IP Library Granted Patent US 8,922,040
Granted Patent B2
US 8,922,040 · App. 13/574,572 · Granted Dec 30, 2014

Wind energy plant with dynamic power distribution between the pitch system and supplementary electrical load

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,922,040
App. No.
13/574,572
Granted
Dec 30, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wind energy plant comprising a rotor having blades and a generator driven by said rotor for generating electric energy. The pitch of the blades can be adjusted and a pitch system for adjusting the pitch angle of the blades is provided, which is supplied by a hub power source. An additional electric load is provided on the hub. A pitch power control device is provided which dynamically distributes the power of the hub power source between the pitch system and the additional electric load and further acts on the pitch system such that its power consumption during high-load operation is reduced. Thus, the power consumption of the pitch system during high-load operation can be reduced and additional power provided for operating the additional load. Even large additional loads, such as a blade heater, can be operated in this way, without having to boost the hub power source.

Claims (25)

1. A wind energy installation comprising:

a rotor comprising a hub and blades adjustable in terms of pitch,

a generator driven by the rotor for generating electrical energy,

a pitch system for adjusting the pitch angle of the blades,

a hub power source for feeding the pitch system,

a supplementary electrical load provided on the hub, and

a pitch power controller configured to distribute the power during system operation from the hub power source between the pitch system and the supplementary electrical load and to act on the pitch system such that the power draw by the pitch system is reduced in a high-load mode of the supplementary electrical load when the supplementary electrical load is supplied with power.

2. The wind energy installation of claim 1 , comprising an adaptation device configured to monitor operating conditions for the pitch system or for the supplementary electrical load and to act on the pitch power controller.

3. The wind energy installation of claim 2 , wherein the adaptation device comprises a current surveillance module configured to monitor the flow of current on the pitch system and to modify operating parameters for the pitch system when a limit value is reached.

4. The wind energy installation of claim 3 , wherein the current surveillance module comprises a load sensor.

5. The wind energy installation of one of claims 2 to 4 , wherein the adaptation device comprises a restrictor module for the pitch control system.

6. The wind energy installation of claim 5 , wherein the restrictor module is configured to target values for the pitch control by determining a restrictor operating point with reduced target values for speed or power at an operating point.

7. The wind power installation of claim 5 , wherein the restrictor module is configured to reduce the regulatory quality of the pitch control.

8. The wind energy installation of claim 2 , wherein the adaptation device comprises an interruption module configured to act on the pitch power controller such that the high-load mode is terminated when predetermined states of the wind energy installation occur.

9. The wind energy installation of claim 1 , comprising an enabling device configured to be actuated by the pitch system and to prompt the pitch power controller to change over to the high-load mode.

10. The wind energy installation of claim 9 , wherein the operating control system of the wind energy installation is connected to an input of the enabling device by a request signal line.

11. A method for operating a wind energy installation comprising a rotor comprising a hub and blades adjustable in terms of pitch, a generator driven by the rotor for generating electrical energy, a pitch system for adjusting the pitch angle of the blades, a hub power source for feeding the pitch system, and a supplementary electrical load, the method comprising:

operating the supplementary electrical load in a high-load mode in which the supplementary electrical load is supplied with power as a matter of priority,

feeding in the high-load mode the supplementary electrical load from the hub power source and

reducing in the high-load mode the power drawn from the hub power source by the pitch system.

12. The method of claim 11 , comprising monitoring operating conditions for the pitch system or for the supplementary electrical load and acting on the pitch power controller.

13. The method of claim 12 , comprising monitoring the flow of current on the pitch system and modifying operating parameters for the pitch system when a limit value is reached.

14. The method of claim 13 , comprising targeting values for the pitch control by determining a restrictor operating point with reduced target values for speed or power at an operating point.

15. The method of claim 14 , comprising reducing the regulatory quality of the pitch control.

16. The method of claim 11 , comprising acting on the pitch power controller such that the high-load mode is terminated when predetermined states of the wind energy installation occur.

Assignments (8)
CHANGE OF ADDRESS Recorded Aug 31, 2023
From: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY SERVICE GMBH
To: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY SERVICE GMBH
Reel/Frame 064834/0873 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 20, 2022
From: SENVION DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
To: SIEMENS GAMESA RENEWABLE ENERGY SERVICE GMBH
Reel/Frame 064371/0624 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 16, 2022
From: SENVION GMBH
To: SENVION DEUTSCHLAND GMBH
Reel/Frame 061462/0567 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 3, 2022
From: SENVION AG
To: SENVION GMBH
Reel/Frame 061068/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jul 18, 2022
From: SENVION SE
To: SENVION AG
Reel/Frame 060692/0328 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 23, 2015
From: REPOWER SYSTEMS SE
To: SENVION SE
Reel/Frame 034806/0074 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 13, 2014
From: REPOWER SYSTEMS SE
To: SENVION SE
Reel/Frame 034232/0918 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 19, 2012
From: PETERS, MATTHIAS; MUTIUS, MARTIN VON
To: REPOWER SYSTEMS SE
Reel/Frame 029160/0929 →