Patent · US Expired

Redundant blade pitch control system for a wind turbine and method for controlling a wind turbine

US7717673B2 · kind B2 · utility

12Cited by
6References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 3, 2003
Grant dateMay 18, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 12, 2025

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02E10/72
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A redundant and fail-safe blade system of a wind turbine includes at least one blade pitch drive (20, 21, 22) and at least two power control modules (60, 61, 62, 6′) for controlling the blade pitch drive (20, 21, 22). The power control modules (60, 61, 62, 6′) are connected to the blade pitch drive (20, 21, 22) by a switching unit (10) which allows an alternative connection between the blade pitch drive (20, 21, 22) and any of the power control modules (60, 61, 62, 6′). In operation, the blade pitch drive (20, 21, 22) is controlled by only one of the power control modules (60, 61, 62, 6′). If a malfunction of the currently operating power control module (60, 61, 62, 6′) is detected, switching unit (10) provides a connection to the other power control module (60, 61, 62, 6′) to allow an ongoing operation of the wind turbine without an unplanned or forced shut-down.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.