Electrical Conditions In Circuit Other Than That Of Generator Being Controlled Patents (Class 322/37)
  • Patent number: 11853046
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method for predicting a faulty behaviour of an electrical converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Olli Alkkiomáki, Joni Siimesjärvi, Ville Särkimäki
  • Patent number: 11271403
    Abstract: A method for preparing a wind power facility for a transition from a first mode of operation to a second mode of operation includes the steps of specifying a set of operational parameters to be applied by the wind power facility in connection with the second mode of operation, said specified set of operational parameters being available for the wind power facility in response to a provided transition triggering signal, and providing the transition triggering signal and applying the specified set of operational parameters in the wind power facility in response thereto, wherein a subset of the specified set of operational parameters is applied in each of a plurality of wind turbine generators in response to the provided transition triggering signal. The first mode of operation may involve a normal mode of operation whereas the second mode of operation may involve an island mode of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Mu Wei, Torsten Lund, Kouroush Nayebi
  • Patent number: 11207992
    Abstract: A power conversion system for vehicles is provided. The system includes a switching circuit having first input/output terminals, second input/output terminals and a plurality of switching elements connected between the first input/output terminals and the second input/output terminals. A first energy storage device is connected to the second input/output terminals and has a preset charging/discharging voltage. A first voltage conversion circuit converts power output from the first input/output terminals to output a voltage less than the voltage of the first energy storage device. A second energy storage device is charged/discharged with the output voltage of the first voltage conversion circuit. A controller controls open/short-circuit states of the switching elements based on whether the first energy storage device is being charged and whether the vehicle is traveling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventors: In Yong Yeo, Jin Myeong Yang, Woo Young Lee, Youn Sik Lee, Dae Woo Lee, Jong Pil Kim
  • Patent number: 11050374
    Abstract: A method for customizing operation of an alternator regulator including at least one processor executing a program governing its operation. The regulator receives input signals and acts on output signals according to at least one control law. The control law is implemented in the regulator by a programming interface by inputting at least coordinates (x, f(x)) of at least two points of the law.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: MOTEURS LEROY-SOMER
    Inventors: Jeremy Fratani, Vincent Morisseau, Jean-Francois Paillou
  • Patent number: 10962577
    Abstract: Equipment for measurement of the contribution to frequency stability by a generating unit, especially for generating units based on power electronics. This equipment is to be installed between a generating unit and an electric power system. It emulates an electric power system undergoing a power unbalance, which manifests itself through a grid frequency swing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO RIO DE JANEIRO
    Inventor: André Ramos de Castro
  • Patent number: 10946756
    Abstract: A vehicle includes an integrated power distribution module. The integrated power distribution module includes a hybrid transformer coupled to a charger stage, a traction battery, and an auxiliary battery. The hybrid transformer includes first and second primary windings coupled in series and connected to the charger stage. The primary windings have a corresponding first secondary winding coupling the traction battery via associated inverters. The primary windings further have corresponding second secondary windings that are coupled in series with opposing voltage polarities and coupled to the auxiliary battery via an associated inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Hadi Malek, Shuitao Yang, James A. Lathrop, Mark J. Ferrel
  • Patent number: 10950723
    Abstract: In a semiconductor device with a wide gap semiconductor, a gate insulating film is made of a material having a barrier against a minor carrier in an n-type body layer and having no barrier against a minor carrier in a p-type drift layer. As a result, in the semiconductor device with the wide gap semiconductor, a reduction in a conduction loss can be achieved while realizing an improvement in blocking resistance and securing reliability of the gate insulating film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Oyama
  • Patent number: 10855193
