VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160123303 | WIND TURBINE TOWER HAVING A DAMPER - The present invention relates to wind turbine towers and in particular to such towers having a damper for use when erecting the tower and prior to installing a nacelle on the top of the tower. The invention also relates to a method for damping wind turbine towers. One aspect of the invention involves a wind turbine tower ( | 05-05-2016 |
20160047359 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR HAVING AN EDDY CURRENT BRAKE, WIND TURBINE HAVING SUCH A GENERATOR, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A wind turbine generator includes an outer housing, a drive shaft rotatably mounted within the outer housing, stator and rotor assemblies positioned within the outer housing and movable relative to each other, a heat exchanger, and a blower having a rotating plate for generating a fluid flow circuit within the generator for transporting heat from the stator and rotor assemblies to the heat exchanger. An eddy current brake having a rotating member is located within the outer housing and is positioned in the fluid flow circuit such that fluid moving in the flow circuit cools the first rotating member. The blower and the eddy current brake may be integrated, such as by having the rotating plate of the blower serve as the rotating member of the eddy current brake. A wind turbine having such a generator, as well as a method of operating a wind turbine generator is also disclosed. | 02-18-2016 |
20150345463 | A WIND TURBINE TOWER GUIDE SYSTEM, AND A METHOD FOR INSTALLING AN INSTALLATION UNIT - A wind turbine tower ( | 12-03-2015 |
20150336334 | DEVICE FOR ACCESSING THE SIDES OF A WIND TURBINE BLADE MOULD - When producing large work-pieces, an operator often faces the problem of accessing all areas of an inclined, high surface. The present invention proposes a device and a method for climbing up inclined surface wherein a plurality of steps are attached to a flexible support, which can be provided for example by a mat. The present invention finds a particular convenient application in the field of wind turbine production, for example when layers of glass fibers have to be laid onto the walls of a mould. | 11-26-2015 |
20150330363 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR SWIFT POWER REGULATION - The present invention relates to a method for regulating a flow of power between a wind power facility and a power grid connected thereto. The method comprises the steps of determining whether power is to be delivered to or absorbed from the power grid, and at least partly disabling or at least partly enabling one or more power consuming auxiliary systems in response to said determination. Moreover, an arrangement for delivering additional power to a power grid is provided. | 11-19-2015 |
20150322926 | CONTROL OF WIND TURBINES - A method of controlling a wind turbine is described. The method involves forecasting the temperature evolution of a component of the wind turbine based upon the current operating parameters of the wind turbine and upon a required power output; predicting from the temperature forecast a future alarm event caused by the temperature of the component exceeding a first threshold level or falling below a second threshold level; and adjusting the operating parameters of the wind turbine to control the temperature evolution of the component thereby to avoid or delay the predicted alarm event. | 11-12-2015 |
20150316024 | METHOD FOR MOVING WIND TURBINE COMPONENTS AND A TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR MOVING WIND TURBINE COMPONENTS - A method of removing a wind turbine component includes assembling a transport system having a track, one or more support frames, and a carriage movably coupled to the track, the transport system having a first end positioned inside the tower and a second end positioned outside of the tower such that the track extends through an opening in the tower; raising the wind turbine component off of a platform located within the tower and above the door; moving at least part of the platform to allow the component to pass; lowering the wind turbine component onto the carriage; moving the carriage along the track from inside the tower to outside the tower; and removing the wind turbine component from the carriage. A transport system having a track, one or more support frames, and a carriage is also disclosed. | 11-05-2015 |
20150316023 | TURBINE BLADE SHEAR WEB ALIGNMENT - A method of aligning shear webs for the construction of a wind turbine blade is provided. The method comprises providing one or more jigs ( | 11-05-2015 |
20150308415 | WIND TURBINE BLADE WITH LIGHTNING PROTECTION - A method of making a wind turbine blade ( | 10-29-2015 |
20150300318 | FAST RUN-BACK CONTROL INCLUDING PLANT LOSSES - The present invention relates to a method for operating a wind power plant, with at least one wind turbine generator and a power plant controller, the method includes the steps of receiving a request to reduce active power output from the wind power plant, dispatching a reference set point to the at least one wind turbine generator to lower a voltage level of the least one wind turbine generator, and the at least one wind turbine generator controls the voltage level of the least one wind turbine generator, to a new lower set point. The present invention also relates to a wind power plant where the method is implemented. | 10-22-2015 |
20150292675 | METHOD AND SYSTEM OF LUBRICATING CONSUMERS TO BE MONITORED VIA THEIR LUBRICANT - A method involves directing lubricant to different consumers which are to be monitored via their lubricant. The lubricant is drained through drain lines connected to the consumers and directed to a tank. At least some the lubricant in the drain lines or the consumers is extracted into extraction lines. Flow from the extraction lines is selectively directed to a measurement device, which then measures a characteristic of the lubricant. A system for carrying out such a method is also provided, wherein the system includes a multiplexer for selectively directing flow from the extraction lines. | 10-15-2015 |
20150292484 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EXTENDING THE OPERATING LIFE OF A WIND TURBINE GEAR TRAIN BASED ON ENERGY STORAGE - A wind park controller and control method for a wind park ( | 10-15-2015 |
20150285215 | LIFTING TOOL FOR SERVICING OF WIND TURBINE GEARBOX COMPONENTS AND METHOD OF SERVICING USING SUCH A TOOL - A lifting tool ( | 10-08-2015 |
20150278405 | METHOD FOR EVALUATING A PERFORMANCE PREDICTION FOR A WIND FARM - A method for evaluating a performance prediction for a wind farm comprising a plurality of wind turbines is disclosed. The method comprises providing a siting model, said siting model being capable of predicting performance of a wind farm, based on performance estimates of individual wind turbines forming part of the wind farm; applying the siting model to one or more existing wind farms, thereby predicting performance of the existing wind farms; and comparing the predicted performance of the existing wind farms to historical performance data of the existing wind farms. The performance prediction provided by the siting model is evaluated, based on the comparison. | 10-01-2015 |
20150267686 | PARTIAL-LOAD DE-RATING FOR WIND TURBINE CONTROL - Methods, controllers and computer program products for controlling a wind turbine. Under de-rated operating conditions in which the power requested from a wind turbine is less than the available power, a controller adjusts blade pitch of the wind turbine to reduce the rotor power coefficient. The captured wind power is thereby reduced to be approximately equal to the requested electrical power, which is less than either the available power or the rated power of the wind turbine generator. This reduction in captured power provides the controller with an additional degree of freedom that allows the controller to increase the electrical power output of the wind turbine in response to wind fluctuations without damaging the wind turbine. By allowing increases in power under de-rated conditions, the controller may reduce the amount of pitching necessary to prevent the turbine from exceeding its rated power output level. | 09-24-2015 |
20150263526 | CONNECTION SYSTEM FOR POWER GENERATION SYSTEM WITH DC OUTPUT - The present invention relates to a connection system for connecting a power generator to a DC electrical power system, with a controllable voltage source unit functionally connected in series with the power generator to receive AC electrical power from the power generator, and to generate an AC electrical power output accordingly, and a rectifier arranged to receive AC electrical power output from said voltage source unit and to rectify the AC electrical power output to a DC electrical power to be provided to the DC electrical power system. The invention also relates to method for connecting a power generator to a DC electrical power system. | 09-17-2015 |
20150224759 | WIND TURBINE BLADES - A method of making a wind turbine blade having at least one pultruded strip of fibrous reinforcing material integrated with a shell of the blade is described. The method comprises the steps of: providing at a first location a feed apparatus for dispensing a pultruded strip of fibrous reinforcing material; supporting a coiled pultruded strip of fibrous reinforcing material for rotation in the feed apparatus; causing the coiled strip to rotate in the feed apparatus at the first location; and feeding a free end of the strip from the feed apparatus in a feed direction towards a second location remote from the first location. An associated feed apparatus for use in the method is also described. | 08-13-2015 |
20150219074 | WIND POWER PLANT CONTROL SYSTEM, WIND POWER PLANT INCLUDING WIND POWER PLANT CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING WIND POWER PLANT - The invention relates to a wind power plant control system arranged for controlling one or more wind turbine generators in a wind power plant, wherein the wind power plant control system comprises a power plant controller and a modeling unit, the modeling unit being operatively coupled to the power plant controller. The modeling unit is arranged to calculate estimated values of electrical output parameters from the one or more wind turbine generators, and to output said estimated values to the power plant controller. The power plant controller is arranged for determining reference signals for dispatching to the one or more wind turbine generators, wherein the estimated values of said electrical output parameters are used by the power plant controller in the determination of said reference signals. The invention also relates to a corresponding method of controlling a wind power plant. | 08-06-2015 |
20150159631 | MAIN BEARING ARRANGEMENT FOR A WIND TURBINE - The invention provides a drive train for a horizontal axis wind turbine, comprising—a main shaft provided with a rotor attachment flange adapted to be connected to a rotor of the wind turbine, and—a main bearing housing having a main body at least partly enclosing the main shaft and extending from a first end to a second end, a distance from the second end to the rotor attachment flange being larger than a distance from the first end to the rotor attachment flange, the main body presenting at the second end a component attachment flange for a connection of the housing to a further drive train component,—the main bearing housing carrying the main shaft via a first bearing and a second bearing, a distance between the second bearing and the rotor attachment flange being larger than a distance between the first bearing and the rotor attachment flange,—the main bearing housing having a first seat for the first bearing, and a second seat for the second bearing,—the main bearing housing comprising a seat flange extending from the main body at least partly radially inwards, the second seat being located on a distal end of the seat flange. | 06-11-2015 |
20150159626 | POWER SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND POWER SYSTEM WITH A DISPATCHING ALGORITHM - The present invention relates to a power system having a plurality wind turbine generators and a power plant controller arranged to communicate with the plurality of wind turbines generators, where each of the plurality of wind turbine generator being related to a wind turbine controller, the wind turbine controller being arranged to control an active power output in its related wind turbine generator according to an active power set point received from the wind power plant controller; a first subset of wind turbine generators operating at an active power output unrestricted of the active power set point; and a second subset of wind turbine generators operating according to an active power set point; and wherein the wind power plant controller communicates the active power set point, in accordance with the active power output of the first subset of the plurality of wind turbines generators, so as to reduce active power fluctuation of the aggregated active power output of the first and second subset of the plurality of wind turbines generators. The present invention also relates to method accordingly. | 06-11-2015 |
20150159624 | WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE WITH A CONE ANGLE AND A METHOD OF MANUFACURING A WIND TURBINE ROTOR BLADE WITH A CONE ANGLE - A wind turbine rotor blade ( | 06-11-2015 |
20150137520 | WIND-POWER-PLANT CONTROL UPON LOW-VOLTAGE GRID FAULTS - A wind power plant connected to an electric grid. A central plant controller is configured to carry out a method of controlling an electric output of the wind power plant in the event of a transient low-voltage fault of the electric grid. The central plant controller is configured, after a fault stage in response to detection of a low-voltage fault during which the wind turbines ride through the grid fault, to control the wind power plant during a post-fault-support stage to provide only real power, or perform voltage control. The central plant controller is configured to resume control of the wind power plant according to the nominal-grid operation mode, which prevailed before the low-voltage fault, in a nominal-grid operation stage. | 05-21-2015 |
20150132133 | LIGHTNING TRANSFER UNIT FOR A WIND TURBINE - A lightning current transfer unit ( | 05-14-2015 |
20150132129 | METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND TURBINE AS WELL AS A SYSTEM SUITABLE THEREFORE - A method of operating a wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine comprises a turbine rotor with at least two blades, each blade having a variable pitch angle. The method comprises determining mechanical loads on the blades, determining an asymmetric load moment experienced by the turbine rotor based on the mechanical loads on the blades, determining high order harmonics from the asymmetric load moment, and determining an individual pitch control signal for each of the blades for varying the pitch angle of each blade to compensate for the asymmetric load moment. The individual pitch control signal for each blade is determined at least based on the high order harmonics. | 05-14-2015 |
