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US 11,378,059 B2Granted
System and method for controlling a generator of a wind turbine using electrical current
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsMichael Graham McClure, Ramy Souri
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system and method are provided for controlling a wind. Accordingly, a current condition of a generator of the wind turbine is determined, and an approach of the current condition to a current-dependent limit is detected. The speed of the generator is affected so as to alter a rotor/stator balance of the generator such that the current-dependent limit is not exceeded and the wind turbine can operate at a rated power.
Claims16
A method for controlling a generator of a wind turbine, the generator having a rotor and a stator, the method comprising:
- detecting, with a controller, a respective amount of electrical current in each of the rotor of the generator and the stator of the generator of the wind turbine;
- determining, with the controller, whether the respective amounts of electrical current in each of the rotor of the generator and the stator of the generator exceed respective electrical current thresholds of the rotor of the generator and the stator of the generator, wherein each of the respective electrical current thresholds corresponds to a maximum power rating for the rotor of the generator and the stator of the generator, respectively;
- and
- adjusting a speed of the generator so as to alter a ratio of the amount of electrical current in the rotor of the generator to the amount of electrical current in the stator of the generator such that the respective electrical current thresholds of the rotor of the generator and the stator of the generator are not exceeded and the wind turbine operates at a nominal power rating.
1 more element
A system for controlling a wind turbine, the system comprising:
- a current sensor operably coupled to a rotor of a generator of the wind turbine and to a stator of the generator of the wind turbine;
- a converter controller operably coupled to the current sensor and to the generator, the converter controller configured to:
- determine respective amounts of electrical current in each of the rotor of the generator and the stator of the generator, and
- detect whether the respective amounts of electrical current in each of the rotor of the generator and the stator of the generator exceed respective electrical current thresholds of the rotor of the generator and the stator of the generator, wherein each of the respective electrical current thresholds corresponds to a maximum power rating for the rotor of the generator and the stator of the generator, respectively;
- and
- a turbine controller operably coupled to the converter controller, the turbine controller being configured to adjust a speed of the generator so as to alter a ratio of the amount of electrical current in the rotor of the generator to the amount of electrical current in the stator of the generator such that the respective electrical current thresholds of the rotor of the generator and the stator of the generator are not exceeded and the wind turbine operates at a nominal power rating.
3 more elements
A method for upgrading a power production capability of a wind turbine, the method comprising:
- operating a rotor of a generator of the wind turbine and a stator of the generator at a power rating that is greater than a nominal power rating for the generator;
- determining, with a controller, a respective amount of electrical current in each of the rotor of the generator and the stator of the generator;
- detecting, with the controller, whether the respective amounts of electrical current in each of the rotor of the generator and the stator of the generator exceed respective electrical current thresholds of the rotor of the generator and the stator of the generator, wherein each of the respective electrical current thresholds corresponds to a maximum power rating for the rotor of the generator and the stator of the generator, respectively;
- and
- when at least one of the amount of the electrical current of the rotor of the generator or the amount of the electrical current of the stator of the generator exceeds the respective electrical current threshold, adjusting a ratio of the amount of electrical current in the rotor of the generator to the amount of electrical current in the stator of the generator via altering a speed of the generator such that the respective electrical current thresholds of the rotor of the generator and the stator of the generator are not exceeded and the wind turbine operates at the power rating that is greater than the nominal power rating.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.