IP Library Granted Patent US 8,235,662
Granted Patent B2
US 8,235,662 · App. 11/869,011 · Granted Aug 7, 2012

Wind turbine metrology system

Assignee: General Electric Company
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,235,662
App. No.
11/869,011
Granted
Aug 7, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A wind turbine and system for controlling a wind turbine using a nosecone mounted metrology system is disclosed. The wind turbine comprises at least one wind sensor for determining at least one wind characteristic. The wind sensor is mounted on a boom and located at a predetermined distance outward from the wind turbine nosecone.

Claims (8)

1. A wind turbine comprising:

at least one wind sensor for determining at least one wind characteristic, the at least one wind characteristic chosen from the group comprising, at least one of, wind direction, wind speed, horizontal wind speed, horizontal wind direction, vertical wind speed, vertical wind direction, and absolute wind velocity;

said at least one wind sensor located at a predetermined distance outward from a nosecone of said wind turbine, the predetermined distance between about one to about ten meters, the at least one wind sensor comprising an anemometer, the at least one wind sensor mounted on a boom extending in a substantially horizontal direction, the boom mounted on the nose cone, the boom further comprising a plurality of deployable arms supporting the at least one wind sensor, and the boom being about one to about ten meters in length; and

wherein, at least one operating mode of the wind turbine is controlled based on said at least one wind characteristic, the at least one operating mode chosen from, at least one of the group comprising, yaw direction and blade pitch angle.

2. The wind turbine of claim 1 , wherein said at least one wind sensor is chosen from the group comprised of:

a two-pair ultrasonic anemometer, a three-pair ultrasonic anemometer, a five-hole pressure anemometer or a seven-hole pressure anemometer.

3. The wind turbine of claim 1 , wherein, at least a portion of said boom and said nosecone rotate together.

4. The wind turbine of claim 1 , wherein, at least a portion of said boom is stationary with respect to rotation of said nosecone.

Assignments (2)
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE ADDRESS SHOULD READ SCHENECTADY, NY" NOT CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS SHOULD READ " 1 RIVER ROAD NOT 1 RIVAR STREET. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 019932 FRAME 0238. ASSIGNOR (S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNEE ADDRESS: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, 1 RIVER ROAD, SCHENECTADY, NY 12345, USA. Recorded Oct 10, 2007
From: LECLAIR, RYAN M.; SCHMITT, THOMAS P.; HONOFF, SASKLA G.; WILLIAMS, CLINTON L.; SIEBERS, THOMAS H.; ROGERS, DONALD M.; WINSLOW, CHRISTOPHER J.
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 019959/0280 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 9, 2007
From: LECLAIR, RYAN M.; SCHMITT, THOMAS P.; HONOFF, SASKIA G.; WILLIAMS, CLINTON L.; SIEBERS, THOMAS H.; ROGERS, DONALD M.; WINSLOW, CHRISTOPHER J.
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 019932/0236 →
Continuity (1)
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