Patents Examined by C. Gonzalez
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Patent number: 11530687Abstract: This system includes a belt drive system for a wind turbine generator comprising: a tower having a wind turbine wheel rotatably attached to the tower; a generator platform attached to the tower; a generator supported by the generator platform; and, a turbine drive belt adapted to engaged with the wind turbine wheel and the generator to transfer rotational energy from the wind turbine wheel to the generator to generate electricity.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2021Date of Patent: December 20, 2022Inventor: Gerald L. Barber
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Patent number: 11525437Abstract: An energy storage and delivery system includes an elevator operable to move blocks from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy and from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity. A winch assembly is movably coupled to a cable that is coupled to the elevator. The winch assembly has planetary gear assemblies, brakes that selectively engage at least a portion of the planetary gear assemblies, and a spool coupled to the cable. A drive shaft extends between a motor-generator and the winch assembly. A brake is operable so that the spool rotates to reel-in the cable to raise the elevator to move a block from a lower elevation to a higher elevation to store energy or so that the spool rotates to reel-out the cable to lower the elevator to move a block from a higher elevation to a lower elevation to generate electricity.Type: GrantFiled: January 26, 2022Date of Patent: December 13, 2022Assignee: Energy Vault, Inc.Inventors: Andrea Pedretti, Roland Markus Hänni
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Patent number: 11506178Abstract: A friction limiting turbine gyroscope is a compact and efficient means to convert the energy of a moving fluid into electrical energy. The gyroscope's flywheel rotates when a fluid passes through its spokes while magnets located along the perimeter act upon proximate movable field coils to produce electricity. The spokes of the flywheel are optimized for the flow and density of the fluid with the ability to trans mutate using shaped memory alloys as well as rotate about their center of pressure allowing the flywheel to capture more of the energy from the fluid passing over their surfaces in all conditions. Mechanical energy losses are reduced because of the inherent stabilizing effects created by the gyroscope. Because of the stabilization, a magnetic bearing field effectively supports the gyroscope eliminating mechanical interference in rotation.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2021Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Assignee: Airborne Motor Works Inc.Inventors: Jesse Antoine Marcel, Jeffrey Scott Chimenti
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Patent number: 11506177Abstract: The disclosed technology provides a system and methods for transforming kinetic energy from wind and solar energy from sunlight into three phase electrical energy for local use and available to supply to electrical grids. The system includes a solar panel system and a wind system, which through a gearbox translates kinetic energy from the wind into hydraulic energy in a hydraulic circuit. One or more generators are coupled with the hydraulic circuit to translate the hydraulic energy into three phase electrical energy. In embodiments, a pump motor runs off of a rechargeable battery to supply hydraulic energy to one of the generators when the wind is insufficient to provide sufficient hydraulic energy to the generator. The rechargeable battery may be recharged by diverting energy from, for example, the solar panel system.Type: GrantFiled: July 4, 2021Date of Patent: November 22, 2022Inventor: Daniel K Hicks
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Patent number: 11499524Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling low-speed operations of a wind turbine electrically coupled to an electrical grid. The wind turbine includes a generator and a power converter. The generator includes a generator rotor and a generator stator. An operating parameter of the generator rotor is indicative of a low-speed operation of the generator. Accordingly, the crossing of a first threshold by the operating parameter is detected. In response, at least a portion of a required reactive power generation is developed via the generator rotor. The portion is then delivered to the electrical grid via the grid side of the power converter.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2021Date of Patent: November 15, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Fernando Arturo Ramirez Sanchez, Igor Berroteran, Cornelius Edward Holliday, III, David Scott Wilmer
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Patent number: 11495967Abstract: This invention relates to a method of controlling at least one wind turbine of a plurality of wind turbines connected to an electrical grid at a predefined point in the electrical grid. The wind turbine comprises a DC link connecting a generator side converter to a line side converter, where the line side converter is controlled according to a modulation index requested by a power converter controller. The method comprises determining a harmonic frequency signal indicative of a harmonic frequency value at the predefined point in the electrical grid; determining a deviation between the harmonic frequency signal and a permissible harmonic frequency value; determining a permissible modulation index based on the deviation; comparing the permissible modulation index to the modulation index requested by the power converter controller; and, altering a DC link voltage set-point based on the comparison between the permissible modulation index and the requested modulation index.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2019Date of Patent: November 8, 2022Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/SInventors: Torsten Lund, Ciprian Biris, Kent Tange, Duy Duc Doan, Gert Karmisholt Andersen
