Patents by Inventor Roberto Alves

Roberto Alves 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: 12573847
    Abstract: There is disclosed herein an energy storage system for a direct current (DC) transmission system, the energy storage system being configured to be connected to a DC link. The energy storage system comprises a first system terminal, a second system terminal, a first converter connected to the first system terminal, and a second converter connected to the first converter and the second system terminal. The energy storage system further comprises an AC loop device providing an alternating current (AC) path, and a plurality of energy storage devices connected in parallel with the second converter comprising a cell having power electronic switches, and an energy storage element connected to the cell, wherein the cells are individually switchable. The present disclosure further relates to a method for providing energy storage to a DC transmission system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2026
    Assignee: Hitachi Energy Ltd
    Inventors: Pablo Montero Robina, Frans Dijkhuizen, Bertil Berggren, Nicklas Johansson, Roberto Alves, Ali Tayyebi
  • Publication number: 20260058473
    Abstract: An energy supporting device for a power transmission system is disclosed, the energy supporting device comprising: a first energy supporting arrangement including at least a first string of two or more cells connected in series; a second energy supporting arrangement including at least a second string of two or more cells connected in series, wherein said first string and said second string are at least electrically connectable in series, wherein each cell of the second string comprises a power electronics building block, wherein the energy supporting device is configured to regulate voltage in the energy supporting device at least temporarily by means of one or more cells of the second string when said energy supporting device is operated in one of said at least one charging mode. A power transmission system, a method of providing energy support for a power transmission system, and a control device are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2025
    Publication date: February 26, 2026
    Inventors: Roberto ALVES, Mohd Shadab ANSARI, Frans DIJKHUIZEN, Ghanshyamsinh GOHIL, Nicklas JOHANSSON, Akif Zia KHAN, Ener SALINAS
  • Publication number: 20260012018
    Abstract: There is disclosed herein an energy storage system for a direct current (DC) transmission system, the energy storage system being configured to be connected to a DC link. The energy storage system comprises a first system terminal, a second system terminal, a first converter connected to the first system terminal, and a second converter connected to the first converter and the second system terminal. The energy storage system further comprises an AC loop device providing an alternating current (AC) path, and a plurality of energy storage devices connected in parallel with the second converter comprising a cell having power electronic switches, and an energy storage element connected to the cell, wherein the cells are individually switchable. The present disclosure further relates to a method for providing energy storage to a DC transmission system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 8, 2023
    Publication date: January 8, 2026
    Inventors: Pablo Montero ROBINA, Frans DIJKHUIZEN, Bertil BERGGREN, Nicklas JOHANSSON, Roberto ALVES, Ali TAYYEBI
  • Patent number: 12316235
    Abstract: A transformer arrangement includes a first and a second arrangement side and a transformer with first windings coupled to the first arrangement side and with second windings having a first to a fourth tap. The transformer arrangement comprises a converter coupling the first, second and third tap to the second arrangement side, a first filter circuit coupling the first tap to the third tap and a second filter circuit coupling the third tap to the second tap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2025
    Assignee: Hitachi Energy Ltd
    Inventors: Roberto Alves, Panagiotis Bakas, Jan Svensson, Muhammad Nawaz, Seyed Ali Mousavi, Daniel Johannesson, Peter Steimer
  • Patent number: 12113449
    Abstract: A transformer arrangement comprising a transformer having a primary side for receiving input voltage and current from a source and a secondary side for providing output voltage and current to a load. The transformer arrangement further comprises an AC-AC PE converter connected to a thyristor used for bypassing the AC-AC PE converter in case of a short-circuit fault in a terminal of the primary side and/or the secondary side. The transformer arrangement further comprises a thyristor-based AC-AC PE converter connected to a thyristor-tapped winding. The AC-AC PE converter is connected with the thyristor-tapped winding via the thyristor-based AC-AC PE converter. The thyristor-based AC-AC PE converter is connected to an impedance to protect the thyristor-tapped winding from short-circuit faults of the thyristor-based AC-AC PE converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI ENERGY LTD
    Inventors: Panagiotis Bakas, Roberto Alves, Jan Svensson
  • Patent number: 12081020
