Patents by Inventor Clarence A. Hicks
Clarence A. Hicks 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: 10141776Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling power distribution are provided. The method includes receiving a power command, wherein the power command requests a discharge from one or more BESS units, and wherein the one or more BESS units are housed in one or more temperature controlled rooms. For each of the one or more temperature controlled rooms, a lowest energy remaining of the one or more BESS units in the temperature controlled room is determined; a low threshold is determined based on the determined lowest energy remaining and a floor; a limit is determined based on the determined low threshold; and the limit is assigned to each of the one or more BESS units housed in the temperature controlled room. The method includes causing the power command to be at least partially satisfied by the one or more BESS units based on the assigned limits.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2016Date of Patent: November 27, 2018Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Charles Clarence Hicks, Kenneth McClellan Rush, Joshua Paul Webb, Richard Scott Bourgeois
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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: 20170366037Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling power distribution are provided. The method includes receiving a power command, wherein the power command requests a discharge from one or more BESS units, and wherein the one or more BESS units are housed in one or more temperature controlled rooms. For each of the one or more temperature controlled rooms, a lowest energy remaining of the one or more BESS units in the temperature controlled room is determined; a low threshold is determined based on the determined lowest energy remaining and a floor; a limit is determined based on the determined low threshold; and the limit is assigned to each of the one or more BESS units housed in the temperature controlled room. The method includes causing the power command to be at least partially satisfied by the one or more BESS units based on the assigned limits.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 20, 2016Publication date: December 21, 2017Inventors: Charles Clarence Hicks, Kenneth McClellan Rush, Joshua Paul Webb, Richard Scott Bourgeois
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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
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Patent number: 7202672Abstract: A RF current transformer sensor includes a first sensor portion and a second sensor portion. The first and second sensor portions are configured to define a fixed opening for receiving a test object. The RF current transformer sensor is capable of detecting current pulses between the first sensor portion and the second sensor portion for sensing partial discharges from the test object. Further disclosed is a method of partial discharge sensing.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2005Date of Patent: April 10, 2007Assignee: Electrical Reliability Services, Inc.Inventors: Clarence A. Hicks, Wallace Vahlstrom
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Publication number: 20070046296Abstract: A RF current transformer sensor includes a first sensor portion and a second sensor portion. The first and second sensor portions are configured to define a fixed opening for receiving a test object. The RF current transformer sensor is capable of detecting current pulses between the first sensor portion and the second sensor portion for sensing partial discharges from the test object. Further disclosed is a method of partial discharge sensing.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2005Publication date: March 1, 2007Applicant: Electrical Reliability Services, Inc.Inventors: Clarence Hicks, Wallace Vahlstrom
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Publication number: 20070046295Abstract: A partial discharge sensing system and method for conducting testing inside an enclosure includes a partial discharge sensor, an access port, and a signal cable. The partial discharge sensor is permanently installed at a test location inside the enclosure. The access port is configured so that an analyzer can be connected to the access port from an exterior of the enclosure. The signal cable operably connects the partial discharge sensor and the access port to enable an analyzer connected to the access port from outside the enclosure to interface with the partial discharge sensor for generating test data.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2005Publication date: March 1, 2007Applicant: Electrical Reliability Services, Inc.Inventors: Clarence Hicks, Wallace Vahlstrom
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Patent number: 7183776Abstract: A partial discharge sensing system and method for conducting testing inside an enclosure includes a partial discharge sensor, an access port, and a signal cable. The partial discharge sensor is permanently installed at a test location inside the enclosure. The access port is configured so that an analyzer can be connected to the access port from an exterior of the enclosure. The signal cable operably connects the partial discharge sensor and the access port to enable an analyzer connected to the access port from outside the enclosure to interface with the partial discharge sensor for generating test data.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2005Date of Patent: February 27, 2007Assignee: Electrical Reliability Services, Inc.Inventors: Clarence A. Hicks, Wallace Vahlstrom