Stall controller and triggering condition control features for a wind turbine

Abstract

Control features for a wind turbine that control the turbine over a range of wind speeds and under triggering conditions with reduced noise, cost, and reliability issues associated with other such controls. Control is accomplished via control electronics, which adjust the torque produced by the electrical output generation device (e.g., alternator) within the wind turbine. During normal operation, torque is adjusted for optimum aerodynamic performance and maximum output of power. In winds above rated power, the control circuit regulates torque to lower aerodynamic performance, as necessary to maintain desired power level output. In triggering conditions, such as during simultaneous control circuit failure and loss of some portion of the electrical output generation device in extreme winds, wind turbine control is accomplished by increasing torque (e.g., via a separate controller) from the electrical output generation device via shorting of windings, so as to cause retardation of blade rotation.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 contains a representative diagram of backup elements for a back up control circuit of an exemplary wind turbine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a circuit diagram for an exemplary latching circuit for back up control for use in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows a circuit diagram containing additional details relating to the exemplary latching circuit of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4A-4D show exemplary variations of six winding alternators usable with the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows an exemplary wind turbine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an exemplary inverter usable with embodiments of the present invention;

FIG. 7 presents a schematic of various components of an exemplary wind turbine, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 8 contains a representative diagram of various components of an exemplary wind turbine, in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.

Claims

1. A wind turbine, comprising: a blade;an electrical power output device operatively connected to the blade, the electrical power output device having a plurality of windings, wherein the electrical power output device generates electricity when the blade rotates; anda controller for operating the electrical power output device at variable speed and for controlling power output from the wind turbine via aerodynamic stall;wherein operation of the wind turbine is controllable via increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine.

2. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine includes: applying pulse width modulation to at least one of the plurality of windings of the electrical power output device.

3. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine includes: shorting at least one of the plurality of windings of the electrical power output device.

4. The wind turbine of claim 3, wherein operation of the wind turbine is controlled via shorting using a shutdown switch.

5. The wind turbine of claim 4, wherein the shutdown switch includes: a relay.

6. The wind turbine of claim 5, wherein the relay is normally open.

7. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein increasing current based torque occurs via a backup circuit.

8. The wind turbine of claim 7, wherein the backup circuit includes: a shutdown controller.

9. The wind turbine of claim 3, wherein operation of the wind turbine is controlled via shorting using a signal relay coupled to a source of voltage.

10. The wind turbine of claim 9, wherein the source of voltage is a capacitor.

11. The wind turbine of claim 10, wherein operation of the wind turbine is controlled via shorting using a shutdown controller; and wherein the signal relay is coupled to the shutdown controller.

12. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the wind turbine further includes: at least one triggering device;wherein operation of the wind turbine is controlled via increasing current based toque following receipt of a signal from the at least one triggering device.

13. The wind turbine of claim 12, wherein the at least one triggering device includes a voltage triggering device.

14. The wind turbine of claim 13, wherein the voltage triggering device includes a zener diode.

15. The wind turbine of claim 12, wherein the at least one triggering device includes a rotational speed determiner.

16. The wind turbine of claim 12, wherein the at least on triggering device includes a current sensor coupled to at least one of the plurality of windings of the electrical power output device.

17. The wind turbine of claim 16, wherein the at least on triggering device includes a current sensor coupled to connectors for at least one of the plurality of windings of the electrical power output device.

18. The wind turbine of claim 12, wherein the at least one triggering device includes a voltage sensor coupled to at least one of the plurality of windings of the electrical power output device or coupled to connectors therefor.

19. The wind turbine of claim 12, wherein the at least one triggering device includes a controller failure determination module.

20. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein operation of the wind turbine is controlled via increasing current based torque via a circuit component electrically isolated from the controller.

21. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the electrical power output device has a single phase.

22. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the electrical power output device is an alternator.

23. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the electrical power output device is a generator.

24. The wind turbine of claim 2, wherein the increased current based torgue opposing operation of the wind turbine is generatable upon failure of at least one of the plurality of windings.

