Switched Impedance Patents (Class 323/209)
  • Patent number: 11555837
    Abstract: Certain aspects and features include a system and method for monitoring the operational status of assets in an electric power distribution system. For example, an asset monitoring system identifies a zone of operation for an asset under evaluation. The asset monitoring application identifies meters connected to transformers in the zone of operation and obtains meter voltages for the meters over multiple intervals. The asset monitoring application determines a primary voltage for at least one transformer based on at least one meter voltage. The asset monitoring application uses the primary voltage in a power flow calculation to estimate an operational setting for the asset. The asset monitoring application compares the voltages from the power flow analysis using the estimated operational setting and the voltages from the meter voltages across multiple time intervals. Based on the comparison, the asset monitoring application determines an operational status of the asset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2023
    Assignee: Landis+Gyr Innovations, Inc.
    Inventors: Vivek Joshi, Ashwin Shirsat
  • Patent number: 11476672
    Abstract: A system for stabilizing an alternating voltage grid has an inverter, which can be connected to the alternating voltage grid, and is configured to exchange reactive power with the alternating voltage grid. The system further has an inductor arrangement with variable inductor coils, which can be connected to the alternating voltage grid, and a control device, which is configured to control a reactive power in the alternating voltage grid by use of the inverter and by use of the inductor arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Bernd Niemann, Georg Pilz, Ralph Morgenstern
  • Patent number: 11456688
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for operating a power generating asset having a generator operably coupled to a power grid. The generator having a rotor and a stator. The stator being operably coupled to a transformer, and ultimately to the power grid, via a sync-switch assembly. The sync-switch assembly having a plurality of switching devices electrically coupled in parallel. Accordingly, a controller detects an approach of at least one operating parameter of the power generating asset to a first parameter threshold. In response to detecting the approach of the operating parameter to the first parameter threshold, the controller independently changes an operating state of a first switching device of the plurality of switching devices of the sync-switch assembly. Each switching device of the plurality of switching devices is independently controllable via the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Kasi Viswanadha Raju Gadiraju, Joseph Lawrence Chacon, Steven Wade Sutherland, Arvind Kumar Tiwari
  • Patent number: 11362595
    Abstract: For power converter pre-charge with line synchronization, a method magnetizes a power transformer of a power converter with a supply voltage from a variable voltage variable frequency supply. The method pre-charges power cells of the power converter fed from the power transformer to a specified voltage with the supply voltage. The method further modifies a primary amplitude, a primary phase, and a primary frequency of a primary winding of the power converter with the supply voltage to match a main amplitude, a main phase, and a main frequency of a main voltage of a main power source. In response to matching the primary amplitude, the primary phase, and the primary frequency to the main amplitude, the main phase, and the main frequency, the method connects the main power source to the power transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2022
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Marius G. Chis, Zhong Y. Cheng, Navid R. Zargari
  • Patent number: 11043839
    Abstract: A micro-grid system blending utility power with power from multiple renewable sources including energy storage devices provides power factor correction using the renewable sources and energy storage devices by adjustment of associated converters. A controller maximizes power factor correction by utility source subject to a cost weighting of penalties for exceeding a power factor threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: WISYS TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventors: Fang Yang, Zhao Li
  • Patent number: 10989474
    Abstract: A control device for an arc furnace includes an arc furnace control module for controlling the arc furnace and a flicker module for determining a flicker value in a grid supplying the arc furnace, wherein the arc furnace control module is adapted for controlling the arc furnace based on the flicker value and wherein the arc furnace control module and the flicker module are integrated into one structural component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2021
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Marco Schoeni, Raeto Stadler, Ralf Baechle
  • Patent number: 10756632
