Patents by Inventor Robert Delmerico
Robert Delmerico 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).
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Patent number: 7586206Abstract: A wind turbine includes an asynchronous generator having a rotor and a stator, means for determining an actual torque-speed curve of the generator, means for determining an actual grid frequency, and means for determining a shifted torque-speed curve in response to the determined actual grid frequency if the determined actual grid frequency is higher than a predetermined upper frequency limit or lower than a predetermined lower frequency limit. The means for determining a shifted torque-speed curve is further adapted to determine the shifted torque-speed curve such that an increase in the rotor voltage of said generator rotor is counteracted when shifting the actual torque-speed curve to the shifted torque-speed curve. The wind turbine further includes means for shifting the actual torque-speed curve of the generator to the shifted torque-speed curve.Type: GrantFiled: December 30, 2008Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Werner Barton, Wilhelm Janssen, Robert Delmerico, Nicholas W. Miller
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Publication number: 20090108583Abstract: A wind turbine includes an asynchronous generator having a rotor and a stator, means for determining an actual torque-speed curve of the generator, means for determining an actual grid frequency, and means for determining a shifted torque-speed curve in response to the determined actual grid frequency if the determined actual grid frequency is higher than a predetermined upper frequency limit or lower than a predetermined lower frequency limit. The means for determining a shifted torque-speed curve is further adapted to determine the shifted torque-speed curve such that an increase in the rotor voltage of said generator rotor is counteracted when shifting the actual torque-speed curve to the shifted torque-speed curve. The wind turbine further includes means for shifting the actual torque-speed curve of the generator to the shifted torque-speed curve.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2008Publication date: April 30, 2009Inventors: Werner BARTON, Wilhelm JANSSEN, Robert DELMERICO, Nicholas W. MILLER
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Patent number: 7504738Abstract: A wind turbine includes an asynchronous generator having a rotor and a stator, means for determining an actual torque-speed curve of the generator, means for determining an actual grid frequency, and means for determining a shifted torque-speed curve in response to the determined actual grid frequency if the determined actual grid frequency is higher than a predetermined upper frequency limit or lower than a predetermined lower frequency limit. The means for determining a shifted torque-speed curve is further adapted to determine the shifted torque-speed curve such that an increase in the rotor voltage of said generator rotor is counteracted when shifting the actual torque-speed curve to the shifted torque-speed curve. The wind turbine further includes means for shifting the actual torque-speed curve of the generator to the shifted torque-speed curve.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2005Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Werner Barton, Wilhelm Janssen, Robert Delmerico, Nicholas W. Miller
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Patent number: 7505833Abstract: A system, a method, and an article of manufacture for controlling operation of an electrical power generation system are provided. The electrical power generation system has a plurality of electrical generators electrically coupled to an electrical grid. The method includes obtaining a first output parameter value associated with the electrical power generation system. The method further includes determining an error value indicative of a difference between the first output parameter value and a desired output parameter value. The method further includes determining a first gain value based on at least one of the first output parameter value and a time-varying operational parameter of the electrical power generation system. The method further includes determining a first power value based on the error value and the first gain value.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2006Date of Patent: March 17, 2009Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Delmerico, Mark Cardinal, Nicholas Miller, Dapeng Liu, Zhihong Ye
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Publication number: 20080111380Abstract: An exemplary embodiment includes a wind turbine system. The wind turbine system includes a wind turbine generator operable to supply wind turbine power to a utility system. A converter is coupled to the wind turbine generator and the utility system. The wind turbine system also includes a controller comprising an internal reference frame of the wind turbine generator, coupled to the converter, and configured for modulating flow of power through the converter in response to frequency disturbances or power swings of the utility system relative to the internal reference frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 15, 2008Publication date: May 15, 2008Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Robert Delmerico, Nicholas Miller
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Patent number: 7346462Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture for determining parameter values associated with an electrical grid in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is provided. The electrical grid has a point of interconnection where the electrical grid is electrically coupled to a power source. The method includes measuring real power at the point of interconnection of the electrical grid to obtain a plurality of real power values. The method further includes measuring reactive power at the point of interconnection of the electrical grid to obtain a plurality of reactive power values. The method further includes measuring a voltage at the point of interconnection of the electrical grid to obtain a plurality of voltage values. The method further includes estimating at least one parameter value associated with the electrical grid utilizing the plurality of real power values, the plurality of reactive power values, and the plurality of voltage values, and a mathematical estimation technique.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 2006Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventor: Robert Delmerico
