With Armature Or Primary Circuit Control Patents (Class 322/89)
  • Patent number: 11894805
    Abstract: Devices for reducing the open circuit voltages of solar systems are described. In one embodiment, a solar system includes a string of a plurality of solar modules having an open circuit voltage. The solar system also includes a device for reducing the open circuit voltage of the string of the plurality of solar modules during an open circuit configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Enphase Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven M. Kraft, Kevin Fischer, Greg Beardsworth, Zachary S. Judkins, Keith Johnston
  • Patent number: 11728741
    Abstract: This invention concerns a method of controlling a power converter system 26 operating in an overmodulation region. The power converter system 26 comprises more than two current controllers 71, 73, 77, 79 a modulator 76 and a power converter 78, and the modulator 76 is configured to provide at least one modulated drive signal 87 to the power converter 78 based on voltage reference vector signals 82a, 82b, 82c, 82d from the more than two current controllers 71, 73, 77, 79. The method comprises determining the voltage reference vector signals 82a, 82b, 82c, 82d; determining compensated voltage reference vector signals 84a, 84b, 84c, 84d indicative of a fundamental frequency of a respective voltage reference vector signal 82a, 82b, 82c, 82d; and, determining the at least one modulated drive signal 87 based on a combination of the compensated voltage reference vector signals 84a, 84b, 84c, 84d.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Ciprian Biris, Kent Tange, Duy Duc Doan, Gert Karmisholt Andersen, Torsten Lund, Lars Meyer
  • Patent number: 11728645
    Abstract: A photovoltaic system, including: a plurality of photovoltaic panels having outputs connected in series as a string to provide a string output; a converter coupled to the string to receive the string output as an input and generate a direct current output from the input; a series connection of the string output and the direct current output; and a bus powered at least in part by the series connection of the string output and the direct current output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Tigo Energy, Inc.
    Inventors: Shmuel Arditi, Ron Hadar
  • Patent number: 11605951
    Abstract: A photovoltaic converter string is provided, to control, one of switching transistors in a buck/boost circuit of the photovoltaic converter to be conducted, wherein the switching transistors are connected in parallel to a bypass diode; and control the other switching transistors in the buck/boost circuit to be cut off. Therefore, an output voltage of the photovoltaic converter is applied to both ends of the non-conducted switching transistor in the switching transistors connected in parallel to the bypass diode, and after the output voltage of the photovoltaic converter reaches a breakdown voltage of the non-conducted switching transistor, an avalanche breakdown occurs on the non-conducted switching transistor, and a voltage of both ends of the bypass diode connected to a positive output end and a negative output end of the photovoltaic converter is clamped to be less than or equal to the breakdown voltage of the switching transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Huawei Digital Power Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yongbing Gao, Panpan Wang, Chengfeng Jiang
  • Patent number: 11482964
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a redundant electric machine for driving a propulsion means with increased operational safety. The machine may include two systems, with each system including a stator winding system and a rotor assigned thereto with permanent magnets, wherein the rotors are fastened on a common shaft for driving the propulsion means. If a fault occurs in one of the stator winding systems, the rotor, which continues to rotate, has to be prevented from inducing electric voltages in the stator winding system because this may lead to a fire in the machine. A demagnetization apparatus is therefore provided which, in a targeted manner, demagnetizes the permanent magnets of the rotor assigned to the faulty stator winding system such that the inducing of electric voltages is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG
    Inventors: Behnam Houshmand, Christian Loesch, Markus Sons
  • Patent number: 11428172
    Abstract: A valve opening and closing timing control device includes: a driving-side rotating body that rotates synchronously with a crankshaft of an internal combustion engine around a rotating shaft core; a driven-side rotating body that rotates integrally with a valve opening and closing camshaft of the internal combustion engine around the same shaft core as the rotating shaft core; a gear mechanism that sets a relative rotation phase between the driving-side rotating body and the driven-side rotating body by displacement of a meshing position; a motor that enables displacement of the meshing position of the gear mechanism by rotating a rotating shaft; and a control unit that controls the drive of the motor. The control unit intermittently performs control to energize the motor for one phase for a predetermined time after the internal combustion engine is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuki Kasuya, Shugo Ito, Takano Nakai, Kenichiro Suzuki, Yoshiyuki Kamoyama, Toru Hirota
  • Patent number: 11401783
    Abstract: A high-speed current sensing circuit configured to measure current associated with switching devices of a power generation system. The circuit includes logic for turning one or more corresponding switching devices off before failure, so as to limit the duty cycle of the one or more corresponding switching devices. In the event of a failure, the system is configured to continue operating and generating energy to complete or at least continue performing the service despite the failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2022
    Assignee: Halliburton Energy Services. Inc.
