Overrun protection for wind turbines
AssigneeOrenda Energy Solutions Inc.
InventorsChristopher Grant, David Vandermeer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A braking system for a turbine of a wind powered includes a hydraulic machine connected to a drive shaft of the turbine. A pressure regulating valve in the supply line of the hydraulic machine determines the pressure delivered to the supply line by the hydraulic machine. A control that is responsive to the speed of rotation of the drive shaft modulates the pressure regulating valve so as to increase pressure in the supply line as the rotational speed exceeds a predetermined speed to apply a braking force to the drive shaft.
Claims30
A braking system for a turbine of a wind powered generator, said turbine having a propeller and a drive shaft connected to said propeller for rotation therewith, said braking system including a hydraulic machine connected to said drive shaft, an outlet from said hydraulic machine to deliver fluid to a supply line upon rotation of said drive shaft, a pressure regulating valve in said supply line to determine the pressure delivered to the supply line by said hydraulic machine, and a control responsive to the speed of rotation of said drive shaft to modulate said pressure regulating valve, said control modulating said pressure regulating valve to increase pressure in said supply line as said rotational speed exceeds a predetermined speed to apply a braking force to the drive shaft, and wherein said drive shaft is also connected to an armature of said wind powered generator to generate electrical power upon rotation of said drive shaft.
A wind powered generator having a mast, a turbine supported on said mast and including a propeller and a drive shaft connected to said propeller for rotation therewith, a generator having an armature connected to said drive shaft to generate electrical power upon rotation of said drive shaft, and a braking system for applying a torque to said drive shaft to inhibit rotation thereof, said braking system including a hydraulic machine connected to said drive shaft, an outlet from said hydraulic machine to deliver fluid to a supply line upon rotation of said drive shaft, a pressure regulating valve in said supply line to determine the pressure delivered to the supply line by said hydraulic machine, and a control responsive to the speed of rotation of said drive shaft to modulate said pressure regulating valve, said control modulating said pressure regulating valve to increase pressure in said supply line as said rotational speed exceeds a predetermined speed to apply a braking force to the drive shaft.
A braking system for a turbine of a wind powered generator, said turbine having a propeller and a drive shaft connected to said propeller for rotation therewith, said braking system including a hydraulic machine connected to said drive shaft, an outlet from said hydraulic machine to deliver fluid to a supply line upon rotation of said drive shaft, a pressure regulating valve in said supply line to determine the pressure delivered to the supply line by said hydraulic machine, and a control responsive to the speed of rotation of said drive shaft to modulate said pressure regulating valve, said control modulating said pressure regulating valve to increase pressure in said supply line as said rotational speed exceeds a predetermined speed to apply a braking force to the drive shaft, wherein said pressure regulating valve is modulated by adjustment of a pilot pressure, and said pilot pressure is adjusted by an adjustable proportional valve that in turn affects the pressure attained in the supply line, and an override valve is provided to hydraulically disable said adjustable proportional valve to cause said pressure regulating valve to maintain a maximum pressure in said supply line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.