Robert E Slack

US Patent:

8215905, Jul 10, 2012

Filed:

Dec 31, 2007

Appl. No.:

12/006161

Inventors:

Robert Peter Slack - Seattle WA, US

Assignee:

General Electric Corporation - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

F03D 7/04

US Classification:

416 1, 416 35

Abstract:

A method for correcting offsets in sensors includes mounting, on a rotating machine, a first set of sensors in locations selected to measure vector loads in a first set of coordinates. The method further includes mounting, on the rotating machine, a second set of sensors in locations selected to measure vector loads in a second set of coordinates, wherein the first set of coordinates and the second set of coordinates rotate with respect to one another when the rotating machine is operating. The method also includes utilizing measurements from either or both of the two sets of sensors to correct offset errors in vector loads measured by the other set of sensors.

US Patent:

20210079891, Mar 18, 2021

Filed:

Sep 17, 2019

Appl. No.:

16/573024

Inventors:

- Schenectady NY, US
Robert Peter Slack - Seattle WA, US

International Classification:

F03D 7/04

Abstract:

A method for adjusting a multi-dimensional operating space of a wind turbine includes receiving, via a central multi-dimensional operating space controller, a plurality of signals from a plurality of requestors of modified operating space. Each of the plurality of signals includes a data structure having requested set points for a plurality of dimensions in the operating space. The method also includes tracking, via the central multi-dimensional operating space controller, current set points for the plurality of dimensions in the operating space. Further, the method includes dynamically determining, via the central multi-dimensional operating space controller, an output signal based on the requested set points, the output signal comprising one or more changes for the current set points for the plurality of dimensions in the operating space. Moreover, the method includes controlling the wind turbine based on the output signal so as to provide a modified multi-dimensional operating space.

US Patent:

20200025170, Jan 23, 2020

Filed:

Jul 17, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/037256

Inventors:

- Schenectady NY, US
Robert Peter Slack - Seattle WA, US
Darren John Danielsen - Simpsonville SC, US
Santiago Tomas - Mollet del Valles, ES

International Classification:

F03D 7/02
F03D 7/04
F03D 17/00

Abstract:

A method for reducing loads of a wind turbine includes determining a wind speed at the wind turbine. Further, the method includes determining an operational state of the wind turbine. The method also includes determining whether a rotor of the wind turbine is imbalanced beyond a predetermined threshold when the operational state corresponds to a predetermined operational state as a rotor imbalance beyond the predetermined threshold is indicative of a pitch fault in one or more of the rotor blades. In addition, the method includes yawing a nacelle of the wind turbine to a predetermined angular position when the wind speed exceeds a predetermined speed threshold and the rotor is imbalanced beyond the predetermined threshold.

US Patent:

20190383266, Dec 19, 2019

Filed:

Jun 14, 2018

Appl. No.:

16/008145

Inventors:

- Schenectady NY, US
Robert Peter Slack - Seattle WA, US
Michael James Rizzo - Rotterdam NY, US

International Classification:

F03D 7/04
F03D 17/00
F03D 7/02

Abstract:

A method for monitoring and controlling a wind turbine to minimize rotor blade damage includes receiving sensor data from one or more sensors indicative of at least one blade parameter of the rotor blade over a predetermined time period. The method also includes trending the sensor data for the predetermined time period with respect to at least one wind parameter. Further, the method includes determining at least one characteristic of the trended sensor data. Moreover, the method includes comparing the at least one characteristic of the trended sensor data to an operating threshold. In addition, the method includes implementing a control action if the comparison of the at least one characteristic of the trended sensor data and the operating threshold indicates blade damage is occurring or is likely to occur.

US Patent:

20180335016, Nov 22, 2018

Filed:

May 9, 2018

Appl. No.:

15/974744

Inventors:

- Schenectady NY, US
Mark Edward CARDINAL - Seattle NY, US
Robert Peter SLACK - Seattle WA, US

International Classification:

F03D 7/02
F03D 17/00
F03D 7/04

Abstract:

The present disclosure is directed to a system for controlling a pitch angle of a rotor blade of a wind turbine. The system includes a pitch adjustment mechanism for adjusting the pitch angle of the rotor blade and a controller communicatively coupled to the pitch adjustment mechanism. The controller is configured to determine a wind asymmetry parameter based on an operating parameter of the wind turbine. The controller is also configured to determine first and second signal components of the wind asymmetry parameter, which are respectively indicative of a maximum load on a first wind turbine component and fatigue on a second wind turbine component. The controller is also configured to calculate a wear parameter based on the first and second signal components and initiate an adjustment of the pitch angle of the rotor blade based on the wear parameter.