For Transfer Of Power Via A High Voltage D.c. Link (i.e., Hvdc Transmission System) Patents (Class 363/35)
  • Patent number: 11923687
    Abstract: A bipole power transmission scheme with two independent converts, two power feed and one return conduit. During operation of the bipole power transmission scheme under abnormal conditions, when a return conduit is faulty and unable to provide a return current path, each converter controller is programmed to monitor the first power feed in the first transmission conduit and the second power feed in the second transmission conduit and, if the first power feed in the first transmission conduit and the second power feed in the second transmission conduit differ from one another, at least one converter controller modifies the power infeed from its corresponding power source to reduce the difference between the first power feed and the second power feed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Mita Babu Narayanan, Omar Jasim
  • Patent number: 11916493
    Abstract: A modular electric power converter includes a plurality of power converter modules, each module comprising a cell of a Modular Multilevel Converter, MMC, to provide a controlled ac output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: HAMILTON SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ignacio Castro, Tania Cuesta Cano, Diego Gonzalez Lamar, Alberto Rodriguez Alonso
  • Patent number: 11894684
    Abstract: A voltage source converter (VSC) system of a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) system is disclosed. The system includes a number of line-commutated converter (LCC) transformers. Each LCC transformer is operable to transform alternate current (AC) voltage. A number of VSC converter units are connected in series and coupled to the plurality of LCC transformers. Each VSC converter unit is operable to convert between the AC voltage and direct current (DC) voltage. A bypass breaker is connected in parallel with at least one of the VSC converter units and operable to be closed to bypass the at least one VSC converter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: Hitachi Energy Ltd
    Inventors: Mats Andersson, ChunMing Yuan, XiaoBo Yang, DaWei Yao, Neil-QiNan Li
  • Patent number: 11881765
    Abstract: A modular multilevel converter includes a plurality of submodules, each having at least two electronic switching elements, an electric energy store, two submodule connections, a bypass switch bridging the submodule, and a communication element communicating with a communication apparatus. A method for operating the modular multilevel converter includes ascertaining that the submodules have a defective submodule so that the communication element in the defective submodule does not communicate with the communication apparatus, determining whether a present arm current resulting from an operating point of the modular multilevel converter is below a predetermined threshold value, and generating or amplifying a converter-internal circular current with the defective submodule if the arm current resulting from the operating point is below the predetermined threshold value. A modular multilevel converter is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2024
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Dominik Ergin, Felix Kammerer
  • Patent number: 11876459
    Abstract: A power conversion system applied to a solid state transformer includes a DC link, a plurality of capacitors, and a plurality of power conversion module assemblies. The plurality of capacitors is coupled in series between a positive bus and a negative bus of the DC link. Each of the power conversion module assemblies has a plurality of DC conversion modules. In any of the power conversion module assemblies, input sides of the DC conversion modules are connected in series to form two input ends of the power conversion module assembly, and output sides of the DC conversion modules are connected in parallel to form two output ends of the power conversion module assembly. Each of the plurality of power conversion module assemblies is correspondingly connected to each of the plurality of capacitors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Wen-Lung Huang, Sheng-Hua Li
  • Patent number: 11843253
    Abstract: An energy system substantially converts the power input into an AC power signal that is substantially synchronized with a power signal of the power grid. The energy system is further operable in alternative modes, including in an on-grid mode and off-grid mode. In the on-grid mode, the energy system provides the synchronized AC power signal to the power grid. In the off-grid mode, the energy delivers at least a portion of the AC power signal to a grid load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2023
    Assignee: Navia Energy Inc.
