Abstract: A device may include an rectifier with one or more transistors that accepts a three-phas7 input and generates a DC bus output, a low-pass filter to provide a filtered DC bus voltage, a driver to drive the transistors based on a modulation index, and a controller to generate the modulation index. The controller may generate a nominal modulation index, generate an adjusted modulation index based on the nominal modulation index modified by a ratio of the filtered and measured DC bus voltages, and provide the modulation index to the PWM driver, where the modulation index is the nominal modulation index when a difference voltage associated with a difference between the filtered and measured DC bus voltages is below a voltage threshold, and where the modulation index is the adjusted modulation index when the difference voltage is above the voltage threshold.

Abstract: An energy storage assembly includes an energy storage unit. A supervisor is operable to determine a power reference set point based upon a cost function. A storage unit controller is configured to control the energy storage unit to provide electric energy to at least one load based upon a power reference input that is based upon the power reference set point and at least one dynamically changing power profile from the at least one load.

Abstract: A device may include an rectifier with one or more transistors that accepts a three-phase AC input and generates a DC bus output, a low-pass filter to provide a filtered DC bus voltage, a driver to drive the transistors based on a modulation index, and a controller to generate the modulation index. The controller may generate a nominal modulation index, generate an adjusted modulation index based on the nominal modulation index modified by a ratio of the filtered and measured DC bus voltages, and provide the modulation index to the PWM driver, where the modulation index is the nominal modulation index when a difference voltage associated with a difference between the filtered and measured DC bus voltages is below a voltage threshold, and where the modulation index is the adjusted modulation index when the difference voltage is above the voltage threshold.

Abstract: A steel bar transverse stepping conveying equipment is provided, including a base, and a front movable clamp area and a rear fixed clamp area arranged on the base. The front movable clamp area and the rear fixed clamp area are connected by a rear fixed clamp area connecting guiderail mechanism for relative translation. A method for controlling the steel bar transverse stepping conveying equipment is further provided. The steel bar transverse stepping conveying equipment is provided with a plurality of clamp mechanisms. A front-movable-clamp-area clamp clamps the steel bar and shifts the steel bar to a next position step by step; then the steel bar is clamped by a rear fixed clamp area clamp, and the front-movable-clamp-area clamp is released and returned to an original position; and the previous action is repeated until the stepping conveying of the steel bar is completed.

Abstract: A microgrid according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a plurality of intelligent electronic devices configured to communicate directly with one another in a first language. Each of the intelligent electronic devices includes a controller and a gateway. The gateway is configured to convert incoming messages from the first language to a second language native to the controller. The first language is different than the second language. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A steel bar transverse stepping conveying equipment is provided, including a base, and a front movable clamp area and a rear fixed clamp area arranged on the base. The front movable clamp area and the rear fixed clamp area are connected by a rear fixed clamp area connecting guiderail mechanism for relative translation. A method for controlling the steel bar transverse stepping conveying equipment is further provided. The steel bar transverse stepping conveying equipment is provided with a plurality of clamp mechanisms. A front-movable-clamp-area clamp clamps the steel bar and shifts the steel bar to a next position step by step; then the steel bar is clamped by a rear fixed clamp area clamp, and the front-movable-clamp-area clamp is released and returned to an original position; and the previous action is repeated until the stepping conveying of the steel bar is completed.

Abstract: An energy storage assembly includes an energy storage unit. A supervisor is operable to determine a power reference set point based upon a cost function. A storage unit controller is configured to control the energy storage unit to provide electric energy to at least one load based upon a power reference input that is based upon the power reference set point and at least one dynamically changing power profile from the at least one load.

Abstract: A power factor correction system according to the present disclosure includes an inverter connected in parallel with at least one load and a controller configured to command an output voltage of the inverter to provide reactive power to the at least one load when a voltage source is available to the load and real power and reactive power to the at least one load when the voltage source is unavailable to the load.

Abstract: A microgrid according to an exemplary aspect of the present disclosure includes, among other things, a plurality of intelligent electronic devices configured to communicate directly with one another in a first language. Each of the intelligent electronic devices includes a controller and a gateway. The gateway is configured to convert incoming messages from the first language to a second language native to the controller. The first language is different than the second language. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A damping system can include a sensor disposed to measure an amplitude of a speed ripple of a drive shaft of a generator, and can include a feedforward circuit connected to the sensor and to the generator. The feedforward circuit can determine a phase angle formed by a load resistance and a load capacitance driven by the generator, calculate a voltage signal value based on the amplitude and the phase angle, and can adjust a DC link voltage provided by the generator and across the load resistance according to the voltage signal value.

