Patents by Inventor Serge Poullain

Serge Poullain 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: 11121549
    Abstract: A power flow control device intended to be used in a mesh network. The device includes a first voltage source connected between a first terminal (B1) and a third terminal (B3). A second voltage source is connected between a second terminal (B2) and the third terminal (B3). A current source is connected alternately to the first voltage source and the second voltage source and configured to ensure a transfer of energy between the first voltage source and the second voltage source. A switching means is arranged to allow the current source to be connected alternately in parallel with the first voltage source or in parallel with the second current source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignees: Supergrid Institute, Ecole Centrale De Lyon
    Inventors: Selle Toure, Florent Morel, Serge Poullain
  • Publication number: 20210083473
    Abstract: A power flow control device intended to be used in a mesh network. The device includes a first voltage source connected between a first terminal (B1) and a third terminal (B3). A second voltage source is connected between a second terminal (B2) and the third terminal (B3). A current source is connected alternately to the first voltage source and the second voltage source and configured to ensure a transfer of energy between the first voltage source and the second voltage source. A switching means is arranged to allow the current source to be connected alternately in parallel with the first voltage source or in parallel with the second current source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2018
    Publication date: March 18, 2021
    Inventors: Selle TOURE, Florent MOREL, Serge POULLAIN
  • Patent number: 8531852
    Abstract: A method of controlling at least one voltage converter having a plurality of cells in series, comprising an AC part and a DC part, characterized in that the AC input voltage (Vei) of each cell is determined directly by the use of a high speed current control loop relating to the AC part and a lower speed voltage control loop relating to the cells, the method including choosing the following voltage control law: ? i = C i 2 ? ( 2 R pi ? C i ? Z i + ? ? t ? Z i ? ? _ ? ? ref - K 1 ? Zi - K 2 ? Zi ? sign ? ( E Zi ) ) where: K1zi and K2zi are positive adjustment gains; Ci is the continuous capacitance of the capacitor Ci of each cell; Rpi is the losses associated with each cell; Zi—ref is the reference value of Zi=(UDCi)2, UDCi; being the direct voltage across the capacitor Ci; and EZi is such that EZi=Zi?Zi—ref.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Alstom Grid SAS
    Inventors: Abdelkrim Benchaib, Serge Poullain
  • Publication number: 20110285437
    Abstract: A method of controlling at least one voltage converter having a plurality of cells in series, comprising an AC part and a DC part, characterized in that the AC input voltage (Vei) of each cell is determined directly by the use of a high speed current control loop relating to the AC part and a lower speed voltage control loop relating to the cells, the method including choosing the following voltage control law: ? i = C i 2 ? ( 2 R pi ? C i ? Z i + ? ? t ? Z i ? ? _ ? ? ref - K 1 ? Zi - K 2 ? Zi ? sign ? ( E Zi ) ) where: K1zi and K2zi are positive adjustment gains; Ci is the continuous capacitance of the capacitor Ci of each cell; Rpi is the losses associated with each cell; Zi—ref is the reference value of Zi=(UDCi)2, UDCi; being the direct voltage across the capacitor Ci; and EZi is such that EZi=Zi?Zi—ref.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Publication date: November 24, 2011
    Applicant: ALSTOM GRID SAS
    Inventors: Abdelkrim Benchaib, Serge Poullain
  • Publication number: 20100292863
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling a TCSC disposed on a high voltage line of an electrical transmission network. The system comprises: (a) a voltage measuring module; (b) a current measuring module; (c) a regulator, working in accordance with a non-linear control law to receive on its input the output signals from the two modules for measuring voltage and current, and a reference voltage corresponding to the fundamental of the voltage which is to obtained across the TCSC; (d) a module for extracting the control angle in accordance with an extraction algorithm; and (e) a module for controlling the thyristors (T1, T2) of the TCSC, and for receiving a zero current reference delivered by a phase-locked loop which gives the position of the current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: AREVA T&D SAS
    Inventors: Abdelkrim Benchaib, Serge Poullain, Yannick Weiler
  • Publication number: 20100194357
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling a TCSC disposed on a high voltage line of an electrical transmission network. The system comprises: (a) a voltage measuring module; (b) a current measuring module; (c) a regulator, working in accordance with a non-linear control law to receive on its input the output signals from the two modules for measuring voltage and current, and a reference voltage corresponding to the fundamental of the voltage which is to obtained across the TCSC; (d) a module for extracting the control angle in accordance with an extraction algorithm; and (e) a module for controlling the thyristors (T1, T2) of the TCSC, and for receiving a zero current reference delivered by a phase-locked loop which gives the position of the current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: AREVA T&D SAS
    Inventors: Abdelkrim Benchaib, Serge Poullain, Yannick Weiler
  • Publication number: 20100176769
    Abstract: A system and method of controlling a TCSC disposed on a high voltage line of an electrical transmission network. The system comprises: (a) a voltage measuring module; (b) a current measuring module; (c) a regulator, working in accordance with a non-linear control law to receive on its input the output signals from the two modules for measuring voltage and current, and a reference voltage corresponding to the fundamental of the voltage which is to obtained across the TCSC; (d) a module for extracting the control angle in accordance with an extraction algorithm; and (e) a module for controlling the thyristors (T1, T2) of the TCSC, and for receiving a zero current reference delivered by a phase-locked loop which gives the position of the current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2008
