Speed Or Frequency Of Generator Patents (Class 322/29)
  • Patent number: 7425818
    Abstract: The present invention provides a connector arrangement operative to connect a prime mover driven alternator to an alternating current circuit with an existing alternating current. For example, the connector arrangement may be used to connect an alternator driven by a Stirling engine to an alternating current mains electricity supply. The connector arrangement includes a circuit with an adjustable resonant frequency, adjustable between a first resonant frequency tuned to an initial operating frequency of the prime mover and a second resonant frequency detuned to the initial operating frequency. This adjustable resonant frequency is beneficial as it allows operation to be tailored to the exact operating conditions of the prime mover that is likely to have its own resonant frequency that may vary according to its operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Microgen Energy Limited
    Inventors: Roger Stuart Silcock, Jonathan James Childs, Jarlath Michael McEntee
  • Patent number: 7420288
    Abstract: Control features for a wind turbine that control the turbine over a range of wind speeds and under triggering conditions with reduced noise, cost, and reliability issues associated with other such controls. Control is accomplished via control electronics, which adjust the torque produced by the electrical output generation device (e.g., alternator) within the wind turbine. During normal operation, torque is adjusted for optimum aerodynamic performance and maximum output of power. In winds above rated power, the control circuit regulates torque to lower aerodynamic performance, as necessary to maintain desired power level output. In triggering conditions, such as during simultaneous control circuit failure and loss of some portion of the electrical output generation device in extreme winds, wind turbine control is accomplished by increasing torque (e.g., via a separate controller) from the electrical output generation device via shorting of windings, so as to cause retardation of blade rotation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Southwest Windpower
    Inventor: David Gregory Calley
  • Publication number: 20080203978
    Abstract: A frequency converter circuit for a double-fed asynchronous generator with a variable power output, which can be connected to a voltage network contains a rotor rectifier, which can be connected to the rotor of the asynchronous generator, a network frequency converter, which can be connected to the voltage network, and an intermediate circuit. The intermediate circuit contains a semiconductor switch arranged on the rotor rectifier, an intermediate circuit capacitor arranged on the network frequency converter, and a diode arranged between the semiconductor switch and the intermediate circuit capacitor. According to a method for operating such a frequency converter circuit, the semiconductor switch is kept closed during the sub-synchronous operation of the asynchronous generator, and during at least some periods of synchronous or super-synchronous operation of the asynchronous generator the semiconductor switch is opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Inventor: Dejan Schreiber
  • Publication number: 20080191482
    Abstract: An apparatus for controlling generation of power to be generated by a generator driven by an engine mounted on a vehicle equipped with an electrical load operative on the power from the generator, the generator including a field winding to which current is supplied on the power, and a duty cycle of the current being increased to maintain the power of the generator, the apparatus comprising duty cycle limit means for limiting an increasing rate of the duty cycle in response to an increase in an amount of the load when the engine is in an idle state; rotation frequency detecting means for detecting the rotation frequency of the engine; and limit value deciding means for deciding a limit value for the increasing rate of the duty cycle to a greater value than a limit value corresponding to the idle state, when the rotation frequency detecting means detects a decrease in the rotation frequency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tomoya Okuno
  • Publication number: 20080191483
    Abstract: The power generating device (1000) has a vane (1200) rotated by hydrodynamic force from a fluid; a generator motor (100); a flow velocity measuring unit (1130); a rotation speed measuring unit; and a control unit (200). In the event that at least one of the flow velocity and the rotation speed lies within a prescribed low range at startup of the generator motor, the control unit (200) operates the generator motor as a motor to increase the rotation speed of the vane, and then operates the generator motor as a generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2008
    Publication date: August 14, 2008
    Inventor: Kesatoshi Takeuchi
  • Publication number: 20080186000
    Abstract: A control apparatus for controlling an exciting current of a field winding type dynamo-electric machine having an exciting winding so as to obtain a demanded output thereof comprises an exciting current detecting circuit being configured to detect an exciting current of the field winding type dynamo-electric machine, a rotation speed detecting circuit being configured to detect a rotation speed of a rotor of the field winding type dynamo-electric machine, an output estimating circuit being configured to estimate an output of the field winding type dynamo-electric machine, an exciting current control circuit being configured to correct the exciting current of the field winding type dynamo-electric machine so as to obtain the demanded output and to supply the corrected exciting current to an exciting winding of the field winding type dynamo-electric machine considering a multi-valued functionality of the output of the field winding type dynamo-electric machine with respect to the exciting current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Publication date: August 7, 2008
    Applicants: DENSO CORPORATION, NIPPON SOKEN, INC.
