Patents by Inventor Alireza Nami

Alireza Nami has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11757368
    Abstract: A transformer arrangement is provided. The transformer arrangement includes a transformer with a primary and a secondary winding and a chain link of switching blocks connected in series between one of the windings and a load, where the switching blocks comprise a first set of voltage contribution blocks and a second set of circuit breaker blocks, where the first set of voltage contribution blocks is configured to adjust a voltage output by the transformer with an offset voltage and the second set of circuit breaker blocks is configured to interrupt a current running through the chain link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Roberto Alves, Nan Chen, Frans Dijkhuizen, Jan Svensson, Alireza Nami
  • Patent number: 11694840
    Abstract: Provided is a transformer arrangement wherein active and/or reactive power can be injected in an alternating current link using a current regulator and a voltage regulator portion, wherein at least one winding with which the current regulator is connected in parallel is at least one tertiary winding, and wherein the current regulator includes a number of current regulator sections, each connected to a corresponding voltage regular section of a voltage regulator portion via a corresponding dc link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Energy Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Roberto Alves, Nan Chen, Frans Dijkhuizen, Jan Svensson, Alireza Nami
  • Publication number: 20230020854
    Abstract: An inductive power device with variable active winding size, comprises first circuitry, multiple winding segments and switching circuitry operable to connect selectable combinations of the winding segments serially to the first circuitry via taps. At least two of the winding segments are of unequal size, wherein said at least two winding segments are provided as sequential portions of a total winding magnetically coupled to an opposite winding, wherein the winding segments have uniform polarity with respect to said magnetic coupling. The switching circuitry comprises an arrangement of semiconductor switches which are operable to include or exclude each winding segment independently. In an embodiment, the arrangement of switches comprises at least one half-bridge structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Hitachi Energy Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Nan CHEN, Yuhei OKAZAKI, Roberto ALVES, Alireza NAMI
  • Publication number: 20220407429
    Abstract: A transformer arrangement is provided. The transformer arrangement includes a transformer with a primary and a secondary winding and a chain link of switching blocks connected in series between one of the windings and a load, where the switching blocks comprise a first set of voltage contribution blocks and a second set of circuit breaker blocks, where the first set of voltage contribution blocks is configured to adjust a voltage output by the transformer with an offset voltage and the second set of circuit breaker blocks is configured to interrupt a current running through the chain link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: Hitachi Energy Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Roberto ALVES, Nan CHEN, Frans DIJKHUIZEN, Jan SVENSSON, Alireza NAMI
  • Publication number: 20220344093
    Abstract: Provided is a transformer arrangement wherein active and/or reactive power can be injected in an alternating current link using a current regulator and a voltage regulator portion, wherein at least one winding with which the current regulator is connected in parallel is at least one tertiary winding, and wherein the current regulator includes a number of current regulator sections, each connected to a corresponding voltage regular section of a voltage regulator portion via a corresponding dc link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: Hitachi Energy Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Roberto ALVES, Nan CHEN, Frans Dijkhuizen, Jan Svensson, Alireza NAMI
  • Patent number: 11424679
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a converter cell (4) for an MMC. The cell comprises a primary energy storage (Cm), an inductor (Lf), and a secondary energy storage (Cf); and first and second converter valves (T1, T2). The secondary energy storage (Cf) is connected in series with the first converter valve (T1), and together with said first converter valve in parallel with the inductor (Lf), and the primary energy storage (Cm) is connected in series with the second converter valve (T2), and together with said second converter valve (T2) in parallel with the inductor (Lf).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Aravind Mohanaveeramani, Jan Svensson, Lennart Harnefors, Alireza Nami
  • Patent number: 11418127
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a converter cell (4) for a power converter. The cell comprises a plurality of semiconductor devices (T) forming a half-bridge or full-bridge topology in the cell. The cell also comprises an energy storage (5) connected across the at least one switch leg (6). The cell also comprises a crowbar leg (7) connected across the at least one switch leg, comprising a plurality of series connected semiconductor crowbar switches (C) arranged to short-circuit the energy storage (5). The cell also comprises first and second AC terminals (A, B), wherein at least one of said AC terminals is connected to one of the at least one switch leg, between two of the plurality of series connected semiconductor devices of said switch leg, and connected to the crowbar leg, between two of the plurality of series connected crowbar switches of said crowbar leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2022
    Assignee: Hitachi Energy Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Aravind Mohanaveeramani, Jan Svensson, Alireza Nami
  • Publication number: 20220085731
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a converter cell (4) for a power converter. The cell comprises a plurality of semiconductor devices (T) forming a half-bridge or full-bridge topology in the cell. The cell also comprises an energy storage (5) connected across the at least one switch leg (6). The cell also comprises a crowbar leg (7) connected across the at least one switch leg, comprising a plurality of series connected semiconductor crowbar switches (C) arranged to short-circuit the energy storage (5). The cell also comprises first and second AC terminals (A, B), wherein at least one of said AC terminals is connected to one of the at least one switch leg, between two of the plurality of series connected semiconductor devices of said switch leg, and connected to the crowbar leg, between two of the plurality of series connected crowbar switches of said crowbar leg.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2019
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Aravind Mohanaveeramani, Jan Svensson, Alireza Nami
  • Publication number: 20220045610
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a converter cell (4) for an MMC. The cell comprises a primary energy storage (Cm), an inductor (Lf), and a secondary energy storage (Cf); and first and second converter valves (T1, T2). The secondary energy storage (Cf) is connected in series with the first converter valve (T1), and together with said first converter valve in parallel with the inductor (Lf), and the primary energy storage (Cm) is connected in series with the second converter valve (T2), and together with said second converter valve (T2) in parallel with the inductor (Lf).