    Publication date: July 15, 2010
    Applicant: Areva T&D SAS
    Inventors: Abdelkrim Benchaib, Serge Poullain, Yannick Weiler
  • Patent number: 7642478
    Abstract: A device for controlling a circuit-breaker intended for opening and closing this electric power cut-off device comprising a mobile contact, this control device comprising a motor with a rotary output shaft and being connected to power supply means and actuating means transforming the output displacement of the motor into a displacement of the contact, this device also comprising a mechanical spring arrangement involved in opening and closing the contact. The actuation means include a set of jointed elements providing the connection of the rotary shaft and of the ring, and, in the closed position of the contact, the set of jointed elements is near a dead centre position, a so-called open dead centre, the opening spring being only able to drive it towards the open position upon moving past this dead centre during opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Areva T&D SA
    Inventors: Eric Courbon, Jean-Pierre Dupraz, Serge Poullain, Sylvain Plante, Jean-Luc Thomas, Ernst Suter, Robert Luscher
  • Publication number: 20070163869
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling a circuit-breaker intended for opening and closing this electric power cut-off device comprising a mobile contact, this control device comprising a motor (3) with a rotary output shaft (12) and being connected to power supply means (4-9) and actuating means transforming the output displacement of the motor into a displacement of the contact, this device also comprising a mechanical spring arrangement involved in opening and closing the contact. According to the invention, the actuation means include a set of jointed elements providing the connection of the rotary shaft and of the ring, and, in the closed position of the contact, the set of jointed elements is near a dead centre position, a so-called open dead centre, the opening spring (15) being only able to drive it towards the open position upon moving past this dead centre during opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: AREVA T&D SA
    Inventors: Eric Courbon, Jean-Pierre Dupraz, Serge Poullain, Sylvain Plante, Jean-Luc Thomas, Ernst Suter, Robert Luscher
  • Patent number: 7109674
    Abstract: A method is described for regulating the average electromagnetic torque of a polyphase rotating electrical machine, supplied with a polyphase voltage and a polyphase current that are generated by an inverter. The method comprises a step of controlling the machine, using an exact response control process to do this, a step of determining the value of the harmonics of the voltage and/or the current which are generated by the inverter, and a step of calculating the instantaneous torque set point as a function of the value of the harmonics and an average torque set point, so as to produce an instantaneous torque set point suitable for limiting the difference between the average of the instantaneous electromagnetic torque, between two successive regulation times, and said average torque set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: ALSTOM
    Inventors: Abdelkrim Benchaib, Jean-Luc Thomas, Serge Poullain, Jean-Claude Alacoque, Eric Bonin
  • Patent number: 7095197
    Abstract: A method is described of regulating the instantaneous electromagnetic torque of a polyphase rotating electrical machine equipped with stator and/or rotor windings supplied by a voltage and a current generated by an inverter formed of switches whose switching is controllable. The method comprises a step of commanding the switching of the switches of the inverter using the fundamental frequency of the voltage generated by the inverter and a form of synchronous pulse width modulation configured as a function of an input set point, and a step of calculating the input set point from an instantaneous torque set point at each regulation time. The method further comprises a step of determining the time interval between two successive regulation times so that the time interval corresponds to an integer multiple of the period of oscillation of the instantaneous torque of the machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: ALSTOM
    Inventors: Abdelkrim Benchaib, Jean-Luc Thomas, Serge Poullain, Jean-Claude Alacoque
  • Patent number: 6856111
    Abstract: Method and device for controlling the angular speed of an electromechanical drive train with little damping. The control of the speed of the load driven in rotation by an electromechanical drive train with little damping, possibly having transmission nonlinearities such as play, without measuring said speed, is accomplished by using an observer in conjunction with a robust CRONE-type non-integer order controller, the physical realization of which is achieved by an integer order controller obtained by approximation in the frequency domain. The device thus provides good damping for the system in the presence of resonance frequencies and excellent robustness, while still allowing a relatively simple adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Thomas, Alain Oustaloup, Jocelyn Sabatier, Serge Poullain, Patrick Latteux
  • Publication number: 20050001572
    Abstract: A method is described for regulating the average electromagnetic torque of a polyphase rotating electrical machine, supplied with a polyphase voltage and a polyphase current that are generated by an inverter. The method comprises a step of controlling the machine, using an exact response control process to do this, a step of determining the value of the harmonics of the voltage and/or the current which are generated by the inverter, and a step of calculating the instantaneous torque set point as a function of the value of the harmonics and an average torque set point, so as to produce an instantaneous torque set point suitable for limiting the difference between the average of the instantaneous electromagnetic torque, between two successive regulation times, and said average torque set point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Abdelkrim Benchaib, Jean-Luc Thomas, Serge Poullain, Jean-Claude Alacoque, Eric Bonin
