Patents by Inventor Benjamin Arthur Niemoeller
Benjamin Arthur Niemoeller 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).
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Patent number: 11664715Abstract: A power electronics assembly for a power generation system includes a housing and an attenuator card positioned within the housing. The attenuator card may include at least one printed circuit board for a high-voltage attenuator circuit. The power electronics assembly also includes a potting material at least partially filling the housing on one or more sides of the attenuator card, a detachable end cap positioned at a first end of the housing, and multi-phase wiring communicatively coupled to the high-voltage attenuator circuit through the end cap.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2019Date of Patent: May 30, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Springer Harrison, Benjamin Arthur Niemoeller, Stephen D. Nash, Robert Gregory Wagoner
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Publication number: 20210152059Abstract: A power electronics assembly for a power generation system includes a housing and an attenuator card positioned within the housing. The attenuator card may include at least one printed circuit board for a high-voltage attenuator circuit. The power electronics assembly also includes a potting material at least partially filling the housing on one or more sides of the attenuator card, a detachable end cap positioned at a first end of the housing, and multi-phase wiring communicatively coupled to the high-voltage attenuator circuit through the end cap.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2019Publication date: May 20, 2021Inventors: John Springer Harrison, Benjamin Arthur Niemoeller, Stephen D. Nash, Robert Gregory Wagoner
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Patent number: 10615727Abstract: A power converter assembly for an electrical power system connected to a power grid includes a rotor-side converter configured for coupling to a generator rotor of a generator of the electrical power system, a line-side converter electrically coupled to rotor-side converter via a DC link, and a dynamic brake assembly electrically coupled to the DC link. The line-side converter is configured for coupling to the power grid. The dynamic brake assembly includes a plurality of switching devices connected in parallel and a plurality of inductors electrically coupled between the plurality of switching devices.Type: GrantFiled: August 27, 2018Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Gregory Wagoner, Cornelius Edward Holliday, Benjamin Arthur Niemoeller, David Smith
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Publication number: 20200067437Abstract: A power converter assembly for an electrical power system connected to a power grid includes a rotor-side converter configured for coupling to a generator rotor of a generator of the electrical power system, a line-side converter electrically coupled to rotor-side converter via a DC link, and a dynamic brake assembly electrically coupled to the DC link. The line-side converter is configured for coupling to the power grid. The dynamic brake assembly includes a plurality of switching devices connected in parallel and a plurality of inductors electrically coupled between the plurality of switching devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 27, 2018Publication date: February 27, 2020Inventors: Robert Gregory Wagoner, Cornelius Edward Holliday, Benjamin Arthur Niemoeller, David Smith
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Patent number: 9621088Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for reducing ice or condensation that forms on a power component of a wind turbine during a power outage. The method includes determining an ambient temperature near the power component; providing one or more parameters of the power component; determining a down time of the power component for the power outage; determining a wait time for the power component to stay offline as a function of the ambient temperature, the one or more parameters, and the down time of the power component; and, heating the power component for the wait time before supplying power to the power component such that a surface temperature of the power component is raised above the ambient temperature. As such, the method prevents the power component from being energized when condensation or ice may be present.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2014Date of Patent: April 11, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Benjamin Arthur Niemoeller, Steven Wade Sutherland
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Patent number: 9562950Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an automated apparatus and method for testing a crowbar circuit of power converter. The crowbar circuit includes an anti-parallel diode and a voltage-controlled switching element, e.g. a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR). The method includes implementing a first test sequence for testing operability of the diode and a second test sequence for testing operability of the voltage-controlled switching element. More specifically, the first test sequence determines a first current-voltage feedback that is indicative of the operability of the diode and the second test sequence determines a second current-voltage feedback that is indicative of the operability of the voltage-controlled switching element.Type: GrantFiled: April 24, 2014Date of Patent: February 7, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Igor Berroteran Gil, Anthony Michael Klodowski, David Smith, Robert Allen Seymour, Benjamin Arthur Niemoeller
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Patent number: 9455568Abstract: Renewable energy power systems, DC to DC converters, and methods for operating energy storage systems are provided. A system includes a power converter having a DC bus, and an energy storage system coupled to the DC bus of the power converter. The energy storage system includes an energy storage device and a switching power supply coupled between the energy storage device and the DC bus of the power converter. The switching power supply includes a plurality of switching elements, and an energy storage device protection circuit coupled between the plurality of switching elements and the energy storage device, the energy storage device protection circuit including a solid state switch. The switching power supply further includes a fuse coupled to the energy storage device protection circuit.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2014Date of Patent: September 27, 2016Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Gregory Wagoner, Anthony Michael Klodowski, Steven Wade Sutherland, Rafael Ignacio Bedia, Benjamin Arthur Niemoeller
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Publication number: 20150309123Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to an automated apparatus and method for testing a crowbar circuit of power converter. The crowbar circuit includes an anti-parallel diode and a voltage-controlled switching element, e.g. a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR). The method includes implementing a first test sequence for testing operability of the diode and a second test sequence for testing operability of the voltage-controlled switching element. More specifically, the first test sequence determines a first current-voltage feedback that is indicative of the operability of the diode and the second test sequence determines a second current-voltage feedback that is indicative of the operability of the voltage-controlled switching element.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 24, 2014Publication date: October 29, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Igor Berroteran Gil, Anthony Michael Klodowski, David Smith, Robert Allen Seymour, Benjamin Arthur Niemoeller
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Publication number: 20150295398Abstract: Renewable energy power systems, DC to DC converters, and methods for operating energy storage systems are provided. A system includes a power converter having a DC bus, and an energy storage system coupled to the DC bus of the power converter. The energy storage system includes an energy storage device and a switching power supply coupled between the energy storage device and the DC bus of the power converter. The switching power supply includes a plurality of switching elements, and an energy storage device protection circuit coupled between the plurality of switching elements and the energy storage device, the energy storage device protection circuit including a solid state switch. The switching power supply further includes a fuse coupled to the energy storage device protection circuit.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2014Publication date: October 15, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Gregory Wagoner, Anthony Michael Klodowski, Steven Wade Sutherland, Rafael Ignacio Bedia, Benjamin Arthur Niemoeller
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Publication number: 20150244297Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to a system and method for reducing ice or condensation that forms on a power component of a wind turbine during a power outage. The method includes determining an ambient temperature near the power component; providing one or more parameters of the power component; determining a down time of the power component for the power outage; determining a wait time for the power component to stay offline as a function of the ambient temperature, the one or more parameters, and the down time of the power component; and, heating the power component for the wait time before supplying power to the power component such that a surface temperature of the power component is raised above the ambient temperature. As such, the method prevents the power component from being energized when condensation or ice may be present.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 27, 2014Publication date: August 27, 2015Applicant: General Electric CompanyInventors: Benjamin Arthur Niemoeller, Steven Wade Sutherland