Patents Assigned to ABB Research
  • Patent number: 9807018
    Abstract: A wireless communication device providing a node in an industrial wireless network investigates if there is more than one data packet with process control data from the same data originating device destined for a process control device in a transmission queue, where the data originating device is an interface to the process being controlled and transmits data packets in the transmission queue. If there is more than one such data packet, the wireless communication device further compares time stamps of the data packets, where a time stamp reflects the time of generation of a corresponding data packet, keeps the newest data packet and discards older data packets, so that only the most recent data packets from a data originating device are sent to the process control device from the node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Alf Isaksson, Johan Åkerberg, Krister Landernäs
  • Patent number: 9787160
    Abstract: An electrical machine with a rotor or the stator including a plurality of discrete field modules, and the other one of the rotor and the stator including a plurality of armature coils connected to different power converters. Each field module includes one or more field coils which can be activated independent of the field coils of the neighbouring field modules. When at least one of the field coils is inactivated, e.g. because of a defect, each of the power converters is allowing less power to pass through when an armature coil connected to it is moving over an inactivated field coil, and more power to pass through when the armature coil connected to it is moving over an activated field coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Dezheng Wu, Lars Gertmar, Waqas Arshad, Cedric Monnay, Magnus Byggnevi, Frederic Tholence
  • Patent number: 9769728
    Abstract: The present disclosure encompasses establishing and maintaining a routing protocol based on a measured link metric p, such as for a smart grid communication system. A link between a first node such as a router A and a neighbouring second node B of a communication path from a source to a destination in a packet oriented communication network is selected wherein the two nodes are connected via first and second communication links. An updated link metric p(t+1) at a point in time t+1 of the first communication link is determined. The first or the second communication link is selected for transmitting a further packet from node A to node B by comparing the updated link metric p(t+1) to a threshold pthr.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Dacfey Dzung, Yvonne-Anne Pignolet
  • Patent number: 9764353
    Abstract: A method of producing a layer of a UV-cured silicone rubber composition on a substrate surface, including applying a primer composition to the substrate surface and hardening the primer composition followed by applying a UV-curable silicone rubber composition, and UV-curing the curable silicone rubber composition. At least one UV-sensitive crosslinking catalyst selected from compounds which initiate and promote curing of UV-curable silicone rubber compositions, is added to the silicone primer composition in any desired sequence before, during or after hardening of the silicone primer composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Jan Van Loon, Marco Schneider, Patrick Meier, Xavier Kornmann
  • Patent number: 9768704
    Abstract: A hybrid transformer is provided that includes an electromagnetic transformer and an AC-AC converter with a DC bridge. The AC-AC converter is operable to keep the input voltage and current of the hybrid transformer substantially in phase and to reduce fluctuation in the output voltage of the hybrid transformer in the event of an increase or decrease in the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Mohamed Y. Haj-Maharsi, Le Tang, Rafael Gutierrez, Sandeep Bala
  • Patent number: 9760066
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method, device and computer program product for controlling a material separation process as well as to a material separating system. The material separating system comprises units separating desired material from undesired material, units measuring process output variables in the material separation process indicative of the degree of separation between desired and undesired material, a unit estimating the state of the process by applying the measured output variables and external constraints for a prediction time interval on a model of the material separation process, a unit optimising an objective function through maximising the recovery of the desired material in the separation process, which optimising provides at least one set point value for each input variable of the model, and at least one regulating unit regulating the separation process by using the set point value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Jens Pettersson, Lars Ledung, Patrik Westerlund
  • Patent number: 9755896
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for preventing malicious settings changes to IEDs in a power transmission and distribution network. Attempted changes to the protection settings of an IED is detected and transmitted to one or more neighboring IEDs. The neighboring IEDs check for consistency of the new settings and return conformance or nonconformance signals. If a nonconformance signal is received, the attempted setting change is not allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Reynaldo Nuqui, Le Tang
  • Patent number: 9750083
