Patents by Inventor Einar Vaughn Larsen

Einar Vaughn Larsen 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: 12212271
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology LLC
    Inventors: Einar Vaughn Larsen, Dustin Howard
  • Patent number: 11870267
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dustin Howard, Einar Vaughn Larsen
  • Publication number: 20230418993
    Abstract: A method for simulating electric power grid conditions includes accessing, with a computing system, a reference voltage value associated with an electric power grid being simulated. Furthermore, the method includes modifying, with the computing system, the reference voltage value based on a virtual impedance associated with a condition on the electric power grid being simulated. Additionally, the method includes applying, with the computing system, a phase and magnitude compensation to the modified reference voltage value. Moreover, the method includes controlling, with the computing system, an operation of a grid simulator such that the grid simulator generates an output signal based on the modified voltage value after the phase and magnitude compensation has been applied, the output signal being applied to a power converter being tested to simulate the condition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2022
    Publication date: December 28, 2023
    Inventors: Fernando Arturo Ramirez Sanchez, Einar Vaughn Larsen
  • Patent number: 11680558
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dustin Howard, Einar Vaughn Larsen
  • Publication number: 20230170704
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2021
    Publication date: June 1, 2023
    Inventors: Dustin Howard, Einar Vaughn Larsen
  • Patent number: 11632065
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dustin Howard, Einar Vaughn Larsen
  • Patent number: 11626736
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Einar Vaughn Larsen, Dustin Howard
  • Patent number: 11624350
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Einar Vaughn Larsen, Dustin Howard
  • Publication number: 20230052292
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 12, 2021
    Publication date: February 16, 2023
    Inventors: Dustin Howard, Einar Vaughn Larsen
  • Publication number: 20230041049
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2020
    Publication date: February 9, 2023
    Inventors: Einar Vaughn Larsen, Dustin Howard
  • Patent number: 11506173
    Abstract: A method for providing grid-forming control of a double-fed wind turbine generator connected to an electrical grid includes receiving at least one control signal associated with a desired total power output or a total current output of the double-fed wind turbine generator. The method also includes determining a contribution of at least one of power or current from the line-side converter to the desired total power output or to the total current output of the double-fed wind turbine generator, respectively. The method also includes determining a control command for a stator of the double-fed wind turbine generator based on the contribution of at least one of the power or the current from the line-side converter and the at least one control signal. Further, the method includes using the control command to regulate at least one of power or current in the stator of the double-fed wind-turbine generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dustin Howard, Einar Vaughn Larsen
  • Publication number: 20220271695
    Abstract: A method for controlling a wind turbine power system connected to an electrical grid includes determining, via a controller, at least one non-linear magnetizing parameter of a double-fed wind turbine generator of the wind turbine power system. The method also includes developing, via the controller, a model of the non-linear magnetizing parameter(s) of the double-fed wind turbine generator. Further, the method includes using, via the controller, the model in a stator voltage regulator of the double-fed wind turbine generator to provide grid-forming control of the double-fed wind turbine generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Publication date: August 25, 2022
    Inventors: Dustin Howard, Einar Vaughn Larsen
  • Patent number: 11411520
    Abstract: A method for controlling a wind turbine power system connected to an electrical grid includes determining, via a controller, at least one non-linear magnetizing parameter of a double-fed wind turbine generator of the wind turbine power system. The method also includes developing, via the controller, a model of the non-linear magnetizing parameter(s) of the double-fed wind turbine generator. Further, the method includes using, via the controller, the model in a stator voltage regulator of the double-fed wind turbine generator to provide grid-forming control of the double-fed wind turbine generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dustin Howard, Einar Vaughn Larsen
  • Publication number: 20220181883
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Einar Vaughn Larsen, Dustin Howard
  • Publication number: 20220178349
    Abstract: A method for providing grid-forming control of a double-fed wind turbine generator connected to an electrical grid includes receiving at least one control signal associated with a desired total power output or a total current output of the double-fed wind turbine generator. The method also includes determining a contribution of at least one of power or current from the line-side converter to the desired total power output or to the total current output of the double-fed wind turbine generator, respectively. The method also includes determining a control command for a stator of the double-fed wind turbine generator based on the contribution of at least one of the power or the current from the line-side converter and the at least one control signal. Further, the method includes using the control command to regulate at least one of power or current in the stator of the double-fed wind-turbine generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Dustin Howard, Einar Vaughn Larsen
  • Publication number: 20220090578
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 18, 2020
    Publication date: March 24, 2022
    Inventors: Einar Vaughn Larsen, Dustin Howard
  • Publication number: 20220082087
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2020
    Publication date: March 17, 2022
    Inventors: Dustin Howard, Einar Vaughn Larsen
  • Patent number: 11231014
    Abstract: A method for operating a inverter-based resource connected to a power grid includes receiving one or more voltage feedback signals created by at least one component of the inverter-based resource, wherein distortion components of the one or more voltage feedback signals are more sensitive to voltage distortion created by the inverter-based resource than by external sources of voltage distortion. Further, the method includes extracting a distortion component of the one or more feedback signals having a certain phase sequence and frequency. Moreover, the method includes determining a voltage command for the power converter as a function of, at least, the distortion component. Thus, the method includes controlling the power converter based on the voltage command such that the voltage distortion created by the at least one component of the inverter-based resource is reduced in a manner that is relatively insensitive to voltage distortion created by sources external to the inverter-based resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Einar Vaughn Larsen, Dustin Howard, Min Naing Lwin, Ignacio Vieto Miranda
  • Publication number: 20210396212
    Abstract: A method for operating a inverter-based resource connected to a power grid includes receiving one or more voltage feedback signals created by at least one component of the inverter-based resource, wherein distortion components of the one or more voltage feedback signals are more sensitive to voltage distortion created by the inverter-based resource than by external sources of voltage distortion. Further, the method includes extracting a distortion component of the one or more feedback signals having a certain phase sequence and frequency. Moreover, the method includes determining a voltage command for the power converter as a function of, at least, the distortion component. Thus, the method includes controlling the power converter based on the voltage command such that the voltage distortion created by the at least one component of the inverter-based resource is reduced in a manner that is relatively insensitive to voltage distortion created by sources external to the inverter-based resource.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2020
    Publication date: December 23, 2021
    Inventors: Einar Vaughn Larsen, Dustin Howard, Min Naing Lwin, Ignacio Vieto Miranda
  • Patent number: 11114839
    Abstract: A system and method for mitigating overvoltage on a DC link of a power converter of an electrical power system connected to a power grid includes receiving a voltage feedback signal from the DC link for a predetermined time period. The method also includes determining a rate of change of the voltage feedback signal during the predetermined time period. Further, the method includes predicting a future voltage value on the DC link as a function of the voltage feedback signal and the rate of change of the voltage feedback signal. Moreover, the method includes controlling the electrical power system based on the future voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dustin Howard, Einar Vaughn Larsen