20150125309 | WIND TURBINE BLADE - A wind turbine blade having an elongated blade body extending along a longitudinal axis and having an upper skin and a lower skin, the lower skin spaced from the upper skin in a thickness direction of the blade body, the upper skin and/or lower skin having a laminated layer, the laminated layer having an outer layer wherein the outer layer forms part of the upper and/or lower skin respectively, an inner layer spaced from the outer layer in the thickness direction; and an intermediate layer sandwiched between the outer layer and inner layer, the intermediate layer having a plurality of heat transfer paths within the intermediate layer for transferring heat. | 05-07-2015 |
20150125297 | DE-ICING OF A WIND TURBINE BLADE - A heating assembly for a blade of a wind turbine generator, said heating assembly comprising: a heat reservoir positioned within a cavity of said blade, said heat reservoir in communication with a heat source; said heat reservoir including a plurality of orifices for venting hot air from said heat reservoir. | 05-07-2015 |
20150123299 | METHOD OF FABRICATING A COMPOSITE PART AND AN APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING A COMPOSITE PART - A method of fabricating a composite part comprising fibre reinforced material in a mould ( | 05-07-2015 |
20150122007 | WIND DETECTOR FOR WIND TURBINE GENERATORS - The invention relates to an optical detector for determining the relative wind direction (attack angle) relative to a rotating or stationary wind turbine rotor. The optical detector comprises an output part which transmits distinguishable light beams out from a rotor blade in different predetermined directions. The beams may be distinguishable by light color, by the time the individual beams are emitted and/or by different amplitude modulation frequencies or other modulations of the individual beams. By determining pulse times of scattered light from wind borne particles moving in or through the different distinguishable beams, or determining the number of pulses within a period, it is possible to determine the relative wind direction or angle of attach as the predetermined direction of a beam which has the longest pulse times or the fewest number of pulses within a given period of time. | 05-07-2015 |
20150091222 | CURING COMPOSITE MATERIALS COMPRISING LATENT-CURE RESINS - The invention relates to a method for curing of a composite material. The method involves applying heat to only a first region of said composite material, such that said first region is heated to a temperature above the cure onset temperature of said curable resin, thus initiating curing of said curable resin in said first region; and maintaining the composite material in an insulated state, such that the curing of said curable resin spreads to regions of the composite material outside of said first region. | 04-02-2015 |
20150076738 | MOULDING ARTICLES - A mould for forming a wind turbine blade is formed in two halves, each half | 03-19-2015 |
20150050144 | METHOD FOR IMPROVING LARGE ARRAY WIND PARK POWER PERFORMANCE THROUGH ACTIVE WAKE MANIPULATION REDUCING SHADOW EFFECTS - Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatus for increasing turbulent mixing in the wake of at least one wind turbine. Doing so, increases efficiency of a wind turbine located in the wake by transferring energy to the wake that was lost when the wind passed through the upwind turbine. Turbulent mixing may be increased by changing the induction factor for a rotor by, for example, altering the pitch of the blades, the RPMs of the rotor, or the yaw of the nacelle. These techniques may be static or dynamically changing. Further, the different induction factors for a plurality of wind turbines may be synchronized according to a predetermined pattern to further increase turbulent mixing. | 02-19-2015 |
20140377064 | CONTROL METHOD FOR A WIND TURBINE, AND WIND TURBINE - The invention relates to a method of controlling a wind turbine comprising one or more blades attached to a rotor hub, the one or more blades being arranged to pitch relative to the hub, the method comprising the steps of obtaining a blade load signal comprising data on an absolute load on the one or more blades; processing the blade load data to detect a high thrust wind event, and generating a control signal comprising a pitch contribution for affecting the blades to pitch out of the wind in response to the detected wind event. The invention also relates to a wind turbine, a control system for a wind turbine and a computer program product being adapted to enable a computer system to perform the method of the invention. | 12-25-2014 |
20140369851 | METHOD OF FABRICATING A SURFACE FOR REDUCING ICE ADHESION STRENGTH - A method of fabricating a surface for reducing ice adhesion surface which includes providing a surface of a cured material and impacting the surface of the cured material with a pressurized jet of a fluid material to plastically deform the cured material to enable the surface to reduce ice adhesion strength on the surface. | 12-18-2014 |
20140369779 | METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING A CURVED WIND TURBINE BLADE AND ASSOCIATED TRANSPORTATION DEVICE - A method of transporting a wind turbine blade with a curved central longitudinal axis includes loading the wind turbine blade onto a transportation device including first and second support bearings. The wind turbine blade is loaded in a first orientation in which the curved central longitudinal axis is located in a generally vertical plane. When the transportation device is preparing to turn, the wind turbine blade is rotated to a second orientation before or during turning such that the curved central longitudinal axis is located in a generally horizontal plane and bends around the turn. As a result, the curved wind turbine blade and transportation device can traverse tighter curves and turns during travel to an assembly site or quayside. | 12-18-2014 |
20140356187 | DE-ICING OF A WIND TURBINE BLADE - A heating assembly for a wind turbine: generator, the assembly comprising: a heat reservoir mounted within a blade of the wind turbine generator; a heat source for supplying heat to the heat reservoir; a plurality of thermal conductors projecting front said heat reservoir to a surface of said blade. | 12-04-2014 |
20140355922 | BLADE BEARING WITH SUPPORT STRUCTURE HAVING NON-UNIFORM STIFFNESS AND METHOD MANUFACTURE - A blade bearing for mounting a blade of a wind turbine to a hub of the wind turbine comprises inner and outer rings arranged next to each other. One of the inner and outer rings is configured to mount to the blade, and the other is configured to mount to the hub. At least two rows of rolling elements are positioned between the inner and outer rings. Upper and lower rows of the rolling elements are located in respective upper and lower planes. A support structure is secured to the inner ring and extends in a substantially radial direction between the upper and lower planes. The support structure has non-uniform stiffness characteristics in a circumferential direction. A method of manufacturing a blade bearing is also provided. | 12-04-2014 |
20140345218 | TRANSITION STRUCTURE FOR A WIND TURBINE TOWER - A transition structure for a tower comprises a plurality of panels that each includes a panel body having opposed upper and lower ends, a lower mounting surface at the lower end, an upper mounting surface at the upper end, and a pair of lateral mounting surfaces at lateral edges. The upper mounting surfaces are generally planar, and the panel bodies taper from their upper mounting surface to their lower mounting surface. Each panel is mounted to at least another of the panels at corresponding lateral surfaces to form, with the upper ends, the shape that conforms to the lower end of the tower to be supported. The transition structure also comprises a plurality of footings, each having an upper end mated to the lower mounting surface of one of the panels, a lower end configured to mate with a post of a foundation, and a footing body between the upper and lower ends. | 11-27-2014 |
20140339829 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLED SHUTDOWN OF WIND TURBINES - The present invention relates to a method for controlled shutdown of wind turbines. The method involves using a generator side converter, and optionally a DC chopper, as a generator load during controlled shutdown. In this way gearbox back-lashing and drive train oscillations can be avoided. The present invention also relates to a wind turbine capable of performing controlled shutdown in accordance with the before-mentioned method. | 11-20-2014 |
20140334927 | SHUTDOWN CONTROLLER FOR A WIND TURBINE AND A METHOD OF SHUTTING DOWN A WIND TURBINE - The invention provides a shutdown controller for a wind turbine. To improve the estimation of a state of the wind turbine, the controller comprises at least two sensors being adapted to provide sensor data significant for different mechanical states in the wind turbine. The controller can provide an estimated state of the wind turbine based on the sensor data from the at least two sensors and compare the state of the wind turbine with a predefined detection limit to provide a shutdown signal if the estimated state is outside the detection limit. | 11-13-2014 |
20140334908 | TOOL AND A METHOD FOR MOVING A WIND TURBINE DRIVETRAIN COMPONENT - The invention provides a tool for moving a drivetrain component ( | 11-13-2014 |
20140331797 | YAWING SYSTEM COMPRISING A PRELOAD MECHANISM - A yawing system ( | 11-13-2014 |
20140324495 | WIND TURBINE MAINTENANCE OPTIMIZER - Determining when to perform preventative maintenance is an important consideration for maximizing the revenue of a wind turbine. For example, performing preventative maintenance may be cheaper than replacing turbine components when they fail. When determining to perform preventative maintenance, a maintenance scheduler may consider multiple factors. These factors may include the probability of failure, the predicted price of energy, predicted wind power production, resource constraints, and the like. Specifically, the maintenance scheduler may predict the future values of these factors which are then integrated into a net present value (NPV) for each of the components. Based on the respective NPVs, the maintenance scheduler may determine which maintenance actions to perform and in what order. | 10-30-2014 |
20140316592 | SELECTIVE DROOP RESPONSE CONTROL FOR A WIND TURBINE POWER PLANT - A power plant controller ( | 10-23-2014 |
20140311851 | YAW DRIVE FOR A YAWING SYSTEM FOR A WIND TURBINE - A yaw drive ( | 10-23-2014 |
20140301859 | WIND TURBINE BLADES - A reinforcing structure | 10-09-2014 |
20140301847 | PITCH SYSTEM FOR A WIND TURBINE - A pitch system ( | 10-09-2014 |
20140300108 | MULTI BANDWIDTH VOLTAGE CONTROLLERS FOR A WIND POWER PLANT - The present invention relates to a wind power plant, with at least one wind turbine generator, where each of the at least one wind turbine generator has a first voltage controller with a first bandwidth, arranged for controlling a voltage level, and where the wind power plant has a power plant controller with a second voltage controller with a second bandwidth also arranged for controlling the voltage level, the first bandwidth is larger than the second bandwidth. The invention also relates to a method for controlling the voltage level of a wind power plant, by using multi bandwidth voltage controllers. | 10-09-2014 |
20140287084 | BRACKET FOR CLAMPING A WIND TURBINE BLADE MOULD TO A SUPPORTING STRUCTURE - A bracket is described for clamping a mould to a supporting structure. The bracket includes a first part and a second part for attaching to the mould and to the supporting structure, respectively, or vice versa. The first and second parts are connected together and configured to provide constrained relative movement along a first axis to accommodate thermal expansion of the mould relative to the supporting structure in a first direction parallel to the first axis. The first and second parts of the bracket are connected via an articulated joint that allows the first and second parts to pivot relative to one another without moving the first axis such that the bracket can independently accommodate misalignments between the mould and the supporting structure. | 09-25-2014 |
20140271198 | WIND TURBINE BLADES WITH LAYERED, MULTI-COMPONENT SPARS, AND ASSOCIATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS - Wind turbine blades with layered, multi-component spars, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A wind turbine blade system in accordance with a particular embodiment includes a first blade segment having a first spar element that includes first planks having a first thickness and a first plank composition, and a second blade segment having a second spar element that includes second planks having a second thickness and a second plank composition different than the first plank composition. The second blade segment is joined to the first blade segment at a joint, and, in particular embodiments, an overall product of thickness and elastic modulus of the first planks is approximately equal to an overall product of thickness and elastic modulus for the second planks. | 09-18-2014 |
20140252775 | WIND TURBINE TRANSFORMER - A transformer assembly for a wind turbine is described. The transformer assembly includes a liquid-filled main transformer and an auxiliary transformer connected on the high-voltage side of the main transformer. The auxiliary transformer benefits from improved power quality in this configuration. | 09-11-2014 |
20140252768 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE GENERATOR AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRIC POWER GENERATED BY A WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - A method of controlling a wind turbine generator is provided, the wind turbine generator converting mechanical energy to electrical. The method comprises: determining an electromagnetic power reference representing the electromagnetic power generated by the wind turbine generator, wherein the electromagnetic power reference is determined based on a desired output of the wind turbine generator; controlling the electrical power generated by the wind turbine generator using a control signal, wherein the control signal is derived from the electromagnetic power reference and is modified in dependence on an inverse power function of the wind turbine generator by incorporating minimal copper loss constraint and stator voltage limiting constraint such that non-linearity of the wind turbine generator is compensated in the control loop and it operates at its maximum efficiency. One effect of the method is that classical linear control loop design can be employed in spite of the plant being a non-linear identity. | 09-11-2014 |
20140248148 | WIND TURBINE NOISE CONTROL METHODS - A wind turbine having at least one trailing edge control surface ( | 09-04-2014 |