    Inventor: Babu Jain
  • Patent number: 11837867
    Abstract: The present invention provides a high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission system (300, 600) comprising: a first station (102) comprising series-connected first and second HVDC converters (110, 130); a second station (104) comprising series-connected third and fourth HVDC converters (150, 170), wherein a neutral node (164) coupling the third HVDC converter (150) to the fourth HVDC converter (170) is coupled to earth; a first transmission line (200) connecting a positive node (114) of the first HVDC converter (110) to a corresponding positive node (154) of the third HVDC converter (150), wherein a first pole (240) of the system (300, 600) comprises the first HVDC converter (110), the third HVDC converter (150) and the first transmission line (200); a second transmission line (210) connecting a negative node (138) of the second HVDC converter (130) to a corresponding negative node (178) of the fourth HVDC converter (170), wherein a second pole (250) of the system (300, 600) comprises the second HVDC conve
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Chandra Mohan Sonnathi, Radnya Anant Mukhedkar, Jordann Raymond Martial Brionne, Damien Pierre Gilbert Fonteyne
  • Patent number: 11816418
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a compact design method for inductive filtering transformer. According to the disclosure, the inductive filtering transformer adopts an approximative zero-impedance design under the premise of satisfying the filtering performance. The direct optimization objective is to minimize the distance from the transformer core center to the outermost winding. This disclosure balances the constraint of winding impedance matching and transformer size optimization and satisfies the application of limited installation space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Inventors: Qianyi Liu, Fang Liu, Runmin Zou, Yong Li, Shaoyang Wang
  • Patent number: 11742655
    Abstract: The present invention concerns a node of an HVDC grid composed of HVDC nodes and of a plurality of links interconnecting the HVDC nodes, each HVDC node being interconnected to at least one HVDC node of the HVDC grid by a link composed of conductive cables for high voltage direct current transportation and one optical fiber, at least one HVDC node being interconnected to at least two HVDC nodes, each HVDC node comprising, for each link connecting the HVDC node to the at least one other HVDC node, a link module comprising a fault sensing device, a breaker, and an optical transceiver for communicating through the optical fiber of the link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Nicolas Voyer
  • Patent number: 11616369
    Abstract: Provided is a control method for a parallel MMC unit of a LCC-MMC hybrid cascade converter station. The control strategy includes: 1) numbering all MMC units connected in parallel in a MMC valve manifold; (2) for a MMC unit using a constant direct-current voltage control manner, calculating a direct-current instruction value of the MMC unit according to a direct-current measurement value; (3) for a MMC unit using a constant active power control manner, calculating an active power instruction value of the MMC unit according to the rated capacity of the MMC unit and a direct-current instruction value of a system rectifier station; (4) for the MMC unit using the constant direct-current voltage control manner, correcting a direct-current voltage instruction value of the MMC unit by using the direct-current instruction value and the direct-current measurement value, and controlling the MMC unit according to the corrected direct-current voltage instruction value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignees: STATE GRID JIANGSU ELECTRIC POWER CO., LTD., STATE GRID JIANGSU ELECTRIC POWER CO., LTD. ECONOMIC RESEARCH INSTITUTE, STATE GRID JIANGSU ELECTRIC POWER DESIGN CONSULTING INSTITUTE CO., LTD., STATE GRID CORPORATION OF CHINA, STATE GRID JIANGSU ELECTRIC POWER CO., LTD. MARKETING CENTER
    Inventors: Hui Cai, Zhenjian Xie, Zhuyi Peng, Feifei Zhao, Xingning Han, Caixuan Xu, Chengchen Huang, Zheng Xu, Ming Yan, Zheren Zhang, Wanchun Qi, Wenjia Zhang, Wentao Sun, Chen Li, Quanquan Wang, Boliang Liu
  • Patent number: 11616364
    Abstract: An electrical load system includes one or more electrical loads, a power transfer switch, and an electronic control system. The power transfer switch is coupled with and can provide power to one or more electrical loads from a first power source or a second power source. The electronic control system evaluates a source impedance of the first source and controls the power transfer switch in response to the source impedance of the first source indicating a fault condition of the first power source that would interrupt power from the first power source to the one or more electrical loads prior to the fault condition disrupting power from the first power source to the one or more electrical loads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
    Inventor: David E. Sharpe
  • Patent number: 11611289
    Abstract: Aspects are described for hybrid modular multilevel converters that include half-bridge submodules. In some embodiments, a hybrid modular multilevel converter can include a direct current (DC) bus and an alternating current (AC) node. A first arm of the hybrid modular multilevel converter includes a first submodule chain link and a first arm inductor and a second arm includes a second submodule chain link and a second arm inductor. A capacitor connects between a first side of the first arm and a first side of the second arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2023
    Assignee: VIRGINIA TECH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTIES, INC.
