General Electric Company

General Electric Renovables Espana, S.l.

Jeffrey Alan Melius

Darren John Danielsen

Cyrus David Harbourt

Howard Ross Edmunds

Amy Marlene Ridenour

Christopher Lee Tschappatt

Andrew Scott Wilkinson

Robert Gregory Wagoner

Mark Edward Cardinal

Joseph Lawrence Chacon

Parag Rameshchandra Dharmadhikari

William John Bonneau

Santiago Tomas

Michael Lawton Rodin

Allen Michael Ritter

Till Hoffmann

Brian Nedward Meyer

Fernando Arturo Ramirez Sanchez

Jignesh Govindlal Gandhi

Christopher Todd Moore

Brian Matthew Aiken

Ramy Michael Souri

Brian Eric Lindholm

Michael Graham McClure

Longhui Shen

Christopher James McMenamin

Ryan Michael Sunyak

Jorge Gonzalez Castro

Chengjun Wang

John Ronald Burr

Michael Gregory Brown

David Gerard Wanner, Jr

Edward Way Hardwicke, Jr

Kyle Conrad Siy

David Gerard Wanner

Christopher L Tschappatt

Jorge Gonzales Castro

Jr Edward Way Hardwicke

A method () for operating a wind turbine (-) is disclosed. The wind turbine includes a rotor () with rotor blades (), a power conversion system () mechanically connected with the rotor (), a first subsystem (), a second subsystem (), and an internal electric power distribution system (-) connectable with the first subsystem () and the second subsystem (). During operating () the wind turbine (-) in a normal operating mode in which the power conversion system () converts input motive power into electrical output power (P), the method () includes detecting () an increased power demand of the first subsystem (), and actively increasing () an amount (P) of electric power (Pint) flowing through the internal electric power distribution system (-) to the first subsystem () if a power demand of the second subsystem () is at least reduced.

Method for operating a wind turbine and a wind turbine

The present disclosure is directed to an ultracapacitor module comprising a housing and terminals, the terminals exposed through the housing, the housing containing one or more internal capacitor cells and one or more integrated, internal bypass diodes arranged together such that the ultracapacitor module additionally comprises an integrated, internal bypass circuit connected in parallel with the terminals. The present disclosure also is directed to an ultracapacitor module comprising a housing and terminals, the terminals exposed through the housing, the housing containing one or more internal capacitor cells and at least one set of one or more integrated, internal bypass diodes connected in parallel to the at least one or more internal capacitor cells, such that the ultracapacitor module additionally comprises an integrated, internal bypass circuit.

Ultracapacitor module with integrated bypass diode and related systems

Systems and methods for providing power to a blade pitch system in a wind turbine are provided. A blade pitch system can include one or more motors configured to pitch one or more blades of a wind turbine and a power source. The power source can include a plurality of energy storage devices coupled in series. The plurality of energy storage devices can be configured to provide power to the one or more motors during a power loss event. The power source can further include at least one bypass current device configured to allow a bypass current to provide power from at least one energy storage device to the one or more motors. The bypass current can be a current that bypasses one or more failed energy storage devices in the plurality of energy storage devices.

Blade pitch system including power source for wind turbine

A system and method are provided for applying a pitch motor braking torque to a rotor blade. Accordingly, of the pitch control system from a 1operational mode to an emergency operational mode is initiated. The pitch motor of the pitch control system having an absence of supply current during the transition. A short-circuit is established across the Armature of the pitch motor so as to establish a current flow. The current is generated by the pitch motor in response to rotation of the rotor blade about the pitch axis when the pitch motor has the absence of supply current. In response to the current flow being generated, generating a braking torque in a single direction with the pitch motor so as to allow the rotor blade to move freely to a lesser loaded orientation relative to an original orientation to protect the wind turbine from damage.

System and method for applying a pitch motor braking torque to a wind turbine rotor blade

A grounding circuit for a backup power source used to power a pitch motor of a pitch system in a wind turbine is provided. The grounding circuit includes one or more switching elements configured to selectively couple the backup power source to a charging circuit based on a state of a first interface element. The grounding circuit further includes one or more switching elements configured to selectively couple the backup power source to ground based on a state of a second interface element. The grounding circuit includes at least one circuit protection device coupled between the backup power source and the charging circuit. When the backup power source is coupled to the charging circuit and subsequently coupled to ground, the at least one circuit protection device is configured to decouple the backup power source from the charging circuit.