    Abstract: A power conversion unit includes an AC/DC converter converting alternating-current power supplied from an AC power supply into direct-current power to charge a high-voltage battery with the direct-current power and a step-down DC/DC converter generating an intermediate voltage provided by stepping down a voltage of direct-current power supplied from the high-voltage battery. A constant-voltage DC/DC converter outputs, to a low-voltage load unit, direct-current power provided by stepping down the intermediate voltage of direct-current power output from the step-down DC/DC converter at a constant step-down ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2020
    Assignee: YAZAKI CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akinori Maruyama
  • Patent number: 10658865
    Abstract: A vehicle ECU executes a control process including: a step of determining whether or not contact charging is being performed; a step of executing a first slow change process for requested power if it is determined that contact charging is being performed; a step of determining whether or not wireless charging is being performed if it is determined that contact charging is not being performed; and a step of sending a power transmitting device an instruction for execution of a second slow change process for transmission power if it is determined that wireless charging is being performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2020
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takahiro Misawa
  • Patent number: 10637244
    Abstract: A method for voltage control of a static synchronous compensator, STATCOM, or a static var compensator, SVC, is presented. The method is performed in a control device. The method includes obtaining a synchronous condenser, SC, error, obtaining a STATCOM or SVC voltage setpoint, adjusting the obtained STATCOM or SVC voltage setpoint with the obtained SC error to a total STATCOM or SVC voltage reference, and providing the total STATCOM or SVC voltage reference for voltage control of the STATCOM or SVC. A control device and a computer program for voltage control of a STATCOM or an SVC are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventors: Richard Rivas, Jean-Philippe Hasler
  • Patent number: 10625622
    Abstract: A power supply device of a vehicle which allows capability of a charger to be sufficiently exhibited at the time of quick charging without increasing an operable voltage of an auxiliary device or the like is provided. The power supply device of a vehicle includes a first circuit in which a first capacitor is provided, a second circuit in which a second capacitor having a full charge voltage higher than that of the first capacitor is provided, a voltage converter provided between the first circuit and the second circuit, and an external terminal provided between the first capacitor and the voltage converter in the first circuit and to which an external charger is connected, in which a vehicle auxiliary device is connected to the first circuit, and a negative contactor electrically opening and closing between the vehicle auxiliary device and the external terminal is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Masashi Bando
  • Patent number: 10519931
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and computer program products for providing an inertial response by a wind power system to power fluctuations in an electrical grid. The system includes a synthetic inertial response generator configured to generate a power offset in response to fluctuations in grid voltage. The power offset signal is generated by determining a quadrature component the grid voltage using an internal reference voltage having an angular frequency and phase angle that is synchronized to the electrical grid by a control loop. The quadrature component is used to determine a synchronous power level. A control loop error signal is produced by the difference between the synchronous power level and the wind turbine system power output. Changes in the grid frequency produce an error signal that is added to the power set point of wind turbine system output controllers to provide a power system inertial power output response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventor: Germán Claudio Tarnowski
  • Patent number: 10180281
    Abstract: Methods and systems for periodic system diagnostic of a TRS are provided. In particular, a TRS controller is configured to periodically activate an engine control unit (ECU) of a genset to acquire engine sensor information while the engine is not running. The TRS controller is configured to determine an efficient time to bring the ECU out of a minimum electrical power consumption stage into a medium power consumption stage in order to determine a next action of the TRS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Omosola Waidi Olaleye
  • Patent number: 9721312
    Abstract: An electric power storage device included in a microgrid is described herein. The electric power storage device has at least one of a charge rate, a discharge rate, or a power retention capacity that has been customized for the microgrid. The at least one of the charge rate, the discharge rate, or the power retention capacity of the electric power storage device is computed based at least in part upon specified power source parameters in the microgrid and specified load parameters in the microgrid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2017
    Inventors: Steven Y. Goldsmith, David G. Wilson, Rush D. Robinett, III
