Abstract: A nearly 2 to 1 boosting mufti-phase AC-to-DC converter may include a main rectifier, an auxiliary rectifier; and an autotransformer connected to the main rectifier and the auxiliary rectifier. The autotransformer may include a plurality of interconnected windings arranged in a plurality of legs, with one of the legs for each phase and with each leg including a plurality of windings, wherein all but one of the windings of each leg have equal turns ratios and one of the windings of each leg has a turns ratio that is less than the turns ratio of all of the other windings of the respective leg.

Abstract: A method for power quality protection includes measurement of electrical and nonelectrical parameters, calculation of additional electrical and nonelectrical parameters, comparison of the value of the calculated parameters with maximum allowed values from a power quality perspective, activation of protection mechanisms for transitioning to a safe mode or for isolation from the bus. The systems and methods may prevent equipment failures when out of the spec power quality is present in the distribution bus and may protect the distribution bus from imposing power quality problems due to equipment failures. Because most of the sensors in the systems of the present invention are already used for other control and protection purposes, there may be no reliability degradation. Most of the calculations and the control logic may be performed digitally for improved reliability and flexibility to modify algorithms.

Abstract: A composite power conversion method using a WYE asymmetrical autotransformer that converts electrical power from AC to DC uses two or more conversion methods in parallel and provides a passive technique that “splits” the input 3-phase voltages into additional phases, so that the number of DC rectification pulses is increased to improve AC line current THD The WYE asymmetric autotransformer topology provides a potential improvement in size/weight and efficiency compared to former asymmetric autotransformers.

Abstract: A composite-like AC-to-DC converter has boosting capabilities. The term “composite AC-to-DC converter” has been coined to distinguish a converter using two or more conversion methods in parallel. All the autotransformer designs for the boost topology composite-like system begin with vector diagrams constructed using the tips of the line-to-line voltage vectors. A constructor arc is swung between these tips equal to the length of the line-to-line voltage vector span. The number of autotransformer three-phase outputs is then determined by the number of equally spaced rays drawn from the opposite vector tip to the arc. The intersection of points of these rays with the arc are used to design the composite-like autotransformer's winding's voltage ratios and interconnections.

Abstract: A 24-pulse and 18-pulse composite AC-to-DC converter is a converter using two or more conversion methods in parallel. The converter may include a main rectifier receiving at least a portion of an input AC signal, an autotransformer having an output voltage with lower amplitude than the input AC signal, and a plurality of auxiliary bridge rectifiers, each receiving the output from each leg of the autotransformer. In one embodiment of the invention, the main rectifier may receive a substantial portion of the load current, allowing each of the auxiliary bridge rectifiers to be generally smaller than the main rectifier.

Abstract: A method employing a lead-unity-lag adjustment on a power generation system is disclosed. The method may include calculating a unity power factor point and adjusting system parameters to shift a power factor angle to substantially match an operating power angle creating a new unity power factor point. The method may then define operation parameters for a high reactance permanent magnet machine based on the adjusted power level.

Abstract: A 24-pulse composite AC-to-DC converter is a converter using two or more conversion methods in parallel. The converter may include a main rectifier receiving at least a portion of an input AC signal, an autotransformer having an output voltage with lower amplitude than the input AC signal, and a plurality of auxiliary bridge rectifiers, each receiving the output from each leg of the autotransformer. In one embodiment of the invention, the main rectifier may receive a substantial portion of the load current, allowing each of the auxiliary bridge rectifiers to be generally smaller than the main rectifier.

Abstract: A method for power quality protection includes measurement of electrical and nonelectrical parameters, calculation of additional electrical and nonelectrical parameters, comparison of the value of the calculated parameters with maximum allowed values from a power quality perspective, activation of protection mechanisms for transitioning to a safe mode or for isolation from the bus. The systems and methods may prevent equipment failures when out of the spec power quality is present in the distribution bus and may protect the distribution bus from imposing power quality problems due to equipment failures. Because most of the sensors in the systems of the present invention are already used for other control and protection purposes, there may be no reliability degradation. Most of the calculations and the control logic may be performed digitally for improved reliability and flexibility to modify algorithms.

Abstract: A control system for an electrical power generation system (EPGS) provides overload protection without disconnecting a generator of the EPGS from an excessive electrical load. Available engine power and current levels of the electrical load are continuously measured and computed. A command voltage is calculated in real time that corresponds to a voltage required to sustain with the maximum available power. Output voltage of a generator of the EPGS is controlled at the calculated command voltage so that a power limit of the engine is not exceeded during electrical overload conditions.

Abstract: A method and system for improving peak power capability in an electrical system is disclosed. The system may include an auxiliary generator operated in conjunction with one or more main engine generators during the need for increased transient load demands. The system may include a main engine generator, an auxiliary generator, an inverter/converter controller (ICC) connected to respective generators, a semi-conductor power device connected between the ICCs, and a main bus between the semi-conductor power device and a load.

Abstract: A 24-pulse composite AC-to-DC converter is a converter using two or more conversion methods in parallel. The converter may include a main rectifier receiving at least a portion of an input AC signal, an autotransformer having an output voltage with lower amplitude than the input AC signal, and a plurality of auxiliary bridge rectifiers, each receiving the output from each leg of the autotransformer. In one embodiment of the invention, the main rectifier may receive a substantial portion of the load current, allowing each of the auxiliary bridge rectifiers to be generally smaller than the main rectifier.

Abstract: A method employing a lead-unity-lag adjustment on a power generation system is disclosed. The method may include calculating a unity power factor point and adjusting system parameters to shift a power factor angle to substantially match an operating power angle creating a new unity power factor point. The method may then define operation parameters for a high reactance permanent magnet machine based on the adjusted power level.

Abstract: An active electromagnetic interference (EMI) filtering may reduce the requirements for high current differential mode inductors. The active EMI filtering of the present invention may be useful in power devices that use switching power converters. Conventional EMI differential mode filtering devices may occupy up to 30% of the total weight and volume of the power electronics. Conventional differential mode filtering inductors tend to be large and heavy, especially so for high current input power lines. The present invention may replace the large conventional differential mode filtering inductors with a smaller set of coupled inductors.

Abstract: A method and system for improving peak power capability in an electrical system is disclosed. The system may include an auxiliary generator operated in conjunction with one or more main engine generators during the need for increased transient load demands. The system may include a main engine generator, an auxiliary generator, an inverter/converter controller (ICC) connected to respective generators, a semi-conductor power device connected between the ICCs, and a main bus between the semi-conductor power device and a load.

Abstract: A control system for an electrical power generation system (EPGS) provides overload protection without disconnecting a generator of the EPGS from an excessive electrical load. Available engine power and current levels of the electrical load are continuously measured and computed. A command voltage is calculated in real time that corresponds to a voltage required to sustain with the maximum available power. Output voltage of a generator of the EPGS is controlled at the calculated command voltage so that a power limit of the engine is not exceeded during electrical overload conditions.

Abstract: An active electromagnetic interference (EMI) filtering may reduce the requirements for high current differential mode inductors. The active EMI filtering of the present invention may be useful in power devices that use switching power converters. Conventional EMI differential mode filtering devices may occupy up to 30% of the total weight and volume of the power electronics. Conventional differential mode filtering inductors tend to be large and heavy, especially so for high current input power lines. The present invention may replace the large conventional differential mode filtering inductors with a smaller set of coupled inductors.

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.

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 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.