    Inventors: Jian Liu, Dong Dong, Rolando Burgos
  • Patent number: 11598799
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a high-voltage interlock system and a detection method thereof. The high-voltage interlock system includes a target control device and at least one non-target control device connected in sequence. The target control device includes a detection unit, a current generation controller, a current generator, and a second high-voltage component. A controller in the target control device generates a pulse drive signal for driving the current generation controller, receives a detection result signal output from a current detector, and determines a fault of a high-voltage interlock circuit according to the detection result signal; the current generation controller generates an alternating voltage signal according to the pulse drive signal; the current generator outputs an alternating current signal according to the alternating voltage signal; the current detector acquires a voltage signal across a detection resistor set and outputs the detection result signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited
    Inventors: Yuqun Zeng, Kai Wu, Wei Dai, Chao Wang, Qiandeng Li
  • Patent number: 11532996
    Abstract: Accordingly, the embodiments herein provide a hybrid modular multilevel converter. The hybrid modular multilevel converter includes one or more chain links, one or more high voltage switches and a plurality of inductors. The one or more chain links are formed by sub modules. The one or more high voltage switches are formed by semi-controlled devices or fully controlled or any other suitable semiconductor devices. The plurality of inductors are arranged in the one or more chain links to limit circulating current among the one or more chain links. The one or more chain links are configured to enhance a power handling capability of the hybrid modular multilevel converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: INDIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY BOMBAY
    Inventors: Anshuman Shukla, Siba Kumar Patro
  • Patent number: 11495967
    Abstract: This invention relates to a method of controlling at least one wind turbine of a plurality of wind turbines connected to an electrical grid at a predefined point in the electrical grid. The wind turbine comprises a DC link connecting a generator side converter to a line side converter, where the line side converter is controlled according to a modulation index requested by a power converter controller. The method comprises determining a harmonic frequency signal indicative of a harmonic frequency value at the predefined point in the electrical grid; determining a deviation between the harmonic frequency signal and a permissible harmonic frequency value; determining a permissible modulation index based on the deviation; comparing the permissible modulation index to the modulation index requested by the power converter controller; and, altering a DC link voltage set-point based on the comparison between the permissible modulation index and the requested modulation index.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Torsten Lund, Ciprian Biris, Kent Tange, Duy Duc Doan, Gert Karmisholt Andersen
  • Patent number: 11476671
    Abstract: A wind power converting device includes a plurality of grid-side converters, a plurality of generator-side converters and a plurality of DC buses. The grid-side converters are connected with each other in series and electrically coupled to a power grid. The generator-side converters are connected with each other in series and electrically coupled to a generator device. The DC buses are electrically coupled between the grid-side converters and the generator-side converters. The DC buses include a positive DC bus, a negative DC bus and at least one intermediate DC bus between the positive DC bus and the negative DC bus. A cross section area of a conductor of the intermediate DC bus is smaller than 30% of a cross section area of a conductor of the positive DC bus or smaller than 30% of a cross section area of a conductor of the negative DC bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: DELTA ELECTRONICS (SHANGHAI) CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Changyong Wang, Yansong Lu
  • Patent number: 11467551
    Abstract: A transformer emulator includes a DC bus, a first power electronics converter circuit having a DC port coupled to the DC bus, a second power electronics converter circuit having a DC port coupled to the DC bus, and a third power electronics converter circuit having DC port coupled to the DC bus. The transformer emulator further includes a control circuit configured to control the first, second and third power electronics converter circuits to emulate a transformer having a first port corresponding to an AC port of the first power electronics converter circuit and a second port corresponding to an AC port of the second power electronics converter circuit. The control circuit is configured to control the first and second power electronics converter circuits to emulate a voltage transformation of the transformer and to control the third power electronics converter circuit to emulate a loss of the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2022
    Assignee: University of Tennessee Research Foundation
    Inventors: Fei Wang, Jingxin Wang, Yiwei Ma
  • Patent number: 11319946
    Abstract: A system for supplementing the electric power needed by a pump jack electric motor, thereby reducing the electric power purchased from the local utility or power supplier. The system comprises a solar photovoltaic system, or other forms of renewable energy, and regenerated power from the electric motor or drive. The system can be both “on-grid” and “off-grid.” Battery banks and capacitor banks may be used to store energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Raptor Lift Solutions, LLC
    Inventor: Kavan Graybill
  • Patent number: 11296615
