Patents Examined by Julio C. Gonzalez
  • Patent number: 8963509
    Abstract: A dip in the output voltage of a motor-vehicle alternator, owing to a connecting of a load or a change in speed, is compensated with the aid of an alternator regulator which provides a control signal that has a duty factor and increases the excitation current of the motor-vehicle alternator. After the occurrence of the voltage dip, in a first step, the duty factor of the control signal is increased by a differential amount, and in a subsequent second step, the rate of correction is limited. After the occurrence of the voltage dip, parameters describing the instantaneous working point of the motor-vehicle alternator are determined, and in the first step, the differential amount is set as a function of the working point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Andre Micko, Michael Herz
  • Patent number: 8933611
    Abstract: Electricity generated by a vibration power generator 200 can be extracted efficiently by providing the vibration power generator 200, a rectifier circuit bridge 205, an output controlling circuit 201, a load detecting circuit 202 and a frequency detecting circuit 204 and detecting a frequency of the vibration power generator 200 and then controlling an impedance of an output controlling circuit 101 depending on the frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakatsuka, Masaaki Kuranuki, Keiji Onishi
  • Patent number: 8928160
    Abstract: An electrical generator apparatus, which is configured to convert an external actuation force applied by a vehicle traveling on a roadway into electrical energy, includes a rotatable top portion adapted to receive the external actuation force applied by the vehicle traveling on the roadway; a plurality of linkage members operatively connected to one another in succession, the rotatable top portion being operatively coupled to a first one of the plurality of linkage members; a first wheel operatively coupled to a last one of the plurality of linkage members; a second wheel operatively coupled to the first wheel via a tangential coupling element; a rotatable shaft operatively coupled to the second wheel; at least one flywheel operatively coupled to the rotatable shaft; and at least one electrical generator operatively coupled to the rotatable shaft, the electrical generator adapted to convert a rotational movement of the rotatable shaft into electrical energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: Jack Shihzong Jang
  • Patent number: 8922038
    Abstract: A wind power unit that includes a tower and a support structure that cantilevers from the upper end of the tower. The wind power unit includes an electrical transformer that is suspended from the support structure. In one embodiment, the transformer extends through an opening in the bottom portion of a nacelle that encloses the support structure and includes electrical connections on its upper end that are accessible from inside the nacelle via a service opening in a floor located above the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Northern Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Garrett L. Bywaters, Trevor H. Cole
  • Patent number: 8897922
    Abstract: A method for controlling the operation of a wind farm with a plurality of wind turbines is disclosed A setpoint vector is defined, wherein each component of the setpoint vector represents an individual power setpoint of one of the plurality of wind turbines. A dependency matrix, which reflects a desired power generation distribution between different wind turbines of the plurality of wind turbines, is determined. A power reference vector is calculated by multiplying the dependency matrix with the setpoint vector, such that the power reference vector comprises a coordinated power setpoint for each wind turbine. The operation of the wind farm is controlled based on the calculated power reference vector. A superordinate control system, a wind farm, a computer-readable medium and a program element, which are adapted for performing and/or for controlling the above described wind farm operation control method are further disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Per Egedal, Ramakrishnan Krishna
  • Patent number: 8890345
    Abstract: The invention concerns a turbine driving a power conversion means, the power conversion means comprising several power conversion units, preferably of approximately similar power conversion capacity, that have coupling means for coupling the power conversion units to the turbine, the turbine having measuring means for determining the rotation speed of the turbine and/or a flow speed of the turbine driving flow of wind or water and a control system for controlling the coupling means in dependence of the determined rotation speed and/or flow speed. In accordance with the invention the control system has means for activating and deactivating the coupling means for the different the power conversion units so that the power conversion units are used equally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: Dutch Rainmaker B.V.
