General Electric Company

Cornelius Edward Holliday, Iii

Robert Gregory Wagoner

David Grey Smith

Fernando Arturo Ramirez Sanchez

Igor Berroteran

Edward Wayne Hardwicke, Jr

Talha Haque

David Scott Wilmer

Govardhan Ganireddy

Steven Wade Sutherland

Mathew Doyle Angel

Nathan Michael Killeen

Arvind Kumar Tiwari

Anthony Michael Klodowski

Rajni Kant Burra

Sidney Allen Barker

Kasi Viswanadha Raju Gadiraju

Jayanti Navilgone Ganesh

Huibin Zhu

Benjamin Arthur Niemoeller

Devendra Shashikant Dange

Winston Lei Zeng

Thomas Robert Donnelly

Lahlali Benchaita

A system and method are provided for operating a power generating asset. Accordingly, a controller detects a fault condition impacting the power generating asset. The controller then determines whether the fault condition is occurring in the power generating asset or is occurring in the power grid. When the fault condition is occurring in the power generating asset, a first response control scheme is implemented. However, when the fault condition is occurring in the power grid, a second response control scheme is implemented. The response control schemes include a first current threshold and a second current threshold respectively, with first current threshold being less than the second current threshold. Additionally, a control action is implemented in response to an approach of a current to the respective current threshold.

System and method for operating a power generating asset

A system and method are provided for controlling low-speed operations of a wind turbine electrically coupled to an electrical grid. The wind turbine includes a generator and a power converter. The generator includes a generator rotor and a generator stator. An operating parameter of the generator rotor is indicative of a low-speed operation of the generator. Accordingly, the crossing of a first threshold by the operating parameter is detected. In response, at least a portion of a required reactive power generation is developed via the generator rotor. The portion is then delivered to the electrical grid via the grid side of the power converter.

System and method for controlling low-speed operations of a wind turbine

A system and method are provided for controlling a wind turbine. Accordingly, a controller of the wind turbine detects a loss of traction of the slip coupling between a generator and a rotor of the drivetrain of the wind turbine. In response to detecting the loss of traction, the controller overrides a generator torque setpoint to alter a rotational speed of the generator. In response to the altered rotational speed of the generator, the traction of the slip coupling is increased. Increasing the traction of the slip coupling facilitates an application of generator torque to the drivetrain of the wind turbine.

System and method for controlling a wind turbine

A system and method are provided for controlling a wind turbine to protect the wind turbine from anomalous operations. Accordingly, in response to receiving data indicative of an anomalous operational event of the wind turbine, the controller initiates an enhanced braking mode for the wind turbine. The enhanced braking mode is characterized by operating the generator at a torque setpoint that generates maximum available torque for a given set of operating conditions. Additionally, the torque setpoint is in excess of a nominal torque limit for the generator.

System and method for controlling a wind turbine to protect the wind turbine from anomalous operations

A method for operating a power generation system that supplies real and reactive power to a grid includes receiving a reactive power demand made on the power generation system at an operating state of the power generation system and a grid state. Further, the method includes decoupling reactive power control and voltage control between a generator and a reactive power compensation device so as to reduce an oscillatory response of a reactive power output from the reactive power compensation device and the generator. Moreover, the method includes operating, via a device controller, the reactive power compensation device in a reactive power control mode to generate at least a portion of the reactive power demand.

System and method for control of reactive power from a reactive power compensation device in a wind turbine system

A method for controlling a transformer includes specifying, in one or more control devices, an initial operating limit (e.g. an initial current limit or an initial temperature limit) for one or more windings of the transformer. Further, the method includes monitoring, via one or more sensors, at least one electrical condition of the one or more windings of the transformer (e.g. current or voltage). The method also includes receiving, by the one or more control devices, a signal indicative of the at least one electrical condition of the one or more windings of the transformer. As such, the method further includes adjusting, by the one or more control devices, the initial operating limit based at least in part on the at least one electrical condition of the one or more windings of the transformer.

Control method for protecting transformers

A method for operating a renewable energy power system connected to a power grid includes operating the renewable energy power system at one or more first operational settings. The method also includes monitoring the renewable energy power system for electrical oscillations caused by a grid or system disturbance. In response to detecting the electrical oscillations being above a predetermined threshold indicative of the one or more first operational settings no longer being suitable for grid conditions, the method includes changing the one or more first operational settings to one or more different, second operational settings so as to reduce the electrical oscillations in the renewable energy power system.