  • Patent number: 9660438
    Abstract: Secure and dependable differential protection for electric power generators is described herein. An internal fault is declared if the operating current exceeds a function of the restraining current, and the operating current exceeds and adjusted pickup value. The adjusted pickup value is selected as a minimum of a compensated first pickup value and a second pickup value. The compensated first pickup value may be calculated by adding the absolute value of a compensation addend with a first pickup value. The compensation addend may be calculated by filtering, compensating, and summing current values from the neutral side and the power system side of the electrical generator. The absolute value of the compensation addend may be further adjusted using a security compensation factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventor: Marcos A. Donolo
  • Patent number: 9638090
    Abstract: An apparatus for improving efficiency of an alternator for a vehicle includes a controller connected to the alternator by LIN communication to determine whether the alternator enters a high temperature condition. The controller operates a cooler to cool an inside of an engine room if it is determined that the alternator enters the high temperature condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hyun Kim
  • Patent number: 9496721
    Abstract: A storage apparatus comprises a plurality of storage cells connected in series. Each storage cell comprises a storage element that stores a charge, a container that houses the storage element, a reception antenna capable of receiving power transmitted from a transmission antenna of a feeding facility provided in a wireless power transfer system, and a charging control circuit that charges the storage element using the power received by the reception antenna. The plurality of storage cells are charged concurrently and wirelessly, and therefore charging can be performed on all of the storage cells without overcharging or undercharging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignee: UD TRUCKS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Shigemi Kobayashi, Masayuki Nakane, Takayuki Tsuchiya
  • Patent number: 9471120
    Abstract: A power management controller (PMC) for resetting various voltage domains of an integrated circuit (IC) generates and transmits first and second voltage domain input signals to first and second voltage domains, respectively, and generates corresponding reset signals for resetting the first and second voltage domains. The PMC generates a first master reset signal indicative of resetting the first and second voltage domains when the first and second voltage domains are booting. The PMC generates a second master reset signal indicative of resetting the first and second voltage domains when the IC is in a functional mode. The PMC determines whether the first and second voltage domains are non-functional and if at least one is non-functional, then the PMC masks a respective one of the first and second reset signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: FREESCALE SEMICONDUCTOR, INC.
    Inventors: Nishant Singh Thakur, Akshat Gupta, Manmohan Rana
  • Patent number: 9434237
    Abstract: Methods and systems for periodic system diagnostic of a TRS are provided. In particular, a TRS controller is configured to periodically activate an engine control unit (ECU) of a genset to acquire engine sensor information while the engine is not running. The TRS controller is configured to determine an efficient time to bring the ECU out of a minimum electrical power consumption stage into a medium power consumption stage in order to determine a next action of the TRS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: THERMO KING CORPORATION
    Inventor: Omosola Waidi Olaleye
  • Patent number: 9225161
    Abstract: An assembly includes an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), a gate driver and a short-circuit protection circuit. The gate driver is adapted to supply voltage to a gate terminal of the IGBT. The short-circuit protection circuit includes an IGBT short-circuit detector for determining whether the IGBT is short-circuited, and a supply voltage regulator for regulating the supply voltage in response to the IGBT short-circuit detector determining that the IGBT is short-circuited.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: GE ENERGY POWER CONVERSION TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Tao Wu, Yingqi Zhang, Fan Zhang
  • Patent number: 9124095
    Abstract: Methods and systems for islanding detection in power generators, particularly power converters. The present innovative methods can disconnect the power converter from the power distribution grid. Islanding detection can be performed by detecting the difference in resistive impedance between the islanded and un-islanded conditions, using an input-output power and input-output voltage correlation technique. The present methods can shut down the power converter instead of allowing it to continue running without connection to the grid, which will protect line-worker safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Ideal Power Inc.