    Inventor: Pieter Adriaan Oosterling
  • Patent number: 8866314
    Abstract: The invention relates to inertial systems for the accumulation and conversion of energy, and can be used as a power unit to drive various machines and vehicles. According to the disclosed method, a source of mechanical oscillations is used to generate an alternating rotational torque which is applied to the working train made capable of unidirectional rotational motion. An inertial vibrator disposed axially on the working train is used as the oscillation source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Permotors GmbH
    Inventor: Edvid Ivanovich Linevich
  • Patent number: 8866320
    Abstract: An energy generator for generating energy from renewable alternative sources, includes: a flotable platform adapted to be partially immersed in a fluid; a tower element arranged on the platform and including at least one wind generator for collecting wind energy and converting the same into electric energy, at least one first energy accumulator and at least one inverter. The energy generator further includes at least one system for storing and converting mechanical energy; the system for storing and converting mechanical energy including at least one charge mechanical accumulator, at least one flywheel balance coupled with the charge mechanical accumulator and a device for converting mechanical energy into electric energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Inventor: Vittorio Perregrini
  • Patent number: 8860236
    Abstract: A wind energy power conversion system includes a gearbox, a generator, an AC to DC power converter, a DC link, and a DC to AC power converter, and at least one ultracapacitor module connected in parallel on the DC link. A method of reducing stress on a wind turbine gearbox can be performed by obtaining an unwanted frequency of the wind energy power conversion system gearbox; determining an input torque value on the input shaft of the gearbox as a function of time; determining a frequency of the input torque value; and adjusting a torque on the output shaft of the gearbox based on the unwanted frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: UWM Research Foundation, Inc.
    Inventor: Adel Nasiri
  • Patent number: 8854016
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus capable of setting a ripple current to be not more than an acceptable value regardless of an input voltage is obtained. The apparatus calculates switching frequency by a current detected by a current detector so that the switching frequency is set to be low if the current is large and the switching frequency is set to be high if the current is small. The switching frequency is set to be high if the input voltage is high and switching frequency is set to be low if the input voltage is low depending on a voltage inputted to an input terminal; and a switching element is controlled by restricting the switching frequency so that the switching frequency to be set by the current detected by the current detector is not lower than the switching frequency to be set by the input voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Daigo, Nobuhiro Kihara, Naoki Itoi
  • Patent number: 8841788
    Abstract: A Wave Energy Converter (WEC) (70) to be applied in water vehicles (100, 200) and floating bodies (300) is described. The WEC (70) involves a mass-spring-damper system comprising at least one oscillating mass (12), springs (14) at the rate of at least two springs (14) for each oscillating mass (12), said springs (14) being arranged radially to said oscillating mass (12), and at least two power take-off (PTO) devices (13) having different degrees of freedom (DOF). WEC (70) is applied in the motoring and concomitant or alternative energy generation in water vehicles (100, 200) and floating bodies (300). Energy generation is consequent to external disturbances including waves, currents and conventional motoring which results in oscillations in the system containing said WEC (70).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2014
    Inventor: Marcelo Regattieri Sampaio
  • Patent number: 8836292
    Abstract: An electric power generation system and method that permits enhanced power generation efficiency when applied to rotating electric power generation systems is disclosed. The system may be broadly described as generally improving energy generation efficiency by improving the efficiency of electric current extraction from stator coils in many alternator-based electric power generation systems. The system disclosed comprises a number of preferred embodiments, some of which utilize buck-boost converter technologies in conjunction with super-diode excitation/rectification to minimize I2R power losses within rotating power generation system components while at the same time reducing heat losses and thus increasing overall rectification circuitry system reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Inventor: Kevin Mark Klughart
  • Patent number: 8836153
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wave-power aggregate and a method of extracting energy from wave motion in a liquid by means of a wave-power aggregate. The wave-power aggregate comprises a container which is situated at least partially in the liquid and also comprises an inflow and an outflow. The container is arranged to, under the influence of said wave motion, to let a first part of the container arrange itself in a first position and a second part of the container in a second position, where the first and second position corresponds to different potential energy states. The method comprises the steps of: alternately supplying the container with at least a first and a second fluid respectively via the inflow, where the density of the fluids differs. at least during an initial stage of the method controlling a flow resistance in at least one of the first and second fluids through the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Vigor Wave Energy AB
    Inventor: Daniel Ehrnberg
  • Patent number: 8823332
