Abstract: The present invention generally relates to substrates having a decorated surface and a method of producing a substrate having a decorated surface. In particular embodiments, the present invention relates to a roofing, cladding, and/or siding product or a coating or layer of a coating for a roofing, cladding, and/or siding product having a decorated surface and a methods of producing the same. The present invention also relates to roofing, cladding, and/or siding products and assemblies of such products, for installation onto a building surface and systems and methods of manufacture of roofing, cladding, and/or siding products.

Abstract: A control system for an electric motor in a manufacturing environment, the control system including: a safety relay; and a power reduction circuit, wherein, when the safety relay is triggered, the power reduction circuit automatically limits the power supplied to the electric motor from a main power source such that the electric motor operates in a predetermined safe mode. A method for controlling an electric motor in a manufacturing system, the electric motor having a main power supply, the method including: monitoring the manufacturing system associated with the electric motor for a change in condition; on detecting a change in condition: limiting a power supplied to the electric motor, via a power reduction circuit, such that the electric motor operates in a predetermined safe mode. The power reduction circuit includes a reduced power supply and a means of dropping the power supplied to the electric motor quickly.

Abstract: A power generation system (100, 200, 300, 400) is presented. The power generation system includes a prime mover (102), a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) (104) having a rotor winding (126) and a stator winding (122), a rotor-side converter (106), a line-side converter (108), and a secondary power source (110, 401) electrically coupled to a DC-link (128). Additionally, the power generation system includes a control sub-system (112, 212, 312) having a controller, and a plurality of switching elements (130, and 132 or 201). The controller is configured to selectively control switching of one or more switching elements (130, and 132 or 201) based on a value of an operating parameter corresponding to at least one of the prime mover, the DFIG, or the secondary power source to connect the rotor-side converter in parallel to the line-side converter to increase an electrical power production by the power generation system.

Abstract: An electrical power system connectable to a power grid includes a cluster of electrical power subsystems, each of the electrical power subsystems including a power converter electrically coupled to a generator having a generator rotor and a generator stator. Each of the electrical power subsystems defines a stator power path and a converter power path for providing power to the power grid. Each of the electrical power subsystems further includes a transformer. The system further includes a subsystem breaker configured with each of the electrical power subsystems, and a cluster power path extending from each subsystem breaker for connecting the cluster of electrical power subsystems to the power grid. The system further includes a reactive power compensation inverter electrically coupled within the electrical power system, the reactive power compensation inverter operable to increase the reactive power level in the electrical current flowing to the power grid.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to magnetic puncture access and delivery systems and methods, including creating a passageway, such as a fistula, between two vessels or segments of a vessel. A system can include two catheters, each carrying a plurality of magnets along a longitudinal axis of each catheter.

Abstract: An actuation interface for actuating a cover (e.g., a vehicle window, door, sun roof, partition, gate, etc.) that selectively covers an opening in a compartment may be configured for actuation based at least in part on a number of concurrent touch inputs. The cover may be controlled by receiving a touch input at the actuation interface, and detecting a number of concurrent touch inputs that are received as part of the touch input. The cover may be actuated to move based at least in part on a determination of the number of concurrent touch inputs that are received at the actuation interface.

Abstract: Some embodiments are directed to magnetic puncture access and delivery systems and methods, including creating a passageway, such as a fistula, between two vessels or segments of a vessel. A system can include two catheters, each carrying a plurality of magnets along a longitudinal axis of each catheter.

Abstract: Power converters for use in wind turbine systems are included. For instance, a wind turbine system can include a full power generator having a stator and a rotor. The generator is configured to provide a low voltage alternating current power on a stator bus of the wind turbine system. The wind turbine system includes a power converter configured to convert the low voltage alternating current power provided on the stator bus to a medium voltage multiphase alternating current output power suitable for provision to the electrical grid. The power converter includes a plurality of conversion modules, each conversion module comprising a plurality of bridge circuits. Each bridge circuit includes a plurality of silicon carbide switching devices coupled in series. Each conversion module is configured to provide a single phase of the medium voltage multiphase alternating current output power on a line bus of the wind turbine system.

Abstract: A hybrid power generation system is presented. The system includes a first power generation subsystem including a prime mover driving a generator including a rotor and a stator, one or more first conversion units coupled to at least one of the rotor and the stator, a first direct current (DC) link, and one or more second conversion units coupled to a corresponding one or more first conversion units via the first DC link. The system includes one or more second power generation subsystems coupled to the first power generation subsystem and one or more power conversion subunits including one or more first bridge circuits coupled to a corresponding one or more second bridge circuits via one or more transformers, where at least one of the one or more second power generation subsystems and the first power generation subsystem includes the one or more power conversion subunits.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a cluster transformer operably coupled to cluster of DFIG wind turbines in low-wind conditions are provided. A wind turbine cluster system can include at least one DFIG module, a cluster transformer, and a control device configured to control operation of the cluster transformer based at least in part on a wind parameter. Each DFIG module can include a doubly fed induction generator comprising a rotor configured to generate AC power at a first voltage, a stator configured to generate AC power at a second voltage, and a power conversion system coupled to the rotor to convert power at the first voltage to power at the second voltage. The cluster transformer can be configured to receive power at the second voltage from the at least one DFIG module and convert the power at the second voltage to power at a third voltage.

Abstract: A power generation system (100, 200, 300, 400) is presented. The power generation system includes a prime mover (102), a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) (104) having a rotor winding (126) and a stator winding (122), a rotor-side converter (106), a line-side converter (108), and a secondary power source (110, 401) electrically coupled to a DC-link (128). Additionally, the power generation system includes a control sub-system (112, 212, 312) having a controller, and a plurality of switching elements (130, and 132 or 201). The controller is configured to selectively control switching of one or more switching elements (130, and 132 or 201) based on a value of an operating parameter corresponding to at least one of the prime mover, the DFIG, or the secondary power source to connect the rotor-side converter in parallel to the line-side converter to increase an electrical power production by the power generation system.