20140248123 | CONTROL OF WIND TURBINES - A wind turbine power plant comprises a plurality of wind turbines, each having a rated output and under the control of a power plant controller. The power plant also has a rated output which may be over-rated in response to one or more of electricity pricing data, power plant age and operator demand. The power plant controller can send over-rating demand signals to individual turbines. The controllers at the turbines include a fatigue life usage estimator which estimates a measure of the fatigue life consumed by key components of the turbine. If this measure exceeds a target value for any component, over-rating is prevented at that turbine. | 09-04-2014 |
20140244328 | WIND TURBINE MAINTENANCE OPTIMIZER - A service planning engine may predict the future wind speed at a wind farm as well as the future price of energy of the utility grid coupled to the wind turbines. Based on the predicted values, the service planning engine identifies times to perform maintenance when lost revenue is minimized—e.g., when the predicted price of energy is low. Furthermore, the service planning engine may calculate a service priority associated with the turbine to determine when to perform service. The service priority may be based on a status signal associated with the component to be serviced or the time window stipulated in the service contract for performing the maintenance. In one embodiment, the service planning engine also considers resource constraints such as labor costs (e.g., work schedules, overtime costs, availability of technicians with certain skills, availability of components, shipping costs, and the like). | 08-28-2014 |
20140239640 | WIND POWER PLANT AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING WIND TURBINE GENERATOR IN A WIND POWER PLANT - A wind power plant comprises at least a first and one or more other wind turbine generators ( | 08-28-2014 |
20140239166 | OPTICAL FIBRE GRATING SENSOR SYSTEM AND METHOD - The present invention relates to an optical fibre for a fibre 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 fibre. | 08-28-2014 |
20140232198 | CONTROL DEVICE FOR DAMPING GRID OSCILLATIONS - The invention relates to a method for damping grid oscillations. The oscillations may be damped by controlling e.g. wind turbine generators to inject power to the grid in anti-phase with the grid oscillations. Instead of controlling one or more wind turbine generators to generate the same anti-phase power signal, a plurality of wind turbine generators are controlled so that each of them only generates a part of the anti-phase power signal, but so that all of the wind turbine generators in combination generates the entire anti-phase power signal. | 08-21-2014 |
20140230223 | TOWER PART FOR A WIND TURBINE, AN APERTURE COVER SYSTEM, A METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A TOWER PART AND USES HEREOF - The invention relates to a tower part for a wind turbine including at least one wall segment and at least one aperture segment including at least one aperture. The wall segment and the aperture segment are connected and the aperture segment is of a substantially uniform thickness and is thicker than the thickness of the wall segment. The invention further related to an aperture cover system for covering at least one aperture in a tower part for a wind turbine including cover plates and attachments for attaching the system to the tower part, wherein the attachments do not affect the fatigue limit of the tower part. Finally, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a wind turbine tower part and uses thereof. | 08-21-2014 |
20140219812 | APPARATUS FOR ACCESSING THE NACELLE OF A WIND TURBINE AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A wind turbine includes a tower having an interior, an exterior, a lower end and an upper end; a nacelle coupled to the tower adjacent the upper end and movable to define at least two yaw positions of the nacelle; a rotor coupled to the nacelle; and an access apparatus disposed about the tower adjacent the upper end thereof, the access apparatus defining a passageway into the nacelle that is exterior of the tower, and the access apparatus providing access to the nacelle in the at least two yaw positions of the nacelle. A method for transporting equipment and personnel to the nacelle using the access apparatus is disclosed. A method for assembling a wind turbine having such an access apparatus is also disclosed. | 08-07-2014 |
20140219804 | HUB FOR A WIND TURBINE - The invention provides a hub for a wind turbine, the hub comprising a continuous shell being assembled from at least two shell parts. To improve stiffness of the hub, a plate element is attached within blade flanges of the assembled hub. Due to the combination between shell parts and a plate element, manufacturing and transportation is facilitated while strength and rigidity is ensured. | 08-07-2014 |
20140219801 | NACELLE CONSTRUCTION FOR A WIND TURBINE - A heli-hoist pad ( | 08-07-2014 |
20140217730 | POWER DISSIPATING ARRANGEMENT IN A WIND TURBINE - A power dissipating arrangement for dissipating power from a generator in a wind turbine is provided. The generator comprises a plurality of output terminals corresponding to a multi-phase output. The power dissipating arrangement comprises a plurality of dissipating units, a plurality of semiconductor switches, a trigger circuit for switching the semiconductor switches and a control unit for controlling the operation of the trigger circuit, thereby controlling the switching of the semiconductor switches. Each dissipating unit includes a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of each dissipating unit is coupled to each output terminal of the generator. Each semiconductor switch includes a first terminal anode, a second terminal and a gate terminal. The first terminal of each semiconductor switch is coupled to the second terminal of each dissipating unit and the second terminal of the semiconductor switch is coupled to the second terminal of another dissipating unit, such that the second terminal of each dissipating unit is coupled to the first terminal of one semiconductor switch and the second terminal of another semiconductor switch. The trigger circuit is coupled to the gate terminal of the plurality of the semiconductor switches for switching the semi-conductor switches. | 08-07-2014 |
20140215783 | PRODUCTION FACILITY COMPRISING A TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR PROCESSING ELONGATED PRODUCTS, IN PARTICULAR WIND TURBINE BLADES, WITH ELONGATED MOULD ASSEMBLIES - The present invention relates to a production facility ( | 08-07-2014 |
20140207296 | DISABLEMENT OF WIND TURBINES IN A WIND PARK - Embodiments of the invention generally relate to wind turbine generators, and more specifically to the deactivation of wind turbines in a wind turbine park. A wind park controller may be configured to retrieve data indicating fatigue experienced by each wind turbine of the wind turbine park, and deactivate those turbines determined to be the most fatigued, thereby increasing the lifetime of turbines in the wind turbine park. | 07-24-2014 |
20140204533 | HEAT SINK FOR COOLING OF POWER SEMICONDUCTOR MODULES - A heat sink for cooling at least one power semiconductor module, and that includes a basin for containing a cooling liquid. The basin has a contact rim for receiving the base plate and that includes a surface that is sloped inwards to the basin. | 07-24-2014 |
20140203563 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING POWER OUTPUT FROM A WIND TURBINE OR WIND POWER PLANT - A LIDAR or other remote sensing apparatus is mounted on a wind turbine to sense one or more wind parameters. An extreme event detector processing signals from the LIDAR to determine whether a given sensed parameter will, when it arrives at the turbine, exceed a predetermined value and represent an extreme event. On detection of an extreme event, the detector outputs an extreme event signal to a controller. The controller controls overrating of the turbine in response to a variety of sensed parameters and selectively operates the turbine at above rated wind speed. On receipt of the extreme event signal the overrating is overridden to prevent damage to turbine components. The controller may be a power plant controller and the override signal may override only overrating at the turbine which has detected the extreme event, or a plurality of turbines. | 07-24-2014 |
20140193257 | ACOUSTIC NOISE MONITORING SYSTEM FOR A WIND TURBINE - The present invention relates to an acoustic noise monitoring system for a wind turbine, comprising: a microphone for monitoring acoustic noise, the microphone adapted to be mounted to the exterior of a wind turbine nacelle; an input, the input adapted to receive operating conditions data from a wind turbine; a processor, the processor adapted to receive data from the microphone and the input; and storage memory, adapted to store the acoustic noise data and the operating conditions data. The processor is adapted to apply a transfer function to said acoustic noise data to correlate said data with a set of acoustic noise data measured at a remote location from the wind turbine. The system may comprise a controller adapted to generate a control signal, for outputting to a wind turbine controller, for adjusting the operating parameters of the wind analyser turbine in dependence on said correlated data. | 07-10-2014 |
20140192570 | POWER GENERATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A POWER GENERATION SYSTEM - According to an embodiment, a power generation system is provided comprising a power generator; a plurality of converter modules, each converter module having a DC link, wherein the DC link of each converter module is connected to the DC links of the other converter modules of the plurality of converter modules via a fuse associated with the converter module; and a controller configured to, if it is detected that there is a fault in one of the converter modules, disconnect the converter module in which there is a fault from the power generator and connect two or more other converters module of the plurality of converter modules to the power generator and to control the power generation system to supply power to the DC links of the two or more other converter modules such that power is supplied to the converter module in which there is a fault via the fuse associated with the converter module such that the fuse associated with the converter module melts. | 07-10-2014 |
20140186183 | TOOL AND A METHOD FOR MOVING A WIND TURBINE DRIVETRAIN COMPONENT - The invention includes a tool for moving a drive train component in a nacelle of a horizontal axis wind turbine, the nacelle comprising a nacelle structure ( | 07-03-2014 |
20140186153 | SEALING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MAINTAINING A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT IN A WIND TURBINE BY ABSORBING LUBRICANT USED IN THE PITCH OR YAW BEARINGS - A sealing system for a wind turbine comprises first component and a second component positioned proximate the first component and movable relative thereto. An absorbent element is secured to the first component and comprises an oil-absorbent material. A contact member is secured to the absorbent element and comprises a non-absorbent material. The contact member abuts the second component so that lubricant leaking from between the first and second components is collected by the absorbent element. A method of maintain a clean environment in a wind turbine with such a sealing system is also disclosed. | 07-03-2014 |
20140178197 | CONTROL METHOD FOR A WIND TURBINE - A method of controlling a wind turbine comprising blades attached to a rotor hub for rotation in a rotor plane and a control system for individually pitching the blades relative to the hub. The method comprises dividing the rotor plane into a number of sectors, determining the individual sectors for each blade during the rotation by means of an azimuth angle sensor, and obtaining blade sensor data from a blade sensor on an individual blade relating to a sector, and comparing the obtained data with data relating to the same sector and representing blade sensor data on other blades. When an event is detected in a given sector, an individual pitch contribution is determined in the sector, and the blades are then pitched according to this individual pitch contribution for that given sector at least partly during passage of the sector. | 06-26-2014 |
20140170369 | CHORDWISE LAY-UP OF FIBRE SHEET MATERIAL FOR TURBINE BLADES - The present invention relates to a fibre sheet material and method of laying up fibre sheet material to manufacture wind turbine blades. The invention further comprises a blade manufactured by the method as well a use of such a blade. One aspect relates to an oblong fibre sheet material ( | 06-19-2014 |
20140154075 | POWER PRODUCTION OF WIND TURBINES - Embodiments of the invention generally relate to wind turbine generators, and more specifically to improving power production in wind turbine generators. A rotor plane of the wind turbine may be divided into a plurality of sections. A characteristic of wind associated with each section may be determined. An optimal pitch angle may be determined for each section based on the associated wind characteristic. A pitch controller may adjust the pitch angle of a blade to the optimal pitch angle as the blade sweeps through the section. | 06-05-2014 |
20140152013 | METHOD OF YAWING A ROTOR OF A WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine ( | 06-05-2014 |
20140152011 | REDUNDANT POWER SUPPLY ARCHITECTURE - The present invention relates to a redundant power supply system for wind turbine control systems, said power supply system being adapted to supply power to one or more power consumers of a wind turbine control system, the redundant power supply system comprising a first power rail, a second power rail, and switching means being adapted to select the first or the second power rail so as to provide power to at least part of a power consumer from either the first power rail or the second power rail. The invention further relates to an associated method. | 06-05-2014 |
20140151578 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING DAMAGE TO A WIND TURBINE BLADE - A system and method of detecting damage to a wind turbine blade uses one or more fluorescent optical fibres comprising a fluorescent material having an excitation wavelength that is selected such that the material fluoresces upon exposure to ambient radiation at the wind turbine blade, wherein the one or more optical fibres are operatively mounted within the wind turbine blade such that upon damage to the wind turbine blade at least a part of the optical fibre is exposed at the surface of the blade causing the optical fibre to fluoresce; a light detector for receiving a light signal from one or from both ends of the one or more optical fibres upon excitation of the fluorescent material and outputting a signal based on the light signal; and a controller coupled to the light detector to receive the signal. | 06-05-2014 |