    Abstract: A fault tolerant electric drive system includes an alternator, a motor controller and an electric motor, wherein the alternator and motor each have a plurality of corresponding independent phase windings, the motor controller having a plurality of independent phase drives corresponding to the phase windings, and a plurality of independent electric drive phases is defined by connecting each corresponding phase winding of the alternator and motor to a corresponding phase drive of the motor controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Controls and Data Services Limited
    Inventor: Peter Douglas Smout
  • Patent number: 8810054
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wave-power unit for the production of electric power. It comprises a floating body (1) arranged for floating on the sea and an electric linear generator (2) having a stator (5) and a translator (8) reciprocating along a center axis. The stator (5) is arranged to be anchored in the bed of the sea and the translator (8) is connected to the floating body (1) by connection means (3, 7). According to the invention the generator (2) is enclosed in a water-tight encapsulation (4) having an upper end wall with an opening through which the connection means (7) extends. The opening has a seal (12) that seals against the connection means (7). The seal (12) is flexibly mounted. The invention also relates to the use of the wave-power unit and to a method for producing electric power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Seabased AB
    Inventors: Erland Strömstedt, Stefan Gustafsson
  • Patent number: 8796874
    Abstract: A method is provided for operating a power station (10) with turbine shafting (11) including a gas turbine (12) and a generator (18) that is driven directly by the gas turbine (12) and that generates alternating current with an operating frequency. The output of the generator is connected to an electrical grid (21) with a given grid frequency. An electronic decoupling apparatus or variable electronic gearbox (27) is arranged between the generator (18) and the grid (21). The decoupling apparatus decouples the operating frequency from the grid frequency. In the event of a temporary over-frequency or under-frequency event in the electrical grid (21), the mechanical rotational speed of the gas turbine (12) is decreased more than the grid frequency during an under-frequency event of the electrical grid (21) and is increased more than the grid frequency during an over-frequency event of the electrical grid (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Jürgen Hoffmann, Thomas Meindl
  • Patent number: 8749206
    Abstract: A circuit includes a first half bridge including a first controllable semiconductor switch and a first diode. The first controllable semiconductor switch is coupled between a first constant supply potential and a center tap of the first half bridge. The first diode is coupled between the center tap and a constant reference potential. A second half bridge includes a second diode and a second controllable semiconductor switch. The second diode is coupled between a second constant potential higher than the first potential and a center tap of the second half bridge. The second controllable semiconductor switch is coupled between the center tap and the constant reference potential. Driver circuitry controls the conducting state of the first and the second semiconductor switch thus controlling the current flow through a field connectable between the center taps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
    Inventors: Benno Koeppl, Michael Scheffer, Frank Auer
  • Patent number: 8698335
    Abstract: A system comprising low cost topology for power converter systems is provided. The system takes advantage of the voltage-boost characteristic of a current source inverter (CSI) and utilizes a PWM CSI as a grid-side converter for power generation systems. Moreover, the generator-side converter employs low-cost devices, such as, but not limited to diode bridge, thyristor bridge, and/or a combination of diodes and thyristors, and accordingly simplifies generator-side converter and control. Further, the system provides a wider range of operation than traditional voltage source converter based topologies that utilize a voltage source inverter (VSI) as the grid-side convertor along with a diode rectifier as the generator-side converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jingya Dai, Navid R. Zargari, Bin Wu, David Dewei Xu, Jiacheng Wang
  • Patent number: 8680704
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for generating electrical power through the reduction of a wellhead pressure. In accordance with various embodiments, a wellhead coupled to a subterranean formation supplies a first conduit with pressurized natural gas at a first pressure. A turbine receives the pressurized natural gas and induces a pressure drop in the gas as the gas induces mechanical rotation of the turbine. A mechanical linkage is coupled to the turbine, and an electrical generator is coupled to the mechanical linkage. The electrical generator generates electrical power responsive to the mechanical rotation of the turbine. The turbine and the electrical generator are operated to maintain an exit pressure of the pressurized natural gas at a predetermined second pressure less than the first pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Taylor Valve Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Christopher F. Rooney
  • Patent number: 8674683
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the rotation of a generator rotor. The monitor uses a light beam directed toward the rotor to detect a marking thereon, and generates an electrical pulse when the marking is detected. The time between the pulse and a reference point (such as a zero crossing) of the signal waveform from the terminals of the generator may be used to calculate the power angle of the generator. The system is adaptive in that it can account for new markings on the rotor. The system may be connected to a network so that power angles from various generators on the electrical network may be compared. The system may further be connected to a common time source such that a time stamp may be applied to the power angles from various generators, allowing for more accurate comparison of the power angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories Inc
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, David E. Whitehead