US6856041B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Variable speed wind turbine having a passive grid side rectifier with scalar power control and dependent pitch
Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems AS
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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
- 👤 Eckardt Siebenthaler
- 👤 Björn Andresen
- 👤 Lorenz Feddersen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 18:49
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: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
A variable speed wind turbine comprising: an electrical power generating system to provide power to a power grid; a controller coupled to the electrical power generating system to control the electrical power generating system based on an error signal; and a pitch controller coupled to the electrical power generating system and the controller, the pitch controller receiving a signal based on the error signal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
64 words
A variable speed wind turbine comprising: an electrical power generating system to provide power to a power grid; a controller coupled to the electrical power generating system to control the electrical power generating system based on an error signal; and a pitch controller coupled to the electrical power generating system and the controller, the pitch controller receiving a signal based on the error signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The variable speed wind turbine of claim 1 , wherein the error signal is based on total output power and reactive power on the power grid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The variable speed wind turbine of claim 1 , wherein the controller coupled to the electrical power generating system is to control total power output to the power grid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The variable speed wind turbine of claim 1 , wherein the controller coupled to the electrical power generating system is to control electrical quantities on each phase of the power grid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The variable speed wind turbine of claim 1 , wherein the controller coupled to the electrical power generating system is to operate at a faster speed than the pitch controller.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
The variable speed wind turbine of claim 1 , wherein the signal is based on the error signal, the signal is used for selecting between a full load controller and a partial load controller.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of controlling the pitch of a wind turbine blade, comprising: determining if a power error signal exceeds at least one predetermined boundary; and sending a signal to a pitch controller to change the pitch of the wind turbine blade based on the power signal being determined to exceed at least one predetermined boundary.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
55 words
A method of controlling the pitch of a wind turbine blade, comprising: determining if a power error signal exceeds at least one predetermined boundary; and sending a signal to a pitch controller to change the pitch of the wind turbine blade based on the power signal being determined to exceed at least one predetermined boundary.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 7 , further comprising: assigning a value to the signal based on a measured pitch angle and the power error signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 7 , further comprising: assigning a neutral value to the signal when the power error signal does not exceed at least one the predetermined boundary.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
59 words
A system for controlling the pitch of a wind turbine blade, comprising: means for determining if a power error signal exceeds at least one predetermined boundary; and means for sending a signal to a pitch controller to change the pitch of the wind turbine blade based on the power signal being determined to exceed at least one predetermined boundary.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
59 words
A system for controlling the pitch of a wind turbine blade, comprising: means for determining if a power error signal exceeds at least one predetermined boundary; and means for sending a signal to a pitch controller to change the pitch of the wind turbine blade based on the power signal being determined to exceed at least one predetermined boundary.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
The system of claim 10 , further comprising: means for assigning a value to the signal based on a measured pitch angle and the power error signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 10 , further comprising: means for assigning a neutral value to the signal when the power error signal does not exceed at least one predetermined boundary.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
98 words
A variable speed wind turbine comprising: a plurality of wind blades; an electrical generator to convert mechanical energy generated by the wind blades into electrical power for a power grid; a power converter to provide electrical power to the electrical generator; a power controller to control the power converter and the electrical power supplied to the power grid by the electrical generator; and a pitch controller to control the pitch of one or more blades based on a pitch angle signal from one or more of the wind blades and a power error signal from the power controller.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
98 words
A variable speed wind turbine comprising: a plurality of wind blades; an electrical generator to convert mechanical energy generated by the wind blades into electrical power for a power grid; a power converter to provide electrical power to the electrical generator; a power controller to control the power converter and the electrical power supplied to the power grid by the electrical generator; and a pitch controller to control the pitch of one or more blades based on a pitch angle signal from one or more of the wind blades and a power error signal from the power controller.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
The variable speed wind turbine of claim 13 , wherein the power controller receives a power reference signal and outputs the power error signal based on at least the received power reference signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The variable speed wind turbine of claim 13 , wherein the power error signal includes information related to a calculated power error for active and reactive power of current and voltage levels for each phase of the power grid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The variable speed wind turbine of claim 15 , wherein the power controller calculates the power error as a magnitude of a target real power minus a magnitude of a measured real power.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The variable speed wind turbine of claim 16 , wherein the power controller controls the active and reactive power for each phase of the power grid.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
26 words
The variable speed wind turbine of claim 13 , wherein the power controller also receives a generator speed signal for controlling components in the power converter.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
45 words
The variable speed wind turbine of claim 18 , further comprising: a power error feed forward unit that receives the power error signal from the power controller and outputs a secondary pitch reference signal to the pitch controller based on the received power error signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The variable speed wind turbine of claim 19 , wherein the power error feed forward unit allows for dependency between the pitch controller and power controller.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
31 words
The variable speed wind turbine of claim 20 , wherein the power error feed forward unit allows the pitch controller to respond quickly to power errors detected by the power controller.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
27 words
The variable speed wind turbine of claim 21 , wherein the pitch controller adjusts the pitch of one or more blades to compensate for the power errors.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
55 words
A method for a variable speed wind turbine comprising: generating a pitch angle signal derived from one or more wind blades; generating a power error signal derived from power supplied to a power grid; and controlling the pitch of one or more wind blades based on the generated pitch angle signal and power error signal.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
55 words
A method for a variable speed wind turbine comprising: generating a pitch angle signal derived from one or more wind blades; generating a power error signal derived from power supplied to a power grid; and controlling the pitch of one or more wind blades based on the generated pitch angle signal and power error signal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 23 , further comprising: generating a secondary pitch reference signal based on the power error signal; comparing the secondary pitch reference signal with a main pitch reference signal and pitch angle signal; and outputting a control signal to control the pitch of one or more wind blades.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein the control signal that controls the pitch of one or more wind blades compensates for power errors related to the power supplied to the power grid.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
42 words
A method for a variable speed wind turbine comprising: receiving a signal related to electrical power provided to a power grid; adjusting a pitch angle of one or more wind blades of the variable speed wind turbine based on the received signal.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
42 words
A method for a variable speed wind turbine comprising: receiving a signal related to electrical power provided to a power grid; adjusting a pitch angle of one or more wind blades of the variable speed wind turbine based on the received signal.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein the pitch angle of one or more wind blades is responsive to the received signal.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
72 words
A variable speed wind turbine comprising: an electrical generator to provide electrical power to a power grid; a power controller that controls the electrical power provided to the power grid and sends a signal related to the electrical power provided to the power grid; and a pitch controller that receives the signal from the power controller and controls a pitch angle of one or more wind blades based on the received signal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
72 words
A variable speed wind turbine comprising: an electrical generator to provide electrical power to a power grid; a power controller that controls the electrical power provided to the power grid and sends a signal related to the electrical power provided to the power grid; and a pitch controller that receives the signal from the power controller and controls a pitch angle of one or more wind blades based on the received signal.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
The variable speed wind turbine of claim 28 , wherein the pitch controller is responsive to the received signal from the power controller.
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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 |