Wind turbine for producing electrical power and a method of operating the same

• US 7,190,085 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2003
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Converteam GmbH (Danaher Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Alstom SA
• Inventors: Moehlenkamp, Georg
• Primary Examiner(s): Waks; Joseph
• Application Number:
  US10/442,136
• Publication Number:
  US 20040201221A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,392 Days
• Field of Search: 290/44, 323/268, 322/293, 363/65
• US Class Current: 290/44
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 15/10 using gearing not limited to rotary motion, e.g. with oscillating or reciprocating members
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 7/0224 Adjusting blade pitch
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/11 storing electrical energy
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/255 connected to electrical distribution networks; Arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/70642 of the synchronous type
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/96 as part of a wind turbine farm
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/28 The renewable source being wind energy wind motors F03D
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/76 Power conversion electric or electronic aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

A wind turbine includes a turbine rotor with at least one blade and a generator with a rotor and a stator. The turbine rotor is mechanically coupled with the rotor of the generator. A diode rectifier is electrically coupled to the stator of the generator. A direct current link is electrically coupled with the diode rectifier. A line converter is electrically coupled with the direct current link.

Claims

1. A wind turbine for producing electrical power comprising:

a turbine rotor with at least one blade;

a generator with a rotor and a stator, the turbine rotor being mechanically coupled with the rotor of the generator;

a diode rectifier being electrically coupled to the stator of the generator;

a direct current link with a variable voltage being electrically coupled with the diode rectifier;

a step up/step down converter being electrically coupled with the direct current link with a variable voltage;

a direct current link with a fixed voltage being electrically coupled with the step up/step down converter;

a line converter being electrically coupled with the direct current link with the fixed voltage;

wherein

the direct current link with the variable voltage and the direct current link with the fixed voltage are connected at an operating point with at least one of maximum speed and maximum power of the wind turbine.

2. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the generator is a synchronous generator.

3. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the generator is excited with permanent magnets.

4. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the generator is excited electrically.

5. The wind turbine of claim 1, further comprising a gear box being mechanically coupled between the turbine rotor and the rotor of the generator.

6. The wind turbine of claim 5, wherein the gear box is provided with a step-up speed transmission having a fixed ratio.

7. The wind turbine of claim 1, further comprising a capacitor being electrically coupled to the stator of the generator.

8. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the diode rectifier and the direct current link with the fixed voltage are connected at an operating point of the wind turbine.

9. The wind turbine of claim 8 wherein the connection is upheld as long as the fixed voltage of the direct current link is higher than the rectified line side voltage of the line converter.

10. The wind turbine of claim 1, further comprising a control unit for controlling the electrical power flowing through the line converter.

11. The wind turbine of claim 1, further comprising a controller for controlling the actual speed of the rotor by adjusting the pitch of the rotor blade.

12. The wind turbine of claim 1, further comprising a filter being electrically coupled to the line converter and further electrically connected with a capacitor.

13. The wind turbine of claim 1, further comprising a first switch being a low voltage switch, a transformer and a second switch being a medium voltage switch for coupling the wind turbine to a utility grid.

14. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the generator is excited electronically, via slip rings or brushless.

15. A wind turbine for producing electrical power comprising:

a turbine rotor with at least one blade;

a generator with a rotor and a stator, the turbine rotor being mechanically coupled with the rotor of the generator;

a diode rectifier being electrically coupled to the stator of the generator;

a direct current link with a variable input voltage being electrically coupled with the diode rectifier;

a step up/step down converter being electrically coupled with the direct current link with a variable input voltage;

a direct current link with a fixed input voltage being electrically coupled with the step up/step down converter;

a line converter being electrically coupled with the direct current link with the fixed input voltage;

wherein

the direct current link with the variable input voltage and the direct current link with the fixed input voltage are connected at an operating point with at least one of maximum speed and maximum power of the wind turbine.

16. A wind turbine for producing electrical power comprising:

a turbine rotor with at least one blade having a variable pitch;

a generator with a rotor and a stator, the turbine rotor being mechanically coupled with the rotor of the generator;

a diode rectifier being electrically coupled to the stator of the generator;

a direct current link with a variable voltage being electrically coupled with the diode rectifier;

a step up/step down converter being electrically coupled with the direct current link with a variable voltage;

a direct current link with a fixed voltage being electrically coupled with the step up/step down converter;

a line converter being electrically coupled with the direct current link with the fixed voltage;

wherein

the direct current link with the variable voltage and the direct current link with the fixed voltage are connected at an operating point with at least one of maximum speed and maximum power of the wind turbine.

17. The wind turbine of claim 16, further comprising a gear box being mechanically coupled between the turbine rotor and the rotor of the generator.

18. The wind turbine of claim 17, wherein the gear box is provided with a step-up speed transmission having a fixed ratio.

19. The wind turbine of claim 16, wherein the generator is excited electronically, via slip rings or brushless.

20. The wind turbine of claim 16, wherein the generator is excited with permanent magnets.