Patents by Inventor Enno Ubben

Enno Ubben 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: 11967824
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Igor Berroteran, Enno Ubben, Dustin Howard
  • Patent number: 11901735
    Abstract: A method for controlling a power system having at least one inverter-based resource connected to an electrical grid includes monitoring, via at least one controller of the at least one inverter-based resource, one or more command signals issued by a system-level controller. The method also includes determining, via the at least one controller of the at least one inverter-based resource, whether the one or more command signals issued by the system-level controller includes oscillatory behavior characteristic of an instability. In response to determining that the one or more command signals issued by the system-level controller includes oscillatory behavior characteristic of the instability, the method includes reducing one or more gains of a volt-var regulator of the system-level controller to reduce the instability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Alfredo Sebastian Achilles, Sudipta Dutta, Randal Voges, Enno Ubben
  • Publication number: 20230361569
    Abstract: Systems connected to an electrical grid for delivering electrical power thereto and methods of controlling such systems are provided. The electrical system includes a plurality of power generators. A system-level controller receives a demand signal from the electrical grid. The system-level controller generates first and second power production commands for respective first and second power generators. The first power production command is based on an excluded zone of operation for the first power generator. The first and second power production commands are transmitted to the plurality of power generators so as to control a power output of the first power generator according to the first power production command and to control a power output of the second power generator according to the second power production command. The power output of the first power generator is outside of the excluded zone of operation for the first power generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 6, 2022
    Publication date: November 9, 2023
    Inventors: Charles Joseph Kosuth, Patrick Hammel Hart, Enno Ubben
  • Patent number: 11777316
    Abstract: A method of operating a windfarm connected to an electric grid via a point of injection for injecting power from the windfarm to the electric grid, the windfarm including at least two generating units and a windfarm controller, the method comprising: measuring 302 voltage and/or frequency characteristics of an electrical signal of the electric grid at the point of injection, communicating 304 to at least two generating units of the at least two generating units of the windfarm at least one control signal based at least in part on the measured voltage and/or frequency characteristics of the electrical signal of the electric grid at the point of injection, the at least one control signal being indicative of a grid situation at the point of injection; controlling 306 the at least two generating units of the at least two generating units of the windfarm at least in part based on the communicated at least one control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Enno Ubben
  • Publication number: 20230272773
    Abstract: A method for controlling wind farm operation during a weak grid condition includes determining when a threshold number of the plurality of wind turbines have tripped based on the received one or more inputs. Furthermore, the method includes determining a sampled power output of the wind farm based on received sensor data after it is determined that the threshold number of the plurality of wind turbines have tripped. Additionally, the method includes controlling the operation of the one or more wind turbines of the plurality of wind turbines that have not tripped after it is determined that the threshold number of the plurality of wind turbines have tripped such that the power output of the one or more wind turbines of the plurality of wind turbines that have not tripped is less than or equal to the sampled power output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2022
    Publication date: August 31, 2023
    Inventor: Enno Ubben
  • Patent number: 11726436
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a power generating subsystem connected to a power generating system at a point of interconnection (POI). A subsystem controller receives a feedback first data signal corresponding to an electrical parameter for reactive power or power factor contributed by the power generating subsystem to the POI, the first data signal having a first signal fidelity. The subsystem controller receives a second data signal indicative of the electrical parameter measured at the power generating subsystem and having a second signal fidelity higher than the first signal fidelity. The subsystem controller generates a correlation value between the first and second data signals and applies the correlation value to modify a setpoint value for the electrical parameter at the POI. The subsystem controller uses the modified setpoint value and the second data signal to generate a setpoint command for the power generating subsystem.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Patrick Hammel Hart, Enno Ubben, Charles Joseph Kosuth, Alev Akbulut
  • Patent number: 11682990
    Abstract: A method for controlling an inverter-based resource (IBR) having a power converter and a generator connected to an electrical grid includes determining an available active power of the electrical grid. The method also includes determining an available active power of the IBR based on an effect of a speed and a rating of the generator. Further, the method includes determining a minimum available active power based on the available active power of the electrical grid and the available active power of the IBR. Moreover, the method includes determining an active power limit change for the IBR based on one or more thermal margins of the IBR. In addition, the method includes determining an active power estimation as a function of the minimum available active power and the active power limit change. The method further includes providing the active power estimation to a supervisory controller for controlling the IBR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Igor Berroteran, Enno Ubben