    Abstract: A method for communication between a wireless device node in a wireless sensor network and control apparatus or control processes of an industrial control system. The wireless network includes a plurality of device nodes and at least one gateway. The method includes receiving at a gateway an aggregated data packet or a final address in the ICS. The gateway processes the data packet, detects that it is an aggregated data packet and reconstructs the original data packets contained therein. The gateway then sends each of the original data packets as standard data packets to the intended final address in the ICS. In other aspects of the invention a method, system and a computer program for carrying out the method are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Mikael Gidlund, Tomas Lennvall, Jonas Neander
  • Patent number: 9743398
    Abstract: A computer implemented method for providing a time slot allocation in a wireless communication schedule for monitoring and control of a control loop in an industrial process, the industrial process having at least one control task and a plurality of wirelessly enabled field devices. The method includes importing dependency information between at least two field devices of at least one control loop, automatically converting the dependency information into a communication schedule and allocating time slots in the communication schedule to one or more field devices of the at least one control loop dependent at least on a dependency relationship between at least two field devices. A system and a computer program product are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventor: Alf Isaksson
  • Patent number: 9732493
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for attenuating water pressure pulses generated during sea piling when a percussion mechanism is used, including the stage of driving at least one pile into an earth by a percussion mechanism, while along at least a part of its axial extension, the pile is surrounded by water and at least partly by a tubular outer sleeve; and at least one gas-filled space is provided between the inner periphery of the outer sleeve and the outer periphery of the pile. The apparatus includes mechanisms for providing the gas-filled space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Claes-Goran Johansson, Petter Johansson, Thies Helbig
  • Patent number: 9733659
    Abstract: A method and system restores power in a power distribution network. The network includes a plurality of power sources, a plurality of loading zones, a plurality of switching devices interconnected between the plurality of power sources and the plurality of loading zones, and an intelligent electronic device associated with each of the plurality of switching devices to control the switching devices. A base network state is defined and a power restoration logic is created for the base network state. A simulation is run for the power restoration logic and then the power restoration logic is transmitted to a power restoration controller which thereafter monitors and controls the intelligent electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Research
    Inventors: Fang Yang, Vaibhav Donde, Zhenyuan Wang, James Stoupis, David Lubkeman
  • Patent number: 9733623
    Abstract: A microgrid includes a plurality of distributed energy resources such as controllable distributed electric generators and electrical energy storage devices. A method of controlling operation of the microgrid includes periodically updating a distributed energy resource schedule for the microgrid that includes on/off status of the controllable distributed electric generators and charging/discharging status and rate of the electrical energy storage devices and which satisfies a first control objective for a defined time window, based at least in part on a renewable energy generation and load forecast for the microgrid. The method further includes periodically determining power set points for the controllable distributed energy resources which satisfy a second control objective for a present time interval within the defined time window, the second control objective being a function of at least the distributed energy resource schedule for the microgrid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Fang Yang, Xianyong Feng, Alexandre Oudalov, Zhao Li, Zhenyuan Wang
  • Patent number: 9727635
    Abstract: Software code changes are facilitated by receiving as input a user query specifying a search term and automatically generating a ranked list of connected call trees based on the search term. Each connected call tree identifies subroutines that contain an identifier matching at least part of the search term or that are linked to a subroutine that contains an identifier matching at least part of the search term. The ranked list of connected call trees is displayed as a diagram.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: David Carroll Shepherd, Brian P. Robinson
  • Patent number: 9705336
    Abstract: The teachings herein disclose an advantageous method and apparatus for performing Security Constrained Economic Dispatch (SCED) for a hybrid power system that includes one or more AC grids interconnected with one or more multi-terminal High Voltage DC (HVDC) grids. The teachings include optimizing a non-linear objective function, subject to a set of constraints that include AC and DC grid constraints, for determining the SCED solution using successive linear approximation. The linear programming model used in the linear approximations is advantageously augmented with a DC grid portion in a manner that accounts for the effects of the DC grid on the AC grid, but which does not require exposing proprietary DC grid modeling details, and which conforms the resultant SCED solution to all applicable AC and DC grid constraints, including AC grid line flow constraints, AC grid power balance constraints, DC grid line flow constraints, and DC grid power balance constraints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaoming Feng, Will Briggs, Mani Subramanian, Ernst Scholtz
