VARIABLE SPEED OPERATING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATION FOR WIND TURBINES
First Claim
1. A wind turbine for operating in regions having soil that includes an active layer that thaws during a portion of the year and a permafrost layer, said wind turbine comprising:
- at least one piling, said piling having a first portion in said permafrost layer and a second portion in said active layer;
a tower mounted to said at least one piling;
a nacelle mounted to said tower opposite said platform;
a plurality of turbine blades coupled to said nacelle;
a controller operably coupled to said plurality of turbine blades; and
,a sensor electrically coupled to said controller, said sensor being adapted to generate a signal indicative of a condition of said active layer.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A wind turbine system is provided for geographic regions having multiple soil layers, such as permafrost. The wind turbine includes a plurality of blades mounted to a nacelle on top of a tower. The tower is supported by a foundation that extends through or into the multiple soil layers. The wind turbine monitors the condition of a top layer of soil and calculates a natural frequency for the wind turbine system based on the changes to the layer of soil. Changes in operation of the wind turbine are made in response to changes in the natural frequency of the wind turbine system.
18 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wind turbine for operating in regions having soil that includes an active layer that thaws during a portion of the year and a permafrost layer, said wind turbine comprising:
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at least one piling, said piling having a first portion in said permafrost layer and a second portion in said active layer; a tower mounted to said at least one piling; a nacelle mounted to said tower opposite said platform; a plurality of turbine blades coupled to said nacelle; a controller operably coupled to said plurality of turbine blades; and
,a sensor electrically coupled to said controller, said sensor being adapted to generate a signal indicative of a condition of said active layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A wind turbine for operation in an environment having a soil with a first and second layer, said wind turbine comprising:
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a nacelle arranged to be mounted on a tower; an electrical generator mounted to said nacelle; a plurality of turbine blades mounted for rotation to said electrical generator; a sensor associated with said nacelle, said sensor being disposed to measure a parameter and transmit a signal that represents a condition in said first soil layer; a controller associated with said nacelle and disposed in communication with said sensor, said controller including a processor responsive to executable computer instructions for changing the operational frequency of said plurality of turbine blades in response to a change in said parameter. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for controlling a wind turbine being operated in an environment having a first soil layer and a second soil layer, said method comprising:
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sensing a characteristic representing the condition of said first soil layer; determining a physical characteristic of the wind turbine based on said sensed characteristic; and
,changing an operational parameter in response to a change in said physical characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification