Generator Control Patents (Class 322/44)
  • Patent number: 8541909
    Abstract: A system and method for supplying power to a variable speed motor for rotating a shaft may include generating an A/C output having a variable frequency corresponding to speed of a prime mover, where the speed of the prime mover is equal to or greater than a predetermined speed limit. The A/C output of the prime mover may be distributed to the variable speed motor such that the speed of the variable speed motor is varied relative to the frequency of the A/C output. The variable speed motor may be electrically disconnected from the A/C power when the speed of the prime mover being used to drive the variable speed motor is equal to or within a predetermined range of the predetermined speed limit. An alternate A/C output may be distributed to the variable speed motor after the A/C power is electrically disconnected from the variable speed motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: DRS Power Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Armstrong, Edgar Thaxton
  • Patent number: 8541989
    Abstract: A power supply apparatus includes: an AC generator including an AC generating section, and a rectifier for rectifying an AC voltage generated in the AC generating section, and outputting a DC voltage; and a DC/DC converter for converting the output voltage of the rectifier into a DC voltage having a different voltage value, wherein the output voltage of the rectifier is set to be larger than the output voltage of the DC/DC converter in accordance with the rotation speed of the AC generating section and the amount of power supply to an electrical load connected to the DC/DC converter, and is stepped down and outputted by using the DC/DC converter. The power supply apparatus is capable of increasing an output power efficiently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Takahiro Urakabe, Tatsuya Okuda, Akihiko Iwata, Hirotoshi Maekawa, Masaru Kobayashi, Matahiko Ikeda, Yoshikazu Tsunoda, Kazutoshi Kaneyuki, Yuya Tanaka
  • Patent number: 8525492
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a vehicular electric power generation system comprising a variable speed internal combustion engine, a first variable speed electric power generator driven by the engine, a second variable speed electric power generator driven by the engine, a first inverter to receive electric power from the first generator a provide a first controlled electric output, a second inverter to receive electric power from the second generator and provide a second controlled electric output, and a controller coupled to the engine. The controller is responsive to variation in electrical loading of the first inverter and the second inverter and a degree of electrical load imbalance between the first inverter and second inverter to provide one or more engine control signals. The engine is responsive to the one more engine control signals to change rotational operating speed to adjust for the variation in electrical loading and the degree of electrical load imbalance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Mitchell E. Peterson, Sergey Kunin
  • Patent number: 8513925
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a mobile electric power generation system including a mobile power source such as a generator. An external power interface is included to connect to an external electrical power source. An AC electric power distribution bus is included to power electric loads of the vehicle and a power switch device is provided to selectively provide AC electric power on the power distribution bus from one of the respective power sources with a default to select one of the sources whenever it is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Elias Ayana, Mitchell E. Peterson, Alyssa Marlenee
  • Patent number: 8513911
    Abstract: A power converter that interfaces a motor requiring variable voltage/frequency to a supply network providing a nominally fixed voltage/frequency includes a first rectifier/inverter connected to a stator and a second rectifier/inverter. Both rectifier/inverters are interconnected by a dc link and include switching devices. A filter is connected between the second rectifier/inverter and the network. A first controller for the first rectifier/inverter uses a dc link voltage demand signal indicative of a desired dc link voltage to control the switching devices of the first rectifier/inverter. A second controller for the second rectifier/inverter uses a power demand signal indicative of the level of power to be transferred to the dc link from the network through the second rectifier/inverter, and a voltage demand signal indicative of the voltage to be achieved at network terminals of the filter to control the switching devices of the second rectifier/inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Converteam Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Rodney Jones, Christopher Newton
  • Patent number: 8493038
    Abstract: The vehicle-use power generation control apparatus includes a first section to control an excitation current of a vehicle generator driven by a vehicle engine such that a power generation voltage of the vehicle generator is kept at a first set value, a second section to perform gradual excitation control in order to gradually increase the excitation current, a third section configured to inhibit the gradual excitation control when the power generation voltage falls below a second set value lower than the first set value while the gradual excitation control is performed, a fourth section to detect a rotational speed of the vehicle engine or the vehicle generator, a fifth section to determine a limit value of the excitation current based on the detected rotational speed, and a sixth section configured to limit the excitation current below the limit value when the power generation voltage falls below the second set value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Tsukasa Kikuchi, Tomomi Tsuzuki, Liang Song
  • Patent number: 8471407
    Abstract: An emergency power system for operation during loss of power on power mains comprises a spring-driven energy storage unit (ESU) and a generator. The ESU enters a generator mode responsive to a power outage state of a power sensor, during which mode unwinding of the spring drive powers the generator. After power is restored to the mains, a preferred embodiment automatically rewinds the spring using the generator as a motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas W. Gow, Edward L. Schwarz
  • Patent number: 8471534
    Abstract: A power generation system that includes a prime mover configured to generate mechanical energy. The power generation system also includes a power generator configured for generating electrical power from the mechanical energy received from the prime mover. The power generation system further includes a fault ride-through switch electrically coupled in series between the power generator and a power grid. The fault ride-through switch includes a first branch configured to carry the electrical power during normal operating conditions and includes an LC resonance circuit. The fault ride-through switch also includes a multiphase transformer configured for providing voltage phases of different polarities to the LC resonance circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ara Panosyan, Goran Drobnjak, Simon Herbert Schramm
  • Patent number: 8466661
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a wind turbine facility comprising a power generator operationally connected to an AC/AC converter adapted to receive variable frequency AC-power from the power generator, and adapted to generate substantially fixed frequency AC-power. The wind turbine facility further comprises a harmonic filter system, and a grid transformer comprising a primary winding being operationally connected to the AC/AC converter, and a secondary winding adapted to be operationally connected to an associated, substantially fixed frequency AC-power supply grid. The grid transformer further comprises a tertiary winding being operationally connected to the harmonic filter in order to suppress unwanted harmonics, such as selected harmonics generated by the AC/AC converter. The turn ratio between the primary and tertiary windings is selected in such a manner that a voltage of the tertiary winding is lower than a nominal voltage level of the associated AC-power supply grid voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Lars Helle, Philip Carne Kjaer, John Nieuwenhuizen, Morten Lindholm
  • Patent number: 8456138
    Abstract: A programmable system includes a first level protection circuit comprised of discharge tube CR1/ CR2 and piezoresistor MOV1/MOV2 in series; a second-level protection circuit comprised of the series arm of capacitor C1 and resistor R1 in parallel with a transient voltage suppression diode TVS1, and inductors L1/L2 connected to the ends of first level and second-level protection circuits respectively. A control circuit includes a PWM driver module and a SCM. The PWM driver module is connected to the PWM control port of the SCM and its output is connected to an IGBT module. The control circuit is also connected to a series communication module and to a user interface. The features of the invention are: strong-shock resistance; a wide range of load adaptability; and ability of accurately and steplessly regulating and adjusting with high frequency and high power load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignees: MacMic Science & Technology Co., Ltd., Luxtech 360 LLC.
    Inventors: Xishe Lei, Xiao Bao Wang
  • Patent number: 8450983
    Abstract: A microcomputer that exercises driving control and power-generation control over a motor generator unit and a power-generation maintaining unit that, separately from the power-generation control exercised by the microcomputer, maintains a power-generation process performed by the motor generator unit are provided. While the microcomputer is operating normally, the power-generation maintaining unit allows the microcomputer to exercise the power-generation control. When an abnormality has occurred in the microcomputer, the power-generation maintaining unit acts as a backup or secondary controller to maintain the power-generation process performed by the motor generator unit, in an autonomous manner independently of the microcomputer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroshi Gokan, Naruki Suetake, Katsuya Tsujimoto
  • Patent number: 8446131
    Abstract: The regulating method is employed in a polyphase rotating electrical machine operating as a generator and having an excitation coil (10). The method is of the type in which a DC voltage (B+) is slaved to a predetermined setpoint, the voltage being produced by rectifying an AC voltage generated by the machine by controlling the duty cycle of a periodic excitation current (+EXC,?EXC) by means of a microcontroller (11), or the like, as a function of sampled values of the DC voltage (B+). The duty cycle is determined by the microcontroller (11) twice during an excitation current cycle (+EXC, ?EXC).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Valeo Equipements Electriques Moteur
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Matt, Christophe Louise
  • Patent number: 8432137
    Abstract: A method for generating and controlling power by means of at least one controlled permanent magnet machine (PMM) with a permanent magnet (PM) rotor and a stator with a magnetic flux diverter circuit for controlling the output of the PMM, comprises the steps of: rotating the PM rotor at a velocity sufficient to develop a high frequency alternating current (HFAC) power output from the stator; transforming the HFAC output to produce a desired non-HFAC power output; sensing desired power output parameters; generating a control signal responsive to the sensed parameters; and applying the control signal to the magnetic flux diverter circuit to control the desired power output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory I. Rozman, Vietson M. Nguyen, Jacek F. Gieras, Sastry V. Vedula
  • Patent number: 8427117
    Abstract: Electromechanical arrangements are utilized widely whereby a prime mover in the form of a mechanical assembly such as a gas turbine engine is utilized to drive an electrical machine as an electrical generator. Unfortunately the loads applied to the electrical generator may vary creating oscillation across phases of the electrical generator. Such oscillations generally will be translated to the mechanical assembly in the form of torque oscillations which may cause stressing. Stressing of the mechanical assembly will reduce its life and may alter its performance as well as fuel consumption. By provision of appropriate mechanisms for balancing electrical loads across an electrical machine as well reducing the time decay period for stored charge within an electrical assembly associated with an electrical machine it is possible to reduce torque oscillations as presented to the mechanical assembly and therefore improve its operational performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC
    Inventors: David R Trainer, Thomas C J Feehally, Gareth E Moore
  • Patent number: 8421423
    Abstract: A generator (100) includes a generator winding (103) and an excitation winding (104), and a field winding (102). To converge an output voltage of the generator winding (103) to a target, a field current is varied by increasing/decreasing an energization duty ratio of a switching device (110) connected to the field winding (102). In a duty ratio zero determination unit (2) and a duty ratio zero continuation determination unit (3), when an output duty ratio continues for a predetermined time with duty ratio zero, a duty ratio increase amount restriction unit (4) restricts an upper limit of the duty ratio to a predetermined upper limit when the field current increases. A duty ratio restriction unit (21a) for restricting the duty ratio by a maximum value determined based on a voltage of a smoothing capacitor (113) in place of the determination of the duty ratio being zero may be provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nakada, Minoru Maedako, Kenji Kamimura
  • Patent number: 8415931
    Abstract: A power supply device includes: a rectifier having a full-wave rectification circuit whose low side elements are made of MOSFETs; an electrical load supplied with DC power from the rectifier; and a control circuit having a load voltage detector and an AC voltage detector for detecting an input terminal voltage from a permanent-magnet generator; wherein when a terminal voltage across the electrical load is lower than a predetermined value, the control circuit operates the rectifier in full-wave rectification mode, whereas when the terminal voltage across the electrical load is higher than the predetermined value, the control circuit short-circuits input terminals of the permanent-magnet generator with each other, and when power for driving the control circuit is not secured, the control circuit retains the full-wave rectification mode even if the terminal voltage across the electrical load is higher than the predetermined value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Kihara, Masayoshi Maeda, Naoki Itoi, Hiroshi Okuda
  • Patent number: 8410761
    Abstract: A control circuit for use with an AC alternator has a plurality of outlet lines leading from the alternator, each receiving a phase of current generated by the alternator. Tap lines are associated with each of the power lines and are associated with a switch. The switches drain power to a drain when in a first state, and allow the power to pass downstream to a system load when in a second state. A switch control changes the switches between the first and second state. A detector detects when the current signal is approaching a zero crossing between a cycle positive portion and a negative portion. The switch control takes in the information with regard to the approaching zero crossing, and change the switches between the first and second states based upon the detected zero crossing point. An alternator is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Thomas Bekasi
  • Patent number: 8390138
    Abstract: A wind energy installation can include a generator which is driven by a rotor and generates electrical power in a multiphase manner for feeding into a network, a converter which is connected to the generator and to the network, and a control system which interacts with the converter and includes a negative sequence system regulation mechanism. The negative sequence system regulation mechanism can include a phase control module configured to determine an electrical variable of the negative sequence system according to the phase. Accordingly, an available current can be provided according to the operating situation for active power or idle power in the negative sequence system regulation mechanism. The negative sequence system regulation mechanism can thus help stabilize the network in the event of asymmetrical network conditions. Also, this relates to a correspondingly equipped wind park and an operating method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: REpower Systems AG
    Inventors: Jens Fortmann, Heinz-Hermann Letas
  • Patent number: 8378644
    Abstract: An active rectifier controller decouples measurements of the phase and speed of a variable frequency synchronous generator from measurements of the AC output voltage. The active rectifier controller receives position information representative of the rotor position of the VFSG independent of a load connected to the VFSG that is used to determine the phase position and speed of the VFSG. Based on measurements of the generator speed and phase, the active rectifier controller controls the active rectifier to draw AC currents in-phase with the back-electromotive force (BEMF) voltage of the VFSG.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventors: Waleed M. Said, Si Jian Fang
  • Patent number: 8350502
    Abstract: An electromagnetic motor having a frame, and at least one disc rotatably mounted to the frame. At least one permanent magnet is mounted on the disc, and at least one electromagnet is mounted to the frame in magnetic proximity to the at least one permanent magnet. A battery is electrically coupled to the motor for powering the at least one electromagnet. A switch controls electrical power between the battery and the at least one electromagnet, and a sensing means is provided for controlling the switch to activate the at least one electromagnet with respect to the at least one permanent magnet to cause the at least one disc to rotate. Preferably, a generator is mechanically coupled to the motor and electrically coupled to the battery for generating electrical power to the battery, and a renewable energy source such as a photovoltaic cell is electrically coupled to the motor to supplement any net electrical loss.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Inventor: Clifford R. Rabal
  • Patent number: 8334679
    Abstract: A generator control system is provided in a vehicle having an engine that drives an electric power generator arranged to selectively provide electric power to an electrical load of the vehicle and to selectively charge a battery of the vehicle. The generator control system includes: a sensor that detects a state of charge (SOC) of the battery; and, a controller that controls a voltage output mode of the generator in response to the SOC detected by the sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Owens, Tadashi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8334680
    Abstract: Provided is a field winding type generator-motor capable of minimizing cost increase and structure modification while preventing a failure due to a temperature rise, without mounting a temperature sensor. The field winding type generator-motor according to the present invention includes: a dynamo-electric machine that has a field winding; a field current detecting section for detecting field current; a field current restriction deciding section for deciding whether or not the decision value has reached a predetermined decision threshold value by calculating a decision value based on the field current detected by the field current detecting section; and a field current controller for controlling the field current flowing in the field winding so that the field current is restricted to a predetermined permissible value in a case where the field current restriction deciding section decides that the decision value has reached the predetermined decision threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Akita, Kenji Nakajima, Masato Mori
  • Patent number: 8310211
    Abstract: An auto-regulated motion power system apparatus that may be used to generate usable electricity from disparate energy sources includes a combination of a variable frequency alternator driven by a primary mover and coupled to a load. An energy control module includes a closed-loop feedback system coupled to a pulse width modulation controller and a switch mode rectifier. The alternator has a modulated control signal input having the ability to vary in frequency and voltage with an output having a controlled voltage and varying frequency. The switch mode rectifier accepts variable AC voltages from the alternator and outputs a constant predetermined DC voltage both to one side of the windings of the alternator and to a first side of a high frequency switch. An output on the pulse width modulation generator is connected to a switch control so that when the switch is closed, current flows through the windings of the alternator and when the switch is open, no current flows through the windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Advanced Power Systems, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Mount, David Spencer
  • Patent number: 8301312
    Abstract: A processing arrangement for the fault situation of a local electric power transmission grid comprises a generator-specific element arranged to monitor the fault situation of a data communication bus and the statuses of the switches of the electric power transmission network and to compare the status data concerning the same switch. In case of a fault situation the generators change into droop control only if there are no other possibilities to continue with the normal adjustment of the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Wärtsilä Finland Oy
    Inventors: Ari Saikkonen, Tom Kaas
  • Patent number: 8294289
    Abstract: The disclosure concerns a method for operating a wind turbine having an electrical system, the electrical system comprises a permanent magnet generator having a rotor and a stator, and a power electronic device electrically connected to the permanent magnet generator, wherein the power electronic device and a circuit breaker are electrically disposed in series between the permanent magnet generator and a grid, wherein the permanent magnet generator has permanent magnets and a generator winding into which a voltage is induced by the permanent magnets when the rotor is rotating, the method comprising: generating a signal for tripping the circuit breaker based on a field modification that is modifying the field of the permanent magnets of the permanent magnet generator. Further, the disclosure concerns a method for determining the temperature of at least one permanent magnet of a permanent magnet machine and a controller for a wind turbine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Thomas Edenfeld
  • Patent number: 8258759
    Abstract: An anti-islanding implementation that introduces a small, continuously varying phase shift pattern in the output current of an inverter. In grid-connected mode, this phase shift pattern has no impact on the frequency of the inverter's output voltage. However, when islanded, the phase shift will cause the voltage frequency to deviate from nominal. Changes in the output current phase thus correlate well with the voltage frequency, so a covariance index is used to detect an islanding configuration. When this index exceeds a threshold, a larger phase shift pattern is introduced in the output current, large enough to cause the voltage frequency to fall outside the inverter's trip protection window without compromising the inverter's power quality yet ensuring reliable tripping of the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: Xantrex Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Yin, Chi-Sheng Fan, Djordje Garabandic
  • Patent number: 8253393
    Abstract: The present disclosure related to a method and a controller for controlling an AC generator which is used in connection with a wind turbine having a variable speed. The multi-phase generator is connected to a controllable converter and is controlled to provide a desired power or a desired torque. An AC reference signal is generated, which would provide the desired power or torque. A P+Resonant converter may be used to control an electrical characteristic of the generator in view of the reference, by applying control signals to the controllable converter. Thereby, the need to transform the electrical characteristic into a rotating frame may be eliminated which provides for a less complex controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Yin Bo, Heng Deng, Kim B. Larsen
  • Patent number: 8248061
    Abstract: A system and method for monitoring the rotation of a generator rotor and calculating a power angle using an optical rotor displacement monitor. The monitor uses a light beam directed toward the rotor to detect a marking thereon, and generates an electrical pulse when the marking is detected. The time between the pulse and a reference point (such as a zero crossing) of the signal waveform from the terminals of the generator is used to calculate the power angle of the generator. The system is adaptive in that it can account for new markings on the rotor. The system may be connected to a network so that power angles from various generators on the electrical network may be compared. The system may further be connected to a common time source such that a time stamp may be applied to the power angles from various generators, allowing for more accurate comparison of the power angles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, David E. Whitehead
  • Patent number: 8246008
    Abstract: System for lifting and lowering a load, such as a vehicle, with at least one lifting mechanism such as a lifting column, a boom lift, a scissor lift and a loading platform. The lifting mechanism includes a carrier which can be moved up and downward for bearing the load and a drive which acts on the carrier. The drive herein includes at least one electrical power source and an electric motor to be energized at least during ascending of the carrier, and the electric motor forms a generator to be connected to the power source at least during even an unloaded descending movement of the carrier for the purpose of gene rating electrical energy to the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Stertil B.V.
    Inventors: Jurjen Jan De Jong, Wybe Jan Thymen Laverman
  • Patent number: 8242753
    Abstract: In a method and an apparatus for controlling the output or drawn active and reactive power of a double-fed asynchronous machine (5), the maintenance of a maximum permissible current (16) of the machine—without the use of a subordinate current controller—is ensured by virtue of the fact that, during the operation of the double-fed asynchronous machine, a maximum permissible desired value for the active power (10a) to be output or to be drawn and a maximum permissible desired value for the reactive power (10b) to be output or to be drawn are calculated with the aid of a model of the asynchronous machine from the maximum permissible current (16), preferably corrected at least using the actual value of the current to be limited of the machine, in such a way that the maximum permissible current (16) is not exceeded. The predetermined active and reactive power desired values are then limited to the calculated maximum permissible values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Woodward SEG GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Stephan Engelhardt, Andrzej Geniusz
  • Patent number: 8232777
    Abstract: In an inverter generator having an engine generator unit generating alternating current, a converter converting the alternating current to direct current, an inverter that converts the direct current to alternating current, an inverter driver that drives switching elements with a PWM signal generated using a reference sine wave of a desired output voltage waveform and a carrier and makes the alternating current to the alternating current of a predetermined frequency, the alternating current supplied to an electrical load is detected, gains Gn (n: 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, . . . m) of n-th harmonics of the reference sine wave and amplitudes An are calculated from the detected current, and the reference sine wave is corrected by a sum obtained by the calculated gains and amplitudes. With this, the reference sine wave is accurately corrected to reliably remove harmonic distortion components from the output voltage waveform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shoji Hashimoto, Kazufumi Muronoi
  • Patent number: 8222756
    Abstract: A power generation system is provided that includes an internal combustion engine configured to provide rotational mechanical energy. A generator is configured to receive the rotational mechanical energy and generate electrical power in response to the rotational mechanical energy. A fluid medium is provided to the internal combustion engine and to the generator for removing thermal energy from the internal combustion engine and from the generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Powersys, LLC
    Inventors: Douglas Alan Koeneman, Edward Woods
  • Patent number: 8217631
    Abstract: A system provides generator control for a power system within a vehicle. The system includes a battery, a generator that outputs power to charge the battery. A sensor detects a state of charge (SOC) value, a health value, a voltage, a current, a temperature, and a charging voltage of the battery. A controller controls a voltage output mode of the generator in response to at least one of a state of charge (SOC) value, a health value, a voltage, a current, a temperature, and a charging voltage of the battery detected by the sensor, the voltage output mode is in response to the SOC and the temperature of the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: C. Richard Owens, Jr., Tadashi Fujiwara
  • Patent number: 8203227
    Abstract: A method for retro-fitting wind-energy conversion system includes disconnecting a first set of multiple windings from active circuitry; shorting together the first set of multiple windings; and connecting a second set of multiple windings to the active circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: AMSC Austria GmbH
    Inventor: Martin Fischer
  • Patent number: 8198871
    Abstract: A field current control circuit for an alternating current generator includes a first voltage source and a time lag reduction circuit, which further includes a generator field that is in selective electrical communication with an energy storage component that is in electrical communication with a time lag reduction voltage source. The time lag reduction circuit may include an electronic controller and be a part of an electric drive machine that receives an operator acceleration command and thereby controls the electrical communication between the energy storage component and the generator field of the time lag reduction circuit. When the energy storage component and generator field are in electrical communication, the current passing through the generator field increases from a starting current to a target current with a reduced time lag compared to predecessor generators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur Wild
  • Patent number: 8198742
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved wind turbine, of the type which employs doubly fed induction generators (DFIG), and a wind park including the same, which permits the use of lighter weight turbines, with the ability to have greater energy capture, more precise control of asymmetrical phases and enhanced maintenance and support of the grid during fault conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Allan Holm Jørgensen, Lars Helle, Leonard Schaier
  • Patent number: 8193782
    Abstract: The abnormality detection apparatus includes a first function of measuring a first temperature of a first portion of the abnormality detection apparatus, the first temperature having a correlation with a second temperature of a second portion of a vehicle alternator, a second function of integrating a stress depending on a temperature variation of the first portion on the basis of the first temperature measured by the first function, a third function of predicting occurrence of abnormality in the second portion depending on the stress integrated by the second function, and a fourth function of issuing an alarm when the third function predicts occurrence of abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Hitoshi Mori, Toshinori Maruyama
  • Patent number: 8150556
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the coordinated control method of torsional stress relay in large thermal power plants' generators (300 MW and above), which will be adopted when shaft torsional oscillations occur. This invention also publishes a method of realizing selective trip the generators and the trip criterions which are implemented by the torsional stress relay and coordinated control master station (Tmaster). Tmaster will real-time monitor the operating status of the generators and TSR, TMaster will also real-time generate a trip priority level sequencing by analyzing the unit output. When generators occur subsynchronous resonance and shaft torsional oscillation, this method can ensure that TSR will trip some generators of the power plant according to the real-time generated trip strategy to inhibit the shaft torsional oscillation and safeguard the units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Beijing Sifang Automation Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shaohua Jiao, Tao Zhang, Quan Liu, Xinyan Liang, Yuansheng Li
  • Patent number: 8138730
    Abstract: In a voltage controller for a vehicle, voltage controlling means controls an output voltage of a power generator mounted on the vehicle and a terminal voltage of a battery connected to the power generator, by controlling of a field current passing through a field winding of the power generator. This control is performed by operating switching means connected to the field winding so that the switching means is conducted intermittently. Signal generating means generates a power generator state signal by measuring a state of the power generator at predetermined measurement periods. Signal averaging means performs an exponentially weighted averaging of the power generator state signal. The signal averaging means executes the averaging within a predetermined averaging period and updates the averaging at every predetermined measurement period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Tomomi Tsuzuki
  • Patent number: 8138729
    Abstract: The present invention provides, as one aspect, a generation control apparatus for vehicles which controls current supply to a field winding of a generator to control output voltage of the generator. The apparatus includes a switching element connected to the field winding, and a duty determining unit that increases a drive duty for interrupting the switching element when output voltage of the generator becomes lower than a predetermined regulated voltage. The apparatus also includes a load response control unit that performs load response control for limiting an increase rate of the drive duty determined by the duty determining unit, after expiration of a predetermined time from application of an electrical load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Toshiya Konishi
  • Patent number: 8129957
    Abstract: An alternator system includes a field circuit, a regulator that regulates a field circuit electrical flow through the field circuit, and an output current sensor that detects an actual current output from the alternator system. The alternator system further includes a controller that communicates with the regulator to vary the field circuit electrical flow based on the actual current detected by the output current sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert J. Martin
  • Patent number: 8125195
    Abstract: Power-generation control operation for an in-vehicle electric generator is further stabilized in such a way that, in the case where a signal at an external-control-signal input terminal changes, a function of on/off-controlling a magnetic-field current in a constant cycle is interrupted. In a control apparatus, for an in-vehicle electric generator, that has a function of adjusting a generation voltage to a predetermined voltage, by on/off-controlling a magnetic-field current in a constant cycle, and variably controlling an adjustment voltage, based on an input signal from an external control unit, in the case where a signal at an external-control-signal input terminal is fixed for a long time, the function of on/off-controlling the magnetic-field current in the constant cycle is activated, and in the case where the signal at the external-control-signal input terminal changes, the function of on/off-controlling the magnetic-field current in the constant cycle is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Tatsuki Kouwa
  • Publication number: 20120032650
    Abstract: A motor vehicle regulator, including electronic regulation circuits, which can produce an excitation current in accordance with a difference between a set voltage and an output voltage measured at the terminals of an electric battery of the vehicle. The regulation circuits including a programmable signal processing interface for producing a signal, which is representative of the excitation current. The interface receives as input a plurality of signals which are representative of the excitation current. The interface including a device capable of selecting a signal which is representative, from amongst the plurality of representative signals, of the method for applying different forms of processing to the representative signal selected, and a second device for selection of processing to be applied to the representative signal. The representative signal, and the processing to be applied, being selected according to a program provided to the programmable signal interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 2009
