Patents Assigned to Conversion Technologies
  • Patent number: 9683628
    Abstract: The present invention relates a rotor assembly for an electrical machine (e.g. motor or generator) where a tuned vibration absorber adapted to provide radial damping is mounted directly to the rotor shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology LTD
    Inventor: Stuart Ian Bradley
  • Publication number: 20170133971
    Abstract: Provided is an overvoltage protection device for protecting a wind turbine against overvoltage. The device includes a double fed induction generator (DFIG) including a rotor connection including a plurality of electrical connections coupled to rotor leads of the DFIG and a stator connection including a plurality of electrical connections coupled to stator leads of the DFIG. Also included is a self-triggering circuit coupled with the rotor connection and operative in response to changes in a utility grid voltage during a grid fault when an overvoltage event is detected such that the overvoltage protection circuit automatically operates, independently of a controller or a sensor, to reduce the detected overvoltage to a predetermined voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2014
    Publication date: May 11, 2017
    Applicant: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Jincheng HUANG, Jie DING, Chengjun WANG, Jun ZHU
  • Patent number: 9644959
    Abstract: A data fusion architecture with a plurality of sensors, optionally position measuring equipment (PMEs), is described. Each sensor supplies measurement data x1, x2 . . . xM and is associated with accuracy data H1, H2 . . . HM indicative of the accuracy of the supplied measurement data. Sub-processing units derives first estimates sf1, sf2 . . . sfM and second estimates Hn1, Hn2 . . . HnM of the variability of the measurement data supplied by the respective sensor. The first estimates are derived by processing the measurement data x1, x2 . . . xM and the second estimates are derived by processing the accuracy data H1, H2 . . . HM. The first and second estimates are combined in a multiplier to derive overall estimates ?1, ?2 . . . ?M of the variability of the measurement data supplied by the respective sensor. Data fusion means such as a Kalman filter combines the measurement data supplied by each sensor and the overall estimates ?1, ?2 . . . ?M for each sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology LTD.
    Inventor: Richard Ian Stephens
  • Patent number: 9628010
    Abstract: A power distribution system is described that does not rely on a fixed frequency and which therefore allows prime movers to run at different speeds in response to load demand, typically so that fuel consumption and/or harmful exhaust emissions is/are minimised. A marine power distribution and propulsion system can include an ac busbar adapted to carry a variable-frequency ac distribution voltage. A plurality of ac generators are connected to the busbar, each having an associated prime mover such as a diesel engine, turbine etc. A power management controller is adapted to vary the rotational speed of the prime movers with reference to the electrical load on the ac busbar such that the generators provide a variable frequency output during normal operation of the power distribution system. Such operation is to be contrasted with conventional distribution systems which have a fixed frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2017
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology LTD.
    Inventors: Nicholas James Clarke, Jonathon Childs
  • Patent number: 9614400
    Abstract: A dc energy store system includes a dc energy store, an AC/DC power converter having ac terminals connected to an ac power supply and dc terminals connected to the dc energy store, and at least one auxiliary unit associated with the dc energy store. The dc energy store system is adapted to be operated in a number of different operating modes including: (i) a first mode to supply power from the ac power supply to the dc energy store; (ii) a second mode to supply power from the dc energy store to the ac power supply; (iii) a third mode to supply power from the ac power supply to the auxiliary unit(s); and (iv) a fault mode where there is a fault in the ac power supply, and power is supplied from the dc energy store to the auxiliary unit(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology LTD
    Inventor: Eric Anthony Lewis
  • Patent number: 9574564
    Abstract: A system for maintaining a high vacuum in a vacuum enclosure such as cryostat, for example, is described. The system includes a high-vacuum pump having an input that is connected to the cryostat and an output. A vacuum vessel is connected to the output of the high-vacuum pump. A second vacuum pump is connectable to the vacuum vessel. The system is operated such that the high-vacuum pump maintains the cryostat at a high vacuum and the second vacuum pump is periodically operated to maintain the pressure of the vacuum vessel below a threshold pressure. The second vacuum pump may be either permanently connected to, or removable from, the vacuum vessel. The vacuum vessel acts to maintain the output of the high-vacuum pump within a suitable pressure range. This removes the need for the output of the high-vacuum pump to be connected to a continuously operating, second-stage vacuum pump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology LTD.
