Vestas Wind Systems A/s

Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Thomas Hjort

Lars Glavind

Per Egedal

Lars Helle

Ib Svend Olesen

Gerner Larsen

Kurt Andersen

Thomas Lundgren Andersen

A method to control a wind power installation is provided. The wind power installation includes a generator and a converter. The generator is configured to convert wind power into electrical power and to provide the electrical power from the generator to the converter. The converter is configured to adapt and to provide the electrical power to an electrical grid. The converter is operable to comply with pre-determined grid code requirements during a grid fault. An amount of electrical power, which is present in the wind power installation during the grid fault, is fed into the generator. The generator is operable to convert the respective amount of electrical power into a generator loss.

Control methods for converting an amount of electric power into a loss for managing consequences of a grid fault

A wind turbine is arranged to operate in a fully-functional converter mode and a faulty-converter mode. A plurality of converters are arranged to share electric current in the fully-functional converter mode. The converters are dimensioned not only to operate at nominal active current but to provide an over-current margin to enable reactive current to be produced on top of the nominal active current in the fully-functional converter mode. In the fully-functional converter mode the converters are caused to produce reactive current on top of the nominal active current. In response to a fault of one or more of the converters, operation is changed from the fully-functional converter mode to the faulty-converter mode. In the faulty-converter mode, one or more other converters of the converter system are caused to produce additional active current by using their over-current margin to compensate at least partly for a reduction of active-current production due to the fault of one of the converters, and to reduce the reactive-current production by the other converter correspondingly.

Active current production within over-current margins of parallel converters

Wind turbine system including parallel converters for active current production within over-current margins

A sensor system for measuring an operating parameter of a wind turbine component is described. The fiber optic sensor system comprises a light source for outputting light in a predetermined range of wavelengths, and an optical fiber comprising a long Fiber Bragg Grating, extending continuously over a length of the optical fiber to provide a continuous measurement region in the optical fiber. The optical fiber is coupled to the wind turbine component such that the continuous measurement region is located at a region of the wind turbine component to be sensed, and such that the grating period at each location in the continuous measurement period is dependent upon the value of the operating parameter at that location. A light detector receives light from the optical fiber, and provides an output signal to the controller indicating the intensity of the received light; based on the detected light, a value for the operating parameter is determined.

Long fibre optic sensor system in a wind turbine component

The present invention relates to an optical fiber for a fiber optic sensor, comprising a first optical grating adapted to operate over a first range of wavelengths; and at least one set of further gratings adapted to operate over a second range of wavelengths, each grating being adapted to operate over a portion of the second range; wherein, each grating within said set has an operating range that partially overlaps with at least one other such grating operating range. The invention also extends to a sensor system, and method, using such an optical fiber.

Optical fiber grating sensor system and method comprising plural optical gratings having partially overlapping operating ranges

A wind turbine includes a nacelle which accommodates at least a generator and power electronics electrically interconnected between the generator and a power grid. At least one power electronic component is removably arranged in the nacelle in a region positioned between a floor level of the nacelle and a lower limiting surface, e.g. a bottom wall, of the nacelle. The space available in the interior parts of the nacelle is thereby utilized to a greater extent than in prior art wind turbines, and replacement of a power electronic component can be performed using ordinary lifting equipment. Furthermore, the risk of injury to maintenance personnel is reduced.

Wind turbine having power electronics in the nacelle

Fault tolerant wind turbine converter

A method for operating a wind turbine facility during for example a grid fault, the wind turbine facility comprising a power dissipation/storage being adapted to dissipate or store electrical energy exceeding an amount to be delivered to an associated power supply grid during the grid fault. The method includes operating the wind turbine facility in accordance with an allowed amount of electrical energy that can be dissipated or stored in the power dissipation/storage of the wind turbine facility by ensuring that a total amount of electrical energy generated by the wind turbine facility does not exceed a sum of the allowed amount and the amount to be delivered to the power supply grid.

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Vejle Øst, Denmark

Thomas Hjort