Improved Power Generation for Wind Turbines

A method for controlling a wind power installation to increase power output above nominal levels while maintaining component safety. The method determines a power loss limit based on cooling power, generator torque, and component temperatures, and operates the installation at a power above nominal while maintaining the power loss within the determined limit. The method also adjusts blade angle and speed to optimize power output while preventing excessive mechanical loading and thermal stress.

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A wind turbine with adjustable vanes and jibs to optimize power extraction in changing wind conditions. The turbine has a rotatable mast with a generator at one end. The mast is held by a frame that can rotate with the wind. The frame has vanes that can open or close to control airflow. Additional jibs extend from the vanes to further adjust wind resistance. Actuators toggle the vane and jib positions to keep the turbine aligned with the wind. This allows consistent power output even as wind direction changes. The turbine can also raise or lower the mast height using a buoy base in water to optimize wind speeds at different elevations.

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Power control method for wind turbines that accounts for blade flexibility to optimize power generation. It involves dynamically adjusting blade pitch and generator speed in low wind conditions to match optimal efficiency. This is done by calculating dynamic optimal pitch angles and gains based on blade deformation at different wind speeds, rather than using fixed optimal values. This allows tracking of the blade's optimal aerodynamic efficiency considering flexure.

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Wind turbine system with multiple vertically-axis wind turbines interconnected to share rotation and generate more power. The turbines have vertical rotor shafts and bases above ground. They are mechanically coupled to transmit blade rotation to a common drive shaft. An electrical generator is connected to the shared shaft to accumulate power from all turbines. This allows utilizing underutilized wind resources by combining turbines in areas with lower wind speeds.

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A method to improve the performance of wind turbines by optimizing the pitch angle of the rotor blades to prevent flow separation and stall. The method involves using the aerodynamic power of the rotor instead of electrical power to set the blade pitch angle. This allows faster and more responsive blade pitch adjustments compared to using electrical power. The aerodynamic power is calculated based on factors like generated electrical power, losses, and rotor acceleration. A nominal pitch angle is established as a function of the aerodynamic power, and the blade pitch is set to that value. This helps prevent flow separation at lower wind speeds and in low-density conditions where the blade angle needs to be adjusted more frequently.

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A wind turbine control system that maximizes energy extraction from varying wind speeds without using wind speed sensors. The system adjusts blade pitch and generator power conversion to find the optimal operating point for any wind speed. It calculates the optimum based on rotor speed and power, without wind sensors, and sets the blade pitch and converter accordingly. This ensures maximum power output at any wind speed.

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Vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) design with multiple rotors that generates more power than conventional VAWTs while being bird-friendly. The turbine has multiple planet rotors surrounding a stationary sun rotor. The planet rotors have larger blades and longer arms compared to the sun rotor blades. They rotate through power and return cycles. In the power cycle, the planet rotors fully expose their blades to wind and generate more power due to longer arms. In the return cycle, they fold up and shield their blades to reduce power loss. This asymmetric cycle balance generates net power. The planet rotor tip speeds are below wind speeds to avoid hurting birds.

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Operating a wind farm with multiple wind turbines to improve efficiency during low wind speeds by optimizing cut-in speeds while meeting reactive power requirements. The method involves determining the lowest possible rotor speed for each turbine that satisfies the reactive power margin. This is done based on the reactive power demand at the active power output and the turbine's reactive power availability at the wind speed. By allowing the turbines to cut in at these lower speeds, they can operate at higher efficiency at low wind speeds while still meeting grid reactive power requirements.

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A vertical axis wind turbine with adjustable blade angles to improve efficiency and power output compared to fixed blade vertical axis turbines. The turbine has a central vertical axis, a rotor with blades connected to a hub, and an angle adjustment mechanism. A wind vane rotates with the wind direction. A cam below the vane rotates in sync with the vane. Pushrods connect each blade angle to the cam. A track follower on each pushrod moves along the cam's interior track as the cam rotates. This allows the blades to vary their angles with respect to the wind direction as they rotate.

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Wind power generation system for offshore floating wind turbines that improves power output and reduces vibrations compared to conventional floating wind turbines. The system uses independent blade pitch control for each blade based on nacelle motion and blade position. This allows vibration suppression without negatively impacting power generation like traditional blade pitch control does. The system has a control unit that adjusts blade pitch angles based on nacelle tilt and blade position. Another control unit then sets the blade pitch in the opposite direction to counteract the nacelle motion-induced pitch changes. This mitigates nacelle vibrations without sacrificing power generation.