  • Publication number: 20230141934
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a power generating facility. Accordingly, the facility-level controller determines a reactive-power-delivery coefficient for each power generating asset of the power generating facility. The reactive-power-delivery coefficient includes at least one of a reactive-power-generation coefficient and a reactive-power-transmission coefficient. The reactive-power-delivery coefficient is indicative of an impact on the active power production capability of each of the power generating assets due to a change in an amount of reactive power delivered to a point of interconnect. Based at least in part on the reactive-power-delivery coefficient, the facility-level controller determines a portion of a demand signal to be satisfied by each of the power generating assets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 2020
    Publication date: May 11, 2023
    Inventors: James Gregory Rotbert, Alina Fatima Moosvi, Patrick Hammel Hart, Charles Joseph Kosuth, Bacil Shaqqo, Enno Ubben, Alev Akbulut
  • Publication number: 20230140661
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a wind farm during low wind speeds. Accordingly, the farm controller designates at least one of the plurality of wind turbines of the wind farm as a designated turbine. The designated turbine is operating in a full auxiliary mode when the speed of the wind acting on the wind farm is below a wind speed threshold. The remaining wind turbines are operated in a reduced auxiliary mode. The reduced auxiliary mode includes the disabling of at least one of pitching and yawing of the remaining wind turbines. When a power output for the designated wind turbine exceeds a power threshold, the farm controller directs at least one group of the remaining wind turbines to transition from the reduced auxiliary mode to the full auxiliary mode. During certain grid conditions, the transition between auxiliary modes may be delayed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2020
    Publication date: May 4, 2023
    Inventors: James Gregory Rotbert, Patrick Hammel Hart, Charles Joseph Kosuth, Alina Fatima Moosvi, Steven Wade Sutherland, Vaidhya Nath Venkitanarayanan, Leonardo Cesar Kammer, Enno Ubben, Alev Akbulut
  • Publication number: 20230128865
    Abstract: A method for controlling a power system having at least one inverter-based resource connected to an electrical grid includes monitoring, via at least one controller of the at least one inverter-based resource, one or more command signals issued by a system-level controller. The method also includes determining, via the at least one controller of the at least one inverter-based resource, whether the one or more command signals issued by the system-level controller includes oscillatory behavior characteristic of an instability. In response to determining that the one or more command signals issued by the system-level controller includes oscillatory behavior characteristic of the instability, the method includes reducing one or more gains of a volt-var regulator of the system-level controller to reduce the instability.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Alfredo Sebastian Achilles, Sudipta Dutta, Randal Voges, Enno Ubben
  • Publication number: 20230125298
    Abstract: A method for controlling an inverter-based resource (IBR) having a power converter and a generator connected to an electrical grid includes determining an available active power of the electrical grid. The method also includes determining an available active power of the IBR based on an effect of a speed and a rating of the generator. Further, the method includes determining a minimum available active power based on the available active power of the electrical grid and the available active power of the IBR. Moreover, the method includes determining an active power limit change for the IBR based on one or more thermal margins of the IBR. In addition, the method includes determining an active power estimation as a function of the minimum available active power and the active power limit change. The method further includes providing the active power estimation to a supervisory controller for controlling the IBR.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Igor Berroteran, Enno Ubben
  • Publication number: 20230126579
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2021
    Publication date: April 27, 2023
    Inventors: Igor Berroteran, Enno Ubben, Dustin Howard
  • Publication number: 20230056981
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a power generating subsystem connected to a power generating system at a point of interconnection (POI). A subsystem controller receives a feedback first data signal corresponding to an electrical parameter for reactive power or power factor contributed by the power generating subsystem to the POI, the first data signal having a first signal fidelity. The subsystem controller receives a second data signal indicative of the electrical parameter measured at the power generating subsystem and having a second signal fidelity higher than the first signal fidelity. The subsystem controller generates a correlation value between the first and second data signals and applies the correlation value to modify a setpoint value for the electrical parameter at the POI. The subsystem controller uses the modified setpoint value and the second data signal to generate a setpoint command for the power generating subsystem.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2021
    Publication date: February 23, 2023
    Inventors: Patrick Hammel Hart, Enno Ubben, Charles Joseph Kosuth, Alev Akbulut
  • Patent number: 11467616
    Abstract: A method for controlling an energy generation and storage system using a multi-layer architecture is provided. The method includes determining, by one or more control devices, a power or energy generation for the energy generation and storage system at a first layer of the multi-layer architecture. The method includes determining, by the one or more control devices, a power or energy set point for the system at a second layer of the multi-layer architecture. The method includes controlling, by the one or more control devices, the energy generation and storage system based, at least in part, on the power or energy setpoint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Alina Fatima Moosvi, Vaidhya Nath Venkitanarayanan, Irene Michelle Berry, Patrick Hammel Hart, Hullas Sehgal, Fernando Javier D'Amato, Charles Joseph Kosuth, Deepak Raj Sagi, Rajni Kant Burra, Megan Ann DeWitt, Enno Ubben