    Abstract: Systems and methods are configured to control DC side current harmonics of a cascaded H-bridge (CHB) converter that includes a plurality of cells. In various embodiments, an odd-order current harmonic is injected at the AC side of the CHB converter based on an optimization of a constrained optimization problem to achieve at least one of balancing the DC side current harmonics of the plurality of cells, reducing the DC side current harmonics of the plurality of cells, and meeting the requirements of the IEEE 519 standard. The optimization problem may include a cost function based on switching transitions of the CHB converter and at least one constraint based on, for example, an AC side current harmonic, a maximum demand load current of the CHB converter base on the IEEE 519 standard, and a zero-order current harmonic and an hth-order current harmonic for each cell of the CHB converter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated
    Inventors: Shuo Wang, Amirhossein Moeini
  • Patent number: 11289913
    Abstract: A dynamic stability analysis and control method for a voltage sourced converter based high voltage direct current (VSC-HVDC) transmission system. The method includes the following steps: unlocking a converter station of the VSC-HVDC transmission system to make the VSC-HVDC transmission system run in a non-island control mode; extracting corresponding parameters of the VSC-HVDC transmission system, wherein the parameters include an effective voltage value Ut0 of an AC system, an outgoing reactive power Qvsc0 of the VSC-HVDC transmission system, a gain kp of a phase-locked loop (PLL), and a proportional integral time constant ki of the PLL; calculating a short-circuit ratio (SCR), an unit value of Ut0 and an unit value of Qvsc0; calculating a key stable component; checking the sign of the key stable component to determine the stability of the VSC-HVDC transmission system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: SICHUAN UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Baohong Li, Tianqi Liu, Yan Tao, Shunliang Wang
  • Patent number: 11201461
    Abstract: A power system includes: a self-commutated power converter including a first arm and a second arm, each including switching elements; a first circuit breaker configured to interrupt a current flowing through a power transmission line provided between a first bus and a second bus; a first circuit breaker control unit configured to control the first circuit breaker; a converter control unit configured to stop the switching elements based on a first arm current value and a second arm current value; and a setting unit configured to set a voltage value of an AC voltage output from the power converter such that when a fault occurs in the power transmission line, the first circuit breaker is opened while the switching elements are not stopped. The converter control unit is configured to operate the switching elements such that an AC voltage with the set voltage value is output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Keisuke Ishida, Takayuki Fujisawa
  • Patent number: 11201559
    Abstract: The power conversion device includes multiple converter cells. Each converter cell includes a pair of primary-side terminals and a pair of secondary-side terminals. The converter cell transmits power between the pair of primary-side terminals and the pair of secondary-side terminals. The primary-side terminals of the multiple converter cells are connected in series to a primary-side power supply system. The secondary-side terminals of the multiple converter cells are connected in series to a secondary-side power supply system. Among the multiple converter cells, the converter cell in which an absolute value of a ground voltage appearing in the pair of primary-side terminals is the highest is different from the converter cell in which an absolute value of a ground voltage appearing in the pair of secondary-side terminals is the highest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2021
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kimihisa Furukawa, Yuuichi Mabuchi, Yuki Kawaguchi, Akihiko Kanouda
  • Patent number: 11121639
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a converter for converting an AC voltage to a DC voltage, the converter comprising: a first H-bridge circuit comprising a first AC terminal for receiving an AC voltage, a second AC terminal, a first DC terminal and a second DC terminal; a second H-bridge circuit comprising a first AC terminal for receiving an AC voltage, a second AC terminal, a first DC terminal and a second DC terminal; an isolation block arranged between the second AC terminal of the first H-bridge circuit and the second AC terminal of the second H-bridge circuit; and a DC voltage output of the converter with a first terminal and a second terminal; wherein: the first terminal of the DC voltage output is connected to the first DC terminal of the first H-bridge circuit and the first DC terminal of the second H-bridge circuit; and the second terminal of the DC voltage output is connected to the second DC terminal of the first H-bridge circuit and the second DC terminal of the second H-bridge circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: ROLLS-ROYCE plc
    Inventors: David R Trainer, Zhigang Sun, Ellis F H Chong
  • Patent number: 11063524
    Abstract: An electrical device with a semiconductor circuit that is configured for a high voltage and is arranged in a housing. The housing is formed of a plurality of housing parts which are electrically insulated from one another. Different electrical potentials can be assigned to the housing parts. There is also described an converter with the electrical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Global GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Martin Kapelke, Manfred Suda
  • Patent number: 11011973