    Abstract: A DC power supply includes a point-of-load (PoL) regulator providing power to a load with a desired efficiency only when a PoL input voltage is in a first sub-range of a specified larger system input voltage range. The supply has an auxiliary circuit with an output in series with the supply input, generating an auxiliary voltage and adding it to the DC supply voltage to form a boosted supply voltage. Switching circuitry connects the supply input to the PoL input to apply a DC supply voltage as the PoL input voltage when the supply voltage is in the first sub-range, and connects the output of the auxiliary circuit to the PoL input to apply the boosted supply voltage as the PoL input voltage when the supply voltage is outside the first sub-range, maintaining the PoL input voltage within the first sub-range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Bel Fuse (Macao Commerical Offshore) Limited
    Inventor: Giorgio Augusto Mauri
  • Patent number: 10731628
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a power generation system that supplies real and reactive power to a grid, the power generation system including a generator/power converter, and a reactive power compensation device. A total reactive power demand (Qcmd) made on the power generation system is determined , as well as a maximum reactive power capacity for each of a generator stator-side reactive power (Qs), a generator line-side reactive power (Ql), and reactive power from the reactive power compensation device (Qmvb). Allocation of (Qs), (Ql), and (Qmvb) to supply (Qcmd) is coordinated by prioritizing (Qmvb) as a first source of reactive power, and one or both of (Qs) and (Ql) as a second source of reactive power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kasi Viswanadha Raju Gadiraju, Olive Ray, Yashomani Yashodhan Kolhatkar, Arvind Kumar Tiwari
  • Patent number: 10650979
    Abstract: A capacitor bank that includes at least two capacitors wherein the capacitor bank is configured to change the quantity of phases of the input voltage within the capacitor bank. The capacitor bank of the preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a first capacitor and a second capacitor. The first capacitor and second capacitor are three phase capacitors each having three terminals configured to couple to an input voltage. The capacitor bank is wired so as to have a first source of an input voltage coupled to two terminals of the first capacitor and one terminal of the second capacitor. A second source of the input voltage is electrically coupled to one terminal of the first capacitor and two terminals of the second capacitor. The capacitor bank is operable to change the double phase input voltage into three phases within the capacitor bank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Nu-wave Technologies Corp.
    Inventor: Oscar Robichaud
  • Patent number: 10585445
    Abstract: A dynamic auto-adaptive volt/VAR control includes a memory storing program code, a communications channel operatively connected to a volt/VAR device, and a processor. The processor is configured to access a database of prior system knowledge and receive real-time measurements and power system operating condition information. The processor processes the prior system knowledge and the real time measurements and operating condition information to create a set of commands for voltage and reactive power control that will result in at least one of: (a) maintaining a voltage profile at the volt/VAR device within predefined limits, or (b) reducing electrical losses through voltage optimization. The processor causes the set of commands to be sent to the volt/VAR device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2020
    Assignee: Opus One Solutions Energy Corporation
    Inventors: Joshua Wong, Aboelsood Zidan, Mostafa Farouk Shaaban
  • Patent number: 10277142
    Abstract: Electric power devices and control methods are provided which automatically select a line voltage or phase voltage of an AC voltage supply. The electric power device includes a switchable circuit, a sensor and a switch control. The switchable circuit connects to the AC voltage supply, and includes multiple switchable elements. The sensor ascertains a voltage level of the AC voltage supply, and the switch control automatically establishes a configuration of the switchable circuit through control of the multiple switchable elements. The switch control couples the electric power device in a line-line (delta) configuration to the AC voltage supply when the voltage level is in a first voltage range, and a line-neutral (wye) configuration when the voltage level is in a second voltage range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2019
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Steven J. Ahladas, Kevin R. Covi, Luke L. Jenkins, Robert B. Schlak
  • Patent number: 10263513
    Abstract: A switched capacitor power converter comprising: an input terminal; an output terminal; a plurality of capacitors; a plurality of switches for selectively connecting the plurality of capacitors to each other, and/or to the input terminal, and/or to the output terminal; and a controller configured to operate the plurality of switches based on an output voltage, such that one or more of the plurality capacitors are connected between the input terminal and the output terminal as either: a first-topology, to provide a first conversion ratio; or a second-topology, to provide a second conversion ratio, wherein the second conversion ratio is different to the first conversion ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: NXP B.V.