    Inventor: Imran Sharif Vehra
  • Patent number: 11296612
    Abstract: A method for controlling a voltage source power converter of a renewable energy power conversion system includes providing the voltage source power converter having, at least, a rotor-side converter and a line-side converter. The method also includes generating, via a converter controller, a first set of switching pulses based on a third-harmonic phase opposition carrier-based pulse width modulation (PO_CB_PWM) scheme. Further, the method includes generating, via the converter controller, a second set of switching pulses based on a third-harmonic in phase carrier-based pulse width modulation (IP_CB_PWM) scheme. As such, the method includes implementing, via the converter controller, a pulse-width modulation scheme for the rotor-side and line-side converters using the first and second sets of switching pulses, respectively, to obtain an output voltage from the voltage source converter to a desired magnitude, shape, and/or frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Joseph Kiran Banda, Kapil Jha, Hridya Ittamveettil, Arvind Kumar Tiwari
  • Patent number: 11271404
    Abstract: This application provides a photovoltaic power optimizer and a method and apparatus for controlling same, and a photovoltaic power generation system. The photovoltaic power optimizer includes: a power optimization module, a bypass module, and a control module, where the bypass module is connected to an input end of the power optimization module, an output end of the power optimization module, and the control module, and the control module is connected to the power optimization module; and when detecting that the power optimization module is faulty, the control module is configured to control the bypass module to be on, to bypass the faulty power optimization module, so that the photovoltaic battery component can be directly connected to other battery groups in the photovoltaic power generation system, and connected to an inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: HUAWEI DIGITAL POWER TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Feng Yang, Chengyong Liu, Chengfeng Jiang
  • Patent number: 11050330
    Abstract: A field winding type rotary machine includes a stator having a stator core and a stator coil wound on the stator core, a rotor having a rotor core and a rotor field coil wound on the rotor core, and a rectifier element connected between both ends of the rotor field coil. The field winding type rotary machine includes a capacitor having a first terminal connected to an anode terminal of the rectifier element and a second terminal connected to any point of the rotor field coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Masahiro Seguchi
  • Patent number: 10581236
    Abstract: A method of generating a trip current by a power supply device has electrical components and for the purpose of tripping a protection element connected between a load and the power supply device. In response to detecting an electrical fault situation in the power supply device, in order to eliminate the short-circuit fault with shortened tripping time, an AC trip current is generated having: for a first period of the signal, a current amplitude equal to the maximum current amplitude that can be withstood by the electrical components of the power supply device; and for the following periods, a current amplitude that decreases as a function of the thermal inertia of the electrical components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: SOCOMEC
    Inventor: Pascal Boos
  • Patent number: 10536003
    Abstract: Devices and methods for mechanism-based feedback controller employed in a wind powered power system are provided. A controller can include a vector control-based voltage source converter with feedback control circuitry. The feedback control circuitry is configured to modulate either a power order or a dc-link voltage order to control coupling between voltage and power. The controller can be connected to a wind-based turbine generator of a wind farm and regulate power deployed to a power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA
    Inventors: Lingling Fan, Zhixin Miao
  • Patent number: 10447190
    Abstract: A multi-loop switching control system for a doubly-fed wind turbine based on logic switch control. Output variables of the doubly-fed wind turbine may be used to form output feedback control channels. Each output feedback control channel may switch between a switch controller and a vector controller to form a multi-loop switching controller. When a power system associated with the doubly-fed wind turbine is subjected to a relatively large external disturbance, state variables and the output variables of the wind turbine deviate from an original balance point, and the output feedback control loops of the doubly-fed wind turbine are switched from the vector controller to the switch controller. Under control of the switch controller, the state variables and output variables return to a vicinity of the original balance point, and the output feedback control loops of the wind turbine are switched from the switch controller to the vector controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: SOUTH CHINA UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Qinghua Wu, Yang Liu
  • Patent number: 10110007
    Abstract: Systems and methods to balance currents among a plurality of photovoltaic units connected in series. In aspect, a management unit is coupled between a photovoltaic energy production unit and a string of energy production units. The management unit has an energy storage element (e.g., a capacitor) connected to the photovoltaic energy production unit. The management unit further has a switch to selectively couple to the energy storage element and the photovoltaic energy production unit to the string. The management unit allows the current in the string to be larger than the current in the photovoltaic energy production unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: TIGO ENERGY, INC.