    Abstract: A methods and systems for generating rectified signals are disclosed. For example, a system performing the methods includes a current source rectifier which has a plurality of switches configured to receive an input current from an AC voltage source and to receive a plurality of control signals. The switches are configured to produce a rectified output current based on the input current and the control signals. The system also includes a rectifier controller configured to receive a current sense signal indicative of the rectified output current and to generate the control signals based at least in part on the current sense signal, where the control signals cause the current source rectifier to attenuate at least one of a plurality of harmonic frequencies in the rectified output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2021
    Assignee: DRS Naval Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Cuzner, Ashish R. Bendre, William R. Kranz
  • Patent number: 10998876
    Abstract: A balun includes first, second, and third terminals, first, second, and third inductors, and a capacitor. The first and second inductors are electrically connected in series with each other between the first terminal and a ground point. The capacitor is electrically connected in series with the first inductor between the first terminal and the ground point. The capacitor is electrically connected in parallel with the second inductor between the first inductor and the ground point. The third inductor is electrically connected between the second terminal and the third terminal. The third inductor is magnetically coupled with at least the first inductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: MURATA MANUFACTURING CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Noboru Shiokawa
  • Patent number: 10998813
    Abstract: A modular multilevel converter (MMC) includes multiple converter arms, each converter arm having: N submodules connected to each other in series, N being an integer equal to or greater than 2; and a circuit opening unit connected to the N submodules in series to open a circuit of the converter arm, wherein the N submodules has n submodules including full-bridge circuits and N?n submodules including half-bridge circuits, n being less than N.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignees: HYOSUNG HEAVY INDUSTRIES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hee Jin Kim, Dong Su Lee, Kyeon Hur, Jae Sik Kang, Sang Min Kim, Jong Seo Na
  • Patent number: 10972038
    Abstract: A stepless motor driving circuit provides a sinusoidal shaped chopping signal for driving a motor. The driving circuit has: a switch circuit having an input which receives a rectified signal rectified from a sinusoidal AC signal and having a first output and a second output where the motor is coupled between; a synchronizing signal generating circuit which generates a synchronizing signal relating to the sinusoidal AC signal; and a switch driving circuit which selects and chops at least one switch in the switch circuit according to the synchronizing signal, and to form the sinusoidal shaped chopping signal which is corresponding to the sinusoidal AC signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: XIAMEN KIWI INSTRUMENTS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Huijie Yu, Ganfu Li, Zhuoyuan Zhou, Shuguang Wang
  • Patent number: 10931113
    Abstract: A power conversion device which is connected between an electric generation grid and a demand area grid and performs power conversion includes: a power converter which is connected to an electric generation grid and which converts AC power received from the electric generation grid to DC power and transmits the DC power via DC bus; and a control device for controlling the power converter. The control device includes a detection unit for detecting DC current of the DC bus, and a protection control unit for performing protection control for suppressing an amount of power received from the electric generation grid, on the basis of variation in the DC current, thereby continuing operation in the case of disturbance in the demand area grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2021
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Takuya Kajiyama, Toshiyuki Fujii, Osamu Mori, Kaho Mukunoki
  • Patent number: 10921386
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for calculating winding currents at a delta side for a transformer. The transformer has two or more windings, with a first winding being a delta connected winding. The method includes obtaining line currents measured with measurement equipment associated with lines connected with the windings. The method further includes calculating zero sequence currents for at least a second winding, from the line currents of a corresponding line. The method further includes calculating zero sequence currents for the first winding, based on the zero sequence currents for at least the second winding, a phase displacement between the windings, and a turns ratio associated with the windings. The winding currents is calculated from the zero sequence currents of the first winding, and the line currents of a corresponding line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: ABB Power Grids Switzerland AG
    Inventors: Sandeep Pabbathi, Prabakaran S, Suresh Maturu
  • Patent number: 10865777
    Abstract: A wind turbine power generation system comprising a rotor shaft coupled to an electrical generator which generates a power output at a first AC voltage level; a converter system that converts the power output of the generator at the first AC voltage level to a converter power output at a second AC voltage level; a transformer that converts the converter system power output at the second AC voltage level to a generation system power output at a third AC voltage level; wherein the converter system comprises a machine-side converter, a line-side converter and a DC-link. The machine-side converter is a line-commutated rectifier, and the transformer is an online tap changer transformer. In another aspect, the invention resides in a wind power plant comprising at least one wind power generation system electrically coupled to a substation for onward transmission to a grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventor: Philip Carne Kjær
