Ultracapacitor pitch energy module

A pitch energy module for replacing a battery within an electric pitch control system of a wind turbine, the battery mounted in the wind turbine in a battery housing and operably coupled with a control system of the wind turbine via at least a battery wiring harness, the pitch energy module comprising:

• a pitch energy module housing sized for mounting in the battery housing upon replacement of the battery with the pitch energy module;
• one or more ultracapacitors mounted within the pitch energy module housing, the one or more ultracapacitors configured to store electrical energy for a wind turbine emergency pitch event;
• a microprocessor mounted on or in the pitch energy module housing, the microprocessor for processing a first set of information associated with the one or more ultracapacitors;
• a non-volatile memory communicatively coupled with the microprocessor for storing a second set of information associated with the pitch energy module;
• a positive terminal electrically coupled to the one or more ultracapacitors, the positive terminal comprising a first bolt fastener;
• a negative terminal electrically coupled to the one or more ultracapacitors, the negative terminal comprising a second bolt fastener,
• wherein the battery comprises a first equivalent series resistance,
• wherein the first bolt fastener and the second bolt fastener achieve a second equivalent series resistance for the pitch energy module that is higher than the first equivalent series resistance of the battery;
• a communications adapter, mounted on or in the pitch energy module housing and communicatively coupled with the microprocessor, configured to interface with a battery communications cable of the battery wiring harness to thereby transfer at least one signal comprising the first set of information associated with the one or more ultracapacitors to the control system of the wind turbine;
• and
• a charger mounted on or in the pitch energy module housing for electrically charging the one or more ultracapacitors.

A pitch energy system for replacing at least one battery within an electric pitch control system of a wind turbine, the at least one battery mounted in the wind turbine in a battery housing and operably coupled with a control system of the wind turbine via at least a battery wiring harness, the pitch energy system comprising:

• a plurality of pitch energy modules electrically connected in series, each of the plurality of pitch energy modules comprising:
• a pitch energy module housing sized for mounting in the battery housing upon replacement of the at least one battery;
• one or more ultracapacitors mounted within the pitch energy module housing, the one or more ultracapacitors configured to store electrical energy for a wind turbine emergency pitch event;
• a microprocessor mounted on or in the pitch energy module housing, the microprocessor processing a first set of information associated with the one or more ultracapacitors;
• a non-volatile memory communicatively coupled with the microprocessor for storing a second set of information associated with the pitch energy module;
• a communications adapter, mounted on or in the pitch energy module housing and communicatively coupled with the microprocessor, configured to interface with a battery communications cable of the battery wiring harness to thereby transfer at least one signal comprising the first set of information associated with the one or more ultracapacitors to the control system of the wind turbine;
• and
• a charger mounted on or in the pitch energy module housing for electrically charging the one or more ultracapacitors.