    Inventors: Ron Hadar, Shmuel Arditi
  • Patent number: 9985470
    Abstract: The present invention provides an uninterruptable power supply system and method with a first AC source providing three-phase AC power, a DC source providing DC power, and a power converter receiving AC power from the first AC source and/or DC power from the DC source and delivering two wire DC power to a load via a DC output line. One pole of the DC output line is connected to the neutral reference of the four-wire AC-power supply line. The system may include a bypass device for passing power from its output side to the DC output line with the bypass device and the power converter being connected in parallel to the DC output line. The bypass device may include at least one switching unit, which receives AC power at its input side, and a control unit to supply pulsed power from an AC power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventor: Esa-Kai Paatero
  • Patent number: 9667100
    Abstract: A centralized voltage control device connected to a first local voltage control device adjusting the control amount every second cycle such that a voltage of a transformer-type voltage control apparatus is maintained within a range between voltage upper and lower limit values updated every first cycle and a second local voltage control device adjusting the control amount of a reactive-power-modified voltage control apparatus every third cycle, wherein the centralized voltage control device includes a load and power-generation-amount estimation unit estimating a load and power-generation-amount distribution every first cycle under condition of a mean load and mean power generation, condition of a minimum load and maximum power generation, and condition of a maximum load and minimum power generation, a voltage-fluctuation-band estimation unit estimating a voltage fluctuation band, an optimal-voltage-distribution determination unit determining a control target value of the first local voltage control device, and
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Itaya
  • Patent number: 9478989
    Abstract: A power converter circuit includes output terminals configured to receive an external voltage. A series circuit includes a number of converter units, each including input terminals configured to be coupled to a DC power source and output terminals configured to provide an output current. The series circuit is connected between the output terminals of the power converter circuit. A synchronization circuit is configured to generate a synchronization signal. The power converter circuit can be operated in a normal operation mode. In the normal operation mode, the synchronization circuit is configured to generate the synchronization signal dependent on the external voltage. In the normal operation mode, at least one converter unit of the plurality of converter units is configured to receive the synchronization signal and to regulate a generation of the output current such that a frequency and/or a phase of the output current is dependent on the synchronization signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies Austria AG
    Inventors: Gerald Deboy, Yi Tang
  • Patent number: 9166491
    Abstract: A converter system includes a first converter, a second converter, and a first inter-phase transformer. The first converter is electrically connected to the second converter in parallel between a first input terminal parallel end and a first output terminal parallel end. The first inter-phase transformer is disposed at the first input side parallel terminal or the first output side parallel terminal, and the first inter-phase transformer is operable to restrain a circulating current generated by the first converter and the second converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Chang-Yong Wang, Yan-Song Lu, Li Cai, Jun Chen, Teng Xu
  • Publication number: 20150130298
    Abstract: The vibration power generator includes: a plurality of permanent magnets (1, 2) integrated together to have given inter-magnet gaps under a state in which the same poles of the permanent magnets are opposed to each other; and a plurality of coils (3, 4) arranged on respective outer peripheries of the plurality of permanent magnets so as to have a distance from the plurality of permanent magnets, and is configured to generate an electric power through relative movement of the plurality of permanent magnets and the plurality of coils. A relationship between a length of the opposed coils and a length of the permanent magnet is set so that the length of the coils is larger than the length of the permanent magnet and equal to or smaller than a sum of the length of the permanent magnet and a length of the inter-magnet gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2012
