Voltage And Current Patents (Class 322/25)
  • Patent number: 8975886
    Abstract: A system configured for charging and distribution control is provided. The system includes a switching regulator, a control circuit and a first converter. The switching regulator is configured to be selectively operable in one of a first operative state and a second operative state based on a control signal. The first operative state and the second operative state are associated with a maximum level of an alternator output power corresponding to at least one alternator operational feature, at least one alternator operational feature being associated with the alternator output voltage and an alternator speed. The control circuit is configured to generate the control signal based at least on the at least one alternator operational feature. The first converter is configured to generate a first converter output voltage based on the regulated DC output voltage. The first converter output voltage is lower than the regulated DC output voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Latif Ameer Babu Shiek
  • Patent number: 8928166
    Abstract: An electric power generation system (EPGS) employs both a wild-source generator and a variable and/or constant frequency generator. The wild-source generator is coupled to receive mechanical power from a low-pressure spool on an aircraft engine and to generate in response a wild-source output for consumption by voltage and frequency-tolerant loads. The variable and/or constant frequency generator is coupled to receive mechanical power from a high-pressure spool on the aircraft engine and to generate in response a variable and/or constant frequency output for consumption by voltage and frequency-intolerant loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Mark J. Seger, Todd A. Spierling, David S. Behling, Craig R. LeGros, Brandon M. Grell
  • Patent number: 8847558
    Abstract: A setpoint for a mechanical torque of a generator in a recuperation system of a motor vehicle is specified, and a generator current of the generator for setting the specified mechanical torque of the generator is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Matthias Schmidt
  • Patent number: 8847559
    Abstract: A generator system includes an AC generator having one or more phases, a transformer having the same number of phases as the generator, and for each phase of the AC generator, a capacitive element having a first terminal electrically connected to an output winding of the AC generator and a second terminal electrically connected to a primary winding of a respective phase of the transformer. A method of operating a generator system includes conveying current between an output winding of each phase of an AC generator and a primary winding of a respective phase of a transformer via a respective series-connected capacitive element having a first terminal electrically connected to the output winding and a second terminal electrically connected to the primary winding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Inventor: Robert Ryan Jameson Horne
  • Publication number: 20140266077
    Abstract: An electric power generating system includes a brushless wound field synchronous generator with n-number of power generating channels and n-number of bidirectional switches alternatively controlled to provide ac power at the output. Each power generating channel includes a control rotating transformer, a rotating power converter supplying power to field winding from the rotating power supply, and a center-tap single phase armature winding connected to the bidirectional switches. Rotating power converter modulates current in the field winding to obtain desired frequency and phase at the system output.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Jacek F. Gieras, Steven J. Moss
  • Patent number: 8836293
    Abstract: An electric power generating system includes a brushless wound field synchronous generator with n-number of power generating channels and n-number of bidirectional switches alternatively controlled to provide ac power at the output. Each power generating channel includes a control rotating transformer, a rotating power converter supplying power to field winding from the rotating power supply, and a center-tap single phase armature winding connected to the bidirectional switches. Rotating power converter modulates current in the field winding to obtain desired frequency and phase at the system output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Jacek F. Gieras, Steven J. Moss
  • Patent number: 8786262
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a unique method of controlling the output of a synchronous electrical machine. Another embodiment is a unique method of controlling the output of a synchronous electrical machine for powering a load. Still another embodiment is a unique aircraft power generation system. Other embodiments include apparatuses, systems, devices, hardware, methods, and combinations for fluid driven actuation systems. Further embodiments, forms, features, aspects, benefits, and advantages of the present application will become apparent from the description and figures provided herewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce Corporation
    Inventors: Kaushik Rajashekara, John Timothy Alt
