US6856040B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable speed wind turbine having a passive grid side rectifier with scalar power control and dependent pitch control
Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems AS
•
Filing: 2004-06-01
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Granted: 2005-02-15
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Expires: 2024-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A variable speed wind turbine having a passive grid side rectifier using scalar power control and dependent pitch control is disclosed. The variable speed turbine may include an electrical generator to provide power for a power grid and a power conversion system coupled to the electrical generator. The power conversion system may include at least one passive grid side rectifier. The power conversion system may provide power to the electrical generator using the passive grid side rectifier. The variable speed wind turbine may also use scalar power control to provide more precise control of electrical quantities on the power grid. The variable speed wind turbine may further use dependent pitch control to improve responsiveness of the wind turbine.
Inventors
- 👤 Lorenz Feddersen
- 👤 Eckardt Siebenthaler
- 👤 Björn Andresen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 00:04
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02P; H02P9/00; H02P9/04; F; F03; F03D; F03D7/00; F03D7/02; F03D7/022; F03D7/0224; F03D9/00; F03D9/20; F03D9/25; F03D9/255; F03D15/00; F03D15/10; F05; F05B; F05B2270/00; F05B2270/10; F05B2270/1016; F05B2270/20; F05B2270/30; F05B2270/32; F05B2270/327; F05B2270/328; F05B2270/337; F05B2270/70; F05B2270/705; H02P2101/00; H02P2101/15; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/70; Y02E10/72
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A variable speed wind turbine comprising: means for generating power to a power grid; a power conversion system to provide power from the power grid to the means for generating power at below synchronous speed and to dissipate excess power from the means for generating power at above synchronous speed; and a controller coupled to the power conversion system to control the power conversion system and to provide power control for the means for generating power.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A variable speed wind turbine comprising: means for generating power to a power grid; a power conversion system to provide power from the power grid to the means for generating power at below synchronous speed and to dissipate excess power from the means for generating power at above synchronous speed; and a controller coupled to the power conversion system to control the power conversion system and to provide power control for the means for generating power.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
90 words
A system comprising: a generator side converter; a direct current (DC) link coupled to the generator side converter; a power dissipating element coupled to the DC link to selectively dissipate excess power from a generator; and a passive grid side rectifier to convert fixed frequency alternating current (AC) signals from a power grid to DC voltage, wherein the DC voltage is supplied to the generator side converter via the DC link and the generator side converter is to convert the DC voltage into variable frequency AC signals for the generator.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
90 words
A system comprising: a generator side converter; a direct current (DC) link coupled to the generator side converter; a power dissipating element coupled to the DC link to selectively dissipate excess power from a generator; and a passive grid side rectifier to convert fixed frequency alternating current (AC) signals from a power grid to DC voltage, wherein the DC voltage is supplied to the generator side converter via the DC link and the generator side converter is to convert the DC voltage into variable frequency AC signals for the generator.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
A power conversion method comprising: receiving power flow from a power generator; determining if the power generator is operating at below or above synchronous speed; directing the received power flow to the power generator if the power generator is determined to be operating at below synchronous speed; and dissipating excess power from the received power flow if the power generator is determined to be operating at above synchronous speed.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
69 words
A power conversion method comprising: receiving power flow from a power generator; determining if the power generator is operating at below or above synchronous speed; directing the received power flow to the power generator if the power generator is determined to be operating at below synchronous speed; and dissipating excess power from the received power flow if the power generator is determined to be operating at above synchronous speed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein directing the received power includes converting DC voltage signals into variable frequency AC signals and directing the AC signals to the power generator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 3 , wherein dissipating excess power includes converting variable frequency AC signals from the power generator into DC voltage signals and directing the DC voltage signals away from the power generator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 5 , wherein dissipating excess power includes dissipating excess power generated from the DC voltage signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
121 words
