Patents by Inventor Keith D. Noderer

Keith D. Noderer 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: 11821355
    Abstract: Systems and methods to increase the recharge rate of a supplemental cooling system are provided. The system may include a primary cooling system configured to cool a thermal load, a supplemental cooling system, and a thermoelectric cooling apparatus. The thermoelectric cooling apparatus may assist the primary cooling system in recharging the supplemental cooling system in response to the supplemental cooling system operating in a recharge state, to the availability of electrical capacity, and to one or more operating parameters of the primary cooling system falling outside a predetermined range, wherein the operating parameter affects a cooling capacity of the primary cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Keith D. Noderer, Eric S. Donovan
  • Patent number: 11271501
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine operational at a constant rated rotational speed, a speed sensor to measure an actual speed of the gas turbine, a turbine controller to control the gas turbine to the constant rated rotational speed, and a generator coupled with the gas turbine and rotatable to output electric power. The system also includes a DC to DC converter to output a load current on a load bus to supply a load. The DC to DC converter is supplied input electric power from the generator. The system also includes an energy storage device cooperative operable with the DC to DC converter to supply power on the load bus, and a controller to receive the actual speed and adjust an output electrical current set point of the DC to DC converter to compensate for deviation of the actual speed from the constant rated speed of the gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: Keith D. Noderer
  • Publication number: 20210404374
    Abstract: Systems and methods to increase the recharge rate of a supplemental cooling system are provided. The system may include a primary cooling system configured to cool a thermal load, a supplemental cooling system, and a thermoelectric cooling apparatus. The thermoelectric cooling apparatus may assist the primary cooling system in recharging the supplemental cooling system in response to the supplemental cooling system operating in a recharge state, to the availability of electrical capacity, and to one or more operating parameters of the primary cooling system falling outside a predetermined range, wherein the operating parameter affects a cooling capacity of the primary cooling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Keith D. Noderer, Eric S. Donovan
  • Patent number: 10995656
    Abstract: Systems and methods to increase the recharge rate of a supplemental cooling system are provided. The system may include a primary cooling system configured to cool a thermal load, a supplemental cooling system, and a thermoelectric cooling apparatus. The thermoelectric cooling apparatus may assist the primary cooling system in recharging the supplemental cooling system in response to the supplemental cooling system operating in a recharge state, to the availability of electrical capacity, and to one or more operating parameters of the primary cooling system falling outside a predetermined range, wherein the operating parameter affects a cooling capacity of the primary cooling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Keith D. Noderer, Eric S. Donovan
  • Publication number: 20200266741
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine operational at a constant rated rotational speed, a speed sensor to measure an actual speed of the gas turbine, a turbine controller to control the gas turbine to the constant rated rotational speed, and a generator coupled with the gas turbine and rotatable to output electric power. The system also includes a DC to DC converter to output a load current on a load bus to supply a load. The DC to DC converter is supplied input electric power from the generator. The system also includes an energy storage device cooperative operable with the DC to DC converter to supply power on the load bus, and a controller to receive the actual speed and adjust an output electrical current set point of the DC to DC converter to compensate for deviation of the actual speed from the constant rated speed of the gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2019
    Publication date: August 20, 2020
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Keith D. Noderer
  • Patent number: 10654162
    Abstract: Systems and methods for thermal management are provided. Thermal management components may include an electrical source and a cooling source. The electrical source may supply electricity to an electrical apparatus. In addition, the thermal management components store thermal energy. A controller may cause the electrical apparatus to be cooled by the cooling source and delay or suspend cooling the electrical source with the cooling source while a state of charge of the electrical source is greater than a predefined value for the electrical source. The state of charge of the electrical source may include a measurement of cooling capacity available by the electrical source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Erik A. Munevar, Eric Schneider, Eric S. Donovan, Keith D. Noderer, Russell E. White
  • Patent number: 10491145
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine operational at a constant rated rotational speed, a speed sensor to measure an actual speed of the gas turbine, a turbine controller to control the gas turbine to the constant rated rotational speed, and a generator coupled with the gas turbine and rotatable to output electric power. The system also includes a DC to DC converter to output a load current on a load bus to supply a load. The DC to DC converter is supplied input electric power from the generator. The system also includes an energy storage device cooperative operable with the DC to DC converter to supply power on the load bus, and a controller to receive the actual speed and adjust an output electrical current set point of the DC to DC converter to compensate for deviation of the actual speed from the constant rated speed of the gas turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Keith D. Noderer
  • Patent number: 10483887
    Abstract: A system includes a DC to DC converter coupled with a load, a power source bus coupled with an input of the DC to DC converter, and an energy storage device. The energy storage device and an output of the DC to DC converter are coupled with a load bus, which supplies the load. The power source bus is supplied power by a generator being driven by a gas turbine. During operation, an operational temperature of the gas turbine may be received by the controller. The controller may dynamically adjust a demand output of the DC to DC converter in response to the operational temperature of the gas turbine exceeding a predetermined threshold temperature value for a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Keith D. Noderer