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Applicant: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC ENGINEERING COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiromori Nomura, Ken Onishi, Masataka Bando
  • Patent number: 8981735
    Abstract: A power supply system for a motor vehicle includes a generator that includes a rotor having a field coil and a stator having an armature coil; a rectifier that rectifies AC power generated in the armature coil; an excitation control circuit that takes control of a voltage applied to the field coil; a capacitor that is connected to the DC side of the rectifier, and receives and transfers the rectified power; a battery connected to an electric load of the motor vehicle; a DC-DC converter that is connected between the capacitor and the battery and capable of converting unidirectionally or bidirectionally an input DC voltage into any DC voltage; and a selection switch which connects the capacitor or the battery to the excitation control circuit as a power supply source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Nozomu Kamioka, Shinji Nishimura, Noriyuki Wada
  • Patent number: 8975876
    Abstract: A generator system includes a generator having a stationary portion and a rotating portion. An exciter field winding and a main armature winding are disposed on the stationary portion. An exciter armature winding and a main field winding are disposed on the rotating portion. A frequency demodulator is configured to extract a frequency modulated control signal from the exciter armature winding and to demodulate the frequency modulated control signal to generate a demodulated control signal. The generator includes a main field rotating power converter to selectively control current in the main field winding in response to the demodulated command signal. The generator system includes a generator control unit in electrical communication with the generator to monitor the output voltage at the main armature winding and to output an exciter current including the frequency modulated control signal to the exciter field winding based on the output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sunstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Steven J. Moss
  • Publication number: 20140340056
    Abstract: A control method for a switched reluctance generator employing dual switched-mode power converters does not require a position sensor. In the excitation stage, the upper tube and lower tube of the main switch of a phase in the power converter are switched on, and the phase current is detected. When the phase current rises to a preset threshold, the upper tube or lower tube of the main switch of the phase is switched off, changing the phase of the switched reluctance generator into a zero voltage natural freewheeling state. When the phase current drops to the valley value, the rotor position is the end position of maximum phase inductance of the phase. This rotor position is used as the switch-off position of the main switch of the phase of the switched reluctance generator, and the upper tube and lower tube for the main switch of the phase are switched off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Applicant: China University of Mining and Technology
    Inventor: Hao Chen
  • Patent number: 8878373
    Abstract: A variable electrical generator (20) is operable to convert mechanical motion to electrical power. The generator (20) includes at least a stator element (60) and a rotor element (50) including coils (320) and magnets (90). The generator (20) includes a configuration of modules (80) including the coils (320) for generating wavelets (30) in response to the coils (320) interacting magnetically with the magnets (90), and a control arrangement (70) for combining the wavelets (30) for generating a composite synthesized power output (10) from the generator (20). A method of maintaining a variable generator (20) includes steps of: (a) determining operating status of modules (80) of the generator (20); (b) unplugging and replacing one or more defective modules (80) as identified in step (a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Adaptive Generators AS
    Inventor: Kent Thoresen
  • Publication number: 20140266079
    Abstract: A generator system includes a generator having a stationary portion and a rotating portion. An exciter field winding and a main armature winding are disposed on the stationary portion. An exciter armature winding and a main field winding are disposed on the rotating portion. A frequency demodulator is configured to extract a frequency modulated control signal from the exciter armature winding and to demodulate the frequency modulated control signal to generate a demodulated control signal. The generator includes a main field rotating power converter to selectively control current in the main field winding in response to the demodulated command signal. The generator system includes a generator control unit in electrical communication with the generator to monitor the output voltage at the main armature winding and to output an exciter current including the frequency modulated control signal to the exciter field winding based on the output voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
