Optimization method for power generation systems

• US 8,433,449 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2008
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Collins Control Technologies, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Rockwell Collins Control Technologies, Inc. (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Vos, David W., Russ, Benjamin
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): WHITTINGTON, ANTHONY T
• Application Number:
  US12/314,672
• Publication Number:
  US 20090097959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,597 Days
• Field of Search: 700/286, 700/287, 700/290, 416/25, 290/44
• US Class Current: 700/287
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/44 responsive to the speed of aircraft, e.g. Mach number control, optimisation of fuel consumption
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/48 Control of fuel supply conjointly with another control of the plant with nozzle section control F02K1/17
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/58 with control of a variable-pitch propeller
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2270/051 Thrust

Abstract

Apparatus for controlling the power output efficiency of a power generation system based on an operator input. A processor is coupled to the input means and (i) receives the generated operator command, (ii) receives a plurality of detected ambient air conditions, (iii) receives a plurality of detected engine. performance parameters, (iv) determines first and second engine control commands based on the received pilot thrust command, the detected ambient environmental conditions, and the engine performance parameters, and (v) outputs control commands to optimize the efficiency of the power generation system.

Claims

1. A wind turbine control apparatus comprising:

a propeller coupled to an electrical generator, the electrical generator being configured to be coupled to a load;

a transmission coupling the propeller to the electrical generator; and

a processor coupled to said wind turbine, for

receiving a plurality of detected ambient air conditions, wherein the detected ambient air conditions comprise at least one of ambient humidity, ambient air pressure, and ambient air temperature,

receiving a plurality of detected wind turbine performance parameters,

storing multiple sets of system control parameters corresponding to the plurality of detected ambient air conditions,

selecting a set of control commands corresponding to one of the sets of system control parameters based on the plurality of detected ambient air conditions, such that output efficiency of the electrical generator system is improved, and

outputting control signals corresponding to the selected set of control commands.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pitch servo for receiving one of said control signals and changing a pitch of said wind turbine corresponding to the control commands.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmission comprises a variable speed transmission for receiving said control signals and changing the rotational speed of said generator corresponding to the control commands.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a load shedder coupled to said generator for receiving the control signal and varying the load coupled to said generator to optimize the performance of the wind turbine relative to grid capacity.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transmission comprises a continuously variable transmission.

6. A system for controlling a wind turbine, the system comprising:

a processor configured to be operatively associated with the wind turbine, the processor being configured to

receive at least one signal indicative of an ambient air condition and at least one signal indicative of a performance parameter related to the wind turbine, wherein the ambient air condition comprises at least one of ambient humidity, ambient air pressure, and ambient air temperature,

store multiple sets of system control parameters corresponding to the at least one signal indicative of an ambient air condition,

select a set of control commands corresponding to one of the sets of system control parameters based on the at least one signal indicative of an ambient air condition, such that output efficiency of the wind turbine is improved, and

output the selected set of control commands for controlling the wind turbine,

wherein the selected set of control commands is configured to increase the power output of the wind turbine based on at least one of the at least one signal indicative of an ambient air condition and the at least one signal indicative of a performance parameter related to the wind turbine.

7. The system of claim 6, further comprising a pitch servo configured to change pitch of a propeller of the wind turbine based on the at least one control command.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising a variable speed transmission configured to operably couple a propeller and a generator of the wind turbine to one another and change rotational speed of at least one of the propeller and the generator based on the at least one control command.

9. The system of claim 6, further comprising a load shedder configured to be operably coupled to a generator, the load shedder being configured to vary a load coupled to the generator relative to capacity of a grid.

10. The system of claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to optimize the power output of the system.

11. A method for increasing the power output of a power generation system comprising a wind turbine, the method comprising:

receiving at least one signal indicative of an ambient air condition and at least one signal indicative of a performance parameter related to the power generation system, wherein the ambient air condition comprises at least one of ambient humidity, ambient air pressure, and ambient air temperature,

storing multiple sets of system control parameters corresponding to the at least one signal indicative of an ambient air condition,

selecting a set of control commands corresponding to one of the sets of system control parameters based on the signal indicative of at least one detected ambient air condition, such that output efficiency of the power generation system is improved, and

outputting the selected set of control commands for controlling the power generation system based on the at least one signal indicative of an ambient air condition and the at least one signal indicative of a performance parameter related to the power generation system, such that the power output of the power generation system is increased.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising optimizing the power output of the power generation system via the at least one control command.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the power generation system comprises a pitch servo for changing pitch of a propeller of the wind turbine, and the method further comprises changing the pitch of the propeller based on the at least one control command.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the power generation system comprises a generator and a propeller operably coupled together via a variable speed transmission, and the method further comprises changing the speed of the propeller and the generator via control of the variable speed transmission based on the at least one control command.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the power generation system comprises a load shedder operably coupled to a generator, and the method further comprises varying the load on the generator via the load shedder based on the at least one control command relative to a grid capacity.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising selecting a set of control commands that optimize power output of the power generation system.