    Inventors: Guy Michael Barron, William C. Alexander
  • Patent number: 9077052
    Abstract: A system for use in supplying power to a power storage device. The system includes a charging device that has a plurality of power converters, each of the power converters having an output terminal configured to output current at a predetermined voltage. The system includes a power conduit configured to couple each of the terminals in series to deliver current from the plurality of power converters to the power storage device. The system includes a controller programmed to receive a power storage device voltage signal, determine a charging voltage level based on the power storage device voltage signal, and enable at least one of the plurality of power converters to supply current at the charging voltage level to the power storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Raghothama Reddy
  • Patent number: 8964337
    Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring excitation of a generator based on a faulty status of a generator breaker are provided. According to one embodiment, a system may include a controller and a processor communicatively coupled to the controller. The processor may be configured to receive, from a contact associated with a generator breaker, a reported status of the generator breaker, receive operational data associated with one or more parameters of a generator associated with the generator breaker, and correlate the reported status of the generator breaker and the operational data. Based on the correlation, the processor may establish an actual status of the generator breaker, and, based on the actual status, selectively modify a mode of excitation of the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Abhinandan Sharma, Shashidhar Nibhanupudi, Sridhar Nedunsezian
  • Patent number: 8922040
    Abstract: A wind energy plant comprising a rotor having blades and a generator driven by said rotor for generating electric energy. The pitch of the blades can be adjusted and a pitch system for adjusting the pitch angle of the blades is provided, which is supplied by a hub power source. An additional electric load is provided on the hub. A pitch power control device is provided which dynamically distributes the power of the hub power source between the pitch system and the additional electric load and further acts on the pitch system such that its power consumption during high-load operation is reduced. Thus, the power consumption of the pitch system during high-load operation can be reduced and additional power provided for operating the additional load. Even large additional loads, such as a blade heater, can be operated in this way, without having to boost the hub power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Senvion SE
    Inventors: Matthias Peters, Martin von Mutius
  • Patent number: 8916982
    Abstract: An inverter generator used in combination with a motor and an ECU generating a pulse at each predetermined rotation angle of the motor is comprised of: an electric generator driven by the motor configured to generate alternating current electric power; estimating means for estimating an electrical angle of alternating voltage of the alternating current electric power from the pulse, the estimating means being electrically connected with the ECU; a converter configured to convert the alternating current electric power into direct current electric power, the converter electrically connected with the electric generator and the estimating means; and an inverter configured to convert the direct current electric power into alternating current output electric power, the inverter electrically connected with the converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Toshiba Kikai Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Narutoshi Yokokawa, Junichi Kanai, Naoyuki Mashima
  • Patent number: 8878498
    Abstract: A method for reducing a ripple, caused by rotational nonuniformity of an internal combustion engine, in the output voltage of a generator which is driven by the internal combustion engine is provided. The generator has a stator winding, a rotor winding, a field controller, associated with the rotor winding, for regulating the output voltage of the generator, and a downstream power converter having controllable switching elements. To reduce the voltage ripple, the output voltage of the generator is regulated on the stator side by appropriately controlling the switching elements of the power converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Herbig, Julian Roesner
  • Patent number: 8860381
    Abstract: Vibrations at harmonic frequencies are reduced by injecting harmonic balancing signals into the armature of a linear motor/alternator coupled to a Stirling machine. The vibrations are sensed to provide a signal representing the mechanical vibrations. A harmonic balancing signal is generated for selected harmonics of the operating frequency by processing the sensed vibration signal with adaptive filter algorithms of adaptive filters for each harmonic. Reference inputs for each harmonic are applied to the adaptive filter algorithms at the frequency of the selected harmonic. The harmonic balancing signals for all of the harmonics are summed with a principal control signal. The harmonic balancing signals modify the principal electrical drive voltage and drive the motor/alternator with a drive voltage component in opposition to the vibration at each harmonic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Sunpower, Inc.
    Inventor: Ezekiel S. Holliday
  • Patent number: 8847560
    Abstract: A power supply circuit for supplying electrical energy in an aircraft, the circuit including a power supply generator configured to be driven in rotation by the engine of the aircraft to power electrical equipment of the aircraft engine. The power supply generator includes an asynchronous machine connected to an excitation device. The asynchronous machine includes a rotor configured to be driven in rotation by the engine and a stator connected to the electrical equipment. The excitation device is configured to cause a reactive current of flow in the stator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hispano-Suiza
    Inventor: Eric De Wergifosse
  • 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: 8816651
    Abstract: A load bank comprises one or more load resistors connected to an engine-generator and a control system for maintaining a minimum generator load when necessary for optimal operation. The control system operates the load bank to mitigate harmful effects of generator neglect and maintains loading for efficient DPF regeneration while allowing the generator to quickly dump the load bank when real load increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Multiquip, Inc.
