U.S. patent application number 11/903367 was filed with the patent office on 2009-03-26 for system for operating a genertor as a motor in a turbine wind power generating system.
Invention is credited to Russel Hugh Marvin.
Application Number | 20090079194 11/903367 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40470831 |
Filed Date | 2009-03-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090079194 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Marvin; Russel Hugh |
March 26, 2009 |
SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A GENERTOR AS A MOTOR IN A TURBINE WIND POWER
GENERATING SYSTEM
Abstract
SYSTEM FOR OPERATING A GENERATOR AS A MOTOR IN A TURBINE WIND
POWER GENERATING SYSTEM includes a controller and Four Quadrant or
Regenerative Drive Circuitry which alternatively operates one or
more generators as motors.
Inventors: |
Marvin; Russel Hugh;
(Goshen, CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Ted Paulding
10 Penwood Lane
Wethersfield
CT
06109
US
|
Family ID: |
40470831 |
Appl. No.: |
11/903367 |
Filed: |
September 21, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
290/44 ;
290/55 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F03D 7/0272 20130101;
Y02E 10/72 20130101; Y02E 10/723 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
290/44 ;
290/55 |
International
Class: |
F03D 9/00 20060101
F03D009/00; F03D 7/04 20060101 F03D007/04 |
Claims
1. In a wind power generating system comprising at least one wind
turbine mounted on a horizontally rotatable support, said turbine
being connected in driving relationship with an electrical
generator in turn connected with an external load; a DC converter
and power switches receiving the output of said generator, sensing
means monitoring at least one parameter of operation of said one
generator, a controller connected with and receiving signals from
said sensing means and controlling said one generator, inverter
means receiving the output of said DC converters, and power
switches connected with said controller and serving to
alternatively operate the generator as a motor.
2. A wind powered generating system as set forth in claim 1 wherein
two or more wind turbine and generator systems are provided.
3. A wind powered generating system as set forth in claim 2 wherein
thrust from running at least one generator as a motor is employed
to adjust the relative position of the turbines.
4. A wind powered generating system as set forth in claim 2 wherein
the generators are of the three phase type, and wherein the current
and voltage of at least one phase are both sensed.
5. A wind turbine generating system as set forth in claim 1 wherein
the controller calculates the power output from the speed and
current outputs of said one generator.
6. A wind turbine generating system as set forth in claim 1 wherein
a support position sensor is included and advises the controller of
the angular position of the support.
7. A wind turbine generator as set forth in claim 1 wherein a
vertical series of supports each carrying a pair of wind turbines
are mounted on a vertical tower having stationary sections, and
wherein meteorological data gathering devices are mounted on a
stationary section and connected with said controller.
8. A wind turbine generating system as set forth in claim 7 wherein
the data includes wind speed.
9. A wind turbine generating system as set forth in claim 6 wherein
the data includes wind direction.
10. A wind turbine according to claim 9 wherein at least one
turbine may be operated as a motor when the wind is blowing
predominately in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation
of the turbines.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] Twin wind turbines mounted on a common rotatable support for
rotation about horizontal axes are shown in the following U.S.
patents, disclosures incorporated herein by reference: [0002] U.S.
Pat. No. 4,021,140 [0003] U.S. Pat. No. 4,156,579 [0004] U.S. Pat.
No. 4,288,199 [0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,332,518 [0006] U.S. Pat. No.
4,540,333
[0007] Reference is also had to U.S. patent application Ser. No.
11/820,741, entitled IMPROVED CONTROL SYSTEM FOR TWIN TURBINE WIND
POWER GENERATING SYSTEM, filed Jun. 19.sup.th 2007, invented by
Russel H. Marvin, hereby incorporated herein by reference.
[0008] Reference is also had to U.S. patent application entitled
IMPROVED GENERATOR OUTPUT CIRCUITRY FOR TWIN TURBINE WIND POWER
GENERATING SYSTEM invented by Russel H. Marvin, and filed of even
date herewith, hereby incorporated herein by reference.
[0009] It is the general object of the present invention to provide
a wind turbine generating system as mentioned with a controller for
operating at least one generator as a motor; the overall system
being desirably simple in design, capable of being constructed at
economic advantage and yet highly efficient and durable in
operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] In fulfillment of the foregoing object and in accordance
with the present invention a DC converter is provided for each of
the twin turbine AC generator systems in a twin turbine
arrangement. Each boost converter receives the output of its
respective AC generator driven by an associated wind turbine.