    Inventor: Gerard Villar Piqué
  • Patent number: 10191090
    Abstract: Systems and methods according to these exemplary embodiments provide for methods and systems related to optical current sensors used to monitor standby power transformers, specifically fiber optical current and voltage sensors and, more particularly, to applications involving filters for use in such sensors, such as frequency tracking comb filters. According to one embodiment, a method for monitoring a connection condition of a stand by power transformer includes the steps of measuring a current flowing through a high voltage side of the standby power transformer using at least one optical current sensor disposed proximate to a current flow path of the high voltage side, using a comb filter to filter the measured current, determining whether the filtered, measured current is less than a predetermined threshold value; and generating an alarm indication that the high voltage side of the standby power transformer is unconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: James Blake, Alan Baker, Joseph H. Schaeffer, Michael Putt
  • Patent number: 10181726
    Abstract: An AC power transformer includes primary and secondary windings for at least a first AC phase and a second AC phase, and a core for said at least first and second phases. The transformer further includes a control unit for transferring power from the first phase to the second phase via magnetic coupling in the core such that the sum of the phase vectors of all of the at least first and second phases is substantially zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Lars Jonsson, Nan Chen, Stefan Thorburn
  • Patent number: 10158239
    Abstract: The power supply stage (A) of an electric appliance, in particular battery chargers for charging batteries of electric vehicles or the like, comprises a power factor correction circuit (PFC), and overvoltage protection means equipped with: a switch (SW1) connected in series with a smoothing capacitor (C) of the power factor correction circuit (PFC); a control circuit (VD1) of the input voltage of the power supply stage (A) operatively connected to the switch (SW1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2018
    Assignee: Meta System S.p.A.
    Inventor: Cesare Lasagni
  • Patent number: 10148122
    Abstract: A system is provided. The system includes a plurality of uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs), a ring bus, a plurality of chokes, each choke of said plurality of chokes electrically coupled between a respective UPS of said plurality of UPSs and the ring bus, and a plurality of series compensators, each series compensator of the plurality of series compensators electrically coupled between an associated choke of the plurality of chokes and the ring bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Raghothama Reddy, Silvio Colombi, William J. Schmitt, John P. Skliutas
  • Patent number: 10056886
    Abstract: A continuously variable saturable shunt reactor includes a laminated core having two wound limbs for each phase connected by yokes. A network winding branch is disposed on each limb, high-voltage ends of winding branches of a phase are connected to a phase conductor and low-voltage ends of winding branches are connected to a DC voltage source, to reduce power of the DC voltage sources, degree of distortion of the operating current and control error, and to reduce the number of DC voltage sources. The DC voltage source includes two stabilized, single-pole-grounded power converters with opposite polarities and two electronic transistor changeover switches controlled by a control system, for each phase. The control system feeds direct current to the winding branches of a phase in pulses using the switches and the direct current is fed into the winding branches at opposite poles from different power converters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Anatoliy Bunin, Karsten Loppach, Johannes Schnieders
  • Patent number: 10056756
    Abstract: Audio Frequency Load Control (AFLC) signal processing electronics added to a power factor correction (PFC) unit allowing the AFLC system to operate without the need of large and heavy passive bypass or blocking filters at the PFC installations. The AFLC signal processing electronics a first group of additional electronics tuned to the AFLC frequency for detecting the AFLC carrier signal; and a second group of additional electronics for driving an AFLC impedance switch that is connected in parallel with an AFLC impedance. The AFLC impedance is connected in series with the PFC capacitors, and is sufficiently large to offer significant impedance in series with the PFC capacitors that allows the AFLC signal to bypass the PFC unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: EDGE ELECTRONS LIMITED
    Inventors: Neal George Stewart, Wing Ling Cheng
  • Patent number: 10027129
    Abstract: Methods and platforms may include a common bus, and a set of redundant power supply modules coupled to the common bus. Each power supply module can have a conversion circuit, an AC fault detector coupled to the conversion circuit, and a DC fault detector coupled to the conversion circuit. The platform may also include a system coupled to the common bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Viktor D. Vogman