    Inventors: Norihito Kimura, Katsunori Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20080150494
    Abstract: An apparatus and method generate electric current within a specified frequency range from a rotor operating within a broad range of rotational speeds by reducing the number of poles of the generator at higher rotational speeds. At higher rotational speeds, the generator circuit is altered so that a flow of current through half of a plurality of windings is reversed and the polarity in the said half of the windings is reversed. Two adjacent windings with the same polarity create a single pseudo pole, which effectively reduces the number of poles in the generator by half, and reduces the frequency of the electric current produced by the generator. Thus, the generator is operable to produce current within a specified frequency range from a rotor operating within a broad range of rotational speeds.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Glenn C. Lemmers, Darin R. Morman
  • Publication number: 20080143113
    Abstract: A power generation apparatus and method includes an AC energization synchronous generator, a switching device for connecting to a network disposed on a stator side of the AC energization synchronous generator, an energizing device for applying a variable frequency AC to a secondary winding of the AC energization synchronous generator, and a first voltage detection unit for detecting a voltage of the switching device on the stator side. A rotational frequency of the AC energization synchronous generator is estimated or calculated based on a frequency of a stator side voltage of the switching device, while the switching device is open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2008
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: Masaya Ichinose, Motoo Futami, Shinya Oohara, Kazuhiro Imaie, Mitsugu Matsutake
  • Publication number: 20080147259
    Abstract: A method of controlling electric power generation during idle charge in a hybrid electric vehicle. The method includes determining whether an idle charge condition is satisfied; if the idle charge condition is satisfied, calculating a first charge power amount based on whether a load is applied, a gear shift position, and a state of charge of a battery; calculating a target charge speed based on the first charge power amount; calculating an altitude correction coefficient based on atmospheric pressure; calculating a second charge power amount based on the altitude correction coefficient and the first charge power amount; and controlling an amount of power generation and an amount of battery charge based on the second charge power amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventor: Yong Kak Choi
  • Publication number: 20080143119
    Abstract: A vehicle system that includes an engine control apparatus which regulates engine idling speed incorporates a battery current detection apparatus which acquires information expressing the value of field current of an engine-driven electric generator and detects a condition of high electrical load as occurrence of a battery discharge current exceeding a threshold value, and responds to that condition by notifying the engine control apparatus of a higher value of field current of the electric generator than the actual value, to thereby effect a rapid increase in engine speed and so rapidly increase the output power of the electric generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2007
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Applicant: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Tadatoshi Asada
  • Publication number: 20080136380
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the controlled application of a stator-current target value (ISnom) and a torque target value (Mnom) for a polyphase machine (4) that is supplied by an electronic power converter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2004
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Frank Hoffmann, Franz Sperr, Georg Stanke
  • Publication number: 20080136294
    Abstract: A self-regulating permanent magnet device has a first rotor segment and second rotor segment, each supporting a set of permanent magnets, wherein the position of the second rotor segment relative to the first rotor segment is modified based on the speed of the self-regulating permanent magnet device. By modifying the position of the second rotor segment relative to the first rotor segment, the alignment between their respective sets of permanent magnets, and therefore, the electromotive force (emf) generated in the stator coils is regulated. The position of the second rotor segment is defined by the connection of a torsion spring between the first rotor segment and second rotor segment and a reactionary torque device connected to the second rotor segment. The torsion spring creates a spring force that acts to maintain the alignment between the first rotor segment and the second rotor segment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Theodore Clifton Powers, Michael Raymond Hernden, Mahesh J. Shah
  • Publication number: 20080133064
    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: December 1, 2006
