Abstract: This invention describes ways of obtaining nano-particulated adjuvants formed by different synthetic variants of GM3 ganglioside. Depending on the fine structure of the fatty acid in the ceramide of the synthetic GM3, said adjuvants are able to stimulate specifically and in a specialized way the humoral or cellular immune response against accompanying antigens. Particularly, this invention provides immunogenic vaccine compositions that comprise peptides, polypeptides or proteins and the aforementioned nanoparticles, which are formed through the dispersion of hydrophobic proteins of the outer membrane complex (OMC) of Neisseria meningitidis in solutions containing fully synthetic variants of the GM3 ganglioside.

Abstract: A method for operating a multi-level bridge power converter includes arranging a plurality of switching devices including at least four inner switching devices and at least two outer switching devices in an active neutral point clamped topology. The method also includes determining whether any of the switching devices is experiencing a failure condition by implementing a failure detection algorithm. The failure detection algorithm includes generating a blocking state logic signal by comparing a switching device voltage and a threshold reference voltage for each of the switching devices, determining an expected voltage blocking state for each of the switching devices based on gate drive signals of the switching devices and an output current direction, and detecting whether a failure condition is present in any of the switching devices based on the blocking state logic signals and the expected voltage blocking states of the switching devices.

Abstract: A method for operating a multi-level bridge power converter of an electrical power system connected to a power grid includes providing a plurality of switching devices of the power converter in an active neutral point clamped topology. The method also includes operating the plurality of switching devices in a plurality of operating states such that current simultaneously flows through at least two parallel recovery paths of the plurality of switching devices during operation of the power converter to minimize a commutation path of the current when at least one diode of the plurality of switching devices recovers, thereby reducing parasitic inductance affecting the recovering antiparallel diode or the switch.

Abstract: A method of controlling current through a transistor is provided. A voltage and current through the transistor are measured. A safe operating current for the voltage is determined. For each of a first sequence of current pulses, a voltage of a voltage pulse applied to a control node of the transistor using a feedback controller is adjusted until the current measured through the transistor is not greater than a first function of the safe operating current. For each of a second sequence of current pulses after the first sequence of current pulses, the voltage of the voltage pulse applied to the control node of the transistor using the feedback controller is adjusted until the current measured through the transistor is not greater than a second function of the safe operating current.

Abstract: A method for simulating electric power grid conditions includes accessing, with a computing system, a reference voltage value associated with an electric power grid being simulated. Furthermore, the method includes modifying, with the computing system, the reference voltage value based on a virtual impedance associated with a condition on the electric power grid being simulated. Additionally, the method includes applying, with the computing system, a phase and magnitude compensation to the modified reference voltage value. Moreover, the method includes controlling, with the computing system, an operation of a grid simulator such that the grid simulator generates an output signal based on the modified voltage value after the phase and magnitude compensation has been applied, the output signal being applied to a power converter being tested to simulate the condition.

Abstract: A method for operating a multi-level bridge power converter of an electrical power system connected to a power grid includes receiving, via a controller of the power converter, an indication of a transient event occurring in the power grid or the electrical power system. The power converter has a plurality of switching devices arranged in an active neutral point clamped topology. Accordingly, upon receiving the indication, the method includes activating a crowbar algorithm programmed in the controller of the power converter to bifurcate a current received by the power converter into a plurality of different current paths defined by the plurality of switching devices.

Abstract: A controller-implemented method and system for operating a multi-level bridge power converter connected to a power grid in a fault-tolerant operational mode, the power converter including a first converter coupled to a DC link, the first converter comprising a plurality of switching devices. The method and system determine an on/off scheme for the switching devices in the first converter when one or more of the switching devices has failed in a shorted state, wherein the on/off scheme is dependent upon phase current direction through the first converter. The phase current direction is indirectly determined by sensing a pole voltage of the first converter and implementing the on/off scheme in the fault-tolerant mode when the pole voltage changes from zero to a +/?value indicating that the phase current through the first converter has switched direction.

Abstract: Toilet like device, which saves water through the separation of solid and liquid depositions, in a hygienic, comfortable, simple, autonomous and aesthetic manner. It's composed by a main toilet body, which has an open space within itself, connected to the main toilet bowl, a space which is open in its front and superior sides. This space works as a water and urine recipient, the water and urine come from the urinal, which at the same time works as a drainage for urine and water. This space also works as a liquid recipient when the urinal is in vertical position, since it is very likely that, after a liquid deposition, the urinal needs to be raised towards a vertical position, for various different reasons. Any liquid remaining in the urinal falls into this space, without going into the rest toilet body, and much less onto the user.

Abstract: A system and method for pre-charging a DC link of a multi-level power converter, to reduce electrical transients or to decrease a charging current when a converter contactor/disconnect switch is closed, is described. The systems and methods of the present disclosure also provides a new and simplified system for pre-charging a DC link of a multi-level power converter by leveraging a neutral point of a multi-level power converter and a single-line connection to the grid side of the power converter. The DC link charger of the present disclosure, therefore, is capable of reducing the quantity of dedicated superfluous hardware and/or excess resistors, contactors, transformers, fuses, diodes, balancing components, rectifier modules, etc. demanded by conventional systems. Reduced quantities of electronic components and hardware can thereby decrease system costs per unit and lead to significant cost savings.

Abstract: A method for operating a multi-level bridge power converter of an electrical power system connected to a power grid includes providing a plurality of switching devices of the power converter in one of a neutral point clamped topology or an active neutral point clamped topology, the plurality of switching devices including a first group and a second group of switching devices. The method also includes providing a multi-state deadtime for the first and second groups of switching devices that changes based on different state transitions of the power converter. Further, the method includes operating the first and second groups of switching devices according to the multi-state deadtime to allow the first group to switch differently than the second group during the different state transitions, thereby decreasing voltage overshoots on the first group during one or more of the different state transitions and providing safe transition between commutation states of the power converter.

