Patents Examined by Julio C. Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 9926807
    Abstract: Turbine assemblies, loss recovery systems, and related fabrication methods are provided for managing temperatures associated with an electrical generator. One exemplary turbine assembly suitable for use in a loss recovery system includes a wheel configured to rotate in response to a portion of a fluid flow bypassing a flow control valve, a generator including a stator assembly disposed about a rotor coupled to the wheel to rotate in response to rotation of the wheel, a conductive structure in contact with the stator assembly, and an insulating structure radially encompassing the conductive structure and the generator. The conductive structure accesses at least a portion of the fluid flow bypassing the flow control valve and impacting the wheel, thereby providing thermal coupling between the stator assembly and the bypass fluid flow to transfer heat from the stator assembly to the bypass fluid flow via the conductive structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Glenn F. Thompson, Patrick Beresewicz, Mike Guidry, Andrew Love
  • Patent number: 9926862
    Abstract: A method involves operating an internal combustion engine connected to an electric generator, in particular a synchronous generator, during a network fault, in particular during an electric short-circuit, in a power supply network connected to the generator. A mechanical power delivered by the internal combustion engine is introduced into the generator and converted into electric power in the generator. The electric power is delivered to the power supply network, and the mechanical power delivered by the internal combustion engine is at least temporarily increased depending on the value of at least one operating parameter of the generator and/or the internal combustion engine prior to the network fault and/or during the network fault, preferably by an amount of a fuel introduced into the internal combustion engine being increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: GE JENBACHER GMBH & CO OG
    Inventors: Jose Gomez, Herbert Kopecek, Erich Kruckenhauser, Herbert Schaumberger
  • Patent number: 9902467
    Abstract: A wave power generation device, including a power generation assembly, a mooring system, a floating platform, floating towers, control cabins, a connecting member, and anti-sway plates. The floating platform is a square floating box. The power generation assembly includes a swing plate, a hydraulic cylinder, an energy accumulator, a hydraulic motor, a generator, a battery, and a power generation and distribution device. The floating platform includes a main deck. The main deck includes a manhole and a support for supporting the swing plate. The swing plate is connected to the support via a first hinge. One end of the hydraulic cylinder is connected to the swing plate, and another end of the hydraulic cylinder is connected to a floating platform. The mooring system includes four anchor windlasses. A method for operating and maintaining the wave power generation device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignees: DALIAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Yan Lin, Xiaoning Jiang, Yanyun Yu, Zhikang Zhang, Fei Pei
  • Patent number: 9893563
    Abstract: The present subject matter is directed to a wind turbine electrical power configured to minimize power losses. The power system includes a generator having a generator stator and a generator rotor, a power converter electrically coupled to the generator, a main transformer electrically coupled to the power converter and the power grid, and an auxiliary transformer. More specifically, the main transformer is connected to the power grid via a voltage line comprising a voltage switch gear. Thus, the auxiliary transformer is connected directly to the voltage line, i.e. rather than being connected to the grid through the main transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Till Hoffmann, Werner Gerhard Barton, Hartmut Scholte-Wassink
  • Patent number: 9841101
    Abstract: Systems and methods for use in controlling a hydraulically powered AC generator are provided. One control system includes a valve system. The valve system includes a fixed valve configured to provide a substantially constant flow rate of the fluid through the fixed valve to the hydraulically powered AC generator. The valve system further includes a variable valve configured to provide a variable flow rate of the fluid through the variable valve to the hydraulically powered AC generator. The control system further includes a sensor device configured to measure a speed of movement of a component of the hydraulically powered AC generator. The control system further includes a control circuit configured to control the variable flow rate of the variable valve based on the speed of movement of the component measured by the sensor device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert E. Torney, Nick V. Halstead, Hans L. Drabek, Eric G. Bollensen, James C. Alexander, Tony Leakey, Gerald R. Williams
  • Patent number: 9819292
    Abstract: A method includes combusting a fuel and an oxidant in a combustor of an exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) gas turbine system that produces electrical power and provides a portion of the electrical power to an electrical grid. The method further includes controlling, via one or more processors, one or more parameters of the EGR gas turbine system to decrease the portion of the electrical power provided to the electrical grid in response to an over-frequency event associated with the electrical grid, wherein controlling the one or more parameters comprises decreasing a flow rate of fuel to the combustor in response to the over-frequency event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignees: General Electric Company, ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company
