Abstract: A method for preventing damage in a bearing of a generator of an electrical power system includes monitoring one or more electrical signals of a power conversion assembly of the electrical power system. The method also includes estimating an impedance path of common mode current from a terminal to ground using the operating parameter(s) of the power conversion assembly. Further, the method includes determining a one or more magnitudes and/or a one or more phase angles of the impedance path at different frequencies, such a switching frequency and/or harmonics. Moreover, the method includes determining whether the impedance path is indicative of degradation in at least one of bearing insulation or a ground brush of the generator based on a change in the one or more magnitudes and/or the one or more phase angles. In addition, the method includes implementing a control action when the impedance path is indicative of degradation in the bearing insulation and/or the ground brush of the generator.

Abstract: A power conversion assembly includes a power converter having a plurality of switching devices, a power source electrically coupled to the power converter, and a direct current (DC) filter circuit bridging the power converter and the power source. The DC filter circuit includes a DC link having a positive rail, a negative rail, and a capacitor bank. The capacitor bank includes a first set of capacitors being a first type of capacitors and a second set of capacitors being a different, second type of capacitors. Each capacitor in the first set of capacitors is positioned closer to a respective switching device of the plurality of switching devices than a corresponding capacitor of the second set of capacitors to minimize impedance between each capacitor in the first set of capacitors and the respective switching device such that a majority of ripple current from the plurality of switching devices passes through the first set of capacitors.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a wind turbine. Accordingly, a controller of the wind turbine detects a loss of traction of the slip coupling between a generator and a rotor of the drivetrain of the wind turbine. In response to detecting the loss of traction, the controller overrides a generator torque setpoint to alter a rotational speed of the generator. In response to the altered rotational speed of the generator, the traction of the slip coupling is increased. Increasing the traction of the slip coupling facilitates an application of generator torque to the drivetrain of the wind turbine.

Abstract: A method for controlling a power converter of a wind turbine power system connected to an electrical grid. The wind turbine power system has a generator and the power converter has rotor-side converter and a line-side converter. The method includes monitoring an electrical parameter of at least one of the wind turbine power system or the electrical grid. In response to detecting a transient event in the electrical grid, the method includes temporarily disabling the line-side converter of the power converter from the electrical grid. Either during the transient event or after the transient event is over, the method includes implementing a control action for the line-side converter of the power converter. Further, the method includes enabling the line-side converter of the power converter to the electrical grid.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a wind turbine to protect the wind turbine from anomalous operations. Accordingly, in response to receiving data indicative of an anomalous operational event of the wind turbine, the controller initiates an enhanced braking mode for the wind turbine. The enhanced braking mode is characterized by operating the generator at a torque setpoint that generates maximum available torque for a given set of operating conditions. Additionally, the torque setpoint is in excess of a nominal torque limit for the generator.

Abstract: A method for preventing damage in a bearing of a generator of an electrical power system includes monitoring one or more electrical signals of a power conversion assembly of the electrical power system. The method also includes estimating an impedance path of common mode current from a terminal to ground using the operating parameter(s) of the power conversion assembly. Further, the method includes determining a one or more magnitudes and/or a one or more phase angles of the impedance path at different frequencies, such a switching frequency and/or harmonics. Moreover, the method includes determining whether the impedance path is indicative of degradation in at least one of bearing insulation or a ground brush of the generator based on a change in the one or more magnitudes and/or the one or more phase angles. In addition, the method includes implementing a control action when the impedance path is indicative of degradation in the bearing insulation and/or the ground brush of the generator.

Abstract: A method for operating a multi-level bridge power converter of an electrical power system connected to a power grid includes providing a plurality of switching devices of the power converter in an active neutral point clamped topology. The method also includes operating the plurality of switching devices in a plurality of operating states such that current simultaneously flows through at least two parallel recovery paths of the plurality of switching devices during operation of the power converter to minimize a commutation path of the current when at least one diode of the plurality of switching devices recovers, thereby reducing parasitic inductance affecting the recovering antiparallel diode or the switch.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a wind turbine. Accordingly, a controller of the wind turbine detects a loss of traction of the slip coupling between a generator and a rotor of the drivetrain of the wind turbine. In response to detecting the loss of traction, the controller overrides a generator torque setpoint to alter a rotational speed of the generator. In response to the altered rotational speed of the generator, the traction of the slip coupling is increased. Increasing the traction of the slip coupling facilitates an application of generator torque to the drivetrain of the wind turbine.

Abstract: A power conversion assembly includes a power converter having a plurality of switching devices, a power source electrically coupled to the power converter, and a direct current (DC) filter circuit bridging the power converter and the power source. The DC filter circuit includes a DC link having a positive rail, a negative rail, and a capacitor bank. The capacitor bank includes a first set of capacitors being a first type of capacitors and a second set of capacitors being a different, second type of capacitors. Each capacitor in the first set of capacitors is positioned closer to a respective switching device of the plurality of switching devices than a corresponding capacitor of the second set of capacitors to minimize impedance between each capacitor in the first set of capacitors and the respective switching device such that a majority of ripple current from the plurality of switching devices passes through the first set of capacitors.