20140147272 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR SERVICING WIND TURBINE COMPONENTS THROUGH A LOWER PORTION OF A TOWER - A wind turbine tower ( | 05-29-2014 |
20140145440 | VARIABLE WIND TURBINE HAVING A POWER DISSIPATING UNIT; A METHOD OF OPERATING A POWER DISSIPATING UNIT IN A WIND TURBINE - A variable speed wind turbine is provided. The variable speed wind turbine comprises a generator, a power converter for converting at least a portion of electrical power generated by the generator, the power converter comprising a generator-side converter, a grid-side converter and a DC (direct current) link therebetween, a power dissipating unit operatively coupled to the DC-link, and a controller. The controller is adapted to receive a request to reduce power output from the wind turbine, determine a feed forward power signal based on a reference generator power and a desired turbine power, and operate the power dissipating unit based on the feed forward power signal. | 05-29-2014 |
20140140843 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING WIND TURBINES FROM EXTREME EVENTS - A wind turbine has a Lidar device to sense wind conditions upstream of the wind turbine. Wind speed signals from the wind turbine are processed to detect an extreme operating gust. The detection is performed by differentiating the axial wind velocity and filtering for a period of time. On detection of extreme operating gust the system controller takes necessary evasive action which may include shutting down the turbine or varying the blade pitch angle. | 05-22-2014 |
20140133985 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR WITH LOCALIZED AIR GAP CONTROL AND A WIND TURBINE HAVING SUCH A GENERATOR - A wind turbine component ( | 05-15-2014 |
20140125058 | WIND TURBINE OPTICAL WIND SENSOR - The invention comprises a wind turbine optical wind sensor | 05-08-2014 |
20140122011 | METHOD FOR DIAGNOSTIC MONITORING OF A WIND TURBINE GENERATOR SYSTEM - A method for diagnostic monitoring of a wind turbine generator system, said wind turbine generator system comprising a generator, a drive train, and a number of sensors for providing signals and a control system. The method comprising the selection of three sets of signals from said sensors. From the three sets of signals three conditioned sets of signals are obtained by high pass filtering said first set of signals, low pass filtering the second set of signals, and forming a moving average value on the third set of signals. Based on each of said first, second and third set of conditioned signals an evaluation is performed in order to determine a fault, where said evaluation comprises comparing the first, second and third set of conditioned signals with reference values. If said comparison indicates a fault an alarm is set. | 05-01-2014 |
20140118177 | RADAR ABSORBING MATERIAL COMPATIBLE WITH LIGHTNING PROTECTION SYSTEMS - A wind turbine component incorporating radar-absorbing material having increased compatibility with lightning protection systems is described. The radar absorbing material includes a ground plane having an electrical conductivity and/or a dielectric constant that is higher in the presence of an electric field having a frequency of 1 GHz and above than in the presence of an electric field having a frequency of 10 MHz and below. Suitable materials for the ground plane include ferroelectric and ferrimagnetic materials and percolating material combinations, all of which have frequency-dependent properties that can be tuned to make the ground plane highly reflective at radar frequencies and benign at lightning discharge frequencies. | 05-01-2014 |
20140112032 | WIND TURBINE FAULT DETECTION CIRCUIT AND METHOD - A wind turbine fault detection circuit and method is disclosed herein. In a described embodiment, the wind turbine fault detection circuit comprises a magnetometer in the form of a hall-effect sensor coupled between a power converter and a ground element of the power converter and configured to measure a ground current from the power converter to obtain a real ground current Ig; and a comparator configured to determine presence of a fault based on the real ground current. | 04-24-2014 |
20140110947 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR HAVING AN EDDY CURRENT BRAKE, WIND TURBINE HAVING SUCH A GENERATOR, AND ASSOCIATED METHODS - A wind turbine generator includes an outer housing, a drive shaft rotatably mounted within the outer housing, stator and rotor assemblies positioned within the outer housing and movable relative to each other, a heat exchanger, and a blower having a rotating plate for generating a fluid flow circuit within the generator for transporting heat from the stator and rotor assemblies to the heat exchanger. An eddy current brake having a rotating member is located within the outer housing and is positioned in the fluid flow circuit such that fluid moving in the flow circuit cools the first rotating member. The blower and the eddy current brake may be integrated, such as by having the rotating plate of the blower serve as the rotating member of the eddy current brake. A wind turbine having such a generator, as well as a method of operating a wind turbine generator is also disclosed. | 04-24-2014 |
20140110941 | WIND FARM AND A METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND FARM - According to an aspect of the invention, a wind farm is provided. The wind farm includes a plurality of wind turbines and a wind farm controller. The controller is configured to detect a high wind condition from at least one wind turbine in the wind farm, reduce a parameter setpoint of at least one other wind turbine, and increase a cut-out wind speed threshold of the at least one other wind turbine. | 04-24-2014 |
20140091673 | Direct Drive Segmented Generator - The present invention relates a stator segment for an electrical machine, comprising a plurality of windings, each winding having a winding starting and ending point, and a stator yoke with a plurality of stator slots for receiving at least one stator winding, said segment having a first side and a second side. At least one winding having its starting point at the first side, and its ending point at the first side of the segment, the at least one winding is received in one or more stator slots. At least one other winding having its starting point at the second side, and its ending point at the second side of the segment, the at least one other winding is received in one or more stator slots | 04-03-2014 |
20140091666 | Direct Drive Segmented Generator - The present invention relates an electrical machine comprising a plurality of stator segments;each segment has a plurality of electrical phase windings embedded in stator slots in a phase sequence, wherein the phase of the first slot of a segment is different from the phase of the first slot of an adjacent segment. | 04-03-2014 |
20140086723 | WIND TURBINE CONTROL SYSTEM WITH DECENTRALIZED VOTING - The present invention relates to a fault-tolerant control system for a wind turbine comprising a plurality of controllable wind turbine components, the control system comprising control means for generating a replica of essentially concurrent set-point values, a data communication network for transmitting the replica of essentially concurrent set-point values to the plurality of wind turbine components, and a plurality of decentralised voting means being arranged so that a decentralised voting means is assigned to each wind turbine component, each decentralised voting means being adapted to select one set-point value out of the replica of set-point values. The present invention further relates to a wind turbine and to an associated method. | 03-27-2014 |
20140083723 | FAULT-TOLERANT FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM - The present invention relates to a redundant fire protection system for a wind turbine adapted to feed power into an associated power supply grid, the redundant fire protection system comprising a fire protection control unit, a first group of fire protection related detectors adapted to monitor a first wind turbine component, and a second group of fire protection related detectors adapted to monitor the first wind turbine component, wherein the fire protection control unit is operatively connected to the first and second groups of fire protection related detectors via a redundant power supply and data communication network. The present invention further relates to a wind turbine applying such a redundant fire protection system, and an associated method. | 03-27-2014 |
20140081473 | DISTRIBUTED FAULT-TOLERANT CONTROL AND PROTECTION SYSTEM - The present invention relates to a distributed fault-tolerant control system for a modularized wind turbine or wind power plant system comprising sub-assemblies, the control system comprising 1) fault-tolerant control means adapted to generate control set-points and/or data values, said fault-tolerant control means being distributed in sub-assemblies in accordance with the modularization of the wind turbine or wind power plant system, and 2) fault-tolerant communication network for transmitting control set-points and/or data values at essentially the same time to a plurality of nodes in the distributed control system, said plurality of distributed nodes being capable of selecting a valid transmission package out of two or more transmission packages provided on the fault-tolerant communication network. | 03-20-2014 |
20140072446 | WIND TURBINE ROTOR SHAFT SUPPORT STRUCTURE - Support structures of a wind turbine, including a bearing housing that supports bearings that allow a rotor shaft to rotate about a rotor axis. The bearing housing may be constructed to minimize forces in the bearings in response moments that act on the rotor shaft about axes other than the rotor axis. The support structures of the wind turbine may also include a base to which the bearing housing may be mounted. The base may include features that minimize stress within the wind turbine structure and/or a yaw mechanism of the wind turbine in response to moments that act within the wind turbine about axes other than the rotor axis. | 03-13-2014 |
20140070538 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING WIND TURBINES FROM EXTREME EVENTS - A wind turbine has a scanning Lidar arranged on the nacelle. The Lidar has a single scanning beam which scans about a substantially vertical axis to sense wind related data in a measurement volume a predetermined distance from the Lidar. Fast Fourier transforms of data from a plurality of points in the measurement volume are analysed to derive a peak velocity and a measure of variance. A controller receives the peak velocity and measure of variance as inputs and generates an output if the controller determines that the input data shows that the wind conditions are such that damage to the wind turbine is likely. | 03-13-2014 |
20140054894 | WIND TURBINE INCLUDING OPTICAL SENSOR SYSTEM - A wind turbine includes an optical sensor system comprising one or more optical sensors comprising: a sensor membrane; a light source for illuminating a surface of the sensor membrane; an optical dispersive element arranged to disperse the light from the light source; and a light detector for receiving a portion of the dispersed light beam after reflection from the surface of the sensor membrane and dispersion of the light beam by the optical dispersive element. The wavelength of the light received at the light detector varies as a function of the displacement of the sensor membrane and the light detector operatively provides an output based on changes in the wavelength of the received light. The wind turbine is operable based on an input to a wind turbine control system received from the optical sensor system. | 02-27-2014 |
20140054893 | HYDRAULIC TRANSMISSION METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR WIND TURBINES - A hydraulic transmission for a wind turbine that includes a rotor, one or more blades mounted to the rotor, a hydraulic pump mechanically connected to the rotor, and a hydraulic motor. The hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor are connected to one another by a high pressure circuit. The hydraulic pump maybe a variable displacement hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor may include a variable displacement hydraulic motor. The wind turbine, including the rotor, the blades of the rotor, the hydraulic pump, and the hydraulic motor may be controlled according to different approaches. | 02-27-2014 |
20140049046 | WIND POWER PLANT WITH HIGHLY RELIABLE REAL-TIME POWER CONTROL - The present invention relates to a fault-tolerant control system for a wind power plant comprising a plurality of power units, the control system comprising control means for generating a replica of essentially concurrent power unit set-point values, a data communication network for transmitting the essentially concurrent power unit set-point values to the plurality of power units and a plurality of decentralised voting means being arranged so that a decentralised voting means is assigned to each power unit, each decentralised voting means being adapted to select one power unit set-point value out of the replica of power unit set-points. The present invention further relates to an associated method. | 02-20-2014 |
20140044554 | FOUNDATION FOR A WIND TURBINE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - A method for assembling a modular foundation of a wind turbine having a base and a plurality of foundation sections includes positioning the base of the foundation on a support surface, arranging a plurality of tensioning elements so as to extend from the base to a second location spaced from the base, and stacking a plurality of foundation sections on the base by guiding the foundation sections from the second location toward the base using the tensioning elements. A modular wind turbine foundation includes a base positioned on the seabed; a plurality of tensioning elements extending from the base to a location adjacent the surface of the water; and a plurality of serially stacked foundation segments on top of the base. | 02-13-2014 |
20140042746 | SHOCK SENSOR FOR WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - A vibration sensor ( | 02-13-2014 |
20140039807 | ASSESSING REMAINING USEFUL LIFE FOR PORTIONS OF WIND TURBINE SUPPORT STRUCTURES - Methods for assessing the useful life that may remain for a portion of a wind turbine support structure. The methods may include identifying an overall expected useful life for the portion of the support structure and estimating an expended life from the extent of loading that has occurred to the portion of the support structure during the operative life of a wind turbine. The useful life remaining for the portion may be determined by subtracting the expended life from the overall expected useful life. | 02-06-2014 |
20140035285 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROTECTING WIND TURBINES FROM EXTREME EVENTS - A wind turbine has a Lidar ( | 02-06-2014 |
