Northern Power Systems, Inc.

Northern Power Systems Utility Scale, Inc.

Distributed Energy Systems Corporation

Daniel P Costin

Garrett Lee Bywaters

Christopher M Bevington

William L Danforth

Jonathan A Lynch

Clint C Coleman

Robert H Rolland

Stowell Jesse

Jesse Stowell

Jeffrey K Petter

Trevor H Cole

Adam R Olsen

Vinod John

A rotor-stator structure including plural bumper elements that may employ synthetic sliding bearing surfaces, mounted to the stator, and designed to contact a machined surface on the rotor if generator structural deflection occurs during operation. During normal operation, the bearing surface is not in contact with the machine rotor. If extreme loads are imposed on the rotor or stator structures, or other issue like bearing failure, causes the air gap to close, the bumper elements will 'touch down' on a machined surface on the rotor to maintain a minimum air gap.

Apparatus for maintaining air-gap spacing in large diameter, low-speed motors and generators

A wind turbine comprising an electrical generator that includes a rotor assembly. A wind rotor that includes a wind rotor hub is directly coupled to the rotor assembly via a simplified connection. The wind rotor and generator rotor assembly are rotatably mounted on a central spindle via a bearing assembly. The wind rotor hub includes an opening having a diameter larger than the outside diameter of the central spindle adjacent the bearing assembly so as to allow access to the bearing assembly from a cavity inside the wind rotor hub. The spindle is attached to a turret supported by a tower. Each of the spindle, turret and tower has an interior cavity that permits personnel to traverse therethrough to the cavity of the wind rotor hub. The wind turbine further includes a frictional braking system for slowing, stopping or keeping stopped the rotation of the wind rotor and rotor assembly.

Wind turbine/generator set and method of making same

Wind turbine/generator set having a stator cooling system located between stator frame and active coils

A system for providing electrical power from a current turbine is provided. The system includes a floatation device and a mooring. A water turbine structure is provided having an upper and lower portion wherein the lower portion includes a water fillable chamber. A plurality of cables are used to couple the system where a first cable couples the water turbine to the mooring and a second cable couples the floatation device to the first cable. The system is arranged to allow the turbine structure to be deployed and retrieved for service, repair, maintenance and redeployment.

Water turbine system and method of operation

Wind turbine having a direct-drive drivetrain

A wind turbine () comprising an electrical generator () that includes a rotor assembly (). A wind rotor () that includes a wind rotor hub () is directly coupled to the rotor assembly via a simplified connection. The wind rotor and generator rotor assembly are rotatably mounted on a central spindle () via a bearing assembly (). The wind rotor hub includes an opening () having a diameter larger than the outside diameter of the central spindle adjacent the bearing assembly so as to allow access to the bearing assembly from a cavity () inside the wind rotor hub. The spindle is attached to a turret () supported by a tower (). Each of the spindle, turret and tower has an interior cavity () that permits personnel to traverse therethrough to the cavity of the wind rotor hub. The wind turbine further includes a frictional braking system () for slowing, stopping or keeping stopped the rotation of the wind rotor and rotor assembly.

In a wind turbine () having a plurality of blades () and a blade rotor hub (), a lightning protection system () for conducting lightning strikes to any one of the blades and the region surrounding the blade hub along a path around the blade hub and critical components of the wind turbine, such as the generator (), gearbox () and main turbine bearings ().

Lightning protection system for a wind turbine

In order to provide a less expensive generator, a rotor using nonmagnetic beams is disclosed. The rotor includes a magnetic steel rim connected to a main generator shaft by a hub. The magnetic rim supports the components of the rotor, which includes a plurality of magnets and pole pieces. The pole pieces are connected to the rim with non-magnetic standoffs and nonmagnetic fasteners. The magnets are supported radially by nonmagnetic beams. The magnets are retained tangentially by pole pieces and radially by wedges. The components of the rotor are further retained axially between plates coupled to the rim and a shoulder on the pole pieces.

Permanent magnet rotor for a direct drive generator or a low speed motor

A wind turbine is provided that passively cools an electrical generator. The wind turbine includes a plurality of fins arranged peripherally around a generator house. Each of the fins being oriented at an angle greater than zero degrees to allow parallel flow of air over the fin. The fin is further tapered to allow a constant portion of the fin to extend beyond the air stream boundary layer. Turbulence initiators on the nose cone further enhance heat transfer at the fins.

Passively cooled direct drive wind turbine

A wind turbine is provided that minimizes the size of the drive train and nacelle while maintaining the power electronics and transformer at the top of the tower. The turbine includes a direct drive generator having an integrated disk brake positioned radially inside the stator while minimizing the potential for contamination. The turbine further includes a means for mounting a transformer below the nacelle within the tower.

Growing community of inventors

Chelsea, VT, United States of America

Daniel P Costin