System for converting wind power to electrical power with transmission

Abstract

A system for converting wind power to electrical power comprising a transmission module with multiple power flows to an output and a first generator coupled to the output, wherein the first generator operates at substantially constant speed for the multiple power flows. A method is also disclosed that operates a system that converts wind power to electrical power utilizing a transmission module and comprises the steps of operating the transmission module with a first power flow to an output coupled to a generator, and operating the transmission module with a second power flow to the output coupled to the generator, wherein the generator operates at substantially constant speed for the first and second power flows.

1 . A system for converting wind power to electrical power comprising a transmission module with multiple power flows to an output and a first generator coupled to the output, wherein the first generator operates at substantially constant speed for the multiple power flows. 
     
     
         2 . A system according to  claim 1  including a controller coupled to the transmission module and the first generator, wherein the transmission module is controlled to provide the substantially constant speed to the first generator for at least two wind speed ranges. 
     
     
         3 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the output comprises a single output shaft. 
     
     
         4 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the output comprises multiple output shafts. 
     
     
         5 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the first generator receives excitation current at a frequency controlled by a power grid and wherein the electrical power is provided to the power grid. 
     
     
         6 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the transmission module includes multiple concentric planetary gear sets. 
     
     
         7 . A system according to  claim 1  wherein the transmission module proportions power between the first generator and a second generator. 
     
     
         8 . A system according to  claim 7  wherein the first generator is a low power generator and the second generator is a high power generator. 
     
     
         9 . A system according to  claim 7  wherein the second generator has a second power capacity at least two times greater than a first power capacity of the first generator. 
     
     
         10 . A system according to  claim 7  wherein the second generator has a second power capacity at least five times greater than a first power capacity of the first generator. 
     
     
         11 . A system according to  claim 7  wherein the second generator has a second power capacity at least eight times greater than a first power capacity of the first generator. 
     
     
         12 . A system according to  claim 7  wherein the system is selectable between at least: a first state in which a first of the multiple power flows transfers power to the first generator and the second generator is not operable to generate power to the grid, and a second state in which a second of the multiple power flows transfers power to the first generator and the second generator. 
     
     
         13 . A system according to  claim 7 , wherein the first generator has a first number of poles and the second generator has a second number of poles not equal to the first number of poles. 
     
     
         14 . A method of operating a system that converts wind power to electrical power utilizing a transmission module, comprising the steps of operating the transmission module with a first power flow to an output coupled to a generator, and operating the transmission module with a second power flow to the output coupled to the generator, wherein the generator operates at substantially constant speed for the first and second power flows.