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Patent number: 11482958Abstract: Systems and methods for dual voltage power generation are provided. Aspects include a generator having an input connected to an engine to receive rotational energy proportional to a rotation speed of a fan and having an output through which electrical energy is output, a rectifier circuit having an input coupled to the output of the generator and a rectifier output that outputs rectified power, a bypass switch connected to the output of rectifier and operates in a plurality of states including a normal operation state where the rectified power is provided a power converter and a bypass state where the rectified power is provided directly to a load, and a controller configured to determine an occurrence of an event associated with the engine, and operate the bypass switch in the bypass state based on the occurrence of the event associated with the engine.Type: GrantFiled: January 3, 2020Date of Patent: October 25, 2022Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATIONInventor: Michael Krenz
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Patent number: 11465648Abstract: A vehicle control system includes a recognizer that recognizes a surrounding environment of a vehicle, and a driving controller that performs speed control and steering control of the vehicle based on a recognition result of the recognizer. When moving the vehicle to a parking area after detecting that an occupant gets off the vehicle at a stop position, the driving controller adjusts a start timing for starting the vehicle based on the number of vehicles stopped at the stop position recognized by the recognizer.Type: GrantFiled: May 8, 2020Date of Patent: October 11, 2022Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.Inventors: Junpei Noguchi, Ryoma Taguchi, Yuta Takada, Chie Sugihara
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Patent number: 11460012Abstract: A system for efficiently capturing the kinetic and/or potential energy of a moving vehicle includes an arc roller configured to move along an arcuate path upon impact by the moving vehicle, and a torsional spring configured to wind in response to the movement of the speed bump and, thereby, to store energy associated with the impact. The torsional spring may be configured to wind continually in response to the movement of another speed bump and, thereby, to store additional energy associated with the impact of the vehicle with the other speed bump. The system may include alternators or generators producing electricity from energy released from unwinding of the torsional spring. Electricity is further stored and utilized for onboard computing, traffic analytics, safety feature operating functions and communications.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2021Date of Patent: October 4, 2022Assignee: Constructis Group, Inc.Inventor: James Leo Nigg
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Patent number: 11454205Abstract: By receiving a leading wave in a state where a wave receiving box is sunk on the coast, a pressure return pipe and a pressure return on-off valve are controlled, and a water surface in an air compression pipe is set to a reference water surface lower than an air throttle, even when there are tide level fluctuations and wave size variations in one wave receiving box, energy of the wave is converted into compressed air without loss, is stored in a compressed air storage tank, and can be used for power generation or the like.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2021Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Fuminori Takami, Terutsugu Segawa, Isamu Aokura
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Patent number: 11448189Abstract: A turbine system that harnesses energy from natural atmospheric wind and water currents for power generation and storage in a power storage mode, and in a reverse switched operation, sources current to the turbine system from storage power to function in a propulsion mode to propel an associated structure (e.g., boat, aircraft).Type: GrantFiled: February 12, 2020Date of Patent: September 20, 2022Inventor: Paul C. Dietzel
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Patent number: 11418139Abstract: In an embodiment a method includes: sensing a first signal indicative of magnetization of a winding in a dynamoelectric machine; applying the first signal to a window comparator having a comparator window between upper and lower thresholds and generating window exit signals indicative of the first signal exiting the comparator window of the window comparator; generating a slowed-down replica signal of the first signal; updating the comparator window of the window comparator as a function of the slowed-down replica signal; and issuing a wake-up signal towards a control device of the dynamoelectric machine as a result of one of the window exit signals indicating the first signal exiting the comparator window of the window comparator for a time duration in excess of a duration threshold.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 2020Date of Patent: August 16, 2022Assignee: STMicroelectronics S.r.l.Inventors: Giuseppe Di Biase, Claudio Serratoni
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Patent number: 11408395Abstract: A method and a device for detecting an active power of a wind turbine. The method includes: acquiring a current rotation speed of a rotor of a wind turbine and a current outputted active power; determining an effective wind speed of the wind turbine; determining a maximum active power capable to be captured by the wind turbine at the current rotation speed; determining a maximum active power capable to be outputted by the wind turbine, and determining a release power at which the wind turbine is capable to release a rotation kinetic energy of the wind turbine for a predetermined time at the current rotation speed; and determining the available active power of the wind turbine, based on the maximum active power capable to be outputted, the release power, and the current outputted active power.Type: GrantFiled: April 11, 2018Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: BEIJING GOLDWIND SCIENCE & CREATION WINDPOWER EQUIPMENT CO., LTD.Inventors: Mengting Yu, Guilin Zhou, Mei Han