  • Patent number: 8699251
    Abstract: A direct current generating, management and distribution system includes a first armature winding, a first active rectifier having a first controller and coupled to the first armature winding, a first direct current bus coupled to the first active rectifier, a second armature winding, a second active rectifier having a second controller and coupled to the second armature winding, a second direct current bus coupled to the second active rectifier, a unit controller coupled to the first and second controllers, a first set of switches coupled to the first direct current bus and to the unit controller, a second set of switches coupled to the second direct current bus and to the unit controller, a third switch coupled to the first direct current bus and to the unit controller and a fourth switch coupled to the second direct current bus and the unit controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Jacek F. Gieras, Steven J. Moss
  • Patent number: 8618776
    Abstract: In a power generator, three-phase armature windings and a switching unit are provided for each phase armature winding. The switching unit includes a pair of a high-side switching element with a first diode and a second low-side switching element with a second diode. The switching unit rectifies, through at least one of the high-side switching element, the first diode, the second low-side switching element, and the second diode, a voltage induced in each phase armature winding. A zero-cross detector detects a point of time when a phase current based on the voltage induced in each phase armature winding is reversed in direction as a zero-cross point of the phase current. A determiner determines an off timing of the high-side switching element or the low-side switching element for each phase armature winding relative to the zero-cross point detected by the zero-cross detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Harumi Horihata
  • Patent number: 8575773
    Abstract: A method for operating an electromechanical generator is provided, the method comprising: determining a magnetic field reference parameter based on an electromagnetic power reference representing a desired output of the electromechanical generator, determining a scaling factor for adjusting an air-gap magnetization level of the electromechanical generator to reduce loss in operating the electromechanical generator, modifying the magnetic field reference parameter with the scaling factor; and operating the electromechanical generator based on at least the modified magnetic field reference parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Anshuman Tripathi, Shu Yu Cao, Victor Donescu, Søren Andersen, Rasool Beevi D-O Mohamed Arif
  • Publication number: 20130033237
    Abstract: A power generation control system for a vehicle may include a battery supplying power to an electric load, a power generator supplying power to the battery and the electric load, and an electronic control unit (ECU) controlling the power generator in real time, based on driving information inputted from outside, battery information inputted from outside, and an efficiency map of the power generator, which may be predetermined by an efficiency map of an engine and built in the power generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Publication date: February 7, 2013
    Applicant: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Daekwang KIM, Minyoung Jung, Junyong Lee, Chikung Ahn
  • Patent number: 8305048
    Abstract: A vehicle power generating device includes an alternator which has a voltage regulator that keeps the voltage of generated power constant, and an electronic control unit that controls the voltage regulator. In this vehicle power generating device, the alternator has an abnormally high temperature determining portion that determines whether the temperature of the alternator is abnormally high, and an abnormal signal outputting portion which, when it has been determined by the abnormally high temperature determining portion that the temperature of the alternator is abnormally high, outputs a signal indicative of the determination that the temperature is abnormally high to the electronic control unit. Also, when the electronic control unit receives the signal indicative of the determination that the temperature is abnormally high, the electronic control unit controls the voltage regulator such that the voltage generated by the alternator is suppressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hidehiko Matsui
  • Patent number: 8289005
    Abstract: A vehicle electrical system comprises a generator, voltage regulator, electrical energy source, and control device. The generator provides electrical current to one or more electrical loads. Voltage variations are suppressed by storing electrical energy of the field coil of the generator in the electrical energy source, and by proving electrical energy from the electrical energy source to the field coil. The control device comprises a controller and a charging module operative to maintain the voltage of the electrical energy source at a predetermined voltage that is above the regulation voltage so as to reduce the generator output voltage variations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: C.E. Niehoff & Co.