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Inventors: Pierre Chassard, Pierre Tisserand, Vincent Gendron, Philippe Hazard
  • Patent number: 8106633
    Abstract: A control system is provided for use with a plurality of generator sets. The control system may have a bus, an arbitration relay, a switching device, a control module, and first, second, and third discrete signal cables. The control module may be configured to receive a group start signal and initiate startup of a first of the plurality of generator sets, and to generate a signal on the first discrete signal cable based on an operational status of the first of the plurality of generator sets. The control module may also be configured to determine if the second discrete signal cable is active, to activate the second discrete signal cable and the arbitration relay based on the determination, and to activate the switching device to connect the first of the plurality of generator sets to the bus based on a status of the third discrete signal cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: Chad Eric Dozier, Edward Maurer Schroeder, Matthew Lee Wagner
  • Patent number: 8097971
    Abstract: In a wind turbine generator system including an AC exciting converter a grid side converter, and a controller configured to control the AC-exciting converter and the grid side converter, the controller operates a short-circuiting circuit when decrease in the grid voltage and increase in the DC voltage are detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaya Ichinose, Motoo Futami, Hiromitsu Sakai
  • Patent number: 8094006
    Abstract: A portable bearing test device includes a power supply that is operable to supply direct current (DC) electrical power via a plurality of power supply outputs and a circuit common. Independent bearing test circuits are coupled to receive output electrical power from one of the power supply outputs, and are further adapted to independently couple to a separate rotating machine test bearing. Separate indicator lights are electrically coupled in series in each of the independent bearing test circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
    Inventor: Randall Dean Davis
  • Patent number: 8089171
    Abstract: A method for determining a rotor position of an electrical generator in a wind turbine is described comprising determining a voltage of the electrical generator, determining a rotor position angle estimate based on the voltage of the electrical generator, determining a subsequent rotor position angle estimate through a feedback loop, based on a combination of the voltage of the electrical generator and the rotor position angle estimate. Further, a method to real time track encoder health is described comprising determining the phase angle of a reference voltage, determining the angle difference between the rotor position and the reference voltage, and determining the differentiation of the angle difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Bing Li, Shu Yu Cao, Gert Karmisholt Andersen, Anshuman Tripathi, Eng Kian Kenneth Sng, Amit Kumar Gupta
  • Patent number: 8089172
    Abstract: A method for determining a rotor position of an electrical generator in a wind turbine is described comprising determining a voltage of the electrical generator, determining a rotor position angle estimate based on the voltage of the electrical generator, determining a subsequent rotor position angle estimate through a feedback loop, based on a combination of the voltage of the electrical generator and the rotor position angle estimate. Further, a method to real time track encoder health is described comprising determining the phase angle of a reference voltage, determining the angle difference between the rotor position and the reference voltage, and determining the differentiation of the angle difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Bing Li, Shu Yu Cao, Gert Karmisholt Andersen, Anshuman Tripathi, Eng Kian Kenneth Sng, Amit Kumar Gupta
  • Patent number: 8089169
    Abstract: A power control system of a vehicle has a battery, an alternator, and a battery condition detecting device. The device has detecting units detecting the battery current supplied to or discharged from the battery, the battery voltage and the battery temperature, a communicating unit receiving conditions of the alternator such as power generation ratio, generated voltage, alternator speed and failure information from the alternator through a communication line, and a malfunction judging unit judging, from the battery current, the battery voltage, the battery temperature and the conditions of the alternator, whether or not a malfunction has occurred in one of the alternator, the battery and the detecting units. In response to the judgment that a malfunction has occurred in one of the alternator, the battery and the detecting units, a notifying unit notifies the occurrence of the malfunction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventor: Shunichi Maeda
  • Patent number: 8085002
    Abstract: A vehicle includes a mobile electric power generation system including a mobile power source such as a generator. An external power interface is included to connect to an external electrical power source. An AC electric power distribution bus is included to power electric loads of the vehicle and a power switch device is provided to selectively provide AC electric power on the power distribution bus from one of the respective power sources with a default to select one of the sources whenever it is present.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Elias Ayana, Mitchell E. Peterson, Alyssa Marlenee