Sensing means monitors at least one parameter such as power, speed,
voltage or current output of one generator and a controller is
provided to receive signals from the sensing means. The controller
includes a reference in the form of a predetermined desired
performance curve for the generator and is connected with the boost
converter and operates to adjust the generator output in accordance
with the desired performance curve. Further, the controller
operates to adjust generator output to adjust the thrust of the
turbine associated therewith and thus adjusts the angular position
of the support associated with the turbines.
[0011] More particularly, the adjustment of the output of the said
one generator is accomplished by adjusting the PWM duty cycle of
the boost converter associated with the said one turbine.
[0012] Preferably, the controller employs current and voltage or
speed signals from the sensing means to calculate actual power and
compare the same with the predetermined performance curve. When an
AC generator is employed as in the present instance, frequency may
of course be sensed as the speed signal. Upper and lower power
limits may also be established.
[0013] Further, the generator is preferably of the permanent magnet
three-phase type with at least one phase sensed.
[0014] In addition to the foregoing control parameters, it is
advantageous to have a position sensor for the turbine support
means, which advises the controller of the instantaneous angular
position of the support. Meteorological data including wind speed
and direction is also desirable and is supplied to the computer
from appropriate instrumentation on a stationary portion of a
tower, which carries the supports for the wind turbines.
[0015] It should also be noted that the supports for the turbines
are configured to split and accelerate a stream of wind as it
approaches the turbines and may therefore be properly referred to
as accelerators as well as supports.
[0016] Finally, a dual mode function in the controller operates in
conjunction with power switches which in turn operate one or the
other or both generators as motors.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a tower carrying a vertical
series of supports or accelerators each in turn carrying a pair of
wind turbines spaced apart horizontally and each rotatable about a
horizontal axis, the axes being in parallel relationship.
[0018] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a single support or
accelerator and a pair of wind turbines mounted thereon.
[0019] FIG. 3 is an enlarged horizontal cross sectional view
through a support or accelerator showing wind flow
therethrough.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating twin turbines and
their associated generators and control means.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of Four Quadrant or
Regenerative Drive Circuitry monitored by the controller to
determine either generator or motor operation.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0022] Referring particularly to FIG. 1, a tower indicated
generally at 10 carries ten (10) horizontally rotatable
accelerators 12, 12.
[0023] As best illustrated in FIG. 2, each accelerator 12 takes a
generally circular configuration with an annular recess 16,
approximately semi-circular in cross section, opening radially
outwardly and extending throughout its circumference. Twin turbines
18, 18 are mounted on horizontal shafts and spaced apart one
hundred and eighty degrees to receive bifurcated wind generated air
streams as best illustrated in FIG. 3. As will be apparent, each
stream of air is accelerated as it proceeds from the front of the
accelerator rearwardly and outwardly about the arcuate surface of
the recess 16.
[0024] Referring now to FIG. 4, it will be obvious that all four
turbine generator control systems are or may be identical with A1
and B1 representing turbines in common on a first accelerator and
An and Bn representing turbines mounted in common on other
accelerators. The A1 system will be described as
representative.
[0025] Turbine 18 drives AC generator 20 which may be conventional
and of a variety of different constructions but which is preferably
of the three-phase permanent magnet type.
[0026] DC boost converter 22 may be conventional with variable
pulse width capability and has at least one parameter sensing means
and preferably speed, voltage and current sensing means associated
therewith and connected with the controller 24. Controller 24, is
preferably a conventional micro processor type, receives signals
from the sensing means, calculates power therefrom, and compares
with a reference in the form of a desired performance curve. The
computer 24 then adjusts the PWM duty cycle to adjust generator
output as required to bring the output into compliance with the
desired curve. Further, the computer serves to adjust the generator
output to adjust the thrust of its associated turbine and thereby
adjust the angular position of the accelerator to maintain an
optimum angle of attack for the wind relative to the turbine
blades. This is accomplished by adjusting the relative thrust until
the accelerator stops rotating.
[0027] The controller may also operate to convert the operation of
one or both generators to operation in the mode of motors. This is
accomplished by the Four Quadrant or Regenerative Drive Circuitry
of FIG. 5 wherein the controller 24 has two modes of operation. In
a first mode of operation the generator 20 operates as a generator
and in the second mode of operation the generator is operated as a,
motor. When the first bank of switches 30 are operated as a boost
converter and the second and third banks of switches 32,34 as motor
controls, the generators operate as motors. In the alternative,
when the first bank of switches are operated as an inverter and the
second and third bank as boost converters, the generators are
operated as generators.
[0028] From the foregoing it will be apparent that a desirably
simple generator-motor conversion system has been provided for ease
and convenience in manufacture and for efficient operation over a
long service life.
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