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Nisvet Basic, Ciaran Patterson, Mahmood Pourkermani
  • Publication number: 20080121525
    Abstract: A power controller for electric generation from renewable energy and consumption of said energy, where appropriate, to produce hydrogen. The controller improves overall system efficiency by controlling electricity generation over a wider range of conditions, and by controlling the electric conversion to that required by the hydrogen converter much more efficiently, than systems which consist of independent controllers. An overall systems controller which dynamically optimizes the complete system to maximize the available inputs, such as renewable and stored energy, while providing the maximum desired outputs, such as power, hydrogen and income, taking into account the ultimate capacity of components along with historical, current and predicted future data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Inventor: George J. Doland
  • Patent number: 7375499
    Abstract: A fault-tolerant synchronisation source for excitation control of a three-phase generator system that combines point of regulation (POR) signals representing parameters comprising voltage and current for each phase at the POR to generate a fault-tolerant synchronisation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Vijay K. Maddali, Michael J. Hanson
  • Patent number: 7375500
    Abstract: A method of calculating torque of a Lundell-type synchronous generator is disclosed in which only power generation output current and a rotational speed are input for calculation of the amount of electric power and the amount of losses for thereby enabling calculation of power generating torque, based on a sum of the amount of electric power and the amount of losses, which is generated as an output. The present method establishes formulae enabling calculation based on only output current and the rotational speed, enabling a minimal number of inputs to shorten a calculation time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Atsushi Umeda, Tsutomu Shiga, Kouichi Ihata
  • Patent number: 7352157
    Abstract: This invention discloses a vehicle electrical system voltage regulator with improved electrical protection and warning means that discerns and responds to regulator, generator, or vehicle electrical system operation and malfunctions. The regulator includes monitoring, control, and protection circuits with a phase signal monitor, a field switching circuit that operates the field coil in response to electrical power demands, and a field enable switch in series with the field regulating switch. The phase monitor and protection circuit ascertains and transmits generator rotational motion for use by the monitoring and control circuit in discerning the various operating conditions. The monitoring and control circuit operates on the field switching circuit to meet the electrical power demands and provide multi level fault protection to include field switching circuit reconfiguration to continue operating under various fault conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: C.E. Niehoff & Co.
    Inventor: Issam Jabaji
  • Patent number: 7339355
    Abstract: A wind powered turbine with low voltage ride-through capability. An inverter is connected to the output of a turbine generator. The generator output is conditioned by the inverter resulting in an output voltage and current at a frequency and phase angle appropriate for transmission to a three-phase utility grid. A frequency and phase angle sensor is connected to the utility grid operative during a fault on the grid. A control system is connected to the sensor and to the inverter. The control system output is a current command signal enabling the inverter to put out a current waveform, which is of the same phase and frequency as detected by the sensor. The control system synthesizes current waveform templates for all three-phases based on a sensed voltage on one phase and transmits currents to all three-phases of the electrical system based on the synthesized current waveforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Assignee: Clipper Windpower Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: William Erdman, Kevin L. Cousineau, Amir S. Mikhail
  • Patent number: 7336000
    Abstract: A speed monitor for establishing a lower threshold and an upper threshold for a speed of a rotor or shaft of a turbogenerator. A speed detector detects speed data or a speed signal for a rotor or shaft associated with a turbogenerator. A turbogenerator controller controls an output current of the turbogenerator based on the detected speed data or speed signal to control a rotational speed of the rotor or the shaft. A voltage monitor establishes a lower voltage limit and an upper voltage limit for a generator. A voltage detector detects an output voltage level associated with the generator. A motor/generator controller controls the output voltage level of the generator electrical output by invoking at least one of a motor mode and a generator mode based on the detected output voltage level to maintain a desired operational voltage range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Ronnie Dean Stahlhut, Carl Thomas Vuk