  • Patent number: 10819103
    Abstract: A method for isolating faults in an electrical power system connected to a power grid includes dividing the electrical power system into a plurality of power modules each including a plurality of electrical power subsystems and a substation. Each of the electrical power subsystems defines a stator power path and a converter power path for providing power to the power grid and having a partial power transformer. The method also includes coupling each of the power modules to the power grid via a primary electrical line. Further, the method includes monitoring the electrical power system for faults. In response to detecting a fault in one of the power modules, the method includes isolating the fault to the power module experiencing the fault. In contrast, if the fault is detected in the primary electrical line or the power grid, the method includes tripping the electrical power system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Rajni Kant Burra, Randal Voges, Saurabh Shukla, Govardhan Ganireddy, Baraa Kadhum
  • Patent number: 10778010
    Abstract: A method for controlling a renewable energy power plant comprising a plurality of wind turbine generators, the method comprising: measuring a voltage level associated with a point of interconnection between a power transmission network and the power plant; calculating a reactive power exchange limit based upon the measured voltage level; and controlling the power plant so that the calculated reactive power exchange limit is not exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2020
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Nolan Dadang Caliao, Manoj Gupta, Mario Dante Jardiel, Janakiraman Sivasankaran
  • Patent number: 10763754
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a highly efficient power supply device. A power supply device 1 according to the present invention includes a bidirectional DC-DC converter 3 and an insulated DC-DC converter 4. The bidirectional DC-DC converter 3 receives a main battery 5 and outputs a direct-current link voltage Vlink. The insulated DC-DC converter 4 receives the link voltage Vlink and supplies power to a load 7. The link voltage Vlink, which is an output of the bidirectional DC-DC converter 3, changes according to the output voltage of the insulated DC-DC converter 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: HITACHI AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Takayuki Oouchi, Takae Shimada, Fumihiro Sato, Shintaro Tanaka, Kenji Kubo, Eigo Kishimoto
  • Patent number: 10704534
    Abstract: Controlling a wind turbine during a grid fault where the grid voltage drops below a nominal grid voltage. After detection of a grid fault, the total current limit for the power converter output is increased to a total maximum overload current limit. Depending on whether active or reactive current generation is prioritized, an active or reactive current reference is determined. The active current reference is determined in a way so that a reduction in active power production due to the grid voltage drop is minimized and based on the condition that the vector-sum of the active output current and the reactive output current is limited according to the total maximum overload current limit, and a maximum period of time is determined in which the power converter can be controlled based on the active/reactive current references. Afterwards the power converter is controlled based on the active and reactive current references.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Ciprian Biris, Uffe C. Merrild, Leif Svinth Christensen, Martin Ansbjerg Kjær
  • Patent number: 10693293
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for protecting a direct-current (DC) electric power distribution system that includes one or more AC/DC converters and/or one more DC/DC converters, and one or more loads, connected by DC buses. An example method, which is carried out in response to the detection of a fault somewhere in the system, begins with limiting an output current of each of one or more of the converters so that each of the limited converters outputs a limited DC current at or about a corresponding predetermined current level. After the current limiting of the one or more converters has taken place, one or more protection devices in the system are activated, where the activating at least partly depends on the limited DC currents being at or about the predetermined fault current levels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Li Qi, Jiuping Pan, Yao Chen, Guoju Zhang
  • Patent number: 10666143
    Abstract: A normalized-link-current estimation unit adopts a first value calculated by using a virtual DC voltage command, a phase and an amplitude of a single-phase AC voltage, and a distribution factor, as an estimated value of a value obtained by normalizing a link current flowing from a DC link to an inverter. A calculation unit determines a second value calculated by using the virtual DC voltage command, a rectified voltage, and a both-end voltage. When a normalized current command is less than a product of the first value and the second value, a normalized charge command is set to 0 and a rectifying duty is determined by dividing the normalized current command by the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: DAIKIN INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Kenichi Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 10630162
    Abstract: A system includes a current source rectifier which has a plurality of switches configured to receive an input current from an AC voltage source and to receive a plurality of control signals. The switches are configured to produce a rectified output current based on the input current and the control signals. The system also includes a rectifier controller configured to receive a current sense signal indicative of the rectified output current and to generate the control signals based at least in part on the current sense signal, where the control signals cause the current source rectifier to attenuate at least one of a plurality of harmonic frequencies in the rectified output current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: DRS Power & Control Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert M. Cuzner, Ashish R. Bendre, William R. Kranz
