Abstract: The invention relates to a technique for discerning a status of an armature of a high-speed solenoid at any time during its operational cycle. In high speed solenoids, motion of an armature does not occur until after a finite and indeterminate lapse of time after application of a driving voltage. In the present invention, a pulsed driving voltage is used to drive the solenoid. A resultant current in a coil of the solenoid exhibits discontinuities in its rate of change when the armature moves. Occurrences of the discontinuities are used to produce control signals and coordinate operation of the solenoids and other controllable events. Occurrence of these discontinuities exactly correlates with armature motion. Consequently, time lapse between application of voltage and motion of the armature becomes inconsequential in design of a control system. In other words, control and coordination of operation of high-speed solenoids can be performed without consideration of uncertainties of the time lapse.

Abstract: A power conversion system having a DC power distribution bus includes multiple power converters connected to the DC power distribution bus with modulation frequencies synchronized so that providing phase shifts between the different modulations has the effect of compensating voltage and current ripples, e.g., reducing voltage fluctuations, across the DC bus. Power conversion may be controlled using space vector modulation implemented, for example, by any of a variety of pulse width modulation schemes. Phase shifts in which nulls of the modulation cycles of different converters do not overlap (in the time domain) may be particularly effective for DC bus voltage ripple compensation. The novel method for DC bus voltage ripple compensation may be implemented by programming a digital signal processor to control the power converters.

Abstract: A power conversion system having a DC power distribution bus includes multiple power converters connected to the DC power distribution bus with modulation frequencies synchronized so that providing phase shifts between the different modulations has the effect of compensating voltage and current ripples, e.g., reducing voltage fluctuations, across the DC bus. Power conversion may be controlled using space vector modulation implemented, for example, by any of a variety of pulse width modulation schemes. Phase shifts in which nulls of the modulation cycles of different converters do not overlap (in the time domain) may be particularly effective for DC bus voltage ripple compensation. The novel method for DC bus voltage ripple compensation may be implemented by programming a digital signal processor to control the power converters.

Abstract: A fail-safe control system for controlling valves in power generation systems is presented. The AC-coupled, rectified signal supplied to one valve is disabled in the event that the other valve fails. This failure is sensed, for example, through the use of power sensing circuitry configured to sense and multiply the voltage and current applied to the valve. Components such as capacitors and transformers are used exclusively such that only AC power (and not DC power) is transferred, ensuring that, in the worst case, the valves are disabled in the event of a failure.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and methods for providing constant voltage from a permanent magnet generator at varying prime mover speeds or under varying loads. A constant voltage permanent magnet generator includes a housing, a magnetized rotor, a prime mover operationally coupled with the rotor, a stator, a main winding coupled to the stator, and an excitation winding also coupled to the stator. A controllable three-phase inverter may be coupled to the excitation winding and a control system operationally coupled to the main winding for measuring the voltage of the main winding. The control system is further operationally coupled between the power source and the controllable three phase inverter to provide a supplemental current to the excitation winding such that a combined current through the main winding and the excitation winding produces a constant voltage from the generator.

Abstract: A fault protection system and method of fault protection for permanent magnet machine (PMM)-based systems that utilize machine neutral decoupling (MND) to shut down a shorted winding and/or to isolate a short-circuit fault to prevent damage to a permanent magnet machine and to any downstream components are provided. The invention may be used for high-reactance and/or high current PMM-based systems, such as are commonly found in industrial and aviation applications.