Patents by Inventor Dustin Howard
Dustin Howard 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).
-
Patent number: 11967824Abstract: A method for controlling an inverter-based resource having a power converter connected to an electrical grid includes receiving, via a regulator of a controller of the inverter-based resource, a plurality of power signals. The method also includes determining, via the regulator, a power error signal as a function of the plurality of power signals. Further, the method includes receiving, via the regulator, a dynamic multiplier factor from a supervisory controller. Moreover, the method includes applying, via the regulator, the dynamic multiplier factor to one or more gains of the regulator to determine one or more modified gains. In addition, the method includes applying the one or more modified gains to the power error signal to obtain an intermediate power signal. Thus, the method includes generating, via the regulator, one or more control commands for the power converter as a function of the intermediate power signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 27, 2021Date of Patent: April 23, 2024Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.Inventors: Igor Berroteran, Enno Ubben, Dustin Howard
-
Patent number: 11955006Abstract: A vehicle includes a traffic light indication system (system) with one or more input devices for generating a status input signal associated with a status of a traffic light. The input devices further generate an overriding input signal associated with a hazardous driving condition. The system further includes a notification device for providing a traffic light notification to the user. The system further includes a computer having a processor and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium (CRM) storing instructions. The processor is programmed to generate an actuation signal based on the status input signal. The processor is further programmed to refrain from generating the actuation signal, in response to the processor determining the predicted collision based on the status input signal and the overriding input signal. The notification device provides the traffic light notification to the user, in response to the notification device receiving the actuation signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 17, 2022Date of Patent: April 9, 2024Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLCInventors: Vivek Vijaya Kumar, Mohammad Naserian, Dustin Howard Malcom Smith
-
Patent number: 11946503Abstract: A connector is provided to attach a supported member to a supporting member, with the supported member being in sloped and skewed relation to the supporting member. The connector has back members attached to side members. A seat member attaches to the side members through a hinged connection. The seat member interfaces with the bottom face of the supported member and can be disposed at a sloped angle. A pair of seat side members extend from the seat member.Type: GrantFiled: January 14, 2020Date of Patent: April 2, 2024Assignee: Simpson Strong-Tie Company Inc.Inventors: Thomas G. Evans, Dustin P. Muhn, Rachel Marie Holland, Benedict Ang, Paul Howard Oellerich, James M. Benton, Timothy Patrick Murphy
-
Publication number: 20240062652Abstract: A vehicle includes a traffic light indication system (system) with one or more input devices for generating a status input signal associated with a status of a traffic light. The input devices further generate an overriding input signal associated with a hazardous driving condition. The system further includes a notification device for providing a traffic light notification to the user. The system further includes a computer having a processor and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium (CRM) storing instructions. The processor is programmed to generate an actuation signal based on the status input signal. The processor is further programmed to refrain from generating the actuation signal, in response to the processor determining the predicted collision based on the status input signal and the overriding input signal. The notification device provides the traffic light notification to the user, in response to the notification device receiving the actuation signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2022Publication date: February 22, 2024Inventors: Vivek Vijaya Kumar, Mohammad Naserian, Dustin Howard Malcom Smith
-
Patent number: 11870386Abstract: The system and method described herein provide control for a power generating asset having a double-fed generator connected to an electrical grid. Accordingly, a non-deliverable component and a deliverable component of a total power output of a generator of the power generating asset is determined via a controller. A compensation module of the controller then determines a first control signal based, at least in part, on the non-deliverable component. The first control signal is configured to establish a modified rotor current setpoint. Additionally, a buffer module of the controller then determines a buffer control signal for a DC energy buffer based, at least in part, on the non-deliverable component. The DC energy buffer is operably coupled between a line-side converter and a rotor-side converter of a power converter of the power generating asset.Type: GrantFiled: October 19, 2021Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Dustin Howard, Alfredo Sebastian Achilles
-
Patent number: 11870267Abstract: A method for providing grid-forming control of an inverter-based resource includes receiving, via a controller, a power reference signal. The method also includes determining a dynamic power change limit. Further, the method includes determining, via the controller, an upper power boundary and a lower power boundary for grid-induced power deviations from a desired power operating point based on the power reference signal. Moreover, the method includes determining, via the controller, limits for an inertial power regulator reference based, at least in part, on the upper and lower power boundaries and the dynamic power change limit. In addition, the method includes applying, via the controller, the limits to the inertial power regulator reference in an inertial power regulator of the inverter-based resource.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2021Date of Patent: January 9, 2024Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Dustin Howard, Einar Vaughn Larsen
-