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Publication number: 20070233406Abstract: A system, method, and article of manufacture for determining parameter values associated with an electrical grid in accordance with an exemplary embodiment is provided. The electrical grid has a point of interconnection where the electrical grid is electrically coupled to a power source. The method includes measuring real power at the point of interconnection of the electrical grid to obtain a plurality of real power values. The method further includes measuring reactive power at the point of interconnection of the electrical grid to obtain a plurality of reactive power values. The method further includes measuring a voltage at the point of interconnection of the electrical grid to obtain a plurality of voltage values. The method further includes estimating at least one parameter value associated with the electrical grid utilizing the plurality of real power values, the plurality of reactive power values, and the plurality of voltage values, and a mathematical estimation technique.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2006Publication date: October 4, 2007Inventor: Robert Delmerico
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Publication number: 20070228838Abstract: A system, a method, and an article of manufacture for controlling operation of an electrical power generation system are provided. The electrical power generation system has a plurality of electrical generators electrically coupled to an electrical grid. The method includes obtaining a first output parameter value associated with the electrical power generation system. The method further includes determining an error value indicative of a difference between the first output parameter value and a desired output parameter value. The method further includes determining a first gain value based on at least one of the first output parameter value and a time-varying operational parameter of the electrical power generation system. The method further includes determining a first power value based on the error value and the first gain value.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 29, 2006Publication date: October 4, 2007Inventors: Robert Delmerico, Mark Cardinal, Nicholas Miller, Dapeng Liu, Zhihong Ye
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Publication number: 20070177314Abstract: Method and apparatus that provide a response to the negative sequence current demands during a disturbance of the grid system connected to power-generating equipment, such as a wind turbine system, provide for tracking components in the grid signal, orienting at least a portion of the signal, and injecting the oriented portion. Controlled injection of negative sequence current provides for extending small-signal control response, and also provides for modifications of the apparent impedance to the grid interconnect of the power conversion equipment.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2006Publication date: August 2, 2007Inventors: Haiqing Weng, Robert Seymour, John D'Atre, Allen Ritter, Xiaoming Yuan, Renchang Dai, Robert Delmerico
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Publication number: 20070159140Abstract: A brushless exciter for a synchronous generator or motor generally includes a stator and a rotor rotatably disposed within the stator. The rotor has a field winding and a voltage rectifying bridge circuit connected in parallel to the field winding. A plurality of firing circuits are connected the voltage rectifying bridge circuit. The firing circuit is configured to fire a signal at an angle of less than 90° or at an angle greater than 90°. The voltage rectifying bridge circuit rectifies the AC voltage to excite or de-excite the field winding.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 6, 2006Publication date: July 12, 2007Inventors: Luis Garces, Robert Delmerico, Patrick Jansen, John Parslow, Harold Sanderson, Gautam Sinha
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Publication number: 20070159265Abstract: An apparatus for rapidly tracking fundamental frequency information in the signal of an electric grid is a cross-coupled phase-lock loop filter (CCPLL) that includes the use of a phase-lock-loop (PLL) apparatus having a plurality individual filters, wherein an input for a first filter in the plurality of individual filters comprises the signal of the electric grid and an output signal from at least a second filter in the plurality of individual filters. A method for using the CCPLL includes applying a signal to the CCPLL and monitoring the output of the CCPLL. Use of the CCPLL may be accomplished or modeled via computer instructions stored on machine readable media.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 10, 2006Publication date: July 12, 2007Inventors: Haiqing Weng, John D'Atre, Robert Seymour, Allen Ritter, Xiaoming Yuan, Renchang Dai, Robert Delmerico
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Publication number: 20070132248Abstract: A protection system and a protection method are provided for protecting a double fed induction generator and a gearbox during a grid fault. The protection system includes a plurality of controlled impedance devices. Each of the controlled impedance devices is coupled between a respective phase of a stator winding of the double fed induction generator and a respective phase of a grid side converter. The protection system also includes a controller configured for coupling and decoupling impedance in one or more of the plurality of controlled impedance devices in response to changes in at least one of a utility grid voltage and a utility grid current.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 8, 2005Publication date: June 14, 2007Inventors: Haiqing Weng, Robert Delmerico, Xiaoming Yuan, Changyong Wang
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Publication number: 20070120369Abstract: An exemplary embodiment includes a wind turbine system. The wind turbine system includes a wind turbine generator operable to supply wind turbine power to a utility system. A converter is coupled to the wind turbine generator and the utility system. The wind turbine system also includes a controller comprising an internal reference frame of the wind turbine generator, coupled to the converter, and configured for modulating flow of power through the converter in response to frequency disturbances or power swings of the utility system relative to the internal reference frame.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2005Publication date: May 31, 2007Inventors: Robert Delmerico, Nicholas Miller
