Dual mode turbine collects energy during low wind conditions

A non-transitory computer readable medium containing instructions that when executed by at least one processor cause the at least one processor to perform operations for controlling an energy generator, the operations comprising:

• receiving a sensed indicator associated with an AC power signal generated by the energy generator;
• converting the first AC power signal to a first DC signal via at least one rectifier;
• comparing the received indicator with a threshold associated with real-time supply of energy to an associated electrical grid;
• controlling a controllable switch based on the comparison;
• wherein the controllable switch is configured to alternately toggle between a first DC-DC converter associated with at least one energy storage component and a first mode of operation and a second DC-DC converter associated with the first DC signal, an inverter and a second mode of operation;
• wherein in the first mode of operation, the first DC signal generated by the energy generator during operation at a sub-threshold level insufficient for realtime supply of energy to the associated electrical grid is stored in at least one energy storage component, and subsequently released for intermittent use using the first DC-DC converter;
• during the second mode of operation, the first DC signal generated by the energy generator during operation above the threshold level for real-time supply of energy to the associated electrical grid is converted to a second DC signal using the second DC-DC converter, such that conversion of the second DC signal via the inverter produces a second AC signal in conformance with the electrical grid, and wherein the second AC signal is provided to the associated electrical grid via the inverter;
• during the second mode of operation, in response to the real-time supply of energy to the associated electrical grid supplied by the inverter being larger than an average energy level, excess energy is diverted to be stored in the least one energy storage component, and in response to the real-time supply of energy to the associated electrical grid supplied by the inverter being smaller than the average energy level, at least some energy stored in the at least one energy storage component is released to augment the real-time supply of energy to the associated electrical grid supplied by the inverter, thereby the real-time supply of energy to the associated electrical grid supplied by the inverter is smoothed;
• and
• wherein alternately toggling between the first DC-DC converter associated with the first mode of operation and the second DC-DC converter associated with the second mode of operation thereby permits energy generated at the sub-threshold level to be collected and intermittently used.

A method for controlling an energy generator, the method comprising:

• receiving a sensed indicator associated with an AC power signal generated by the energy generator;
• converting the first AC power signal to a first DC signal via at least one rectifier;
• comparing the received indicator with a threshold associated with real-time supply of energy to an associated electrical grid;
• controlling a controllable switch based on the comparison,
• wherein the controllable switch is configured to alternately toggle between a first DC-DC converter associated with at least one energy storage component and a first mode of operation and a second DC-DC converter associated with the first DC signal, an inverter and a second mode of operation;
• wherein in the first mode of operation, the first DC signal generated by the energy generator during operation at a sub-threshold level insufficient for realtime supply of energy to an associated electrical grid is stored in the at least one energy storage component, and subsequently released for intermittent use using the first DC-DC converter;
• and
• during the second mode of operation, the first DC signal generated by the energy generator during operation above the threshold level for real-time supply of energy to the associated electrical grid is converted to a second DC signal using the second DC-DC converter, such that conversion of the second DC signal via the inverter produces a second AC signal in conformance with the electrical grid, and wherein the second AC signal is provided to the associated electrical grid via the inverter;
• during the second mode of operation, in response to the real-time supply of energy to the associated electrical grid supplied by the inverter being larger than an average energy level, excess energy is diverted to be stored in the least one energy storage component, and in response to the real-time supply of energy to the associated electrical grid supplied by the inverter being smaller than the average energy level, at least some energy stored in the at least one energy storage component is released to augment the real-time supply of energy to the associated electrical grid supplied by the inverter, thereby the real-time supply of energy to the associated electrical grid supplied by the inverter is smoothed;
• and
• wherein alternately toggling between the first DC-DC converter associated with the first mode of operation and the second DC-DC converter associated with the second mode of operation thereby permits energy generated at the sub-threshold level to be collected and intermittently used.