  • Patent number: 10622916
    Abstract: A power conversion device includes a plurality of converter cells 1, and the converter cell 1 includes: an upper arm 13u, which includes a semiconductor switching element 11u configured to allow conduction in only one direction and a diode 12u connected in anti-parallel to the semiconductor switching element 11u; and a lower arm 13b, which is connected to the upper arm 13u, and includes a semiconductor switching element 11b configured to allow reverse conduction and a diode 12b connected in anti-parallel to the semiconductor switching element 11b, in which the semiconductor switching element 11b and the diode 12b of the lower arm 13b are simultaneously set to conductive states to split an electric current to flow through the diode 12b to the semiconductor switching element 11b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yuki Ishii
  • Patent number: 10624229
    Abstract: Some embodiments include a high voltage direct current (HVDC) power generator system for information technology (IT) racks. The HVDC power generator system can include a three-phase alternating current (AC) transformer having a primary winding and a plurality of secondary windings. A plurality of three-phase bridge rectifier circuits can be electrically coupled respectively to the plurality of secondary windings. The HVDC power generator system can include output terminals for powering its load. A first string of bridge rectifier circuits can be in series with each other and a first inductor. A second string of bridge rectifier circuits can be in series with each other and a second inductor. The first and second strings can be electrically coupled in parallel to the output terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2020
    Assignee: Facebook, Inc.
    Inventor: Pierluigi Sarti
  • Patent number: 10574055
    Abstract: A system includes a converter configured to be coupled between an energy storage unit and a grid and a control circuit configured to detect frequency and voltage variations of the grid and to responsively cause the converter to transfer power and reactive components to and/or from the grid. The control circuit may implement a power control loop having an inner frequency control loop and a reactive component control loop having an inner voltage control loop. The control circuit may provide feedforward from the inner frequency control loop to the inner voltage control loop to inhibit reactive component transfer in response to a voltage variation deviation of the grid due to a power transfer between the energy storage unit and the grid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: Flexgen Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Mengbin Yang, Pasi Taimela, Tony Olivo, Robert William Johnson, Jr., Gopalakrishnan Balakrishnan
  • Patent number: 10570885
    Abstract: Controlling a wind turbine during a grid fault where the grid voltage drops below a nominal grid voltage. After detection of a grid fault, the total current limit for the power converter output is increased to a total maximum overload current limit. Depending on whether active or reactive current generation is prioritized, an active or reactive current reference is determined. The active current reference is determined in a way so that a reduction in active power production due to the grid voltage drop is minimized and based on the condition that the vector-sum of the active output current and the reactive output current is limited according to the total maximum overload current limit, and a maximum period of time is determined in which the power converter can be controlled based on the active/reactive current references. Afterwards the power converter is controlled based on the active and reactive current references.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2020
    Assignee: VESTAS WIND SYSTEMS A/S
    Inventors: Ciprian Biris, Uffe C. Merrild, Leif Svinth Christensen, Martin Ansbjerg Kjær
  • Patent number: 10523149
    Abstract: A motor control device includes: a PWM count computation unit that computes a PWM count for each of three phases for each current control cycle; a PWM count setting unit that sets the PWM count for each phase in the current control cycle as a PWM count for each PWM cycle in the relevant current control cycle for the corresponding phase; and a common mode noise reduction unit that changes the PWM count in a PWM cycle for at least one phase, of two of the three phases other than one particular phase, such that a current that flows through a stray capacitance because of an output voltage for the one particular phase is canceled out with a current flowing through the stray capacitance because of an output voltage for the at least one of the two other phases in at least one PWM cycle in the current control cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: JTEKT CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroshi Sumasu
  • Patent number: 10498142
    Abstract: A device for extinction angle control of a high voltage direct current (HVDC) system, includes: a converter reactive power calculator calculating a reactive power variation amount of a converter included in the HVDC system, depending on firing angle control of the converter; an alternating current (AC) system short circuit level calculator calculating a short circuit level of an AC system by applying the reactive power variation amount to a short circuit level formula of the AC system connected to the HVDC system; an extinction angle variation value calculator calculating an extinction angle variation value of the converter, corresponding to the short circuit level; and an extinction angle controller controlling an extinction angle of the converter, depending on an extinction angle control value reflecting the extinction angle variation value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: KOREA ELECTRIC POWER CORPORATION
