US6924565B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Continuous reactive power support for wind turbine generators
Assignee: WILKINS THOMAS ALEXANDER
•
Filing: 2003-08-18
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Granted: 2005-08-02
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Expires: 2023-08-18
Abstract
Abstract Real and reactive power control for wind turbine generator systems. The technique described herein provides the potential to utilize the total capacity of a wind turbine generator system (e.g., a wind farm) to provide dynamic VAR (reactive power support). The VAR support provided by individual wind turbine generators in a system can be dynamically varied to suit application parameters.
Inventors
- 👤 Thomas A. Wilkins
- 👤 Nagwa M. Elkachouty
- 👤 Reigh A. Walling
- 👤 James P. Lyons
- 👤 Robert W. Delmerico
- 👤 Sumit Bose
- 👤 Nicholas Wright Miller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:14
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02P; H02P9/00; H02P9/007; F; F03; F03D; F03D7/00; F03D7/02; F03D7/0272; F03D9/00; F03D9/20; F03D9/25; F03D9/255; F03D9/257; H02J; H02J3/00; H02J3/12; H02J3/16; H02J3/18; H02J3/1821; H02J3/1835; H02J3/1842; H02J3/38; H02J3/381; F05; F05B; F05B2260/00; F05B2260/96; F05B2270/00; F05B2270/30; F05B2270/337; H02J2101/00; H02J2101/20; H02J2101/28; H02P2101/00; H02P2101/15; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/70; Y02E10/72; Y02E10/76; Y02E40/00; Y02E40/20; Y02E40/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A network of variable speed wind turbine generator systems comprising: a plurality of generators to generate real power and reactive power, wherein one or more of the generators includes a variable frequency converter excitation system to control real power and reactive power flow, and further wherein the variable frequency converter excitation systems are capable of contributing reactive power independently of the generators; and a system controller coupled with the plurality of generators to control real and reactive power generated by individual generators in the plurality of generators based on thermal capability and/or voltage limits of the individual generators to cause the plurality of generators to provide commanded real and reactive power.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A network of variable speed wind turbine generator systems comprising: a plurality of generators to generate real power and reactive power, wherein one or more of the generators includes a variable frequency converter excitation system to control real power and reactive power flow, and further wherein the variable frequency converter excitation systems are capable of contributing reactive power independently of the generators; and a system controller coupled with the plurality of generators to control real and reactive power generated by individual generators in the plurality of generators based on thermal capability and/or voltage limits of the individual generators to cause the plurality of generators to provide commanded real and reactive power.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The network of variable speed wind turbine generator systems of claim 1 wherein the system controller further regulates voltage at a point of common coupling.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The network of variable speed wind turbine generator systems of claim 2 further comprising a line drop compensator coupled with the system controller to regulate voltage at a location other than a point of common coupling using voltage, current and/or power measurements at the point of common coupling.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
The network of variable speed wind turbine generator systems of claim 1 further comprising switched power management components coupled with the plurality of generators and the system controller, wherein the switched power management components are controlled by the system controller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The network of variable speed wind turbine generator systems of claim 4 wherein the switched power management components comprise switched capacitors and/or switched reactors.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The network of variable speed wind turbine generator systems of claim 1 wherein the individual generators operate as static VAR regulators under any wind condition.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
The network of variable speed wind turbine generator systems of claim 1 wherein real and reactive power commands are received by the system controller from a utility grid operator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
The network of variable speed wind turbine generator systems of claim 7 wherein the system controller operates as a closed-loop controller that regulates real and reactive power at a point of common coupling.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The network of variable speed wind turbine generator systems of claim 7 wherein the system controller operates as a closed-loop controller and the network further comprises a line drop compensator coupled with the system controller to regulate real and reactive power at a location other than a point of common coupling using voltage, current and/or power measurements at the point of common coupling.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The network of variable speed wind turbine generator systems of claim 7 wherein the controller provides a unique reactive power command to each wind turbine generator in a wind farm.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
The network of variable speed wind turbine generator systems of claim 4 wherein the reactive power command is coordinated with adjustments to the switched power management components.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
51 words
The network of variable speed wind turbine generator systems of claim 11 wherein the reactive power command and the switched power management components are operated to optimize one or more of: increased dynamic range of reactive power production, reduced wind farm losses, improved wind farm voltage profile, and improved power production.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The network of variable speed wind turbine generator systems of claim 8 wherein the system controller causes each of the individual generators in the plurality of generators to generate substantially the same reactive power.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
67 words
The network of variable speed wind turbine generator systems of claim 4 wherein commands to the individual wind turbine generators include a reactive power component in the form: Q 0 +(dQ/dP)P, where Q 0 is a nominal VAR operating point that is provided to all wind turbine generators in a system and (dQ/dP)P is a reactive power/real power incremental slope multiplied by wind turbine generator power (P).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The network of variable speed wind turbine generator systems of claim 13 wherein the commands to the individual wind turbine generators further comprise a real power modulation signal to emulate a governor droop function.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
39 words
The network of variable speed wind turbine generator systems of claim 13 wherein the commands to the individual wind turbine generators further comprise a real power modulation signal to provide power system damping based on measured and/or calculated frequency.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The network of variable speed wind turbine generator systems of claim 13 wherein the commands to the individual wind turbine generators further comprise a real and/or reactive power modulation signal to adjust network power based on a utility reference command.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
33 words
The network of variable speed wind turbine generator systems of claim 17 wherein the system controller operates as an open-loop controller that regulates real and reactive power at a point of common coupling.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