  • Patent number: 10003195
    Abstract: A hybrid-STATCOM for providing compensating reactive power required by a load, the hybrid-STATCOM comprising: a TCLC part for each electric power phase, each TCLC part comprising: a coupling inductor; a power filter capacitor; and a thyristor-controlled reactor connected in series with a power filter inductor; and an active inverter part comprising: a voltage source inverter for each electric power phase; and a DC-link capacitor connected in parallel with the voltage source inverters. The control strategy of the hybrid-STATCOM is separated into two parts: TCLC part control and Active inverter part control. The TCLC part control is based on the instantaneous pq theory and aims to compensate the loading reactive power with the controllable TCLC part impedance. The active inverter part control is based on the instantaneous active and reactive current id-iq method and aims to improve the overall performance of the hybrid-STATCOM under different voltage and current conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: University of Macau
    Inventors: Man-Chung Wong, Chi-Seng Lam, Lei Wang
  • Patent number: 9954366
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention include a system including: at least one computing device operably connected with a location on a power grid, the at least one computing device configured to control a power factor at the location on the power grid by performing actions including: determining a phase angle at the location on the power grid in degrees; converting the phase angle to radians from degrees; determining a reactive power exported at the location on the power grid based upon the phase angle in radians and an exported mega-watt measurement at the location on the power grid; and determining the power factor at the location on the power grid based upon the phase angle in radians and the reactive power exported at the location on the power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Amit Mehta, Guy Lamarque
  • Patent number: 9948176
    Abstract: A static varr compensation apparatus including: a plurality of capacitor banks supplying three-phase alternating current (AC) power; a plurality of bidirectional thyristors opening and closing the plurality of capacitor banks; and a controller calculating an amount of reactive power necessary to be compensated and controlling the plurality of bidirectional thyristors to open and close the plurality of capacitor banks in correspondence to the calculated amount of reactive power, wherein the plurality of capacitor banks are in a structure of Y connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kyung Bin Lee
  • Patent number: 9831810
    Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to a system and method for regulating reactive power in a wind farm connected to a power grid so as to improve reactive speed-of-response of the wind farm. The method includes receiving a voltage feedback from the power grid and a voltage reference and calculating a linear voltage error as a function of the voltage feedback and the voltage reference. A further step includes generating a first output based on the linear voltage error via a first control path having a first voltage regulator. A further step includes determining a non-linear voltage error based on the linear voltage error via a second control path having a second voltage regulator. A second output is generated via the second control path based on the non-linear voltage error. As such, a reactive power command is generated as a function of the first and second outputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alfredo Sebastian Achilles, Einar Vaughn Larsen
  • Patent number: 9825465
    Abstract: A voltage monitoring control device includes: a transceiver unit communicating with local voltage control devices adjusting a control amount of voltage control apparatuses that control a voltage on a power distribution line in a high-voltage system every second cycle based on a command value updated every first cycle; an indicatable-range updating unit determining an indicatable range, which is a range of reactive power indicatable to the local voltage control device, based on a control result received via the transceiver unit from the local voltage control device that controls a reactive-power-modified voltage control apparatus, the control result being a limit-value time or a limit-value-time ratio; and a reactive-power determination unit determining a reactive-power command value, which is a command value updated every first cycle based on the indicatable range and transmitted, via the transceiver unit, to the local voltage control device that controls the reactive-power-modified voltage control apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Itaya
  • Patent number: 9760516