  • Publication number: 20050001571
    Abstract: A method is described of regulating the instantaneous electromagnetic torque of a polyphase rotating electrical machine equipped with stator and/or rotor windings supplied by a voltage and a current generated by an inverter formed of switches whose switching is controllable. The method comprises a step of commanding the switching of the switches of the inverter using the fundamental frequency of the voltage generated by the inverter and a form of synchronous pulse width modulation configured as a function of an input set point, and a step of calculating the input set point from an instantaneous torque set point at each regulation time. The method further comprises a step of determining the time interval between two successive regulation times so that the time interval corresponds to an integer multiple of the period of oscillation of the instantaneous torque of the machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Publication date: January 6, 2005
    Inventors: Abdelkrim Benchaib, Jean-Luc Thomas, Serge Poullain, Jean-Claude Alacoque
  • Publication number: 20040158425
    Abstract: The invention concerns a method and a device for controlling the angular speed of an electromechanical chain with low damping. Speed control of a load (10) driven in rotation by an electromechanical chain with low damping, possibly having transmission nonlinearities such as clearances, without measuring said speed, is provided by jointly using an observer (18) and a robust corrector (20) of non integer order, of the CRONE type, whereof the physical execution is provided by a corrector of integer order, obtained by approximation in the frequency domain. The device thus provides proper damping of the system in the presence of resonant frequencies and excellent robustness, while enabling a relatively simple adjustment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Publication date: August 12, 2004
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Thomas, Alain Oustaloup, Jocelyn Sabatier, Serge Poullain, Patrick Latteux
  • Publication number: 20040085064
    Abstract: The method of determining the stopped angular position of a rotor comprises the following steps:
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Publication date: May 6, 2004
    Applicant: ALSTOM
    Inventors: Abdelkrim Benchaib, Jean-Claude Alacoque, Serge Poullain, Jean-Luc Thomas
  • Patent number: 6605917
    Abstract: A method of regulating a rotating electrical machine includes a preparatory step of determining a discrete voltage control law for the machine. The discrete control voltage to be applied at each sampling time is determined in the form of a first term corresponding to free evolution of the state of the machine in the absence of control, between the preceding sampling time and the current sampling time, and a second term dependent on the set point torque and a set point for the magnetic energy consumed by the machine. The method further includes, at each sampling time, a step of determining, with the aid of the discrete control law, the control voltage to be applied to the machine for the torque of the machine to reach the set point torque and the magnetic energy consumed by the machine to correspond to the set point magnetic energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2003
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Thomas, Jean-Claude Alacoque, Serge Poullain, Abdelkrim Benchaib
  • Publication number: 20020149337
    Abstract: A method of regulating a rotating electrical machine includes a preparatory step of determining a discrete voltage control law for the machine. The discrete control voltage to be applied at each sampling time is determined in the form of a first term corresponding to free evolution of the state of the machine in the absence of control, between the preceding sampling time and the current sampling time, and a second term dependent on the set point torque and a set point for the magnetic energy consumed by the machine. The method further includes, at each sampling time, a step of determining, with the aid of the discrete control law, the control voltage to be applied to the machine for the torque of the machine to reach the set point torque and the magnetic energy consumed by the machine to correspond to the set point magnetic energy.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Applicant: ALSTOM
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Thomas, Jean-Claude Alacoque, Serge Poullain, Abdelkrim Benchaib
  • Patent number: 6313603
    Abstract: A method of regulating a rotary machine powered by a voltage inverter receiving, as input a control voltage delivered by a regulator servo-controlling the electromagnetic torque on a reference value, the regulator receiving as inputs the reference value and sat least one sampled signal representative of the torque of the machine, and proceeding at each sampling instant, to predict the torque value at a following sampling instant and to modify the control voltage accordingly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Alstom
    Inventors: Serge Poullain, Jean-Luc Thomas
  • Patent number: 6198248
    Abstract: A method of controlling the torque of a rotary machine powered by means of an inverter and servo-controlled by a system having sensors, an observer, and a computer which delivers controls to the switches of the inverter on the basis of values supplied to the observer by the sensors, in the form of sequences of three vectors to bring the torque &Ggr; and the stator flux &PHgr;S of the machine towards reference values for &Ggr;ref and &PHgr;Sref. The measurement sampling period is selected to be equal to the sequence period DTML which corresponds to half the switching period of the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2001
    Assignee: Alstom Enterprise SA
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Thomas, Vincent Dionnet, Serge Poullain