Control system for a wind turbine

• US 9,028,214 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2010
• Issued: 05/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Wind Energy (Norway) AS (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Bjork, Mikael, Axelsson, Ulf
• Primary Examiner(s): White, Dwayne J
• Assistant Examiner(s): GRIGOS, WILLIAM G
• Application Number:
  US13/392,270
• Publication Number:
  US 20120219421A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,726 Days
• Field of Search: 416/155, 416/1, 416/61, 416/41, 416/46, 416/47
• US Class Current: 416/155
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 7/0224 Adjusting blade pitch
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/255 connected to electrical distribution networks; Arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/76 the adjusting mechanism using auxiliary power sources
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/80 Diagnostics
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/83 Testing, e.g. methods, components or tools therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2270/1074 by using back-up controls
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/386 using test-loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/062 for AC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 10/70 Hybrid systems, e.g. uninterruptible or back-up power supplies integrating renewable energies
• 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: Y10T 29/49004 including measuring or testing of device or component part

Abstract

The present invention relates to a control system for a wind turbine, comprising an electrical device that is arranged for being used during normal operation of a wind turbine and a power source that is arranged to be used as an emergency power supply to a blade pitch motor, wherein the blade pitch motor is arranged to test at least one property of said power source. The invention also relates to a method for testing a power source.

Claims

1. A control system for a wind turbine, comprising:

an electrical device that is arranged for being used during normal operation of a wind turbine; and

a power source that is arranged to be used as an emergency power supply to said electrical device,

wherein the electrical device is a blade pitch motor for adjusting a pitch of a rotor blade of the wind turbine,

wherein the power source is configured to supply a current to the blade pitch motor so that the blade pitch motor tests at least one property of the power source, the current being insufficient to cause a pitch movement of the rotor blade.

2. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the blade pitch motor is arranged to test said power source at a predetermined interval.

3. The control system according to claim 1, wherein a variable-frequency drive is arranged between the blade pitch motor and the power source.

4. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the blade pitch motor is an AC motor.

5. The control system according to claim 1, wherein said power source is a capacitor.

6. The control system according to claim 1, wherein the blade pitch motor is heat insulated.

7. A method for testing a power source, the method comprising the steps of:

a) connecting a blade pitch motor to a power source;

b) creating a current through said blade pitch motor for discharging said power source, the current being insufficient to cause a pitch movement; and

c) forming an assessment regarding at least one property of said power source based on step b).

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the steps are automatically performed at set intervals and without the need for human interference.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein said power source is a capacitor.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the power source is connected to the blade pitch motor via a variable-frequency drive and wherein the testing of the power source comprises setting the variable-frequency drive to deliver a current to the blade pitch motor and wherein the method further comprises monitoring how at least one of the current and the voltage of the power source decreases over time.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the power source is connected to the blade pitch motor via a variable-frequency drive and wherein the testing of the power source comprises setting the variable-frequency drive to deliver a current of constant intensity to the blade pitch motor and wherein the method further comprises monitoring how the voltage of the power source decreases over time.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the blade pitch motor is an AC motor.

13. The method according to claim 10, wherein the variable-frequency drive is used to monitor how at least one of the voltage of the power source and the intensity of the current decreases over time.