    Abstract: A system for communication with a field device, comprising: an apparatus which includes a communication module and an adapter. The communication module includes a connection region and a communication area. The communication area includes at least one communication interface for communication for the field device. A first connecting structure is provided on the connection region, and a second connecting structure provided on an adapter, wherein the second connecting structure is embodied complementary to the first connecting. The adapter includes an interface, and the adapter is embodied passively A display/servicing device, wherein the interface is embodied for connection to the display/servicing device, wherein the display/servicing device is embodied as a portable mobile device, wherein the mobile device is embodied for single-use battery- or rechargeable battery operation, and wherein the first connecting, the second connecting structure and the interface are embodied as plug contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: Endress+Hauser Conducta GmbH+Co. KG
    Inventors: Stefan Robl, Gunter Jahl
  • Patent number: 9651629
    Abstract: A hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) electrical grid simulation system and method that combines a reactive divider with a variable frequency converter to better mimic and control expected and unexpected parameters in an electrical grid. The invention provides grid simulation in a manner to allow improved testing of variable power generators, such as wind turbines, and their operation once interconnected with an electrical grid in multiple countries. The system further comprises an improved variable fault reactance (reactive divider) capable of providing a variable fault reactance power output to control a voltage profile, therein creating an arbitrary recovery voltage. The system further comprises an improved isolation transformer designed to isolate zero-sequence current from either a primary or secondary winding in a transformer or pass the zero-sequence current from a primary to a secondary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Clemson University
    Inventors: John Curtiss Fox, Edward Randolph Collins, Nikolaos Rigas
  • Patent number: 9593667
    Abstract: A wind turbine generator is disclosed herein. In a described embodiment, the wind turbine generator comprises an electrical generator 101 configured to generate AC signals, a plurality of power converters 110,112,111 operated by a gating signal with each power converter configured to convert the AC signals from the electrical generator 101 into fixed frequency AC signals. The wind turbine generator further comprises a controller configured to enter a fault mode when a grid voltage falls outside an acceptable threshold, and during the fault mode the controller is configured to provide a reactive current reference dependant on a grid voltage distant from the wind turbine generator. A method of controlling a wind turbine generator is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2017
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Amit Kumar Gupta, Manoj Gupta
  • Patent number: 9547025
    Abstract: An apparatus for automatic power metering within a device is provided. The apparatus includes a metering element and communication elements. The metering element is coupled to a power factor correction circuit at one or more nodes within the device, and is configured to measure and process values on the nodes to generate one or more metering metrics for the device. The metering data includes input power consumed by the device, output power transferred to a load of the device, and power factor corresponding to the device. The communication elements are configured to receive the one or more metering metrics, and are configured to transmit the one or more metering metrics over a communications channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: FABRIQ, LTD.
    Inventors: Jeffrey G. Reh, Matthew B. O'Kelley
  • Patent number: 9442477
    Abstract: An automation technology, autarkic, field device, which is connected via two connecting terminals to an I/O module. The I/O module is embodied as a 4-20 mA/HART I/O module. The I/O module is associated with a controllable energy source via which the field device is supplied with energy. An electrical current measuring unit is provided which ascertains the electrical current supplied by the energy source. In the I/O module, internal resistors are provided, across which occurs in each case a voltage drop dependent on the flowing electrical current. A control unit is provided, which operates the energy source in such a way that a predetermined terminal voltage is supplied on the connecting terminals for powering the field device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: Endress + Hauser Process Solutions AG
    Inventors: Christian Seiler, Dirk Rapp
  • Patent number: 9360506
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for monitoring the electric network voltage waveform, comprising: switching means (11) connected to the voltage lines (A, B, C) of a three-phase system, comprising two thyristors (T1, T2) connected to two of the voltage lines (A, B, C) and at least two capacitors (C1, C2) connected to said thyristors (T1, T2), said means (11) being configured to open and close said thyristors (T1, T2) in response to a trigger signal; means for measuring (12) the voltages in said voltage lines and at the input of said capacitors; a thyristor trigger circuit (14) for providing a trigger signal to either thyristor (DT1, DT2) when the voltage in the terminals of said thyristor (T1, T2) crosses zero; control means (13, 23) for giving said trigger order (OD) or not.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: ARTECHE LANTEGI ELKARTEA, S.A.