20140023511 | WIND TURBINE BLADE HAVING A CORROSION PROTECTION STRUCTURE, AND WIND TURBINE HAVING THE SAME - The present invention relates to a wind turbine component, having a connecting portion for connecting the wind turbine component to another turbine component and at least part of the connecting portion is formed of a first type of metal, characterized in that: the connecting portion is further provided with an additional part formed of a second type of metal which is connected to the metallic part of the connecting portion; and the second type of metal is more active than the first type of metal, whereby the additional part forms a sacrificial anode. The present invention further relates to a wind turbine having the above component. | 01-23-2014 |
20140020459 | TESTING AN OVERSPEED PROTECTION SYSTEM OF A WIND TURBINE - The invention relates to a test tool for testing an overspeed protection system of a wind turbine. The system includes a sensor for sensing a first physical signal having a physical nature and representing a speed of rotation of a rotor of the wind turbine, and for providing a corresponding output signal; means for receiving the output signal from the sensor and for determining, based on the output signal, if the speed of rotation exceeds a threshold of speed of rotation; and means for initiating, if the speed of rotation exceeds the threshold of speed of rotation, an action reducing the speed of rotation. The test tool provides a second physical signal of the same physical nature as the first physical signal, is suitable for supplying the second physical signal to the sensor so as to simulate the rotation of the wind turbine. | 01-23-2014 |
20140017047 | TRANSPORTATION OF DRIVE TRAIN COMPONENTS IN A WIND TURBINE NACELLE - The invention relates to a transportation system for transporting at least one drive train component ( | 01-16-2014 |
20140015251 | SAFETY SYSTEM FOR A WIND TURBINE - The invention provides a safety system for a wind turbine comprising a tower with a nacelle, and a rotor with blades and a connected drive train. The safety system comprises at least one load sensing system for providing a load signal significant for a load on the tower or rotor, and an electronic system which based on the load signal brings the wind turbine to a safe condition. | 01-16-2014 |
20140015250 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine includes a grid side converter coupled to a grid via a power line. The method includes determining a first active power reference and a first reactive power reference indicating a requested amount of active power and reactive power, respectively, depending on at least a wind turbine operation strategy; determining a positive and negative sequence components of a grid voltage; determining indications of an actual amount of active power and reactive power to be supplied by the grid side converter to the grid, respectively; generating a parameters defining a proportion of positive sequence current component and negative sequence current component to be injected by the grid side converter in order to supply active power and reactive power; and supplying, with the grid side converter, active and reactive power to the power line based on the current reference. | 01-16-2014 |
20140010661 | WIND TURBINE BLADE BEARING REMOVAL APPARATUS AND METHOD - The invention relates to a wind turbine blade bearing removal apparatus and method for facilitating the change-over of the blade root bearing assembly ( | 01-09-2014 |
20140010658 | METHOD FOR CRANELESS WIND TURBINE BLADE HANDLING VIA A TURBINE HUB - The invention involves craneless dismounting and/or mounting a vertically arranged wind turbine blade from a wind turbine generator hub mounted to a nacelle placed on a tower, said hub being arranged for having a number of blades attached. The method comprises mounting a number of bolt-like extensions in positions, where fastening bolts have been removed or could be received. These extensions are much longer than the fastening bolts, so that the blade may be handled using the extensions to a position where a lifting yoke may be attached or detached, either for lowering or lifting the blade. The method may be performed without at separate crane and is particularly useful in relation to blade maintenance, repair or replacement at remote wind turbine sites which would incur high costs for a mobile crane. Moreover, the method may be performed without having personnel going outside the hub or nacelle, but can stay at the ground and within the hub. | 01-09-2014 |
20140008912 | METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND TURBINE AS WELL AS A SYSTEM SUITABLE THEREFOR - According to a method of the present invention, a method of operating a wind turbine comprising a power generator, a generator side converter connected to the power generator, a line side converter connected to a power grid through power components, and a DC-link connected between the generator side converter and the line side converter is provided, the method comprising: monitoring the grid voltages on the power grid for overvoltage events; if an overvoltage event is detected, operating the line side converter in an overmodulation range for at least a part of the duration of the overvoltage event. | 01-09-2014 |
20140003955 | LAMINATE PRE-FORM FOR A WIND TURBINE BLADE | 01-02-2014 |
20140001759 | METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND TURBINE AS WELL AS A SYSTEM SUITABLE THEREFORE | 01-02-2014 |
20130343888 | WIND TURBINE AND A METHOD OF OPERATING A WIND TURBINE - The invention provides a wind turbine comprising a rotatable drive train including at least one bearing ( | 12-26-2013 |
20130336766 | ROTATING SYSTEM FOR A WIND TURBINE - A rotating system ( | 12-19-2013 |
20130333823 | STRUCTURAL MAT FOR REINFORCING A WIND TURBINE BLADE STRUCTURE, A WIND TURBINE BLADE AND A METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A WIND TURBINE BLADE - The invention relates to a structural mat for reinforcing a wind turbine blade structure. The structural mat comprises two,or more groups of bonded fibres, the fibres being bonded by a matrix substantially preventing relative movement of said fibres and wherein said groups are connected to each other by connection means limiting the relative movement of said groups. The invention further relates to a wind turbine blade and a method for manufacturing a wind turbine blade. | 12-19-2013 |
20130314183 | MAGNETIZER FOR ELECTRICAL MACHINES - The present invention relates a device for magnetizing a rotor of an electrical machine with a power rating of at least 1 MW, wherein the rotor comprises permanent magnet material, said device comprising a yoke with an electromagnetic coil arranged to produce a pulsed magnetic field for magnetizing the permanent magnet material, wherein the magnetic field is sufficient to magnetize a permanent magnetic pole wherein the rotor and yoke is in a fixed relation to each other. The invention also relates to a method for magnetization of a rotor with permanent magnets for an electrical machine. | 11-28-2013 |
20130313826 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR - A system for a wind turbine generator comprising: a set of voltage limiting elements, and a controller configured to bypass the voltage limiting elements when a line voltage is below a predetermined threshold, and configured to connect each voltage limiting element in series between a grid side converter and a turbine transformer of the wind turbine generator, and to determine a current control reference signal for controlling the grid side converter (to generate a determined current) when the line voltage is above the predetermined threshold. | 11-28-2013 |
20130309090 | WIND TURBINE HAVING HELIPLATFORM ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD OF USING SAME - A wind turbine for generating electrical energy may include a tower, a nacelle at the top of the tower, and a rotor coupled to a generator within the nacelle. The wind turbine further includes a cooler including a spoiler and at least one cooler panel projecting above a roof of the nacelle. A heliplatform includes a support structure extending from the nacelle and at least partially integrated with the cooler. The wind turbine may also include a crane coupled to the nacelle and configured to move between a first stowed position underneath the nacelle roof and a second operational position. In the operational position, the crane is selectively positionable over the heliplatform. A method of using the wind turbine and crane is also disclosed. | 11-21-2013 |
20130307277 | WIND TURBINE ARRANGEMENT WITH A MAIN WIND TURBINE AND AT LEAST ONE SECONDARY WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine arrangement comprises a main wind turbine and at least one secondary wind turbine. The main wind turbine is arranged to produce electrical power and to supply produced electrical power to an external power recipient, such as a power grid. The main wind turbine comprises one or more power consuming internal systems, e.g., yaw system, control system, heating systems, lubrication systems, etc. The secondary wind turbine (s) is/are arranged to produce electrical power and to supply produced electrical power to at least some of the power consuming internal system(s) of the main wind turbine. The secondary wind turbine(s) is/are electrically disconnected from the external power recipient. The secondary wind turbine(s) may constitute a backup power supply to the internal systems. Thereby it is not necessary to refuel the backup power supply, and the backup power supply is environmental friendly. This is particularly useful in offshore wind turbine arrangements. | 11-21-2013 |
20130302144 | WIND TURBINE POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM - A power transmission system for increasing the rotational speed from a rotor of a wind turbine comprises a main shaft configured to be driven by the rotor, a support structure, and a gearbox. The support structure includes at least one bearing supporting the main shaft for rotation about the main axis, with no other degrees of freedom between the main shaft and support structure. The gearbox includes a gearbox housing rigidly coupled to the support structure and a gearbox input member coupled to the main shaft. The gearbox housing supports the gearbox input member for rotation about the main axis without any other degrees of freedom, and the gearbox input member is coupled to the main shaft with translational degrees of freedom in all directions and rotational degrees of freedom about axes perpendicular to the main axis. | 11-14-2013 |
20130300125 | WIND TURBINE POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM AND METHOD OF INSTALLING A WIND FARM INCLUDING SAME - A power transmission system for a wind turbine comprises a gearbox and generator. The gearbox includes a gear-box housing and gearbox output member. The generator includes: a generator housing having a drive-end side and non-drive-end side, the drive-end side being coupled to the gearbox housing; a stator supported by the generator housing; a rotor coupled to the gearbox output member so as to be driven thereby; a non-drive-end shield coupled to the non-drive-end side of the generator housing; and at least one auxiliary drive mounted to the non-drive-end shield. The at least one auxiliary drive is configured to rotate the turning gear. A corresponding method of installing a wind farm including such a power transmission system is also provided. | 11-14-2013 |
20130300117 | WIND TURBINE SYSTEM AND METHOD USING VOLTAGE GENERATING MATERIAL - A system for a wind turbine comprises: one or more devices ( | 11-14-2013 |
20130294925 | CORE FOR A COMPOSITE STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF FABRICATION THEREOF - A flexible core ( | 11-07-2013 |
20130290705 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ON-SITE AUTHORISATION - A method for authorisation of a user to access a computer system locally at a site is described. The computer system determines whether a network connection to a remote authentication source is available. If the network connection is available, the computer system authenticates the user by interaction with the remote authentication source. If the network connection is not available, the computer system authenticates the user against a credential provided by the user. In this case, the credential will have been provided by or validated by the remote authentication source less than a predetermined time prior to the authenticating step, and the credential is a certificate issued by a certificate authority already trusted by the computer system and valid for a predetermined period of time. A suitable computer system is also described. | 10-31-2013 |
20130289786 | METHOD OF MANAGING COMPUTING TASKS IN A WIND FARM - A method of managing computing tasks in a wind farm is provided. The method comprises determining the status of a plurality of wind turbines in the wind farm, determining available computing resources based on the status of the plurality of wind turbines, and allocating a portion of the computing tasks to the available computing resources for processing. | 10-31-2013 |
20130288843 | MACHINE SYSTEM HAVING A LUBRICATION SYSTEM - The present invention relates to a machine system comprising a machine having at least a first section and a second section, the first section having a first velocity and the second section having a second velocity, the second velocity being different from the first velocity, and a lubrication system comprising at least one tank having one lubricant, the lubrication system being connected to the first and second sections. Furthermore, the invention relates to a wind turbine comprising the machine system. | 10-31-2013 |
20130287568 | SUPERVISION OF CONTROLLER INSTABILITY IN A WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine including a controller configured to periodically enter an Eigen frequency detection mode in which the controller gain is incremented in a controlled manner to detect the Eigen frequencies. During normal operations, the controller output may be monitored to detect the Eigen frequency which, if detected, may allow damage control operations to be undertaken. | 10-31-2013 |
20130287567 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR IDENTIFYING THE LIKELIHOOD OF A TOWER STRIKE WHERE A ROTOR BLADE STRIKES THE TOWER OF A WIND TURBINE - A system for identifying the likelihood of a wind turbine rotor blade striking a wind turbine tower comprises a device for sensing bending of a wind turbine rotor blade and a device for sensing bending of a wind turbine tower. In a preferred embodiment Long Period Grating (LPG) sensors are used to measure bending of the tower. Preferably a plurality of LPG sensors is provided along the length of the blade. In one embodiment at least one of the LPG sensors comprises two sensing elements arranged to sense in perpendicular directions. In another embodiment a plurality of LPG sensors are provided each on different sides of the wind turbine tower. A processor uses the sensed blade and tower bending to determine whether the distance between the blade and the tower will be below a predetermined minimum value. If the distance is determined to be below the predetermined minimum value a controller may be used to adjust a wind turbine variable to reduce loading on the blade and thereby reduce the likelihood of a tower strike. | 10-31-2013 |
