Abstract: A level-shifting amplifier is provided for level-shifting an input signal with a voltage magnitude that exceeds a supply voltage of the amplifier. In operation, the amplifier has an input impedance of greater than 100M Ohms.

Abstract: An apparatus for clamping voltage on a line at a desired voltage and configured for receiving a test voltage includes: (a) A varistor coupled with the line, manifesting characteristics of a capacitor with first signals exceeding a first frequency and manifesting Zener characteristics establishing a first breakdown voltage with second signals having a frequency less than a second frequency which is lower than the first frequency. (b) A spark gap establishing a second breakdown voltage equal with the desired voltage being coupled with the varistor and a low reference potential. (c) A passive direct current element coupled in parallel with the spark gap between the varistor and the low reference potential and effecting forward biasing of the varistor in the presence of the second signals. The second breakdown voltage is less than the test voltage. The sum of the first and second breakdown voltages is greater than the test voltage.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a single-wire serial communication includes defining a predetermined short pulse as data and a predetermined long pulse as a data separator.

Abstract: In a wind turbine (104, 500, 704) having a plurality of blades (132, 404, 516, 744) and a blade rotor hub (120, 712), a lightning protection system (100, 504, 700) for conducting lightning strikes to any one of the blades and the region surrounding the blade hub along a path around the blade hub and critical components of the wind turbine, such as the generator (112, 716), gearbox (708) and main turbine bearings (176, 724).

Abstract: An electrochemical fuel cell comprises an anode electrocatalyst layer, a cathode electrocatalyst layer, a polymer electrolyte membrane interposed between the anode and cathode electrocatalyst layers, an anode flow field plate, a cathode flow field plate, an anode fluid distribution layer interposed between the anode flow field plate and the anode electrocatalyst layer, and a cathode fluid distribution layer interposed between the cathode flow field plate and the cathode electrocatalyst layer, wherein at least one of the anode and cathode fluid distribution layers decreases in permeability from an inlet to an outlet of the electrochemical fuel cell. Methods for making a substantially fluid impermeable sheet material having a non-uniform pattern of perforations are also provided.

Abstract: The described DC to AC inverter efficiently controls the amount of electrical power used to drive a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL). Additionally, during striking of the CCFL, a higher energy initial energy pulse is used. During normal operation, a lower energy pulse is used.

Abstract: In order to provide a less expensive generator, a rotor using nonmagnetic beams is disclosed. The rotor includes a magnetic steel rim connected to a main generator shaft by a hub. The magnetic rim supports the components of the rotor, which includes a plurality of magnets and pole pieces. The pole pieces are connected to the rim with non-magnetic standoffs and nonmagnetic fasteners. The magnets are supported radially by nonmagnetic beams. The magnets are retained tangentially by pole pieces and radially by wedges. The components of the rotor are further retained axially between plates coupled to the rim and a shoulder on the pole pieces.

Abstract: An electrical winding structure configured for use in assembling a plurality of electrical winding structures in an installed orientation wound about a central member includes: a unitary segmented strip. First portions of the unitary strip are oriented about a first axis. Second portions of the unitary strip are oriented about a second axis substantially perpendicular with the first axis. Each of the first portions and the second portions have a thickness, have a width greater than the thickness and have a length at least as great as the width. The first and second portions are oriented to effect arranging the electrical winding structure at predetermined loci during winding to clear the winding path to establish a predetermined plurality of strata in the installed orientation.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an electrically conductive generally planar strip having a thickness, having a width greater than the thickness and having a length greater than the width. The strip is arranged in alternating length segments. Each adjacent pair of length segments are oriented about divergent axes and are joined by a respective transition arrangement. Each respective transition arrangement presents the strip foldingly lapped upon itself in a laminate structure.

Abstract: A power generation system includes a vanadium redox battery that interfaces with a control system to optimize performance and efficiency. The power generation system may include one or more wind turbine generators and one or more diesel fuel generators. The control system manages the vanadium redox battery's absorption and power generation to control system stability and system frequency. The control system further manages the operation of the wind turbine generators and diesel fuel generators to control system stability and voltage.

Abstract: A contacting device comprising a non-metallic, electrically conductive elastomeric composition for providing reliable, corrosion resistant electrical contacts to fuel cell components. Such a contacting device is particularly suitable for measuring voltages at carbon separator plates in a solid polymer electrolyte fuel cell stack.

Abstract: An auxiliary device for a connector has a body, a wire unit and plug. The wire unit is mounted securely in the body and extends out of the body from a first end of the body. The plug is formed on a second end of the body and is perpendicular to the wire unit. Therefore, the position of the wire unit is fixed when the plug is inserted into a socket.