    Inventors: Joan Gabriel Bergas, Joaquim López Mestre, Hector Ali Rivas Guerrero, Natalia Sangroniz Palacio, César Chávez Soria
  • Patent number: 9184685
    Abstract: A system for a wind turbine generator comprising: a set of voltage limiting elements, and a controller configured to bypass the voltage limiting elements when a line voltage is below a predetermined threshold, and configured to connect each voltage limiting element in series between a grid side converter and a turbine transformer of the wind turbine generator, and to determine a current control reference signal for controlling the grid side converter (to generate a determined current) when the line voltage is above the predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Amit Kumar Gupta, Anshuman Tripathi, Gil Lampong Opina, Yugarajan Karuppanan, Liang Yang, Ji Qian
  • Patent number: 9172274
    Abstract: A power distribution system includes a plurality of node devices and a computer communicatively coupled to the node devices. The computer includes a memory area configured to store at least one operating parameter of each of the node devices, and a processor that is programmed to determine a desired operating limitation of the power distribution system to be optimized, calculate an effect on the operating limitation based on a modification of the operating parameter of at least one of the node devices, and transmit a command to the node device to cause the node device to modify the operating parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Nathan Bowman Littrell, James Joseph Schmid
  • Patent number: 9121882
    Abstract: A wind energy installation test device for defined production of grid system faults, and a method thereof. The test device can include an output configured to connect to a wind energy installation, an input configured to connect to a grid system, and a switching device for connection of an electrical disturbance component relating to a grid system parameter. An autotransformer can be used for the electrical disturbance component. The grid system in a sound state can be connected to a primary winding connection and the grid system in a disturbed state with respect to the grid system parameter can be output at a secondary winding connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: SENVION SE
    Inventor: Heinz-Hermann Letas
  • Patent number: 9093917
    Abstract: A bridgeless power factor correction circuit as disclosed can include first and second input inductors, a series connection of a first diode and a first controllable semiconductor switch, and a series connection of a second diode and a second controllable semiconductor switch, the series connections being connected in parallel between positive and negative output terminals of the power factor correction circuit. The power factor correction circuit can include a switching circuit adapted to connect a capacitor between the input terminal and the output terminal such that the capacitor is connected between the first input terminal and a potential of the output terminal when input voltage connectable to the input terminals is positive and the capacitor is connected between the second input terminal and a potential of the output terminal when the input voltage connectable to the input terminals is negative.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: ABB TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Ngai-Man Ho, Tin-Ho Li
  • Publication number: 20150146460
    Abstract: A power factor correction apparatus (10) is applied to a power application system (20). The power application system (20) outputs a rectified power (202) to the power factor correction apparatus (10). The power factor correction apparatus (10) includes a detection unit (102), a control unit (104), a variable capacitance unit (106) and a power factor correction unit (108). The variable capacitance unit (106) filters the rectified power (202). The detection unit (102) detects a status of the power application system (20) and then informs the control unit (104). According to the status of the power application system (20), the control unit (104) is configured to control a capacitance of the variable capacitance unit (106), so that a power factor of a power outputted from the power factor correction unit (108) to the power application system (20) is rising.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Chicony Power Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ching-Chang LIN
  • Patent number: 8922175
    Abstract: A method of operating capacitor banks includes obtaining a reactive power shortage curve forecast for a time period. At least one capacitor bank power schedule curve is generated to supply reactive power to the power grid during the time period. The at least one capacitor bank power schedule curve is updated to generate an optimized capacitor bank power schedule curve to reduce the area between the reactive power shortage curve and the capacitor bank power schedule curve. The method also includes providing switching signal commands for operating capacitor banks based on the optimized capacitor bank power schedule curve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Joseph Krok, Sahika Genc
  • Patent number: 8912801
    Abstract: A method for detecting an internal failure in a capacitor bank connected to a power system, wherein the capacitor bank includes a plurality of capacitor units that are divided into two Y sections. Each phase in each of the Y sections defines a leg and each leg includes series and/or parallel-connected capacitor units. The internal failure may occur in one or more capacitor elements or units or involve one or more legs. The method includes measuring the phase current in one of the phases, calculating the root mean square value, denoted by RMS, of the measured phase currents, measuring the unbalanced current between the two sections, calculating the RMS value of the measured unbalanced currents, and detecting the phase angle between the measured phase current and the measured unbalanced current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Zoran Gajic, Mustafa Ibrahim, Jianping Wang
  • Patent number: 8907639