20130285501 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR WITH MOVABLE STATOR SUBUNITS - A generator ( | 10-31-2013 |
20130283600 | MAGNETIZER AND ASSEMBLER FOR ELECTRICAL MACHINES - The present invention relates a device for magnetizing and assembling an electrical machine comprising a stator and a rotor with at least one permanent magnet, the device comprising a magnetizer unit for magnetizing the at least one permanent magnet of the rotor, a rotor load unit and a translation unit for translating the rotor from the magnetizer unit to a rotor load unit for inserting the rotor into the stator. The invention also relates to a method for magnetizing and assembling an electrical machine comprising a stator and a rotor with at least one permanent magnet at a magnetizing unit. | 10-31-2013 |
20130280088 | WIND TURBINE COMPONENT COMPRISING RADAR-ABSORBING MATERIAL - A method of making a wind turbine component of composite construction with enhanced radar absorbing properties is described. The method comprises making the component and then modifying the component by applying circuit analogue elements to a surface of the component. | 10-24-2013 |
20130280087 | COMPOSITE STRUCTURES - A foam core for a composite structure is described. The core includes a first core layer ( | 10-24-2013 |
20130280073 | WIND TURBINE LIGHTING PROTECTION SYSTEM AND WIND TURBINE BLADE - Method and apparatus for cooling a hydrocarbon stream. The present invention relates to a wind turbine lightning protection system and to a wind turbine blade comprising a wind turbine lightning protection system. A lightning protection system is provided for use in a wind turbine blade, comprising a lightning conductor located along an interior portion of the wind turbine blade and being coupled to ground, at least one receptor module arranged on an external surface of the wind turbine blade, the receptor module being electrically connected to the lightning conductor, and a vortex generator strip arranged in a longitudinal direction on the external surface of the wind turbine blade, the vortex generator strip being adapted to attract and receive a lightning strike and to transmit an electrical current from the lightning strike to the receptor module and thereafter to ground through the lightning conductor. | 10-24-2013 |
20130280067 | METHOD OF CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE - A method of controlling a wind turbine rotor blade, the blade comprising a pitch axis about which the blade can be pitched, and a flap movable to alter the aerodynamic profile of the blade, the method comprising the steps of: providing a pitch angle request (θ) to a pitch actuator; determining an initial flap angle request (β_flap); providing a decoupled flap angle request (β) to a flap actuator; herein the decoupled flap angle request (β) is calculated from the pitch angle request (θ) and the initial flap angle request (β_flap) such that the decoupled flap angle (β) provided to the flap actuator does not counteract the pitch angle request (θ); and pitching the blade according to the pitch angle request (θ) and moving the flap according to the decoupled flap angle request (β). | 10-24-2013 |
20130278918 | LONG FIBRE OPTIC SENSOR SYSTEM IN A WIND TURBINE COMPONENT - A sensor system for measuring an operating parameter of a wind turbine component is described. The fibre optic sensor system comprises a light source for outputting light in a predetermined range of wavelengths, and an optical fibre comprising a long Fibre Bragg Grating, extending continuously over a length of the optical fibre to provide a continuous measurement region in the optical fibre. The optical fibre 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 fibre, 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. | 10-24-2013 |
20130277986 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR WITH FLUID FILM BEARING UNITS - A generator ( | 10-24-2013 |
20130277985 | DIRECT DRIVE GENERATOR - The present invention relates to a direct drive generator ( | 10-24-2013 |
20130270837 | WIND TURBINE POWER TRANSMISSION SYSTEM - A power transmission system for a wind turbine comprises a gearbox and generator. The gearbox includes a gearbox housing and gearbox output member. The generator includes: a generator housing having a drive-end side and non-drive-end side, the drive-end side being coupled to the gearbox housing; a stator supported by the generator housing; a rotor having a rotor shaft coupled to the gearbox output member and a rotor body coupled to the rotor shaft; a non-drive-end shield coupled to the non-drive-end side; a spindle extending from the non-drive-end shield in the axial direction; and at least one generator bearing positioned between the rotor shaft and spindle. The generator bearing(s) support the gearbox output member and rotor shaft. A method of assembling or servicing such a power transmission system is also provided. | 10-17-2013 |
20130270834 | WIND TURBINE GENERATOR WITH A STATOR SUPPORT STRUCTURE - A generator ( | 10-17-2013 |
20130270827 | OVER-RATING CONTROL IN WIND TURBINES AND WIND POWER PLANTS - Wind turbines of a wind power plant may be selectively over-rated by measuring the difference between the nominal and actual power plant outputs and deriving an over-rating request signal based on that difference which is sent to each turbine. The same value may be sent to each turbine. Alternatively, each turbine may be given its own over-rating amount based on an optimisation of the turbine. Over-rating may also be used when external economic factors such as energy costs are sufficiently high to out-weigh any potential harmful effect of over-rating. The fatigue lifetime of turbines and their critical components may also be taken into account when deciding whether and to what extent to implement an over-rating command. | 10-17-2013 |
20130265013 | PERMANENT MAGNET GENERATOR INDUCTANCE PROFILE IDENTIFICATION - Parameters of PM machines, especially for IPM machine, are known to vary by significant amounts. This affects the controllability of such machines, which may lead to reduced power loading capability and increased losses. The present invention relates to a method for PM machine inductance profile identification based on voltage mode stator flux observation which could be easily integrated to the generator start-up process in wind turbine application for both stator flux vector feedback control system and current vector feedback control system. | 10-10-2013 |
20130264824 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A POWER GENERATION SYSTEM - A method for operating a power generation system coupled to a power grid during a grid unbalance event, a method for determining an injection current to be supplied into a power grid by a power generation system, and a method for addressing an asymmetric grid fault in a power grid connected to a power generation system are provided. The methods may be carried out based on a reactive or an active power/current priority. | 10-10-2013 |
20130261988 | METHOD FOR PERFORMING CONDITION MONITORING IN A WIND FARM - A method for performing condition monitoring on a plurality of wind turbines arranged in a wind farm is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: for each wind turbine, obtaining at least one vibration signal, each vibration signal representing vibrations of one or more monitored components of the wind turbine, e.g. moving gear parts or bearings; generating a plurality of faulty frequency indexes, each faulty frequency index corresponding to a monitored component, each faulty frequency index being generated on the basis of one or more of the obtained vibration signals, and each faulty frequency index being generated in such a manner that variations in the vibration signals introduced by variations in rotational speed of one or more rotating shafts of the wind turbine are filtered out; comparing faulty frequency indexes originating from different wind turbines of the wind farm; and based on the comparing step, evaluating the condition of each of the monitored components of the plurality of wind turbines. The method allows vibration levels of components to be easily compared on wind farm level, and faulty or failing components are easily and reliably detected. | 10-03-2013 |
20130257051 | OVER-RATING CONTROL OF WIND TURBINES AND POWER PLANTS - A wind turbine power plant comprises a plurality of wind turbines, each having a rated output and under the control of a power plant controller. The power plant also has a rated output which may be over-rated in response to one or more electricity pricing data, power plant age and operator demand. This may comprise a schedule of output set point changes which effect seasonal or intraday changes in electricity prices or which reflect aging of the power plant. It may also reflect the price of electricity on spot or futures markets. Once the over-rating of the power plant has been set, the output may be increased by over-rating individual turbines or operating turbines at rated power if the sum of the rated outputs of the turbines exceeds or is equal to the new power plant output set point. | 10-03-2013 |
20130239379 | APPARATUS FOR FABRICATING A WIND TURBINE BLADE AND RELATED METHOD - An apparatus ( | 09-19-2013 |
20130236324 | WIND TURBINE BLADE STRUCTURES, LIFTING ASSEMBLIES AND METHODS OF BLADE HANDLING - A wind turbine blade | 09-12-2013 |
20130236316 | APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF MOUNTING WIND TURBINE BLADES ON A WIND TURBINE TOWER - The application describes an apparatus for and a method of mounting wind turbine blades on a wind turbine tower. A number of guide rods | 09-12-2013 |
20130236308 | WIND TURBINE HAVING A HEAT TRANSFER SYSTEM - A method of starting up wind turbine ( | 09-12-2013 |
20130224024 | ROTOR BLADE FOR WIND TURBINE WITH MOVABLE CONTROL SURFACE - The invention relates to a wind turbine blade with at least one control surface and an actuator inside the main body of the wind turbine blade for moving the control surface, wherein the actuator comprises a fluidic muscle, a controller and a pump, and wherein the fluidic muscle is adapted to change in length and width when the pressure of the fluid within the fluidic muscle is varied. | 08-29-2013 |
20130213136 | FATIGUE TESTING DEVICE FOR WIND TURBINE BLADE TESTING, A METHOD OF TESTING WIND TURBINE BLADES AND A CONTROL SYSTEM FOR A BLADE TESTING ACTUATOR - The invention provides a fatigue exciter for wind turbine blades. Wind turbine blades require excitation at or near their natural frequency to induce bending moments that simulate in service loadings and must be easily controllable and with the minimum of unnecessary added mass or force. The invention provides a device and a method by which force controlled feedback is used for finding an optimal excitation frequency. This force could be provided e.g. by a digital signal generator. | 08-22-2013 |
20130200620 | WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine is provided. The wind turbine includes a generator, an output thereof being connectable to a power grid via a power transmission path, the power transmission path comprising a generator side converter coupled to the output of the generator, a grid side converter coupled to the power grid, and a DC link coupled between the generator side converter and the grid side converter. For diverting the generator power, a load dump arrangement is provided which includes at least one resistor, a plurality of switches, and a plurality of electrical connections which electrically connect the at least one resistor to the output of the generator and across the DC link via the plurality of switches. One common and configurable load dump is used for both converter system failures and grid failures. As compared to two separate load dumps for converter failures and grid failures, the single load dump will require a smaller space for a wind turbine. Thus, the weight and size of the power converter system may be reduced. | 08-08-2013 |
20130195664 | LIGHTNING CURRENT TRANSFER ARRANGEMENT OF A WIND TURBINE - A lightning current transfer arrangement for a wind turbine is provided, to enable lightning current and electrostatic discharge current to be discharged from a first and a second part of the wind turbine being rotatable relative to each other. The lightning current transfer arrangement is arranged to provide electrical contact between the first and second parts, and has a current transfer unit electrically coupled to the first part, and an electrically conductive slideway electrically coupled to the second part, and rotatable relative to the current transfer unit. The current transfer unit further has a slider elastically biased towards the slideway, where the slider comprises a slide piece made of conductive plastics and contacting the slideway, and an electrode made of metal and directed towards the slideway, the electrode and the slide piece being rigidly coupled. | 08-01-2013 |
20130195657 | WIND TURBINE SYSTEM FOR DETECTION OF BLADE ICING - The invention relates to a method for detecting icing and other loadings on blades of wind turbines. Advantageously, the method utilizes existing wind turbine actuators, for example pitch actuators, far excitation of blade vibrations. Vibration sensors on the blade such as strain sensors or accelerometers measure the blade vibrations excited in response to the actively excised vibrations. By comparing the measured response with previously obtained reference responses, it is possible to determine if blade icing is present. | 08-01-2013 |
20130195632 | WIND TURBINE WITH BEARING SUPPORT - In order to provide a wind turbine generator with a shaft and a bearing system which bearing system, e.g., using less material or using material which is relatively cheaper or which is not needed to have the same strength in comparison with some other solutions, there is disclosed a wind turbine generator with a bearing system including a lockable connection comprising a bearing surface and a support surface which surfaces are engaged when the lockable connection is locked and where forces from the shaft are transferred via the bearing and into the support through the bearing surface and wherein a support angle of the support surface, relatively to a shaft plane formed by rotating the shaft around a first axis, which first axis is perpendicular to the centre axis and which first axis is comprised in a vertical plane, is ranging from and including 5 degrees to and including 70 degrees. | 08-01-2013 |
20130189112 | JOINING METHOD OF COMPOSITE PARTS HAVING A THERMOSET MATRIX, AND WIND TURBINE BLADE MANUFACTURED USING THIS SAID METHOD - A method of fabricating a composite joint from a first cured composite component ( | 07-25-2013 |