    Inventor: George Fell
  • Patent number: 8816650
    Abstract: A dual-generator assembly includes a first generator configured to generate a first current and a second generator configured to generate a second current modulated based on harmonic current in the first current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Jacek F. Gieras, Steven J. Moss
  • Patent number: 8749082
    Abstract: A wind energy installation, monitoring device, and method. An exemplary wind energy installation includes a rotor including at least one blade and a generator configured to be driven by the rotor to produce electrical energy. The installation also includes a pitch device configured to vary the at least one blade of the rotor. The pitch device includes a power supply unit with a battery, an actuating drive, a monitoring unit, and a load module configured to switch the actuating drive between an operating mode and a test mode. In the test mode, the actuating drive forms a preselectable defined load for the battery. Accordingly, a high and reproducible load not dependent upon environmental conditions may be applied to conduct a stress test, even during ongoing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Senvion SE
    Inventors: Heinz-Hermann Letas, Matthias Peters
  • Patent number: 8716983
    Abstract: A vehicle generator includes armature windings, rectifier module groups, an upper MOS on-timing determining section, a lower MOS on-timing determining section, a rotational speed calculating section, a target electrical angle setting section for setting a value of a target electrical angle, an upper MOS off-timing determining section, a lower MOS off-timing determining section, and drivers for driving high-side and low-side MOS transistors constituting upper and lower arms. The target electrical angle represents a margin period between when the low-side MOS transistor was turned off a half cycle ago and the moment when the lower arm on-period has ended. The upper MOS off-timing determining section and the lower MOS off-timing determining section set off timings of the MOS transistors such that the margin period is equivalent to the set value of the target electrical angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Harumi Horihata
  • Patent number: 8698334
    Abstract: A wind park, a method of correcting voltage imbalances, and a wind turbine are provided. The wind park includes at least one wind turbine; a transformer coupled between the at least one wind turbine and a power grid. The transformer includes a primary winding arrangement coupled to the power grid, and a secondary winding arrangement coupled to the at least one wind turbine. The power grid includes at least three power lines, each power line conducting a respective phase of a multi-phase current. Each power line of the power grid is coupled to the primary winding arrangement via an individual tap changer. Influences of the detected voltage imbalances on the wind turbines can be compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Yin Bo, Heng Deng, Ove Styhm, Kim B. Larsen
  • Patent number: 8698461
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method to control power output of a doubly-fed induction machine to a grid including the steps of measuring grid voltage and grid current in a three phase coordinate system, transforming grid voltage and grid current into a stator frame coordinate system, decomposing the grid voltage and grid current in the stator frame coordinate system in a positive sequence system and in a negative sequence system, calculating active and reactive power in the positive and negative sequence system, and controlling active and reactive power in the positive and negative sequence system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Woodward Kempen GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Engelhardt, Joerg Kretschmann
  • Patent number: 8692521
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of controlling torque oscillations in a mechanical drive train of an electrical generation system which provides electrical power to an isolated electrical network, the method including the steps of: a. monitoring for changes in the electrical condition of the electrical network; b. determining whether a change in the electrical condition of the network falls within a predetermined range; c. adjusting the power in the network using an auxiliary power source when the electrical condition of the network falls within the predetermined range so as reduce or substantially prevent the build up of torque oscillations in the mechanical drive train.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: Gareth E Moore, Jason E Hill, Seamus D Garvey
  • Patent number: 8692523
    Abstract: A power generation system includes a generator mechanically coupled to a turbine to generate electrical power. The system includes a fault ride through system having a variable resistor and a variable inductor. The variable resistor is connected in parallel across output terminals of the generator to absorb power from the generator during a grid fault condition, and the variable inductor is connected between an output terminal of the generator and a power grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Goran Drobnjak, Simon Herbert Schramm, Christof Martin Sihler
  • Patent number: 8692400