Patent number: 11843252Abstract: A method for damping sub-synchronous control interactions (SSCI) in a grid-forming inverter-based resource connected to an electrical grid includes receiving, via a controller, a current feedback signal in a synchronous reference frame. The method also includes rotating, via the controller, the current feedback signal to a new reference frame associated with a sub-synchronous frequency range. Further, the method includes determining, via the controller, a sub-synchronous component of the current feedback signal. Moreover, the method includes rotating, via the controller, the sub-synchronous component of the current feedback signal back to the synchronous reference frame. In addition, the method includes determining, via the controller, a voltage command associated with sub-synchronous damping for the inverter-based resource as a function of the sub-synchronous component and a virtual resistance setting.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2021Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Dustin Howard
-
Publication number: 20230246574Abstract: A method and associated system for providing grid-forming (GFM) control of an inverter-based resource (IBR) connected to an electrical grid include monitoring the electrical grid for grid events that cause a change in one or both of grid frequency and angle. Via a controller, an active power response of the IBR to the grid event is controlled by changing an angle of the IBR voltage relative to grid voltage in a manner so as to mimic an active power response of an IBR having a certain desired impedance that may similar to or different from a hardware impedance of the IBR itself.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2022Publication date: August 3, 2023Inventor: Dustin Howard
-
Patent number: 11715958Abstract: A method for controlling an inverter-based resource (IBR) having a power converter connected to an electrical grid includes receiving a first power limit signal for the IBR from an external controller, receiving a second power limit signal for the IBR, and determining a constrained power limit signal based on the first and second power limit signals. The method also includes applying a first frequency droop function to the constrained power limit signal and determining at least one of a power reference signal or a pitch reference signal for the IBR as a function of an output of the first frequency droop function and the constrained power limit signal. Further, the method includes determining one or more control commands for the IBR based on at least one of the power reference signal or the pitch reference signal and controlling the IBR based on the control command(s) so as to support a grid frequency of the electrical grid within power available at the IBR.Type: GrantFiled: July 29, 2021Date of Patent: August 1, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Dustin Howard, Alfredo Sebastian Achilles
-
Patent number: 11680558Abstract: A method for providing grid-forming control of an inverter-based resource connected to an electrical grid includes providing, via a processor, at least one virtual impedance value of the inverter-based resource. The method also includes determining a voltage drop across the at least one virtual impedance value of the inverter-based resource using at least one current feedback signal, the voltage drop comprising a voltage magnitude and a voltage angle. Further, the method includes receiving one or more voltage or current signals of the inverter-based resource. Moreover, the method includes determining a control command for the inverter-based resource as a function of the voltage drop across the virtual impedance value(s) of the inverter-based resource and the one or more voltage or current signals.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2020Date of Patent: June 20, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Dustin Howard, Einar Vaughn Larsen
-
Publication number: 20230170705Abstract: A method for damping sub-synchronous control interactions (SSCI) in a grid-forming inverter-based resource connected to an electrical grid includes receiving, via a controller, a current feedback signal in a synchronous reference frame. The method also includes rotating, via the controller, the current feedback signal to a new reference frame associated with a sub-synchronous frequency range. Further, the method includes determining, via the controller, a sub-synchronous component of the current feedback signal. Moreover, the method includes rotating, via the controller, the sub-synchronous component of the current feedback signal back to the synchronous reference frame. In addition, the method includes determining, via the controller, a voltage command associated with sub-synchronous damping for the inverter-based resource as a function of the sub-synchronous component and a virtual resistance setting.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 30, 2021Publication date: June 1, 2023Inventor: Dustin Howard
-
Publication number: 20230170704Abstract: A method for providing grid-forming control of an inverter-based resource includes receiving, via a controller, a power reference signal. The method also includes determining a dynamic power change limit. Further, the method includes determining, via the controller, an upper power boundary and a lower power boundary for grid-induced power deviations from a desired power operating point based on the power reference signal. Moreover, the method includes determining, via the controller, limits for an inertial power regulator reference based, at least in part, on the upper and lower power boundaries and the dynamic power change limit. In addition, the method includes applying, via the controller, the limits to the inertial power regulator reference in an inertial power regulator of the inverter-based resource.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2021Publication date: June 1, 2023Inventors: Dustin Howard, Einar Vaughn Larsen
-
Publication number: 20230126579Abstract: A method for controlling an inverter-based resource having a power converter connected to an electrical grid includes receiving, via a regulator of a controller of the inverter-based resource, a plurality of power signals. The method also includes determining, via the regulator, a power error signal as a function of the plurality of power signals. Further, the method includes receiving, via the regulator, a dynamic multiplier factor from a supervisory controller. Moreover, the method includes applying, via the regulator, the dynamic multiplier factor to one or more gains of the regulator to determine one or more modified gains. In addition, the method includes applying the one or more modified gains to the power error signal to obtain an intermediate power signal. Thus, the method includes generating, via the regulator, one or more control commands for the power converter as a function of the intermediate power signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 27, 2021Publication date: April 27, 2023Inventors: Igor Berroteran, Enno Ubben, Dustin Howard
-