    Inventors: Jonathan Carl Thatcher, Ilya Aleksandrovich Slobodyanskiy, Aaron Lavene Vorel
  • Patent number: 9800186
    Abstract: A magnetoelectric device capable of storing usable electrical energy includes an inductive servo control unit and a motor. The motor includes a rotor and three ferromagnetic-core coils disposed around the rotor. The inductive servo control unit executes individual phase control on the three-phase induction motor to magnetize the ferromagnetic-core coils with respective phases. When each of the ferromagnetic-core coils is demagnetized, it generates a current due to counter-electromotive force to charge a damping capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventors: Fu-Tzu Hsu, Chieh-Sen Tu
  • Patent number: 9797366
    Abstract: An underwater pumped storage power plant that includes: an accumulator system with pressure vessels fillable with water and; a water outlet for water flow out of the system into a surrounding ocean against hydrostatic water pressure (PT) corresponding to water depth (T); a pump at the water outlet to pump water out of the system by converting electrical energy into potential energy corresponding to a displaced water column PT; a water inlet to allow water flow into the system from the surrounding ocean; a common generator at the water inlet, to convert the potential energy back into electrical energy when water flows in; electric lines to transport the electrical energy from the ocean surface to the power plant and back, wherein the pressure vessels are pressure-resistant and resistant to deformation from the PT at the ocean floor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: Roentdek-Handels
    Inventors: Horst Schmidt-Boecking, Gerhard Luther
  • Patent number: 9789770
    Abstract: The invention relates to a work machine, in particular in the form of a dump truck or truck, having a diesel electric traction drive, wherein at least one alternator is or can be driven by at least one internal combustion engine of the work machine. In accordance with the invention, the current generation can also be reliably interruptible with a running internal combustion engine by interruption of the excitation circuit by means of a breaker switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: Liebherr-Mining Equipment Colmar SAS
    Inventors: Adrien Levaray, Bernd Sommer, Scott Bellamy
  • Patent number: 9793756
    Abstract: A wind turbine pitch drive system comprises an electric grid for supplying electrical power, a motor for driving a pitch actuator, an electronic converter for controlling the motor and a back-up energy storage unit for supplying electrical power. The electronic converter comprises a DC-link capacitor bank. The system furthermore comprises a switching device for selectively connecting the DC-capacitor bank link to the back-up energy storage unit, and a frequency generator for controlling the switching device. Also disclosed is a method for protecting a component of the electronic converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2017
    Assignee: ALSTOM Renewable Technologies
    Inventors: Pedro Palomares Rentero, Alejandro Rujas, Héctor Ortiz De Landazuri
  • Patent number: 9765640
    Abstract: An exemplary system may include a gas turbine engine configured to operate at an engine power level to satisfy an engine power demand. The system may also include at least one generator operatively coupled to the engine and configured to generate electrical power based at least in part on the engine power demand. The system further may include at least one heating element in communication with the at least one generator, and at least one control unit coupled to the at least one heating element. The at least one heating element may be configured to receive electrical power from the at least one generator to generate thermal energy. The at least one control unit may be configured to energize the heating element when the engine power demand is below the engine power level and/or there is an anticipated increase in the engine power demand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventor: Alan W. Smith
  • Patent number: 9745944
    Abstract: An engine starter unit for starting an engine, includes a starter, a first controller, and a prohibiting means. The starter includes a motor generating a rotary force and a pinion transmitting the rotary force generated by the motor to the engine, the starter cranking the engine up to an engine speed of 450 rpm or more in a drive ON state. The first controller turns the starter into the drive ON state to make the starter start cranking in response to an ON operation of an ignition switch by a user. The prohibiting means prohibits the starter from being turned into the drive ON state again in response to another ON operation of the ignition switch for a prohibition duration after the first ON operation by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tatsuya Fujita
  • Patent number: 9735718
    Abstract: A method for controlling an alternator includes determining a temperature-dependent value associated with a battery coupled to an alternator and determining an excitation emergency threshold for the alternator based on the determined temperature-dependent value associated with the battery. The method further includes initiating, by a controller of an alternator, at least one safety measure upon a determination that a voltage associated with the battery exceeds the determined excitation emergency threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Martin Grafling, Christoph Seidl
  • Patent number: 9735719
