Patents by Inventor Patrick S. Flannery

Patrick S. Flannery 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: 11509139
    Abstract: A system for load balancing on a multi-phase power line connected to a single phase lateral power line, includes a contactor configured to selectively connect each phase of the multi-phase power line to the single phase lateral power line. There is a phase change device connected in parallel with the contactor and a controller. During the phase change state, the controller connects the input of the phase change device to the multi-phase power line and connects the output of the phase change device the single phase lateral power line. The controller causes the phase change device to output a voltage to the single phase lateral line initially aligned with the first phase and then rotated to align with the second phase and causes the contactor changes connection to the second phase of the multi-phase power line and disconnect the phase change device from the power lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick S. Flannery, Robert McFetridge
  • Publication number: 20210344199
    Abstract: A system for load balancing on a multi-phase power line connected to a single phase lateral power line, includes a contactor configured to selectively connect each phase of the multi-phase power line to the single phase lateral power line. There is a phase change device connected in parallel with the contactor and a controller. During the phase change state, the controller connects the input of the phase change device to the multi-phase power line and connects the output of the phase change device the single phase lateral power line. The controller causes the phase change device to output a voltage to the single phase lateral line initially aligned with the first phase and then rotated to align with the second phase and causes the contactor changes connection to the second phase of the multi-phase power line and disconnect the phase change device from the power lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2020
    Publication date: November 4, 2021
    Inventors: Patrick S. Flannery, Robert McFetridge
  • Patent number: 10193340
    Abstract: A static synchronous compensator configured to be installed in and provide reactive power to a medium voltage electric distribution system. There is a multi-level cascaded H-bridge (CHB) converter in an enclosure, having a nominal operating voltage in the medium voltage range. There is a first electrical bushing connecting the medium voltage electric distribution system to the input of the CHB converter. There is a second electrical bushing connecting ground or floating ground to the output of the CHB converter. There is a cooling system, which circulates the cooling fluid between in the interior of the enclosure to cool the CHB converter. There is a controller to control the converter to output reactive power at a medium voltage level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Andrew Specht, John R. Brubaker, Mark D. Putnam, Douglas C. Folts, David G. Oteman, Patrick S. Flannery
  • Publication number: 20180269682
    Abstract: A static synchronous compensator configured to be installed in and provide reactive power to a medium voltage electric distribution system. There is a multi-level cascaded H-bridge (CHB) converter in an enclosure, having a nominal operating voltage in the medium voltage range. There is a first electrical bushing connecting the medium voltage electric distribution system to the input of the CHB converter. There is a second electrical bushing connecting ground or floating ground to the output of the CHB converter. There is a cooling system, which circulates the cooling fluid between in the interior of the enclosure to cool the CHB converter. There is a controller to control the converter to output reactive power at a medium voltage level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 5, 2017
    Publication date: September 20, 2018
    Inventors: Andrew Specht, John R. Brubaker, Mark D. Putnam, Douglas C. Folts, David G. Oteman, Patrick S. Flannery
  • Patent number: 10079558
    Abstract: A static synchronous compensator includes at least one converter pole for producing a first phase of an AC voltage waveform having a fundamental cycle. The first phase of the AC voltage waveform includes alternating converter pole charging and discharging regions in each fundamental cycle. The at least one converter pole includes a plurality of cascaded H-bridge cells, each having a DC voltage source and a plurality of switches. The switches are capable of being switched to produce a plurality of switching states. There is a controller configured to control the switching states of the plurality of switches of each of the cascaded H-bridge cells based on the voltages of DC voltage sources of the H-bridge cells and on whether the AC waveform is in the converter pole charging region or the converter pole discharging region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventor: Patrick S. Flannery
  • Publication number: 20170294853
    Abstract: A static synchronous compensator includes at least one converter pole for producing a first phase of an AC voltage waveform having a fundamental cycle. The first phase of the AC voltage waveform includes alternating converter pole charging and discharging regions in each fundamental cycle. The at least one converter pole includes a plurality of cascaded H-bridge cells, each having a DC voltage source and a plurality of switches. The switches are capable of being switched to produce a plurality of switching states. There is a controller configured to control the switching states of the plurality of switches of each of the cascaded H-bridge cells based on the voltages of DC voltage sources of the H-bridge cells and on whether the AC waveform is in the converter pole charging region or the converter pole discharging region.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2016
    Publication date: October 12, 2017
    Inventor: Patrick S. Flannery
  • Patent number: 8120935
    Abstract: A method for providing electric power to a power system includes receiving, at a slave node of a power converter having a plurality of slave nodes, a first synchronization signal via a first communication channel, the first synchronization signal purporting to represent a master timing characteristic of a master control node of the converter; receiving, at the slave node of the converter, a second synchronization signal via a second communication channel, the second synchronization signal purporting to represent a master timing characteristic of the master control node of the converter; synchronizing an internal timing characteristic of the slave control node with the master timing characteristic of the master control node using the first synchronization signal; determining that the first synchronization signal is invalid; and synchronizing an internal timing characteristic of the slave control node with the master timing characteristic of the master control node using the second synchronization signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick S. Flannery, David G. Oteman, Matthew W. Tilstra, Gary Steven Parnes
  • Publication number: 20110267854
    Abstract: A method for providing electric power to a power system includes receiving, at a slave node of a power converter having a plurality of slave nodes, a first synchronization signal via a first communication channel, the first synchronization signal purporting to represent a master timing characteristic of a master control node of the converter; receiving, at the slave node of the converter, a second synchronization signal via a second communication channel, the second synchronization signal purporting to represent a master timing characteristic of the master control node of the converter; synchronizing an internal timing characteristic of the slave control node with the master timing characteristic of the master control node using the first synchronization signal; determining that the first synchronization signal is invalid; and synchronizing an internal timing characteristic of the slave control node with the master timing characteristic of the master control node using the second synchronization signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2011
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: American Superconductor Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick S. Flannery, David G. Oteman, Matthew W. Tilstra, Gary Steven Parnes
  • Patent number: 7919879
    Abstract: A wind turbine 36 has a back-to-back AC/DC/AC power electronic converter chain in which the grid side converter 48 is connected in series with DFIG stator windings 64. The machine side converter 56 is fed from the rotor windings 54 of the DFIG 44. Series connection of the grid side converter 48 enables voltage sag ride-through capability via control of the stator flux. In the event of a grid voltage sag, the series converter allows for a controlled response in the stator flux and electromagnetic shaft torque, protects the machine side converter and enables continued power delivery to the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Patrick S. Flannery, Venkata Giri Venkataramanan
  • Publication number: 20070278797
    Abstract: A wind turbine 36 has a back-to-back AC/DC/AC power electronic converter chain in which the grid side converter 48 is connected in series with DFIG stator windings 64. The machine side converter 56 is fed from the rotor windings 54 of the DFIG 44. Series connection of the grid side converter 48 enables voltage sag ride-through capability via control of the stator flux. In the event of a grid voltage sag, the series converter allows for a controlled response in the stator flux and electromagnetic shaft torque, protects the machine side converter and enables continued power delivery to the grid.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Publication date: December 6, 2007
    Inventors: Patrick S. Flannery, Venkata Giri Venkataramanan