    Inventors: Seong-Doo Lee, Soon-Ho Choi, Chur-Hee Lee
  • Patent number: 10483758
    Abstract: A control apparatus and corresponding control method use per-unit filtering in a plurality of power-sharing controllers, to obtain a power-sharing command signal for respective ones among a plurality of different energy storage units in a hybrid energy storage system. The hybrid energy storage system includes two or more types of energy storage units and the power-sharing command signal for each energy storage unit is obtained by filtering an input signal using a filter having a filter response that is tailored to the energy storage characteristics of the energy storage unit. The input signal reflects load variations on the electrical grid and may be locally generated or provided by a remote node. While the power-sharing control loops used for each energy storage unit advantageously may be the same in terms of architecture and implementation, each loop uses tailored, dedicated filtering and, possibly, individualized values of one or more other control parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiaqi Liang, Li Qi
  • Patent number: 10447028
    Abstract: A converter apparatus and methods of operation thereof are disclosed. In an example, a converter unit of a bipole converter apparatus comprising a neutral connection having a breaker switch is disclosed. In the event of a DC fault, the fault condition may be monitored and it is determined whether a breaker switch operation condition is met. The breaker switch is opened when the breaker switch operation condition is met. In one example, the breaker switch operation condition may comprise a current level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2019
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Robin Gupta, Robert Whitehouse, Carl Barker
  • Patent number: 10283965
    Abstract: A method for incorporating a non-operating station into an operating system in a multi-terminal flexible DC transmission system. The method includes selecting a STATCOM operation mode for the non-operating station; opening a bypass switch at an AC side and connecting a charging resistor to an AC line; closing the AC incoming-line breaker, and pre-charging a converter valve of the non-operating station through the resistor; closing the bypass switch after the pre-charging; selecting a constant-DC voltage control mode for the non-operating station to perform deblocking; controlling the difference between a non-operating station DC voltage value and an operating system direct voltage value to be within an allowable range; closing the pole-connection device at the DC side of a converter of the non-operating station; and switching the non-operating station from the STATCOM operation mode to a DC operation mode, and incorporating the non-operating station into the operating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignees: NR ELECTRIC CO., LTD, NR ENGINEERING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Yunlong Dong, Gang Li, Jie Tian, Nannan Wang, Chao Liu
  • Patent number: 10181799
    Abstract: Disclosed in the present invention is a hybrid back-to-back direct current transmission system. The system includes an LCC converter and a VSC converter in a back-to-back connection, and a first changeover switch, a second changeover switch, a third changeover switch and a fourth changeover switch. The first changeover switch is connected to a first alternating current system and the LCC converter; the second changeover switch is connected to the first alternating current system and the VSC converter; the third changeover switch is connected to a second alternating current system and the VSC converter; and the fourth changeover switch is connected to the second alternating current system and the LCC converter. In forward power delivery, the first changeover switch and the third changeover switch are closed; and in reverse power delivery, the second changeover switch and the fourth changeover switch are closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignees: NR ELECTRIC CO., LTD, NR ENGINEERING CO., LTD
    Inventors: Nannan Wang, Wenqiang Zhao, Yongping Wang
  • Patent number: 10146211
    Abstract: A variable magnetization machine controller including a hysteresis control component configured to receive an ideal magnetization state signal, output an actual magnetization signal based on the ideal magnetization state signal for control of a variable magnetization machine, and modify the actual magnetization state signal in accordance with an error value between the ideal magnetization state signal and the actual magnetization state signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignees: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd., Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation
    Inventors: Takashi Fukushige, Chen-yen Yu, Robert D. Lorenz
  • Patent number: 10141743
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a Bipolar VSC-HVDC and UPFC Hybrid Topology and its operation method. The first control circuit includes a positive and a negative circuit at the series side, in which the VSC converter can operate in bipolar mode; the second control circuit includes a positive and a negative circuit, in which the VSC converter can operate in bipolar mode; the third control circuit is the same as the second control circuit in terms of structure; the positive electrode and negative electrode of the second control circuit are connected to the DC bus via a DC breaker respectively; the other end of the DC transmission line is connected to the third control circuit via a DC breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignees: State Grid Jiangsu Electric Power Research Institute, State Grid Corporation of China
    Inventors: Peng Li, Jinjiao Lin, Xiangping Kong, Lei Gao, Haosheng Huang, Xinyue Gong, Yubo Yuan