Wind turbine and method of operating a wind turbine

• US 9,222,463 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2012
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Renewable Technologies Wind B.V. (Alstom SA)
• Original Assignee: Alstom Renewable Technologies
• Inventors: Sala Lluma, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuevas, Pedro J
• Application Number:
  US14/114,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20140070539A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,302 Days
• Field of Search: 290/44, 290/55
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 7/00 Controlling wind motors supplying or distributing electrical power H02J, e.g. arrangements for adjusting, eliminating or compensating reactive power in networks H02J3/18; controlling electric generators H02P, e.g. arrangements for controlling electric generators for the purpose of obtaining a desired output H02P9/00
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/25 the apparatus being an electrical generator F03D9/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F03D 9/255 connected to electrical distribution networks; Arrangements therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F05B 2260/903 using electrical or magnetic forces
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 25/22 Multiple windings; Windings for more than three phases
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 27/08 with pulse width modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 3/18 for stopping or slowing an ac motor
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/006 Means for protecting the generator by using control control effected upon generator excitation circuit to reduce harmful effects of overloads or transients H02P9/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/04 Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/72 Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction

Abstract

A method of operating a wind turbine comprising a rotor, a multi winding generator having a plurality of independent sets of control windings and a plurality of independent power electronic converters for controlling each set of control windings independently, the method comprising in a normal operation mode, the plurality of power electronic converters controlling the sets of control windings in substantially the same way, whereas in a positioning mode for positioning a rotor of a wind turbine in one of one or more predetermined angular positions, one of the independent power electronic converters controlling its corresponding set of control windings in a substantially different manner than at least one other independent power electric converter. The invention further relates to a wind turbine adapted to work in at least two different operating modes.

Claims

1. A method of operating a wind turbine including a rotor, a multi winding generator having a plurality of independent sets of control windings and a plurality of independent power electronic converters for controlling each set of control windings independently,

the method comprising:

in a normal operation mode, the plurality of power electronic converters controlling the sets of control windings in substantially the same way, and

in a positioning mode for positioning a rotor of a wind turbine in one of one or more predetermined angular positions, one of the independent power electronic converters controlling its corresponding set of control windings in a substantially different manner than at least one other independent power electric converter, wherein

in the positioning mode, one or more of the power electronic converters generates a torque in its corresponding set of control windings to substantially compensate for an instantaneous aerodynamic torque, and at least one of the other power electronic converters generates a forward torque in its corresponding set of control windings.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein in the positioning mode, the input for one or more of the power electronic converters is the instantaneous speed and/or the instantaneous position and/or the instantaneous torque of the rotor.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein in the positioning mode, a PID algorithm is used in the control of at least one of the sets of control windings.

4. A wind turbine, comprising:

a rotor, a multi winding generator having a plurality of independent sets of control windings, and a plurality of independent power electronic converters for controlling each set of control windings independently, wherein

the generator and independent power electronic converters are adapted to work in at least two different operational modes, and wherein

in at least a first operational mode, the independent power electronic converters all operate in substantially the same way, and

in at least a second operational mode, the independent power electronic converters do not all operate in substantially the same way, wherein

the second operational mode is a positioning mode for positioning a rotor in one of one or more predefined angular positions, and wherein

in the positioning mode one or more of the power electronic converters generates a torque in its corresponding set of control windings to substantially compensate for an instantaneous aerodynamic torque, and at least one of the other power electronic converters generates a rearward torque in its corresponding set of control windings.

5. A wind turbine according to claim 4, further comprising a locking mechanism for fixing the wind turbine rotor in a predetermined position.

6. A wind turbine according to claim 5, wherein the locking mechanism comprises an aperture provided on a rotor hub, and an insertion element provided on a nacelle or generator.

7. A wind turbine according to claim 4, further comprising one or more proximity sensors in a first plane and one or more elements to be sensed in a second plane.

8. A wind turbine according to claim 4, wherein the independent power electronic converters are variable frequency drives.

9. A method of operating a wind turbine including a rotor, a multi winding generator having a plurality of independent sets of control windings and a plurality of independent power electronic converters for controlling each set of control windings independently,

the method comprising:

in a normal operation mode, the plurality of power electronic converters controlling the sets of control windings in substantially the same way, and

in a positioning mode for positioning a rotor of a wind turbine in one of one or more predetermined angular positions, one of the independent power electronic converters controlling its corresponding set of control windings in a substantially different manner than at least one other independent power electric converter, and

wherein in the positioning mode, the generator is driven as a motor.