    Abstract: A boost power converter system according to one embodiment includes an input voltage high-side node; an inductor coupled to the input voltage high-side node at a first terminal of the inductor; a power switch coupled to the inductor at a second terminal of the inductor; a drive circuit configured to control the power switch such that the boost power converter system operates in a discontinuous conduction mode when a load current drops below a critical conduction threshold; and a damping switch configured to enable current flow from the power switch at the second terminal of the inductor to the input voltage high-side node, wherein the damping switch is closed when the power switch is open and the damping switch is opened when the power switch is closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Rendon Holloway, Adrian Ong, Howard Hou
  • Patent number: 8766581
    Abstract: There are provided a power factor correction circuit capable of transferring extra power to a ground before performing switching for a power factor correction to thereby reduce a switching loss generated in switching for a power factor correction, and a power supply device and a motor driving device having the same. The power factor correction circuit includes: a main switch switching input power to adjust a phase difference between a current and a voltage of the input power; and an auxiliary switch switched on before the main switch is switched on, to thereby form a transmission path for extra power of the main switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Min Gyu Park, Kee Ju Um, Bum Seok Suh
  • Publication number: 20140176090
    Abstract: A method for regulating a power line voltage includes determining a slow voltage variation by filtering an actual voltage at terminals of the voltage regulation apparatus. A fast active power variation is determined by filtering a measured active power of the DG system; wherein a first frequency of the slow voltage variation is smaller than a second frequency of the fast active power variation. The voltage regulation apparatus settings are controlled based on the slow voltage variation and a reactive power output of the DG system is controlled based on fast active power variation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Johal Harjeet, Naresh Acharya, Kathleen Ann O'Brien, Xinhui Wu
  • Publication number: 20140119079
    Abstract: There are provided an interleaved power factor correction circuit and a power supply device including the same, the power factor correction circuit including: a main switching unit including a first main switch and a second main switch; an auxiliary switching unit including a first auxiliary switch and a second auxiliary switch; an inductor unit positioned between an input power terminal to which the input power is applied and the main switching unit and storing or discharging power according to the switching operations of the main switching unit; and an auxiliary inductor adjusting an amount of current flowing in the auxiliary switching unit when the auxiliary switching unit performs switching operations.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2013
    Publication date: May 1, 2014
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: In Wha JEONG, Bum Seok SUH, Kwang Soo KIM, Hyo Jin LEE
  • Publication number: 20140097809
    Abstract: A reactive power compensator for a three-phase network having first, second and third phases includes an assembly of capacitors and electromechanical contactors electrically connected to the capacitors. Each contactor includes at least one upstream and one downstream power terminal. An electric current circulates between the upstream and downstream power terminals when the contactors are closed. A first contactor is connected to the first phase and a second contactor is connected to the third phase. The voltage between the upstream and downstream power terminals of at least one electromechanical contactor is measured so that the electromechanical contactors can be controlled according to a control algorithm. The control algorithm includes the closure of a contactor for a substantially zero voltage between the upstream and downstream power terminals thereof, and the opening a contactor for a substantially minimum power value of the capacitors to which the contactor is connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2013
    Publication date: April 10, 2014
    Applicant: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Stephane FOLLIC, Remy Orban, Lionel Urankar
  • Publication number: 20140084877
    Abstract: A compensating system for a power system includes a compensator including semiconductor switch means, which compensator has phase legs which on a first side of the compensator defines AC inputs for connection to a respective phase of the power system. The phase legs are connected in wye connection at a second side of the compensator, which wye connection has a neutral point. A filter arrangement at a first side thereof is connected to the neutral point of the wye connection and at a second side is connected to the AC inputs to thereby form a circuit with the compensator. The filter arrangement is arranged such that the circuit acts essentially as an open circuit for positive sequence currents or voltages and negative sequence currents or voltages, and as a closed circuit for zero-sequence currents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2013
    Publication date: March 27, 2014
    Inventor: Jean-Philippe Hasler
  • Publication number: 20140062426
    Abstract: A power distribution system has a plurality of reactive power resources including capacitor banks and distributed energy resources connected to branches of the power distribution system. Power loss is reduced in the distribution system by determining discrete switch states for the capacitor banks and continuous set points for the distributed energy resources, so that the reactive power provided by the reactive power resources reduces power loss while optionally correcting voltage violations in the power distribution system when the capacitor banks are set in accordance with the respective discrete switch states and the distributed energy resources are operated at the respective continuous set points. The range of values for the continuous set points is constrained based on maximum and minimum reactive power limits for each distributed energy resource under consideration.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Applicant: ABB RESEARCH LTD.