  • Patent number: 7332894
    Abstract: In a power generation apparatus equipped with an AC energization synchronous generator, when energization of a secondary winding starts to conduct connecting to the network of the AC energization synchronous generator to a network voltage, energization of the secondary winding starts at a fixed frequency and a slip frequency is calculated from a difference between a frequency of the network voltage and a resultant stator voltage frequency. Thereafter, energization starts at the calculated slip frequency and a voltage having a frequency generally coincident with the network frequency is output to the stator to incorporate the generator to the network. A phase is adjusted to make zero a phase difference when the rotation speed changes or the phases become different.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Ichinose, Motoo Futami, Shinya Oohara, Kazuhiro Imaie, Mitsugu Matsutake
  • Patent number: 7312419
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for welding with an engine driven inverter power supply includes generating an ac output with an engine and generator. The output is rectified and inverted to provide an ac inverter output. The engine is controlled using feedback indicative of a welding output operating parameter. The feedback may also be taken from the inverter or generator, and the generator may be controlled instead of or in addition to the engine. Engine parameters that may be controlled include engine speed, selecting between an idle speed and a run speed, a throttle position, a fuel pump, an injection timer, a fuel to air ratio, fuel consumption and ignition timing. Another aspect of the invention is having the feedback be responsive to one or more of the welding current, welding voltage, welding power, or functions thereof. The feedback may be responsive to the current, voltage, power, ripple and functions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Beeson, Stephen H. Li, Alan F. Smith
  • Patent number: 7304455
    Abstract: The power generation controller includes a control command receiving section receiving a control command transmitted from an external control unit for controlling an internal combustion engine, a control command holding section holding the control command received by the control command receiving section, and an excitation current control section controlling an excitation current of a generator driven by the internal combustion engine on the basis of the control command held by the control command holding section. The excitation current control section is configured to control the excitation current on the basis of a control command transmitted from the external control unit when the internal combustion engine is in a stopped sate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hideto Okahara, Tadatoshi Asada
  • Patent number: 7304400
    Abstract: A power controller 5 calculates the induced voltage or rotor magnetic flux from the output voltage and the output current of a generator 3, estimates a shaft speed of the generator 3 from the phase of the induced voltage or the phase of the rotor magnetic flux, and calculate the output of a windmill 1 from the estimated value of the shaft speed and the output of the generator 3. As a result, since the output of the windmill 1 can be calculated without requiring a speed sensor for detecting the shaft speed of the generator 3, it is possible to accomplish simplification of circuits, reduction of cost, and high reliability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Yasakawa Denki
    Inventors: Junkoo Kang, Saemitsu Hayashi, Shinya Morimoto
  • Patent number: 7301311
    Abstract: A starter-generator system supplies a controllable torque to a gas turbine engine, to thereby assist in starting the gas turbine engine, by independently controlling excitation frequency and/or voltage magnitude. The starter-generator includes a multi-phase exciter stator, a rotationally mounted multi-phase exciter rotor, a multi-phase main stator, a rotationally mounted multi-phase main rotor, and an exciter controller. The rotationally mounted multi-phase exciter rotor has a plurality of exciter rotor windings wound thereon that, upon excitation thereof with a rotating electromagnetic exciter flux generated by the exciter stator, have non-rectified excitation currents induced therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mingzhou Xu, Dwayne M. Benson
  • Patent number: 7294991
    Abstract: In an apparatus, a first detecting unit detects the number of revolutions of a power generator, a second detecting unit detects an output voltage of the power generator, and a third detecting unit detects an output current of the power generator. A torque calculating unit calculates power generation torque based on the detected number of revolutions of the power generator, the detected output voltage, and the detected output current using relationship information. The relationship information represents a relationship between the power generation torque and each of the number of revolutions of the power generator, the output voltage, and the output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Nippon Soken, Inc.