  • Patent number: 9705332
    Abstract: A method for controlling an energy storage system for connection to a power system, and such an energy storage system are provided. The method makes use of a model based predictive controller to optimize the charging/discharging rates of energy storage elements in a hybrid energy storage system. The method includes determining respective desired charging/discharging rates for the energy storage elements in dependence upon state of charge predictions from respective models of the storage elements, using model predictive control, and adjusting respective charging/discharging rates of the storage elements in accordance with the determined rates. The energy system includes a controller configured to control respective charging/discharging rates of the energy storage elements in accordance with the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Research LTD
    Inventors: Alexandre Oudalov, Mehmet Mercangoez, Thomas Von Hoff
  • Patent number: 9698616
    Abstract: Systems and methods for restoring service within electrical power systems are disclosed. The methods may include identifying a restoration path for an outage area within a power system, selecting a mobile energy resource connection site that is electrically connected to the restoration path and/or the outage area, sending power injection requests to a plurality of mobile energy resources, at least some of which may be proximate the connection site, receiving power injection acceptances from participating ones of the plurality of mobile energy resources, and implementing the restoration path. The systems may include a processor and a computer readable storage medium having a plurality of machine-readable instructions embodied thereon and configured for execution by the processor to carry out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Salman Mohagheghi, James Stoupis
  • Patent number: 9692258
    Abstract: A method of classifying an event in an electrical grid. The method utilizes event related data provided by intelligent electronic devices and provides the operator with a single conclusion classifying the event, thereby helping the operator to determine the mitigation actions. The method includes receiving individual event related data from each intelligent electronic device, and determining whether the event is a fault or a non-fault based on probabilistic methods applied to the event related data. A corresponding system is also presented herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Kari Saarinen, Mirrasoul Mousavi
  • Patent number: 9684017
    Abstract: A current measurement device for measuring a current through a primary conductor is provided. The current measurement device comprises a current transducer of the Rogowski type, the current transducer comprising a conductor winding connected to a pair of transducer terminals and adapted to induce there between a measurement voltage indicative of a current through the primary conductor; a pair of calibration terminals adapted for providing a calibration current to a calibration current path conforming to the primary conductor, so that the calibration current induces a calibration response voltage component between the pair of transducer terminals; and a control circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Joris Pascal, Jean-Baptiste Kammerer, Simon Paulus
  • Patent number: 9678492
    Abstract: A controller module, method, and a non-transitory computer program product are disclosed for the dynamic configuration of an industrial control system, which can include a current settings receiver configured to receive current configuration and security settings of the industrial control system, a changed settings receiver configured to receive changed configuration settings of the industrial control system, a settings analyzer configured to determine, based on the current configuration and security settings and the changed configuration settings, updated configuration and security settings of the industrial control system, and a dynamic activator configured to dynamically establish at least one communication path in order to activate updated configuration and security settings of the industrial control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Sebastian Obermeier, Hadeli Hadeli, Michael Wahler, Sascha Stoeter, Ana Hristova
  • Patent number: 9673739
    Abstract: For identifying the machine type of an alternating current machine, a direct current is first applied to the stator for aligning the d-axis of the rotor and the magnetic field direction of the stator. Secondly, a direct current is applied to the stator at a current angle which causes the rotors of a permanent magnet machine and a synchronous reluctance machine to exert torque in different directions. The torque direction of the rotor is detected and the machine type is identified based on the torque direction information. The machine type is recognized as a permanent magnet machine or a synchronous reluctance machine depending on the torque direction. If no torque is detected, then the machine type is recognized as an induction machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Sjoerd Bosga, Freddy Magnussen, Heinz Lendenmann, Rahul Kanchan, Reza Moghaddam Rajabi