Patents by Inventor Brian W. Peticolas
Brian W. Peticolas 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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Publication number: 20090181286Abstract: Cell voltage measuring systems and methods for determining voltage levels across cells within a string of electrochemical cells coupled to each other in series are provided. The string of electrochemical cells has a plurality of tap points dispersed throughout the string. A network of electro-mechanical relays electrically couple to the string of electrochemical cells with each relay coupling to a respective tap point. A controller is coupled to the network of relays and selectively activates a pair of relays within the network responsive to a selection signal. Activation of the pair of relays develops an output voltage level that corresponds to the voltage across one or more cells between respective tap points of the activated pair of relays.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2008Publication date: July 16, 2009Inventors: DOUGLAS A. BRUNNER, Brian W. Peticolas
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Publication number: 20040080165Abstract: A turbogenerator/motor controller with a microprocessor based inverter having multiple modes of operation with an energy storage and discharge system including an ancillary electric storage device, such as a battery, connected to the generator controller through control electronics. Electrical energy can flow from the ancillary electric storage device to the turbogenerator controller during start up and increasing load and vice versa during self-sustained operation of the turbogenerator. When utility power is unavailable, the ancillary electric storage device can provide the power required to start the turbogenerator. When a load transient occurs, the gas turbine engine and the ancillary electric storage device provide the power required to successfully meet the transient.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 11, 2003Publication date: April 29, 2004Applicant: Capstone Turbine CorporationInventors: Everett R. Geis, Brian W. Peticolas, Joel B. Wacknov
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Patent number: 6495929Abstract: A power control system for a turbogenerator which provides electrical power to one or more pump-jack oil wells. When the induction motor of a pump-jack oil well is powered by three-phase utility power, the speed of the pump-jack shaft varies only slightly over the pumping cycle but the utility power requirements can vary by four times the average pumping power. This power variation makes it impractical to power a pump-jack oil well with a stand-alone turbogenerator controlled by a conventional power control system. This power control system comprises a turbogenerator inverter, a load inverter, and a central processing unit which controls the frequency and voltage/current of each inverter.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2001Date of Patent: December 17, 2002Assignee: Capstone Turbine CorporationInventors: Robert W. Bosley, Edward C. Edelman, Steven W. Lampe, Brian W. Peticolas
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Publication number: 20020030364Abstract: A power control system for a turbogenerator which provides electrical power to one or more pump-jack oil wells. When the induction motor of a pump-jack oil well is powered by three-phase utility power, the speed of the pump-jack shaft varies only slighty over the pumping cycle but the utility power requirements can vary by four times the average pumping power. This power variation makes it impractical to power a pump-jack oil well with a stand-alone turbogenerator controlled by a conventional power control system. This power control system comprises a turbogenerator inverter, a load inverter, and a central process unit which controls the frequency and voltage/current of each inverter.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 9, 2001Publication date: March 14, 2002Applicant: Capstone Turbine CorporationInventors: Robert W. Bosley, Edward C. Edelman, Steven W. Lampe, Brian W. Peticolas
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Patent number: 6265786Abstract: A power control system for a turbogenerator which provides electrical power to pump-jack oil well. When the induction motor of a pump-jack is powered by three-phase utility power, the speed of the shaft varies only slightly over the pumping cycle but the utility power requirements can vary by four times the average pumping power. This variation makes it impractical to power a pump-jack oil well with a stand-alone turbogenerator controlled by a conventional power control system. This control system comprises a turbogenerator inverter, a load inverter, and a central processing unit which controls the frequency and voltage/current of each inverter. Throughout the pumping cycle, the processing unit increases or decreases the frequency of the load inverter in order to axially accelerate and decelerate the masses of the down hole pump rods and oil, and to rotationally accelerate and decelerate the motor rotors and counter balance weights.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1998Date of Patent: July 24, 2001Assignee: Capstone Turbine CorporationInventors: Robert W. Bosley, Edward C. Edelman, Steven W. Lampe, Brian W. Peticolas
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Patent number: 6093975Abstract: A turbogenerator/motor controller with a microprocessor-based control system having a synchronous condenser, line commutated inverter, and a battery coupled to the turbogenerator/motor controller. When a load transient occurs, the gas turbine engine and the synchronous condenser, which draws its power from the line commutated inverter and battery, provide the power required to successfully meet the transient until the gas turbine engine controls respond by commanding the gas turbine engine to a higher speed, producing more power out of the turbogenerator. In the event of a sudden reduction in load, an auxiliary load device temporarily draws load until the gas turbine engine controls can respond and reduce the output power of the turbogenerator.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 1998Date of Patent: July 25, 2000Assignee: Capstone Turbine CorporationInventor: Brian W. Peticolas
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Patent number: 6049195Abstract: A permanent magnet generator having a winding split into two equal windings with each of the two windings connected to a separate three phase rectifier block of a pulse width modulated inverter The pulse width modulated inverter includes three (3) IGBT channels across the voltage bus with the neutral created between the separate three phase rectifier blocks.Type: GrantFiled: July 19, 1999Date of Patent: April 11, 2000Assignee: Capstone Turbine CorporationInventors: Everett R. Geis, Brian W. Peticolas, Joel B. Wacknov
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Patent number: 6031294Abstract: A turbogenerator/motor controller with a microprocessor based inverter having multiple modes of operation with an energy storage and discharge system including an ancillary electric storage device, such as a battery, connected to the generator controller through control electronics. Electrical energy can flow from the ancillary electric storage device to the turbogenerator controller during start up and increasing load and vice versa during self-sustained operation of the turbogenerator. When utility power is unavailable, the ancillary electric storage device can provide the power required to start the turbogenerator. When a load transient occurs, the gas turbine engine and the ancillary electric storage device provide the power required to successfully meet the transient.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 1998Date of Patent: February 29, 2000Assignee: Capstone Turbine CorporationInventors: Everett R. Geis, Brian W. Peticolas, Joel B. Wacknov
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Patent number: 6020713Abstract: A controller for a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor having a pulse width modulated inverter and a rectifier bridge. The pulse width modulated inverter includes a positive section magnetic winding and a separate equal negative section magnetic winding, and the inverter has a positive section connected to the positive section magnetic winding of the pulse width modulated inverter and a negative section connected to the separate negative section magnetic winding of the pulse width modulated inverter.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 1998Date of Patent: February 1, 2000Assignee: Capstone Turbine CorporationInventors: Everett R. Geis, Brian W. Peticolas, Joel B. Wacknov
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Patent number: 5903116Abstract: A turbogenerator/motor controller with a microprocessor based inverter having multiple modes of operation. To start the turbine, the inverter connects to and supplies fixed current, variable voltage, variable frequency, AC power to the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor, driving the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor as a motor to accelerate the gas turbine. During this acceleration, spark and fuel are introduced in the correct sequence, and self-sustaining gas turbine operating conditions are reached. The inverter is then disconnected from the permanent magnet generator/motor, reconfigured to a controlled 60 hertz mode, and then either supplies regulated 60 hertz three phase voltage to a stand alone load or phase locks to the utility, or to other like controllers, to operate as a supplement to the utility. In this mode of operation, the power for the inverter is derived from the permanent magnet generator/motor via high frequency rectifier bridges.Type: GrantFiled: September 8, 1997Date of Patent: May 11, 1999Assignee: Capstone Turbine CorporationInventors: Everett R. Geis, Brian W. Peticolas
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Patent number: RE40713Abstract: A turbogenerator/motor controller with a microprocessor based inverter having multiple modes of operation. To start the turbine, the inverter connects to and supplies fixed current, variable voltage, variable frequency, AC power to the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor, driving the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor as a motor to accelerate the gas turbine. During this acceleration, spark and fuel are introduced in the correct sequence, and self-sustaining gas turbine operating conditions are reached. The inverter is then disconnected from the permanent magnet generator/motor, reconfigured to a controlled 60 hertz mode, and then either supplies regulated 60 hertz three phase voltage to a stand alone load or phase locks to the utility, or to other like controllers, to operate as a supplement to the utility. In this mode of operation, the power for the inverter is derived from the permanent magnet generator/motor via high frequency rectifier bridges.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2001Date of Patent: May 19, 2009Assignee: Capstone Turbine CorporationInventors: Everett R. Geis, Brian W. Peticolas