    Inventor: Stoyan Borissov Bekiarov
  • Publication number: 20120256422
    Abstract: A brushless generator with permanent-magnet multi-pole rotor disks and stator winding disks in their axial magnetic field includes integral electronics to efficiently generate regulated DC current and voltage from mechanical input power over a broad speed range. All power for the electronics is provided by rectifier diodes from its stator windings. Differential amplifiers provide stator voltage feedback signals. Its power rating is scalable, depending on the number of its disks. Having no iron cores and no gears, it incurs no cogging torque, and no gear friction. Integral power control electronics includes high-frequency pulse-width-modulated boost regulation, which provides regulated current at requisite voltage over its broad speed range. A main wind-powered embodiment to produce DC power for a constant voltage DC load over a broad speed range includes signal processing so output power varies according to the third power of speed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 5, 2011
    Publication date: October 11, 2012
    Inventor: Richard B. Fradella
  • Patent number: 8264209
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for operating an asynchronous motor (1) with double feeds, having a stator (1a) connected to a grid and a rotor (1b) connected to an inverter (6), said inverter (6) being designed such that it impresses a target value for an electrical variable in the rotor (1b). In a method according to the invention, after detecting a transient grid voltage change, a target value for the electrical variable determined from at least the rotor flux and the stator flux is impressed in the rotor (1b) such that an active reduction in the torque occurring during the transient grid voltage change is achieved. The target value of the electrical variable is preferably determined from a suitable weighting of the stator flux, rotor flux, stator voltage, stator current, rotor current, and, if available as a measured variable, stator voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Woodward Kempen GmbH
    Inventor: Jörg Kretschmann
  • Publication number: 20120211983
    Abstract: A method for operating an electromechanical generator is provided, the method comprising: determining a magnetic field reference parameter based on an electromagnetic power reference representing a desired output of the electromechanical generator, determining a scaling factor for adjusting an air-gap magnetization level of the electromechanical generator to reduce loss in operating the electromechanical generator, modifying the magnetic field reference parameter with the scaling factor; and operating the electromechanical generator based on at least the modified magnetic field reference parameter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2012
    Publication date: August 23, 2012
    Applicant: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Anshuman TRIPATHI, Shu Yu CAO, Victor DONESCU, Søren ANDERSEN, Rasool Beevi D-O MOHAMED ARIF
  • Patent number: 8227929
    Abstract: A power generation system having a wind turbine blade assembly, a generator mechanically coupled to the blade assembly, and a power converter coupled to the generator is provided. An energy storage device and a bidirectional converter coupling the energy storage device to the power converter are also provided in the system. An inertia controller is provided for generating a first transient signal to regulate active power from the wind turbine system when a power grid signal is outside of a respective signal range. The system further includes an energy storage controller for providing a second transient signal to the bidirectional converter to regulate a power to or from the energy storage device based upon the first transient signal, power generating system conditions or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rajni Kant Burra, Robert William Delmerico, Sumit Bose, Divya Kurthakoti Chandrashekhara
  • Publication number: 20120112708
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control device for a doubly-fed induction generator in which a feedback linearization method is enabled and further provides a control device for a doubly-fed induction generator in which a feedback linearization method is embedded, characterized in that the control device divides and measures positive sequency components and negative sequency components from stator voltage and current, rotor voltage and current, and signals of stator magnetic flux and rotor magnetic flux of the doubly-fed induction generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2010
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute
    Inventors: Jung Woo Park, Dae Wook Kang, Ji Woo Moon, Jin Soo Kwon, Deuk Woo Pae, Chang Hun Oh
  • Patent number: 8174246
    Abstract: A switching element, a duty deciding circuit, an LRC circuit, a voltage detecting circuit, and an LRC limit value deciding circuit are included. The switching element 58 outputs a duty factor of a field winding of a vehicle power generator towards an ECU, via an FR terminal. The duty deciding circuit limits a speed at which the duty factor of the field winding increases to a predetermined limit value. The voltage detecting circuit detects a voltage at the FR terminal. The LRC limit value deciding circuit switches the limit value of the speed at which the duty factor increases based on the voltage value detected by the voltage detecting circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Toshikazu Kizawa, Tomoya Okuno
  • Patent number: 8134344
