Disclosed herein are an apparatus for driving converters in a wind power generation system, an apparatus for controlling converters in a wind power generation system, an apparatus for driving switching element modules in a wind power generation system, and an apparatus for controlling switching element modules in a wind power generation system. The apparatus for driving converters in a wind power generation system includes a converter control unit configured to drive a plurality of converters connected in parallel between a generator and a grid, wherein the converter control unit sequentially drives the converters one by one when output power of the grid increases and sequentially stops the operations of the converters one by one when output power of the grid decreases.

Rotating equipment includes driver equipment, driven equipment and a rotating shaft coupling. The driver equipment includes a driver support connected to a stationary driver shaft, and also includes a driver arranged on the driver support with a driving shaft to rotate and provide a rotational torque. The driven equipment includes a driven unit support connected to a stationary driven unit shaft, and also includes a driven unit arranged on the driven unit support with a driven shaft to respond to the rotational torque and rotate. The rotating shaft coupling couples the driving shaft to the driven shaft and applies the rotational torque from the driving shaft to the driven shaft. The stationary driver shaft couples to the stationary driven unit shaft to provide a static torque load to counteract the rotational torque applied from the driving shaft to the driven shaft during operation.

A method and a device for measuring the torque in the drivetrain (1) of a wind power plant is described, having at least two incremental encoders (7, 8) which are positioned at two different positions on at least one shaft (3) of the drivetrain (1) and which each supply periodic rotational signals, wherein the phases of the rotational signals are evaluated in order to detect a phase shift, and a torque of the shaft (1) is determined from the phase shift. The detected phase shift is corrected as a function of a zero load phase shift (A.sub.Zero), using a rigidity factor K, wherein, in order to determine the zero load phase shift (A.sub.Zero) and the rigidity factor K, in-situ calibration is carried out before and/or between the torque-determining processes. The in-situ calibration is performed at zero load of the wind power plant, i.e. below a rated rotational speed and with a generator torque equal to zero, and at the rated load of the wind power plant, i.e. at the rated rotational speed and with a generator torque greater than zero.

A method for determining total damage to at least one rotating component of a drive train in a system, in particular a wind or wave energy system, includes determining over time during operation of the system a variable characterizing a rotational speed of the component and a variable characterizing a torque transmitted by the component. A load collective is determined in a calculator unit from the temporal progression of the variables, and the total damage is determined from a comparison of the determined load collective and a reference load collective.

A compound engine assembly for use as an auxiliary power unit for an aircraft and including an engine core with internal combustion engine(s), a compressor having an outlet in fluid communication with an engine core inlet, a bleed conduit in fluid communication with the compressor outlet through a bleed air valve, and a turbine section having an inlet in fluid communication with the engine core outlet and configured to compound power with the engine core. The turbine section may include a first stage turbine having an inlet in fluid communication with the engine core outlet and a second stage turbine having an inlet in fluid communication the first stage turbine outlet. A method of providing compressed air and electrical power to an aircraft is also discussed.

Wind-driven energy converting device (2) is disclosed. The wind-driven energy converting device (2) comprises a main pendulum (20) comprising a pendulum bob (10) attached to a pendulum rod (6). A sail member (4) attached to the pendulum rod (6) in a higher position than the pendulum rod (6). The main pendulum (20) is suspended in a frame (8) by means of a bearing unit (18) allowing the pendulum rod (6) to be rotated about two perpendicular horizontal axes (X, Y) at the same time. The main pendulum (20) is mechanically attached to at least one secondary pendulum (14) by means of a connection structure (16). The secondary pendulum (14) is connected to and being configured to rotate a driving shaft (36) upon being moved due to motion of the main pendulum (20).

A system for generating electrical power in a windmill using a Torque enhanced Transmission. The transmission includes, multiple speed increasers, multiple speed decreasers, and a plurality of flywheels, and clutch assemblies. to form one transmission, The speed increasers speed the flywheel assemblies to a much higher speed than the operating speed of the generator so kinetic energy is maximized before a gear reduction slows down the output shaft to the induction generators operating speed with enhanced torque. The Torque is continually variable while output speeds are designed to be relatively constant. The system allows for multiple input and output shafts and allows for multiple generators to be used in place of a larger single generator.

A method for detecting actual slip in a coupling of a rotary shaft, for example, in a wind turbine power system, includes monitoring, via a controller, a plurality of sensor signals relating to the coupling for faults. In response to detecting a fault in the plurality of sensor signals relating to the coupling, the method includes determining, via the controller, whether the fault is indicative of an actual slip or a no-slip event of the coupling using one or more classification parameters. When the fault is indicative of the actual slip, the method includes estimating, via the controller, a magnitude of the actual slip using the plurality of sensor signals and a time duration of the actual slip. Further, the method includes implementing, via the controller, a control action based on the magnitude of the actual slip in the coupling.

A hydraulic continuous variable transmission is provided to connect a wind turbine and a generator. The hydraulic continuous variable transmission has a primary paddle wheel and a number of secondary paddle wheels for macro speed control. Also provided are pneumatic paddle wheels for micro speed control. A controller is included that measures AC electrical characterized output to load or line for speed control.

Direct-drive wind turbines (160) are disclosed. The wind turbine comprise a generator (3) mounted on a frame (1), the generator (3) comprising a generator stator (32) and a generator rotor (31) configured to rotate about a rotation axis (RA), the frame (1) has a protruding portion (11) extending beyond the generator (3), the protruding portion (11) comprising a first structure and a second structure; wherein the first and second structures are configured to rotate relative to each other and about the rotation axis (RA); wherein the first structure is attached to the generator stator (32) and the second structure is attached to the generator rotor (31); a brake system (2) attached to the first and second structures, the brake system (2) being spaced away from the generator (3) along the rotation axis (RA). Also disclosed are methods (200) for braking a direct-drive wind turbine (160).