Patents by Inventor Kathleen Ann O'Brien

Kathleen Ann O'Brien 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: 9252633
    Abstract: A system for accelerated assessment of operational uncertainties in an electrical power distribution system includes a plurality of utility assets, and a distribution analysis (“DA”) system. DA system includes a preparation module configured to identify a first network model and a reduced network model for the electrical power distribution system. DA system also includes an input module configured to identify a plurality of scenarios, and a reduced-model-analysis module configured to analyze the reduced network model using the plurality of scenarios, generating a first set of results, and to select a subset of scenarios based on the first set of results. DA system further includes a full-model-analysis module configured to analyze the first network model using the subset of scenarios, generating a second set of results. DA system also includes a command module configured to dispatch configuration commands to utility assets based on the second set of results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Naresh Acharya, Jovan Z. Bebic, Harjeet Johal, Kathleen Ann O'Brien
  • Patent number: 9081407
    Abstract: A method for regulating a power line voltage includes determining a slow voltage variation by filtering an actual voltage at terminals of the voltage regulation apparatus. A fast active power variation is determined by filtering a measured active power of the DG system; wherein a first frequency of the slow voltage variation is smaller than a second frequency of the fast active power variation. The voltage regulation apparatus settings are controlled based on the slow voltage variation and a reactive power output of the DG system is controlled based on fast active power variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Johal Harjeet, Naresh Acharya, Kathleen Ann O'Brien, Xinhui Wu
  • Patent number: 9076607
    Abstract: A system that includes micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry is provided. The system may include a first over-current protection circuitry connected in a parallel circuit with the micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry for suppressing a voltage level across contacts of the micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry during a first switching event, such as a turn-on event. The system may further include a second over-current protection circuitry connected in a parallel circuit with the micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry for suppressing a current flow through the contacts of the micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry during a second switching event, such as a turn-off event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William James Premerlani, Kanakasabapathi Subramanian, Kathleen Ann O'Brien, John Norton Park, Owen Jannis Schelenz, Maja Harfman Todorovic
  • Patent number: 8942856
    Abstract: A power delivery system includes at least one conductor having a first end and a second end and a phasor measurement unit (PMU) coupled to the first end of the conductor. The PMU is configured to obtain phasor data at the first end and generate a phasor signal that includes the phasor data. The power delivery system also includes a power generation system coupled to the second end of the conductor and configured to provide power to the conductor. The power generation system includes a power source, a power converter, and a controller. The controller is communicatively coupled to the PMU and is configured to receive the phasor signal and control the power converter based at least partially on the phasor data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wei Ren, Robert William Delmerico, Kathleen Ann O'Brien, Yan Pan
  • Patent number: 8890364
    Abstract: A power plant coupled to, and configured to provide power to, an electrical grid, is described. The power plant includes a plurality of power converters electrically coupled to, and configured to receive power from, at least one power source. The power plant also includes a voltage regulation device electrically coupled between the power converters and the electrical grid. The voltage regulation device includes a series transformer and a bi-directional converter configured to regulate a voltage at an output of the power converters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kathleen Ann O'Brien, Ralph Teichmann, Jovan Z Bebic
  • Patent number: 8793028
    Abstract: A power inverter system includes a plurality of power inverters such as solar inverters receiving power from at least one energy source. Each power inverter includes algorithmic maximum peak power tracking (MPPT) software or integrated MPPT firmware to calculate its own potential real power. A controller is in electrical communication with selected power inverters that are operating in curtailed modes of operation and commands each selected power inverter to shift its power production duties and to perform MPPT sweeps. Each selected power inverter then calculates its own potential real power capability in response to corresponding MPPT sweep data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Palak Jain, Owen Jannis Schelenz, Kathleen Ann O'Brien
  • Patent number: 8787052