Abstract: A method for operating a multi-level bridge power converter includes providing a plurality of switching devices of the power converter in one of a neutral point clamped topology or an active neutral point clamped topology. The method also includes providing a plurality of deadtimes for the switching devices. Further, the method includes selecting one of the deadtimes for each of the switching devices such that at least two of the switching devices operate according to different deadtimes. Moreover, the method includes operating the switching devices at the selected deadtimes to allow a first group of the switching devices to switch slower than a second group of the switching devices such that the first group of the switching devices satisfy safe operating requirements while the second group of the switching devices switch faster than the first group.

Abstract: A power conversion assembly includes a power converter having a plurality of switching devices, a power source electrically coupled to the power converter, and a direct current (DC) filter circuit bridging the power converter and the power source. The DC filter circuit includes a DC link having a positive rail, a negative rail, and a capacitor bank. The capacitor bank includes a first set of capacitors being a first type of capacitors and a second set of capacitors being a different, second type of capacitors. Each capacitor in the first set of capacitors is positioned closer to a respective switching device of the plurality of switching devices than a corresponding capacitor of the second set of capacitors to minimize impedance between each capacitor in the first set of capacitors and the respective switching device such that a majority of ripple current from the plurality of switching devices passes through the first set of capacitors.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling low-speed operations of a wind turbine electrically coupled to an electrical grid. The wind turbine includes a generator and a power converter. The generator includes a generator rotor and a generator stator. An operating parameter of the generator rotor is indicative of a low-speed operation of the generator. Accordingly, the crossing of a first threshold by the operating parameter is detected. In response, at least a portion of a required reactive power generation is developed via the generator rotor. The portion is then delivered to the electrical grid via the grid side of the power converter.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a wind turbine. Accordingly, a controller of the wind turbine detects a loss of traction of the slip coupling between a generator and a rotor of the drivetrain of the wind turbine. In response to detecting the loss of traction, the controller overrides a generator torque setpoint to alter a rotational speed of the generator. In response to the altered rotational speed of the generator, the traction of the slip coupling is increased. Increasing the traction of the slip coupling facilitates an application of generator torque to the drivetrain of the wind turbine.

Abstract: An apparatus comprises a switch, a current monitor, and a controller. During operation, the switch controls an amount of current through the load. The current monitor samples a magnitude of the current through the load, a magnitude of which varies over time during a time duration. Based on integrating the sample magnitudes of the current through the load over the time duration, the current monitor produces a current sense value. The current sense value is representative of an amount of current through the load. The controller controls an operational state of the switch based upon a comparison of the current sense value with respect to an over-current threshold value. For example, in response to detecting a condition in which the current sense value is greater than the overcurrent threshold value, the controller turns OFF (deactivates) the switch, reducing or eliminating delivery of current through the load.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a wind turbine to protect the wind turbine from anomalous operations. Accordingly, in response to receiving data indicative of an anomalous operational event of the wind turbine, the controller initiates an enhanced braking mode for the wind turbine. The enhanced braking mode is characterized by operating the generator at a torque setpoint that generates maximum available torque for a given set of operating conditions. Additionally, the torque setpoint is in excess of a nominal torque limit for the generator.

Abstract: A method includes receiving, via one or more turbine-level controllers, an indication of at least one of a communication loss between the one or more turbine-level controllers and a farm-level controller, a detection of an absence of reactive power regulation by the farm-level controller, or a reactive power command of the farm-level controller being equal to or above a saturation threshold during transitioning between a baseline operational mode and reactive power mode, the reactive power mode being characterized in that only reactive power is generate. Upon receipt of the indication, the method includes adjusting a reactive power response of one or more reactive power regulators of the one or more turbine-level controllers so as to avoid an overshoot reactive power event or an undershoot reactive power event at the point of interconnection.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for operating a power generating asset electrically coupled to a power grid. The power generating asset includes a power converter having a line-side converter operably coupled to the power grid via a converter contactor. Accordingly, a line-side converter of the power converter is decoupled from the power grid and a controller determines the phase angle of the grid voltage. A switching sequence for a plurality switching devices of the line-side converter is then set in order to develop a pre-charge voltage phase angle at a converter-side terminal of the converter contactor which is in phase with the phase angle of the grid voltage. A portion of the charge of the DC link is then discharged through the line-side converter to develop a pre-charge voltage at the converter-side terminal. Once the in-phase, pre-charge voltage is established at the converter-side terminal, the converter contactor is closed to re-couple the line-side converter to the power grid.

Abstract: A method for operating a multi-level bridge power converter of an electrical power system connected to a power grid includes providing a plurality of switching devices of the power converter in an active neutral point clamped topology. The method also includes operating the plurality of switching devices in a plurality of operating states such that current simultaneously flows through at least two parallel recovery paths of the plurality of switching devices during operation of the power converter to minimize a commutation path of the current when at least one diode of the plurality of switching devices recovers, thereby reducing parasitic inductance affecting the recovering antiparallel diode or the switch.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling low-speed operations of a wind turbine electrically coupled to an electrical grid. The wind turbine includes a generator and a power converter. The generator includes a generator rotor and a generator stator. An operating parameter of the generator rotor is indicative of a low-speed operation of the generator. Accordingly, the crossing of a first threshold by the operating parameter is detected. In response, at least a portion of a required reactive power generation is developed via the generator rotor. The portion is then delivered to the electrical grid via the grid side of the power converter.