Abstract: A method and device is provided for regulating the air-fuel mixture provided to an engine of a stand-by electrical generator during the exercise thereof. The engine is exercised at a predetermined speed less than the normal operating speed of the engine and each cylinder receives an air-fuel mixture having an air component and a fuel component. To exercise the engine, the air component and the fuel component in the air-fuel mixture provided to the engine is reduced. In addition, the volume of the air-fuel mixture provided to each cylinder of the engine is balanced.

Abstract: Introduced is a power system chassis identification system. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a power system chassis rack holding a plurality of chassis, each housing a rectifier or a converter and (2) a label located on each chassis having symbols thereon identifying the chassis as housing a rectifier or a converter and its voltage input/output, which label is readable at a distance of not less than twenty feet.

Abstract: An electrical power generation system for providing electrical power to a load is provided. The system includes a plurality of microturbine units, each microturbine unit having a combustion microturbine engine coupled to an electrical generator. The electrical generator includes a means for converting the rotational movement of the turbine engine into electrical power. A single power module electrically is connected to the load and physically separated from the plurality of generators. The power module has a number of components including an enclosure and a plurality of batteries within said enclosure. A plurality of generator controls is located within the enclosure where each of the generator controls is coupled to one of the plurality of generators. The enclosure also includes a plurality of AC power converters with each AC power converters coupled to one of the electrical generators.

Abstract: A gas compressor based on the use of a driven rotor having an axially oriented compression ramp traveling at a local supersonic inlet velocity (based on the combination of inlet gas velocity and tangential speed of the ramp) which forms a supersonic shockwave axially, between adjacent strakes. In using this method to compress inlet gas, the supersonic compressor efficiently achieves high compression ratios while utilizing a compact, stabilized gasdynamic flow path. Operated at supersonic speeds, the inlet stabilizes an oblique/normal shock system in the gasdyanamic flow path formed between the gas compression ramp on a strake, the shock capture lip on the adjacent strake, and captures the resultant pressure within the stationary external housing while providing a diffuser downstream of the compression ramp.

Abstract: The present disclosure introduces a simple method and apparatus for converting DC power to AC power, and, specifically, to single-ended inverter circuits for driving discharge lamps such as a Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamp (CCFL) or an External Electrode Fluorescent Lamp (EEFL). Among other advantages, these circuits offer nearly symmetrical voltage waveform to drive discharge lamps when the duty cycle is close to 50%. They also eliminate the high current and high voltage resonant capacitor on the primary side, and reduce the voltage rating of a primary switch to twice the input voltage without the need for snubber circuits. The recommended inverters can be used to efficiently drive discharge lamps at low cost, particularly for applications with a narrow input voltage range. The lamp current can be regulated through the duty cycle modulation of the main switch.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for controlling DC to AC power converters (inverters) that are operated as voltage sources and are paralleled on the AC side. This method allows for controlling frequency while sharing real power. The disclosed method requires no communication between inverters for proper load sharing, thus enhancing reliability of a system of parallel inverters. The only signals required for control are the AC voltage and frequency and their reaction to the inverter output current. The present invention allows a multiplicity of inverters or active rectifiers to share power in relation to their share of the available power capacity of the system. This makes it possible to parallel DG sources with various response times while they are connected to either a utility grid or in a stand-alone power network with no communications required between inverters. The addition of communications to the system allows the dispatch of energy for economic reasons and to fine tune load balance.

Abstract: A system and method for utilizing reliability data from a plant to dynamically calculate an expended life for a selected part. A system is provided that includes a central database for storing service data for different parts of a unit within the plant, wherein the service data includes installation data and a service history of the different parts; a data collection engine for dynamically collecting operational data from the plant in a near real-time manner, wherein the operational data is collected, processed and stored independently from the central database; and a lifetime calculation engine for implementing a lifetime calculation equation for the selected part, wherein the lifetime calculation equation utilizes the service data and the operational data to determine the expended life of the selected part.

Abstract: The present invention provides a site-adaptive current manager for use with a rectifier. In one embodiment, the site-adaptive current manager includes a current limit programmer configured to set an AC input current limit for the rectifier corresponding to a site-restricted current capability. The site-adaptive current manager also includes an input current sensor coupled to the current limit programmer and configured to determine an AC input current of the rectifier. The site-adaptive current manager further includes a rectifier current coordinator coupled to the current limit programmer and configured to restrict the AC input current based on the AC input current limit.