Patents Assigned to GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Ltd.
  • Patent number: 9281754
    Abstract: An electrical circuit, in particular a circuit used for generating electric power, wherein this circuit comprises a generator with n phases, a converter and a transformer to which a p-phase load can be connected. The converter comprises m partial converters, each of the partial converters is composed of p units and each of these units is provided with n/m switching circuits. The switching circuits of the individual units are connected symmetrical to the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Georg Moehlenkamp, Reinhard Wagnitz
  • Patent number: 9276457
    Abstract: An electric drivetrain of a device, such as a gas compression device, includes an electric machine and a system for supplying power to the electric machine, the electric machine including a rotor and a stator. The electric machine is an asynchronous electric machine, and the power supply system is suitable for supplying voltage to the stator of the electric machine, the power supply system making up a source of voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventor: Jean-Marc Taillardat
  • Patent number: 9252645
    Abstract: A dc electrical machine with a large number of phases. The machine includes a rotor and a stator assembly. The rotor has Np rotating field poles. The stator has Ns winding slots, where Ns/Np is a non-integer ratio. A stator winding includes a plurality of coils received in the winding slots and defines a plurality of stator phases. A power electronic switching assembly includes first and second dc load terminals that can be connected to external equipment and a plurality of switching modules. Each switching module includes power electronic devices and is connected to a respective stator coil. A first proportion of the switching modules are connected together in series between the first and second dc load terminals and a second proportion of the switching modules are connected together in series between the first and second dc load terminals to define two parallel dc circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventor: Allan David Crane
  • Patent number: 9225255
    Abstract: A power supply system for supplying electrical power to a load is capable of delivering an output voltage to the load from an input voltage coming from an electric power network. The power supply system includes: at least two input terminals and at least two output terminals, the input terminals being adapted to be connected to the electric power network and the output terminals being adapted to be connected to the load, a converter capable of converting the input voltage into the output voltage, the converter being connected between the input terminals and the output terminals, and a device for limiting the homopolar current that is likely to flow between the electric power network and the load. The device for limiting the homopolar current comprises a transformer connected in parallel with respect to the converter, between the input terminals and the output terminals, the transformer having a first electromagnetic coil and a second electromagnetic coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology LTD
    Inventor: Alfred Permuy
  • Patent number: 9225161
    Abstract: An assembly includes an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), a gate driver and a short-circuit protection circuit. The gate driver is adapted to supply voltage to a gate terminal of the IGBT. The short-circuit protection circuit includes an IGBT short-circuit detector for determining whether the IGBT is short-circuited, and a supply voltage regulator for regulating the supply voltage in response to the IGBT short-circuit detector determining that the IGBT is short-circuited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Tao Wu, Yingqi Zhang, Fan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9195234
    Abstract: Dynamic positioning systems and methods for controlling thrusters of a vessel. A dynamic positioning system includes a controller configured to predict position and heading of the vessel and efficiently control the the thrusters based on the predicted position and heading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventor: Richard Ian Stephens
  • Patent number: 9197069
    Abstract: An offshore wind farm includes a plurality of wind turbines connected to an onshore converter station by means of a distributed power transmission system. The power transmission system includes a series of offshore converter platforms distributed within the wind farm. Each converter platform includes a busbar carrying an ac voltage for the converter platform and to which the wind turbines are connected. Each converter platform also includes one or more converter transformers connected to the busbar and a series of one or more converter modules. The power transmission system includes dc transmission lines which deliver generated power back to the onshore converter station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: David Leonard Alston, Dominic David Banham-Hall
  • Patent number: 9197063
    Abstract: A reactive energy compensator (10) comprising: an input DC voltage (Vc) bus (13) capable of providing reactive energy; an inverter (18) connected to the DC voltage bus (13) and including controllable electronic switches (34) capable of converting the input DC voltage (Vc) into an intermediate alternating voltage, a device (22) for controlling the electronic switches, regulation means (22) for determining a value of a target active current circulating between the inverter and the network, capable of regulating the input direct current voltage (Vc) relatively to a set reference value; the device for controlling the switches, determining control signals according to the value of said target active current, determined from the error between the reference value and the square of the DC voltage of the bus via a transfer function, the definition of which varies according to the current value of said DC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Mathieu Morati, Franck Terrien
  • Patent number: 9184003
    Abstract: A circuit breaker comprising a first dc line electrically connectable to first incoming and first outgoing dc lines, wherein the first dc line comprises a first fault-interrupting switch contact system and a first switching aid network. The first switching aid network comprises first and second rectifier strings, wherein each rectifier string comprises one or more series connected reverse blocking power electronic devices that define a first H-bridge rectifier. The first switching aid network further comprises a snubber string, the snubber string comprising at least one series connected power electronic devices capable of being turned on by gate control and a capacitor. The first switching aid network further comprises a pre-charge string comprising at least one series connected power electronic devices capable of being turned on by gate control and a resistor, and a surge arrester connected between the first and second dc output terminals of the first H-bridge rectifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Allan Crane
  • Patent number: 9178456
    Abstract: A power transmission system may include a plurality of renewable-energy devices such as wind turbines or subsea turbines. The devices are connected together in parallel to a subsea cable that carries an ac transmission voltage. Each device includes a turbine assembly that is rotated by wind or water current flows, and a variable speed ac induction generator. A power converter is connected to the subsea cable and is used to interface the generators to a supply network or power grid. The power transmission system is operated such that an indicated operating speed of one or more of the devices is used to control the power converter (e.g. the PWM strategy that is used to open and close the power semiconductor devices) to achieve desired stator electrical quantities at each generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY, LTD.