    Inventors: Martin Richard Ingles, Ruben Fair, Joseph Eugene
  • Patent number: 9564847
    Abstract: An ac synchronous electrical machine includes a stator and a multi-phase stator winding that defines a plurality of stator poles. The stator winding has two or more coil groups, each coil group including a plurality of coils for each phase that are received in winding slots in the stator. The stator winding is connected to a power source/sink. The coil groups are connected in series and each coil group is connected to a power source/sink by a respective switch (26a, 26b . . . ). This allows one or more of the coil groups to be selectively supplied with power from the associated power source/sink or selectively supply power to the associated power source/sink. The switches are operated by a controller. The coils in each coil group are arranged substantially symmetrically around the circumference of the stator to define selected poles of the electrical machine and to produce a constant and balanced rotating torque when any particular coil group or combination of coil groups is active.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology LTD.
    Inventor: Eric Anthony Lewis
  • Patent number: 9553523
    Abstract: Described is a circuit for converting electric power between a three-phase grid and a single-phase grid. The circuit includes, in at least one embodiment, a first transformer that is connected to the three-phase grid, a number of first converter stages assigned to the first transformer, the associated DC intermediate circuits and the associated second converter stages. The second converter stages are connected to each other at the alternating-current side outputs with the aid of a series connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited
    Inventors: Joerg Janning, Axel Brandt
  • Patent number: 9525362
    Abstract: A power supply system for a charge is provided. The power supply system includes a converter connected in input to a current source and in output to a charge, the converter being able to deliver a direct current to the charge and allow the circulation of the current in a single direction, from the current source to the charge and a circulation bus for an electric current, including a first end and a second end. The power supply system further includes a device for injecting an additional alternating voltage and at the second end of the circulation bus, the injection device being connected to the second end and a device for recovering the additional injected alternating voltage, the recovery device being connected between the first end of the bus and the charge, so as to supply the charge with electrical current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology, Ltd.
    Inventors: Pascal Monjean, Jerome Auguste
  • Patent number: 9487284
    Abstract: In a marine power distribution and propulsion system with a medium voltage distribution busbar (MVAC1) and a low voltage distribution busbar (LVAC1) then a rectifier (SC) is controlled, optionally to provide active filtering and static compensation benefits. A common power supply system incorporating ac generators (G1-G4) supplies power to the medium and low voltage distribution busbars. The rectifier (SC) is connected to the medium voltage distribution busbar (MVAC1). A controller (Co) uses feedback signals indicative of electrical quantities of the distribution voltages carried by both the medium voltage and low voltage distribution busbars (MVAC1, LVAC1) to control the rectifier (SC) to regulate electrical quantities at the ac terminals of the rectifier (SC) in order to achieve desired electrical quantities of the distribution voltage carried by the low voltage distribution busbar (LVAC1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology, Ltd.
    Inventors: Allan David Crane, Nicholas Simon Smith, Ralph Edwin Maltby
  • Patent number: 9450470
    Abstract: An electric machine is provided. The electric machine includes at least one stator, a shaft, movable in rotation around an axis of rotation, two rotors, each being interdependent of the shaft, at least two bearings, able to support both rotors and the shaft. A single bearing is located between both rotors along the axis of rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology, Ltd.
    Inventor: Christophe Galmiche
  • Patent number: 9444361
    Abstract: A mechanical arrangement of a multilevel power converter circuit includes a power converter having a first portion with a plurality of first control inputs, at least three direct current voltage inputs, and an alternating current voltage output, and a second portion with a plurality of second control inputs, the at least three direct current voltage inputs and the alternating current voltage output. The second portion is split apart from the first portion. The power converter has at least three levels corresponding to the at least three direct current voltage inputs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: GE Power Conversion Technology, Ltd.
    Inventors: Alfred Permuy, Nicholas D. Benavides
  • Patent number: 9431818
    Abstract: An assembly includes an electrical machine connected to a power converter by a three-phase circuit having three conductors, e.g. cables Each conductor is associated with a switching device such as a contactor or the like that connects the conductor to a common conductor or terminal. In the event of a fault current being developed in the circuit or the power converter the switching devices are operated to close the fault current and connect together the conductors of the three-phase circuit to provide a full three-phase short circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology, LTD.
