General Electric Company

Zond Energy Systems, Inc.

Zond Systems, Inc.

Craig Leonard Christenson

Kevin L Cousineau

William L Erdman

William E Holley

Amir S Mikhail

Fulton Jose Lopez

Norman Scott Winneguth

Kirsh Alimohammed Afimiwala

Patrick Weaver

Peter Alan Gregg

Ulrich Uphues

Henk-Jan Kooijman

Thomas Siebers

Ryan Michael LeClair

Donald M Rogers

Frank Theodoor Ormel

Michael Ulfert Hornemann

Michael Ulfert Homemann

Frank T Ormel

Peter Gregg

Ryan Leclair

A method for operating a wind turbine having at least one blade includes determining an ambient air operating envelope and controlling a power output of the wind turbine at least partially based on the determined ambient air operating envelope. Determining an ambient air operating envelope includes measuring at least one of an ambient air temperature, an ambient air pressure, an ambient air humidity, and wind turbine power output. The method also includes comparing at least one of a measured ambient air temperature, a measured ambient air humidity and a measured ambient air pressure to predetermined ambient air temperature, pressure and humidity values. The method further includes referencing the predetermined ambient air temperature, pressure and humidity values to at least one operational parameter of the wind turbine. The method also includes determining if an existing wind turbine power output is within a range associated with the determined ambient air operating envelope.

Methods for operating a wind turbine

An apparatus for stabilizing a shaft in an essentially horizontal position while an anchoring object at one end of the shaft is replaced without removal of an object at the opposite end of the shaft that would otherwise tend to destabilize the shaft from its essentially horizontal position includes a half-spool member configured to clamp above and around the shaft to resist torque around the rotor, under supports configured to attach to the half-spool member and clamp an underside of the shaft below the half-spool member, and a hydraulic or mechanical brake configured to resist torque on the shaft when the brake is engaged.

Methods and apparatus for replacing objects on horizontal shafts in elevated locations

A variable speed system for use in systems, such as, for example, wind turbines, is described. The system comprises a wound rotor induction generator, a torque controller and a proportional, integral derivative (PID) pitch controller. The torque controller controls generator torque using field oriented control, and the PID controller performs pitch regulation based on generator rotor speed.

Variable speed wind turbine generator

A variable speed system for use in systems, such as, for example, wind turbines, is described. The system comprises a wound rotor induction generator, a torque controller and a proportional integral derivative (PID) pitch controller. The torque controller controls generator torque using field oriented control, and the PID controller performs pitch regulation based on generator rotor speed.

A method and apparatus for non-volatile overspeed protection is described. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for non-volatile overspeed detection to provide turbine rotational speed safety during a power outage. In one embodiment, aerodynamic braking is used to slow rotation of a rotor of the wind turbine. If an overspeed condition continues after application of aerodynamic braking, mechanical braking is used to reduce the rotational speed of the rotor. Power is supplied by a non-volatile power source to continue overspeed detection during a power outage. A low-pressure trigger valve is used to apply a mechanical brake when hydraulic pressure in the braking system falls below a predetermined threshold.

Non-volatile over speed control system for wind turbines

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Tehachapi, CA, United States of America

Craig Leonard Christenson