20130189100 | WIND TURBINE COMPRISING A DETUNER - A wind turbine comprises a wind-driven rotor for converting wind energy to a mechanical driving force, a power converter for converting the driving force to exploitable power, and a drive train for rotatably transmitting the driving force from the wind-driven rotor to the power converter. The drive train includes: at least one rotatable driving element configured to provide at least one torsional resonance frequency in the drive train; a first detuner having at least one first mass element with a first mass inertia and at least one first elastic element with first elastic properties; and a second detuner having at least one second mass element with a second mass inertia and at least one second elastic element with second elastic properties. The first and second mass elements and first and second elastic elements are arranged to rotate during operation of the wind turbine. The torsional resonance frequency is influenced by the first and second mass inertias and the first and second first elastic properties. | 07-25-2013 |
20130185924 | CHAMFERING OF LAMINATE LAYERS - A method of machining a fibrous sheet for a composite structure is described. The sheet comprises a resin matrix having a glass transition temperature, wherein the method comprises cooling the sheet substantially to maintain the temperature of the matrix below its glass transition temperature during machining. | 07-25-2013 |
20130181532 | HIGH-VOLTAGE POWER CONVERTER - The present invention relates to a high-voltage power converter comprising a number of controllable switching valves, each switching valve comprising a plurality of series connected switching units, the high-voltage power converter further comprising a resonance circuit comprising a link inductor and a link capacitor, and a plurality of clamping circuits connected in series, each clamping circuit comprising a clamping capacitor and a clamping switching unit. | 07-18-2013 |
20130177444 | HUB FOR A WIND TURBINE AND A METHOD FOR FABRICATING THE HUB | 07-11-2013 |
20130175814 | METHOD FOR MOVING A WIND TURBINE COMPONENT, SUCH AS A WIND TURBINE HUB, FROM A TRANSPORTATION POSITION TO A WIND TURBINE ASSEMBLY POSITION IN OR ON THE NACELLE, THE MAIN SHAFT OR THE HUB, A HANDLING UNIT, A WIND TURBINE HUB AND USE HEREOF - The invention relates to a method for moving a wind turbine component, such as a wind turbine hub, from a transportation position to a wind turbine assembly position. The method comprises the steps of: attaching a handling unit to a structural part of the wind turbine component, operatively connecting the handling unit to a wire of a crane system, lifting the wind turbine component with the crane system to an assembly position of the wind turbine, the handling unit and the wind turbine component being suspended from a wire of the crane system, and rotating the wind turbine component with the handling unit during the lifting of the wind turbine component in order to orientate the wind turbine component for assembly. The invention also relates to a handling unit and a wind turbine hub and use hereof. | 07-11-2013 |
20130170991 | TURBINE BLADE TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE OF TURBINE BLADES - The invention provides a wind turbine blade comprising a first shell, having a first bonding region, and a second shell having a second bonding region, wherein the second bonding region of the second shell is bonded to the first bonding region of the first shell; and a temperature sensor positioned between the first bonding region and the second bonding region. Having a temperature sensor positioned within the turbine blade, in the region at which the two shells of the turbine blade are bonded together, allows for accurate determination and control of the temperature of the critical bonding regions during blade manufacture. The temperature sensor may be used during the service life of the wind turbine blade to detect delamination of the wind turbine blade. | 07-04-2013 |
20130169392 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MAGNETIZING AND DEMAGNETIZING MAGNETIC POLES IN AN ELECTRICAL MACHINE - Apparatus and methods to magnetize and demagnetize the magnetic poles of a rotor assembly for an electrical machine, such as a generator. The apparatus and methods provide for individually magnetize magnetic domains in the permanent magnetic material of the magnetic poles of a rotor assembly of the electrical machine after the electrical machine is installed in a larger assembly. The magnetization system may be used to magnetize and demagnetize the magnetic poles while the rotor assembly is connected with a prime mover, such a rotor of a wind turbine. | 07-04-2013 |
20130161956 | Estimation of Wind Conditions at a Wind Turbine - The risk of an extreme gust of wind hitting a wind turbine is estimated by gathering data from one or more sensors for use as training data. This data is acquired over a period of time and is converted in to a feature vector for a given time period by a statistical measure. A number of feature zones are formed, each zone relating to a different estimate of risk with each feature vector being assigned to a risk category. The risk category is defined with reference to the value of one or more chosen turbine parameters at the time the data was acquired. The feature zones are formed from from a measure of distance such as the mean and co-variance of feature vectors from within a given category. Live data is processed by measuring the mahalonobis distance from the feature vector of the live data to the centre of each zone and the risk of an extreme gust is assessed as that of the feature zone to which the mahalonobis distance is lowest. | 06-27-2013 |
20130147442 | Direct power and stator flux vector control of a generator for wind energy conversion system - A method for controlling a variable speed wind turbine generator is disclosed. The generator is connected to a power converter comprising switches. The generator comprises a stator and a set of terminals connected to the stator and to the switches of the power converter. The method comprises: determining a stator flux reference value corresponding to a generator power of a desired magnitude, determining an estimated stator flux value corresponding to an actual generator power, determining a difference between the determined stator flux reference value and the estimated stator flux value, and operating said switches in correspondence to the determined stator flux reference value and the estimated stator flux value to adapt at least one stator electrical quantity to obtain said desired generator power magnitude. | 06-13-2013 |
20130140819 | METHOD FOR OPERATING A WIND TURBINE AT IMPROVED POWER OUTPUT - A method for operating a wind turbine is disclosed. The wind turbine comprises a rotor having a set of wind turbine blades, said rotor being mounted on a tower. The method comprises the steps of: Providing a curve defining optimal pitch angle as a function of tip speed ratio for the wind turbine blades or as a function of wind speed. Modifying at least a part of said optimal pitch angle curve by applying a safety buffer, e.g. at tip speed ratios and/or pitch angles where there is a risk that the blades may stall and/or that overload is caused to the wind turbine, thereby obtaining a safety modified pitch angle curve. Operating the wind turbine in accordance with the safety modified pitch angle curve. Measuring one or more parameters providing information regarding wind conditions and/or loads on one or more components of the wind turbine, during operation of the wind turbine. Adjusting the safety buffer, based on said measurements, thereby obtaining an adjusted pitch angle curve, and operating the wind turbine in accordance with the adjusted pitch angle curve. The safety buffer is applied in order to ensure that the blades of the wind turbine do not stall and/or that the wind turbine is not overloaded, but it has the effect that the wind turbine is operated in a suboptimal manner from an energy production view. Since the safety buffer is adjusted based on measured parameters, it can be reduced if it is detected that the actual operating conditions are less severe than expected. This allows the wind turbine to be operated in a more optimal manner, thereby increasing the energy production of the wind turbine. | 06-06-2013 |
20130140818 | CONTROLLING OF NOISE EMISSON OF A WIND PARK - A method of controlling noise emission of a wind park includes monitoring noise emitted from the wind park by detecting and identifying noise emitted by some or all of the plurality of the wind park's wind turbines and estimating the level thereof. If the level of the monitored noise exceeds a predetermined noise threshold the wind park controller commands one or more of the wind turbines, chosen by the importance of its or their relative influence on the noise emitted from the wind park to the measuring location, to change operation to an operation mode with reduced noise emission. | 06-06-2013 |
20130135135 | WIND TURBINES - A wind turbine having a tower and at least one radar-absorbing panel attached to an outer surface of the tower is described. The panels are attached by mounts that do not penetrate the outer surface of the tower. In preferred embodiments of the invention, the mounts attach magnetically to the outer surface of the tower. | 05-30-2013 |
20130134711 | WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine ( | 05-30-2013 |
20130129508 | WIND TURBINE - A wind turbine | 05-23-2013 |
20130121825 | CALLIBRATION OF WIND TURBINE SENSOR - A method is disclosed for calibrating a wind turbine sensor placed on a component of a wind turbine and where the wind turbine is of the type having a rotor with at least one pitchable wind turbine blade. The method comprises pitching one or more of the blades according to a predetermined pitch movement and detecting the response signal from the wind turbine sensor at least partly caused by the pitch movement. From this is then determined a characteristic sensor response value which upon comparison to a predetermined sensor calibration parameter forms the basis for a calibration of the wind turbine sensor if needed. The characteristic sensor response value may be determined from the pitch movement having been performed a number of times over a longer period of time. | 05-16-2013 |
20130116841 | CONTROLLING A WIND POWER PLANT TRANSFORMER - A method for controlling a pilot signal (Ps) to a WPPT with an adjustable coil ratio, wherein the primary side of the transformer is connected to a plurality of WTGs and a variable reactive compensation load, the method comprising the steps of receiving an actual primary-side voltage (V | 05-09-2013 |
20130115043 | ROTATIONAL POSITIONING SYSTEM IN A WIND TURBINE - A rotational positioning system in a wind turbine is provided that comprises a driven part (101), a plurality of positioning drives (102) coupled to the driven part (101), a plurality of sensors (111) each arranged to sense a load parameter indicative of the load of the respective positioning drive (102), and a load controller (112, 113, 114, 115) connected to the plurality of sensors (111). The load controller (112, 113, 114, 115) is arranged to determine a load of a respective positioning drive (102) based on the sensed load parameter, to compare said load with an expected load value, and to output a signal (115) indicative of a failure of the respective positioning drive (102) in response to the load being smaller than the expected load value. | 05-09-2013 |
20130110414 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR DETECTING SENSOR FAULT MODES | 05-02-2013 |
20130104376 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HANDLING WIND TURBINE TOWER SECTIONS | 05-02-2013 |
20130101415 | WIND TURBINE BLADE, WIND TURBINE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A WIND TURBINE BLADE - A wind turbine blade includes one or more electric powered modules powered by light beams so as to provide a galvanic separation between the electric powered modules and a lightning protection system in a wind turbine blade. The modules have a power supply converting an energy source in the form of light beams to electrical power for the one or more modules. A wind turbine and a method for manufacturing a wind turbine blade are also disclosed. | 04-25-2013 |
20130100570 | LIGHTNING CURRENT TRANSFER ASSEMBLY FOR A WIND TURBINE - A lightning current transfer assembly ( | 04-25-2013 |
20130098859 | CRANE FOR HANDLING OF WIND TURBINE GENERATOR COMPONENTS AND METHOD OF HOISTING OF SUCH A CRANE - A crane capable of handling of major components during installation or servicing of wind turbines, comprises a main body ( | 04-25-2013 |
20130093375 | METHOD OF POSITION SENSORLESS CONTROL OF AN ELECTRICAL MACHINE - A position sensorless control methodology for electrical machines using high frequency flux vector signal injection in the estimated rotor flux rotational reference frame is provided. In one aspect, the estimated position error function is derived directly from the stator flux equation without any simplification. The method is applicable for electrical generator motoring mode operation from standstill and power generation mode operation. | 04-18-2013 |
20130076037 | METHOD AND CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTROLLING CENTRAL CAPACITORS IN WIND POWER PLANTS - The present invention relates to a control system and an associated method for controlling an amount of reactive power delivered from a wind power plant to an associated power supply grid, the control system comprising a wind power plant controller and a number of wind turbine controllers each being in communication with said wind power plant controller, wherein the wind power plant controller is adapted to provide a grid voltage reference in response to a required total amount of reactive power to at least one wind turbine controller and operating a Switched Capacitor bank. | 03-28-2013 |
20130040151 | METHOD FOR JOINING FIBRE-CONTAINING COMPOSITE MATERIALS - The present invention relates to methods for joining and for improving interfacial strength of joints in objects of fibre-containing composite materials, such as epoxy/glass fibre composite materials of a wind turbine blade, as well as fibre reinforced composite materials, laminates and other interconnected objects prepared by this method. In particular wind turbine blades prepared by this method are described. The present invention further relates to robots and robotic tools for carrying out the described methods for joining objects of fibre-containing composite materials. | 02-14-2013 |
20130035198 | GEARBOX COMPRISING A STATIONARY GEAR COMPONENT FORMED ON THE BASIS OF VARIABLE FLANK PROFILES OF GEAR TEETH - In a gearbox, a stationary gear component such as a ring gear of a planetary gear comprises a tooth trace correction that varies along the tooth trace so as to provide for superior load distribution in the gearbox. In some illustrative embodiments, the gearbox is a component of a wind power plant wherein the circumferentially varying tooth trace correction of the stationary ring gear results in superior durability and performance. | 02-07-2013 |
20130033268 | TEST SYSTEM FOR WIND TURBINE DUMP LOAD - The present invention relates to a dump load applied in a wind turbine generator; normally it is only operating to absorb the energy during faults. Therefore in the majority time of wind turbine generator operation, the dump load is not applied, and its health condition is unknown. This invention is about a method to check the dump load condition during normal operation. | 02-07-2013 |
