Patents by Inventor Rajiv Kumar Varma

Rajiv Kumar Varma 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).

  • Publication number: 20240014653
    Abstract: A method and system for operating an inverter based distributed power generation source as a reactive power compensator STATCOM—a Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) device. The inverter-based power generation source is a photovoltaic solar farm. The photovoltaic solar farm can provide various STATCOM functions both during nighttime and daytime in the power grid system to which the photovoltaic solar farm is coupled. STATCOM functions include reactive power compensation, voltage control, stability improvement, an increase in power transfer capacity, power oscillation damping, damping of subsynchronous oscillations, increasing voltage stability, etc. These STATCOM functions are provided when the photovoltaic solar farm is performing either of: i) not providing active power to said power grid system, or ii) providing active power less than said maximum inverter capacity to said power grid system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2023
    Publication date: January 11, 2024
    Inventor: Rajiv Kumar VARMA
  • Patent number: 11784496
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for operating an inverter based distributed power generation source with energy storage system, as a Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) device—a STATCOM. The inverter based distributed power generation source can provide reactive power compensation, voltage regulation, damping enhancement, stability improvement and other benefits provided by FACTS devices. These STATCOM functions are provided when the said energy storage based distributed power generation source is doing at least one of: i) not exchanging active power with said power grid system, or ii) exchanging active power less than a maximum inverter capacity with said power grid system. The present invention thus provides a technological improvement that opens up a new set of applications and potential revenue earning opportunities for energy storage based distributed power generation sources other than simply from exchanging (injecting or absorbing) active power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2023
    Inventor: Rajiv Kumar Varma
  • Patent number: 11586236
    Abstract: The invention provides systems, methods, and devices relating to the provision of system-wide coordinated control voltage regulation support in power transmission and distribution networks using multiple inverter based power generation or absorption facilities, which are coupled to the power transmission and distribution networks for minimizing transmission and distribution line losses and for performing Conservation Voltage Reduction. The invention uses a novel control method of inverter based Distributed Generators as Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) in a way that provides a dynamic voltage regulation/control with the inverter capacity remaining after real power generation or absorption, thereby decreasing system line losses and performing Conservation Voltage Reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventor: Rajiv Kumar Varma
  • Publication number: 20220166222
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for operating an inverter based distributed power generation source with energy storage system, as a Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) device—a STATCOM. The inverter based distributed power generation source can provide reactive power compensation, voltage regulation, damping enhancement, stability improvement and other benefits provided by FACTS devices. These STATCOM functions are provided when the said energy storage based distributed power generation source is doing at least one of: i) not exchanging active power with said power grid system, or ii) exchanging active power less than a maximum inverter capacity with said power grid system. The present invention thus provides a technological improvement that opens up a new set of applications and potential revenue earning opportunities for energy storage based distributed power generation sources other than simply from exchanging (injecting or absorbing) active power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2021
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventor: Rajiv Kumar VARMA
  • Publication number: 20220166223
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices relating to operating a power generation facility to contribute to the stability of the power transmission system. A controller operates on the power generation facility to modulate real power or reactive power or both in a decoupled manner to contribute to the stability of the power transmission system. Real power produced by the power generation facility can be increased or decreased between zero and the maximum real power available from the PV solar panels, as required by the power system. Reactive power from the power generation facility can be exchanged (injected or absorbed) and both increased or decreased as required by the power transmission system. For solar farms, the solar panels can be connected or disconnected, or operated at non-optimal power production to add or subtract real or reactive power to the power transmission system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventor: Rajiv Kumar VARMA
  • Patent number: 11271405
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices relating to operating a power generation facility to contribute to the stability of the power transmission system. A controller operates on the power generation facility to modulate real power or reactive power or both in a decoupled manner to contribute to the stability of the power transmission system. Real power produced by the power generation facility can be increased or decreased between zero and the maximum real power available from the PV solar panels, as required by the power system. Reactive power from the power generation facility can be exchanged (injected or absorbed) and both increased or decreased as required by the power transmission system. For solar farms, the solar panels can be connected or disconnected, or operated at non-optimal power production to add or subtract real or reactive power to the power transmission system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Inventor: Rajiv Kumar Varma
  • Patent number: 11211799
