Abstract: A method for monitoring and controlling an environment of an internal space including: providing conditioned air to the internal space using a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system; detecting one or more environmental parameters within the internal space using at least one sensor; receiving a report request from an individual through a computer application of a computing device, the report request includes a focus area selection that selects one or more focus areas, wherein the one or more focus areas include at least one of an indoor air quality, a thermal comfort, or an airborne transmission; generating a performance report for the focus area based on at least the environmental parameters and specifications of the HVAC system, the performance report evaluating at least a performance of the HVAC system; and displaying the performance report on the computing device.

Abstract: A power controller controls the turbine of a turbine powered generating system regardless of the load on the system to maximize the efficiency of the turbine and maintains the turbine at a substantially constant temperature during a system load change by using an energy storage device to provide power to the load while the turbine is changing speed to meet the new load demand.

Abstract: A system and method for pre-charging the DC bus of a utility connected power converter. In one embodiment, a full-wave rectifier circuit is coupled to the utility grid through an isolation transformer and circuit protector. The rectifier circuit output is connected to the DC bus of the power converter to provide a pre-charging current to the DC bus capacitors. The output from the rectifier circuit also supplies power to the control circuit power supply for the converter. When the control circuit closes the contactor of the converter system and activates the converter, the voltage across the DC bus capacitors is increased above the level of the rectified power grid voltage provided at the output of the pre-charge circuit. This reverse-biases the rectifier diodes, placing the pre-charge circuit into an inactive state. The impedance of the isolation transformer limits the in-rush current into the DC bus capacitors during the pre-charge.

Abstract: A power controller controls the turbine of a turbine powered generating system regardless of the load on said system to maximize the efficiency of the turbine and maintains the turbine at a substantially constant temperature during a system load change by using an energy storage device to provide power to the load while the turbine is changing speed to meet the new load demand.

Abstract: A power controller controls the turbine of a turbine powered generating system regardless of the load on the system to maximize the efficiency of the turbine and maintains the turbine at a substantially constant temperature during a system load change by using an energy storage device to provide power to the load while the turbine is changing speed to meet the new load demand.

Abstract: In an integrated turbogenerator system having an air intake for a compressor to supply combustion air to a combustor, an electric brake device such as a resistor is connected to the electrical power output of the turbogenerator and is situated in the air intake to be cooled by the stream of combustion air flowing into the intake. When load transients require unloading excess electrical power produced by the turbogenerator, the brake resistor is supplied with at least part of the excess electrical power to create heat energy and thereby heat the in-flowing combustion air to lower the combustor efficiency, turbogenerator power produced, and excess electric power to be unloaded. An algorithm may be provided for controlling the turbogenerator speed deceleration rate to maintain the brake resistor at or near a physical temperature limit.

Abstract: A turbogenerator system including a recuperator and a catalytic combustor employs a preheater located between the turbine outlet and the recuperator low-pressure inlet to heat the low-pressure turbine exhaust. Heat from the turbine exhaust is transferred to a cool high-pressure flow in the recuperator. A recirculation loop employs valves downstream of the recuperator low-pressure outlet to divert the recuperator low-pressure exhaust into the compressor to be recirculated through the recuperator high-pressure side and the catalytic combustor. Reduced start-up times and emissions are achieved by raising the combustor catalyst to its light-off temperature in a shorter period of time.

Abstract: Distortion compensation controller reduces harmonic distortion in an AC circuit current and/or voltage of a power converter bridge operating under digital current and/or voltage control. Within distortion compensation controller, an array of memory locations are used, each corresponding to a particular angle range in the AC cycle. Enough memory locations are allocated to cover all of the AC cycle. For each of these memory locations, historical information is collected over a number of AC cycles about the distortion measured during the corresponding angle range in the AC cycle. Using the historical information, a compensation signal is calculated for use at that angle in the next AC cycle. As the AC cycle progresses, the appropriate compensation signal is added to the output of a conventional current controller. In this way, a near perfect sinusoid can be achieved in the steady state for the current/voltage waveform in the AC circuit.

Abstract: A turbogenerator is controlled by a temperature loop that provides fuel to the combustor to maintain a desired turbine exhaust temperature, and by a speed control loop that controls the speed of the turbogenerator to provide a desired power output. When the desired power output is reduced, the turbogenerator speed is reduced accordingly, and the desired turbine exhaust temperature is increased temporarily to maintain sufficient fuel flow to the combustor to prevent combustor flame-out.

Abstract: A power controller controls the turbine of a turbine powered generating system regardless of the load on said system to maximize the efficiency of the turbine and maintains the turbine at a substantially constant temperature during a system load change by using an energy storage device to provide power to the load while the turbine is changing speed to meet the new load demand.

Abstract: In an integrated turbogenerator system having an air intake for a compressor to supply combustion air to a combustor, an electric brake device such as a resistor is connected to the electrical power output of the turbogenerator and is situated in the air intake to be cooled by the stream of combustion air flowing into the intake. When load transients require unloading excess electrical power produced by the turbogenerator, the brake resistor is supplied with at least part of the excess electrical power to create heat energy and thereby heat the in-flowing combustion air to lower the combustor efficiency, turbogenerator power produced, and excess electric power to be unloaded. An algorithm may be provided for controlling the turbogenerator speed deceleration rate to maintain the brake resistor at or near a physical temperature limit.

Abstract: A power controller provides a distributed generation power networking system in which bi-directional power converters are used with a common DC bus for permitting compatibility between various energy components. Each power converter operates essentially as a customized bi-directional switching converter configured, under the control of the power controller, to provide an interface for a specific energy component to the DC bus. The power controller controls the way in which each energy component, at any moment, will sink or source power, and the manner in which the DC bus is regulated. In this way, various energy components can be used to supply, store and/or use power in an efficient manner. The various energy components include energy sources, loads, storage devices and combinations thereof.

Abstract: A continuous power supply may include a turbogenerator to provide power to supply the load and or an energy storage element and possibly also to the primary energy source. Utilizing an isolated DC bus architecture permits bi-directional power flow among interconnected elements.

Abstract: A turbogenerator is controlled by a temperature loop that provides fuel to the combustor to maintain a desired turbine exhaust temperature, and by a speed control loop that controls the speed of the turbogenerator to provide a desired power output. When the desired power output is reduced, the turbogenerator speed is reduced accordingly, and the desired turbine exhaust temperature is increased temporarily to maintain sufficient fuel flow to the combustor to prevent combustor flame-out.

Abstract: A turbogenerator system including a recuperator and a catalytic combustor employs a preheater located between the turbine outlet and the recuperator low-pressure inlet to heat the low-pressure turbine exhaust. Heat from the turbine exhaust is transferred to a cool high-pressure flow in the recuperator. A recirculation loop employs valves downstream of the recuperator low-pressure outlet to divert the recuperator low-pressure exhaust into the compressor to be recirculated through the recuperator high-pressure side and the catalytic combustor. Reduced start-up times and emissions are achieved by raising the combustor catalyst to its light-off temperature in a shorter period of time.