  • Patent number: 8766603
    Abstract: In a control apparatus for an inverter generator having a first, second and third windings wound around an alternator driven by an engine, and first, second and third inverters adapted to convert alternating current outputted from the first, second and third windings into direct current and invert the converted direct current into single-phase alternating current in a desired frequency so as to supply to the electric load, there is provided with an actuator (stepper motor) to open and close a throttle valve of the engine, and it is configured to detect output powers (effective powers) of the first, second and third inverters, to determine a target engine speed based on the detected output powers, and to control an operation of the actuator so that the engine speed converges at the determined target engine speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shoji Hashimoto
  • Patent number: 8736235
    Abstract: A power-generation motor control system is a control system that controls a power-generation motor provided with an armature and a magnetic-field winding, and is characterized in that when the power-generation motor is operated as a motor, before a power source energizes the armature, a preliminary excitation current, with the value of which the induction voltage across the armature does not exceed the voltage of the power source, is applied to the magnetic-field winding in accordance with the rotation speed of the power-generation motor so that preliminary excitation of the power-generation motor is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsunori Tabata, Masato Mori, Kenji Nakajima, Kenichi Akita
  • Patent number: 8686695
    Abstract: A method for controlling a variable speed wind turbine generator is disclosed. The generator is connected to a power converter comprising switches. The generator comprises a stator and a set of terminals connected to the stator and to the switches of the power converter. The method comprises: determining a stator flux reference value corresponding to a generator power of a desired magnitude, determining an estimated stator flux value corresponding to an actual generator power, determining a difference between the determined stator flux reference value and the estimated stator flux value, and operating said switches in correspondence to the determined stator flux reference value and the estimated stator flux value to adapt at least one stator electrical quantity to obtain said desired generator power magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Anshuman Tripathi, Lars Helle, Allan Holm Jörgensen, Cao Shu Yu, Saurabh Gupta
  • Patent number: 8653798
    Abstract: A generator includes a rotor structure has a rotor frame that supports a rotor circuit. The rotor frame is electrically connected to the rotor circuit via a resistive element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan A. Berry, Philip Gillingwater
  • Patent number: 8648575
    Abstract: An electrical machine system including a permanent magnet assembly having a magnetic field and a plurality of conductive coils, the magnet assembly and coils arranged for relative rotation between the coils and magnetic field in the manner of an electrical generator or motor, the system further comprising a current injector electrically connected to said coils and arranged selectively to supply a current signal thereto, the current signal being asynchronous with the frequency of rotation between the permanent magnet assembly and coils so as to heat and thereby demagnetise one or more magnet within said permanent magnet assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: John J A Cullen, Geraint W Jewell
  • Patent number: 8643344
    Abstract: In a self-excited generator 1 including an automatic voltage regulator (AVR) 10, a condensive load protection device includes: a field current control driver 21 which is connected to the field winding 6 in series and controlled to be ON/OFF by a drive circuit 23 of the AVR 10 to supply a field current to the field winding 6; and a condensive load protecting rotor short-circuit driver 22 which is connected in parallel to the field winding 6, and supplies a short-circuit current to the field winding 6 by being turned ON, and a bootstrap circuit 30 is connected as a drive power supply of the field current control driver and the condensive load protecting rotor short-circuit driver, and the bootstrap circuit 30 includes a capacitance portion 32 in which charges are accumulated when the field current control driver 21 is ON.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Minoru Maedako, Yasuhiro Nakada