Abstract: Techniques for utilizing three-dimensional (3D) sound for passenger notification are described herein. Computing device(s) onboard a vehicle can determine an occurrence of an event associated with a passenger of the vehicle or the vehicle, and can determine a 3D sound associated with the event. Then, the computing device(s) can send a signal associated with the 3D sound to a speaker system inside of the vehicle and, responsive to receiving the signal, one or more speakers of the speaker system can output the 3D sound such that a sound associated with the 3D sound is perceived to be localized relative to the passenger in the vehicle.

Abstract: Power converters for use in wind turbine systems are included. For instance, a wind turbine system can include a wind driven doubly fed induction generator having a stator and a rotor. The stator is configured to provide a medium voltage alternating current power on a stator bus of the wind turbine system. The wind turbine system includes a power converter configured to convert a low voltage alternating current power provided by the rotor to a medium voltage multiphase alternating current output power suitable for provision to an electrical grid. The power converter includes a plurality conversion modules. Each conversion module includes a plurality of bridge circuits. Each bridge circuit includes a plurality of silicon carbide switching devices coupled in series. Each conversion module is configured to provide a single phase of the medium voltage multiphase alternating current output power on a line bus of the wind turbine system.

Abstract: Power converters for use in energy systems are included. For instance, an energy system can include an input power source configured to provide a low voltage direct current power. The energy system can include a power converter configured to convert the low voltage direct current power provided by the input power source to a medium voltage multiphase alternating current output power suitable for provision to an alternating current power system. The power converter can include a plurality conversion modules. Each conversion module includes a plurality of bridge circuits. Each bridge circuit includes a plurality of silicon carbide switching devices coupled in series. Each conversion module is configured to provide a single phase of the medium voltage multiphase alternating current output power on a line bus of the energy system.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for protecting an electrical power system connected to a power grid. The electrical power system includes at least one cluster of electrical power subsystems. Each of the electrical power subsystems defines a stator power path and a converter power path for providing power to the power grid. The converter power path includes a partial power transformer. The electrical power system further includes a subsystem switch configured with each of the electrical power subsystems and a cluster transformer connecting each cluster of electrical power subsystems to the power grid. A cluster switch is configured with the cluster transformer. A controller is communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of electrical power subsystems. Thus, the controller monitors the electrical power system for faults, and if a fault is detected in the cluster, sends, via one of the subsystem switches or the power converters, a block signal to the cluster switch.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a power system having a doubly fed induction generator are provided. In example implementations, a power system can include a power converter. The power converter can include a line-side converter, a DC link, and a rotor-side converter. The rotor-side converter is configured to convert a DC power on the DC link to an AC signal for a rotor bus. The system can include a control system having one or more control devices.

Abstract: An electrical power system connectable to a power grid includes a cluster of electrical power subsystems, each of the electrical power subsystems including a power converter electrically coupled to a generator having a generator rotor and a generator stator. Each of the electrical power subsystems defines a stator power path and a converter power path for providing power to the power grid. Each of the electrical power subsystems further includes a transformer. The system further includes a subsystem breaker configured with each of the electrical power subsystems, and a cluster power path extending from each subsystem breaker for connecting the cluster of electrical power subsystems to the power grid. The system further includes a reactive power compensation inverter electrically coupled within the electrical power system, the reactive power compensation inverter operable to increase the reactive power level in the electrical current flowing to the power grid.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a method for protecting an electrical power system connected to a power grid. The electrical power system includes at least one cluster of electrical power subsystems. Each of the electrical power subsystems defines a stator power path and a converter power path for providing power to the power grid. The converter power path includes a partial power transformer. The electrical power system further includes a subsystem switch configured with each of the electrical power subsystems and a cluster transformer connecting each cluster of electrical power subsystems to the power grid. A cluster switch is configured with the cluster transformer. A controller is communicatively coupled to each of the plurality of electrical power subsystems. Thus, the controller monitors the electrical power system for faults, and if a fault is detected in the cluster, sends, via one of the subsystem switches or the power converters, a block signal to the cluster switch.

Abstract: Systems and methods for operating a cluster transformer operably coupled to cluster of DFIG wind turbines in low-wind conditions are provided. A wind turbine cluster system can include at least one DFIG module, a cluster transformer, and a control device configured to control operation of the cluster transformer based at least in part on a wind parameter. Each DFIG module can include a doubly fed induction generator comprising a rotor configured to generate AC power at a first voltage, a stator configured to generate AC power at a second voltage, and a power conversion system coupled to the rotor to convert power at the first voltage to power at the second voltage. The cluster transformer can be configured to receive power at the second voltage from the at least one DFIG module and convert the power at the second voltage to power at a third voltage.

Abstract: Power converters for use in wind turbine systems are included. For instance, a wind turbine system can include a wind driven doubly fed induction generator having a stator and a rotor. The stator is configured to provide a medium voltage alternating current power on a stator bus of the wind turbine system. The wind turbine system includes a power converter configured to convert a low voltage alternating current power provided by the rotor to a medium voltage multiphase alternating current output power suitable for provision to an electrical grid. The power converter includes a plurality conversion modules. Each conversion module includes a plurality of bridge circuits. Each bridge circuit includes a plurality of silicon carbide switching devices coupled in series. Each conversion module is configured to provide a single phase of the medium voltage multiphase alternating current output power on a line bus of the wind turbine system.