A controller and method is disclosed for operating a variable speed turbine to track wind speed fluctuations for high efficiency in conversion of wind energy to electrical energy. The controller of the invention controls the rotor speed in accordance with a wind speed supplied by a wind observer in order to approximately follow the varying wind speeds. A yaw angle error sensor senses the degree to which the turbine is misaligned with the wind. The wind observer predicts the average wind speed at...

A system and method for power control in wind turbines are provided. The method includes switching a plurality of switching devices in a power conversion component of the wind turbine system in a normal switching mode to provide power flow through the power conversion component. The method further includes switching the plurality of switches devices in the power conversion component of the wind turbine system in a short circuit switching mode to prevent power flow through the power conversion co...

A method and apparatus for converting wind generated electricity to constant frequency electricity for supplying it to a utility grid. use a wind turbine generator having a doubly fed induction generator. Above the synchronous speed of the generator, the electricity from the rotor is converted to direct current (dc) electricity and the de electricity is converted back to alternating current (ac) electricity at a fixed unity power factor. Below synchronous speed, electricity flows to the rotor fr...

A wind turbine having a nacelle, a generator and a high voltage transformer which are connected to each other and are located inside the nacelle. The wind turbine is provided with a low voltage power supply source which is located remotely from the high voltage transformer and includes a low voltage transformer connected between the high voltage transformer and a power grid. The low voltage transformer is connected to the nacelle and provides it with low voltage power.

A turbine control system for a variable speed electrical generator in a wind turbine mounted atop a support tower. The wind turbine converts wind energy into a driving torque applied to the generator. The control system includes a turbine support tower position sensor and may also include other tower acceleration and velocity sensors. A wind flow estimator uses the measured motion, generator rotation rate and blade pitch angle to predict wind flow over the swept area of the turbine's rotor, and ...

Various embodiments relate to systems and methods related to an integrated electrically-powered sub-system and wind power system including a wind power source, an electrically-powered sub-system coupled to and at least partially powered by the wind power source, the electrically-powered sub-system being coupled to the wind power source through power converters, and a supervisory controller coupled to the wind power source and the electrically-powered sub-system to monitor and manage the integrat...

An exemplary embodiment includes a wind turbine system. The wind turbine system includes a wind turbine generator operable to supply wind turbine power to a utility system. A converter is coupled to the wind turbine generator and the utility system. The wind turbine system also includes a controller comprising an internal reference frame of the wind turbine generator, coupled to the converter, and configured for modulating flow of power through the converter in response to frequency disturbances...

A combination solar and wind powered generator including a wind generator, responsive to the flow of air currents, for converting mechanical energy into electrical energy. The wind generator includes a plurality of air engaging vanes which are rotatably supported by the wind generator, and operative for intercepting the flow of air currents for producing mechanical energy. The wind generator also includes an electric generator apparatus coupled to the plurality of air engaging vanes, for transfo...

A variable speed wind turbine is disclosed comprising a turbine rotor that drives an AC induction generator, a power converter that converts the generator output to fixed-frequency AC power, a generator controller, and an inverter controller. The generator controller uses field orientation to regulate either stator currents or voltages to control the torque reacted by the generator. The inverter controller regulates the output currents to supply multi-phase AC power having leading or lagging cur...

A wind turbine includes a turbine rotor with at least one blade and a generator with a rotor and a stator. The turbine rotor is mechanically coupled with the rotor of the generator. A diode rectifier is electrically coupled to the stator of the generator. A direct current link is electrically coupled with the diode rectifier. A line converter is electrically coupled with the direct current link.