Patents by Inventor Charles Clarence Hicks,, JR.
Charles Clarence Hicks,, JR. 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: 10892620Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an energy storage system are provided. In one embodiment, a method for controlling an energy storage system includes receiving a power demand associated with a grid service operation for an energy storage system and accessing data indicative of a time shift for responding to the power demand. The method includes implementing the time shift in the power demand to obtain a time shifted power demand; and controlling the charge or discharge of one or more energy storage devices in the energy storage system based at least in part on the time shifted power demand.Type: GrantFiled: November 16, 2015Date of Patent: January 12, 2021Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: David Alan Gutenmann, Richard Hayes Cutright, Kenneth McClellan Rush, Joshua Paul Webb, Lukas Mercer Hansen, Charles Clarence Hicks, Jr.
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Patent number: 10391878Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for calibrating state-of-charge (SOC) of an energy storage device. The method includes monitoring, via a battery management system, at least one of an accumulated capacity of the energy storage device after a first SOC calibration or a time period after the first SOC calibration. Another step includes determining, via the battery management system, whether at least one of the accumulated capacity or the time period is above a predetermined threshold. If at least one of the accumulated capacity or the time period is above a predetermined threshold, then the method includes charging, via the battery management system, the energy storage device for a specified duration until the energy storage device reaches a second SOC calibration.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2014Date of Patent: August 27, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jiucai Zhang, Charles Clarence Hicks, Jr., Sam T. Liu, Robert A. Kaucic, Leng Mao
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Patent number: 10218188Abstract: Systems and methods for charging a plurality of battery strings are provided. The individual string current of each of the individual battery strings can be monitored and used to regulate a charging output provided by the charger. For instance, the output voltage of charger can be controlled as part of a closed loop control system based on the individual string current of the battery string under the constraint of an individual string current limit and/or a charging voltage limit. As the charging voltage of the charger increases as a result of the closed loop control based on the individual string current, other battery strings can be coupled to the charger when the charging voltage provided by the charger exceeds a battery string voltage associated with the battery string.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2017Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jiucai Zhang, Charles Clarence Hicks, Jr., Sam T. Liu, Robert A. Kaucic, Leng Mao
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Patent number: 9897658Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for controlling an energy storage device by more accurately detecting an end-of-discharge voltage of the energy storage device. More specifically, in one embodiment, the method includes determining an end-of-discharge voltage threshold for the energy storage device. Another step includes filtering the end-of-discharge voltage threshold via a filter. The method also includes adjusting a time constant of the filter based on at least one voltage-current condition. Still a further step includes comparing the filtered end-of-discharge voltage threshold and a terminal voltage of the energy storage device. Based on the comparison, the method includes determining a change of state of the energy storage device. Thus, the energy storage device can be controlled based on the change of state.Type: GrantFiled: January 27, 2015Date of Patent: February 20, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jiucai Zhang, Charles Clarence Hicks, Jr., Sam T. Liu, Robert A. Kaucic, Leng Mao, David E. James, Herman Lucas Norbert Wiegman, Mert Geveci
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Publication number: 20170222452Abstract: Systems and methods for charging a plurality of battery strings are provided. The individual string current of each of the individual battery strings can be monitored and used to regulate a charging output provided by the charger. For instance, the output voltage of charger can be controlled as part of a closed loop control system based on the individual string current of the battery string under the constraint of an individual string current limit and/or a charging voltage limit. As the charging voltage of the charger increases as a result of the closed loop control based on the individual string current, other battery strings can be coupled to the charger when the charging voltage provided by the charger exceeds a battery string voltage associated with the battery string.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 17, 2017Publication date: August 3, 2017Inventors: Jiucai Zhang, Charles Clarence Hicks, JR., Sam T. Liu, Robert A. Kaucic, Leng Mao
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Publication number: 20170141576Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling an energy storage system are provided. In one embodiment, a method for controlling an energy storage system includes receiving a power demand associated with a grid service operation for an energy storage system and accessing data indicative of a time shift for responding to the power demand. The method includes implementing the time shift in the power demand to obtain a time shifted power demand; and controlling the charge or discharge of one or more energy storage devices in the energy storage system based at least in part on the time shifted power demand.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 16, 2015Publication date: May 18, 2017Inventors: David Alan Gutenmann, Richard Hayes Cutright, Kenneth McClellan Rush, Joshua Paul Webb, Lukas Mercer Hansen, Charles Clarence Hicks, JR.
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Patent number: 9627897Abstract: Systems and methods for charging a plurality of battery strings are provided. The individual string current of each of the individual battery strings can be monitored and used to regulate a charging output provided by the charger. For instance, the output voltage of charger can be controlled as part of a closed loop control system based on the individual string current of the battery string under the constraint of an individual string current limit and/or a charging voltage limit. As the charging voltage of the charger increases as a result of the closed loop control based on the individual string current, other battery strings can be coupled to the charger when the charging voltage provided by the charger exceeds a battery string voltage associated with the battery string.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 2014Date of Patent: April 18, 2017Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jiucai Zhang, Charles Clarence Hicks, Jr., Sam T. Liu, Robert A. Kaucic, Leng Mao
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Publication number: 20160218400Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for controlling an energy storage device by more accurately detecting an end-of-discharge voltage of the energy storage device. More specifically, in one embodiment, the method includes determining an end-of-discharge voltage threshold for the energy storage device. Another step includes filtering the end-of-discharge voltage threshold via a filter. The method also includes adjusting a time constant of the filter based on at least one voltage-current condition. Still a further step includes comparing the filtered end-of-discharge voltage threshold and a terminal voltage of the energy storage device. Based on the comparison, the method includes determining a change of state of the energy storage device. Thus, the energy storage device can be controlled based on the change of state.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 27, 2015Publication date: July 28, 2016Inventors: Jiucai Zhang, Charles Clarence Hicks,, JR., Sam T. Liu, Robert A. Kaucic, Leng Mao, David E. James, Herman Lucas Norbert Wiegman, Mert Geveci
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Publication number: 20160126766Abstract: Systems and methods for charging a plurality of battery strings are provided. The individual string current of each of the individual battery strings can be monitored and used to regulate a charging output provided by the charger. For instance, the output voltage of charger can be controlled as part of a closed loop control system based on the individual string current of the battery string under the constraint of an individual string current limit and/or a charging voltage limit. As the charging voltage of the charger increases as a result of the closed loop control based on the individual string current, other battery strings can be coupled to the charger when the charging voltage provided by the charger exceeds a battery string voltage associated with the battery string.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2014Publication date: May 5, 2016Inventors: Jiucai Zhang, Charles Clarence Hicks,, JR., Sam T. Liu, Robert A. Kaucic, Leng Mao
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Publication number: 20160101708Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a system and method for calibrating state-of-charge (SOC) of an energy storage device. The method includes monitoring, via a battery management system, at least one of an accumulated capacity of the energy storage device after a first SOC calibration or a time period after the first SOC calibration. Another step includes determining, via the battery management system, whether at least one of the accumulated capacity or the time period is above a predetermined threshold. If at least one of the accumulated capacity or the time period is above a predetermined threshold, then the method includes charging, via the battery management system, the energy storage device for a specified duration until the energy storage device reaches a second SOC calibration.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2014Publication date: April 14, 2016Inventors: Jiucai Zhang, Charles Clarence Hicks,, JR., Sam T. Liu, Robert A. Kaucic, Leng Mao