    Inventors: Christopher Alan Smith, Matthew James Moreman, Leonard William Burt, Matthew James Cunningham
  • Publication number: 20150303760
    Abstract: A gearless drive for a rotating electrical machine comprises a rotor in the form of a hollow rotatable body and having an axis of rotation and a stator surrounding the rotor. A plurality of pole bodies are independently mounted circumferentially around the rotor by a pole mounting arrangement. The stiffness of the pole mounting arrangement in the radial direction is greater than the stiffness of the pole mounting arrangement in the circumferential direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Publication date: October 22, 2015
    Applicant: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Ltd
    Inventor: Stuart Ian Bradley
  • Patent number: 9163773
    Abstract: Insulation for a cryogenic component is described. The insulation includes an inner portion formed of a multi-layer insulating material comprising alternating layers of metalized polymer film and polymer netting. An outer supporting mesh surrounds the inner portion and is formed of stainless steel. The insulation is particularly suitable for insulating cryogenic components that move during operation since the supporting mesh acts to support the inner portion against damage caused by forces resulting from motion of the cryogenic component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY, LTD.
    Inventor: Ruben Fair
  • Publication number: 20150295488
    Abstract: An exemplary power conversion system includes a power conversion device and a control system. The power conversion device converts electrical power from one form to another. The power conversion device includes at least one switching element capable of being turned off to block an electrical current flowing through the at least one switching element. The control system is electrically coupled to the power conversion device for monitoring an electrical current flowing through the at least one switching element and for monitoring at least one parameter in association with the operation of the power conversion system. The control system further generates an over-current threshold value that is variable with respect to at least one monitored parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Publication date: October 15, 2015
    Applicant: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Jie Shen, Stefan Schroeder, Kunlun Chen, Laigui Qin
  • Patent number: 9130448
    Abstract: A converter control arrangement for regulating the output voltage of a dc source power converter connecting an ac system to a HVDC system to enable dc electrical power to be supplied from the ac system to the HVDC system comprises a dynamic droop control device including first and second droop controllers in which the droop rate of the second droop controller is greater than the droop rate of the first droop controller. The converter control arrangement comprises a voltage regulator for regulating the output voltage of the dc source power converter by comparing an output voltage value with a target voltage value derived by combining a reference voltage value and a droop voltage value provided by the dynamic droop control device. The reference current value is the desired output current value of the dc source power converter and defines, in combination with the reference voltage value, a target operating point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventor: Lihua Hu
  • Publication number: 20150226174
    Abstract: This hydrokinetic rotor is arranged to be rotated by a flow of a liquid. This rotor comprises of an inner ring, an outer ring and at least one blade (24) extending between the inner ring and the outer ring in a radial direction (R), the inner rings and the external rings being centered on a same longitudinal axis (X). This rotor comprises of at least one radial axis (26) extending radially between the inner ring and the outer ring, and at least one blade (24) is movable around the respective radial axis (26). The rotor (14) comprises of the limitation means (28) of the movement in rotation of at least one blade (24) mentioned above around its respective radial axis (26).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Applicant: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Hugo Duchene, Philippe Cagnin, Antoine Girard-Pecarrere
  • Patent number: 9093426
    Abstract: A semi-conductor electronic device for mounting in a pressed stack assembly. The device comprises a box comprising a lower plate, an upper plate and a lateral wall mechanically connecting the lower plate to the upper plate, the lower and upper plates being electrically conductive, several semi-conductor components, each component comprising a first electrode and a second electrode, the first electrodes being electrically connected to the lower plate and the second electrodes being electrically connected to the upper plate, and elastic parts positioned between the components and a supporting plate chosen from the lower plate and the upper plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Alfred Permuy
  • Patent number: 9054574
    Abstract: A method determines the value of a characteristic quantity (U1dc, U2dc) of a system for powering a load which includes M DC-DC converters, connected in series to the terminals of the load and at the output of a DC current power supply, and at least one storage capacitor and includes the measurement of a plurality of values of a first characteristic quantity (Ic) with a first high resolution, the measurement with a low resolution of a value of a second characteristic quantity (U1dc, U2dc), and a determination with a second high resolution of a value of the second characteristic quantity (U1dc, U2dc) from the plurality of values measured with the first high resolution of the first characteristic quantity (Ic) and from the value with the low resolution of the second characteristic quantity (U1dc, U2dc). The first and second high resolutions are at least 10 times greater than the low resolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Bernard Gollentz, Régis Peron, Daniel Girod
  • Patent number: 9048691
    Abstract: A converter, and in particular a current source converter, including a bridge having an AC terminal for each of one or more AC lines, and first and second DC terminals. A converter arm is connected between each respective AC terminal and the first DC terminal, and between each respective AC terminal and the second DC terminal. Each converter arm includes a first power semiconductor switching device capable of being turned ‘on’ and ‘off’ by gate control and having a recovery time. The converter is adapted to be operated in one or more inverting modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Allan David Crane, Warren Mark Blewitt
  • Patent number: 9042130
    Abstract: Provided is a power conversion system that includes a first transformer adapted to be connected to an AC network, the first transformer including a first primary winding and two first secondary windings, and two power converters, each being connected to a first respective secondary winding. The system further includes a second transformer and a secondary electrical device, the second transformer including a second primary winding and two second secondary windings, each second secondary winding being connected to a respective first secondary winding, and the secondary device being connected to the second primary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology LTD
    Inventor: Alfred Permuy
  • Publication number: 20150142227
    Abstract: Dynamic positioning systems and methods for controlling thrusters of a vessel. A dynamic positioning system includes a controller configured to predict position and heading of the vessel and efficiently control the the thrusters based on the predicted position and heading.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2013
    Publication date: May 21, 2015
    Applicant: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventor: Richard Ian Stephens