Patents Examined by Iraj A. Mohandesi
  • Patent number: 8222757
    Abstract: A method of identifying a load on a wind turbine is provided. The method includes sensing accelerations of a rotor in a plurality of dimensions via at least one acceleration sensor and transmitting, from the acceleration sensor, signals indicative of the sensed accelerations to a control system. The method also includes receiving, at the control system, the transmitted signals from the acceleration sensor and identifying, via the control system, a load on the wind turbine based on the received signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Christoph Schulten
  • Patent number: 8212534
    Abstract: Described is a method for starting up a system for generating electrical power. The system includes a turbine that is mechanically connected to a generator, while the generator is electrically connected via a converter to a load, in particular to a power supply grid. The generator includes a total number of windings. With at least one embodiment of the method, a number of generator windings are combined at low rotational speeds of the turbine, wherein the combined number of windings is less than the total number of windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Converteam Technology, Ltd.
    Inventors: Georg Moehlenkamp, Aurélie Bocquel
  • Patent number: 8203317
    Abstract: A method for controlling an output voltage of generator arrangement includes generating a controlled field current for a field winding dependent on the output voltage and dependent on at least one control parameter that depends on a rotational speed of the generator. The method also includes decreasing a rate of change of the controlled field current with respect to an output voltage change if the rotational speed decrease.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Frank Auer, Harald Panhofer, Pierre Lefaix
  • Patent number: 8188610
    Abstract: A wind turbine comprising a main generator, a main power converter connected to the main generator and adapted to convert the electrical output power of the main generator to an electrical power to be fed into the utility grid up to a first rated converter output power and an auxiliary power converter connected to the main generator and adapted to convert the electrical output power of the main generator to an electrical power up to a second rated converter output power which is lower than the first rated converter output power is provided. Further, a control architecture for controlling the power balance of a wind turbine and a method for operating a wind turbine are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Hartmut Scholte-Wassink
  • Patent number: 8188609
    Abstract: A miniature hydro-power generation system includes a hydro-power generator, a processor and an energy storage device. A flow of liquid may be used to rotate the hydro-generator to generate electric power. The processor is configured to monitor a level of the electric power generated by the hydro-power generator and a level of charge stored in the energy storage device. The processor is further configured to selectively charge and discharge the energy storage device based on the level of charge of the energy storage device, and the level of electric power generated by the hydro-power generator. The electric power generated by the hydro-power generator is selectively used to charge the energy storage device, and the energy storage device is selectively discharged to supply a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Access Business Group International LLC
    Inventors: David W. Baarman, Thomas Leppien, Terry Lee Lautzenheiser, Christopher B. Houghton, Stephen J. McPhilliamy
  • Patent number: 8183707
    Abstract: A method for controlling a wind energy system is provided wherein the method comprises determining the effective wind speed taking into account the load on the rotor blades of said wind energy system exerted by the wind is provided. A computer-readable medium is provided that provides instructions which when executed by a computing platform cause the computing platform to perform operations wherein the operations include the method according to embodiments described herein. Further, a wind energy system having a calculation unit adapted for calculating the effective wind speed by taking into account the load on the rotor blades of said wind energy system exerted by the wind is provided. Further, a wind speed sensor free wind energy system having a generator for generating electric energy and a controller for shutting down and/or starting the electric energy generation in dependence of the wind speed is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas Siebers, Henk-Jan Kooijman
  • Patent number: 8174143
    Abstract: A control device of a wind turbine generator capable of controlling an active power based on an instruction value, includes a measurement means configured to measure a frequency of a utility grid. The instruction value for controlling the active power is generated to a direction suppressing a variation of the frequency of the utility grid based on conversion information which indicates a predetermined relation between the variation of the frequency and the instruction value when the variation of the frequency of the utility grid measured by the measurement means exceeds a predetermined standard. A wind turbine generator which controls suppression of a disturbance of a grid in its initial stage is realized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Yasugi
  • Patent number: 8154144
    Abstract: A linear generator for power generation in a wave-driven power station is provided. The linear generator includes a primary part which has a plurality of annular primary coils, which are arranged concentrically with respect to an axis and are separated from one another by intermediate elements, and a secondary part which has a plurality of secondary coils, to which direct current can be applied. The secondary coils are arranged axially alongside one another with alternating polarity and have superconductor windings. The the arrangement of the primary coils in the primary part is in the form of an air-gap winding with intermediate elements composed of non-magnetizable material. The primary part or the secondary part is moved parallel to the axis, in an externally operated manner, by a buoy and the current which is induced in the primary coils by the relative movement between the primary part and the secondary part can be tapped off for power generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Zenergy Power GmbH
    Inventors: Jens Müller, Jan Wiezoreck, Ingolf Hahn, Carsten Bührer
  • Patent number: 8154141
    Abstract: The wind power installation comprises a rotor with at least one rotor blade, a generator, and a pitch control system for controlling the pitch of the rotor blades, said pitch control system comprising at least one AC motor (100) arranged to be fed by a converter (101). The pitch control system further comprises means (102) for bypassing said converter (101) so as to connect the AC motor (100) to receive power from an emergency AC power supply source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Gamesa Innovation & Technology, S.L.