    Inventors: Norihito Kimura, Katsunori Tanaka
  • Patent number: 7291937
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wind energy system having a rotor that can be driven by the wind, preferably having one or more rotor blades that can be adjusted in angle, a generator directly or indirectly connected with the rotor, to generate electric energy, which is configured as an asynchronous generator having a super-synchronous converter cascade in the rotor circuit, for slip-variable generator operation, so that power output of the generator is possible at variable speeds of rotation of the rotor, and an operation guide system that is configured to regulate the speed of rotation of the rotor, within a predetermined wind speed range. To improve the energy yield, it is provided that the super-synchronous rectifier cascade is configured in the rotor circuit for feeding the slip power into the network. For this purpose, the super-synchronous converter cascade has a DC voltage intermediate circuit having a high-set element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: DeWind GmbH
    Inventors: Wolf Willisch, Robert Müller
  • Patent number: 7292009
    Abstract: Simplifying the controller of hybrid type drive unit. The output of a generator driven by engine is connected directly to a motor 7 through a converter or switching circuit 10 without being charged on any battery. The output of each phase of the generator is inputted to the converter 10. A timing controller 126 controls the conduction phase of a thyristor bridge 101 in the converter 10 so as to adjust the quantity of output power. A synchronous standard for phase control is formed based on output wave of an auxiliary winding 26 of the generator. A voltage detector 124 detects an applied voltage on the motor 7 as a motor rotation speed and the conduction angle is increased or decreased so as to maintain a detected voltage at a target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2007
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiaki Kawakami, Tsutomu Inui, Tsutomu Wakitani
  • Patent number: 7285869
    Abstract: A method is disclosed for estimating engine power output for an engine in a hybrid electric vehicle powertrain that includes an electric motor and an electric generator. Selected powertrain variables, including electric motor torque and electric generator torque, are used in determining desired vehicle traction wheel torque and an estimated engine power. A calibrated delay in calculating estimated engine power following a time sampling of the values for motor torque and generator torque avoid inertial effects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2007
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Fazal Syed, Ming Kuang, John Czubay
  • Patent number: 7283899
    Abstract: A vehicle alternator and methods for controlling an amount of torque loading of the vehicle alternator on an engine are provided. The vehicle alternator utilizes a voltage regulator with a microprocessor to control an amount of torque loading, based on a rotational speed of a rotor of the alternator, or an amount of current output by the alternator, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: Remy International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack D. Harmon, Michael D. Bradfield
  • Patent number: 7268443
    Abstract: A wind turbine generator system can regulate the rotational velocity of the wind turbine within an operation range even when the wind velocity suddenly changes and can perform continuous operation of the wind turbine. The wind turbine generator system includes a generator connected to the shaft of the wind turbine and a converter connected to the generator. When the rotational velocity of the wind turbine is within a predetermined range, power outputted from the generator is controlled so as to follow the instruction concerning the generator output given from the wind turbine to the converter. When the rotational velocity of the wind turbine is out of the predetermined range, the power outputted from the generator is controlled without following the instruction concerning generator output given from the wind turbine to the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kikuchi, Masaya Ichinose, Motoo Futami, Mitsugu Matsutake, Kouichi Miyazaki
  • Patent number: 7256509
    Abstract: A wind power plant including a rotor having at least one angle-adjustable rotor blade, a generator that, for generating electrical power, can be directly or indirectly coupled to the rotor and, for supplying the electrical power, can be directly or indirectly coupled to an electrical grid, at least one rotor blade adjusting device for setting an angle of the rotor blade including at least one blade adjusting drive having at least one direct-current motor that can be coupled to the electrical grid via a converter, a control device, coupled to the converter and via which the control and/or regulation of the blade adjusting drive ensues, and a direct current voltage source that ensures a power supply to the blade adjusting drive in the event of grid power failure, whereby the direct current voltage source can be directly coupled to the blade adjusting drive or indirectly to the blade adjusting drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2007
    Assignee: Repower Systems AG
    Inventors: Karsten Brandt, Jörg Zeumer
  • Patent number: 7245037
    Abstract: An electric network for generation and transmission of electric power, including a power generating part, a point of common connection for the power generating part, a transmission link, a load network, and a reactive power compensator. The transmission link is coupled between the point of common connection and a grid connection point at the load network. The reactive power compensator is coupled to transmission link. The power generating part includes at least one wind turbine with an electric generator of induction type, coupled to the point of common connection. The reactive power compensator includes a capacitor bank and in parallel coupling to the capacitor bank a controllable inductor having a magnetic core, a main winding for alternating current, and a DC-control winding for direct current. The DC-control winding for control of the magnetic flux is set up by the main winding via orthogonal magnetization of the core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2007
