Method and system for operating a wind turbine generator
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsPedro L. Benito, Jing Wang
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of operating a wind turbine generator having at least one wind turbine blade includes increasing a pitch angle of the at least one wind turbine blade as the at least one wind turbine blade rotates through a first range of blade azimuth values. Such increasing of the pitch angle reduces acoustic emissions generated by the wind turbine generator. The method also includes decreasing the pitch angle of the at least one wind turbine blade as the at least one wind turbine blade rotates through a second range of blade azimuth values. Such decreasing of the pitch angle increases electric power generated by the wind turbine generator.
Claims19
A method of operating a wind turbine generator having at least one wind turbine blade, said method comprising:
- increasing a pitch angle of the at least one wind turbine blade as the at least one wind turbine blade rotates through a first range of blade azimuth values, to reduce acoustic emissions generated by the wind turbine generator;
- and
- modulating the at least one wind turbine blade by making a predetermined series of pitch angle adjustments as the at least one wind turbine blade rotates through a second range of blade azimuth values, to facilitate electric power generation by the wind turbine generator within a predetermined range.
A wind turbine blade pitch control system comprising:
- at least one blade pitch drive mechanism coupled to at least one wind turbine blade;
- at least one processor coupled to said at least one blade pitch drive mechanism, wherein said processor is programmed to:
- increase a pitch angle of a first wind turbine blade as a first wind turbine blade rotates through a first portion of a 360° blade rotational path, thereby facilitating a reduction of acoustic emissions generated by a wind turbine generator;
- and
- modulate a second wind turbine blade by making a predetermined series of pitch angle adjustments as the second wind turbine blade rotates through a second portion of the 360° blade rotational path, thereby facilitating generation of electric power by the wind turbine generator within a predetermined range.
A wind turbine generator comprising:
- at least one wind turbine blade;
- and
- a blade pitch control system comprising:
- at least one blade pitch drive mechanism coupled to said at least one wind turbine blade;
- at least one processor coupled to said at least one blade pitch drive mechanism, wherein said processor is programmed to:
- increase a pitch angle of said at least one wind turbine blade as said at least one wind turbine blade rotates through a first range of blade azimuth values, thereby facilitating a reduction of acoustic emissions generated by said wind turbine generator;
- and
- modulate said at least one wind turbine blade by making a predetermined series of pitch angle adjustments as said at least one wind turbine blade rotates through a second range of blade azimuth values, thereby facilitating generation of electric power by the wind turbine generator within a predetermined range.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.