    Inventor: Bjorn Andresen
  • Patent number: 8154260
    Abstract: Within generator systems maintenance of stability in terms of voltage is desirable. Generally, several generators will be arranged in parallel within the generator system with one generator voltage controlled to provide dynamic responsiveness to load switching. With regard to some loads which are generally of an active nature, the capacity of a first generator, which is voltage controlled, may be insufficient to adequately avoid transient voltage instability. By providing an actuator signal from a load to act as a pre-emptive or forward feed to an electrical current controlled generator, that second electrical current generator can be arranged to provide additional or reduced electrical current to avoid system voltage instability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Lihua Hu, David R Trainer, Stephen A Long
  • Patent number: 8143738
    Abstract: An electric generator capable of generating electric power using kinetic energy of wind includes a first plurality of rotor plates, a second plurality of rotor plates, and a first plurality of blades capable of driving the first plurality of rotor plates, a second plurality of blades being formed to enable counter-rotation with respect to the first plurality of blades, wherein rotation of the first plurality of rotor plates relative to the second plurality of rotor plates induces electricity in a plurality of coils disposed on the second plurality of rotor plates, and wherein at least one of the first and second plurality of rotor plates are arranged co-axially with the shaft such that respective radii of the at least one of the first and second plurality of rotor plates are varied along the axial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: Infinite Wind Energy LLC
    Inventor: Chong-Kyu Kim
  • Patent number: 8129853
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a turbine to generate mechanical energy from kinetic energy, a generator coupled to the turbine to receive the mechanical energy and to output multiple isolated supply powers, and multiple power stages each coupled to the generator. Each of the power stages may receive at least one of the isolated supply powers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: TECO-Westinghouse Motor Company
    Inventors: Mehdi Abolhassani, Thomas Keister, Haran Karmaker, Ryan Edwards, Enrique Ledezma, Alex Skorcz
  • Patent number: 8106526
    Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention includes a turbine to generate mechanical energy from kinetic energy, a generator coupled to the turbine to receive the mechanical energy and to output multiple isolated supply powers, and multiple power stages each coupled to the generator. Each of the power stages may receive at least one of the isolated supply powers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: TECO-Westinghouse Motor Company
    Inventors: Mehdi Abolhassani, Thomas Keister, Haran Karmaker, Ryan Edwards, Enrique Ledezma, Alex Skorcz
  • Patent number: 8093740
    Abstract: A wind power generation system wherein procedure for controlling the blade pitch is changed in accordance with the rate of decrease in the amplitude of the grid voltage, and when over current occurs in the grid-side power converter, the grid-side power converter is brought into the gate-blocked condition whereas the generator-side power converter continues its operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Oohara, Masaya Ichinose, Motoo Futami, Tadashi Sodeyama
  • Patent number: 8058849
    Abstract: A vehicle drive mechanism includes a power transmission mechanism which has a rotary electric motor and a gear mechanism for transmitting mechanical power from the rotary electric motor to a drive shaft disposed coaxially with an output shaft of the rotary electric motor, and a control unit formed of a plurality of elements and controlling an operation of the rotary electric motor. At least one of the elements which constitute the control unit is disposed on a periphery of at least one of the rotary electric motor, the drive shaft, and the gear mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin AW Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadafumi Yoshida, Yutaka Hotta
  • Patent number: 8049350
    Abstract: In an apparatus (and a method) for controlling a cogeneration system equipped with a generation unit having a generator connectable to an AC power feed line between a commercial power network and an electrical load and an internal combustion engine driving the generator, and a heat exchanger that exchanges heat between coolant and exhaust heat from the engine, there are provided with a condensate water hose discharging condensate water generated by condensation of moisture in exhaust gas, a hose temperature sensor detecting temperature in the hose, an exhaust gas temperature sensor detecting temperature of the exhaust gas from the engine and an exhaust gas blowout discriminator discriminating that the exhaust gas blows out through the hose when a difference between the hose temperature and the exhaust gas temperature is found to be less than a predetermined value. With this, exhaust gas leakage caused by blowout can be easily detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Nobuyuki Yuri, Yojiro Sasaki, Kousuke Yamana
  • Patent number: 8035357
    Abstract: A permanent magnet machine (PMM) has a kinetic portion electrically coupled to a power conversion portion. Motive power is provided to the kinetic portion by a torque applied to a motive shaft coupled to a prime mover, such as an aircraft engine or an automobile engine. A sensor is effective to detect a fault condition in the kinetic portion. When a fault is detected, the sensor applies a voltage to a winding within the kinetic portion generating an opposing directional counter torque to the motive shaft. A combination of the torque and counter torque exceeds a fracture yield strength of the motive shaft. The fault condition is then rendered safe while the prime mover may continue normal operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corp.
    Inventor: Stanley C. Patterson
  • Patent number: 8004252
    Abstract: A power system stabilizer includes: a sensor configured for sensing a signal representative of electromechanical oscillations of the power system; a controller configured for using the sensed signal for generating control signals for damping the electromechanical oscillations; and a damper including a damping converter and a resistor coupled to the damping converter, the damping converter being coupled to the power system through a power bus, the damping converter configured for using the control signals for damping the electro-mechanical oscillations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christof Martin Sihler, Alfredo Sebastian Achilles, Simon Herbert Schramm
  • Patent number: 8004250
    Abstract: A pyramid electric generator for harvesting the vibrational energies of Earth's atomic oscillators according to the present invention comprises: (1) an antenna/waveguide that is geometrically optimized; (2) a secondary coil wound with an insulated conductor on a nonconductive coil form, the coil being attached electrically to the conducting surface of the antenna/waveguide such that the secondary coil is attached near the point at which the electric field contacts the antenna/waveguide; (3) the antenna/waveguide connected with the secondary coil serving as a quasi-capacitive series element to provide a specific resonant frequency; and (4) a primary coil of a few turns wound around the secondary coil, the secondary coil being positioned coaxially within the primary coil and acting as a resonant step-up transformer winding, inductively coupled with the primary coil. The generator resonantly couples into specific frequencies of Earth's atomic oscillators and extracts electric energy therefrom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Inventor: Peter Grandics
  • Patent number: 7999405
    Abstract: An electric power system includes an engine, a generator driven by the engine, an electrical energy storage device, power control circuitry coupling the generator and storage device together, and a processor coupled to the circuitry. The generator provides variable AC power and the storage device provides variable DC power to the circuitry. The processor executes operating logic to provide control signals to the circuitry to operate the generator at a first speed to provide a first level of AC electricity, increase the DC power provided from the storage device to increase the AC electricity to a second level, increase operating speed of the generator from the first speed to a second speed greater than the first speed, decrease the DC power from the storage device as the operating speed of the generator increases, and limit acceleration of the operating speed to reduce perception of a speed change.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc.
    Inventor: Mitchell E. Peterson