Abstract: A method for operating a wind turbine power system connected to an electrical grid includes collecting data relating to one or more parameters of one or more electrical components of the wind turbine power system. The method may also include performing a statistical analysis of the data relating to one or more parameters of the one or more electrical components. Further, the method includes predicting future behavior of the electrical component(s) based on the statistical analysis. Moreover, the method includes determining set points for the electrical component(s) using the predicted future behavior. In addition, the method includes operating the wind turbine power system at the determined set points for the electrical component(s) so as to optimize at least one characteristic of the electrical component(s).

Abstract: A method for controlling a three-level back-to-back voltage source power conversion assembly includes receiving an indication of a DC or AC unbalance occurring in voltage of a DC link. The power conversion assembly has a first power converter coupled to a second power converter via the DC link. In response to receiving the indication, the method includes activating a balancing algorithm that includes determining a deviation of a midpoint voltage of the DC link as a function of a total voltage of the DC link, calculating a voltage compensation needed for pulse-width modulation signals of the power conversion assembly based on the deviation, and coordinating common mode voltage injection from each of the power converters independently at a neutral point of the power conversion assembly based on the voltage compensation, thereby minimizing the at least one of the DC unbalance or the AC unbalance at any given operating condition.

Abstract: A method for operating a power generation system that supplies real and reactive power to a grid includes receiving a reactive power demand made on the power generation system at an operating state of the power generation system and a grid state. Further, the method includes decoupling reactive power control and voltage control between a generator and a reactive power compensation device so as to reduce an oscillatory response of a reactive power output from the reactive power compensation device and the generator. Moreover, the method includes operating, via a device controller, the reactive power compensation device in a reactive power control mode to generate at least a portion of the reactive power demand.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling a wind turbine to protect the wind turbine from anomalous operations. Accordingly, in response to receiving data indicative of an anomalous operational event of the wind turbine, the controller initiates an enhanced braking mode for the wind turbine. The enhanced braking mode is characterized by operating the generator at a torque setpoint that generates maximum available torque for a given set of operating conditions. Additionally, the torque setpoint is in excess of a nominal torque limit for the generator.

Abstract: A system of reactive power compensators for a wind farm includes a multi-winding transformer and a plurality of modular reactive power compensators (MVBs). The multi-winding transformer includes a primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings. The primary winding is configured to be coupled to a point of common coupling (POCC) for the wind farm. The plurality of MVBs are each coupled to a corresponding winding of the plurality of secondary windings.

Abstract: A method for controlling a power converter of a wind turbine power system connected to an electrical grid. The wind turbine power system has a generator and the power converter has rotor-side converter and a line-side converter. The method includes monitoring an electrical parameter of at least one of the wind turbine power system or the electrical grid. In response to detecting a transient event in the electrical grid, the method includes temporarily disabling the line-side converter of the power converter from the electrical grid. Either during the transient event or after the transient event is over, the method includes implementing a control action for the line-side converter of the power converter. Further, the method includes enabling the line-side converter of the power converter to the electrical grid.

Abstract: A power generation system (100, 200, 300, 400) is presented. The power generation system includes a prime mover (102), a doubly-fed induction generator (DFIG) (104) having a rotor winding (126) and a stator winding (122), a rotor-side converter (106), a line-side converter (108), and a secondary power source (110, 401) electrically coupled to a DC-link (128). Additionally, the power generation system includes a control sub-system (112, 212, 312) having a controller, and a plurality of switching elements (130, and 132 or 201). The controller is configured to selectively control switching of one or more switching elements (130, and 132 or 201) based on a value of an operating parameter corresponding to at least one of the prime mover, the DFIG, or the secondary power source to connect the rotor-side converter in parallel to the line-side converter to increase an electrical power production by the power generation system.

Abstract: An electrical power system connectable to a power grid includes a cluster of electrical power subsystems, each of the electrical power subsystems including a power converter electrically coupled to a generator having a generator rotor and a generator stator. Each of the electrical power subsystems defines a stator power path and a converter power path for providing power to the power grid. Each of the electrical power subsystems further includes a transformer. The system further includes a subsystem breaker configured with each of the electrical power subsystems, and a cluster power path extending from each subsystem breaker for connecting the cluster of electrical power subsystems to the power grid. The system further includes a reactive power compensation inverter electrically coupled within the electrical power system, the reactive power compensation inverter operable to increase the reactive power level in the electrical current flowing to the power grid.

Abstract: A system of reactive power compensators for a wind farm includes a multi-winding transformer and a plurality of modular reactive power compensators (MVBs). The multi-winding transformer includes a primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings. The primary winding is configured to be coupled to a point of common coupling (POCC) for the wind farm. The plurality of MVBs are each coupled to a corresponding winding of the plurality of secondary windings.

Abstract: Provided is a control system for a PV array system including a plurality of PV panels. The control system includes a bypass module having a first switch device and a second switch device disposed at at least one PV panel connected with others of the plurality of PV panels along a string, and configured to perform a switching operation when PV voltage at the at least one PV panel is outside of an acceptable voltage range of the PV array system, and the bypass module short-circuits the PV panel when excess voltage at the PV panel is detected. The control system also including a control module configured to monitor and control operation of the bypass module.

Abstract: There are provided control systems and methods for charging batteries. For instance, there is provided a system for charging at least two batteries. The system can include a set of hardware associated with the at least two batteries, and the at least two batteries can be connected in series. Each battery from the at least two batteries can be associated with a subset of the set of hardware, and one subset of the set of hardware can be configured to control an associated battery independently from another subset of the set of hardware and its associated battery.