63 words
The network of variable speed wind turbine generator systems of claim 7 wherein the system controller operates as an open-loop controller and the network further comprises a line drop compensator coupled with the system controller to regulate real and reactive power at a location other than a point of common coupling using voltage, current and/or power measurements at the point of common coupling.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
118 words
A method comprising: determining power to be provided to a predetermined location; providing commands to individual wind turbine generators in a multi-turbine system, wherein one or more of the generators includes a variable frequency converter excitation system to control real power and reactive power flow, and further wherein the variable frequency converter excitation systems are capable of contributing reactive power independently of the generators, the commands to control real and reactive power generated by individual generators in the plurality of generators based on thermal capability and/or voltage limits of the individual generators to cause the plurality of generators to provide commanded real and reactive power; and providing power from the wind turbine generators in response to the commands.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
118 words
A method comprising: determining power to be provided to a predetermined location; providing commands to individual wind turbine generators in a multi-turbine system, wherein one or more of the generators includes a variable frequency converter excitation system to control real power and reactive power flow, and further wherein the variable frequency converter excitation systems are capable of contributing reactive power independently of the generators, the commands to control real and reactive power generated by individual generators in the plurality of generators based on thermal capability and/or voltage limits of the individual generators to cause the plurality of generators to provide commanded real and reactive power; and providing power from the wind turbine generators in response to the commands.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising providing commands to regulate voltage at a point of common coupling.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising regulating voltage with a line drop compensator at a location other than a point of common coupling using voltage, current and/or power measurements at the point of common coupling.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the commands to the individual wind turbine generators further comprise a real and/or reactive power modulation signal to adjust network power based on a utility reference command.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising controlling switched power management components coupled with the plurality of generators and the system controller.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the reactive power command and the switched power management components are operated to optimize one or more of: increased dynamic range of reactive power production, reduced wind farm losses, improved wind farm voltage profile, and improved power production.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 24 wherein the switched power management components comprise switched capacitors and/or switched reactors.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the individual generators operate as static VAR regulators under any wind condition.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 20 further comprising receiving real and reactive power commands from a utility grid operator.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 20 wherein the plurality of generators to generate substantially the same reactive power.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 20 wherein commands to the individual wind turbine generators include a reactive power component in the form: Q 0 +(dQ/dP)P, where Q 0 is a nominal VAR operating point that is provided to all wind turbine generators in a system and (dQ/dP)P is a reactive power/real power incremental slope multiplied by wind turbine generator power (P).
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 29 further comprising sending a real power modulation signal to the wind turbine generators to emulate a governor droop function.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 29 further comprising sending a real power modulation signal to the wind turbine generators to provide power system damping based on measured and/or calculated frequency.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 29 further comprising sending a real and/or reactive power modulation signal to the wind turbine generators to adjust network power based on a utility reference command.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus comprising: means for determining power to be provided to a predetermined location; means for providing commands to individual wind turbine generators in a multi-turbine system, wherein one or more of the generators includes a variable frequency converter excitation system to control real power and reactive power flow, and further wherein the variable frequency converter excitation systems are capable of contributing reactive power independently of the generators, the commands to control real and reactive power generated by individual generators in the plurality of generators based on thermal capability and/or voltage limits of the individual generators to cause the plurality of generators to provide commanded real and reactive power; and means for providing power from the wind turbine generators in response to the commands.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
124 words
An apparatus comprising: means for determining power to be provided to a predetermined location; means for providing commands to individual wind turbine generators in a multi-turbine system, wherein one or more of the generators includes a variable frequency converter excitation system to control real power and reactive power flow, and further wherein the variable frequency converter excitation systems are capable of contributing reactive power independently of the generators, the commands to control real and reactive power generated by individual generators in the plurality of generators based on thermal capability and/or voltage limits of the individual generators to cause the plurality of generators to provide commanded real and reactive power; and means for providing power from the wind turbine generators in response to the commands.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 34 further comprising means for providing commands to regulate voltage at a point of common coupling.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 34 further comprising means for controlling switched power management components coupled with the plurality of generators and the system controller.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 34 further comprising means for receiving real and reactive power commands from a utility grid operator.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus of claim 34 further comprising means for sending a real power modulation signal to the wind turbine generators to emulate a governor droop function.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
31 words
The apparatus of claim 34 further comprising means for sending a real power modulation signal to the wind turbine generators to provide power system damping based on measured and/or calculated frequency.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 34 further comprising means for sending a power modulation signal to the wind turbine generators to adjust network power based on a utility reference command.
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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) | 2008-08-01 | 2009-01-31 | 2009-08-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-08-01 | 2013-01-31 | 2013-08-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-08-01 | 2017-01-31 | 2017-08-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |