Patents Examined by Joseph Waks
  • Patent number: 9006927
    Abstract: An installation for producing electrical energy and a control method of such an installation are described. The installation includes an energy storage. The installation includes an electrical energy generator that connects to a distribution network and the energy storage. The installation also includes a controller controlling the operation of the energy storage and the connection of the energy storage to the electrical energy generator and the network. The controller receives a set of information from the network or, energy storage, and the electrical energy generator, and from the network manager to control the supply of the electrical energy generator and a set of auxiliary equipment of the installation from the energy storage in the event of power failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ezio Pena, Herve Biellmann, Maxime Buquet, Frederic Chevalier, Rahul Jaikaran Chillar, Julien Guyot, Jean Marc Ingremeau, Jean-louis Vignolo
  • Patent number: 8994202
    Abstract: A method of operating a wind turbine is disclosed, the wind turbine comprising a power generator, a machine-side converter connected to the power generator, a line-side converter connected to a power grid through associated power components, and a DC-link connected between the machine-side converter and the line-side converter. The method includes monitoring the power grid for overvoltage events, and upon detecting an overvoltage event: (1) disabling active operation of the machine-side converter and the line-side converter, (2) enabling an AC load dump connected between the machine side converter and the power generator in order to dissipate power output from the power generator, (3) waiting for a waiting period, and (4) enabling active operation of the line-side converter and the machine converter when the overvoltage event ends within the waiting period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Amit Kumar Gupta, Anshuman Tripathi, Ove Styhm, Lars Helle, Yugarajan Karuppanan, Gil Lampong Opina, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8973359
    Abstract: A wave powered generating device includes a floating vessel with onboard pendulum mechanism, an anchor with a mooring chain connected with the vessel, a lever arm, an upstanding post having a tip connected with the lever arm and a foot coupled with a universal coupler, a pendulum moveably mounted on the lever arm being erected above a platform deck of the vessel by the upstanding post, a gear mechanism incorporating with a centrifugal flywheel coupled with the universal coupler via a transmission mechanism for delivery of momentum of the pendulum, and a power generating mechanism driven by the gear mechanism. Under undulating waves, the pendulum, being mounted on the lever arm, sways laterally around an axis of the upstanding post, causing the upstanding post to rotate hence delivering the momentum of the pendulum to drive the power generating mechanism via a transmission shaft and the gear mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Man Wai Chan
  • Patent number: 8971064
    Abstract: An electricity generating installation includes an electricity generation unit of a gas turbine, steam turbine or combined-cycle type, wherein the electricity generation unit is coupled to a generator and is connected to a distribution network, an energy storage unit configured to store kinetic energy and electrical energy, and a standby electricity generation unit. The installation further includes a controller configured to manage the operation of the energy storage unit and configured to manage the connection of the energy storage unit to the electricity generation unit and to the network. The controller receives a series of information originating from the network, the energy storage unit, the electricity generation unit and a network operator in order to control the generation of electricity to be delivered to the network and to auxiliary systems of the installation from the energy storage unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: GE Energy Products France SNC
    Inventors: Ezio Pena, Jean-Louis Vignolo, Jean Marc Ingremeau, Rahul J. Chillar, Frederic Chevalier, Herve Biellmann, Maxime Buquet, Julien Guyot
  • Patent number: 8959884
    Abstract: CO2 compression is a main step in carbon capture and storage, which is essential to control global warming. CO2 compressors are powered by electric motors, which increase operational flexibility but require much energy leading to additional expenses, power and efficiency losses. A method is provided for optimized operation of a plant including a power generation unit with a CO2 capture system and compressor with minimum losses during normal operation, allowing flexible part load. The method allows steam from the power unit to drive a steam turbine, which drives the CO2 compressor via an engaged overrunning clutch if a sufficient amount of steam is available from the power unit, and to drive it by the generator, which is used as motor when insufficient steam is available from the power unit. When no or insufficient steam is available the clutch is disengaged and the steam turbine may be at standstill or idling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Jürgen Hoffmann, Holger Nagel, Hongtao Li
  • Patent number: 8963350
    Abstract: A steam turbine driven electric power plant with an electric generator is switchable into an islanding mode wherein a main steam turbine is shut down and a lower capacity industrial steam turbine runs the electric generator instead, to supply house power to the plant while decoupled from the power grid. This avoids operating the main steam turbine and/or its steam source at reduced ratings for which they are not optimized and keeps the plant ready for restarting. The main steam turbine, the electric machine and the industrial steam turbine are mechanically engaged or disengaged through an SSS clutch, torque converter and transmission. In another mode, the electric generator is decoupled mechanically and operated as a mechanically unloaded synchronous motor coupled to the power grid, namely as a synchronous condenser wherein phased over- or under-excitation of the motor field windings supplies reactive power to the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Bechtel Power Corporation
    Inventors: Mark S. Boulden, Seyfettin C. Gülen
  • Patent number: 8957537
    Abstract: A method of operating a wind turbine having a rotor with a plurality of blades, and one or more pitch mechanisms for rotating the blades including a sub-nominal zone of operation and a supra-nominal zone of operation for wind speeds above the nominal wind speed wherein the sub-nominal zone of operation includes a first, a second and a third operational range. The first operational range extends from a cut-in wind speed to a first wind speed, wherein the rotor speed is kept substantially constant at a first value. The second operational range extends from the first wind speed to a second wind speed, wherein both the rotor speed and generator torque are varied as a function of wind speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Alstom Renovables España, S.L.
    Inventor: Marc Guadayol Roig
  • Patent number: 8956103
    Abstract: A hydroelectricity generating unit capturing marine wave energy and marine current energy is completed with a buoyant floating frame, a plurality of electric generating pontoons, and a floating frame mooring system. The buoyant floating frame is positioned underneath water and connected with a seabed by the floating frame mooring system and connected with the plurality of electric generating pontoons by a plurality of pontoon mooring systems. The buoyant floating frame includes marine current electric generating units which are rotatably connected within the buoyant floating frame and utilize the marine current energy to produce electricity. The plurality of electric generating pontoons also produces additional electricity by the flowing marine wave energy and marine current energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Inventor: Donald H. Gehring
  • Patent number: 8952661
    Abstract: An emergency power supply device for a rotor blade adjustment system of a wind turbine is disclosed. The emergency power supply device includes a plurality of electric power accumulators and a plurality of electric charging units. The number of charging units corresponds to the number of electric power accumulators. An electric circuit is operable to electrically couple each of the electric charging units to a plurality of the electric power accumulators and each of the electric power accumulators to a plurality of the charging units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: SSB Wind Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ralf Hagedorn
  • Patent number: 8952559
    Abstract: A hydroelectric power station has an energy unit including a turbine and a generator. The impeller of the turbine includes an impeller ring and turbine blades. The radially outer ends of the turbine blades are fixed to the inner surface of the impeller ring, and the radially inner ends of the turbine blades are free and together form a central passage. The impeller ring is surrounded by the generator and acts as a bearing therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Voith Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Benjamin Holstein, Jorg Lochschmidt, Thomas Pontow
  • Patent number: 8941251
    Abstract: An electricity generating shock absorber includes a coil assembly having a length of electrically conducting material wrapped around an outside perimeter, and along a length, of a hollow tube formed of electrically resistant material; a magnet unit formed of at least one annular axial magnet; a central shaft having a magnetic reluctance on which a plurality of the magnet units are mounted, the central shaft dimensioned for insertion through a central opening of the at least one annular axial magnet, the central shaft combined with the plurality of magnet units forming a magnet assembly dimensioned to slideably insert into a central cavity of the hollow tube; and a cylindrical shell having a first end attached to a terminal end of the magnet assembly, the cylindrical shell extending a length of the magnet assembly, the cylindrical shell having an inner diameter sized to slideably accommodate an outside diameter of the coil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: The Research Foundation of State University of New York
    Inventors: Lei Zuo, Xiudong Tang, Pei Sheng Zhang
  • Patent number: 8941257
    Abstract: In a wind power generator, a nacelle is located on an upper portion of a support rod, a rotor head having wind turbine blades fitted thereto is rotatably supported to a front end side of the nacelle, and a main shaft rotating integrally with the rotor head, a gear box coupled with the main shaft which rotates while the wind turbine blades receive a wind power, a power generator having a rotor driven by a shaft output of the gear box, a brush, and a slip ring, and a humidity management device controlling humidity inside of the power generator having the brush and the slip ring, are installed in an interior of the nacelle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Iwata, Norihito Yanagita, Tatsuro Kato
  • Patent number: 8941351
    Abstract: An adjusting device for rotor blades of a wind power plant is disclosed. An AC motor is provided for adjusting the angle setting of the rotor blades. An input serves for receiving an input alternating current. A frequency converter is provided for generating a second alternating current having a second frequency, wherein the second alternating current drives the AC motor. Additionally, a DC voltage source and an inverter are provided for converting the voltage provided by the DC voltage source into an alternating current for the AC motor. The inverter is thereby separated from the frequency inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Becker, Bernd Spatz
  • Patent number: 8916985
    Abstract: A method for the start of a power plant installation which includes a gas turbine, a generator coupled to the gas turbine, and a frequency converter to feed current into an electrical grid. In accordance with the method, during the start of the gas turbine, the generator is connected to the electrical grid via the frequency converter before the operating rotational speed of the gas turbine is reached, wherein the frequency converter is controlled such that it generates an output current with the grid frequency. A power plant installation can execute the above method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: ALSTOM Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Joerg Oesterheld, Juergen Hoffmann
  • Patent number: 8914179
    Abstract: During an inertial energy storage operation, electric power conversion at an inverter is controlled such that a direct current electric power from an electric power storage device is converted into an alternating current by the inverter so as to be supplied to stator windings, such that torque in the direction of engine rotation is applied to an output side rotor from a stator to rotatively drive the output side rotor in a state where power transmission from the output side rotor to a drive axle is stopped. During a cranking operation after the inertial energy storage operation, the electric power conversion at an inverter is controlled to permit application of the alternating current to rotor windings, such that a torque in the direction of engine rotation is applied to an input side rotor from the output side rotor, thereby rotatively driving an input side rotor to crank the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyota Chuo Kenkyusho, Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Eiji Tsuchiya, Takao Watanabe, Shu Asami, Tatsuya Miyano, Akira Murakami, Hiroyuki Ogawa, Tomoyuki Toyama
  • Patent number: 8907505
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method are provided for obtaining electrical power from activities, e.g., walking and running, of a user. In one example, the apparatus includes first and second compressible bladders; a fluid containing column coupled between the first and second compressible bladders; a magnetic piston disposed in the fluid containing column, the magnetic piston being shaped to conform with an internal cross section of the cylinder and movable in the cylinder along a longitudinal direction of the cylinder, wherein the magnetic piston comprises a plurality of magnets with similar poles facing each other and separated by one or more pole pieces, the magnets being axially magnetized along the longitudinal direction; one or more wire windings disposed proximate the magnetic piston; and an electric charge storage electrically coupled to said one or more wire windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Energy Harvesters LLC
    Inventors: John Douglas Fortier, Lawrence Charles Grumer
  • Patent number: 8907517
    Abstract: A power transmission system for a wind turbine comprises a gearbox and generator. The gearbox includes a gearbox housing and gearbox output member. The generator includes: a generator housing having a drive-end side and non-drive-end side, the drive-end side being coupled to the gearbox housing; a stator supported by the generator housing; a rotor having a rotor shaft coupled to the gearbox output member and a rotor body coupled to the rotor shaft; a non-drive-end shield coupled to the non-drive-end side; a spindle extending from the non-drive-end shield in the axial direction; and at least one generator bearing positioned between the rotor shaft and spindle. The generator bearing(s) support the gearbox output member and rotor shaft. A method of assembling or servicing such a power transmission system is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Peter Mongeau, Siddharth Ashar, Jens Demtröder
  • Patent number: 8901760
    Abstract: A machine is described that includes an electric drive for propelling the machine along a ground surface. The machine includes an electric power supply system configured to deliver operating electrical power to the electric drive. The electric power system includes a first generator and a second generator. The electric power system also includes a first rectifier coupled to the first generator and having a first direct current (DC) output and a second rectifier coupled to the second generator and having a second DC output. Both the first DC output and the second DC output are coupled to the single DC bus, thereby providing an arrangement for the first rectifier and the second rectifier to simultaneously provide power to the single DC bus. The electrical power system also includes a first inverter/controller coupled to the single DC bus and configured to provide a controlled alternating current to a first motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Jackson Wai, Robert R. Sychra, Robert W. Lindsey, Thomas M. Sopko, Bruce H. Hein
  • Patent number: 8890344
    Abstract: A method for operating a machine located in choppy waters, in particular a wave energy converter, for converting energy from a wave movement of a fluid into another form of energy includes determining measurement variables at a first, relatively early time, and calculating a variable characterizing a wave movement expected at a second, later time on the basis of the determined measurement variables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Hoffmann, Nicolas Houis, Nik Scharmann, Benjamin Hagemann, Jasper Behrendt, Markus Perschall, Alexander Poddey, Daniel Seiler-Thull, Michael Hilsch
  • Patent number: 8888438
    Abstract: A system and method of generating energy by transforming energy from a low-density substance, such as airflow or wind, into kinetic energy by directing the flow through a wind guide system towards panels that rotate in generally the same direction as the airflow. Furthermore, the system uses the ground and/or water as a surface for guiding the airflow towards the windmill devices. The system is made of lightweight, inexpensive tension compression construction. The tension compression system is weighted at the outermost ends of the wind-engaging panels to create a moment of inertia device capable of evening out the peaks typical of wind power generation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Inventor: Glenn L. Beane