Northern Power Systems, Inc.

Northern Power Systems Utility Scale, Inc.

Garrett Lee Bywaters

Daniel P Costin

William L Danforth

Christopher M Bevington

Jonathan A Lynch

Trevor H Cole

Clint C Coleman

Robert H Rolland

Jeffrey K Petter

Adam R Olsen

Stowell Jesse

Jesse Stowell

Etienne Hancock

Austin Cate

A module-handling tool for facilitating installation, servicing, and/or dismantling of a electromagnetic rotary machine, such as an electrical power generator or electric motor, having a modularized active portion. In one embodiment, module-handling tool is configured for a machine having a modularized stator having a number of removable modules. In one example of such stator-module-handling tool, the tool is designed and configured to hold a stator module and be temporarily secured to the rotor of the machine during the process of installing the stator module into the machine or removing the module from the machine. In this example, the module-handling tool also acts as a module carrier for transporting a module to or from the machine.

Module-handling tool for installing/removing modules into/from an electromagnetic rotary machine having a modularized active portion

A wind power unit that includes a tower and a support structure that cantilevers from the upper end of the tower. The wind power unit includes an electrical transformer that is suspended from the support structure. In one embodiment, the transformer extends through an opening in the bottom portion of a nacelle that encloses the support structure and includes electrical connections on its upper end that are accessible from inside the nacelle via a service opening in a floor located above the transformer.

Wind power unit having an underslung transformer

A wind power unit control system that dynamically corrects for yaw angle error based on sensed conditions and switches operation of the wind power unit to a correct operating mode based on its current operational state and the sensed conditions.

Load reduction system and method for a wind power unit

Electromagnetic rotary machines, such as electrical power generators and electric motors, that have one or more active portions modularized into a set of modules. Each of the modules is secured to a support frame via a sliding-interlock system that allows that module to be slidingly engaged with the support frame. In some embodiments, each module can include an integrated coolant conduit that carries a coolant to cool the active portion during operation. The modules can each be self-contained in the respect that essentially all that needs to be done to form the active portion and corresponding portion of the cooling system is to install the modules and make any remaining electrical and coolant conduit connections.

Electromagnetic rotary machines having modular active-coil portions and modules for such machines

Systems and methods for reducing dynamic loading in an idled wind power unit include sensing at least one parameter indicative of dynamic loading and executing a reduced torque brake mode, which may comprise a controlled brake and brake-release sequence, with the turbine braking system when the sensed parameter exceeds a selected value. The reduced torque brake mode absorbs energy and reduces dynamic loading thereby.

Systems for load reduction in a tower of an idled wind-power unit and methods thereof

A method and system for attaching a service device to a wind turbine of a wind power unit, using the wind turbine to rotate the service device into one or more service positions, and using the service device to perform servicing on the wind power unit. In some embodiments, a blade of the wind turbine is removed and the service device is mounted in its place. In other embodiments, the service device is mounted to a device mount approximately in a saddle region between adjacent blades. In one example, the service device is a crane. In another example, the service device is a stator module installation/removal tool.

Method and system for servicing a horizontal-axis wind power unit

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 wind turbine system is provided for geographic regions having multiple soil layers, such as permafrost. The wind turbine includes a plurality of blades mounted to a nacelle on top of a tower. The tower is supported by a foundation that extends through or into the multiple soil layers. The wind turbine monitors the condition of a top layer of soil and calculates a natural frequency for the wind turbine system based on the changes to the layer of soil. Changes in operation of the wind turbine are made in response to changes in the natural frequency of the wind turbine system.

Variable speed operating system and method of operation for wind turbines

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.

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

Waitsfield, VT, United States of America

Garrett Lee Bywaters