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A wind turbine design using an airfoil blade attached to a single pendulum weight. The pendulum is suspended from a base and allows the airfoil blade to oscillate in response to wind gusts. The blade pitch can be controlled to maximize power extraction. The pendulum motion amplifies the blade motion for more efficient power generation. The base connects to a nacelle containing the generator. The pendulum weight can be adjusted to optimize resonance. The pendulum design allows lower wind speeds and stable power generation compared to conventional wind turbines.

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Automatic yaw control for wind turbines to improve power generation and reduce damage. The method involves tracking wind direction and adjusting turbine orientation to face the wind. It sets minimum starting wind speed to prevent excessive yawing in light winds. Maximum wind speed limits prevent overvoltage. This avoids excessive loads and voltage spikes. The method also unwinds cables when power is cut to prevent entanglement.

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A wind turbine design that uses blade oscillation and periodic angle changes to maximize power output from fluid flows like wind and water. The turbine has a vertical blade connected to a counterweight that pivots perpendicular to the fluid flow. Control mechanisms vary the blade angle and rotation to optimize energy capture. The blade's oscillation and angle changes, along with flywheel momentum, extract more energy compared to fixed orientation turbines. The movements are coordinated to follow the fluid flow and avoid disruptive shocks smoothly. The design can be modular for ground, water, or rooftop installations.

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A method to control wind turbines in a wind farm to increase annual power generation and reduce fatigue loads while accounting for wake effects from other turbines. The method involves using a normal pitch table and a modified pitch table. For wind directions outside wake regions, pitch is determined from the normal table. For wind directions inside wake regions, pitch is determined from the modified table with adjustments based on parameters like wind speed, thrust, power. This tailors blade angles to mitigate wake losses when downstream turbines are shaded.

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A wind power blade with self-regulating power capability to improve wind turbine efficiency and reduce cost compared to variable pitch blades. The blade has a fixed section and a movable section with an arc cross-section. The arc shape allows the movable section to rotate relative to the fixed section. This rotation adjusts the blade's power output based on wind speed. At low wind, the arc moves forward to capture more wind. At high wind, it moves backward to generate resistance. This self-regulating feature replaces variable pitch mechanisms for better wind energy extraction.

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Purpose This study aims to optimize control systems for offshore wind turbine technology improvement through advanced electricity generation capabilities. A new pitch angle system design emerges solve the simultaneous issues of power optimization with reduced structural wear in systems. Design/methodology/approach The implements three vital elements: a stable baseline controller that maintains stability, predictive foresight and reference value preassessment tool improves response accuracy. mechanism continuously evaluates performance enables proactive strategy adjustments. proposed is implemented on 6.8 MW turbine. Findings approach demonstrates 14.8% increase average output 10.9% reduction fatigue load, based comprehensive tests compared robust methods operation. exhibits practical usability this algorithm during experimental testing, which enhances operational as well life duration across different conditions. Research limitations/implications Analysis shows using increased systems, reducing loading effects by 10.9%, supports performance. combined implementation multiple strategie... Read More

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Wind turbine gearboxes are critical components in wind energy systems but highly susceptible to mechanical failures due high loads, variable operating conditions, and material fatigue. This study presents an integrated approach utilizing condition monitoring (CMS), predictive maintenance algorithms, finite element analysis (FEA) enhance gearbox reliability. By analyzing stress distribution, vibration, temperature trends, we establish a robust methodology for early fault detection. Our results show that artificial intelligence (AI)-based can reduce unplanned by 40% increase overall efficiency 20%. provides insights into optimizing operation through data-driven strategies.

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A rotor design for permanent magnet electrical machines like wind turbine generators that eliminates the need for expensive welding and baseplates while reducing losses and temperature. The rotor has a stacked lamination structure with permanent magnets attached to the inner side. The laminations provide a sealed rotor body without needing machining on the inside or outside. Tensioning bolts hold the stacked laminations together. This allows direct attachment of the magnets to the rotor without additional baseplates. The laminated rotor can have cooling protrusions on the outer side for improved cooling.

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Optimizing power generation from clusters of fluid turbines like wind turbines by coordinating their operations under variable fluid conditions. Techniques include adjusting turbine orientations to mitigate interference, synchronizing rotational speeds, and using maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithms to extract maximum power from low fluid flows. This coordinated control can increase aggregate power production compared to uncoordinated turbines.

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Hydraulic energy conversion system for wind turbines that replaces the mechanical gearbox. The system uses a radial piston hydraulic pump with a multi-lobe concentric cam that produces multiple strokes per revolution. The pump has hydraulically connected cylinders, variable stroke capability, and an integrated reservoir and pressure tank. This allows tailoring the hydraulic drive to wind speeds and replacing the gearbox with a more reliable and efficient solution.

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