Retro-fitting a wind energy converter

1. A method for retro-fitting a wind-energy conversion system, said method comprising: disconnecting a first set of multiple windings from active circuitry; shorting together said first set of multiple windings; connecting a second set of multiple windings to said active circuitry; prior to said disconnection of said first set of multiple windings, using said wind-energy conversion system to convert wind energy into a first amount of electrical power; and following said connection of said second set, using said wind-energy system to convert wind energy into a second amount of electrical power, said second amount being equal to said first amount.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein shorting together said first set of multiple windings comprises shorting a slip ring assembly.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein shorting together said first set of multiple windings comprises causing a short circuit on a non-rotating side of a brush assembly that couples to said windings.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting said first set of multiple windings to be rotor windings.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein said rotor windings, when shorted, cause a rotor associated with the windings to function as a squirrel cage rotor.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting said second set of multiple windings to be stator windings.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using wind to generate electricity with said retro-fitted wind-energy conversion system.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising providing said generated electricity to a power grid.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein shorting said first set of multiple windings comprises shorting while said first set of multiple windings is disconnected from said active circuitry.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein connecting a second set of multiple windings comprises connecting said second set of multiple windings while said first set of multiple windings is disconnected from said active circuitry.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said active circuitry comprises a power converter.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein said wind-energy conversion system comprises a doubly-fed induction generator, and after retro-fit, said wind-energy conversion system comprises a fully-converted induction generator.

13. A method for retro-fitting a wind-energy conversion system, said method comprising: disconnecting a first set of multiple windings from active circuitry; shorting together said first set of multiple windings; connecting a second set of multiple windings to said active circuitry; prior to said disconnection of said first set of multiple windings, using said wind-energy conversion system to convert wind energy into a first amount of electrical power; and following said connection of said second set of multiple windings, using said wind-energy system to convert wind energy into a second amount of electrical power, said second amount being made equal to said first amount by causing power carried by said second set of multiple windings to compensate for loss of power carried said first set of windings.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein shorting together said first set of multiple windings comprises shorting a slip ring assembly.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein shorting together said first set of multiple windings comprises causing a short circuit on a non-rotating side of a brush assembly that couples to said windings.

16. The method of claim 13 , further comprising selecting said first set of multiple windings to be rotor windings.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein said rotor windings, when shorted, cause a rotor associated with said windings to function as a squirrel cage rotor.

18. The method of claim 13 , further comprising selecting said second set of multiple windings to be stator windings.

19. The method of claim 13 , further comprising using wind to generate electricity with said retro-fitted wind-energy conversion system.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising providing said generated electricity to a power grid.

21. The method of claim 13 , wherein shorting said first set of multiple windings comprises shorting while said first set of multiple windings is disconnected from said active circuitry.

22. The method of claim 13 , wherein connecting a second set of multiple windings comprises connecting said second set of multiple windings while said first set of multiple windings is disconnected from said active circuitry.

23. The method of claim 13 , wherein said active circuitry comprises a power converter.

24. The method of claim 13 , wherein said wind-energy conversion system comprises a doubly-fed induction generator, and after retro-fit, said wind-energy conversion system has a fully-converted induction generator.