WO2012127334A1

WO2012127334A1 - Device for remote controlling an energy generator plant and generator comprising the device

Info

Publication number: WO2012127334A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/050880
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ezio Bertotto; Alessandro Bonan; Antonio Silvestri
Original assignee: Reel SRL; Autec SRL
Current assignee: Reel SRL; Autec SRL
Priority date: 2011-02-28
Filing date: 2012-02-27
Publication date: 2012-09-27
Anticipated expiration: 2013-08-28
Also published as: ITVI20110015U1

Abstract

A device for remote control of an apparatus for generating electric power from a renewable energy source, such as a wind generator or the like, wherein the apparatus (2) comprises renewable energy extraction means (3) and conversion means (4) for converting energy into electric power, associated with adjustment and control means (5) for adjusting and controlling operating parameters. The device comprises transmitting means (6) for transmitting a control signal to change the operating parameters of the apparatus and receiving means (7) for receiving the signal, which are adapted to interact with the means (5) for adjusting and controlling the operating parameters of the apparatus (2), wherein the signal transmitting means (6) and the signal receiving means (7) are of wireless type. A generator for converting energy from a renewable source into electric power, incorporating the device.

Description

DEVICE FOR REMOTE CONTROL OF AN ELECTRIC POWER GENERATING APPARATUS AND GENERATOR INCORPORATING SUCH DEVICE Field of the invention

The present invention generally finds application in the field of electric equipment control devices, and particularly relates to a device for remote control of an electric power generating apparatus.

The invention further relates to an electric power generator using such remote control device.

Background art

Control devices for electric equipment, particularly for electric power generating equipment, are known to be designed to adjust electric quantities by changing the operating parameters associated with the energy extraction and conversion means.

Particularly, in an apparatus for generating electric power from renewable energy sources, such as a known wind generator G, as shown in FIG. 1 , control devices C act upon the mechanical and electric operating parameters, associated with the energy extraction means P and the energy conversion means E.

Such operating parameters are changed using one or more electric actuators, generally referenced A, which are operated by the control devices C and are connected thereto via one or more electric connections, generally referenced W.

For a stable electric connection to be established between the control devices C and the energy extraction means P and the energy conversion means E, one or more rotating electromechanical collectors, generally referenced R, are used. Particularly, rotating electromechanical collectors R ensure electric continuity by providing a stable mechanical contact between a plurality of stationary brushes, generally referenced S and a rotating ring B, in contact therewith and stably accommodated in the rotating part of the energy conversion means E.

The brushes S of the electromechanical collectors R are electrically connected to the control means C, whereas the rotating ring B is electrically connected to the actuators U associated with the energy extraction means P or the actuators IT associated with the energy conversion means E respectively.

One drawback of this solution is that the use of electric connections W comprising rotating electromechanical collectors R makes propagation of low-power electric signals, like the signals used by the control devices C, particularly difficult.

A further drawback of this solution is that electromechanical collectors R are subject to wear and require periodic maintenance, with non-negligible costs associated with replacement thereof and down time of the apparatus.

A further drawback of this solution is that, as brushes S slip against rings B in electromechanical collectors R, electric and electromagnetic noise signals are generated, which may considerably alter the signals transmitted by the control devices C to the extraction means P and the conversion means E.

Finally, the use of electromechanical collectors R in energy generating apparatus require accurate wiring, with costly and space-requiring connections W.

Disclosure of the invention The object of the present invention is to obviate the above drawbacks, by providing a remote control device for electric power generating apparatus that is highly efficient and relatively cost-effective.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a control device that allows adjustment of the operating parameters associated with an electric power generating apparatus, and requires no connection comprising cables or rotating electric collectors.

A further particular object of the invention is to provide a control device that allows the transfer of a control signal associated with the operating parameters of an apparatus, having a particularly low associated power.

Another particular object of the invention is to provide a control device that considerably reduces any undesired contributions from external noise signals during operation.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a control device that is not subject to wear during operation and has much lower maintenance requirements than prior art control devices.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a generator for converting energy from a renewable wind source, which incorporates the remote control device of the invention. These and other objects, as better explained hereafter, are fulfilled by a device for remote control of an apparatus for generating electric power from a renewable energy source as defined in claim 1 , which comprises renewable energy extraction means and conversion means for converting energy into electric power, associated with adjustment and control means for adjusting and controlling operating parameters. The generator is characterized in that it comprises transmitting means for transmitting a control signal to change the operating parameters of the apparatus and receiving means for receiving this signal, which are adapted to interact with the means for adjusting and controlling the operating parameters of the apparatus, wherein the signal transmitting means and the signal receiving means are of wireless type.

