Patents by Inventor Michael Ropp

Michael Ropp 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: 10985568
    Abstract: The present invention relates to systems and methods that use separation of time scales to mitigate interaction between unintentional islanding detection schemes and GSFs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2021
    Assignees: National Technology & Engineering Solutions of Sandia, LLC
    Inventors: Jason C. Neely, Sigifredo Gonzalez, Michael Ropp, Dustin Schutz
  • Patent number: 10326279
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying an island condition in a power distribution system and disconnecting distributed generators in the case of islanding. The systems and methods are used to enable reliable detection of island formation with high false-trip immunity, for any combination of distributed energy resources, and for distributed energy resources using grid support functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2019
    Assignees: Northern Plains Power Technologies, Sandia Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Ropp, Scott Perlenfein, Jason C. Neely, Sigifredo Gonzalez, Lee Joshua Rashkin
  • Patent number: 9742192
    Abstract: An effective, yet relatively simple and inexpensive, method for detection of islanding in distributed power generation systems. Statistical analysis of the local line frequency, as measured at the distributed generator, is performed to detect when an island has been formed. The statistical characteristics of the local frequency are controlled by the grid when the distributed generator is not islanding. When an island is formed, however, frequency control switches to circuitry associated with the distributed generator. Because the statistical characteristics of the frequency control performed by the distributed generator are markedly different from those of the grid, the islanding condition can be detected and corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Michael Ropp
  • Publication number: 20170077703
    Abstract: Systems and methods for identifying an island condition in a power distribution system and disconnecting distributed generators in the case of islanding. The systems and methods are used to enable reliable detection of island formation with high false-trip immunity, for any combination of distributed energy resources, and for distributed energy resources using grid support functions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2016
    Publication date: March 16, 2017
    Inventors: Michael Ropp, Scott Perlenfein, Jason C. Neely, Sigifredo Gonzalez, Lee Joshua Rashkin
  • Publication number: 20160197479
    Abstract: An effective, yet relatively simple and inexpensive, method for detection of islanding in distributed power generation systems. Statistical analysis of the local line frequency, as measured at the distributed generator, is performed to detect when an island has been formed. The statistical characteristics of the local frequency are controlled by the grid when the distributed generator is not islanding. When an island is formed, however, frequency control switches to circuitry associated with the distributed generator. Because the statistical characteristics of the frequency control performed by the distributed generator are markedly different from those of the grid, the islanding condition can be detected and corrected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventor: Michael Ropp
  • Patent number: 9287714
    Abstract: An effective, yet relatively simple and inexpensive, method for detection of islanding in distributed power generation systems. Statistical analysis of the local line frequency, as measured at the distributed generator, is performed to detect when an island has been formed. The statistical characteristics of the local frequency are controlled by the grid when the distributed generator is not islanding. When an island is formed, however, frequency control switches to circuitry associated with the distributed generator. Because the statistical characteristics of the frequency control performed by the distributed generator are markedly different from those of the grid, the islanding condition can be detected and corrected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Inventor: Michael Ropp
  • Patent number: 9142968
    Abstract: A solar power inverter that detects islanding conditions includes a power generation component that generates alternating current (AC) from direct current produced by photovoltaic cells. The inverter generates AC for a load or an electrical power grid. The inverter also includes a component that generates synchrophasors from characteristics of electrically proximate AC. The inverter further includes a component that receives grid synchrophasors transmitted from a location on the electrical power grid (e.g., a transmission substation). The inverter further includes a controller that uses the inverter synchrophasors and the grid synchrophasors to calculate a degree of correlation between the electrical power grid AC frequency and the frequency of the electrically proximate AC. If the degree of correlation dips below a predefined value or exhibits certain patterns or behaviors that are indicative of a loss of mains (e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2015
    Assignee: Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Ropp
  • Patent number: 8907615
    Abstract: An electrical power generation system, such as a solar power inverter, can provide dynamic real-time power compensation, so as to mitigate the effects of voltage sags and swells (e.g., on a utility grid) and thereby provide voltage support functionality to a local grid. The electrical power generation system can do so by receiving first synchrophasor measurements that are taken at a point on the utility grid and transmitted to the electrical power generation system and by taking second synchrophasor measurements. The first and second synchrophasors indicate voltage magnitude and frequency of the alternating current (AC) at their respective measurement points. The electrical power generation system can compare the first synchrophasors with the second synchrophasors and based upon the comparison, vary the power factor of the power the electrical power generation system generates (e.g., by either supplying or absorbing reactive power).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Advanced Energy Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael A. Mills-Price, Michael Ropp
  • Publication number: 20130264874
    Abstract: An effective, yet relatively simple and inexpensive, method for detection of islanding in distributed power generation systems. Statistical analysis of the local line frequency, as measured at the distributed generator, is performed to detect when an island has been formed. The statistical characteristics of the local frequency are controlled by the grid when the distributed generator is not islanding. When an island is formed, however, frequency control switches to circuitry associated with the distributed generator. Because the statistical characteristics of the frequency control performed by the distributed generator are markedly different from those of the grid, the islanding condition can be detected and corrected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Inventor: Michael Ropp
  • Publication number: 20110316480
    Abstract: An electrical power generation system, such as a solar power inverter, can provide dynamic real-time power compensation, so as to mitigate the effects of voltage sags and swells (e.g., on a utility grid) and thereby provide voltage support functionality to a local grid. The electrical power generation system can do so by receiving first synchrophasor measurements that are taken at a point on the utility grid and transmitted to the electrical power generation system and by taking second synchrophasor measurements. The first and second synchrophasors indicate voltage magnitude and frequency of the alternating current (AC) at their respective measurement points. The electrical power generation system can compare the first synchrophasors with the second synchrophasors and based upon the comparison, vary the power factor of the power the electrical power generation system generates (e.g., by either supplying or absorbing reactive power).
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Michael A. Mills-Price, Michael Ropp
  • Publication number: 20110282514
    Abstract: A solar power forecasting system can provide forecasts of solar power output by photovoltaic plants over multiple time frames. A first time frame may be several hours from the time of the forecast, which can allow utility personnel sufficient time to make decisions to counteract a forecasted shortfall in solar power output. For example, the utility personnel can decide to increase power production and/or to purchase additional power to make up for any forecasted shortfall in solar power output. A second time frame can be several minutes from the time of the forecast, which can allow for operations to mitigate effects of a forecasted shortfall in solar power output. Such mitigation operations can include directing an energy management system to shed noncritical loads and/or ramping down the power produced by the photovoltaic plants at a rate that is acceptable to the utility to which the photovoltaic plants provide power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Inventors: Michael Ropp, Steven G. Hummel
  • Publication number: 20110276192
    Abstract: A solar power inverter that detects islanding conditions includes a power generation component that generates alternating current (AC) from direct current produced by photovoltaic cells. The inverter generates AC for a load or an electrical power grid. The inverter also includes a component that generates synchrophasors from characteristics of electrically proximate AC. The inverter further includes a component that receives grid synchrophasors transmitted from a location on the electrical power grid (e.g., a transmission substation). The inverter further includes a controller that uses the inverter synchrophasors and the grid synchrophasors to calculate a degree of correlation between the electrical power grid AC frequency and the frequency of the electrically proximate AC. If the degree of correlation dips below a predefined value or exhibits certain patterns or behaviors that are indicative of a loss of mains (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventor: Michael Ropp