Patents by Inventor Alexandre CHRISTE
Alexandre CHRISTE has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 12316236Abstract: A method is configured for operating a converter (10) which is implemented as a modular-multilevel converter and comprises a control arrangement (38) and a number M of phase-legs (21 to 29). The method comprises detecting whether the converter (10) has to be set into one mode of a group comprising a static synchronous compensator mode or a grid unbalance mode, generating mode control signals (MCS) depending on the detected mode, generating balance voltage reference signals (ubal,ref) depending on a first side frequency (?g), a second side frequency (?m), second side current reference signals (im,ref) and the mode control signals (MCS), generating a phase-leg control signal (uref), generating cell control signals (51 to S4) and providing the cell control signals (51 to S4) to semiconductor switches (41 to 44) of cells (31) of the phase-legs (21 to 29).Type: GrantFiled: March 4, 2021Date of Patent: May 27, 2025Assignee: HITACHI ENERGY LTDInventor: Alexandre Christe
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Publication number: 20240162828Abstract: A method is configured for operating a converter (10) which is implemented as a modular-multilevel converter and comprises a control arrangement (38) and a number M of phase-legs (21 to 29). The method comprises detecting whether the converter (10) has to be set into one mode of a group comprising a static synchronous compensator mode or a grid unbalance mode, generating mode control signals (MCS) depending on the detected mode, generating balance voltage reference signals (ubal,ref) depending on a first side frequency (?g), a second side frequency (?m), second side current reference signals (im,ref) and the mode control signals (MCS), generating a phase-leg control signal (uref), generating cell control signals (51 to S4) and providing the cell control signals (51 to S4) to semiconductor switches (41 to 44) of cells (31) of the phase-legs (21 to 29).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 4, 2021Publication date: May 16, 2024Inventor: Alexandre CHRISTE
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Patent number: 11705804Abstract: A voltage source converter as well as a method and computer program product for controlling the converter. The converter includes at least one phase leg connected between a first DC terminal having a first voltage and a second DC terminal having a second voltage, the phase leg including an upper arm and a lower arm with cells, where a junction between the arms is connected to a corresponding AC terminal. The converter also includes a control unit configured to control the cells to output a train of pulses of trapezoidal shape where the generation of a first control signal for a first cell used to initiate a transition between two levels of a pulse coincides with the decision that a transition is to be made.Type: GrantFiled: August 6, 2020Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Alexandre Christe, Yuhei Okazaki, Michele Luvisotto
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Publication number: 20230223756Abstract: A power supporting arrangement includes a DC network having a first DC line with a first DC potential, a second DC line with a second DC potential, and an energy storage system that includes a first energy storage unit connected in a branch between the first and the second DC lines. A first group of phase arms is connected in a wye-configuration between the power grid and the first DC line and a second group of phase arms connected in a wye-configuration between the power grid and the second DC line. The first and second groups of phase arms are controllable as a voltage source converter. A third group of phase arms is connected to the power grid in a wye-configuration. The third group of phase arms have a neutral point and being controllable to support the power grid with reactive power.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 25, 2020Publication date: July 13, 2023Inventors: Theodore Soong, Lexuan Meng, Jan Kheir, Tong Wu, Jean-Philippe Hasler, Gunnar Ingestrom, Yuhei Okazaki, Kalle Ilves, Alexandre Christe
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Publication number: 20220278629Abstract: A voltage source converter as well as a method and computer program product for controlling the converter. The converter includes at least one phase leg connected between a first DC terminal having a first voltage and a second DC terminal having a second voltage, the phase leg including an upper arm and a lower arm with cells, where a junction between the arms is connected to a corresponding AC terminal. The converter also includes a control unit configured to control the cells to output a train of pulses of trapezoidal shape where the generation of a first control signal for a first cell used to initiate a transition between two levels of a pulse coincides with the decision that a transition is to be made.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 6, 2020Publication date: September 1, 2022Inventors: Alexandre Christe, Yuhei Okazaki, Michele Luvisotto
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Patent number: 10554142Abstract: A method of decoupled modulation of a direct AC/AC MMC between a first AC network L having a first waveform and a second AC network R having a second waveform includes performing first and second modulations based on respective reference signals of the first and second AC networks to generate, for each phase leg, first and second integer command signals corresponding to first and second combinations of cell states in the branches of the phase leg needed for generating the first and second waveforms. The method also includes, based on the first and second integer command signals, mapping to each branch a number of cell states to be used for concurrently generating both the first and second waveforms.Type: GrantFiled: August 18, 2016Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AGInventors: Michail Vasiladiotis, Tobias Geyer, Alexandre Christe
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Patent number: 10530275Abstract: In a method of controlling a DC-to-AC Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) having a three-phase AC side connected to a three-phase AC network and having a DC side connected to a DC network, the MMC has a double-star topology with a plurality of phase-legs. Each phase-leg has a first branch and a second branch. Each of the first and second branches includes a plurality of series connected converter cells. The method includes obtaining an Optimized Pulse Pattern (OPP) for the MMC. The method also includes adapting the OPP to the MMC by means of closed-loop pulse pattern control. The method also includes, based on the adapted OPP, sending firing signals to the plurality of cells of each branch.Type: GrantFiled: October 21, 2016Date of Patent: January 7, 2020Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AGInventors: Michail Vasiladiotis, Alexandre Christe, Tobias Geyer
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Publication number: 20190341862Abstract: In a method of controlling a DC-to-AC Modular Multilevel Converter (MMC) having a three-phase AC side connected to a three-phase AC network and having a DC side connected to a DC network, the MMC has a double-star topology with a plurality of phase-legs. Each phase-leg has a first branch and a second branch. Each of the first and second branches includes a plurality of series connected converter cells. The method includes obtaining an Optimized Pulse Pattern (OPP) for the MMC. The method also includes adapting the OPP to the MMC by means of closed-loop pulse pattern control. The method also includes, based on the adapted OPP, sending firing signals to the plurality of cells of each branch.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 21, 2016Publication date: November 7, 2019Applicant: ABB SCHWEIZ AGInventors: Michail VASILADIOTIS, Alexandre CHRISTE, Tobias GEYER
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Publication number: 20190199230Abstract: A method of decoupled modulation of a direct AC/AC MMC between a first AC network having a first waveform and a second AC network having a second waveform, the MMC having a double-star topology with a plurality of phase legs, each phase leg having a first branch and a second branch, each of the first and second branches comprising a plurality of series connected bipolar cells. The method includes performing a first modulation based on a reference signal of the first AC network, independently of a reference signal of the second AC network, to generate, for each phase leg, a first integer command signal corresponding to a first combination of cell states in the first and second branches of the phase leg needed for generating the first waveform.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2016Publication date: June 27, 2019Applicant: ABB SCHWEIZ AGInventors: Michail VASILADIOTIS, Tobias GEYER, Alexandre CHRISTE