    Abstract: A rotating electrical machine abnormal state detection apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes: a current signal acquisition unit, coupled to a rotating electrical machine, for acquiring a set of real-time current waveforms from the rotating electrical machine; a state characteristic database, pre-storing a plurality of abnormal state characteristics which respectively correspond to a plurality of abnormal states; and an abnormal state detection unit, coupled to the current signal acquisition unit and the state characteristic database, for performing signal analysis on the set of real-time current waveforms to produce a current state characteristic, and comparing the current state characteristic with the abnormal state characteristics pre-stored in the state characteristic database to determine the abnormal state of the rotating electrical machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Chung Yuan Christian University
    Inventor: Chun-Yao Lee
  • Patent number: 8674665
    Abstract: The invention discloses a power grid fault ride-through device and a method for a doubly fed induction generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Shenzhen Hopewind Electric Co. Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaojun Sheng, Zhihua Wang, Quanbo Xia, Jianyou Zeng, Dansheng Zhou, Ronghui Liao
  • Patent number: 8618777
    Abstract: A rotary electrical machine regulation device of the type which can control the electrical machine using a predetermined set value of a direct voltage (B+) of the on-board electrical network of the vehicle in which the machine is installed. An excitation current (EXC) is supplied to the alternator (machine), and has a duty cycle (RC) which is determined by a digital processing block (9), on the basis of an error voltage between the predetermined set value and the direct voltage of the electrical network. Accordingly, a system (11) is provided herein for making the digital block electrically self-sufficient. The system includes a voltage maintenance device with a self-sufficient capacitor (110), and a self-sufficient control element (111).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Stéphane Fourmy, Raymond Rechdan
  • Patent number: 8564254
    Abstract: The power generation amount control apparatus includes a battery state determination section, a generator performance determination section, a power-generation-amount increase determination section, an idle state determination section, and a power generation restriction control section. The power generation restriction control section is configured to perform power generation restriction control to restrict a power generation amount of a vehicle generator driven by a vehicle engine when the idle state determination section determines that the vehicle engine is in the idle state, the power-generation-amount increase determination section determines that the power-generation-amount increase demand is not present, and the battery state determination section determines that the battery charged by the vehicle generator is not deteriorated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiyo Teramoto, Tadatoshi Asada
  • Patent number: 8552694
    Abstract: A generator device with a generator regulator and a generator unit having a generator and a rectifier arrangement. The generator regulator has an operating voltage connection and a phase voltage connection. Furthermore, if during a control intervention of the phase voltage the DC voltage applied to the operating voltage connection exceeds a predefined limit for a predefined period of time, the generator regulator deactivates the control intervention of the phase voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Herz, Thomas Koss, Helmut Suelzle
  • Publication number: 20130207620
    Abstract: An adaptive controller for a static compensator (STATCOM) to enhance voltage stability comprises an outer voltage regulator loop and an inner current regulator loop. Each of the outer loop and the inner loop comprises a proportional integral controller. The outer loop adjusts proportional and integral control gains of voltage regulator. The inner loop adjusts proportional arid integral parts of current regulator gains. The automatic adjustment of these regulator gains is adaptively determined such that the voltage at the controlled bus follows a desired voltage, reference curve over time returning to a desired steady-state condition under various disturbances such as changes in load and/or transmission network. Thus, the adaptive controller can achieve a plug-and-play feature for a STATCOM without human intervention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE RESEARCH FOUNDATION
    Inventors: Fangxing Li, Yao Xu, Kevin Tomsovic
  • Patent number: 8508058
    Abstract: Energy systems, energy devices, energy utilization methods, and energy transfer methods are described. In one arrangement, energy utilization methods include providing first energy from a power grid to an induction generator at a first moment in time; using the induction generator and the first energy from the power grid, charging an energy storage device; using second energy from the energy storage device, powering a motor causing the induction generator to generate third energy during a second moment in time; and providing the third energy to the power grid. Other arrangements are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Demand Energy Networks, Inc.
