Patent US5065079A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6921985B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Low voltage ride through for wind turbine generators
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 2003-01-24
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Granted: 2005-07-26
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Expires: 2023-01-24
Abstract
Abstract A wind turbine. The wind turbine includes a blade pitch control system to vary a pitch of one or more blades and a turbine controller coupled with the blade pitch control system. A first power source is coupled with the turbine controller and with the blade pitch control system to provide power during a first mode of operation. Uninterruptible power supplies coupled to the turbine controller and with the blade pitch control system to provide power during a second mode of operation. The turbine controller detects a transition from the first mode of operation to the second mode of operation and causes the blade pitch control system to vary the pitch of the one or more blades in response to the transition.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilhelm Janssen
- 👤 Henning Luetze
- 👤 Andreas Buecker
- 👤 Till Hoffmann
- 👤 Ralf Hagedorn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 09:07
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02P; H02P9/00; H02P9/10; F; F03; F03D; F03D7/00; F03D7/02; F03D7/022; F03D7/0224; F03D7/028; F03D7/0284; H02J; H02J3/00; H02J3/38; H02J3/381; H02J3/40; H02J9/00; H02P9/007; F05; F05B; F05B2270/00; F05B2270/10; F05B2270/107; F05B2270/1071; F05B2270/10711; H02J2101/00; H02J2101/20; H02J2101/28; H02P2101/00; H02P2101/15; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/70; Y02E10/72; Y02E10/76
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A wind turbine generator comprising: a blade pitch control system to vary a pitch of one or more blades; a turbine controller coupled with the blade pitch control system; a first power source coupled with the turbine controller and with the blade pitch control system to provide power during a first mode of operation; and an uninterruptible power supply coupled to the turbine controller and with the blade pitch control system to provide power during a low voltage event; wherein the turbine controller causes the blade pitch control system to vary the pitch of the one or more blades in response to the transition in response to detection of a transition from the first mode of operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
A wind turbine generator comprising: a blade pitch control system to vary a pitch of one or more blades; a turbine controller coupled with the blade pitch control system; a first power source coupled with the turbine controller and with the blade pitch control system to provide power during a first mode of operation; and an uninterruptible power supply coupled to the turbine controller and with the blade pitch control system to provide power during a low voltage event; wherein the turbine controller causes the blade pitch control system to vary the pitch of the one or more blades in response to the transition in response to detection of a transition from the first mode of operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 1 wherein a low voltage event comprises a generator output voltage of less than 75% of a rated voltage for the generator.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
18 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 2 wherein the low voltage event occurs for up to 3 seconds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 1 wherein a low voltage event comprises a generator output voltage of less than 50% of a rated voltage for the generator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 4 wherein the low voltage event occurs for up to 3 seconds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 1 wherein a low voltage event comprises a generator between 15% and 50% of a rated voltage for the generator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 6 wherein the low voltage event occurs for up to 3 seconds.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 1 wherein the first power source comprises a generator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
76 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 8 further comprising a power converter coupled to a generator, the power converter comprising: an inverter coupled to receive power from the generator; a converter controller coupled with the inverter to monitor a current flow in the inverter; a circuit coupled with the input of the inverter and with the converter controller, the circuit to shunt current from the inverter in response to a control signal from the converter controller.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 9 wherein the circuit comprises a crowbar circuit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 9 wherein the converter controller is coupled to the first power source to receive power during the first mode of operation and to the uninterruptible power supply to receive power during the low voltage event.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 1 wherein the uninterruptible power supply comprises a battery power supply.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 1 wherein the uninterruptible power supply comprises a photovoltaic power supply.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 1 wherein the uninterruptible power supply comprises one or more capacitors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
95 words
A wind turbine generator comprising: a generator; a power converter coupled with the generator, the power converter having an inverter coupled to receive power from the generator, a converter controller coupled with the inverter to monitor a current flow in the inverter wherein the converter controller is coupled to receive power from an uninterruptible power supply during a low voltage event, and a circuit coupled with the input of the inverter and with the converter controller to shunt current from the inverter and generator rotor in response to a control signal from the converter controller.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
95 words
A wind turbine generator comprising: a generator; a power converter coupled with the generator, the power converter having an inverter coupled to receive power from the generator, a converter controller coupled with the inverter to monitor a current flow in the inverter wherein the converter controller is coupled to receive power from an uninterruptible power supply during a low voltage event, and a circuit coupled with the input of the inverter and with the converter controller to shunt current from the inverter and generator rotor in response to a control signal from the converter controller.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 15 wherein the circuit comprises a crowbar circuit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 15 wherein the converter controller is coupled to the generator to receive power during a first mode of operation and to an uninterruptible power supply to receive power during a low voltage event.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 17 wherein the uninterruptible power supply comprises a battery power supply.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 17 wherein the uninterruptible power supply comprises a photovoltaic power supply.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 17 wherein the uninterruptible power supply comprises one or more capacitors.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