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of generator technology. It is an object of the invention to control the stability in an electric grid in which a plurality of generators are connected providing electric power to the grid. A static exciter system includes a control device for controlling the field voltage of the field winding of at least two generators connected to a grid system via a busbar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Luis Diez-Maroto, Luis Rouco-Rodriguez, Fidel Fernandez-Bernal, Idriss El-Merdoui
  • Patent number: 9732699
    Abstract: A high efficiency, thermodynamically interactive power system incorporating a “thermodynamic battery” operating in the cryogenic range. The “thermodynamic battery” is drawn upon to optimize the efficiency of power generation during times of peak demand and is “recharged” during periods of low demand. The system is ideally suited for (although not limited to) micropowerplants suitable for widely distributed generation of power in or associated with homes and small businesses, reducing transmission loading on the grid and capable of supplying power into the grid during peak load periods. The widely distributed power generation made practical by present inventions also enables distribution of heating and chill service locally on a much larger scale than is possible with large, centralized generation plants.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Inventor: Richard H. Vogel
  • Patent number: 9714641
    Abstract: A wind power turbine configured to produce and feed electric energy to an electric power grid; the wind power turbine having: a blade assembly; at least one electric machine connected to the blade assembly to generate electric energy, and having a rotor, and a stator divided into a quantity or number of stator subsystems; and an electric transmission system configured to connect the quantity or number of stator subsystems to the electric power grid, and having an electric transmission assembly for, and connected to, each stator subsystem. The wind power turbine being characterized by having a control device connected to, and configured to receive malfunction signals from, the electric transmission assemblies, and configured to define an individual target torque reference value on the basis of the malfunction signals from the electric transmission assemblies, so as to reduce discontinuity in the torque of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: WINDFIN B.V.
    Inventors: Davide Bagnara, Matteo Casazza, Leonardo Mandrioli
  • Patent number: 9709021
    Abstract: A wave power generator comprises a buoyant casing (500) intended to float in a body of water. An electric machine (103) located within the casing has an armature and a field source, the electric machine having a fixed part coupled to the casing and a moving part. A counterweight assembly (104) is movable within the casing, comprising the moving part of the electric machine and wherein a relative movement of the counterweight assembly and the fixed part of the electric machine generates electric power. Power storage (400) stores power generated by the electric machine and a control system (200) determines a bi-directional energy flow between the power storage and the armature, wherein energy is returned to the electric machine to drive a motion of the counterweight assembly anti-symmetrically to a motion of the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignee: DDNT CONSULTANTS AUSTRALIA PTY LTD
    Inventors: Dalibor Frtunik, George Brawley
  • Patent number: 9664180
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a system and method for generating power, such as electrical power, using an increased volume of a working liquid in a tank when the working liquid is heated. The increased volume of the working liquid may increase a pressure in the tank such that a portion of the working liquid is forced through one or more fluid lines towards a hydraulic generator. The hydraulic generator may then generate electricity based at least in part on the portion of fluid transferred to the hydraulic lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Inventor: John A. Saavedra
  • Patent number: 9657711
    Abstract: A waste-watermill for generating electrical energy from a flow of waste water running through an underground waste-water conduit. The flow of waste water defines a free surface and a flow direction inside the waste water conduit. The waste-watermill comprises 1) a water wheel for being driven by the flow of waste water in an undershot configuration, 2) an axle for defining an rotational axis for the water wheel, where the flow of waste water passes below and transverse to the rotational axis in the undershot configuration, 3) a wheel support for rotationally supporting the water wheel in the undershot configuration and in a stationary position relative to the underground waste-water conduit, and 4) an electric generator operatively connected with the water wheel and the axle for being driven by the water wheel to produce electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: E-MILL APS
    Inventor: Carsten Stausgaard
  • Patent number: 9651018
    Abstract: A power generating assembly for generating electricity from a flowing medium includes an enclosure. The enclosure includes an elongated duct along which the medium flows. The duct defines a longitudinal direction and a lateral direction. The duct includes a converging inlet nozzle having a span in the lateral direction. At least one pair of turbines is arranged within and on either side of the duct in the lateral direction. The turbines are rotated in opposite directions by the flowing medium. The turbines have a span in the lateral direction. The span of the converging inlet nozzle is at least the span of the at least one pair of turbines. A generator is interconnected with each turbine of the at least one pair of turbines via a drive means such that the generator rotates with rotation of the turbines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Inventor: Mihalis Vorias