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Aravind Mohanaveeramani, Jan Svensson, Lennart Harnefors, Alireza Nami
  • Publication number: 20200106384
    Abstract: An inverter arrangement based on photovoltaic elements includes at least two strings including switching elements, which strings are connected to at least two AC terminals, where at least one of the strings is a string of submodules, each submodule including at least two switching elements and an energy storage element, having DC terminals and being configured to make a voltage contribution to the forming of an AC voltage on an AC terminal, and a number of input stages each including at least one energy delivery element, where at least some of the energy delivery elements are photovoltaic elements, each input stage being connected to DC terminals of a corresponding for delivering power to or from at least one AC terminal when the corresponding submodule contributes to the forming of the AC voltage on the AC terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Publication date: April 2, 2020
    Inventors: Cicero Postiglione, Frans Dijkhuizen, Jan Svensson, Alireza Nami, Francisco Canales
  • Patent number: 10530272
    Abstract: A voltage source converter includes a number of converter modules, one for each of a number of phases, connected in-series between two DC terminals. Each converter module includes an upper director valve in series with a lower director valve, where a junction between the two provides a primary AC terminal, an upper wayshaper section, a common waveshaper block and a lower waveshaper section in parallel with the valves, where the upper and lower waveshaper sections include multilevel cells and the common waveshaper block include at least one common waveshaper connected between the upper and lower waveshaper sections, a first switching element connected between a secondary AC terminal and the upper waveshaper section and a second switching element connected between the secondary AC terminal and the lower waveshaper section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Praveen Kumar Barupati, Hongbo Jiang, Alireza Nami, Sasitharan Subramanian, Vishal Vekhande
  • Publication number: 20190348925
    Abstract: A voltage source converter includes a number of converter modules, one for each of a number of phases, connected in-series between two DC terminals. Each converter module includes an upper director valve in series with a lower director valve, where a junction between the two provides a primary AC terminal, an upper waveshaper section, a common waveshaper block and a lower waveshaper section in parallel with the valves, where the upper and lower waveshaper sections include multilevel cells and the common waveshaper block include at least one common waveshaper connected between the upper and lower waveshaper sections, a first switching element connected between a secondary AC terminal and the upper waveshaper section and a second switching element connected between the secondary AC terminal and the lower waveshaper section.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2016
    Publication date: November 14, 2019
    Applicant: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Praveen Kumar BARUPATI, Hongbo JIANG, Alireza NAMI, Sasitharan SUBRAMANIAN, Vishal VEKHANDE
  • Patent number: 10256745
    Abstract: A multilevel converter converting between AC and DC includes a phase leg having a first and a second phase arm, the first phase arm being connected between a first pole having a first potential and a first AC terminal and the second phase arm being connected between the first AC terminal and a second potential, where the phase arms include half-bridge and full-bridge cells, where each cell includes at least one energy storage element for providing the voltage contribution and cell switching units with cell switches and anti-parallel diodes for controlling the voltage contribution, where the full-bridge cells include a bypass switch controllable to bypass the corresponding energy storage element, and when a phase-to-ground fault occurs the cell switches are blocked and the bypass switches activated with a delay in relation to the blocking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Alireza Nami, Jiaqi Liang, Frans Dijkhuizen, Liwei Wang
  • Publication number: 20180212533
    Abstract: A multilevel converter converting between AC and DC includes a phase leg having a first and a second phase arm, the first phase arm being connected between a first pole having a first potential and a first AC terminal and the second phase arm being connected between the first AC terminal and a second potential, where the phase arms include half-bridge and full-bridge cells, where each cell includes at least one energy storage element for providing the voltage contribution and cell switching units with cell switches and anti-parallel diodes for controlling the voltage contribution, where the full-bridge cells include a bypass switch controllable to bypass the corresponding energy storage element, and when a phase-to-ground fault occurs the cell switches are blocked and the bypass switches activated with a delay in relation to the blocking.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2014
    Publication date: July 26, 2018
    Applicant: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Alireza NAMI, Jiaqi LIANG, Frans DIJKHUIZEN, Liwei WANG
  • Patent number: 9991713