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Patent number: 11411520Abstract: A method for controlling a wind turbine power system connected to an electrical grid includes determining, via a controller, at least one non-linear magnetizing parameter of a double-fed wind turbine generator of the wind turbine power system. The method also includes developing, via the controller, a model of the non-linear magnetizing parameter(s) of the double-fed wind turbine generator. Further, the method includes using, via the controller, the model in a stator voltage regulator of the double-fed wind turbine generator to provide grid-forming control of the double-fed wind turbine generator.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2021Date of Patent: August 9, 2022Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Dustin Howard, Einar Vaughn Larsen
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Patent number: 11401918Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a wind turbine. Accordingly, a controller of the wind turbine detects an oscillation in the power output of the wind turbine during a recovery from a transient event. In response to detecting the oscillation, a portion of the power output during a peak phase of the oscillation is stored in an energy storage device. A portion of the stored power is then discharged during a valley phase of the oscillation in order to reduce an amplitude of the oscillation of the power output that is delivered to the power grid.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2020Date of Patent: August 2, 2022Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.Inventors: Jishnu Kavil Kambrath, Veena Padmarao, Kapil Jha, Nithya Anand, Arvind Kumar Tiwari
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Patent number: 11384736Abstract: A floating offshore wind turbine includes a rotor and a generator turned by the rotor. An elongated buoyant body supports a tower that supports the generator and rotor. The buoyant body or the tower may support aerodynamic features to counteract heeling forces or to steer the floating wind turbine as it swings on its anchor line. The floating offshore wind turbine may be configured to move the anchor line force vector to counteract heeling forces. A control system may control the aerodynamic features and the movement of the anchor line force vector.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2020Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Inventors: Frederick W. Piasecki, Dinesh Barwey, George Luis Firpi, David Joseph Stilwell
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Patent number: 11364880Abstract: A vehicle which contributes to safe autonomous driving by washing the sensor provided in the vehicle by efficiently using a limited capacity washing solution, and a control method thereof. The vehicle includes: a first sensor; a second sensor; a driving device including at least one motor and configured to operate to clean the first sensor and the second sensor; and a controller configured to control the driving device to first wash the first sensor prior to the second sensor based on predetermined rank information when is the controller determines that at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor is contaminated.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2020Date of Patent: June 21, 2022Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATIONInventors: Suhak Gwon, June Soo Park, Byung Seob Yu, Ill Soo Kim, Jae Hong Choi
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Patent number: 11353005Abstract: A method for operating a wind power installation is provided. The wind power installation comprises an aerodynamic rotor with rotor blades, where the rotor can be operated with a variable rotor rotation speed. The wind power installation outputs an output power generated from wind for feeding into an electrical supply grid. The wind power installation can be operated in a normal operating mode without power reduction and in a reduced operating mode with power reduction, in which a specified power reduced with respect to a rated installation power is specified. When operating in the reduced operating mode for wind speeds above a rated wind speed, at least in one rotation speed increase region, the wind power installation increases its rotor rotation speed as the wind speed rises further.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2019Date of Patent: June 7, 2022Assignee: Wobben Properties GmbHInventors: Ralf Messing, Christian Möller
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Patent number: 11349372Abstract: There is provided a combustion engine and an electric generator. The combustion engine comprises an engine housing, a cylindrical member configured to rotate about an axis within a cavity of the engine housing, a piston, and an engagement section for engaging the piston. The piston is mounted to the engine housing and the engagement section is mounted to the cylindrical member, or the piston is mounted to the cylindrical member and the engagement section is mounted to the engine housing, such that the piston and the engagement section periodically rotate past one another as the cylindrical member is rotated within the engine housing. The piston engages the engagement section as they rotate past one another, the engagement forcing the piston to compress gases in a combustion chamber, which fire to drive the rotation of the cylindrical member. The electric generator may be driven by the combustion engine.Type: GrantFiled: March 28, 2018Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Inventor: Christopher J. Hale
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Patent number: 11336097Abstract: A wind power generation system with a power storage device includes a wind power generation system, a power storage device system, and a reactive power controller. The wind power generation system includes a wind power generator, a first power conversion circuit, a first control circuit, a first filter capacitor, and a circuit breaker interposed between the first filter capacitor and a grid connection point. The wind power generation system is configured to output the electric power converted by the first power conversion circuit to an electric power grid via the grid connection point. The power storage device system includes a power storage device, a second power conversion circuit, and a second control circuit that controls the second power conversion circuit to perform load leveling operation. The reactive power controller causes the second power conversion circuit to perform reactive power compensation operation.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2019Date of Patent: May 17, 2022Assignee: TOSHIBA MITSUBISHI-ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CORPORATIONInventor: Hiroyoshi Komatsu