  • Patent number: 10476417
    Abstract: A system includes a first controller configured to control a gas turbine to operate at a constant speed set point and a variable torque output to drive a generator. A DC to DC converter may operate as a load on a power source bus supplied by the generator. A second controller may limit a rate of change of the DC output power of the DC to DC converter during intermittent supply of a transient step change load subsequent to receipt of a transient load control signal. The transient load control signal is anticipatory of application of the transient step change load to the load bus. The rate of change is limited by the second controller to maintain the variable torque of the gas turbine below a predetermined threshold as a load ramp rate of the DC to DC converter changes on the power source bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Keith D. Noderer
  • Patent number: 10263552
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to control engine speed droop. One such system may include an electric generator; an engine configured to power the electric generator via an output shaft; a control circuit configured to cause a speed of the output shaft to match a speed setpoint based on a feedback loop; and a processor configured to anticipate a change in a mechanical load on the engine and cause the speed setpoint of the output shaft to increase or decrease from a first value to a second value in response to anticipation of the change in the mechanical load on the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2019
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventors: Keith D. Noderer, Russell E. White
  • Publication number: 20190055880
    Abstract: Systems and methods to increase the recharge rate of a supplemental cooling system are provided. The system may include a primary cooling system configured to cool a thermal load, a supplemental cooling system, and a thermoelectric cooling apparatus. The thermoelectric cooling apparatus may assist the primary cooling system in recharging the supplemental cooling system in response to the supplemental cooling system operating in a recharge state, to the availability of electrical capacity, and to one or more operating parameters of the primary cooling system falling outside a predetermined range, wherein the operating parameter affects a cooling capacity of the primary cooling system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Publication date: February 21, 2019
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Keith D. Noderer, Eric S. Donovan
  • Publication number: 20190052205
    Abstract: A system includes a DC to DC converter coupled with a load, a power source bus coupled with an input of the DC to DC converter, and an energy storage device. The energy storage device and an output of the DC to DC converter are coupled with a load bus, which supplies the load. The power source bus is supplied power by a generator being driven by a gas turbine. During operation, an operational temperature of the gas turbine may be received by the controller. The controller may dynamically adjust a demand output of the DC to DC converter in response to the operational temperature of the gas turbine exceeding a predetermined threshold temperature value for a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Keith D. Noderer
  • Publication number: 20190052208
    Abstract: A system includes a first controller configured to control a gas turbine to operate at a constant speed set point and a variable torque output to drive a generator. A DC to DC converter may operate as a load on a power source bus supplied by the generator. A second controller may limit a rate of change of the DC output power of the DC to DC converter during intermittent supply of a transient step change load subsequent to receipt of a transient load control signal. The transient load control signal is anticipatory of application of the transient step change load to the load bus. The rate of change is limited by the second controller to maintain the variable torque of the gas turbine below a predetermined threshold as a load ramp rate of the DC to DC converter changes on the power source bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Keith D. Noderer
  • Publication number: 20190052207
    Abstract: Methods and systems are provided to control engine speed droop. One such system may include an electric generator; an engine configured to power the electric generator via an output shaft; a control circuit configured to cause a speed of the output shaft to match a speed setpoint based on a feedback loop; and a processor configured to anticipate a change in a mechanical load on the engine and cause the speed setpoint of the output shaft to increase or decrease from a first value to a second value in response to anticipation of the change in the mechanical load on the engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Keith D. Noderer, Russell E. White
  • Publication number: 20190052206
    Abstract: A system includes a gas turbine operational at a constant rated rotational speed, a speed sensor to measure an actual speed of the gas turbine, a turbine controller to control the gas turbine to the constant rated rotational speed, and a generator coupled with the gas turbine and rotatable to output electric power. The system also includes a DC to DC converter to output a load current on a load bus to supply a load. The DC to DC converter is supplied input electric power from the generator. The system also includes an energy storage device cooperative operable with the DC to DC converter to supply power on the load bus, and a controller to receive the actual speed and adjust an output electrical current set point of the DC to DC converter to compensate for deviation of the actual speed from the constant rated speed of the gas turbine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2017
    Publication date: February 14, 2019
    Applicant: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
    Inventor: Keith D. Noderer
  • Publication number: 20180370013
    Abstract: Systems and methods for thermal management are provided. Thermal management components may include an electrical source and a cooling source. The electrical source may supply electricity to an electrical apparatus. In addition, the thermal management components store thermal energy. A controller may cause the electrical apparatus to be cooled by the cooling source and delay or suspend cooling the electrical source with the cooling source while a state of charge of the electrical source is greater than a predefined value for the electrical source. The state of charge of the electrical source may include a measurement of cooling capacity available by the electrical source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2017
    Publication date: December 27, 2018
    Inventors: Erik A. Munevar, Eric Schneider, Eric S. Donovan, Keith D. Noderer, Russell E. White