Grounding circuit for a backup power source

A method for testing capacity of at least one energy storage device of a pitch drive mechanism to drive a first rotor blade of a wind turbine connected to a power grid includes defining a rotor position range for implementing a first test procedure for the energy storage device(s). Further, the method includes monitoring a rotor position of the first rotor blade. When the rotor position of the first rotor blade enters the rotor position range, the method includes initiating the first test procedure. The first test procedure includes pitching the first rotor blade via the energy storage device(s), measuring at least one operating condition of the energy storage device(s) during pitching, and determining a capacity of the energy storage device(s) to drive the first rotor blade based on the operating condition(s) thereof.

System and method for testing an energy storage device of a wind turbine pitch system

The present disclosure is directed to a method for reducing loads of a wind turbine. The method includes monitoring, via a turbine controller, a rotor blade of the wind turbine for faults. If a fault is detected, the method includes determining an operational status of the wind turbine. If a predetermined operational status is present at the same time the fault is present, the method also include actively yawing a nacelle of the wind turbine away from an incoming wind direction until either the fault is corrected or cleared and/or the operational status changes.

System and method for reducing loads during an idling or parked state of a wind turbine via yaw offset

A method for monitoring a bank of ultracapacitors configured to power an alternating current (AC) pitch motor of a pitch system in a wind turbine is provided. The method includes obtaining, by one or more control devices, data indicative of a voltage associated with the bank of ultracapacitors. The method includes conducting, by the one or more control devices, a test operation of the bank of ultracapacitors at predetermined intervals of time to determine a capacitance associated with the bank of ultracapacitors. The method further includes performing, by the one or more control devices, one or more control actions based, at least in part, on the capacitance or the data indicative of the voltage.

System and method for monitoring ultracapacitors

Apparatus, systems, and methods are provided for determining remaining lifetime of a battery, such as a battery used to power a pitch drive system in a wind turbine. In one example implementation, a method can include controlling a discharge of the battery through a load. The method can include obtaining data indicative of a discharge voltage and a discharge current of the battery during discharge through the load. The method can include obtaining data indicative of a temperature associated with the battery during discharge through the load. The method can include determining data indicative of remaining lifetime of the battery as a function of the discharge voltage, discharge current, and the temperature. The method can include performing at least one control action based at least in part on the data indicative of remaining lifetime of the battery.

Predictive battery test systems and methods

A method for estimating consumed battery life of at least one battery of a pitch drive mechanism of a rotor blade of a wind turbine includes monitoring, via at least one sensor, an actual temperature of the battery over a predetermined time period. The method also includes storing, via a turbine controller, the monitored actual temperatures of the battery during the predetermined time period. Further, the method includes determining, via the turbine controller, the consumed battery life as a function of the monitored actual temperatures.

System and method for estimating consumed battery life of a pitch system of a wind turbine

Systems and methods for controlling a wind pitch adjustment system associated with a wind turbine system are disclosed. In one embodiment, the wind pitch adjustment system can include a power supply configured to convert an alternating current input signal into a direct current voltage, a controller configured to receive a signal from the power supply, and to provide one or more control commands to a pitch adjustment motor, and a surge stopping device comprising a switching element coupled between the power supply and the controller. The surge stopping device is configured to monitor an input voltage from a grid and to drive the switching element based at least in part on the monitored input voltage, such that the switching element is configured to block current flow through the switching element to the controller when the monitored input voltage is above a voltage threshold.

Wind pitch adjustment system

The present subject matter is directed to a system and method for improving speed control of a pitch drive system of a wind turbine. In one embodiment, the pitch drive system includes a direct current (DC) motor having an armature and a series-field winding, a battery assembly having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, and a current-controlling device configured in series between the positive terminal of the battery assembly and the series-field winding. The battery assembly is configured to supply power to the pitch drive system and the current-controlling device is configured to supply current to the series-field winding so as to ensure a field flux does not equal zero. Thus, the current-controlling device has the effect of limiting the maximum speed of the DC motor.

System and method for improving speed control of a pitch drive system of a wind turbine

A pitch control system for a wind turbine is disclosed. The pitch control system may generally include a motor having an armature and a winding and a grid power source configured to supply electrical power to the motor. The pitch control system may also include a plurality of switching components configured to control a first current through the armature independent of a second current through the winding. In addition, the pitch control system may include an auxiliary switching component electrically coupled between the grid power source and at least a portion of the switching components. The auxiliary switching component may be configured to be opened when a grid voltage of the grid power source exceeds a first voltage threshold.

Wind turbine pitch control system

A system and method for supplying increased frequency supporting current from a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) to assist in maintaining grid stability is provided. The output capability of a line side converter associated with the DFIG is enhanced by significantly increasing the current handling capacity of electric switches forming the converter. A dynamic brake is also provided across a DC link bus coupling the line side converter to another converter coupled to the rotor of the DFIG. The dynamic brake is controlled based on the voltage across the DC link bus.

Growing community of inventors

Roanoke, VA, United States of America

Jeffrey Alan Melius