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Lennart Ängquist, Per Halvarsson, Lars Liljestrand, Stefan Valdemarsson, Claes Bengtsson, Willie Wong
  • Patent number: 7230344
    Abstract: In accordance with certain exemplary embodiments, the present technique provides methods and apparatus for providing transient and uninterrupted power to protected loads. As one example, the present invention provides an induction device that operates as an induction motor to energize a kinetic energy storage device, such as a flywheel, during conventional operating conditions. However, in the event of a loss of primary power, the induction device, which is fed ac power at variable frequencies, begins to operate as an induction generator. For example, by varying the frequency of the input ac power such that the synchronous speed of the motor is exceeded by the rotating flywheel, the induction device acts as an induction generator and provides a transient operating power to the downstream loads until an auxiliary power source, such as a diesel generator, is brought on line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2007
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry J. Pollack, Michael J. Melfi
  • Patent number: 7227272
    Abstract: A control apparatus such as an ECU, that controls the generator of a vehicle, measures the engine rotation speed and generator rotation speed while the engine is idling, and calculates and stores the ratio of the speed values. Thereafter when the vehicle is being driven and the current value of generator rotation speed is required, it is calculated based on the stored ratio value and the currently measured speed of the engine. The processing load on the ECU is thereby reduced, since generator rotation speed measurement processing is performed only in the idling condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tadatoshi Asada, Fuyuki Maehara
  • Patent number: 7221127
    Abstract: The alternator comprises a wound rotor and a stator with a number of phases connected to a rectifier bridge equipped with switches (7) in the form of MOS type transistors, such as MOSFET type transistors, characterised in that the transistors (7) are voltage-rated to work by avalanche effect or linearly in the case of a load dump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2007
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Philippe Masson, Michaël Chemin, Thierry Mandion
  • Patent number: 7215099
    Abstract: A method in a frequency converter provided with a voltage intermediate circuit in connection with interference in a network (5) to be supplied and a frequency converter (2), which comprises a network converter part (4) and an inverter part (3) and a DC intermediate circuit (7) between them. The method comprises steps of controlling the intermediate circuit voltage at the beginning of network interference by limiting the torque on the inverter side, detecting interference in the network voltage, setting a torque reference to a predetermined value in response to the network interference, detecting network voltage recovery, and controlling the torque reference to a normal value in response to the network voltage recovery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Jukka Ylppö, Kari Turunen
  • Patent number: 7211989
    Abstract: A method for acceleration of a shaft run that a turbine, in particular a gas turbine, a generator and an excitation machine connected to one another by a common shaft, includes accelerating the turbine is accelerated using acceleration apparatus during a starting process, wherein the excitation machine is used as the acceleration apparatus. In addition, an apparatus for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Oliver Drubel, Reinhard Joho
  • Patent number: 7205676
    Abstract: To shorten a startup interval to reach a synchronizing condition, a phase difference and an amplitude difference between the grid voltage and the stator voltage of one phase of a winding are obtained. The difference in amplitude is decreased prior to or in parallel to synchronizing the stator voltage with the grid voltage. The calculated compensation phase compensation value is used as an initial value for synchronizing at the next synchronizing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Ichinose, Motoo Futami, Hiromitsu Sakai
  • Patent number: 7183749
    Abstract: A generator control system of a vehicle generator includes a switching element which turns on or off field current, a field current detecting circuit, a calculating circuit which calculates an average value of the field current when the switching element turns on according to an amount of the detected field current, and a switch control circuit which cyclically controls the switching element according to the average value and a limit value of the field current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2007
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Fuyuki Maehara
  • Patent number: 7170262
    Abstract: A variable frequency power system with a power source having a rotating output and a speed control to regulate rotational speed of the rotating output. A generator coupled to and driven by the rotating output of the power source, whereby the speed control of the power source directly controls output power frequency of the generator due to control of rotational frequency of the rotating output. A voltage regulator connected between the generator and the motor regulates output voltage from the generator to the electrical motor load. A system controller controls output power frequency of the generator. The system controller interfaces with the speed control of the power source and configured to monitor generator output and operational conditions of the electrical motor load. The system controller adjusts the speed control based on generator output and operational conditions of the electrical motor load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Foundation Enterprises Ltd.