    Abstract: A variable frequency generator regulation control circuit and method for controlling open loop gain under changing generator speed conditions employing a high frequency pulse-width modulated signal with a duty cycle that is controlled such that variations in rectified PMG voltage and generator gain over the generator speed range can be compensated for. This signal is modulated by a low frequency pulse-width modulated signal provided by the generator regulator, using a logic gate to produce a combined signal representing an average voltage signal applied to a generator field winding as the generator speed fluctuates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventor: David Hodge
  • Patent number: 8134345
    Abstract: The disclosed technology is a cryogenic static exciter. The cryogenic static exciter is connected to a synchronous electric machine that has a field winding. The synchronous electric machine is cooled via a refrigerator or cryogen like liquid nitrogen. The static exciter is in communication with the field winding and is operating at ambient temperature. The static exciter receives cooling from a refrigerator or cryogen source, which may also service the synchronous machine, to selected areas of the static exciter and the cooling selectively reduces the operating temperature of the selected areas of the static exciter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James William Bray, Luis Jose Garces
  • Patent number: 8089252
    Abstract: An armature winding switch module has a first connection set, a second connection set and a third connection set. The first, the second and the third connection set are respectively connected between a neutral point and a corresponding phase line point and have terminals and contacts. Each two terminals of each connection set are respectively connected to two ends of a corresponding armature winding of a power supply device. The contacts of each connection set are connected among the corresponding terminals. Selectively turning on/off the contacts can connect the armature windings of each connection set in series or in parallel and thereby output required voltage without redoing wiring work. Therefore the present invention avoids second time complicated wiring work and possible connection faults.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Kutai Electronics Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Wen-Feng Lu
  • Patent number: 8058850
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Evgeni Ganev, Louis Cheng, William Warr
  • Patent number: 8054051
    Abstract: The present invention provides, as one aspect, an apparatus for detecting an abnormality of a generator for vehicles. The generator includes a multi-phase armature winding that has phase windings and a rectifier that rectifies multi-phase output of the armature winding. The apparatus includes a first period detection unit that detects a first period of an output voltage of the generator, a second period detection unit that detects a second period of an voltage of one of the phase windings, and an abnormality determination unit that determines presence or absence of an abnormality of the generator by comparing the first period with the second period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tadakazu Nagata, Toshinori Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8004252
    Abstract: A power system stabilizer includes: a sensor configured for sensing a signal representative of electromechanical oscillations of the power system; a controller configured for using the sensed signal for generating control signals for damping the electromechanical oscillations; and a damper including a damping converter and a resistor coupled to the damping converter, the damping converter being coupled to the power system through a power bus, the damping converter configured for using the control signals for damping the electro-mechanical oscillations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Christof Martin Sihler, Alfredo Sebastian Achilles, Simon Herbert Schramm
  • Patent number: 7982333
    Abstract: A voltage regulator having overvoltage protection which is situated in a vehicle electrical system between the generator that is situated in a first voltage level and a battery that is situated in a second voltage level. A generator is used as a generator whose control voltage is freely selectable within specifiable limits. The voltage regulator, which is embodied as an in-phase regulator, makes available a regulated voltage on the output side, which is used for supplying the usual vehicle electrical system users as well as for charging the battery. The in-phase regulator is furnished with an electronics system or an intelligence which includes a microprocessor and which evaluates supplied data with regard to voltages, currents or load breakings and which specifies response criteria, and, upon the reaching of certain response criteria, initiates the measures which then become necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Gert Wolf, Reinhard Meyer
  • Patent number: 7944183
    Abstract: An output voltage controller for an AC vehicle generator is proposed. The output voltage controller can easily suppress variation in rectified output voltage due to a switching surge without using a slope generation circuit in a voltage adjustment circuit. An excitation circuit that excites a field coil 13 includes a circulation element 31, a semiconductor switch element 33, an inductor 35, and transient voltage absorption means 40. The circulation element 31 is connected in parallel to the field coil 13. The semiconductor switch element 33 is connected in series with the field coil 13 and turned on and off by a voltage adjustment circuit 60. The inductor 35 is connected in series with the field coil 13 and the semiconductor switch element 33. The transient voltage absorption means 40 absorbs a transient voltage generated in the inductor 35 in association with the switching of the semiconductor switch element 33 between ON and OFF.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Shinji Nishimura