69 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 17 further comprising: a blade pitch control system to vary a pitch of one or more blades; and a turbine controller coupled with the blade pitch control system, wherein the turbine controller detects a transition from the first mode of operation and causes the blade pitch control system to vary the pitch of the one or more blades in response to the transition.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 17 wherein a second mode of operation comprises a low voltage event.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 22 wherein a low voltage event comprises a generator output voltage of less than 75% of a rated voltage for the generator.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
18 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 23 wherein the low voltage event occurs for up to 3 seconds.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 22 wherein a low voltage event comprises a generator output voltage of less than 50% of a rated voltage for the generator.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 25 wherein the low voltage event occurs for up to 3 seconds.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
26 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 22 wherein a low voltage event comprises a generator between 15% and 50% of a rated voltage for the generator.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The wind turbine generator of claim 27 wherein the low voltage event occurs for up to 3 seconds.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
88 words
A method comprising: providing power to wind turbine components using a generator of the wind turbine; detecting a low voltage event; receiving power from an uninterruptible power supply to a first subset of wind turbine components, wherein the first subset of wind turbine components comprises a blade pitch controller to selectively power the blade pitch controller to maintain a rotor speed below a predetermined overspeed limit during the low voltage event; and disconnecting a second subset of wind turbine components from the generator during the low voltage event.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
88 words
A method comprising: providing power to wind turbine components using a generator of the wind turbine; detecting a low voltage event; receiving power from an uninterruptible power supply to a first subset of wind turbine components, wherein the first subset of wind turbine components comprises a blade pitch controller to selectively power the blade pitch controller to maintain a rotor speed below a predetermined overspeed limit during the low voltage event; and disconnecting a second subset of wind turbine components from the generator during the low voltage event.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the uninterruptible power supply comprises a battery power supply.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the uninterruptible power supply comprises a photovoltaic power supply.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 29 wherein the uninterruptible power supply comprises one or more capacitors.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 29 wherein a low voltage event comprises a generator output voltage of less than 75% of a rated voltage for the generator.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 33 wherein the low voltage event occurs for up to 3 seconds.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 29 wherein a low voltage event comprises a generator output voltage of less than 50% of a rated voltage for the generator.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 35 wherein the low voltage event occurs for up to 3 seconds.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 29 wherein a low voltage event comprises a generator between 15% and 50% of a rated voltage for the generator.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 37 wherein the low voltage event occurs for up to 3 seconds.
Claim 42
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus comprising: means for providing power to wind turbine components using a generator of the wind turbine; means for detecting a low voltage event; means for providing power from an uninterruptible power supply to a first subset of wind turbine components, wherein the first subset of wind turbine components comprises a blade pitch controller to selectively power the blade pitch controller to maintain a rotor speed below a predetermined overspeed limit during the low voltage event; and means for disconnecting a second subset of wind turbine components from the generator during the low voltage event.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
96 words
An apparatus comprising: means for providing power to wind turbine components using a generator of the wind turbine; means for detecting a low voltage event; means for providing power from an uninterruptible power supply to a first subset of wind turbine components, wherein the first subset of wind turbine components comprises a blade pitch controller to selectively power the blade pitch controller to maintain a rotor speed below a predetermined overspeed limit during the low voltage event; and means for disconnecting a second subset of wind turbine components from the generator during the low voltage event.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 39 wherein a low voltage event comprises a generator output voltage of less than 75% of a rated voltage for the generator.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the low voltage event occurs for up to 3 seconds.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 39 wherein a low voltage event comprises a generator output voltage of less than 50% of a rated voltage for the generator.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 42 wherein the low voltage event occurs for up to 3 seconds.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 39 wherein a low voltage event comprises a generator between 15% and 50% of a rated voltage for the generator.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 44 wherein the low voltage event occurs for up to 3 seconds.
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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) | 2008-07-25 | 2009-01-24 | 2009-07-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-07-25 | 2013-01-24 | 2013-07-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-07-25 | 2017-01-24 | 2017-07-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |