Patents by Inventor Ranganathan Gurunathan
Ranganathan Gurunathan 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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Publication number: 20130009481Abstract: A method of providing electrical power using a split bus configuration includes receiving a first direct current at a positive bus of a split bus, where the first direct current originates from a first fuel cell segment. A second direct current is received at a negative bus of the split bus, where the second direct current originates from a second fuel cell segment. A third direct current is also received at the split bus such that a combined direct current is formed including the first direct current, the second direct current, and the third direct current. The third direct current originates from an alternative direct current (DC) source. The combined direct current is provided to an inverter such that an alternating current is generated for a load.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2012Publication date: January 10, 2013Applicant: Bloom Energy CorporationInventors: Arne Watson Ballantine, Ramesh Srinivasan, Stuart Aaron, Peter Light, Josh Richman, Ranganathan Gurunathan, Chad Pearson
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Publication number: 20120326668Abstract: A battery charging station receives power from two or more sources and supplies power to charge batteries of electric vehicles and devices.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2012Publication date: December 27, 2012Applicant: Bloom Energy CorporationInventors: Arne Ballatine, Chad Pearson, Ranganathan Gurunathan, Muralidhara Ramakrishna Shyamavadhani, Alberto Doronzo
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Publication number: 20120326504Abstract: A method of providing power to a load, such as an IT load, includes generating an output power using at least one power module comprising at least one fuel cell segment, providing a first portion of the output power through a grid to an A-side power feed of the load, and providing a second portion of the output power to a B-side power feed of the load.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2012Publication date: December 27, 2012Applicant: Bloom Energy CorporationInventors: Arne Ballantine, Ranganathan Gurunathan, Muralidhara Ramakrishna Shyamavadhani, Chad Pearson, William Thayer, KR Sridhar
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Publication number: 20120326516Abstract: A fuel cell system provides isolation of one or more DC buses which supply power to a DC IT load from AC noise generated by AC inverters or the AC grid using one or more isolating DC/DC converters.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2012Publication date: December 27, 2012Applicant: Bloom Energy CorporationInventors: Ranganathan Gurunathan, Arne Ballatine, Carl Cottuli, Alberto Doronzo
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Publication number: 20120267952Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for creating and operating a Direct Current (DC) micro-grid. A DC micro-grid may include power generators, energy storage devices, and loads coupled to a common DC bus. Power electronics devices may couple the power generators, energy storage devices, and loads to the common DC bus and provide power transfer.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 26, 2012Publication date: October 25, 2012Applicant: Bloom Energy CorporationInventors: Arne Ballatine, Chad Pearson, Ranganathan Gurunathan, Prasad PMSVVSV, Alberto Doronzo
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Patent number: 8289730Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for power generation systems are described. In particular, embodiments of the invention relate to the architecture of power conditioning systems for use with fuel cells and methods used therein. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems usable to reduce ripple currents in fuel cells.Type: GrantFiled: June 7, 2011Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: Bloom Energy CorporationInventors: Ranganathan Gurunathan, Ramesh Srinivasan, Pavana Kumar
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Patent number: 8288891Abstract: A method of providing electrical power using a split bus configuration includes receiving a first direct current at a positive bus of a split bus, where the first direct current originates from a first fuel cell segment. A second direct current is received at a negative bus of the split bus, where the second direct current originates from a second fuel cell segment. A third direct current is also received at the split bus such that a combined direct current is formed including the first direct current, the second direct current, and the third direct current. The third direct current originates from an alternative direct current (DC) source. The combined direct current is provided to an inverter such that an alternating current is generated for a load.Type: GrantFiled: July 8, 2009Date of Patent: October 16, 2012Assignee: Bloom Energy CorporationInventors: Arne Watson Ballantine, Ramesh Srinivasan, Stuart Aaron, Peter Light, Josh Richman, Ranganathan Gurunathan, Chad Pearson