    Abstract: A method for controlling an output voltage of at least one transformer in a power grid comprises providing the one transformer(s) with a power electronics converter and an output voltage controller, determining a grid frequency, comparing the grid frequency with a reference value, producing an error signal, applying the error signal as feedback to the controller, and generating a control action to cause the controller to change the output voltage of the transformer comprising a power electronics converter. The power electronics converter is an AC-AC converter, and the method comprises connecting the AC-AC converter to either a primary side or a secondary side of the transformer. The AC-AC converter has a first AC side and a second AC side and the method comprises connecting two terminals on the first AC side to a winding of the transformer, and connecting the second AC side to an external circuit line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: HITACHI ENERGY LTD
    Inventors: Nicklas Johansson, Jan Svensson, Panagiotis Bakas, Roberto Alves
  • Publication number: 20240204679
    Abstract: A transformer arrangement comprising a transformer having a primary side for receiving input voltage and current from a source and a secondary side for providing output voltage and current to a load. The transformer arrangement further comprises an AC-AC PE converter connected to a thyristor used for bypassing the AC-AC PE converter in case of a short-circuit fault in a terminal of the primary side and/or the secondary side. The transformer arrangement further comprises a thyristor-based AC-AC PE converter connected to a thyristor-tapped winding. The AC-AC PE converter is connected with the thyristor-tapped winding via the thyristor-based AC-AC PE converter. The thyristor-based AC-AC PE converter is connected to an impedance to protect the thyristor-tapped winding from short-circuit faults of the thyristor-based AC-AC PE converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2022
    Publication date: June 20, 2024
    Inventors: Panagiotis Bakas, Roberto Alves, Jan Svensson
  • Publication number: 20240097442
    Abstract: A method for controlling an output voltage of at least one transformer in a power grid. The comprises providing the least one transformers with a power electronics converter and an output voltage controller, determining a grid frequency, comparing the grid frequency with a reference value, producing an error signal, applying the error signal as feedback to the controller, and generating a control action to cause the controller to change the output voltage of the transformer comprising a power electronics converter. The power electronics converter is an AC-AC converter, and the method comprises connecting the AC-AC converter to either a primary side or a secondary side of the transformer. The AC-AC converter has a first AC side and a second AC side and the method comprises connecting two terminals on the first AC side in-parallel to a winding of the transformer, and connecting the second AC side to an external circuit line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2022
    Publication date: March 21, 2024
    Inventors: Nicklas Johansson, Jan Svensson, Panagiotis Bakas, Roberto Alves
  • Publication number: 20230327571
    Abstract: A transformer arrangement includes a first and a second arrangement side and a transformer with first windings coupled to the first arrangement side and with second windings having a first to a fourth tap. The transformer arrangement comprises a converter coupling the first, second and third tap to the second arrangement side, a first filter circuit coupling the first tap to the third tap and a second filter circuit coupling the third tap to the second tap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2021
    Publication date: October 12, 2023
    Applicant: Hitachi Energy Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Roberto ALVES, Panagiotis BAKAS, Jan SVENSSON, Muhammad NAWAZ, Seyed Ali MOUSAVI, Daniel JOHANNESSON, Peter STEIMER
  • Patent number: 11757368
    Abstract: A transformer arrangement is provided. The transformer arrangement includes a transformer with a primary and a secondary winding and a chain link of switching blocks connected in series between one of the windings and a load, where the switching blocks comprise a first set of voltage contribution blocks and a second set of circuit breaker blocks, where the first set of voltage contribution blocks is configured to adjust a voltage output by the transformer with an offset voltage and the second set of circuit breaker blocks is configured to interrupt a current running through the chain link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: HITACHI ENERGY SWITZERLAND AG
    Inventors: Roberto Alves, Nan Chen, Frans Dijkhuizen, Jan Svensson, Alireza Nami
  • Patent number: 11694840
    Abstract: Provided is a transformer arrangement wherein active and/or reactive power can be injected in an alternating current link using a current regulator and a voltage regulator portion, wherein at least one winding with which the current regulator is connected in parallel is at least one tertiary winding, and wherein the current regulator includes a number of current regulator sections, each connected to a corresponding voltage regular section of a voltage regulator portion via a corresponding dc link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Hitachi Energy Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Roberto Alves, Nan Chen, Frans Dijkhuizen, Jan Svensson, Alireza Nami
  • Publication number: 20230020854