    Inventor: Dana Robert Pettigrew
  • Patent number: 7157885
    Abstract: A method for controlling an inverter controlled generator set which comprises a DC power source section having as a power source a generator driven by an engine and an inverter which converts an output of said DC power source section into an AC output, the method comprising a step of controlling a rotational speed of the engine so that the AC output suitable for driving a load is output from the inverter; wherein, after the engine is started, the rotational speed of the engine is controlled by a constant speed control mode for maintaining the rotational speed of the engine at a set rotational speed, and the rotational speed of the engine is increased to the set rotational speed; and wherein an operation of the inverter is started after the rotational speed of the engine reaches the set rotational speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Kokusan Denki Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Nakagawa, Masahiko Endou, Kaoru Shinba, Katsumi Yamamoto, Yoshihiro Sugisawa
  • Patent number: 7151359
    Abstract: A variable reluctance generator has phase windings and a bias winding. By controlling the excitation produced by the bias winding, the speed of the machine or the DC link, a power converter using only diodes can supply power to a DC bus. A method of operating a variable reluctance machine as a generator, the machine having at least one phase winding, includes creating a bias flux linking the or at least one phase winding, and limiting the phase voltage to a magnitude below that otherwise induced in the phase winding by the bias flux.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2006
    Assignee: Switched Reluctance Drives Limited
    Inventors: Steven Paul Randall, Joseph Gerald Marcinkiewicz
  • Patent number: 7145262
    Abstract: A wind turbine generator system is equipped with a three phase generator connected to a shaft of a windmill, a converter connected to a stator of the generator, and an inverter connected to the converter and also to an electric power system. The system extracts a torsional vibration component of the shafting between the windmill and generator from the detected rotation speed of the generator, regulates the active component of the current command to the converter according to the vibration component, and controls so as to minimize the rotation speed variation of the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kikuchi, Motoo Futami, Yasuhiro Imazu, Yoshio Eguchi
  • Patent number: 7132817
    Abstract: The invention relates to an unbalance dynamic load generator comprising at least one pair of eccentric rotating masses (M) which are symmetric with respect to a plane and whose motion is controlled by at least one control signal generated by a control module as a function of a preset signal (Fd(t)) having a given frequency. It is characterized in that, for at least one of the masses, it comprises a reference angular position sensor (C) delivering a position signal (SP) representing the passing of the said rotating mass (M) through a reference angular position and a control circuit comprising a calculation circuit (DSP) for calculating the periodicity of the rotation of the said mass from the successive position signals delivered by the position sensor (C) and for generating the said control signal (CS) as a function of the difference between the measured periodicity and the periodicity of the preset signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: Hutchinson
    Inventor: Mathieu Noe
  • Patent number: 7112945
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for welding with an engine driven inverter power supply includes generating an ac output with an engine and generator. The output is rectified and inverted to provide an ac inverter output. The engine is controlled using feedback indicative of a welding output operating parameter. The feedback may also be taken from the inverter or generator, and the generator may be controlled instead of or in addition to the engine. Engine parameters that may be controlled include engine speed, selecting between an idle speed and a run speed, a throttle position, a fuel pump, an injection timer, a fuel to air ratio, fuel consumption and ignition timing. Another aspect of the invention is having the feedback be responsive to one or more of the welding current, welding voltage, welding power, or functions thereof. The feedback may be responsive to the current, voltage, power, ripple and functions thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Beeson, Stephen Li, Alan Smith
