Method and system for operating a wind turbine

• US 8,118,536 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2009
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Krauss, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): WIEHE, NATHANIEL EDWARD
• Application Number:
  US12/609,754
• Publication Number:
  US 20100135793A1
• Time in Patent Office: 844 Days
• Field of Search: 415/37, 415/41, 416/17, 416/110, 416/175, 416/180
• US Class Current: 415/1
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 80/70 Bearing or lubricating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/20 Heat transfer, e.g. cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/8211 of the weather
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/98 Lubrication
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 39/04 by heating heat-exchangers in general F28
• CPC Class Codes: F16N 7/40 in a closed circulation system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A lubrication system for a wind turbine having a control system, the lubrication system including a sump configured to collect a lubrication fluid, and at least one heating unit configured to heat the lubrication fluid based on at least one forecasted condition.

Claims

1. A lubrication system for a wind turbine, said lubrication system comprising:

a sump configured to collect a lubrication fluid; and

,

at least one heating unit configured to heat the lubrication fluid based on at least one forecasted condition.

2. A lubrication system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a pump configured to transport the lubrication fluid from said sump through at least a portion of the wind turbine and to return the lubrication fluid to said sump.

3. A lubrication system in accordance with claim 2, wherein said pump is configured to cease operating when a temperature of the lubrication fluid falls below a first predefined temperature.

4. A lubrication system in accordance with claim 3, wherein said heating unit is configured to heat the lubrication fluid within said sump to a second predefined temperature.

5. A lubrication system in accordance with claim 4, wherein said pump is configured to operate when the temperature of the lubrication fluid reaches the second predefined temperature.

6. A lubrication system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the forecasted condition includes at least one of a forecasted wind speed, a forecasted wind direction, a forecasted temperature, a forecasted atmospheric pressure, and a forecasted air density.

7. A lubrication system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said heating unit is configured to operate when the forecasted wind speed is above a threshold.

8. A lubrication system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a control system configured to transmit signals to said heating unit.

9. A wind turbine, comprising:

a control system configured to;

obtain at least one forecasted condition;

prepare said wind turbine for generating power based on the forecasted condition.

10. A wind turbine in accordance with claim 9, further comprising:

a gearbox; and

,

a lubrication system configured to lubricate said gearbox, said lubrication system comprising;

a sump configured to collect a lubrication fluid; and

,

at least one heating unit configured to heat the lubrication fluid;

wherein said control system is further configured to operate said heating unit based on the forecasted condition.

11. A wind turbine in accordance with claim 10, further comprising a pump configured to transport the lubrication fluid from said sump through at least a portion of said wind turbine and to return the lubrication fluid to said sump.

12. A wind turbine in accordance with claim 11, wherein said pump is configured to cease operating when a temperature of the lubrication fluid falls below a first predefined temperature.

13. A wind turbine in accordance with claim 12, wherein said heating unit is configured to heat the lubrication fluid within said sump to a second predefined temperature.

14. A wind turbine in accordance with claim 13, wherein said pump is configured to operate when the temperature of the lubrication fluid reaches the second predefined temperature.

15. A wind turbine in accordance with claim 9, wherein the forecasted condition includes at least one of a forecasted wind speed, a forecasted wind direction, a forecasted temperature, a forecasted atmospheric pressure, and a forecasted air density, said control system is configured to prepare said wind turbine for generating power when the forecasted condition is above a threshold.

16. A method for operating a wind turbine, said method comprising:

heating a lubrication fluid with at least one heating unit within the wind turbine;

transporting the lubrication fluid to at least one component within the wind turbine; and

,

controlling the heating unit based on at least one forecasted condition.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16, further comprising:

using a pump to transport the lubrication fluid to the component and to return the lubrication fluid from the component to a sump; and

,

configuring the pump to cease operating when a temperature of the lubrication fluid falls below a first predefined temperature.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17, further comprising configuring the pump to operate when the temperature of the lubrication fluid reaches a second predefined temperature.

19. A method in accordance with claim 16, further comprising using at least one of a forecasted wind speed, a forecasted wind direction, a forecasted temperature, a forecasted atmospheric pressure, and a forecasted air density to control the heating unit.

20. A method in accordance with claim 19, further comprising operating the heating unit when the forecasted condition is above a threshold.