Patents by Inventor Frans Dijkhuizen

Frans Dijkhuizen 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: 11811219
    Abstract: A method for restoration of a fault isolation in a medium voltage, MV, network having a plurality of feeders and a plurality of normally open, NO, switches possibly in parallel with MV direct current, DC, links is presented. The method is performed in a control device of the MV network. The method includes closing at least two NO switches in parallel with MVDC links of the plurality of NO switches, being connected to a fault isolated feeder of the plurality of feeders of the MV network, and opening the closed at least two NO switches in parallel with MVDC links except one. A control device, a computer program and a computer program product for restoration of a fault isolation in a MV network are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2023
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Ritwik Majumder, Bertil Berggren, David Schaeffer, Lidong Zhang, Frans Dijkhuizen
  • 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: 20220416564
    Abstract: A vehicular power system includes a battery branch including a battery unit arranged in series with a diode, and a high-capacity unit having a maximum voltage that exceeds a nominal voltage of the battery unit. The battery branch and high-capacity unit are arranged in parallel, to feed a load side of the vehicular power system. The battery branch further includes a switching arrangement configured to disconnect the battery unit in response to excessive load-side current. The switching arrangement may allow the high-capacity unit to inject current into the load side at a voltage less than the nominal voltage of the battery unit and/or may allow the high-capacity unit to absorb regenerated current from the load side at a voltage which is greater than the nominal voltage of the battery unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2019
    Publication date: December 29, 2022
    Inventors: Ahmed Abdelhakim, Frans Dijkhuizen
  • 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: 20220379753
    Abstract: An onboard powertrain for an automated guided vehicle, AGV, is presented herein. The onboard powertrain includes a split-source inverter, SSI, having at least one middle point pole, a positive DC-link pole, and a negative DC-link pole, a battery and an inductor connected in series between the positive or negative DC-link pole and the middle point pole, and a supercapacitor connected between the positive and negative DC-link poles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2019
    Publication date: December 1, 2022
    Inventors: Ahmed Abdelhakim, Haofeng Bai, Frans Dijkhuizen
  • Patent number: 11489356
    Abstract: One embodiment is a system comprising a medium voltage direct current (MVDC) link electrically coupling a first AC-DC converter and a second AC-DC converter. The first AC-DC converter is electrically coupled with a first alternating current (AC) feeder. The second AC-DC converter electrically coupled with a second AC feeder. A battery charger electrically coupled with the MVDC link via a converterless connection. A first electronic controller is operatively coupled with the first AC-DC converter. A second electronic controller is operatively coupled with the second AC-DC converter. During operation of the battery charger to charge a battery the first electronic controller is configured to control power flow between the first AC feeder and the second AC feeder and the second electronic controller is configured to control the voltage of the MVDC link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Bertil Berggren, Ritwik Majumder, Robert Saers, Frans Dijkhuizen
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20220337051
    Abstract: A method for restoration of a fault isolation in a medium voltage, MV, network having a plurality of feeders and a plurality of normally open, NO, switches possibly in parallel with MV direct current, DC, links is presented. The method is performed in a control device of the MV network. The method includes closing at least two NO switches in parallel with MVDC links of the plurality of NO switches, being connected to a fault isolated feeder of the plurality of feeders of the MV network, and opening the closed at least two NO switches in parallel with MVDC links except one. A control device, a computer program and a computer program product for restoration of a fault isolation in a MV network are also presented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2019
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Ritwik Majumder, Bertil Berggren, David Schaeffer, Lidong Zhang, Frans Dijkhuizen
  • Patent number: 11121543
    Abstract: Unique systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of fault mitigation are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is a fault mitigation system for a medium voltage alternating current (MVAC) distribution network including a direct current (DC) link and a control system. The DC link is coupled to a first feeder line and a second feeder line. The control system is structured to determine a first feeder line is deenergized, operate the DC link so as to receive MVAC from a second feeder line and output low voltage alternating current (LVAC) to the first feeder line, operate a plurality of isolation devices, measure the LVAC in response to operating the plurality of isolation devices, determine a fault is isolated from a healthy portion of the first feeder line using the received LVAC measurements, and reenergize the healthy portion of the first feeder line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Ritwik Majumder, Frans Dijkhuizen, Bertil Berggren