  • Publication number: 20130335041
    Abstract: A power conversion apparatus including a current source converter configured to convert Alternate Current (AC) power to Direct Current (DC) power; a power controller configured to set a d-axis current command and a q-axis current command, which correspond to the AC power to the current source converter, by reflecting a difference between a measurement DC link voltage measured at an output terminal of the current source converter and a DC link voltage set by a DC link voltage command; and a phase angle controller configured to adjust a phase angle of the current source converter and transmit the adjusted phase angle to the current source converter, in response to the d-axis current command and the q-axis current command.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 3, 2013
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jei-hoon BAEK, Jong-soo KIM, Hyun-bae KIM, Kyu-bum HAN
  • Patent number: 8541909
    Abstract: A system and method for supplying power to a variable speed motor for rotating a shaft may include generating an A/C output having a variable frequency corresponding to speed of a prime mover, where the speed of the prime mover is equal to or greater than a predetermined speed limit. The A/C output of the prime mover may be distributed to the variable speed motor such that the speed of the variable speed motor is varied relative to the frequency of the A/C output. The variable speed motor may be electrically disconnected from the A/C power when the speed of the prime mover being used to drive the variable speed motor is equal to or within a predetermined range of the predetermined speed limit. An alternate A/C output may be distributed to the variable speed motor after the A/C power is electrically disconnected from the variable speed motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: DRS Power Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Armstrong, Edgar Thaxton
  • Patent number: 8492920
    Abstract: An electrical architecture for an aircraft providing power for the aircraft by generating power from a high pressure spool and a low pressure spool of a turbine engine. The spools can be used to drive corresponding generators; the power from which can be used to supply the various loads of the aircraft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC
    Inventors: Hao Huang, Xiaochuan Jia, David Dimitri Karipides
  • Publication number: 20130147442
    Abstract: A method for controlling a variable speed wind turbine generator is disclosed. The generator is connected to a power converter comprising switches. The generator comprises a stator and a set of terminals connected to the stator and to the switches of the power converter. The method comprises: determining a stator flux reference value corresponding to a generator power of a desired magnitude, determining an estimated stator flux value corresponding to an actual generator power, determining a difference between the determined stator flux reference value and the estimated stator flux value, and operating said switches in correspondence to the determined stator flux reference value and the estimated stator flux value to adapt at least one stator electrical quantity to obtain said desired generator power magnitude.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Anshuman Tripathi, Cao Shu Yu, Allan Holm Jörgensen, Lars Helle, Saurabh Gupta
  • Patent number: 8456138
    Abstract: A programmable system includes a first level protection circuit comprised of discharge tube CR1/ CR2 and piezoresistor MOV1/MOV2 in series; a second-level protection circuit comprised of the series arm of capacitor C1 and resistor R1 in parallel with a transient voltage suppression diode TVS1, and inductors L1/L2 connected to the ends of first level and second-level protection circuits respectively. A control circuit includes a PWM driver module and a SCM. The PWM driver module is connected to the PWM control port of the SCM and its output is connected to an IGBT module. The control circuit is also connected to a series communication module and to a user interface. The features of the invention are: strong-shock resistance; a wide range of load adaptability; and ability of accurately and steplessly regulating and adjusting with high frequency and high power load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignees: MacMic Science & Technology Co., Ltd., Luxtech 360 LLC.