Publication number: 20230122027Abstract: The system and method described herein provide control for a power generating asset having a double-fed generator connected to an electrical grid. Accordingly, a non-deliverable component and a deliverable component of a total power output of a generator of the power generating asset is determined via a controller. A compensation module of the controller then determines a first control signal based, at least in part, on the non-deliverable component. The first control signal is configured to establish a modified rotor current setpoint. Additionally, a buffer module of the controller then determines a buffer control signal for a DC energy buffer based, at least in part, on the non-deliverable component. The DC energy buffer is operably coupled between a line-side converter and a rotor-side converter of a power converter of the power generating asset.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 19, 2021Publication date: April 20, 2023Inventors: Dustin Howard, Alfredo Sebastian Achilles
-
Patent number: 11632065Abstract: A method for providing grid-forming control of an inverter-based resource includes monitoring the electrical grid for one or more grid events. The method also includes controlling, via a power regulator of a controller, an active power of the inverter-based resource based on whether the one or more grid events is indicative of a severe grid event. In particular, when the one or more grid events are below a severe grid event threshold, thereby indicating the one or more grid events is not a severe grid event, the method includes controlling, via the power regulator, the active power according to a normal operating mode. Further, when the one or more grid events exceed the severe grid event threshold, thereby indicating the one or more grid events is a severe grid event, the method includes controlling, via the power regulator, the active power according to a modified operating mode.Type: GrantFiled: August 12, 2021Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Dustin Howard, Einar Vaughn Larsen
-
Patent number: 11626736Abstract: A method for providing grid-forming control of an inverter-based resource includes receiving a negative-sequence voltage feedback of the inverter-based resource. The method also includes receiving at least one negative-sequence feedback signal of the inverter-based resource. The method also includes determining, via a negative-sequence regulator, one or more control signals indicative of a desired negative-sequence impedance of the inverter-based resource using the at least one negative-sequence feedback signal. Further, the method includes generating, via the negative-sequence regulator, a control command for the inverter-based resource based on the one or more control signals. Moreover, the method includes controlling the inverter-based resource based on the control command to achieve the desired negative-sequence impedance of the inverter-based resource.Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2020Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Einar Vaughn Larsen, Dustin Howard
-
Patent number: 11624350Abstract: A method for providing grid-forming control of an inverter-based resource includes receiving, via a controller, one or more reference commands from an external controller. The method also includes determining, via the controller, one or more control commands for the inverter-based resource based on the one or more reference commands. Further, the method includes determining, via the controller, at least one feedforward signal as a function of the one or more control commands, one or more control signals, and one or more estimated electrical conditions of the inverter-based resource. The method also includes using the feedforward signal(s) to position at least one control angle of the inverter-based resource to an anticipated value needed to achieve the one or more reference commands, thereby enabling rapid response to the one or more reference commands received from the external controller.Type: GrantFiled: September 18, 2020Date of Patent: April 11, 2023Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Einar Vaughn Larsen, Dustin Howard
-
Publication number: 20230052292Abstract: A method for providing grid-forming control of an inverter-based resource includes monitoring the electrical grid for one or more grid events. The method also includes controlling, via a power regulator of a controller, an active power of the inverter-based resource based on whether the one or more grid events is indicative of a severe grid event. In particular, when the one or more grid events are below a severe grid event threshold, thereby indicating the one or more grid events is not a severe grid event, the method includes controlling, via the power regulator, the active power according to a normal operating mode. Further, when the one or more grid events exceed the severe grid event threshold, thereby indicating the one or more grid events is a severe grid event, the method includes controlling, via the power regulator, the active power according to a modified operating mode.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 12, 2021Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventors: Dustin Howard, Einar Vaughn Larsen
-
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM USING A DYNAMIC REGULATOR MAXIMUM LIMIT
Publication number: 20230049606Abstract: A method for controlling an electrical power system connected to an electrical grid having a generator and a power converter includes monitoring a speed condition of the electrical power system. The method also includes dynamically determining at least one regulator maximum limit for at least one regulator of the power converter based on the monitored speed condition. Further, the method includes operating the at least one regulator based on the at least one dynamic regulator maximum limit to avoid overmodulation of the electrical power system during high-slip operation and to improve sub-synchronous control interaction (SSCI) performance of the electrical power system.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 10, 2021Publication date: February 16, 2023Inventors: Min Naing Lwin, Dustin Howard, Ignacio Vieto Miranda, Talha Irfanul Haque -
Publication number: 20230041049Abstract: A method for providing grid-forming control of a double-fed generator of a wind turbine includes receiving, via a stator voltage regulator of a converter controller, one or more voltage commands from an external controller. Further, the method includes determining, via the stator voltage regulator, one or more rotor current commands as a function of a magnetizing current command and a stator current feedback signal of the double-fed generator. Thus, the method includes controlling a rotor voltage of the double-fed generator using the one or more rotor current commands to achieve the one or more voltage commands.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2020Publication date: February 9, 2023Inventors: Einar Vaughn Larsen, Dustin Howard