    Inventor: Eric Anthony Lewis
  • Patent number: 9411324
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method of controlling the height of a looper in an inter-stand section of a hot strip mill that overcomes the problem of looper instability due to looper inertia without the need for the controller of upstream rollers to have a reduced gain. The inter-stand section of the hot strip mill comprises a pair of upstream rollers driven by a main motor and a looper driven by a looper motor. The method comprises the steps of: calculating a desired speed trim to be applied by the main motor; estimating the inertia of the looper; calculating a torque necessary to overcome the inertia of the looper from the speed trim, the estimated inertia of the looper and a sensitivity calculated from the geometry of the looper; and controlling the main motor to apply the speed trim to the upstream rollers and controlling the looper motor to apply the calculated torque to the looper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited
    Inventor: Aleksandar Mechev
  • Patent number: 9386729
    Abstract: The energy conversion device (10) includes a power module (14), a unit (16) for cooling the power module (14), and a sealed enclosure (12) housing the power module (14) and at least part of the cooling unit (16). The cooling unit (16) includes a cooling circuit (18), in which a coolant circulates, a first heat exchanger (20) with the power module (14), through which the coolant passes, and at least one pump (24) making the coolant circulate in the circuit (18). The cooling circuit (18) includes a pressure regulating branch (26), extending between an outlet and an inlet of the driving pump (24), the regulating branch (26) including a pressure regulating valve (28), normally closed, capable of opening when the pressure difference between the outlet and the inlet of the driving pump (24) exceeds a predetermined threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: GE Power Conversion Technology, Ltd.
    Inventors: Henri Baerd, Guillaume Godfroy
  • Patent number: 9379587
    Abstract: A gas treatment machine includes a main gas treatment circuit, connected to a gas compression chamber, a gas compressor, mounted in the compression chamber, a rotating electrical machine, for driving the gas compressor, including at least one coil for the flow of electric current for generating a magnetic flux, and a secondary cooling circuit, transporting gas from the compression chamber to the rotating electrical machine, for cooling this rotating electrical machine. The coil includes at least one toroidal core formed from a rolling of a plurality of turns (20) each consisting of at least one conductor (22) insulated over the length thereof by a primary insulator (24), the rolling which forms the toroidal core in turn being covered with a secondary insulator (26), the primary insulator (24) and the secondary insulator (26) including PolyEtherEtherKetone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Lionel Durantay
  • Patent number: 9356533
    Abstract: A drive train comprising an electric machine including a rotor and a stator, the stator being connected to an alternating grid and having a stator frequency, and a bidirectional system for converting an alternating current into another alternating current. The conversion system is connected between the grid and the rotor, and comprises an AC-DC converter connected to the grid, an inverter connected between the AC-DC converter and the rotor, and a device for controlling switches of the inverter according to a control law. The control law is such that the active power exchanged by the inverter with the rotor is essentially always lower than 0.3 times the nominal power of the direct current specifically circulating between the AC-DC converter and the inverter, for the frequencies of a target interval of between 0.6 times the stator frequency and 1.4 times the stator frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology
    Inventor: Alfred Permuy
  • Patent number: 9349790
    Abstract: A semiconductor device or power electronic device is described. The device includes a pair of pole pieces, each having a profiled surface. A semiconductor body or wafer, preferably of wide bandgap electronic material, is located between the pole pieces and includes contact metallization regions. The semiconductor body produces an electric field that emerges from an edge region. Passivation means includes a first or radially inner part in contact with the edge region of the semiconductor body and which diffuses the electric field as it emerges from the edge region and a second or radially outer part. The second part of the passivation is in contact with the first part and provides a substantially void-free interface with the profiled surface of each pole piece. The device may be immersed in a dielectric liquid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Allan David Crane, Sean Joseph Loddick, David Hinchley
  • Patent number: 9337695
    Abstract: The present invention provides an improved single-layer coil for a rotating or linear electrical machine. The coil has a first endwinding that is substantially straight to a longitudinal axis of the coil and a second endwinding that is bent relative to the longitudinal axis of the coil. The coil therefore has differently shaped endwindings with one end 12 being ‘straight’ and the other end being ‘bent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: GE Energy Conversion Technology LTD.
    Inventor: Paul Eaton Clark
  • Publication number: 20160126858
    Abstract: A device includes a transformer configured to supply a pre-charge voltage to a capacitor and a converter configured for coupling to the transformer and responsive to an increasing modulation index. The modulation index increases for a time quanta after the capacitor becomes substantially fully charged and the pre-charge voltage is substantially constant during the time quanta.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Publication date: May 5, 2016
    Applicant: GE Energy Power Conversion Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Tao WU, Yan LIU