    Inventors: Xishe Lei, Xiao Bao Wang
  • Publication number: 20130106368
    Abstract: A turbo charger generator (1) generates power with a generator (7) by driving a gas turbine (3) and a compressor (6) with exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine (2). The generated AC power is supplied to an electric power system (12) via a power conversion unit (8). The power conversion unit (8) has a converter (13) for converting AC power into DC power, a unit (18) for estimating a rotor rotation angle ? based on a rotor magnetic flux, and a control unit (15) for coordinate-converting AC current into DC current by using the rotor rotation angle ? as the reference, and controlling the output DC power of the converter (13) such that the magnitude of the DC current is maintained at a target DC current value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Yukio Yamashita, Keiichi Shiraishi, Yoshihisa Ono
  • Patent number: 8432137
    Abstract: A method for generating and controlling power by means of at least one controlled permanent magnet machine (PMM) with a permanent magnet (PM) rotor and a stator with a magnetic flux diverter circuit for controlling the output of the PMM, comprises the steps of: rotating the PM rotor at a velocity sufficient to develop a high frequency alternating current (HFAC) power output from the stator; transforming the HFAC output to produce a desired non-HFAC power output; sensing desired power output parameters; generating a control signal responsive to the sensed parameters; and applying the control signal to the magnetic flux diverter circuit to control the desired power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Vietson M. Nguyen, Jacek F. Gieras, Sastry V. Vedula
  • Publication number: 20130027002
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique method of controlling the output of a synchronous electrical machine. Another embodiment is a unique method of controlling the output of a synchronous electrical machine for powering a load. Still another embodiment is a unique aircraft power generation system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for fluid driven actuation systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 31, 2013
    Inventors: Kaushik Rajashekara, John Timothy Alt
  • Patent number: 8319481
    Abstract: An apparatus and method generate electric current within a specified frequency range from a rotor operating within a broad range of rotational speeds by reducing the number of poles of the generator at higher rotational speeds. At higher rotational speeds, the generator circuit is altered so that a flow of current through half of a plurality of windings is reversed and the polarity in the said half of the windings is reversed. Two adjacent windings with the same polarity create a single pseudo pole, which effectively reduces the number of poles in the generator by half, and reduces the frequency of the electric current produced by the generator. Thus, the generator is operable to produce current within a specified frequency range from a rotor operating within a broad range of rotational speeds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Glenn C. Lemmers, Darin R. Morman
  • Publication number: 20120286744
    Abstract: A synchronous rectification alternator for a motor vehicle is disclosed. The alternator includes a stator, a rotor, and a synchronous rectification system for rectifying into a DC voltage the alternating voltages supplied by the stator, and a voltage regulator for regulating the DC voltage. The alternator also includes fault detection for detecting faults in the synchronous rectification and supplying fault detection information to the voltage regulator. In one version, the fault information is supplied to the voltage regulator at fault inputs also receiving phase signals representing the alternating voltages supplied by the stator. At least one of the items of fault information is used to cause, in the voltage regulator, opening of an excitation circuit supplying current to an excitation coil of the rotor so as to produce, in the voltage regulator, a fault indication.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventors: Marc Tunzini, Olivier Grammont, Guillaume Duthhilleul, Victor Dos Santos
  • Publication number: 20120280665
    Abstract: A control method for low voltage ride through comprises the following steps: 1) A control circuit (9) monitors a DC bus voltage of a set of frequency converters (3, 4) connected between a wind generator rotor and a power grid (12) and a voltage of the power grid; 2) If the monitored DC bus voltage of the set of frequency converters is judged to be higher than a designed value, the control circuit controls a thyristor (7) in a crowbar protection circuit connected to the wind generator rotor to be closed to obtain a shunt protection; 3) After the thyristor is closed, the control circuit controls a stator breaker (1) which is connected between a wind generator stator and the power grid to disconnect the wind generator stator and the power grid; 4) After the stator breaker disconnects the power grid and the wind generator stator, the control circuit further controls a breaker (5) of a shunt circuit to be opened firstly and then be closed, the thyristor is turned off automatically, and thus the protection function
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2010
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: Sinovel Wind Group Co.,Ltd.