Abstract: A damping system can include a sensor disposed to measure an amplitude of a speed ripple of a drive shaft of a generator, and can include a feedforward circuit connected to the sensor and to the generator. The feedforward circuit can determine a phase angle formed by a load resistance and a load capacitance driven by the generator, calculate a voltage signal value based on the amplitude and the phase angle, and can adjust a DC link voltage provided by the generator and across the load resistance according to the voltage signal value.

Abstract: A damping system can include a sensor disposed to measure an amplitude of a speed ripple of a drive shaft of a generator, and can include a feedforward circuit connected to the sensor and to the generator. The feedforward circuit can determine a phase angle formed by a load resistance and a load capacitance driven by the generator, calculate a voltage signal value based on the amplitude and the phase angle, and can adjust a DC link voltage provided by the generator and across the load resistance according to the voltage signal value.

Abstract: A damping system can include a sensor disposed to measure an amplitude of a speed ripple of a drive shaft of a generator, and can include a feedforward circuit connected to the sensor and to the generator. The feedforward circuit can determine a phase angle formed by a load resistance and a load capacitance driven by the generator, calculate a voltage signal value based on the amplitude and the phase angle, and can adjust a DC link voltage provided by the generator and across the load resistance according to the voltage signal value.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a power converter includes: a plurality of power amplifier units, each having: a plurality of slice each with a power conversion module including an AC/DC/AC converter; a mains controller to control the plurality of slices; and a feedback conditioning system coupled to the mains controller; a plurality of input contactors and a plurality of output contactors via which each of the plurality of power amplifier units is to couple between a transformer and a load; and a master controller coupled to the plurality of power amplifier units.

Abstract: A system for detecting a short-circuited ultracapacitor cell in a machine is disclosed. The system may have a memory that stores instructions and one or more processors capable of executing the instructions. The one or more processors may be configured to perform cell balancing among ultracapacitor cells arranged within two or more ultracapacitor modules, each ultracapacitor module including at least two ultracapacitor cells connected in series. The one or more processors may be further configured to measure a module voltage generated by each of the plurality of ultracapacitor modules after performing the cell balancing and before applying a load of the machine to the ultracapacitor modules, and determine whether an ultracapacitor cell among the plurality of ultracapacitor cells is short-circuited based on a comparison of the measured module voltages.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a power converter includes: a plurality of power amplifier units, each having: a plurality of slice each with a power conversion module including an AC/DC/AC converter; a mains controller to control the plurality of slices; and a feedback conditioning system coupled to the mains controller; a plurality of input contactors and a plurality of output contactors via which each of the plurality of power amplifier units is to couple between a transformer and a load; and a master controller coupled to the plurality of power amplifier units.

Abstract: A forward osmosis membrane (10) and method (50) of forming the forward osmosis membrane (10) are provided. The forward osmosis membrane (10) has an integral hydrophilic asymmetric layer (12). The integral hydrophilic asymmetric layer (12) includes a first sublayer (18) having a plurality of first elongated pores (20) extending along a depth of the first sublayer (18) and a second sublayer (22) having a plurality of second elongated pores (24) extending along a thickness of the second sublayer (22). The first elongated pores (20) are dimensionally smaller than the second elongated pores (24). A polyamide layer (14) is formed over a surface of the integral hydrophilic asymmetric layer (12).

Abstract: A system for detecting a short-circuited ultracapacitor cell in a machine is disclosed. The system may have a memory that stores instructions and one or more processors capable of executing the instructions. The one or more processors may be configured to perform cell balancing among ultracapacitor cells arranged within two or more ultracapacitor modules, each ultracapacitor module including at least two ultracapacitor cells connected in series. The one or more processors may be further configured to measure a module voltage generated by each of the plurality of ultracapacitor modules after performing the cell balancing and before applying a load of the machine to the ultracapacitor modules, and determine whether an ultracapacitor cell among the plurality of ultracapacitor cells is short-circuited based on a comparison of the measured module voltages.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of making a micro-container. The method comprises the step of evaporating a swelling agent solution absorbed in a polymer micro-particle to form an inner void therein. The evaporating step is undertaken under conditions to form a conduit extending through the shell wall of said micro-particle and into the inner void.

Abstract: A ballast (10) for powering at least one gas discharge lamp (70) in a program start mode comprises an inverter (200), a resonant output circuit (400), and a control circuit (600). During operation of ballast (10), control circuit (600) monitors a voltage within resonant output circuit (400). When the monitored voltage reaches a first specified level that is indicative of sufficient filament preheating, control circuit (600) maintains the inverter operating frequency at a first present value for a preheating period so as to provide preheating of lamp filaments (72,74). Following completion of the preheating period, control circuit (600) allows the inverter operating frequency to decrease. When the monitored voltage reaches a second specified level that is indicative of sufficient ignition voltage, control circuit (600) maintains the inverter operating frequency at a second present value for an ignition period so as to provide ignition of lamp (70).