    Inventors: Fang Yang, Xiaoming Feng
  • Patent number: 8489346
    Abstract: A method and apparatus measures electrical power usage and quality, while mitigating the effects of noise on measured signals or parameters. Specifically, a digital electrical power and energy meter employs a method in which a processor averages a parameter, such as voltage or current, over a plurality of cycles of a time-varying signal, such as an AC electrical signal. The method employed by the meter samples a parameter over the plurality of cycles and computes the average of the samples corresponding to the same phase angle of the signal to produce an average signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Electro Industries/Gauge Tech
    Inventor: Tibor Banhegyesi
  • Publication number: 20130147443
    Abstract: In one example embodiment, a power control system includes one or more stages, a plurality of primary busbars operatively coupled to the one or more stages, and an intelligent controller operatively coupled to the one or more stages. Each of the one or more stages is configured to generate a lead current when coupled in parallel to a power distribution system, and at least one of the one or more stages comprises a notch filter and a power tank circuit. Each of the plurality of primary busbars is configured to carry one phase of a multiple phase power signal. The controller is configured to determine when to switch each of the one or more stages one and off, to count a number of times each stage is switched on, and to track one or more electrical parameters of the power distribution system, power control system, or both.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2013
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventor: John F. Jackman
  • Publication number: 20130119949
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed herein to a power factor adjustor comprising: a power factor measurement unit configured to measure the power factor on an input line to a load and generate a power factor correction signal based on the measured power factor; and a power factor adjustment unit connected to the power factor measurement unit comprising: a fixed capacitor connected in series to a first switching device; and an adjustable element having a variable capacitance connected in parallel to the fixed capacitor and in series to a second switching device, wherein the overall capacitance of the power factor adjustment unit is adjusted by adjusting the capacitance of the adjustable element or by toggling the first and second switching devices in response to the power factor correction signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: PowerMag, LLC
    Inventor: PowerMag, LLC
  • Publication number: 20130076317
    Abstract: A power factor control circuit has a power factor controller that determines if the power factor control circuit is operated at a continuous current mode (CCM) or a discrete current mode (DCM), and outputs PWM signals corresponding to the present current mode. A duty cycle of the PWM signals is equal to a sum of a feed-forward control parameter and a current compensation parameter. The current compensation parameter contains a difference value between a reference current and an inductor current in the power factor control circuit. Accordingly, a switching power supply circuit can acquire the PWM signals corresponding to the present current mode to effectively resolve the issue of harmonic distortion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Chia-An YEH, Hsiang-Yi CHEN
  • Publication number: 20130057230
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an impedance matching apparatus. The impedance matching apparatus includes: a multilayer printed circuit board; a signal line including a plurality of signal layers with the same pitch and formed by sequentially arranging the plurality of signal layers on the multilayer printed circuit board; and a ground plane including a plurality of ground layers, wherein the plurality of ground layers are arranged to get closer to a bottom surface of the multilayer printed circuit board from a region corresponding to one side of the signal line to a region corresponding to the other side of the signal line. The impedance matching apparatus can implement a line width without any problem of a process yield by determining specific impedance by a distance between the signal layer and the ground layer formed in corresponding positions, thereby improving the process yield.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Joon Hyung Lim, Sang Hoon Hwang, Sang Hyun Min, Tah Joon Park
  • Publication number: 20130057229
    Abstract: The various embodiments may include a power supply having a first loop in communication with a power stage of the power supply. A second loop in communication with the first loop may generate a negative reactance value that increases a power factor for the power supply to approximately one. A power supply may also include a rectifier coupleable to an input supply. A power factor compensation circuit coupled to the rectifier may generate a negative reactance. The negative reactance may reduce a phase angle between a current and a voltage provided to the input supply. A method may include sensing an output of a power supply, and adjusting the sensed value. The adjusted value may be compared to a reference value to generate an error value. The error value and a negative reactance value may be combined and the result may be provided to the power supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: INTERSIL AMERICAS INC.
    Inventors: Manjing XIE, Zhixiang LIANG