  • Patent number: 7906864
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for controlling generation of electric power in a vehicle that is capable of calculating a target state of charge (SOC) of a battery on the basis of a SOC of the battery and an amount of accumulated current according to individual driving modes and performing a feedback control on generation of an alternator to follow the target SOC, thereby maintaining an optimal SOC and improving fuel efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Sung Suk Ko
  • Patent number: 7902685
    Abstract: A feed converter system for small wind energy systems has a rectifier device and an inverter device disposed in a housing, and a common control device is provided for regulating the system components under different load cases, particularly when the wind energy system starts up, or when it is being operated at an optimal operating point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignees: Sieb & Meyer AG, INENSUS GmbH
    Inventors: Nico Peterschmidt, Jakob Schmidt-Reindahl, Torsten Leifert, Katrin Bystry, Rainer Buchhorn, Holger Peters
  • Patent number: 7855466
    Abstract: An electric power system includes a variable speed generator driven by an engine and an electrical energy storage device. The generator and the storage device are coupled to a variable voltage DC bus. An inverter converts DC electricity from the DC bus to AC electricity for one or more electrical loads. A detector is included to monitor electric current provided to the DC bus by the storage device and provide a corresponding signal. Control circuitry is responsive to this signal to regulate power output from the storage device to the DC bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Randall L. Bax, Mitchell E. Peterson, Mark Naden
  • Publication number: 20100194356
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for controlling an internal combustion engine driving a generator/welder or a stand-alone generator. The engine and/or the generator is controlled based upon settings for welding. Controlling the engine may include altering the engine speed based upon a detected demand on the generator and/or operating parameters of a welder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 5, 2010
    Applicant: Illinois Tool Works, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel C. Fosbinder, Richard Beeson, Michael J. Trinkner
  • Patent number: 7741728
    Abstract: A wind turbine with a rotor and a generator driven by, the rotor generates electrical power and delivers it to a power system. A control unit controlling the operation of the plant includes a reactive-power control module. The control unit includes also a determining device for a safe minimum active power. Furthermore, and a limiting device for the reactive-power control module, wherein the reactive power is limited to such a measure that the safe minimum active power is still available, taking into consideration the available power. As a result, the total current generated, apart from the active current required for the safe operation of the plant, can be fed into the power system as reactive current as backup in the case of a voltage drop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2010
    Assignee: Repower Systems AG
    Inventors: Jens Fortmann, Heinz-Hermann Letas
  • Patent number: 7710068
    Abstract: A power supply control apparatus for controlling an electric generator of a vehicle limits the rate of change of a power supply voltage to a predetermined variation rate range, when the change is caused by operations to control the charge condition of the vehicle battery, and controls the generated power to match the drive torque applied by the engine to the generator. When the electrical load demand changes, the generated power is controlled to limit a resultant momentary change in the power supply voltage caused by an engine response delay, while minimizing a resultant momentary amount of engine speed variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Keisuke Tani, Kazuyoshi Obayashi, Takashi Senda, Yukihiro Yamashita, Daisuke Kuroda
  • Patent number: 7710693
    Abstract: An apparatus and method provide protection for a synchronous generator in a power system. The method includes deriving a plurality of generator safe operating boundary data expressions from power system data and/or user-defined inputs. The power system data may include a plurality of generator data supplied by a manufacturer of the generator and/or power system parameters such as power system equivalent impedance. Each generator safe operating boundary data expression may relate to a generator capability curve, a steady-state stability limit curve, a minimum excitation limiter curve, an over excitation limiter curve, or an user-defined curve. The method also includes calculating an active power value sum and a reactive power value sum based on generator three-phase currents and voltages, comparing these sums to at least one of the plurality of generator safe operating boundary data expressions, and to provide protection and/or alarming functions for the generator based on this comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Armando Guzman-Casillas, Hector J. Altuve-Ferrer
