Systems and methods for cold-climate operation of a fluid-flow based energy generation system
AssigneeAeromine Technologies, Inc.
InventorCarsten Hein Westergaard
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A turbine controller system and method for a fluid-driven power generation unit may include an electrical circuit that connects to a power source and a rotor of a generator of the fluid-driven power generation unit. A turbine control circuit, which may include multiple circuits, may receive data from sensors or from external sources and may generate a signal to control the generator based on a determination that at least one weather condition exists. Control may be effectuated by motoring the rotor of the generator to mitigate a potential impact of the determined at least one weather condition on the fluid-driven power generation unit.
Claims21
A method for mitigating a cold climate impact on a fluid-driven power generation unit, comprising:
- a turbine control circuit receiving data indicating at least one weather condition at the fluid-driven power generation unit;
- the turbine control circuit analyzing the received data to determine the at least one weather condition;
- the turbine control circuit assessing a potential impact of the determined at least one weather condition on the fluid-driven power generation unit;
- the turbine control circuit analyzing performance of the fluid-driven power generation unit;
- and
- the turbine control circuit controlling a generator of the fluid-driven power generation unit, motoring a rotor of the generator and thereby mitigate the potential impact of the determined at least one weather condition on the fluid-driven power generation unit;
- wherein the determined at least one weather condition comprises a winter precipitation event at the fluid-driven power generation unit and
- wherein controlling the generator comprises motoring the generator to achieve at least minimum rotational speed:
- to avoid precipitation building up in a fluid flow path of the fluid-driven power generation unit;
- or to avoid rotor bearing freezeup when the ambient temperature is below a designated temperature.
A turbine controller for a fluid-driven power generation unit that comprises a ducted rotor system, the turbine controller comprising:
- an electrical circuit comprising a power input for connection to a power source and a power output to a motor of a rotor of a generator of the fluid-driven power generation unit;
- a plurality of sensors;
- and
- a turbine control circuit comprising an input to receive data from the plurality of sensors and an output to send a signal to control the generator of the fluid-driven power generation unit, wherein the turbine control circuit is configured to determine at least one weather condition based on data from one or more of the plurality of sensors and to control the generator motoring the rotor of the generator to mitigate a potential impact of the determined at least one weather condition on the fluid-driven power generation unit;
- wherein the determined at least one weather condition comprises a winter precipitation event at the fluid-driven power generation unit and
- wherein controlling the generator comprises motoring the rotor of the generator to achieve at least minimum rotational speed to avoid precipitation building up in a fluid flow path of the fluid-driven power generation unit.
A fluid-driven power generation unit comprising:
- a power generator comprising a rotor and a stator that converts wind power into electrical energy;
- an electrical circuit comprising a power input for connection to a power source and a power output to motor the rotor of the generator;
- a plurality of sensors;
- and
- a turbine control circuit comprising an input to receive data from the plurality of sensors and an output to send a signal to control the generator, wherein the turbine control circuit is configured to determine at least one weather condition based on data from one or more of the plurality of sensors and to control the generator to motor the rotor of the generator to mitigate a potential impact of the determined at least one weather condition on the fluid-driven power generation unit;
- wherein the determined at least one weather condition comprises a winter precipitation event at the fluid-driven power generation unit and
- wherein controlling the generator comprises motoring a rotor of the generator to achieve at least minimum rotational speed to avoid precipitation building up in a fluid flow path of the fluid-driven power generation unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.