This particular configuration provides a device for remote control of electric power generating apparatus, that does not use cost-ineffective, short-life rotating mechanical contacts.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in accordance with the dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be more apparent upon reading the detailed description of a preferred, non-exclusive embodiment of a device for remote control of an electric power generating apparatus, which is described as a non-limiting example with the help of the annexed drawings, in which :

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an apparatus for generating electric power from wind energy according to the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an apparatus for generating electric power from wind energy according to the invention.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment Referring to Fig. 2, the device for remote control of an electric power generating apparatus, generally designated by numeral 1 , may be used in apparatus for generating electric power from renewable energy sources, such as wind sources or the like.

Furthermore, the device 1 may be used both for low-power apparatus, such as residential systems, and for medium-to-high power systems, such as industrial systems, or systems covering large geographical areas such as wind farms or the like.

The device 1 may be used in electric power generating apparatus connected to a local electricity network N and/or to an external power-distribution network. The electric power generating apparatus may be for example and without limitation a wind power generator, referenced 2 in the figure.

Particularly, the apparatus 2 comprises renewable energy extraction means 2 and conversion means 4 for converting energy into electric power, which are associated with adjustment and control means 5 for adjusting and controlling the operating parameters thereof.

According to a peculiar feature of the invention, the device 1 comprises transmitting means 6 for transmitting a control signal to change the operating parameters of the apparatus 2 and receiving means 7 for receiving the signal, which are adapted to interact with the means 5 for adjusting and controlling the operating parameters of the apparatus 2.

Furthermore, the signal transmitting means 6 and the signal receiving means 7 are of wireless type.

The adjustment and control means 5 may be designed to change the electrical parameters associated with the electric power generated by the conversion means 4 while allowing injection thereof into the local electricity network N and/or the power distribution network.

The conversion means 4 may be of rotating type and may be connected to the adjustment and control means 5 via first connection means 8.

Furthermore, the first connection means 8 may include one or more rotating electromechanical collectors, generally referenced 9, which are stably connected to the rotating part of the conversion means 4 and are designed to allow the transfer of the electric power signal generated thereby.

Conveniently, the adjustment and control means 5 may be connected to the local and/or the power distribution networks N via second electrical connection means 1 0.

According to the inventive configuration as shown in FIG. 2, the device 1 may be housed in the case 1 1 that contains the adjustment means 5 and may be electrically connected thereto by an electric connection 1 2. Furthermore, the device 1 may be designed to detect the signals generated by the adjustment and control means 5 to change the operating parameters associated with the extraction means 3 and the conversion means 4.

Advantageously, the transmitting means 6 and the receiving means 7 may include a plurality of transceiver units designed to transmit and receive the control signal.

Also, the units may be distinct and spaced from each other to facilitate transmission and reception of the control signal send thereby to the extraction means 3 and the conversion means 4.

In the configuration as shown in FIG. 2, the transmitting means 6 and the receiving means 7 may include a first unit 1 3 held within the adjustment and control means 5 and two additional units 14, 1 5, each located proximate to the extraction means 3 and proximate to the conversion means 4 respectively. Conveniently, in this configuration, the adjustment and control means 5 may actuate the first unit 1 3 for the latter to send a control signal to the second unit 14 and/or the third unit 1 5.

The second unit 14 and/or the third unit 1 5 are designed to receive the signal transmitted by the first unit 1 3, detect the information contained therein and change the operating parameters associated with the extraction means 3 and the conversion means 4 respectively.

Also, each of the second unit 14 and the third unit 1 5 may be designed to send a response signal to the first unit 1 3, which signal contains information about the operating parameters associated with the extraction means 3 and the conversion means 4.

In a particularly advantageous aspect of the invention, the signal transmitting means 6 and the signal receiving means 7 are designed to operate using radiofrequency electromagnetic waves.

Suitably, as shown in FIG. 2, the transmitting means and the receiving means may include one or more antennas, generally referenced 1 6, which are designed to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals with a frequency falling in a predetermined range.

Conveniently, the electromagnetic waves used by the transmitting means 6 and the receiving means 7 may be selected within the range associated with the Bluetooth® standard.

The use of the Bluetooth® may be particularly convenient when the transmitting means 6 and the receiving means 7 are located at a relatively short distance, e.g. within a few tens of meters.