  • Publication number: 20100039073
    Abstract: A voltage regulator with an adaptive field discharge control system may use the rate of change of the POR voltage, the rate of change of the output current and rate of change of the field current, or any combination of these, as an input. The adaptive field discharge control system may process the inputs, identify an operating condition, such as unbalanced load, overcurrent and overload, and compare reference setpoints against that condition. Conventional field control circuits may be triggered by a fixed POR voltage setpoint for all operating conditions. In addition, conventional field control circuits may trigger field discharge to turn on and off continuously during systems oscillations. To avoid these issues, the adaptive field control circuit of the present invention may include a variable POR voltage setpoint, based upon one or more of the rate of change in the POR voltage, the DC bus voltage, or the percentage of unbalanced load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Publication date: February 18, 2010
    Inventors: Venkatesan Santhirahasan, Rob Paton
  • Patent number: 7633272
    Abstract: An electric generator is operated under conditions in which rapid off-loading may occur. A generator control unit (GCU) employs a detector to detect rates of change of output of the generator. In response to a rapid change of output, e.g. an off-loading, an overvoltage protection system is activated. Excess energy stored in an excited winding is directed into an impedance circuit thus precluding overvoltage that may have been produced by the excess energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Yuan Yao, Wally A. Malicki, Randy J. Fuller
  • Publication number: 20090302810
    Abstract: A control device measures a voltage drop across a conductor in a generator to determine and control the total generator output current. A temperature of the conductor is also measured to improve the accuracy. The control device may further improve on the accuracy by compensating for the electrical current through a field coil that may power the generator. The control device may be used in combination with a generator in a vehicle electrical system. Other system parameters may be monitored to improve on the system monitoring, diagnostics, and control. The generator may include a conductor comprising a process-controlled geometric shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Nisvet Basic, Ciaran Patterson, Mahmood Poukermani
  • Publication number: 20090302809
    Abstract: A control device measures a voltage drop across a conductor in a generator to determine and control the total generator output current. A temperature of the conductor is also measured to improve the accuracy. The control device may further improve on the accuracy by compensating for the electrical current through a field coil that may power the generator. The control device may be used in combination with a generator in a vehicle electrical system. Other system parameters may be monitored to improve on the system monitoring, diagnostics, and control. The generator may include a conductor comprising a process-controlled geometric shape.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 7, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: Nisvet Basic, Ciaran Patterson, Mahmood Pourkermani
  • Publication number: 20090290270
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC.
    Inventors: Evgeni Ganev, Louis Cheng, William Warr
  • Patent number: 7619905
    Abstract: A method of controlling connection of an AC power output to a load and power supply grid. The power output is produced by an AC power generating system which includes an AC/AC converter and is independently operable to supply power to the load. The converter is controlled in accordance with a reference generated within the system. To connect the power output to the power supply grid and to supply the load, the reference is replaced by another reference derived from the voltage of the grid, so that the converter is controlled by that other reference, when the power output is connected to the grid and supplies power required by the load. When the power output is disconnected from the grid or loss of the grid voltage occurs, the reference replaces the other reference, and the power generating system operates independently continuing to supply power required by the load without interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Cummins Generator Technologies Limited
    Inventors: Nazar Al-Khayat, Wlodzimierz Koczara, Emile Ernest
  • Publication number: 20090251112
    Abstract: A permanent magnet (PM) electric generator with directly controllable field excitation control comprises: a drive shaft; a PM rotor assembly with multiple PMs arranged around an outer axial periphery of the rotor assembly; a stator assembly comprising a ferromagnetic stator yoke, multiple ferromagnetic stator teeth mounted to the stator yoke with distal ends proximate the outer axial periphery of the rotor assembly separated by an air gap and multiple stator coils mounted between the stator teeth; multiple saturable ferromagnetic shunts, each shunt coupling adjacent distal ends of the stator teeth to shunt air gap magnetic flux ?g generated by the PMs across the air gap through the distal ends of the stator teeth; and multiple saturation control coils, each saturation control coil wrapped about a saturable region of an associated one of the shunts; wherein application of a control current Ic to the control coils at least partially magnetically saturates the shunts to reduce shunting of air gap magnetic flux ?
