Protection system for wind turbine
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorDetlef Menke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A braking system for a wind turbine is provided, and the wind turbine includes a rotor having at least one blade. A generator includes a plurality of stator windings having a plurality of phases. The braking system includes a plurality of resistors, and at least one switch connected between the stator windings and the resistors. The switch can be configured to connect the stator windings to each other via the resistors, for the effect of slowing down or stopping the rotor of the wind turbine.
Claims16
A braking system for a wind turbine, said wind turbine comprising a rotor, said rotor comprising at least one blade, said braking system comprising:
- a generator comprising a plurality of stator windings;
- said plurality of stator windings comprising a plurality of phases;
- a plurality of resistors;
- at least one switch located between said plurality of stator windings and said plurality of resistors;
- the braking system connected at a first input to the generator, and connected at a first output to a frequency converter;
- wherein said at least one switch can be configured to connect said plurality of stator windings to each other via said plurality of resistors while isolating the frequency converter from the generator, for slowing down movement or rotation of said rotor of said wind turbine.
A braking system for a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising a rotor, having at least one blade, a generator having a plurality of stator windings, the plurality of stator windings comprising a plurality of phases, and a frequency converter, the braking system comprising:
- at least one current limiting device;
- at least one switch connected to the frequency converter and between the plurality of stator windings of the generator and the at least one current limiting device, the at least one switch configurable in a first mode and a second mode, the first mode allowing power to flow from the generator to the frequency converter while isolating the at least one current limiting device from the generator and frequency converter, the second mode isolating the frequency converter from the generator;
- wherein the braking system connects the plurality of stator windings to each other via the at least one current limiting device when the at least one switch is configured in the second mode, for slowing down movement or rotation of the rotor of the wind turbine.
A braking system for a wind turbine, the wind turbine comprising a rotor, having at least one blade, a generator having a plurality of stator windings, the plurality of stator windings comprising a plurality of phases, and a frequency converter, the braking system comprising:
- at least one current limiting device;
- at least one switch connected to the frequency converter and between the plurality of stator windings of the generator and the at least one current limiting device, the at least one switch configurable in a first mode and a second mode, the first mode allowing power to flow from the generator to the frequency converter, and the second mode connecting the plurality of stator windings to each other via the at least one current limiting device, for slowing down movement or rotation of the rotor of the wind turbine;
- a speed sensor connected to at least one of the braking system and the generator;
- wherein, the speed sensor is monitored by a control device, and the braking system is activated if an over-speed condition is detected, and wherein the control device provides an independent braking function, so that a signal from a main wind turbine controller is not required.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.