25. The wind turbine of claim 3, wherein the increased current based torgue opposing operation of the wind turbine is generatable upon failure of at least one of the plurality of windings.

26. The wind turbine of claim 20, wherein increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine includes: applying pulse width modulation to at least one of the plurality of windings of the electrical power output device;wherein the increased current based torgue opposing operation of the wind turbine is generatable upon failure of at least one of the plurality of windings.

27. The wind turbine of claim 20, wherein increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine includes: shorting at least one of the plurality of windings of the electrical power output device;wherein the increased current based torgue opposing operation of the wind turbine is generatable upon failure of at least one of the plurality of windings.

28. The wind turbine of claim 26, wherein no additional load is required to control operation of the wind turbine.

29. The wind turbine of claim 27, wherein no additional load is required to control operation of the wind turbine.

30. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the electrical power output device includes a slotless winding portion, wherein the plurality of windings are contained within the slotless winding portion, wherein the slotless winding portion has a generally circular cross-sectionally shape, the slotless winding portion being sectioned into a plurality of sections radially about the circular cross-sectional shape, each of the sections of the slotless winding portion including a plurality of emplaced winding sets and having connectors to enable connection among the sections of the slotless winding portion.

31. The wind turbine of claim 30, wherein the slotless winding portion includes a core, wherein the core is sectioned into a plurality of sections, and wherein each of the sections of the sectioned winding portion includes one of the plurality of core sections.

32. The wind turbine of claim 31, wherein each of the plurality of core sections is contained with a molded section.

33. The wind turbine of claim 32, wherein the molded section comprises plastic.

34. The wind turbine of claim 30, wherein the sections of the sectioned winding portion are connected via at least one coupling component.

35. The wind turbine of claim 34, wherein the at least one coupling component is a circuit board.

36. The wind turbine of claim 34, wherein one of the at least one coupling component includes at least one lead for providing electrical power output from the winding portion.

37. The wind turbine of claim 30, wherein the device has a number of phases, and wherein each of the plurality of emplaced winding sets corresponds to one of the plurality of phases.

38. The wind turbine of claim 37, wherein each of the plurality of emplaced winding sets include at least two emplaced winding sets correspond to the same one of the plurality of phases.

39. The wind turbine of claim 38, wherein each sequential pair of the at least two emplaced winding sets corresponding to the same one of the plurality of phases are connected in series.

40. The wind turbine of claim 39, wherein a first emplaced winding set of each sequential pair of the at least two winding sets connected in series has opposite polarity to a second emplaced winding set of each sequential pair of the at least two winding sets connected in series.

41. The wind turbine of claim 39, wherein a first emplaced winding set of each sequential pair of the at least two winding sets connected in series has the same polarity as a second emplaced winding set of each sequential pair of the at least two winding sets connected in series.

42. The wind turbine of claim 30, wherein each of the plurality of winding sets is identical.

43. The wind turbine of claim 1, further comprising: a housing to house the electrical power output device.

44. The wind turbine of claim 43, wherein the controller is housed within the housing.

45. The wind turbine of claim 1, wherein the wind turbine is controlled via a wireless device.

46. A wind turbine, comprising: a blade;an electrical power output device operatively connected to the blade, the electrical power output device having a plurality of windings, wherein the electrical power output device generates electricity when the blade rotates; anda controller for operating the electrical power output device at variable speed and for controlling power output from the wind turbine via aerodynamic stall;wherein the controller includes circuit components coupled to the electrical power output device for controlling operation of the wind turbine via increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine.

47. The wind turbine of claim 46, wherein increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine includes: applying pulse width modulation to at least one of the plurality of windings of the electrical power output device.

48. The wind turbine of claim 46, wherein increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine includes: shorting at least one of the plurality of windings of the electrical power output device.

49. The wind turbine of claim 46, wherein the electrical power output device has a single phase.

50. The wind turbine of claim 47, wherein the increased current based torgue opposing operation of the wind turbine is generatable upon failure of at least one of the plurality of windings.