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Patent number: 8263276Abstract: A method for starting up a fuel cell arrangement includes receiving a first electrical signal from an alternative power source. At least a portion of the first electrical signal is provided to a balance of plant (BOP) load, where the BOP load is in electrical communication with a fuel cell system. It is determined whether a startup threshold of the fuel cell system is met. If the startup threshold is met, a second electrical signal is provided from the fuel cell system to the BOP load, where a combination of the first electrical signal and the second electrical signal corresponds to a load demand of the BOP load. A value of the second electrical signal is increased and a value of the first electrical signal is decreased until the load demand of the BOP load is met by the fuel cell system.Type: GrantFiled: July 2, 2009Date of Patent: September 11, 2012Assignee: Bloom Energy CorporationInventors: Ranganathan Gurunathan, Srinivasan Vijay Sarathy, Ramesh Srinivasan
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Patent number: 8232676Abstract: An exemplary method of providing electrical power is provided. A first alternating current is received from a grid. The first alternating current is converted to a first direct current using a first inverter in electrical communication with the grid. The first inverter is also in electrical communication with a fuel cell system. The first direct current is converted to a second alternating current using a second inverter, and the second alternating current is provided to a load.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2008Date of Patent: July 31, 2012Assignee: Bloom Energy CorporationInventors: Ranganathan Gurunathan, Ramesh Srinivasan, Arne Watson Ballantine
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Publication number: 20120146587Abstract: A fuel cell system includes grid independent operation with DC microgrid capability. This fuel cell system has a capability of operation with and without the grid, and with DC micro-grid capability.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2011Publication date: June 14, 2012Applicant: Bloom Energy CorporationInventors: Ramesh Srinivasan, Rajaram Swaminathan, Ranganathan Gurunathan, Arne Ballantine, James McElroy
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Publication number: 20120098336Abstract: A method includes controlling multiple networked input-parallel/output-parallel inverters of a fuel cell system as a single inverter assembly by a master controller. A fuel cell system includes a plurality of fuel cell segments, a plurality of DC/DC converters and at least one DC/AC inverter, where an output of each of the plurality of the fuel cell segments is connected to a pair of DC/DC converters, and each of the pair DC/DC converters is connected to an opposite polarity bus being provided to the inverter.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2011Publication date: April 26, 2012Applicant: Bloom Energy CorporationInventors: Ranganathan Gurunathan, Aisur Gopalakrishnan VishaI Anand, Ame Ballantine, Saravanakumar Narayanasamy, Kodali Venkata Narasimha Rao
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Patent number: 8143744Abstract: At least one aspect is directed to an uninterruptible power supply that includes a first input having an input line connection and an input neutral connection to receive a first input voltage from a first voltage source, a second input to receive a second input voltage from a second voltage source, and a boost circuit configured to provide a positive output DC voltage with respect to the input neutral connection and a negative output DC voltage with respect to the input neutral connection in both a line mode of operation and a backup mode of operation. The power supply also includes a first connection circuit to couple the first input to the boost circuit in the line mode of operation, and a second connection circuit to couple the second input to the boost circuit in the backup mode of operation, the second connection circuit being configured to isolate the second voltage source from the input neutral connection in the line mode of operation.Type: GrantFiled: April 26, 2010Date of Patent: March 27, 2012Assignee: American Power Conversion CorporationInventors: Henning Roar Nielsen, Ranganathan Gurunathan, Pothapragada Pavana Kumar, Damir Klikic
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Publication number: 20110278935Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for power generation systems are described. In particular, embodiments of the invention relate to the architecture of power conditioning systems for use with fuel cells and methods used therein. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems usable to reduce ripple currents in fuel cells.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 7, 2011Publication date: November 17, 2011Applicant: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATIONInventors: Ranganathan Gurunathan, Ramesh Srinivasan, Pavana Kumar
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Patent number: 7974106Abstract: Systems, methods and devices for power generation systems are described. In particular, embodiments of the invention relate to the architecture of power conditioning systems for use with fuel cells and methods used therein. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to methods and systems usable to reduce ripple currents in fuel cells.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2007Date of Patent: July 5, 2011Assignee: Bloom Energy CorporationInventors: Ranganathan Gurunathan, Ramesh Srinivasan, Pavana Kumar