  • Patent number: 11428209
    Abstract: A system and method for operating a wind farm connected to a power grid, the wind farm having one or more wind turbines includes implementing a shutdown mode for the one or more wind turbines of the wind farm in response to receiving a shutdown command. The shutdown mode includes disconnecting the one or more wind turbines of the wind farm from the power grid via one or more respective individual turbine controllers and reducing, via the individual turbine controllers, a rotor speed of the one or more wind turbines to a cut-in speed. After the shutdown command is cleared, the method further includes reconnecting the one or more wind turbines to the power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Enno Ubben, Jorge Gonzalez Castro, Karthikeyan Appuraj, Abhijeet Mazumdar
  • Patent number: 11329487
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a power generating system having at least one power generating subsystem connected to a point of interconnection (POI). Accordingly, the subsystem controller of the power generating subsystem obtains a first data signal indicative of an electrical parameter at the POI and a second data signal indicative of the electrical parameter at the generating subsystem. The second data signal has a higher fidelity than the first data signal. The second data signal is utilized by the subsystem controller to generate a first modeled value for the electrical parameter at the POI which compensates for the lower-fidelity first data signal. The subsystem controller generates a setpoint command for the power generating subsystem based, at least in part, on the first modeled value for the electrical parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Assignee: General Electric Renovables Espana, S.L.
    Inventors: Patrick Hammel Hart, Charles Joseph Kosuth, Alina Fatima Moosvi, Alev Akbulut, Enno Ubben
  • Publication number: 20210408798
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a power generating system having at least one power generating subsystem connected to a point of interconnection (POI). Accordingly, the subsystem controller of the power generating subsystem obtains a first data signal indicative of an electrical parameter at the POI and a second data signal indicative of the electrical parameter at the generating subsystem. The second data signal has a higher fidelity than the first data signal. The second data signal is utilized by the subsystem controller to generate a first modeled value for the electrical parameter at the POI which compensates for the lower-fidelity first data signal. The subsystem controller generates a setpoint command for the power generating subsystem based, at least in part, on the first modeled value for the electrical parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2020
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Patrick Hammel Hart, Charles Joseph Kosuth, Alina Fatima Moosvi, Alev Akbulut, Enno Ubben
  • Patent number: 11133679
    Abstract: A method for operating a renewable energy facility having a plurality of power sources includes defining a plurality of modes of operation for each of the plurality of power sources. The method also includes receiving one or more required active power set points for the renewable energy facility and/or groups of the plurality of power sources. Further, the method includes determining an operating mode command that defines which of the plurality of modes of operation to use for each of the plurality of power sources to reach the one or more required active power set points. Moreover, the method includes dynamically switching into the plurality of modes of operation defined in the operating mode command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick Hammel Hart, Alina Fatima Moosvi, Charles Joseph Kosuth, Gissel Idaly Gardea-Torres, Enno Ubben
  • Patent number: 11067060
    Abstract: A method for automatically controlling a renewable energy facility having a plurality of power sources includes operating, via a farm-level controller, the hybrid renewable energy facility at a first farm-level power set point. The method also includes modifying, via the farm-level controller, the first power set point to a second farm-level power set point. In response to modifying the first power set point to the second farm-level power set point, the method includes generating one or more power change requests for individual controllers of the plurality of power sources. Further, the method includes generating a power output via the plurality of power sources so as to transfer power generation from one of the plurality of power sources to another while minimizing the impact on farm-level production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick Hammel Hart, Alina Fatima Moosvi, Charles Joseph Kosuth, Gissel Idaly Gardea-Torres, Enno Ubben
  • Patent number: 11063441
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing or controlling resonance in wind turbine power systems are provided. In particular, a method for controlling a power system that includes a central master controller and one or more wind turbines electrically connected to a power grid through a point of interconnection can be provided, where each wind turbine includes a voltage regulator. The method can include receiving, by the controller, a signal from a sensor associated with wind turbines and determining, which wind turbines are operating in conditions indicative of a resonance condition in the wind turbine electrical power system based, at least in part, on the sensor signals. The method can also include generating one or more control signals based, at least in part, on a power requirement at the point of intersection and controlling an operational state of each of the voltage regulators based on the control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick Djan-Sampson, Einar Vaughn Larsen, Alfredo Sebastian Achilles, Enno Ubben