Advantageously, the electromagnetic waves may be selected from the visible spectrum.

In such configuration of the invention, not shown, the transmitting means 6 and the receiving means 7 may be designed to transmit and receive electromagnetic signals in the visible spectrum at a wavelength from about 380nm to 760 nm, such as infrared signals.

Furthermore, in one configuration, not shown herein, the electromagnetic waves may be selected from the laser spectrum. In a particularly advantageous aspect of the invention, the signal transmitting means 6 and the signal receiving means 7 may be designed to transmit and receive a high security coded signal.

Conveniently, security coding may be obtained by digital compression of the transmitted signal and digital decompression of the received signal, using appropriate known algorithms in the transmitting means 6 and the receiving means 7.

High-security coding of the control signal allows the receiving means 6 to uniquely discriminate the control signal from any undesired signal from external electromagnetic sources that has a frequency in the range allowing reception thereof by the receiving means 7.

In the illustrated configuration, the generator 2 is a wind generator with renewable energy extraction means 3 in the form of a wind turbine 1 7.

Conveniently, the energy conversion means 4 include an electrical machine 18 connected to the wind turbine 1 7 via a drive shaft 1 9.

Also, mechanical gearing means 29 may be associated with the wind turbine 17 and the drive shaft 1 9 to change the number of revolutions of the latter.

The device 1 may be also held in a compartment 21 formed in a nacelle 22 which is located at the top of a tower, not shown.

Advantageously, the adjustment means 5 may include blade angle controllers 23 for controlling the blade angle of the turbine 1 7 relative to wind.

These controllers 23 may be located proximate to the wind turbine 17 and may directly contact the third unit 1 5 of the transmitting 6 and receiving 7 means.

Also, the adjustment and control means 5 may include at least one inverter 24 and at least one converter 25.

The inverter 24 may be electrically connected to the transmitting means 6 for adjustment of the electrical parameters associated with the electrical machine.

Furthermore, the converter 25 may be connected to the electrical machine 18 via the first connection means 8 and to the local and/or power distribution networks N via the second electrical connection means 1 0.

The control device and the generator of the invention are susceptible of a number of changes and variants, within the inventive concept disclosed in the appended claims. All the details thereof may be replaced by other technically equivalent parts, and the materials may vary depending on different needs, without departure from the scope of the invention. While the control device and generator have been described with particular reference to the accompanying figures, the numerals referred to in the disclosure and claims are only used for the sake of a better intelligibility of the invention and shall not be intended to limit the claimed scope in any manner.

Claims

1 . A device for remote control of an apparatus for generating electric power from a renewable energy source, such as a wind generator or the like, wherein the apparatus (2) comprises renewable energy extraction means (3) and conversion means (4) for converting energy into electric power, associated with adjustment and control means (5) for adjusting and controlling operating parameters, characterized by comprising transmission means (6) of a control signal for varying the operating parameters of the apparatus and receiving means (7) of said signal adapted to interact with said adjusting and controlling means (5) of the operating parameters of the apparatus, wherein said transmitting means (6) and receiving means (7) of said signal are of wireless type.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said signal transmission means (6) and said signal receiving means (7) are adapted to operate with radiofrequency electromagnetic waves.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said radiofrequency electromagnetic waves are selected between the range associated with the Bluetooth® standard.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in said electromagnetic waves are selected into the visible spectrum.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in said electromagnetic waves are selected into the laser spectrum.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that said signal transmission means (6) and said signal receiving means (7) are adapted to transmit and receive a signal with high security encoding.

7. A generator (2) for converting energy from a renewable energy source into electric power to be introduced into a network, comprising renewable energy extraction means (3), a rotating machine (18) coupled to said extraction means (3) and provided with means (3) for converting the extracted energy into electric power, means (5) for adjusting said extraction means (3) and said conversion means (4) in such a manner to vary the operating parameters of the generator (2), characterized by comprising control means (1 ) adapted to interact with said adjusting means (5) to allow the remote control of the operation of the generator (2), wherein said control means (1 ) are according one or more the preceding claims.

8. A generator as claimed in claim 7, wherein said renewable energy extraction means (3) are wind turbines (17).

9. A generator as claimed in claim 7, wherein said adjusting means

(5) comprising controllers (23) of the pitch of the blade (17) with respect the relative wind.

10. A generator as claimed in claim 7, wherein said adjusting means (5) comprising at least one inverter (24) and at least one converter (25).