    Abstract: A power conversion system configured to provide alternating current (AC) power to a transformer is described. The power conversion system includes a power conversion device that includes a device input and a device output. The power conversion device is configured to receive power from a power source at the device input and the device output is configured for coupling to a transformer input. The power conversion system also includes a sensor coupled at a first point of interconnection between the device output and the transformer input and is configured to measure a voltage level at the first point of interconnection. The power conversion system also includes a system controller communicatively coupled to the power conversion device and the sensor. The system controller is configured to determine an impedance of the power grid based at least partially on the voltage level at the first point of interconnection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kathleen Ann O'Brien, Owen Jannis Schelenz
  • Publication number: 20140180663
    Abstract: A system for accelerated assessment of operational uncertainties in an electrical power distribution system includes a plurality of utility assets, and a distribution analysis (“DA”) system. DA system includes a preparation module configured to identify a first network model and a reduced network model for the electrical power distribution system. DA system also includes an input module configured to identify a plurality of scenarios, and a reduced-model-analysis module configured to analyze the reduced network model using the plurality of scenarios, generating a first set of results, and to select a subset of scenarios based on the first set of results. DA system further includes a full-model-analysis module configured to analyze the first network model using the subset of scenarios, generating a second set of results. DA system also includes a command module configured to dispatch configuration commands to utility assets based on the second set of results.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Naresh Acharya, Jovan Z. Bebic, Harjeet Johal, Kathleen Ann O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20140176090
    Abstract: A method for regulating a power line voltage includes determining a slow voltage variation by filtering an actual voltage at terminals of the voltage regulation apparatus. A fast active power variation is determined by filtering a measured active power of the DG system; wherein a first frequency of the slow voltage variation is smaller than a second frequency of the fast active power variation. The voltage regulation apparatus settings are controlled based on the slow voltage variation and a reactive power output of the DG system is controlled based on fast active power variation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Johal Harjeet, Naresh Acharya, Kathleen Ann O'Brien, Xinhui Wu
  • Patent number: 8705256
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to a power system for converting direct current (“DC”) power on a DC bus into alternating current (“AC”) power with a regulated voltage output and for feeding the AC power to an electrical system which may include a power utility or an electric grid, for example. A power conversion control system is used for controlling the power conversion and for maintaining the DC bus voltage (“DC voltage”) at a certain level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Kathleen Ann O'Brien, Zhuohui Tan, Xinhui Wu, Maozhong Gong, Xueqin Wu
  • Patent number: 8687325
    Abstract: An electrical switching device is presented. The electrical switching device includes multiple switch sets coupled in series. Each of the switch sets includes multiple switches coupled in parallel. A control circuit is coupled to the multiple switch sets and configured to control opening and closing of the switches. One or more intermediate diodes are coupled between the control circuit and each point between a respective pair of switch sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: William James Premerlani, Kathleen Ann O'Brien, Owen Jannis Schelenz
  • Patent number: 8659186
    Abstract: A power conversion system is described. The power conversion system includes a first power converter coupled to an electrical grid at a first point of interconnection (POI), a first processing device coupled to the first power converter and configured to control operation of the first power converter, and a first power measurement device coupled to the first processing device and configured to collect data associated with power output of the first power converter. The power conversion system also includes a first global positioning system (GPS) receiver coupled to the first processing device and configured to receive location information corresponding to a location of the first power converter and temporal information corresponding to a time at the location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ralph Teichmann, Kathleen Ann O'Brien, John Freer
  • Patent number: 8624411
    Abstract: A power generation system (10) for generating electrical power, which may vary in response to one or more weather-varying factors (11). The system may include an array of power generators (12) subject to the weather-varying factor. A module (18) may be configured to predict over a time horizon at least one power-generating condition for the array of power generators. A controller (24) may be configured to anticipatorily adjust a control strategy regarding operation of a component and/or subsystem of the power generation system based on the predicted power-generating condition for the array of power generators over the time horizon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Michael Schmidt, Christian Heller, Simon Schramm, Said El-Barbari, Mark Lynass, Kathleen Ann O'Brien, Ralph Teichmann, Owen Schelenz
  • Patent number: 8614525
    Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) power generation system is described. The system includes a plurality of PV collector units that include at least one PV cell and a collector-side single-phase inverter. The plurality of PV collector units are configured for coupling with a symmetric poly-phase alternating current (AC) load. The system also includes a system controller configured to control operation of the plurality of PV collector units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ralph Teichmann, Kathleen Ann O'Brien
  • Publication number: 20130274946
    Abstract: A power plant for providing alternating current (AC) power to an electrical grid is described. The power plant includes a first power converter couplable to the electrical grid at a first point of interconnection for receiving power from a first power source. The power plant also includes a second power converter couplable to the electrical grid at the first point of interconnection for receiving power from a second power source. The power plant also includes at least one sensor for measuring a voltage level at the first point of interconnection and a central controller for coordinating operation of the first power converter and the second power converter to determine an impedance of the electrical grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Publication date: October 17, 2013
    Inventors: Owen Jannis Schelenz, Kathleen Ann O'Brien, David Smith, Xinhui Wu
  • Publication number: 20130257163
    Abstract: A solar power conversion system is provided. The system includes photovoltaic modules for generating direct current (DC) power, The system also includes power converters for converting the DC power to alternating current (AC) power wherein each of the power converters comprises a local controller and at least some of the local controllers are individually operable as a central controller for providing central control signals to the remaining local controllers and exactly one of the local controllers from the at least some local controllers is operable as the central controller at a given point of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Publication date: October 3, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kathleen Ann O'Brien, Palak Jain, Owen Jannis Samuel Schelenz, Murali Mohan Baggu Data Venkata Satya
  • Publication number: 20130166090
    Abstract: A power delivery system includes at least one conductor having a first end and a second end and a phasor measurement unit (PMU) coupled to the first end of the conductor. The PMU is configured to obtain phasor data at the first end and generate a phasor signal that includes the phasor data. The power delivery system also includes a power generation system coupled to the second end of the conductor and configured to provide power to the conductor. The power generation system includes a power source, a power converter, and a controller. The controller is communicatively coupled to the PMU and is configured to receive the phasor signal and control the power converter based at least partially on the phasor data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Wei Ren, Robert William Delmerico, Kathleen Ann O'Brien, Yan Pan
  • Publication number: 20130162047
    Abstract: A power plant coupled to, and configured to provide power to, an electrical grid, is described. The power plant includes a plurality of power converters electrically coupled to, and configured to receive power from, at least one power source. The power plant also includes a voltage regulation device electrically coupled between the power converters and the electrical grid. The voltage regulation device includes a series transformer and a bi-directional converter configured to regulate a voltage at an output of the power converters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2011
    Publication date: June 27, 2013
    Inventors: Kathleen Ann O'Brien, Ralph Teichmann, Jovan Z. Bebic
  • Publication number: 20130155738
    Abstract: A power conversion system includes a three-phase power converter electrically couplable to a photovoltaic power source for converting DC power to three-phase AC power; sensors for measuring voltage levels of the AC power at each phase; and a controller for generating and transmitting independent reactive power commands for each phase of the three-phase power converter based at least in part on the voltage levels and an existing voltage imbalance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kathleen Ann O'Brien, Robert William Delmerico
  • Publication number: 20130148394
    Abstract: A power conversion system configured to provide alternating current (AC) power to a transformer is described. The power conversion system includes a power conversion device that includes a device input and a device output. The power conversion device is configured to receive power from a power source at the device input and the device output is configured for coupling to a transformer input. The power conversion system also includes a sensor coupled at a first point of interconnection between the device output and the transformer input and is configured to measure a voltage level at the first point of interconnection. The power conversion system also includes a system controller communicatively coupled to the power conversion device and the sensor. The system controller is configured to determine an impedance of the power grid based at least partially on the voltage level at the first point of interconnection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Inventors: Kathleen Ann O'Brien, Owen Jannis Schelenz