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Publication number: 20110062795Abstract: Systems and methods for power conversion are illustrated. Power conversion architecture for fuel cell systems in particular are described that use dual bus architectures having stack segment pairs and a center-tapped neutral line, and/or an architecture employing integer multiple of three DC/DC converter branches.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2010Publication date: March 17, 2011Inventors: Ramesh SRINIVASAN, Ranganathan Gurunathan
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Publication number: 20100295374Abstract: At least one aspect is directed to an uninterruptible power supply that includes a first input having an input line connection and an input neutral connection to receive a first input voltage from a first voltage source, a second input to receive a second input voltage from a second voltage source, and a boost circuit configured to provide a positive output DC voltage with respect to the input neutral connection and a negative output DC voltage with respect to the input neutral connection in both a line mode of operation and a backup mode of operation. The power supply also includes a first connection circuit to couple the first input to the boost circuit in the line mode of operation, and a second connection circuit to couple the second input to the boost circuit in the backup mode of operation, the second connection circuit being configured to isolate the second voltage source from the input neutral connection in the line mode of operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 26, 2010Publication date: November 25, 2010Applicant: AMERICAN POWER CONVERSION CORPORATIONInventors: Henning Roar Nielsen, Ranganathan Gurunathan, Pothapragada Pavana Kumar, Damir Klikic
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Patent number: 7705490Abstract: Systems and methods for power conversion are illustrated. Power conversion architecture for fuel cell systems in particular are described that use dual bus architectures having stack segment pairs and a center-tapped neutral line, and/or an architecture employing integer multiple of three DC/DC converter branches.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2007Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: Bloom Energy CorporationInventors: Ramesh Srinivasan, Ranganathan Gurunathan
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Patent number: 7705489Abstract: At least one aspect is directed to an uninterruptible power supply that includes a first input having an input line connection and an input neutral connection to receive a first input voltage from a first voltage source, a second input to receive a second input voltage from a second voltage source, and a boost circuit configured to provide a positive output DC voltage with respect to the input neutral connection and a negative output DC voltage with respect to the input neutral connection in both a line mode of operation and a backup mode of operation. The power supply also includes a first connection circuit to couple the first input to the boost circuit in the line mode of operation, and a second connection circuit to couple the second input to the boost circuit in the backup mode of operation, the second connection circuit being configured to isolate the second voltage source from the input neutral connection in the line mode of operation.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 2006Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: American Power Conversion CorporationInventors: Henning Roar Nielsen, Ranganathan Gurunathan, Pothapragada Pavana Kumar, Damir Klikic
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Publication number: 20100035092Abstract: A fuel cell system includes a fuel cell stack which includes a plurality of fuel cells contacted in series by a plurality of interconnect plates. At least two interconnect plates are contacted by a high-temperature bypass diode that is physically integrated in the fuel cell stack.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2008Publication date: February 11, 2010Inventors: Ranganathan Gurunathan, Arne Ballantine
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Publication number: 20100013317Abstract: A method of providing electrical power using a split bus configuration includes receiving a first direct current at a positive bus of a split bus, where the first direct current originates from a first fuel cell segment. A second direct current is received at a negative bus of the split bus, where the second direct current originates from a second fuel cell segment. A third direct current is also received at the split bus such that a combined direct current is formed including the first direct current, the second direct current, and the third direct current. The third direct current originates from an alternative direct current (DC) source. The combined direct current is provided to an inverter such that an alternating current is generated for a load.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 8, 2009Publication date: January 21, 2010Inventors: Arne Watson Ballantine, Ramesh Srinivasan, Stuart Aaron, Peter Light, Josh Richman, Ranganathan Gurunathan, Chad Pearson