine system includes a shaft, a rotor for driving the shaft, and a first fluidic teeter control assembly. The rotor includes a first blade engaged to the shaft by a hub, and has a degree of freedom to pivot relative to the shaft. A first teeter angle is defined between an instantaneous position of the first blade and a time-averaged plane of rotation of the first blade. The first fluidic teeter control assembly is engaged between the rotor and the shaft for providing a first dynamic teeter restraining force as a function of the first teeter angle and a fluidic resistance. The first dynamic restraining force is relatively low when the first teeter angle is within a first teeter operation range, and the first dynamic restraining force is higher when the first teeter angle is outside that range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Fabio R. Bertolotti
  • Publication number: 20140030090
    Abstract: A wind turbine control system includes a detecting unit for adjusting a reference nodding moment of a wind turbine rotor based on at least one of an aerodynamic thrust on the wind turbine rotor and a speed of wind; a compensating unit for determining a physical nodding moment of the wind turbine rotor, comparing the physical nodding moment with the reference nodding moment, and using the comparison to compute a pitch angle command for at least one wind turbine blade; and a driving unit for changing a pitch of the at least one blade based on the pitch angle command to control the physical nodding moment of the wind turbine rotor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2012
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Leonardo Cesar Kammer, Dhiraj Arora
  • Patent number: 8608439
    Abstract: A system for arranging and operating an array of wind machines to protect crops from damaging weather conditions, such as freezing frost, rain and heat. The method includes a wind machine positioned to force air across the crop. The wind machine is preferably a propeller/tower configuration. The operational method of the wind machine array includes the steps of sensing ambient meteorological and the hardiness of the crop to withstand a particular adverse weather condition and operating the wind machines in response to these factors. Multiples of wind machines are employed in the preferred embodiment of the method, the siting of the wind machines preferably based upon topographic and historical meteorological conditions. The operation of the wind machines can be automatically and remotely operated with the aid of satellite communications including internet links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Inventor: Daryl G. Hill