Abstract: A method for operating a multi-level bridge power converter includes arranging a plurality of switching devices including at least four inner switching devices and at least two outer switching devices in an active neutral point clamped topology. The method also includes determining whether any of the switching devices is experiencing a failure condition by implementing a failure detection algorithm. The failure detection algorithm includes generating a blocking state logic signal by comparing a switching device voltage and a threshold reference voltage for each of the switching devices, determining an expected voltage blocking state for each of the switching devices based on gate drive signals of the switching devices and an output current direction, and detecting whether a failure condition is present in any of the switching devices based on the blocking state logic signals and the expected voltage blocking states of the switching devices.

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 method for operating a multi-level bridge power converter of an electrical power system connected to a power grid includes receiving, via a controller of the power converter, an indication of a transient event occurring in the power grid or the electrical power system. The power converter has a plurality of switching devices arranged in an active neutral point clamped topology. Accordingly, upon receiving the indication, the method includes activating a crowbar algorithm programmed in the controller of the power converter to bifurcate a current received by the power converter into a plurality of different current paths defined by the plurality of switching devices.

Abstract: A controller-implemented method and system for operating a multi-level bridge power converter connected to a power grid in a fault-tolerant operational mode, the power converter including a first converter coupled to a DC link, the first converter comprising a plurality of switching devices. The method and system determine an on/off scheme for the switching devices in the first converter when one or more of the switching devices has failed in a shorted state, wherein the on/off scheme is dependent upon phase current direction through the first converter. The phase current direction is indirectly determined by sensing a pole voltage of the first converter and implementing the on/off scheme in the fault-tolerant mode when the pole voltage changes from zero to a +/?value indicating that the phase current through the first converter has switched direction.

Abstract: A method for operating a multi-level bridge power converter of an electrical power system connected to a power grid includes receiving a commanded state for one or more switching devices thereof. The method also includes receiving a gate-emitter voltage of one or more of the switching devices. Further, the method includes comparing, via at least one comparator, the gate-emitter voltage of the one or more switching devices to a reference voltage range corresponding to the commanded state of the one or more switching devices. In addition, the method includes determining an actual state of the one or more switching devices based on the comparison. Thus, the method also includes implementing a control action based on the actual state of the one or more switching devices.

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 one of a neutral point clamped topology or an active neutral point clamped topology, the plurality of switching devices including a first group and a second group of switching devices. The method also includes providing a multi-state deadtime for the first and second groups of switching devices that changes based on different state transitions of the power converter. Further, the method includes operating the first and second groups of switching devices according to the multi-state deadtime to allow the first group to switch differently than the second group during the different state transitions, thereby decreasing voltage overshoots on the first group during one or more of the different state transitions and providing safe transition between commutation states of the power converter.

Abstract: A method for operating a multi-level bridge power converter includes providing a plurality of switching devices of the power converter in one of a neutral point clamped topology or an active neutral point clamped topology. The method also includes providing a plurality of deadtimes for the switching devices. Further, the method includes selecting one of the deadtimes for each of the switching devices such that at least two of the switching devices operate according to different deadtimes. Moreover, the method includes operating the switching devices at the selected deadtimes to allow a first group of the switching devices to switch slower than a second group of the switching devices such that the first group of the switching devices satisfy safe operating requirements while the second group of the switching devices switch faster than the first group.

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 method for operating a multi-level bridge power converter of an electrical power system connected to a power grid includes receiving, via a controller of the power converter, an indication of a transient event occurring in the power grid or the electrical power system. The power converter has a plurality of switching devices arranged in an active neutral point clamped topology. Accordingly, upon receiving the indication, the method includes activating a crowbar algorithm programmed in the controller of the power converter to bifurcate a current received by the power converter into a plurality of different current paths defined by the plurality of switching devices.

Abstract: There are provided methods and apparatuses for authenticating components in an electric machine. For example, there is provided a method for authenticating parts of an electric machine. The method includes fetching, using a controller, identification data associated with a set of parts and performing a first verification step on the identification data, for each part in the set. The method further includes performing a second verification step on the identification data, in response to the first verification step being successful. The second verification step includes comparing the identification data with data from a database that includes identification information associated with manufactured parts. Furthermore, the method includes, in response to one of the first verification step and the second verification step being unsuccessful, a command to disable the electric machine.

Abstract: There are provided methods and apparatuses for authenticating components in an electric machine. For example, there is provided a method for authenticating parts of an electric machine. The method includes fetching, using a controller, identification data associated with a set of parts and performing a first verification step on the identification data, for each part in the set. The method further includes performing a second verification step on the identification data, in response to the first verification step being successful. The second verification step includes comparing the identification data with data from a database that includes identification information associated with manufactured parts. Furthermore, the method includes, in response to one of the first verification step and the second verification step being unsuccessful, a command to disable the electric machine.

Abstract: Provided is a wind turbine meteorological data collection and processing system that includes at least one wind turbine having a plurality of sensors configured to sense data including weather-related data, a controller configured to control the plurality of sensors, a processor configured to process the data, and a transmitter configured to transmit the data. The system also includes a computing platform in communication with the at least one wind turbine and to receive the data from the at least one wind turbine, and sort the data based on geographical location of the at least one wind turbine.

Abstract: Techniques described herein are directed towards dynamically adding new pickup orders to an existing route structure. In at least some embodiments, a service provider separates a number of vendors into separate clusters based on one or more attributes. For example, the vendors may be separated by geographic region. The service provider may then identify a set of routes that are associated with each of the vendor clusters and run optimization techniques on that set of routes. The set of routes may be filtered based on attributes of the route. In some embodiments, the service provider may make a route alteration that accommodates the new pickup order.

Abstract: Techniques described herein are directed towards dynamically adding new pickup orders to an existing route structure. In at least some embodiments, a service provider separates a number of vendors into separate clusters based on one or more attributes. For example, the vendors may be separated by geographic region. The service provider may then identify a set of routes that are associated with each of the vendor clusters and run optimization techniques on that set of routes. The set of routes may be filtered based on attributes of the route. In some embodiments, the service provider may make a route alteration that accommodates the new pickup order.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for measuring dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in body fluids. The method can be used to measure DIC in blood, serum, plasma, urine, sweat, saliva, lacrimal fluid, and combinations thereof. The method can be used to diagnose a gastrointestinal disorder in a subject, and particularly a gastrointestinal disorder mediated by a urease producing bacterium such as Helicobacter priori.

Abstract: A front display panel for an industrial process control instrument which acts to maintain a process variable, such as flow rate, at a desired value. The instrument compares a signal representing the variable with an adjustable set point to produce an output signal that reflects the deviation of the variable from the set point, the output signal being applied to a final control element such as a valve which governs the process variable. The front panel of the instrument includes a bar graph indicator for the process variable, a bar graph indicator for the set point and a bar graph indicator for the output signal, all three indicators being of the gas discharge type and being integrated into a single panel defining a sealed envelope filled with an ionizable gas and provided with electrodes. Also integrated into the panel are touch-sensitive switches and other control and indicating elements.