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for operating a solar farm inverter as a Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) device—a STATCOM—for voltage control. The solar farm inverter can provide voltage regulation, damping enhancement, stability improvement and other benefits provided by FACTS devices. In one embodiment, the solar farm operating as a STATCOM at night is employed to increase the connectivity of neighbouring wind farms that produce peak power at night due to high winds, but are unable to connect due to voltage regulation issues. The present invention can also operate during the day because there remains inverter capacity after real power export by the solar farm. Additional auxiliary controllers are incorporated in the solar farm inverter to enhance damping and stability, and provide other benefits provided by FACTS devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Inventor: Rajiv Kumar Varma
  • Publication number: 20200150707
    Abstract: The invention provides systems, methods, and devices relating to the provision of system-wide coordinated control voltage regulation support in power transmission and distribution networks using multiple inverter based power generation or absorption facilities, which are coupled to the power transmission and distribution networks for minimizing transmission and distribution line losses and for performing Conservation Voltage Reduction. The invention uses a novel control method of inverter based Distributed Generators as Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) in a way that provides a dynamic voltage regulation/control with the inverter capacity remaining after real power generation or absorption, thereby decreasing system line losses and performing Conservation Voltage Reduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2020
    Publication date: May 14, 2020
    Inventor: Rajiv Kumar VARMA
  • Patent number: 10571948
    Abstract: The invention provides systems, methods, and devices relating to the provision of system-wide coordinated control voltage regulation support in power transmission and distribution networks using multiple inverter based power generation or absorption facilities, which are coupled to the power transmission and distribution networks for minimizing transmission and distribution line losses and for performing Conservation Voltage Reduction. The invention uses a novel control method of inverter based Distributed Generators as Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) in a way that provides a dynamic voltage regulation/control with the inverter capacity remaining after real power generation or absorption, thereby decreasing system line losses and performing Conservation Voltage Reduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Inventor: Rajiv Kumar Varma
  • Publication number: 20200036192
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices relating to operating a power generation facility to contribute to the stability of the power transmission system. A controller operates on the power generation facility to modulate real power or reactive power or both in a decoupled manner to contribute to the stability of the power transmission system. Real power produced by the power generation facility can be increased or decreased between zero and the maximum real power available from the PV solar panels, as required by the power system. Reactive power from the power generation facility can be exchanged (injected or absorbed) and both increased or decreased as required by the power transmission system. For solar farms, the solar panels can be connected or disconnected, or operated at non-optimal power production to add or subtract real or reactive power to the power transmission system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 15, 2019
    Publication date: January 30, 2020
    Inventor: Rajiv Kumar VARMA
  • Patent number: 10424935
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices relating to operating a power generation facility to contribute to the stability of the power transmission system. A controller operates on the power generation facility to modulate real power or reactive power or both in a decoupled manner to contribute to the stability of the power transmission system. Real power produced by the power generation facility can be increased or decreased between zero and the maximum real power available from the PV solar panels, as required by the power system. Reactive power from the power generation facility can be exchanged (injected or absorbed) and both increased or decreased as required by the power transmission system. For solar farms, the solar panels can be connected or disconnected, or operated at non-optimal power production to add or subtract real or reactive power to the power transmission system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Inventor: Rajiv Kumar Varma
  • Publication number: 20190245353
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for operating a solar farm inverter as a Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) device—a STATCOM—for voltage control. The solar farm inverter can provide voltage regulation, damping enhancement, stability improvement and other benefits provided by FACTS devices. In one embodiment, the solar farm operating as a STATCOM at night is employed to increase the connectivity of neighbouring wind farms that produce peak power at night due to high winds, but are unable to connect due to voltage regulation issues. The present invention can also operate during the day because there remains inverter capacity after real power export by the solar farm. Additional auxiliary controllers are incorporated in the solar farm inverter to enhance damping and stability, and provide other benefits provided by FACTS devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2019
    Publication date: August 8, 2019
    Inventor: Rajiv Kumar VARMA
  • Patent number: 10256635
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for operating a solar farm inverter as a Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) device—a STATCOM—for voltage control. The solar farm inverter can provide voltage regulation, damping enhancement, stability improvement and other benefits provided by FACTS devices. In one embodiment, the solar farm operating as a STATCOM at night is employed to increase the connectivity of neighboring wind farms that produce peak power at night due to high winds, but are unable to connect due to voltage regulation issues. The present invention can also operate during the day because there remains inverter capacity after real power export by the solar farm. Additional auxiliary controllers are incorporated in the solar farm inverter to enhance damping and stability, and provide other benefits provided by FACTS devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2019