  • Patent number: 7112944
    Abstract: A synchronous and bi-directional power conversion module (140) for use in a variable frequency power conversion system (100) comprises a first input/output side (142) for AC power input/output and DC power source input; a second input/output side (144) for DC link connection; and an active power switching arrangement (Q1–Q6), which is controlled by a gating pattern to perform multi-mode power conversion. The active power switching arrangement (Q1–Q6) is controlled to convert DC link voltage from the DC link connection (144) to an AC load supply voltage during a forward power mode; convert AC input power from the first input/output side (142) to a regulated DC link voltage during an AC source input, reverse power mode; and convert DC input power from the first input/output to a regulated DC link voltage during a DC source input, reverse power mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Hassan A. Kojori
  • Patent number: 7105944
    Abstract: A starter motor is prevented from being rotated together with an engine after the start of a engine. When motor speed exceeds the cranking speed after the start of the engine, a speed judging section 36 judges that the starter motor is rotated together with the engine. A current-supply stopping section 38 commands to stop energizing a motor 3a in response to the judge. After the electricity supply is stopped, if the rotation speed is reduced to a value close to the cranking speed, judging section 36 outputs a signal to cancel the current-supply stopping commands from the current-supply stopping section 38. The detection of the motor speed is also continued even after the ignition, and if the speed is further increased, the speed detection is stopped. If the speed is increased to a value showing complete explosion, the speed judging section 36 switches the relays to a generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2006
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tsutomu Wakitani, Toshinori Inagawa
  • Patent number: 7095130
    Abstract: To shorten a startup interval to reach a synchronizing condition, a phase difference and an amplitude difference between the grid voltage and the stator voltage of one phase of a winding are obtained. The difference in amplitude is decreased prior to or in parallel to synchronizing the stator voltage with the grid voltage. The calculated compensation phase compensation value is used as an initial value for synchronizing at the next synchronizing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Ichinose, Motoo Futami, Hiromitsu Sakai
  • Patent number: 7095132
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to minimize the torsional vibration caused on the shafting of the wind turbine genarator system so as to operate the windmill stably. A wind turbine genarator system according to the present invention, equipped with a synchronous generator connected to the shaft of a windmill, converter connected to the stator of the synchronous generator, and inverter connected to the converter and also to an electric power system, extracts the torsional vibration component of the shafting between the windmill and synchronous generator from the detected rotation speed of the synchronous generator, regulates the active component of the current command to the converter according to the vibration component, and controls so as to minimize the rotation speed variation of the synchronous generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Kikuchi, Motoo Futami, Yasuhiro Imazu, Yoshio Eguchi
  • Patent number: 7078826
    Abstract: A rotating electrical machine, such as an aircraft starter-generator, that may be operated in either a DC motor mode or an AC generator mode. The machine includes a conventionally wound main stator that is selectively configurable as a multi-pole AC stator and a multi-pole DC stator. The machine also includes rotor windings that are configured to be selectively coupled to either an exciter or a plurality of commutator segments, and DC brushes that are selectively moveable into, and out of, electrical contact with the commutator segments, to thereby electrically couple and decouple a DC power source to and from, respectively, the rotor windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: Mingzhou Xu, Michael W. Duddeck, Wayne T. Pearson, William M. Scherzinger, David E. Stout