51. The wind turbine of claim 48, wherein the increased current based torgue opposing operation of the wind turbine is generatable upon failure of at least one of the plurality of windings.

52. The wind turbine of claim 46, wherein operation of the wind turbine is controlled via increasing current based torque via a circuit component electrically isolated from the controller; and wherein increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine includes: applying pulse width modulation to at least one of the plurality of windings of the electrical power output device;wherein the increased current based torgue opposing operation of the wind turbine is generatable upon failure of at least one of the plurality of windings.

53. The wind turbine of claim 46, wherein operation of the wind turbine is controlled via increasing current based torque via a circuit component electrically isolated from the controller; and wherein increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine includes: shorting at least one of the plurality of windings of the electrical power output device;wherein the increased current based torgue opposing operation of the wind turbine is generatable upon failure of at least one of the plurality of windings.

54. The wind turbine of claim 52, wherein no additional load is required to control operation of the wind turbine.

55. The wind turbine of claim 53, wherein no additional load is required to control operation of the wind turbine.

56. The wind turbine of claim 46, wherein the electrical power output device includes a slotless winding portion, wherein the plurality of windings are contained within the slotless winding portion, wherein the slotless winding portion has a generally circular cross-sectionally shape, the slotless winding portion being sectioned into a plurality of sections radially about the circular cross-sectional shape, each of the sections of the slotless winding portion including a plurality of emplaced winding sets and having connectors to enable connection among the sections of the slotless winding portion.

57. The wind turbine of claim 56, wherein the slotless winding portion includes a core, wherein the core is sectioned into a plurality of sections, and wherein each of the sections of the sectioned winding portion includes one of the plurality of core sections.

58. The wind turbine of claim 57, wherein each of the plurality of core sections is contained with a molded section.

59. The wind turbine of claim 58, wherein the molded section comprises plastic.

60. The wind turbine of claim 56, wherein the sections of the sectioned winding portion are connected via at least one coupling component.

61. The wind turbine of claim 60, wherein the at least one coupling component is a circuit board.

62. The wind turbine of claim 60, wherein one of the at least one coupling component includes at least one lead for providing electrical power output from the winding portion.

63. The wind turbine of claim 56, wherein the device has a number of phases, and wherein each of the plurality of emplaced winding sets corresponds to one of the plurality of phases.

64. The wind turbine of claim 63, wherein each of the plurality of emplaced winding sets include at least two emplaced winding sets correspond to the same one of the plurality of phases.

65. The wind turbine of claim 64, wherein each sequential pair of the at least two emplaced winding sets corresponding to the same one of the plurality of phases are connected in series.

66. The wind turbine of claim 65, wherein a first emplaced winding set of each sequential pair of the at least two winding sets connected in series has opposite polarity to a second emplaced winding set of each sequential pair of the at least two winding sets connected in series.

67. The wind turbine of claim 65, wherein a first emplaced winding set of each sequential pair of the at least two winding sets connected in series has the same polarity as a second emplaced winding set of each sequential pair of the at least two winding sets connected in series.

68. The wind turbine of claim 66, wherein each of the plurality of winding sets is identical.

69. The wind turbine of claim 46, further comprising: a housing to house the electrical power output device.

70. The wind turbine of claim 69, wherein the controller is housed within the housing.

71. The wind turbine of claim 46, wherein the wind turbine is controlled via a wireless device.

72. A wind turbine, comprising: a blade;an electrical power output device operatively connected to the blade, the electrical power output device having a plurality of windings, wherein the electrical power output device generates electricity when the blade rotates;a controller for operating the electrical power output device at variable speed and for controlling power output from the wind turbine via aerodynamic stall; anda backup circuit coupled to the electrical power output device for controlling operation of the wind turbine via increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine.

73. The wind turbine of claim 72, wherein increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine includes: applying pulse width modulation to at least one of the plurality of windings of the electrical power output device.

74. The wind turbine of claim 72, wherein increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine includes: shorting at least one of the plurality of windings of the electrical power output device.