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Publication number: 20070069522Abstract: A wind turbine includes an asynchronous generator having a rotor and a stator, means for determining an actual torque-speed curve of the generator, means for determining an actual grid frequency, and means for determining a shifted torque-speed curve in response to the determined actual grid frequency if the determined actual grid frequency is higher than a predetermined upper frequency limit or lower than a predetermined lower frequency limit. The means for determining a shifted torque-speed curve is further adapted to determine the shifted torque-speed curve such that an increase in the rotor voltage of said generator rotor is counteracted when shifting the actual torque-speed curve to the shifted torque-speed curve. The wind turbine further includes means for shifting the actual torque-speed curve of the generator to the shifted torque-speed curve.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 29, 2005Publication date: March 29, 2007Inventors: Werner Barton, Wilhelm Janssen, Robert Delmerico, Nicholas Miller
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Publication number: 20070055408Abstract: A power generation system includes a converter configured for supplying power from a constrained power or energy source to a power network and a control system configured for balancing instantaneously available power from the constrained source against demanded load from the power network by dynamically adjusting power network voltage, power network frequency, or a combination of power network voltage and power network frequency.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2005Publication date: March 8, 2007Inventors: Robert Delmerico, Alfredo Achilles
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Publication number: 20060132994Abstract: A system and method of operating a wind farm, having multiple wind turbine generators, at high wind speeds is provided. Wind speeds at individual wind turbine generators are monitored and a signal is transmitted from the wind turbine generators to a wind farm control system based on the monitored wind speeds. Rate of change of collective power output of the wind farm is temporally monitored and is controlled by coordinating of operational states of the wind turbine generators based upon the signals transmitted by the one or more wind turbine generators, operating conditions of the wind turbine generators and the monitored rate of change of power output of the wind farm.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2004Publication date: June 22, 2006Inventors: Robert Delmerico, Mark Cardinal, Kirk Pierce
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Publication number: 20060132993Abstract: A system and method for controlling power ramp rate of a wind farm is provided. The wind farm includes a plurality of wind turbine generators and a wind farm control system. The wind farm control system is operable to monitor rate of change of collective power output of the wind turbine generators, and to limit the rate of change of collective power output by generating a power output rate limiting signal based on the monitored rate of change of collective power output of the wind turbine generators and a desired collective power ramp of the wind turbine generators and applying the power output rate limiting signal to the plurality of wind turbine generators.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 17, 2004Publication date: June 22, 2006Inventors: Robert Delmerico, Mark Cardinal, Kirk Pierce
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Publication number: 20050040655Abstract: Real and reactive power control for wind turbine generator systems. The technique described herein provides the potential to utilize the total capacity of a wind turbine generator system (e.g., a wind farm) to provide dynamic VAR (reactive power support). The VAR support provided by individual wind turbine generators in a system can be dynamically varied to suit application parameters.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 18, 2003Publication date: February 24, 2005Inventors: Thomas Wilkins, Nagwa Elkachouty, Reigh Walling, James Lyons, Robert Delmerico, Sumit Bose, Nicholas Miller
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Patent number: 6819087Abstract: A power electronic based DR (distributed resource e.g., a UPS (uninterrupted power supply), Fuel Cell or Microturbine) is controlled to emulate a voltage source behind an impedance and behave as a power system stabilizer. The impedance in the DR is emulated and an estimate of impedance at the power/electronic interface is derived and applied to the control of the DR in a manner wherein the power and voltage swings on systems (loads) that otherwise would have difficulty with dynamic loads, are stabilized. Damping and synchronizing power are provided measuring only voltage, current and frequency at the interface between the DR and the load. The DR may include some energy storage.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2002Date of Patent: November 16, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Robert Delmerico, Gautam Sinha, Yan Liu
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Publication number: 20040124812Abstract: A power electronic based DR (distributed resource e.g., a UPS (uninterrupted power supply), Fuel Cell or Microturbine) is controlled to emulate a voltage source behind an impedance and behave as a power system stabilizer. The impedance in the DR is emulated and an estimate of impedance at the power/electronic interface is derived and applied to the control of the DR in a manner wherein the power and voltage swings on systems (loads) that otherwise would have difficulty with dynamic loads, are stabilized. Damping and synchronizing power are provided measuring only voltage, current and frequency at the interface between the DR and the load. The DR may include some energy storage.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2002Publication date: July 1, 2004Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Robert Delmerico, Gautam Sinha, Yan Liu