Optimization method for power generation systems

• US 20090097959A1
• Filed: 12/15/2008
• Published: 04/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins Control Technologies, Inc. (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Athena Technologies (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Russ, Benjamin, Vos, David W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,433,449 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 415/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/44 responsive to the speed of aircraft, e.g. Mach number control, optimisation of fuel consumption
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/48 Control of fuel supply conjointly with another control of the plant with nozzle section control F02K1/17
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/58 with control of a variable-pitch propeller
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/051 Thrust

Abstract

Apparatus for controlling the power output efficiency of a power generation system based on an operator input. A processor is coupled to the input means and (i) receives the generated operator command, (ii) receives a plurality of detected ambient air conditions, (iii) receives a plurality of detected engine. performance parameters, (iv) determines first and second engine control commands based on the received pilot thrust command, the detected ambient environmental conditions, and the engine performance parameters, and (v) outputs control commands to optimize the efficiency of the power generation system.

Claims

1-7. -7. (canceled)

8. A wind turbine control apparatus comprising:

a propeller coupled to an electrical generator, the electrical generator being configured to be coupled to a load;

a transmission coupling the propeller to the electrical generator; and

a processor coupled to said wind turbine, for

receiving a plurality of detected ambient air conditions,

receiving a plurality of detected wind turbine performance parameters,

determining control commands based on the detected ambient air conditions and the wind turbine performance parameters, and

outputting control signals corresponding to the control commands.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a pitch servo for receiving one of said control signals and changing a pitch of said wind turbine corresponding to the control commands.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the transmission comprises a variable speed transmission for receiving said control signals and changing the rotational speed of said generator corresponding to the control commands.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a load shedder coupled to said generator for receiving the control signal and varying the load coupled to said generator to optimize the performance of the wind turbine relative to grid capacity

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said processor stores plural sets of wind turbine and transmission control parameters which yield output power efficiency for the detected ambient air conditions and selects a set of control commands which corresponds to the minimum power for the detected ambient air conditions.

20. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the transmission comprises a continuously variable transmission.

13-19. -19. (canceled)

21. A system for controlling a wind turbine, the system comprising:

a processor configured to be operatively associated with the wind turbine, the processor being configured to

receive at least one signal indicative of an ambient air condition and at least one signal indicative of a performance parameter related to the wind turbine, and

output at least one control command for controlling the wind turbine based on the at least one signal indicative of an ambient air condition and the at least one signal indicative of a performance parameter related to the wind turbine,

wherein the at least one control command for controlling the system is configured to increase the power output of the wind turbine based on at least one of the at least one signal indicative of an ambient air condition and the at least one signal indicative of a performance parameter related to the wind turbine.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising a pitch servo configured to change pitch of a propeller of the wind turbine based on the at least one control command.

23. The system of claim 21, further comprising a variable speed transmission configured to operably couple a propeller and a generator of the wind turbine to one another and change rotational speed of at least one of the propeller and the generator based on the at least one control command.

24. The system of claim 21, further comprising a load shedder configured to be operably coupled to a generator, the load shedder being configured to vary a load coupled to the generator relative to capacity of a grid.

25. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to store plural sets of system control parameters that provide higher output power generation based on the at least one signal indicative of an ambient air condition, and select a set of control commands that correspond to the detected ambient air conditions, such that a higher power output generation is achieved.

26. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor is configured to optimize the power output of the system.

27. A method for increasing the power output of a power generation system comprising a wind turbine, the method comprising:

receiving at least one signal indicative of an ambient air condition and at least one signal indicative of a performance parameter related to the power generation system, and

outputting at least one control command for controlling the power generation system based on the at least one signal indicative of an ambient air condition and the at least one signal indicative of a performance parameter related to the power generation system, such that the power output of the power generation system is increased.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising optimizing the power output of the power generation system via the at least one control command.

29. The method of claim 27, wherein the power generation system comprises a pitch servo for changing pitch of a propeller of the wind turbine, and the method further comprises changing the pitch of the propeller based on the at least one control command.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the power generation system comprises a generator and a propeller operably coupled together via a variable speed transmission, and the method further comprises changing the speed of the propeller and the generator via control of the variable speed transmission based on the at least one control command.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the power generation system comprises a load shedder operably coupled to a generator, and the method further comprises varying the load on the generator via the load shedder based on the at least one control command relative to a grid capacity.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising storing multiple sets of system control parameters corresponding to the at least one signal indicative of an ambient air condition, and selecting a set of control commands corresponding to one of the sets of system control parameters based on a signal indicative of at least one detected ambient air condition, such that output efficiency of the power generation system is improved.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising selecting a set of control commands that optimize power output of the power generation system.