75. The wind turbine of claim 72, wherein the electrical power output device has a single phase.

76. A wind turbine control and backup system, the system comprising: a control circuit connectable to a plurality of windings of an electrical output generating device for a wind turbine, wherein the control circuit operates the electrical output generating device at variable speed for controlling output from the wind turbine via aerodynamic stall; anda backup circuit coupled to the electrical output generating device for controlling operation of the wind turbine in an emergency condition via increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine.

77. The wind turbine of claim 76, wherein increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine includes: applying pulse width modulation to at least one of the plurality of windings of the electrical output generating device.

78. The wind turbine of claim 76, wherein increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine includes: shorting at least one of the plurality of windings of the electrical output generating device.

79. The wind turbine of claim 76, wherein the electrical output generating device is an alternator.

80. The wind turbine of claim 76, wherein the electrical power output device has a single phase.

81. A wind turbine triggered operation circuit, the wind turbine including an electrical output generating device, and a control circuit coupled to the electrical output generating device, the electrical output generating device having a plurality of windings, the wind turbine triggered operation circuit comprising: a shutdown switch coupled to the plurality of windings, the shutdown switch being capable of increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine; anda shutdown control module coupled to the shutdown switch;wherein the shutdown control module activates shutdown of the wind turbine via the shutdown switch upon receiving a signal from a triggering device that an emergency condition exists.

82. The wind turbine of claim 81, wherein increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine includes: applying pulse width modulation to at least one of the plurality of windings of the electrical output generating device.

83. The wind turbine of claim 81, wherein increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine includes: shorting at least one of the plurality of windings of the electrical output generating device.

84. The wind turbine of claim 81, wherein the electrical power output device has a single phase.

85. A wind turbine triggered operation circuit, the wind turbine including an electrical output generating device, a control circuit coupled to the electrical output generating device, and a wind turbine speed determiner, the electrical output generating device having a plurality of windings, the wind turbine triggered operation circuit comprising: a shutdown switch coupled to the plurality of windings, the shutdown switch being capable of increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine; anda shutdown control module for controlling operation of the shutdown switch;wherein the shutdown control module activates shutdown of the wind turbine via the shutdown switch upon determining that at least one predetermined condition has occurred, the at least one predetermined condition being selected from at least one of the plurality of windings failing, the control circuit malfunctioning, and the wind turbine speed determiner determining that wind turbine speed has reached a predetermined threshold.

86. The wind turbine of claim 85, wherein increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine includes: applying pulse width modulation to at least one of the plurality of windings.

87. The wind turbine of claim 85, wherein increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine includes: shorting at least one of the plurality of windings.

88. The wind turbine of claim 85, wherein the electrical power output device has a single phase.

89. A method for providing control of a wind turbine in a triggered condition, the wind turbine including a control circuit coupled to a plurality of windings of an electrical output generating device, the wind turbine further including a windings sensor and a wind turbine speed determiner, the method comprising: determining the condition of the plurality of windings via the windings sensor;determining rotational speed of the wind turbine via the wind turbine speed determiner;determining operational status of the control circuit; andif a triggering event has occurred, the triggering event being selected from a group of at least one of the plurality of windings being determined to be inoperable, the control circuit being determined to have malfunctioned, and determining that the rotational speed of the wind turbine has reached a predetermined threshold, increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine, such that wind turbine operation is retarded.

90. The method of claim 89, wherein increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine includes: applying pulse width modulation to at least one of the plurality of windings that has not failed.

91. The method of claim 89, wherein increasing current based torque opposing operation of the wind turbine includes: shorting at least one of the plurality of windings that has not failed.

92. The method of claim 89, wherein windings sensor is a current sensor.

93. The method of claim 89, wherein the windings sensor is a voltage sensor.

94. The method of claim 89, wherein the windings sensor is a power sensor.

95. The method of claim 89, wherein the windings sensor is a torque sensor.

96. The method of claim 89, wherein the windings sensor senses condition of each of the plurality of the windings and each connection thereto.

97. The method of claim 89, wherein the electrical power output device has a single phase.