20130030784 | RENEWABLE ENERGY CONFIGURATOR - Embodiments for determining an optimal configuration for a renewable energy power plant are provided. The power plant, which may be a virtual power plant, includes one or more generator devices and one or more energy storage devices that may be operated to undertake one or more operating applications. Data indicative of the power output of the power plant and the voltage level at the energy storage system connection point is received as an input. Using this data, combinations of energy storage devices and operating applications stored on a database are processed and, for each energy storage and operating application pair, a value indicative of the profitability of undertaking the operating application is determined. These values are used to rank the combinations of energy storage devices and operating applications according to their profitability, which in turn is used to select the most efficient or profitable application/energy storage pair. | 01-31-2013 |
20130028739 | WIND TURBINE BLADE AND A LIGHTNING MEASUREMENT SYSTEM THEREIN - The invention generally relates to a blade for a wind turbine, and to a blade for a wind turbine comprising a lightning measurement system. In particular, a lightning measurement system is provided, comprising a lightning current sensor located in the blade for more accurate lightning measurements. A method of measuring a lightning strike is also provided. | 01-31-2013 |
20130011272 | NACELLE FOR A WIND TURBINE, THE NACELLE COMPRISING SIDE UNITS - A nacelle ( | 01-10-2013 |
20130009611 | DIRECT POWER AND STATOR FLUX VECTOR CONTROL OF A GENERATOR FOR WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM - A method for controlling a variable speed wind turbine generator is disclosed. The generator is connected to a power converter comprising switches. The generator comprises a stator and a set of terminals connected to the stator and to the switches of the power converter. The method comprises: determining a stator flux reference value corresponding to a generator power of a desired magnitude, determining an estimated stator flux value corresponding to an actual generator power, determining a difference between the determined stator flux reference value and the estimated stator flux value, and operating said switches in correspondence to the determined stator flux reference value and the estimated stator flux value to adapt at least one stator electrical quantity to obtain said desired generator power magnitude. | 01-10-2013 |
20120318057 | WIND TURBINE OPTICAL WIND SENSOR - The invention comprises a wind turbine having an optical wind sensor | 12-20-2012 |
20120310426 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING AN INERTIAL RESPONSE TO A CHANGE IN THE VOLTAGE OF AN ELECTRICIAL GRID - Systems, methods, and computer program products for providing an inertial response by a wind power system to power fluctuations in an electrical grid. The system includes a synthetic inertial response generator configured to generate a power offset in response to fluctuations in grid voltage. The power offset signal is generated by determining a quadrature component the grid voltage using an internal reference voltage having an angular frequency and phase angle that is synchronized to the electrical grid by a control loop. The quadrature component is used to determine a synchronous power level. A control loop error signal is produced by the difference between the synchronous power level and the wind turbine system power output. Changes in the grid frequency produce an error signal that is added to the power set point of wind turbine system output controllers to provide a power system inertial power output response. | 12-06-2012 |
20120308396 | SECTIONAL BLADE - A sectional blade for a wind turbine, the blade extending lengthwise between a tip and a root where the blade is attachable to a hub of a wind turbine, crosswise between a leading edge and a trailing edge, and thickness wise between a windward and a leeward outer surface. The sectional blade comprises a first blade portion and a second blade portion. The blade portions are formed as separate components and arranged to extend lengthwise in opposite directions from a junction where the blade portions join. The blade forms, in a cross section perpendicular to the lengthwise direction and through the junction, a maximum thickness location between the leading and trailing edges, the maximum thickness location being where the distance between the windward and leeward outer surfaces is larger than at any other location in this cross section. The sectional blade comprises an assembly board which is adhesively joined to an outer surface of both blade portions between the trailing edge and the maximum thickness location. | 12-06-2012 |
20120306277 | WIND TURBINE CONTROLLER APPLYING DIFFERENTIAL POLE CONTROL ALGORITHM - The present invention relates to a control system and an associated method for controlling an amount of reactive power delivered from a wind power plant to an associated power supply grid, the control system comprising a wind power plant controller and a number of wind turbine controllers each being in communication with said wind power plant controller, wherein the wind power plant controller is adapted to provide a grid voltage reference in response to a required total amount of reactive power to at least one wind turbine controller, said wind turbine controller comprising a voltage control loop comprising means for cancellation of a steady-state local voltage error. | 12-06-2012 |
20120306214 | WIND TURBINE, A METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING AND HANDLING THE WIND TURBINE AND USES HEREOF - The invention relates to a wind turbine including a foundation and a tower positioned on the foundation where the tower includes more than one modules, where the modules each include a separate strengthening structure defining the outer edges of the module and wind turbine equipment, and where the more than one module are positioned substantially vertically on top of each other in an upright position within the tower. The modules are connected directly and/or indirectly through the strengthening structure, to the foundation. The invention further relates to a method for assembling a wind turbine at a wind turbine site and a method for handling more than one wind turbine modules. | 12-06-2012 |
20120306204 | METHOD AND CONTROL ARRANGEMENT FOR CONTROLLING A REACTIVE POWER SOURCE - The present invention relates to a method for controlling a reactive power source in a wind power plant, the method comprising the steps of providing a wind turbine reactive power control signal and providing an active power reference signal, said active power reference signal being a measure of an active power production of the wind power plant. A control signal for the reactive power source is generated by combining the wind turbine reactive power control signal and the active power reference signal in such a way that the control signal for the reactive power source becomes a weighted signal of the wind turbine reactive power control signal. Moreover, the present invention relates to control units and wind power plants suitable for carrying out the present invention. | 12-06-2012 |
20120301293 | ANTI-OSCILLATION APPARATUS AND TECHNIQUE FOR SECURING WIND TURBINE BLADES AGAINST OSCILLATIONS - The invention relates to a method of operating a wind turbine ( | 11-29-2012 |
20120282105 | WIND TURBINE BLADE AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING A WIND TURBINE BLADE WITH VORTEX GENERATORS - A wind turbine for generating electrical energy may include a wind turbine blade including a plurality of vortex generators integrally formed in the outer surface of the blade. The vortex generator includes a first component that defines a portion of the outer surface of the blade and a second component defining the shape of the vortex generator and at least partially surrounded by the first component. A method of manufacturing the wind turbine blade includes disposing a first plurality of layers of structural material over a mold main body and a removable insert member with a shaped cavity. A shaped plug is then pressed into the shaped cavity, and a second plurality of layers of structural material is disposed over the plug and the mold main body to complete manufacture of a wind turbine blade with a vortex generator. | 11-08-2012 |
20120269645 | WIND TURBINE COMPONENT HAVING AN EXPOSED SURFACE MADE OF A HYDROPHOBIC MATERIAL - The invention provides a wind turbine component having an exposed surface made of a hydrophobic material and having a surface texture providing a Water Contact Angle (CA) of at least 150. Due to the combination between a CA over 150 and the hydrophobic material, the component becomes less vulnerable to ice formation etc. The invention further provides a method of preventing ice formation, a method of reducing noise and a blade for reducing noise from a wind turbine. | 10-25-2012 |
20120269643 | SECTIONAL WIND TURBINE BLADE - The invention relates to a sectional blade for a wind turbine, the blade comprising at least a first blade section and a second blade section extending in opposite directions from a blade joint, where each blade section comprises a spar section forming a structural member and extending in the longitudinal direction of the blade, and where the first and second blade sections are connected by fastening means restraining any movement of the first blade section relative to the second blade section length ways. The first and the second blade sections are structurally connected by a spar bridge protruding from one of the blade sections and terminating axially in an end portion, which is received in the spar section of the other blade section. The spar bridge and the spar section have interlocking shapes by which rotation of the spar bridge in the spar section is prevented thereby preventing rotation of one of the blade sections relative to the other. Further, the spar section of the other blade section comprises a receiving section extending from the blade joint and inwards into the spar section of that blade, which receiving section holds the spar bridge such that movement of the end portion of the spar bridge relative to the receiving section is enabled in the longitudinal direction. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing a sectional blade as mentioned above. | 10-25-2012 |
20120269632 | FLAP CONTROL FOR WIND TURBINE BLADES - A wind turbine blade has one or more trailing edge flaps. An actuator mechanism for the flaps comprises a shaft extending along the blade length driven by a motor arrangement toward the blade root. The flap is connected to the shaft through a linkage so that rotation of the shaft pivots the flap about a hinge line. The linkage may be non-rigid and coupled to the shaft through a roller, or rigid and coupled to the shaft through a crank arm mounted on the shaft. An offset actuation mechanism is provided for imparting movement to the linkage in addition to movement due to rotation of the shaft. | 10-25-2012 |
20120268081 | DIRECT POWER AND STATOR FLUX VECTOR CONTROL OF A GENERATOR FOR WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM - A method for controlling a variable speed wind turbine generator is disclosed. The generator is connected to a power converter comprising switches. The generator comprises a stator and a set of terminals connected to the stator and to the switches of the power converter. The method comprises: determining a stator flux reference value corresponding to a generator power of a desired magnitude, determining an estimated stator flux value corresponding to an actual generator power, determining a difference between the determined stator flux reference value and the estimated stator flux value, and operating said switches in correspondence to the determined stator flux reference value and the estimated stator flux value to adapt at least one stator electrical quantity to obtain said desired generator power magnitude. | 10-25-2012 |
20120246931 | METHODS OF MANUFACTURING WIND TURBINE BLADES - An elongate web is attached to the root end of a spar of a wind turbine rotor blade to provide additional support along the width of the blade. The root end is formed by a winding operation, and a recess is then cut into the surface of the spar. The recess is defined by a relatively large first, cylindrical surface, which is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the root end, and a relatively small second, conical surface. A tapered end of the elongate web is attached within the recess of the root end using a layer of suitable adhesive and an array of pins. Resilient spacer elements are arranged within the recess so as to surround the pins. The large area of the cylindrical surface causes the tensile and compressive stresses which arise along the elongate web in use to be transmitted to the spar as shear stresses. | 10-04-2012 |
20120243518 | WIRELESS INTERNET-PROTOCOL PHONES FOR WIND POWER PLANT SERVICE - Communications systems and methods for a wind power plant having a plurality of wind turbines. The communications system may include a data communications network configured to provide connectivity between the wind turbines and a wireless access point coupled with the data communications network. The communications method may include wirelessly communicating signals between a mobile communications device and a wireless access point coupled with a data communications network providing connectivity between the wind turbines. | 09-27-2012 |
20120235421 | WIND TURBINE NACELLE COMPRISING A HEAT EXCHANGER ASSEMBLY - A heat exchanger assembly for cooling a heat-generating component, such as a generator or power electronics module, within a wind turbine nacelle comprises a thermoelectric element, such as a Peltier element, having a first section arranged in a first region of relatively high temperature in contact with the heat-generating component or in the vicinity thereof, and a second section arranged in a second region of a relatively low temperature. The thermoelectric element is configured to transfer heat from the first region of relatively high temperature to the second region of relatively low temperature with consumption of electrical energy. A source of electrical energy is provided for the thermoelectric element, and a control unit may be provided for controlling the energy supply in order to control the temperature of the component or surface area cooled by the thermoelectric element. A further cooling element including a so-called heat pipe may be provided to enhance cooling efficiency. | 09-20-2012 |
20120235409 | ACCURATE ESTIMATION OF THE CAPACITY AND STATE OF CHARGE OF AN ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM USED IN WIND FARMS - Embodiments of the invention provide techniques and apparatus for accurately estimating an aged capacity (E | 09-20-2012 |