System and method for reducing oscillations in a renewable energy power system

A method for operating an electrical power system includes detecting a bridge current magnitude in a rotor-side converter or line-side converter of a power converter, the power converter electrically coupled between a generator rotor and a transformer. The method further includes comparing the bridge current magnitude in the one of the rotor-side converter or line-side converter to a primary predetermined threshold. The method further includes disabling bridge switching of one of the rotor-side converter or line-side converter when the bridge current magnitude exceeds the primary predetermined threshold.

Methods for operating electrical power systems

A power converter assembly for an electrical power system connected to a power grid includes a rotor-side converter configured for coupling to a generator rotor of a generator of the electrical power system, a line-side converter electrically coupled to rotor-side converter via a DC link, and a dynamic brake assembly electrically coupled to the DC link. The line-side converter is configured for coupling to the power grid. The dynamic brake assembly includes a plurality of switching devices connected in parallel and a plurality of inductors electrically coupled between the plurality of switching devices.

Dynamic brake circuit assembly for a wind turbine

A method for compensating for flicker induced by a generator connected to a power grid includes determining, via a controller of the wind turbine, a nominal reactive current command for a rotor of the generator. The method also includes measuring, via at least sensor, one or more operational parameters of at least one of the generator or the power grid. Further, the method includes determining, via a flicker compensation device, a flicker compensation parameter as a function of the one or more operational parameters. Moreover, the method includes determining, via the controller, a net reactive current command for the rotor as a function of the flicker compensation parameter and the nominal reactive current command. In addition, the method includes controlling, via the controller, the rotor of the generator based on the net reactive current command.

System and method for compensating for generator-induced flicker in a wind turbine

A method for controlling temperature of a switching device of a power converter of an electrical power system includes monitoring, via one or more sensors, at least one operating condition of the electrical power system. Further, the method includes monitoring a temperature of the switching device. Moreover, the method includes controlling, via a control system communicatively coupled to the one or more sensors, torque of a generator of the electrical power system based on the at least one operating condition of the electrical power system so as maintain the temperature of the switching device below a predetermined threshold.

System and method for controlling switching device temperature of electrical power systems

A method for operating an electrical power system includes disabling bridge switching of one of the rotor-side converter or line-side converter. The method further includes gating on the dynamic brake after the disabling occurs, comparing a power converter input variable to a primary predetermined variable threshold, and forcing the gated-on dynamic brake to a 100 percent duty cycle when the power converter input variable exceeds the primary predetermined variable threshold.

Systems and methods for protecting switching devices in a power converter in doubly fed induction generator power systems are provided. A DFIG system can include a DFIG generator and a power converter comprising a line side converter and a rotor side converter connected by a DC bus. Each of the line side converter and rotor side converter can include a plurality of bridge circuits. Each bridge circuit can include a plurality of switching devices. A method can include monitoring, by a control device, a voltage of the DC bus of the power converter. The method can further include implementing, by the control device, a switching device protection measure based at least in part on the voltage of the DC bus of the power converter. The switching device protection measure can be operable to protect the switching devices by operating the switching devices within a safe operating area.

Control method for protecting switching devices in power converters in doubly fed induction generator power systems

The present disclosure is directed to an electrical cabinet for an electrical assembly for a wind turbine. The electrical cabinet has one or more walls that define an internal volume having one or more electrical components configured therein. One or more of the walls includes an inner panel and an outer panel mounted to the inner panel. The inner panel includes an inner vent and the outer panel includes an outer vent. Further, the panels are arranged together so as to define a flow path between the inner and outer vents. Thus, during normal operation, air is directed from outside of the electrical cabinet to the internal volume of the electrical cabinet via the flow path so as to cool the one or more electrical components. Further, during a fault event, gas is permitted to exit the internal volume of the electrical cabinet via the flow path.

Electrical cabinet wall for an electrical cabinet of a wind turbine

The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for optimizing operation of a wind turbine. The method includes providing a voltage regulator between a power grid and the wind turbine. The voltage regulator is configured to control at least one voltage condition of the wind turbine. Another step includes monitoring, via one or more sensors, at least one operating condition and at least one voltage condition of the wind turbine. The method also includes comparing, via a controller, at least one of the operating condition or the voltage condition with a predetermined threshold to determine a margin-to-threshold ratio. Thus, a further step includes controlling the voltage regulator based on the comparison so as to maximize the margin-to-threshold ratio.

Growing community of inventors

Forest, VA, United States of America

Cornelius Edward Holliday, Iii