F05B2260/74

Method for Orientating the Blades of a Turbine
20200080532 · 2020-03-12 ·

This method is for orientating the blades (40) of a turbine (4) past a non-reachable range of positions (1, 2) in a power plant (2), said blades (40) being rotatable around orientation axes (X40) distinct from a rotation axis (X) of the turbine (4), the turbine (4) comprising means (42, 44, 46) for orientating the blades (40), said means being adapted to exert an adjustable torque on the blades (40). The method comprises steps consisting in a) stopping the energy production of the turbine (4), b) setting a water flow which runs the turbine (4) to a value inferior to a normal energy production value, c) rotating the turbine (4) in a motor mode using energy from a grid, d) adjusting the torque delivered by the means for orientating the blades (40) to a reduced value while the turbine (4) is still rotating, so that the blades (40) are free to rotate around their orientation axes (X40), under action of a hydraulic torque exerted by the water, past the non-reachable range of positions, e) once the blades (40) have overcome the non-reachable range of positions, adjusting the torque delivered by the means for orientating the blades (40) to a normal value superior to the reduced value, so that the rotation of the blades (40) around their orientation axis (X40) is stopped in a determined position.

Wind Power Plant
20200072191 · 2020-03-05 ·

A wind power plant has at least one rotor. The rotor has at least two rotor blades and each rotor blade is rotatable about a substantially radially aligned adjustment axis. At least one angle adjustment device is provided for adjustment of the rotor blades. The angle adjustment device has a control disk and at least two cam disks interacting with the control disk. Each cam disk is rotatably mounted about a rotation axis. The rotation axis of the respective cam disk coincides, and is in particular superimposed, together with the respective adjustment axis of the respective rotor blade. The noise development, the maintenance expense, and/or costs of a wind power plant are reduced in that the cam disks are functionally effectively permanently coupled via at least one coupling element.

PITCH CONTROL SYSTEM
20200055587 · 2020-02-20 ·

A pitch control system characterized by a hub with at least two blade housings on the hub that are disposed around the hub axis. The blade housings have corresponding blades that engage with them. The blades spiral along housing longitudinal axes toward and away from the hub axis about a segment of helical path to effect a change in the pitch of each blade. One or more elastic members draw the blades toward the hub axis, either directly or indirectly. There are pitch mechanisms effective to facilitate blades to spiral around housing-longitudinal axes. A blade will spiral away from the hub axis when the centrifugal force exerted on the blade exceeds the opposing elastic force in the housing-longitudinal direction (neglecting other forces). Conversely, blades spiral toward the hub axis when said centrifugal force is less than said elastic force. There is an imaginary plane orthogonal to the hub axis. Housing-longitudinal axes have angles with respect to the imaginary plane of not more than 30 degrees.

Method For Designing A Wind Turbine Or A Water Turbine Blade

The invention relates to a method for designing a flexible blade or an articulated rigid blade with one or more torsion springs, for a wind turbine or a water turbine, the flexible blade being designed to passively control the pitch angle of the wind turbine or of the water turbine during operation, the method comprising the following steps: a) receiving the known geometric profile; b) determining a change in the optimal pitch angle, 0o opt rigid, as a function of the specific speed ; c) determining the local behaviour of the flexible blade or of the articulated blade and local ratios relating to the aerodynamic loading and to the centrifugal force being exerted on the blade; d) determining local values of the bending modulus B of the flexible blade/the stiffness of the torsion spring and of the mass density p of the blade; and e) providing information relating to the selection of the material.

WIND TURBINE CONTROL SYSTEM INCLUDING AN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE ENSEMBLE ENGINE

A system for generating power includes an environmental engine operating on one or more computing devices that determines a Reynolds number for a wind turbine, wherein the Reynolds number characterizes wind flowing over a blade of the wind turbine that varies based on the wind speed, a rotor speed and characteristics of the blade of the wind turbine. The system also includes an artificial intelligence (AI) ensemble engine operating on the one or more computing devices that generates a plurality of different models for the wind turbine. Each model characterizes a relationship between the rotor speed and a blade pitch for the wind turbine, the Reynolds number, wind speed and turbulence intensity for the wind turbine. The AI ensemble engine selects a model with a highest efficiency metric; and simulates execution of the selected model to determine recommended operating parameters.

Floating device generator
10560043 · 2020-02-11 ·

A floating power generator having a water wheel and electrical generator. The floating power generator can comprise a variable speed drive.

System and Method for Protecting Wind Turbines During Extreme Wind Direction Change
20200032771 · 2020-01-30 ·

A method for protecting a wind turbine from an extreme change in wind direction includes receiving a wind direction and/or a wind speed at the wind turbine. When a change in the wind direction or the wind speed exceeds a predetermined threshold, the method includes determining a margin to stall and/or zero lift of the at least one rotor blade of the wind turbine as a function of an angle of attack or change in the angle of attack at a blade span location of at least one rotor blade of the wind turbine. The method also includes implementing a corrective action for the wind turbine (without shutting down the wind turbine) when the margin to stall and/or zero lift exceeds a predetermined value so as to avoid stall and/or negative lift on the at least one rotor blade during operation of the wind turbine.

VARIABLE PITCH FAN ACTUATOR

A gas turbine engine including a core having in serial flow order a compressor, a combustor, and a turbinethe compressor, combustor, and turbine together defining a core air flowpath. The gas turbine engine additionally includes a fan section mechanically coupled to the core, the fan section including a plurality of fan blades, and each of the plurality fan blades defining a pitch axis. An actuation device is operable with the plurality fan blades for rotating the plurality fan blades about their respective pitch axes, the actuation device including an actuator located outward of the core air flowpath to, e.g., simplify the gas turbine engine.

METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A WIND TURBINE
20190390650 · 2019-12-26 ·

A method for operating a wind turbine, and the wind turbine has an aerodynamic rotor with a rotor hub and with rotor blades of which the blade angle can be adjusted, and the aerodynamic rotor can be adjusted in respect of its azimuth direction, and the method comprises the steps of detecting a storm situation in which the prevailing wind is so strong that the wind turbine is moved to a coasting mode for self-protection purposes, orienting the rotor in respect of its azimuth position into a low-loading orientation in relation to the wind, in which orientation the wind turbine is subjected to as little loading as possible by the wind from a main wind direction, detecting at least one loading (L.sub.M) which is caused by a gust of wind and acts on the rotor, and adjusting at least one of the rotor blades in respect of its blade angle such that the at least one rotor blade is subjected to as little loading as possible by the causative gust of wind.

KINETIC FLUID ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM
20190390644 · 2019-12-26 · ·

A kinetic fluid energy conversion system comprises one or more hubs which rotate about a central hub carrier, each including one or more independently controlled articulating energy conversion plates (ECP). An articulation control system rotates each ECP independently of all others to control its orientation with respect to the fluid flow direction between an orientation of 90 perpendicular to the fluid flow, while traveling in the direction of the flow and 0 minimal drag parallel position to the flow, while traveling in the direction against the flow or blocked from it. Each hub can be operably coupled to another hub to form one or more counter-rotating hub and ECP assemblies whereby the mechanical energy is transferred through the hubs, to one or more clutch/gearbox/generator/pump assemblies thereby permitting such assemblies to be land-based when the system is air-powered, and above or near the surface, when the system is water-powered.