    Inventor: Scott Robert Hamilton
  • Patent number: 8427116
    Abstract: A starting/generating system includes a rotor portion and a stator portion. The stator portion is connected to a DC power source during starting operations and to a DC load during generating operations, and includes a DC link having a first and second DC link bus, a DC link capacitor connected between the DC link buses, and an inverter/rectifier that converts AC power to DC power and vice versa. A switching device is connected in series on the first DC link bus and is controlled by a controller that turns the switching device On and Off to provide various functionality to the starting/generating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Matthew L. Wilhide
  • Patent number: 8421422
    Abstract: A power supply device comprising: a magneto generator including a rotor including a magnet forming a magnetic field; a rectifying unit rectifying an alternating current of the generator to a direct current and supplying to an electrical load; a voltage detection unit detecting a voltage of the electrical load; an opening unit interrupting electrical conduction of an output of the generator; short-circuiting units electrically short-circuiting the output; a torque supplying device supplying torque to the rotor; a voltage control unit selectively performing one of opening-control of controlling on/off switching of the opening unit and short-circuit-control of controlling on/off switching of the short-circuiting units to control the voltage of the electrical load to a predetermined value in accordance with the voltage detected by the voltage detection unit; a switching control unit switching and controlling between the above two controls in accordance with an operating state regarding rotation of the rotor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Eletric Corporation
    Inventors: Naoki Itoi, Masayoshi Maeda, Nobuhiro Kihara, Kenji Ishi, Hiroshi Okuda, Fumito Uemura
  • Patent number: 8415818
    Abstract: In a method for the compensation of rotor torque oscillations upon the occurrence of mains asymmetries in relation to a double-fed asynchronous machine (1) it is provided that at least one respective currently prevailing machine parameter is measured and/or derived, the at least one machine parameter is respectively decomposed by calculation into a positive and a negative sequence system component and optionally a DC component, and for the positive sequence system component, the negative sequence system component and optionally for the DC component of the at least one machine parameter, there are respective separate control members for controlling an adjusting value, to which the respective components of the machine parameters are fed as input components and the output values of which are additively superposed. In that case the control members are so adapted for controlling the adjusting value in such a way that the torque oscillations are counteracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Woodward Kempen GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Engelhardt, Holger Wrede, Andrzej Geniusz
  • Patent number: 8378642
    Abstract: A solar module has a solar generator for generating electrical power, and an inverter for feeding the electrical power produced by the solar generator into a power supply system or to one or more loads. An input load is connected in parallel with the solar generator. A control apparatus controls the operation of the inverter such that it measures a difference voltage between the loaded and the unloaded solar generator, weights this difference voltage with a factor, and operates the inverter only when the weighted difference voltage corresponds at most to a threshold voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Diehl AKO Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Götz-Martin Bertelsmann, Robert Hottendorf
  • Patent number: 8350397
    Abstract: Switching control systems and methods are presented for controlling power conversion systems to provide electrical power to a grid or other load in which a synchronous machine is driven by a wind turbine or other prime mover to provide generator power to a switching type current source converter (CSC), with a current source rectifier (CSR) of the CSC being switched to provide d-axis control of the synchronous machine current based on grid power factor feedback, and with a current source inverter (CSI) of the CSC being switched to provide leading firing angle control and selective employment of dumping resists to dissipate excess generator energy in a fault mode when a grid voltage drops below a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Yongqiang Lang, Navid Reza Zargari, Manish Pande, Bin Wu
  • Patent number: 8344705
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventors: Evgeni Ganev, William Warr, Mohamed (Arif) Salam