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2008
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Jacek F. Gieras, Gregory I. Rozman
  • Patent number: 7573243
    Abstract: A generator control arrangement for an electrical power generator, the arrangement comprising a controller arranged to regulate output voltage from a generator to a target value, the controller including a voltage comparator for comparing a presented voltage with a desired output voltage, the presented voltage derived in a transfer comparator by combination of a reference voltage value and an error value between a reference electrical current value and a measured electrical current value subject to a processor gain whereby the processor gain can be specifically set at zero to enable control by voltage or the processor gain can be specifically set at greater than zero to enable control by electrical current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: David R Trainer, Lihua Hu, Michael P Hirst
  • Patent number: 7569944
    Abstract: A wind power generation system wherein procedure for controlling the blade pitch is changed in accordance with the rate of decrease in the amplitude of the grid voltage, and when over current occurs in the grid-side power converter, the grid-side power converter is brought into the gate-blocked condition whereas the generator-side power converter continues its operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Shinya Oohara, Masaya Ichinose, Motoo Futami, Tadashi Sodeyama
  • Patent number: 7569942
    Abstract: A control section 32 supplies a current obtained by rectifying the output of an exciting winding 5 to a field winding 3 responding to variations in the output voltage of the generator to suppress the variations in the output voltage of the generator. The control section 32 drives a transistor 37 at a duty based on a difference between the output voltage of a main winding 4 and a target voltage and controls the gate voltage of an FET 38 to control a field current to a constant value. A flywheel power generation unit including a control power supply winding 14 is provided as a power source of the control section 32 and a power source for passing an initial current through the field winding 3. A current to be supplied to the field winding 3 from the flywheel power generation unit is merged with an exciting current via a diode 31.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Kamimura
  • Patent number: 7560908
    Abstract: A method of switching the operating voltage of a portable generator system includes operating an electrical generator to produce a first electrical signal and connecting a terminal assembly to the electrical generator. The terminal assembly is arranged in a first arrangement to output a second electrical signal at a first voltage. The method also includes operating an auxiliary system in response to the second electrical signal at the first voltage, re-arranging the terminal assembly in a second arrangement to output the second electrical signal at a second voltage, and actuating a switch with a portion of the terminal assembly when the terminal assembly is in the second arrangement. The method further includes re-configuring the auxiliary system in response to the actuation of the switch such that the auxiliary system operates in response to the second electrical signal at the second voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Ingersoll-Rand Company
    Inventors: Dale R. Herbstritt, Donald G. Smith
  • Patent number: 7560887
    Abstract: A control and power module for a rotating electric machine comprising a bridge of switches, a plurality of driver circuits for driving a bridge of switches, a control circuit and a plurality of communication connections between driver circuits and a control circuit. When the machine is in a rest mode, at least one connection of the plurality of communication connections is used for transmitting signals between the control circuit and the driver circuits for carrying out a function related to the rest mode of the machine, and when the machine is in the operational mode, all connections of the plurality of communication connections are used for transmitting signals between the control circuit and the driver circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Jean-Marie Pierret, Christophe Louise
  • Publication number: 20090167256
    Abstract: A controller employed in conjunction with a synchronous generator monitors the output voltage of the generator. The controller employs the monitored output voltage as feedback that is used to control the excitation provided to an exciter field winding. In addition, the controller applies a control loop to the monitored output voltage that detects and modifies voltage ripple signals within the monitored output voltage to generate a compensated signal that is used to control the excitation to the exciter field winding. In particular, by detecting and modifying voltage ripple signals within the monitored output voltage, the controller is able to counteract armature reaction voltage ripples caused by unbalanced short-circuit faults, thereby preventing the build-up of voltage on the DC link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2008
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Vijay K. Maddali, John F. Defenbaugh
  • Publication number: 20090167255
    Abstract: Methods and systems are disclosed for reducing alternating current ripples in direct current electrical power generation systems with one or more regulated permanent magnet machines. Ripple suppression is achieved, in one aspect, by modulating the control current of a regulated permanent magnet machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Kevin A. Dooley
  • Patent number: 7554301
    Abstract: Generators 12a are for a distributed generation system. A control system 32a receives information about network faults 14a. In normal conditions, the control system 32a controls the field current in the field coils of the generator 12a, to maintain generator output voltage at the rated value. At the onset of fault conditions, the control system 32a changes the manner in which field current is controlled, in order to reduce the fault current put onto the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce plc
    Inventors: David R Trainer, John J A Cullen, John R Smith
  • Patent number: 7552006
    Abstract: The vehicle-use battery monitor apparatus includes a first function of receiving a power generation rate indicative of an operating state of a vehicle alternator from a power generation control device, a second function of detecting a charge/discharge current of a vehicle battery, a third function of transmitting the power generation rate to an electronic control unit for controlling an output power of a vehicle engine in order that an idle-up control is performed depending on a value of the power generation rate, a fourth function of increasing the value of the power generation rate when it is determined that the vehicle battery is in a discharge state on the basis of a detection result by the second function, and a fifth function of generating a notification signal in accordance with which an indicator light makes an indication of the power generation rate being increased by the forth function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Shunichi Maeda