  • Patent number: 11031773
    Abstract: Unique systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of a distribution system are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is an alternating current (AC) distribution system including a first substation including a first transformer and a protective device; a first distribution network portion coupled to the first transformer; a second substation; a second distribution network portion; a DC interconnection system coupled between the first distribution network portion and the second distribution network portion; and a control system. The control system is structured to detect a fault in the first transformer or the transmission network, isolate the first distribution network from the fault, determine a set point of the DC interconnection system, and operate the DC interconnection system using the set point so as to transfer a portion of the MVAC from the second distribution network portion to the first distribution network portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: ABB Power Grids Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Jiuping Pan, Chunming Yuan, Xiaobo Yang, Ritwik Majumder, Bertil Berggren, Frans Dijkhuizen
  • Publication number: 20210143753
    Abstract: A multiphase current-fed modular multilevel converter, CMMC, is presented. The CMMC includes a plurality of cascaded submodules, SMs, connected in series between ground point and an alternating current, AC, voltage output point, wherein each SM has a connectable series capacitor , a blocking diode connected between an input direct current, DC, source point and the AC voltage output point, wherein each phase of the multiphase CMMC has an arm of the plurality of cascaded SMs and the blocking diode, and an input DC source connected between ground and the input DC source point. An output AC voltage is drawn differentially between two of the arms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2020
    Publication date: May 13, 2021
    Inventors: Ahmed Abdelhakim, Frans Dijkhuizen
  • Patent number: 10971934
    Abstract: Systems, methods, techniques, and apparatuses of a medium voltage alternating current (MVAC) network are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is a direct current (DC) interconnection system for an MVAC distribution network including an AC/AC power converter including a first AC terminal and a second AC terminal; a plurality of switching devices structured to selectively couple a first AC terminal to a plurality of feeder line points in the MVAC network; and a control system structured to receive a set of measurements, calculate a headroom value for each feeder line point using the set of measurements, select a first feeder line point using the calculated headroom values, operate the plurality of switching devices so as to couple the first AC terminal to the first feeder line point, and operate the AC/AC power converter so as to transmit MVAC power from the first AC terminal to the first feeder line point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Ritwik Majumder, Frans Dijkhuizen, Bertil Berggren
  • Publication number: 20210006085
    Abstract: One embodiment is a system comprising a medium voltage direct current (MVDC) link electrically coupling a first AC-DC converter and a second AC-DC converter. The first AC-DC converter is electrically coupled with a first alternating current (AC) feeder. The second AC-DC converter electrically coupled with a second AC feeder. A battery charger electrically coupled with the MVDC link via a converterless connection. A first electronic controller is operatively coupled with the first AC-DC converter. A second electronic controller is operatively coupled with the second AC-DC converter. During operation of the battery charger to charge a battery the first electronic controller is configured to control power flow between the first AC feeder and the second AC feeder and the second electronic controller is configured to control the voltage of the MVDC link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2019
    Publication date: January 7, 2021
    Inventors: Bertil Berggren, Ritwik Majumder, Robert Saers, Frans Dijkhuizen
  • Publication number: 20200343727
    Abstract: Systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of feeder line fault response are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is a method for operating an alternating current (AC) distribution network including a first feeder line, a second feeder line, and a third feeder line. The method includes isolating a faulted portion of the first feeder line from a healthy portion of the first feeder line; closing a tie switch coupled between the healthy portion and the second feeder line in response to isolating the faulted portion from the healthy portion; determining the second feeder line is experiencing an overload condition after closing the tie switch; and transferring AC power including transferring AC power using a direct current (DC) interconnection system coupled to the third feeder line effective to remove the overload condition from the second feeder line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: October 29, 2020
    Inventors: Jiuping Pan, Chunming Yuan, Xiaobo Yang, Ritwik Majumder, Bertil Berggren, Frans Dijkhuizen, David Schaeffer