    Inventor: Rajiv Kumar Varma
  • Publication number: 20180052478
    Abstract: The invention provides systems, methods, and devices relating to the provision of system-wide coordinated control voltage regulation support in power transmission and distribution networks using multiple inverter based power generation or absorption facilities, which are coupled to the power transmission and distribution networks for minimizing transmission and distribution line losses and for performing Conservation Voltage Reduction. The invention uses a novel control method of inverter based Distributed Generators as Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) in a way that provides a dynamic voltage regulation/control with the inverter capacity remaining after real power generation or absorption, thereby decreasing system line losses and performing Conservation Voltage Reduction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Publication date: February 22, 2018
    Inventor: Rajiv Kumar VARMA
  • Patent number: 9841778
    Abstract: The invention provides systems, methods, and devices relating to the provision of system-wide coordinated control voltage regulation support in power transmission and distribution networks using multiple inverter based power generation facilities, which are coupled to the power transmission and distribution networks for minimizing transmission and distribution line losses. The invention uses a novel control method of inverter based Distributed Generators as Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) in a way that provides a dynamic voltage regulation/control with the inverter capacity remaining after real power generation, thereby decreasing system line losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Inventor: Rajiv Kumar Varma
  • Publication number: 20170250540
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices relating to operating a power generation facility to contribute to the stability of the power transmission system. A controller operates on the power generation facility to modulate real power or reactive power or both in a decoupled manner to contribute to the stability of the power transmission system. Real power produced by the power generation facility can be increased or decreased between zero and the maximum real power available from the PV solar panels, as required by the power system. Reactive power from the power generation facility can be exchanged (injected or absorbed) and both increased or decreased as required by the power transmission system. For solar farms, the solar panels can be connected or disconnected, or operated at non-optimal power production to add or subtract real or reactive power to the power transmission system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2017
    Publication date: August 31, 2017
    Inventor: Rajiv Kumar VARMA
  • Publication number: 20170031379
    Abstract: The invention provides systems, methods, and devices relating to the provision of system-wide coordinated control voltage regulation support in power transmission and distribution networks using multiple inverter based power generation facilities, which are coupled to the power transmission and distribution networks for minimizing transmission and distribution line losses. The invention uses a novel control method of inverter based Distributed Generators as Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) in a way that provides a dynamic voltage regulation/control with the inverter capacity remaining after real power generation, thereby decreasing system line losses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2016
    Publication date: February 2, 2017
    Inventor: Rajiv Kumar VARMA
  • Patent number: 9436200
    Abstract: The invention provides systems, methods, and devices relating to the provision of system-wide coordinated control voltage regulation support in power transmission and distribution networks using multiple inverter based power generation facilities, which are coupled to the power transmission and distribution networks for minimizing transmission and distribution line losses. The invention uses a novel control method of inverter based Distributed Generators as Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) in a way that provides a dynamic voltage regulation/control with the inverter capacity remaining after real power generation, thereby decreasing system line losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Inventor: Rajiv Kumar Varma
  • Publication number: 20160197482
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for operating a solar farm inverter as a Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) device—a STATCOM—for voltage control. The solar farm inverter can provide voltage regulation, damping enhancement, stability improvement and other benefits provided by FACTS devices. In one embodiment, the solar farm operating as a STATCOM at night is employed to increase the connectivity of neighbouring wind farms that produce peak power at night due to high winds, but are unable to connect due to voltage regulation issues. The present invention can also operate during the day because there remains inverter capacity after real power export by the solar farm. Additional auxiliary controllers are incorporated in the solar farm inverter to enhance damping and stability, and provide other benefits provided by FACTS devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Inventors: Rajiv Kumar VARMA, Vinod KHADKIKAR, Shah Arifur RAHMAN
  • Patent number: 9325173
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and system for operating a solar farm inverter as a Flexible AC Transmission System (FACTS) device—a STATCOM—for voltage control. The solar farm inverter can provide voltage regulation, damping enhancement, stability improvement and other benefits provided by FACTS devices. In one embodiment, the solar farm operating as a STATCOM at night is employed to increase the connectivity of neighboring wind farms that produce peak power at night due to high winds, but are unable to connect due to voltage regulation issues. The present invention can also operate during the day because there remains inverter capacity after real power export by the solar farm. Additional auxiliary controllers are incorporated in the solar farm inverter to enhance damping and stability, and provide other benefits provided by FACTS devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: The University of Western Ontario
    Inventors: Rajiv Kumar Varma, Vinod Khadkikar, Shah Arifur Rahman