System and method for operating a wind turbine

• US 8,890,346 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Original Assignee: Deka Products Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Langenfeld, Christopher C., Smith, Stanley B. III, Schnellinger, Andrew A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Tulsidas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): MIKAILOFF, STEFAN
• Application Number:
  US13/250,339
• Publication Number:
  US 20120068463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 290/44, 290/55
• US Class Current: 290/44
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/20 Arrangements for mounting or supporting wind motors; Masts or towers for wind motors
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 13/40 Arrangements or methods specially adapted for transporting wind motor components
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 17/00 Monitoring or testing of wind motors, e.g. diagnostics testing during commissioning of wind motors F03D13/30
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 3/005 the axis being vertical
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 3/062 characterised by their construction elements
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 7/0236 by changing the active surface of the wind engaging parts, e.g. reefing or furling
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 7/0248 by mechanical means acting on the power train
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 7/06 the wind motors having rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the air flow entering the rotor
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/11 storing electrical energy
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2220/25 as advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/31 of changeable form or shape
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2240/98 which is inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/325 Air temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/808 Strain gauges; Load cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/30 Wind power
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/728 Onshore wind turbines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/74 Wind turbines with rotation axis perpendicular to the wind direction
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 70/30 Systems combining energy storage with energy generation of non-fossil origin

Abstract

A wind turbine system is disclosed. The system includes a controller configured to receive at least one output from at least one measurement device, an anemometer in communication with the system controller, the anemometer for measuring wind speed, a temperature sensor in communication with the system controller, the temperature sensor for measuring ambient temperature, a transmission, and a load cell coupled to the transmission and in communication with the system controller, the load cell configured to measure the torque output of the transmission, wherein the system controller receives wind speed, ambient temperature and load cell information and determines optimal power outputs of the wind turbine for a weather condition.

Claims

1. A wind turbine system comprising:

an anemometer for measuring wind speed;

a temperature sensor for measuring ambient temperature;

a system controller configured to receive output from at least the anemometer and the temperature sensor;

a wind turbine for generating a DC output power, the wind turbine comprising;

a transmission;

a motor;

a motor drive;

a shunt resistor connected to the motor drive, wherein the shunt resistor converts the output power from the wind turbine and regulates the output power DC voltage;

an electrical rotary joint coupled to the transmission and in communication with the system controller, the electrical rotary joint providing a power connection to at least one component of the wind turbine system;

a load cell coupled to the transmission and in communication with the system controller, the load cell configured to measure torque output of the transmission; and

a resolver rotatably coupled to the motor and communicatively coupled to the motor drive, wherein the resolver measures a position of the motor and torque measurements from the load cell,

wherein the system controller receives wind speed, ambient temperature and load cell information and determines optimal power outputs of the wind turbine.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a wind vane in communication with the system controller, the wind vane for measuring wind directionality.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the system controller receives output from the temperature sensor and calibrates the anemometer using the temperature sensor output.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a wireless router coupled to the system controller, wherein the wireless router transmits data from the system controller to a remote server.