A variable speed wind turbine comprising: a electrical generator connected to wind blades for generating electrical power; and a power converter coupled to the electrical generator and to control the generated electrical power, the power converter including a generator side converter, a DC link, a power dissipating element, and a passive grid side rectifier, and wherein the active side generator converts DC voltage signals from the DC link into variable frequency AC signals that are supplied to the electrical generator or converts variable frequency AC signals from the electrical generator to DC voltage signals that are supplied to the DC link and wherein the power dissipating element dissipates excess power from the DC voltage signals generated by the generator side converter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
121 words
A variable speed wind turbine comprising: a electrical generator connected to wind blades for generating electrical power; and a power converter coupled to the electrical generator and to control the generated electrical power, the power converter including a generator side converter, a DC link, a power dissipating element, and a passive grid side rectifier, and wherein the active side generator converts DC voltage signals from the DC link into variable frequency AC signals that are supplied to the electrical generator or converts variable frequency AC signals from the electrical generator to DC voltage signals that are supplied to the DC link and wherein the power dissipating element dissipates excess power from the DC voltage signals generated by the generator side converter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
37 words
The variable speed wind turbine of claim 7 , wherein the generator side converter converts DC voltage signals from the DC link into variable frequency AC signals if the electrical generator is operating at below synchronous speed.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The variable speed wind turbine of claim 7 , wherein the generator side converter converts variable frequency AC signals from the electrical generator to DC voltage signals that are supplied to the DC link if the electrical generator is operating at above synchronous speed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
The variable speed wind turbine of claim 7 , wherein the dissipating element dissipates excess power if the excess power is above a threshold.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
A power conversion method comprising: sensing a voltage level on a DC link of a power converter; determining if the sensed voltage level exceeds a threshold; and activating a power dissipating element in the power converter to dissipate any excess generated power if the sensed voltage level is determined to exceed the threshold.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
53 words
A power conversion method comprising: sensing a voltage level on a DC link of a power converter; determining if the sensed voltage level exceeds a threshold; and activating a power dissipating element in the power converter to dissipate any excess generated power if the sensed voltage level is determined to exceed the threshold.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 11 , further comprising: determining if the sensed voltage level does not exceed the threshold; and deactivating the power dissipating element in the power converter if the sensed voltage level is not determined to exceed the threshold.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein the threshold determines if the power converter is operating above or below synchronous speed.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising adjusting the threshold.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
100 words
A variable speed wind turbine comprising: a electrical generator connected to wind blades for generating electrical power; a power converter coupled to the electrical generator and to control the generated electrical power, the power converter having at least a DC link and a power dissipating element; and a controller to sense a voltage level on a DC link of a power converter, to determine if the sensed voltage level exceeds a threshold, and to activate the power dissipating element in the power converter to dissipate any excess generated power if the sensed voltage level is determined to exceed the threshold.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
100 words
A variable speed wind turbine comprising: a electrical generator connected to wind blades for generating electrical power; a power converter coupled to the electrical generator and to control the generated electrical power, the power converter having at least a DC link and a power dissipating element; and a controller to sense a voltage level on a DC link of a power converter, to determine if the sensed voltage level exceeds a threshold, and to activate the power dissipating element in the power converter to dissipate any excess generated power if the sensed voltage level is determined to exceed the threshold.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The variable speed wind turbine of claim 15 , the controller determines if the sensed voltage level does not exceed the threshold and deactivates the power dissipating element in the power converter if the sensed voltage level is not determined to exceed the threshold.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
28 words
The variable speed wind turbine of claim 16 , wherein the controller determines if the power converter is operating above or below synchronous speed based on the threshold.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The variable speed wind turbine of claim 17 , wherein the controller adjusts the threshold.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
The variable speed wind turbine of claim 15 , wherein the power dissipating element includes a switch and a burn off resistor.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
38 words
The variable speed wind turbine of claim 19 , wherein the controller turns on the switch if the sensed voltage level is determined to exceed the threshold such that excess power is dissipated in the burn off resistor.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-02-15 | 2008-08-16 | 2009-02-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-02-15 | 2012-08-16 | 2013-02-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-02-15 | 2016-08-16 | 2017-02-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |