Systems and methods for testing a wind turbine

• US 7,282,807 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2005
• Issued: 10/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Galloway, Steven, Hornemann, Michael Ulfert
• Primary Examiner(s): Waks; Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/312,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20070138796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 290/44
• US Class Current: 290/44
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/34 Testing dynamo-electric machines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A system for testing is described. The system includes a wind turbine, a grid generator configured to generate power and coupled to the wind turbine, and a portable load coupled to the grid generator.

Claims

1. A system for testing, said system comprising:

a wind turbine comprising a wind turbine generator; and

a grid simulator comprising;

a grid generator configured to generate power and operatively coupled to said wind turbine; and

a portable load coupled to said grid generator.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a grid transformer coupled to said grid generator, said portable load, and said wind turbine, and configured to convert a first voltage into a second voltage.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a power meter coupled to said grid generator and configured to measure a power output by said portable load.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a power meter configured to measure power output by said wind turbine generator.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a vehicle attached to a trailer and configured to transport said portable load on said trailer.

6. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said wind turbine is synchronized with said grid generator by a controller of said wind turbine.

7. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said portable load configured to operate by receiving power output from said wind turbine that is synchronized with said grid generator, and said system further comprises a power meter configured to test a power output by said portable load to determine whether the power output by said portable load is within a pre-determined range.

8. A system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a power meter configured to test a power output of a wind turbine generator of said wind turbine to determine whether the power output lies within a pre-determined range.

9. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said wind turbine generator provides power to said portable load for a pre-determined amount of time.

10. A system for testing, said system comprising:

a wind turbine comprising a wind turbine generator; and

a grid simulator comprising;

a portable generator configured to generate power and operatively coupled to said wind turbine; and

a portable load coupled to said portable generator.

11. A system in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a portable transformer coupled to said portable generator, said portable load, and said wind turbine, and configured to convert a first voltage into a second voltage.

12. A system in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a power meter coupled to said portable generator and configured to measure a power output by said portable load.

13. A system in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a power meter configured to measure power output by said wind turbine generator.

14. A system in accordance with claim 10 further comprising a vehicle attached to a trailer and configured to transport said portable load and said portable generator on said trailer.

15. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said wind turbine is synchronized with said portable generator by a controller of said wind turbine.

16. A system in accordance with claim 10 wherein said portable load configured to operate by receiving power output from said wind turbine that is synchronized with said portable generator, and said system further comprises a power meter configured to test a power output by said portable load to determine whether the power output by said portable load is within a pre-determined range.

17. A method for testing, said method comprising:

coupling a grid simulator to a wind turbine comprising a wind turbine generator, the grid simulator operatively coupled to the wind turbine, the grid simulator comprising a grid generator and a portable load; and

coupling the portable load to the grid generator.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising coupling a grid transformer to the grid generator, the portable load, and the wind turbine.

19. A method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising:

coupling a power meter to said grid generator; and

measuring, by the power meter, a power output by the portable load.

20. A method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising measuring power output by a wind turbine generator of the wind turbine.