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

• US 7,405,490 B2
• Filed: 10/04/2006
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Converteam GMBH (GE Power Conversion Technology Ltd)
• Original Assignee: Converteam GMBH (GE Power Conversion Technology Ltd)
• Inventors: Moehlenkamp, Georg
• Primary Examiner(s): Waks; Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/542,257
• Publication Number:
  US 20070029802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 290/44
• 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
• 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 method of operating a wind turbine, the wind turbine 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 being electrically coupled with the diode rectifier, and a line converter being electrically coupled with the direct current link, and the method comprising:

measuring an actual power flowing through the line converter; and

adjusting the actual power to a given desired power of the wind turbine.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising evaluating the desired power based on a speed of the rotor, a pitch of the rotor blade, a speed and direction of wind and/or on further operating values of the wind turbine.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising controlling an actual speed (Nact) of the rotor by adjusting a pitch of the rotor blade.