    Inventors: Liying Su, Haibin Jing, Song Yang, Ying Yuan
  • Patent number: 8299638
    Abstract: Propulsion system for ships and other mobile marine structures, with a driving machine for running an electrical generator, which is further connected to an electrical propulsion motor with connection to a propeller or similar propulsion device. The system can be simplified in that the generator and the propulsion motor are permanently magnetized synchronous machines. The two synchronous machines have substantially the same basic construction, with approximately identical voltage characteristics with regard to frequency, and they are directly connected together with a rigid electrical connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Inpower AS
    Inventors: Normann Sandöy, Reidar Vaardal
  • Publication number: 20120242296
    Abstract: A vehicle electrical system comprises a generator and a control device coupled with the generator and operable to protect the generator from catastrophic failure while providing the electrical load in the electrical system with sufficient electrical power. The control device determines a loss of symmetry between two alternating phase signals generated by a first and second phase windings of a single or multiple stator generator. In particular, the control device determines a first and second average values of two of the two or more alternating phase signals and either limits or ceases the total electrical output current of the generator, via a generator output power controller, when the first average value differs from the second average value by a predetermined value. The control device may alternatively be configured to generate an error signal without varying the generator's total electrical output current even in the event of a malfunction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventor: Ciaran Patterson
  • Patent number: 8258760
    Abstract: An exciter assembly for supplying a field current to the rotor windings of a superconducting synchronous machine includes a pulse transformer having a stationary primary winding, a secondary winding and a tertiary winding. A switched mode power supply supplies a pulsed voltage to the primary winding of the pulse transformer. The pulsed voltage developed at the secondary winding of the pulse transformer is supplied to the rotor windings through a pair of transfer leads. A controller controls synchronous rectification of the pulsed voltage supplied to the rotor windings based on a signal from the tertiary winding of the pulse transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Converteam UK LTD
    Inventor: Allan David Crane
  • Publication number: 20120056602
    Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to a control approach that utilizes a direct-current-based d-q vector control technology for variable-speed PMSG wind turbines based on full voltage source PWM converters. The control approach can be based on a nonlinear programming configuration for attaining a desired performance of PMSG wind turbine under operation constraints. The control approach can comprise a PMSG control unit that exploits fuzzy, adaptive, and PID control technologies in an optimal or nearly optimal control configuration. The control approach provides a smart wind turbine control technology that can be based on virtual lookup tables for effective PMSG power extraction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2011
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Shuhui Li, Tim A. Haskew
  • Patent number: 8125178
    Abstract: A drive and a method, including an electric motor, which is supplied by a rectifier, the rectifier including a time-discrete closed-loop control structure, which regulates the stator current of the electric motor by setting the voltage applied at the motor, the current of the motor being acquired in time-discrete fashion, the closed-loop control structure including a closed-loop controller whose actual value is a first current component of the current, the setpoint input of the closed-loop controller being coupled with at least one upstream setpoint limiter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Sew-Eurodrive GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Wolfgang Hammel, Thomas Schuster
  • Patent number: 8072190
    Abstract: A method of and a system for controlling a permanent magnet AC generator (10), wherein the generator is provided with stator windings and permanent magnets in the rotor and wherein the generator is connected to a drive unit (50), wherein the generator is further provided with a semiconductor converter provided with AC output connected to the generator output and a DC link for controlling the output voltage of the generator, and the converter is further provided with filter means for filtering the output of the converter so that a filtered output of the converter is fed to the generator output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: The Switch High Power Converters Oy
    Inventors: Pasi Törmänen, Dejan Schreiber
  • Publication number: 20110234180
    Abstract: An electrical machine system including a permanent magnet assembly having a magnetic field and a plurality of conductive coils, the magnet assembly and coils arranged for relative rotation between the coils and magnetic field in the manner of an electrical generator or motor, the system further comprising a current injector electrically connected to said coils and arranged selectively to supply a current signal thereto, the current signal being asynchronous with the frequency of rotation between the permanent magnet assembly and coils so as to heat and thereby demagnetise one or more magnet within said permanent magnet assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE PLC
    Inventors: John J. A. CULLEN, Geraint W. JEWELL
  • Publication number: 20110227425
    Abstract: Disclosed are an apparatus, a system, and a method for suspension of a vehicle. An electromagnetic generator generates an electrical energy in response to a relative movement between a vehicle body and a wheel assembly. A storage device stores the electrical energy generated from the electromagnetic generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2010
    Publication date: September 22, 2011
    Applicant: EMPIRE TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT LLC
    Inventor: Chun Shig SOHN
  • Publication number: 20110193534
    Abstract: An electric alternator/motor having a stator with at least two non-overlapping sectors is provided. Each sector includes a first winding, first and second magnetic circuits and a saturation control assembly. A cross-talk reduction feature, such as a peripheral slit is provided between each sector of the stator for impeding magnetic flux crossing between the sectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.
    Inventors: Kevin Allan DOOLEY, Joshua D. Bell