    Abstract: An energy storage system (ESS) for an electrical system includes an energy storage, and a converter interface arranged for connecting the energy storage to the electrical system. The converter interface includes a modular multilevel converter in which each phase leg includes a plurality of series connected cells of which at least one is a half-bridge cell and at least one is a full-bridge cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AB
    Inventors: Tomas Tengner, Christopher Townsend, Hector Zelaya de la Parra, Alireza Nami
  • Patent number: 9929634
    Abstract: A switching cell for a chain link includes a first side including a first terminal and a second terminal, a second side including a third terminal and a fourth terminal, a first switching unit, a second switching unit, and a first and a second capacitor unit. The first terminal is connected to the second terminal via the first capacitor unit. The first capacitor unit has its positive side facing the first terminal. The third terminal is connected to the fourth terminal via the second capacitor unit. The second capacitor has its positive side facing the fourth terminal. The second terminal is connected to the fourth terminal via the second switching unit. The switching cell also includes a third capacitor unit, and the first terminal is connected to the third terminal via a first series connection including the first switching unit and the third capacitor unit. The third capacitor unit has its positive side facing the third terminal. A switching module includes at least one such switching cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Alireza Nami, Christopher Townsend
  • Patent number: 9876358
    Abstract: A converter arrangement and a method of controlling a three-phase converter arrangement connected to a transmission grid are provided. The converter arrangement includes three phase legs and an energy transfer circuit. The method includes providing a varying respective output phase voltage to the transmission grid by selecting energy storage elements of both the phase legs and the energy transfer circuit and connecting the selected energy storage elements to the transmission grid output. The method further includes selecting energy storage elements for performing a transfer of energy between the energy storage elements during the control period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Frans Dijkhuizen, Alireza Nami, Hector Zelaya De La Parra, Christopher Townsend
  • Publication number: 20170237330
    Abstract: A switching cell for a chain link includes a first side including a first terminal and a second terminal, a second side including a third terminal and a fourth terminal, a first switching unit, a second switching unit, and a first and a second capacitor unit. The first terminal is connected to the second terminal via the first capacitor unit. The first capacitor unit has its positive side facing the first terminal. The third terminal is connected to the fourth terminal via the second capacitor unit. The second capacitor has its positive side facing the fourth terminal. The second terminal is connected to the fourth terminal via the second switching unit. The switching cell also includes a third capacitor unit, and the first terminal is connected to the third terminal via a first series connection including the first switching unit and the third capacitor unit. The third capacitor unit has its positive side facing the third terminal. A switching module includes at least one such switching cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2014
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Applicant: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Alireza NAMI, Christopher TOWNSEND
  • Patent number: 9716425
    Abstract: A multilevel converter converting between AC and DC includes a phase arm with a number of cells between a DC pole and an AC terminal, the cells include at least one hybrid full bridge cell including a first cell connection terminal for coupling to the DC pole, a second cell connection terminal for coupling to the AC terminal, an energy storage element having a positive and a negative end, a first group of series connected semiconducting units in parallel with the energy storage element, where a junction between these forms one cell connection terminal, and a second group of series connected semiconducting units in parallel with the energy storage element and including a third semiconducting unit and a fourth semiconducting unit consisting of a number of unidirectional conducting elements including at least one unidirectional conducting element, where a junction between these forms a further cell connection terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Alireza Nami, Liwei Wang
  • Publication number: 20170170658
    Abstract: An energy storage system (ESS) for an electrical system includes an energy storage, and a converter interface arranged for connecting the energy storage to the electrical system. The converter interface includes a modular multilevel converter in which each phase leg includes a plurality of series connected cells of which at least one is a half-bridge cell and at least one is a full-bridge cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Publication date: June 15, 2017
    Applicant: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Tomas TENGNER, Christopher TOWNSEND, Hector ZELAYA DE LA PARRA, Alireza NAMI