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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Multi-mode control system for wind turbines

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5662970

A multi-mode electronic wind turbine control system establishes a reference blade angle for a two-bladed, horizontal axis, variable pitch wind turbine rotor, the blade angle being regulated by a hydraulic pitch change mechanism. The rotor, via appropriate shafts and a gearbox, is coupled to a synchronous generator to produce electrical energy which is fed to a power utility grid. The control system provides closed loop pitch control for rotor acceleration rate during start-up, for rotor deceleration rate during shutdown, for speed control when the synchronous generator is off-line, and for power control when the synchronous generator is on-line. A single control integrator is used for all closed loop operating modes, with a rate limiter circuit in front of the control integrator to prevent integrator overtravel. The integrator has maximum and minimum blade angle stops, the minimum stop being variable as a function of rotor speed and wind speed. When on-line, power control is provided by a unique shaft torque control using proportional plus integral plus derivative controls in combination.

Assignee:
United Technologies Corp
Patent Number(s):
US 4193005
OSTI ID:
5662970
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English