# US 8,788,107 B2 · Wind turbine generator for use in cold weather, method of controlling the same, and wind turbine generating system for use in cold weather > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,788,107 B2 - Document ID: US8788107B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/601,359 - Filed: 2009-06-05 - Published: 2011-03-31 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2009-06-05 - Assignees: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. - Applicants: Akira Yasugi - Inventors: Akira Yasugi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8788107B2 ## CPC - F03D 7/0284: {in relation to the state of the electric grid} - F03D 9/255: {connected to electrical distribution networks; Arrangements therefor} - F03D 17/00: Monitoring or testing of wind motors, e.g. diagnostics (testing during commissioning of wind motors F03D13/30) - H02P 29/68: based on the temperature of a drive component or a semiconductor component - F05B 2260/821: Parameter estimation or prediction - F05B 2270/107: to cope with emergencies - F05B 2270/303: Temperature - F05B 2270/325: Air temperature - F05B 2270/337: Electrical grid status parameters, e.g. voltage, frequency or power demand - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - F03D: WIND MOTORS - H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract Damage is prevented on electric devices in a case where a generator is installed in a cold weather. A wind turbine generator includes a power supply unit connected to a utility grid via a switch gear; a utility grid voltage measuring unit provided between the power supply unit and the utility grid, for measuring a voltage of the utility grid; and a temperature measuring unit for obtaining an ambient temperature of the power supply unit. In a case where a measurement value of the temperature measuring unit or an ambient temperature of the power supply unit estimated based on the measurement value is smaller than a first temperature threshold determined based on a function guarantee temperature of the power supply unit and the voltage measured by the utility grid voltage measuring unit is smaller than a preset voltage threshold, the switch gear operates to interrupt the connection between the power supply unit and the utility grid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A wind turbine generating system comprising: a switch gear for switching between connection and disconnection of the wind turbine generator and a utility grid, and a wind turbine generator comprising: a power supply unit connected to a utility grid via a switch gear; a utility grid voltage measuring unit provided between the power supply unit and the utility grid, for measuring a voltage of the utility grid; and a temperature measuring unit for obtaining an ambient temperature of the power supply unit; and an electric storage device for supplying power to the switch gear in a state where the connection between the utility grid and the power supply unit is interrupted, wherein in a case where a measurement value of the temperature measuring unit or an ambient temperature of the power supply unit estimated based on the measurement value is smaller than a first temperature threshold determined based on a function guarantee temperature of the power supply unit, where the voltage measured by the utility grid voltage measuring unit is smaller than a preset voltage threshold, and where a state where the voltage of the utility grid is less than the preset voltage threshold is maintained for a predetermined period, a determination that a power outage will occur is made, and the switch gear operates to interrupt the connection between the power supply unit and the utility grid, and the predetermined period is set based on a remaining capacity of the electric storage device. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The wind turbine generating system according to claim 1, wherein in a case where the measurement value of the temperature measuring unit or the ambient temperature of the power supply unit is equal to or higher than a second temperature threshold determined based on the function guarantee temperature of the power supply unit in a state where the connection between the power supply unit and the utility grid is interrupted, the power supply unit and the utility grid are connected to each other. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The wind turbine generating system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply unit is provided in a nacelle, and the temperature measuring unit is provided in the nacelle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The wind turbine generating system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply unit is provided in a nacelle, the temperature measuring unit is provided in an outer periphery of the nacelle, and the ambient temperature of the power supply unit is estimated based on the measurement value of the temperature measuring unit. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The wind turbine generating system according to claim 1, wherein the power supply unit is provided in a nacelle, the temperature measuring unit is provided in an outer periphery of the nacelle, and when a state where the measurement value of the temperature measuring unit is smaller than the first temperature threshold and the voltage measured by the utility grid voltage measuring unit is smaller than the preset voltage threshold is maintained for a predetermined period, the power supply unit is disconnected from the utility grid. ### Claim 6 A method of controlling a wind turbine generator, comprising the steps of: measuring a voltage of a utility grid between a power supply unit and the utility grid; obtaining an ambient temperature of the power supply unit; and in a case where a measurement value of the ambient temperature of the power supply unit or an ambient temperature of the power supply unit estimated based on the measurement value is smaller than a first temperature threshold determined based on a function guarantee temperature of the power supply unit, where the voltage of the utility grid is smaller than a predetermined voltage threshold, and where a state where the voltage of the utility grid is less than the predetermined voltage threshold is maintained for a predetermined period, determining that a power outage will occur, and interrupting connection between the power supply unit and the utility grid via a switch gear, the predetermined period is set based on a remaining capacity of the electric storage device for supplying power to the switch gear in a state where the connection between the utility grid and the power supply unit is interrupted. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of controlling a wind turbine generator according to claim 6, wherein the first temperature threshold is a value obtained by adding some margin to the function guarantee temperature.