  • Patent number: 10819112
    Abstract: Systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of feeder line fault response are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is a method for operating an alternating current (AC) distribution network including a first feeder line, a second feeder line, and a third feeder line. The method includes isolating a faulted portion of the first feeder line from a healthy portion of the first feeder line; closing a tie switch coupled between the healthy portion and the second feeder line in response to isolating the faulted portion from the healthy portion; determining the second feeder line is experiencing an overload condition after closing the tie switch; and transferring AC power including transferring AC power using a direct current (DC) interconnection system coupled to the third feeder line effective to remove the overload condition from the second feeder line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Jiuping Pan, Chunming Yuan, Xiaobo Yang, Ritwik Majumder, Bertil Berggren, Frans Dijkhuizen, David Schaeffer
  • Publication number: 20200313423
    Abstract: Unique systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of a distribution system are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is an alternating current (AC) distribution system including a first substation including a first transformer and a protective device; a first distribution network portion coupled to the first transformer; a second substation; a second distribution network portion; a DC interconnection system coupled between the first distribution network portion and the second distribution network portion; and a control system. The control system is structured to detect a fault in the first transformer or the transmission network, isolate the first distribution network from the fault, determine a set point of the DC interconnection system, and operate the DC interconnection system using the set point so as to transfer a portion of the MVAC from the second distribution network portion to the first distribution network portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Publication date: October 1, 2020
    Inventors: Jiuping Pan, Chunming Yuan, Xiaobo Yang, Ritwik Majumder, Bertil Berggren, Frans Dijkhuizen
  • Publication number: 20200212679
    Abstract: Systems, methods, techniques, and apparatuses of a medium voltage alternating current (MVAC) network are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is a direct current (DC) interconnection system for an MVAC distribution network including an AC/AC power converter including a first AC terminal and a second AC terminal; a plurality of switching devices structured to selectively couple a first AC terminal to a plurality of feeder line points in the MVAC network; and a control system structured to receive a set of measurements, calculate a headroom value for each feeder line point using the set of measurements, select a first feeder line point using the calculated headroom values, operate the plurality of switching devices so as to couple the first AC terminal to the first feeder line point, and operate the AC/AC power converter so as to transmit MVAC power from the first AC terminal to the first feeder line point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Ritwik Majumder, Frans Dijkhuizen, Bertil Berggren
  • Publication number: 20200212668
    Abstract: Unique systems, methods, techniques and apparatuses of fault mitigation are disclosed. One exemplary embodiment is a fault mitigation system for a medium voltage alternating current (MVAC) distribution network including a direct current (DC) link and a control system. The DC link is coupled to a first feeder line and a second feeder line. The control system is structured to determine a first feeder line is deenergized, operate the DC link so as to receive MVAC from a second feeder line and output low voltage alternating current (LVAC) to the first feeder line, operate a plurality of isolation devices, measure the LVAC in response to operating the plurality of isolation devices, determine a fault is isolated from a healthy portion of the first feeder line using the received LVAC measurements, and reenergize the healthy portion of the first feeder line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Publication date: July 2, 2020
    Inventors: Ritwik Majumder, Frans Dijkhuizen, Bertil Berggren
  • Patent number: 10700617
    Abstract: A converter converting between a dc voltage at a first voltage level and at least one waveshape at a second higher voltage level has a primary connection port for the dc voltage, one secondary connection port for each waveshape, and one stack of cells for each secondary port. Each stack includes n cells connected in cascade between the primary port and the corresponding secondary port. At least (n?1) of the cells in a stack have: first, second, third, and fourth terminals, a first energy storage, and first, second, and third switches, where the first energy storage is connected in parallel with the first and second switches, the first terminal is provided at a junction between the first energy storage and the first switch, and the second terminal is provided at a junction between the first energy storage element, the second switch and the third switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: ABBSchweiz AG
    Inventors: Ahmed Abdelhakim Moustafa Abdelrazek, Cicero Postiglione, Frans Dijkhuizen