    Abstract: An inductive power device with variable active winding size, comprises first circuitry, multiple winding segments and switching circuitry operable to connect selectable combinations of the winding segments serially to the first circuitry via taps. At least two of the winding segments are of unequal size, wherein said at least two winding segments are provided as sequential portions of a total winding magnetically coupled to an opposite winding, wherein the winding segments have uniform polarity with respect to said magnetic coupling. The switching circuitry comprises an arrangement of semiconductor switches which are operable to include or exclude each winding segment independently. In an embodiment, the arrangement of switches comprises at least one half-bridge structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 15, 2020
    Publication date: January 19, 2023
    Applicant: Hitachi Energy Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Nan CHEN, Yuhei OKAZAKI, Roberto ALVES, Alireza NAMI
  • Publication number: 20220407429
    Abstract: A transformer arrangement is provided. The transformer arrangement includes a transformer with a primary and a secondary winding and a chain link of switching blocks connected in series between one of the windings and a load, where the switching blocks comprise a first set of voltage contribution blocks and a second set of circuit breaker blocks, where the first set of voltage contribution blocks is configured to adjust a voltage output by the transformer with an offset voltage and the second set of circuit breaker blocks is configured to interrupt a current running through the chain link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: December 22, 2022
    Applicant: Hitachi Energy Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Roberto ALVES, Nan CHEN, Frans DIJKHUIZEN, Jan SVENSSON, Alireza NAMI
  • Publication number: 20220344093
    Abstract: Provided is a transformer arrangement wherein active and/or reactive power can be injected in an alternating current link using a current regulator and a voltage regulator portion, wherein at least one winding with which the current regulator is connected in parallel is at least one tertiary winding, and wherein the current regulator includes a number of current regulator sections, each connected to a corresponding voltage regular section of a voltage regulator portion via a corresponding dc link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Publication date: October 27, 2022
    Applicant: Hitachi Energy Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Roberto ALVES, Nan CHEN, Frans Dijkhuizen, Jan Svensson, Alireza NAMI
  • Patent number: 9461538
    Abstract: It is presented a DC/DC converter for converting power between a first DC connection comprising a first positive terminal and a first negative terminal, and a second DC connection comprising a second positive terminal and a second negative terminal. The DC/DC converter comprises: a first multilevel converter and a second multilevel converter connected serially between the first positive terminal and the first negative terminal, wherein the second positive terminal is connected to a point between the first multilevel converter and the second multilevel converter; and a first filter connected between an AC terminal of the first multilevel converter and an AC terminal of the second multilevel converter, wherein the first filter comprises a capacitor and an inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: ABB TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Kailash Srivastava, Roberto Alves, Michal Lazarczyk
  • Publication number: 20160248321
    Abstract: It is presented a DC/DC converter for converting power between a first DC connection comprising a first positive terminal and a first negative terminal, and a second DC connection comprising a second positive terminal and a second negative terminal. The DC/DC converter comprises: a first multilevel converter and a second multilevel converter connected serially between the first positive terminal and the first negative terminal, wherein the second positive terminal is connected to a point between the first multilevel converter and the second multilevel converter; and a first filter connected between an AC terminal of the first multilevel converter and an AC terminal of the second multilevel converter, wherein the first filter comprises a capacitor and an inductor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2013
    Publication date: August 25, 2016
    Applicant: ABB Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Kailash SRIVASTAVA, Roberto ALVES, Michal LAZARCZYK
  • Patent number: 9425681
    Abstract: Battery energy storage arranged to be connected to a direct current capacitor, which is connected in parallel to a power converter. The battery energy storage includes a battery module and a controllable voltage source adapted to inject a voltage opposite to a voltage ripple of the direct current capacitor. A power system including such battery energy storage and a direct current capacitor is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomas Tengner, Roberto Alves
  • Publication number: 20150055387
    Abstract: Battery energy storage arranged to be connected to a direct current capacitor, which is connected in parallel to a power converter. The battery energy storage includes a battery module and a controllable voltage source adapted to inject a voltage opposite to a voltage ripple of the direct current capacitor. A power system including such battery energy storage and a direct current capacitor is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Tomas Tengner, Roberto Alves