Power dissipating arrangement in a wind turbine

摘要

A power dissipating arrangement for dissipating power from a generator in a wind turbine is provided. The generator comprises a plurality of output terminals corresponding to a multi-phase output. The power dissipating arrangement comprises a plurality of dissipating units, a plurality of semiconductor switches, a trigger circuit for switching the semiconductor switches and a control unit for controlling the operation of the trigger circuit, thereby controlling the switching of the semiconductor switches. Each dissipating unit includes a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of each dissipating unit is coupled to each output terminal of the generator. Each semiconductor switch includes a first terminal anode, a second terminal and a gate terminal. The first terminal of each semiconductor switch is coupled to the second terminal of each dissipating unit and the second terminal of the semiconductor switch is coupled to the second terminal of another dissipating unit, such that the second terminal of each dissipating unit is coupled to the first terminal of one semiconductor switch and the second terminal of another semiconductor switch. The trigger circuit is coupled to the gate terminal of the plurality of the semiconductor switches for switching the semiconductor switches.

主权项

1. A power dissipating arrangement for dissipating power from a wind turbine, wherein the wind turbine comprises a turbine control unit and a generator comprising a plurality of output terminals corresponding to a multi-phase output, the power dissipating arrangement comprises:
a plurality of dissipating units, each dissipating unit having a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal of each dissipating unit is coupled to each output terminal of the generator; a plurality of semiconductor switches, each semiconductor switch having a first terminal, a second terminal and a gate terminal, wherein the first terminal of each semiconductor switch is coupled to the second terminal of each dissipating unit and the second terminal of the semiconductor switch is coupled to the second terminal of another dissipating unit, such that the second terminal of each dissipating unit is coupled to the first terminal of one semiconductor switch and the second terminal of another semiconductor switch; a trigger circuit coupled to the gate terminals of the plurality of the semiconductor switches for switching the semiconductor switches; a first control unit for controlling the operation of the trigger circuit, thereby controlling the switching of the semiconductor switches, wherein the first control unit is configured to cause the trigger circuit to turn on the semiconductor switches when the first control unit detects a shutdown signal from the turbine control, thereby causing power from the generator to be dissipated through the power dissipating units; and a health monitoring unit configured to determine a health status of the power dissipating arrangement during a testing phase of the wind turbine by:
obtaining a first voltage measurement from a voltage measurement unit,determining a health status of the generator based on the first voltage measurement,controlling the first control unit to turn on the semiconductor switches for a predefined period of time,obtaining a second voltage measurement from the voltage measurement unit, anddetermining a health status of the semiconductor switches and the trigger circuit based on the second voltage measurement.