Direct drive wind turbine
AssigneeNorthern Power Systems, Inc.
InventorsGarrett Lee Bywaters, William Danforth, Christopher Bevington, Jesse Stowell, Daniel Costin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A wind turbine is provided that minimizes the size of the drive train and nacelle while maintaining the power electronics and transformer at the top of the tower. The turbine includes a direct drive generator having an integrated disk brake positioned radially inside the stator while minimizing the potential for contamination. The turbine further includes a means for mounting a transformer below the nacelle within the tower.
Claims14
A method for transferring electrical power from a wind turbine comprising the steps of:
- rotating blades using wind;
- rotating a generator;
- generating electricity with said generator;
- supporting said generator with a tower;
- suspending a transformer adjacent said generator;
- damping the movement of said tower by contacting said transformer;
- transmitting said electricity through said transformer.
A method for operating a wind turbine comprising the steps of:
- rotating a plurality of blades;
- generating variable frequency electrical power by the rotation of said plurality of blades;
- converting said variable electrical power from a first electrical characteristic to a second electrical characteristic;
- transferring said electrical power with said second electrical characteristic to a transformer suspended from a nacelle bedplate;
- damping the oscillations of said wind turbine with said transformer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.