Electrical Power Generation Or Distribution System Patents (Class 700/286)
  • Patent number: 8095243
    Abstract: A system includes first and second controllers coupled together with a communication channel. The first controller provides a first signal to the second controller and the second controller provides a second signal to the first controller in response. The second signal includes information about an electrical load. At least one of the first and second controllers can be integrated with an electrical outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Inventor: Minesh Bhakta
  • Publication number: 20120004777
    Abstract: A system and method reduce lateral movement of a car in an elevator system by detecting vibration of the car as a vibration signal. A damping coefficient for a feedback signal is determined according to the vibration signal and a state of the elevator system. A semi-active actuator is arranged between the car and a roller guide assembly. The semi-active actuator includes a rheological fluid, and flow characteristics of the rheological fluid are actuated according to the feedback signal to reduce the lateral movement of the car.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2010
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Inventor: Yebin Wang
  • Publication number: 20120004780
    Abstract: Various methods and apparatus are described for an integrated remotely controlled photovoltaic system having a number of components. A central backend server management system is configured to facilitate management of two or more solar arrays at a remote site from a client device connected over a public wide area network (WAN). An integrated electronics housing contains multiple circuits, including power generation inverter circuits and solar array motion control circuits for one or more PhotoVoltaic (PV) solar arrays at the remote site. The multiple circuits cohesively exist in the integrated electronics housing and actually perform better because of the interconnectivity. The communication circuitry within the integrated electronics housing is configured to establish secure communications over the WAN with the central backend server management system. The integrated electronics housing acts as the local system control point for the first solar array.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: GREENVOLTS, INC
    Inventors: Wayne Miller, Brian Hinman, Roeland Vandevelde, Hossein Kazemi
  • Patent number: 8090556
    Abstract: A visualization system for monitoring performance data of an electrical power distribution network is provided. In one embodiment, a user may select a network circuit and view a network circuit diagram that includes indicia representing transformers and other electrical power distribution network elements positioned on a map. The relative positions of the indicia on the network circuit diagram may correspond to the relative physical locations of the transformers in the geographical area represented by the map. The indicia may be color coded to convey performance data to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Current Communications Services, LLC
    Inventors: R. Anthony Keefe, David Alan Mulder
  • Patent number: 8090479
    Abstract: A method of segmenting a power distribution network which comprises a plurality of AC power generating stations synchronously interconnected by AC power transmission paths is disclosed. The stations operate within associated market sectors and are subject to associated market rules. The method includes identifying all transmission paths which extend between differing ones of the sectors and, in each of said transmission paths so identified, segmenting the path by inserting a controllable DC link at a selected location in the path. Each of the sectors is then operated asynchronously. Power flow and counter-flow between the sectors is controlled by controlling the DC links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: DC Interconnect Inc.
    Inventors: Mohamed M. El-Gasseir, H. D. Kenneth Epp
  • Publication number: 20110320051
    Abstract: An electrical generator includes a stator having fractional-slot concentrated windings and a rotor having field windings. A drive is provided having a circuit to control current flow to the field windings and a controller to input an initial DC field current demand to the circuit to cause the circuit to output an initial DC field current representative of a DC field current demand that would cause an electrical generator having sinusoidal stator windings to output a desired AC power. The controller receives feedback on the magnetic field generated by the initial DC field current, isolates an ideal fundamental component of the magnetic field based on the feedback and to generate a modified DC field current demand, and inputs the modified DC field current demand to the circuit, thereby causing the circuit to output an instantaneous non-sinusoidal current to the field windings to generate a sinusoidal rotating air gap magnetic field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: Ahmed Mostafa EL-Antably, Ayman Mohamed Fawzi El-Refaie, Robert Dean King
  • Publication number: 20110320046
    Abstract: The resonance frequency of a forced torsionally oscillating mirror MEMS device can be controlled in the presence of perturbations by means of a closed loop feedback device and method of using it. The method is implemented through a simple algorithm, implemented in either software or hardware, that maintains the condition of resonance, or another selected frequency, by recursively determining that the center of the driving voltage pulse is positioned at a point on the measured positional waveform of the oscillating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventors: David Drouin, David Hu, Sung Chung
  • Patent number: 8086326
    Abstract: A wind turbine control system is provided. The control system includes a first and a second control unit which are coupled to each other over a first network. The first control unit is configured as a critical control unit, comprising a first set of functions comprising critical control functions for the operation of a wind turbine, and the second control unit is configured as a secondary control unit, comprising a second set of functions comprising non-critical control functions and data management functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Michael Laursen, Flemming Bay Thunbo
  • Patent number: 8086355
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate generally to power management and the like, and more particularly, to an apparatus, a system, a method, and a computer-readable medium for providing power controlling functionality to generate configurable power signals and to deliver power during fault conditions. In at least some embodiments, a power control unit can generate power signals having configurable attributes as a function of a mode of operation, a fault type, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Global Embedded Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mark Stanley Stanczak, Louis Stephen Smutek, Alan Wayne Brown, David Allen Backus
  • Publication number: 20110313573
    Abstract: In a method and a device for entering control commands into a controller of a manipulator, such as a robot, a first force or movement or sequence of forces or movements is detected, and the detected force, movement or sequence is electronically compared with stored forces, movements or sequences, respectively. Each of the stored forces or movements or sequences has a control command associated therewith. Upon the comparison indicating a coincidence between the detected force or movement or sequence with one of the stored forces or movements or sequences, the control command associated with that one of the stored forces, stored movements or stored sequences is automatically supplied as an input to the controller for operating the manipulator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2009
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Günter Schreiber, Uwe Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20110313575
    Abstract: A disc opener unit for an agricultural implement has a down pressure adjustment device that automatically adjusts the amount of down pressure applied on a furrowing disc based on strain measurements taken by a strain gauge or load cell. The strain gauge, which may be mounted to an arm that is used to set the position of a depth setting gauge wheel, provides feedback to a processor that in turn controls the amount of hydraulic fluid in a hydraulic cylinder to adjust the down force applied on the disc. The amount of down pressure is therefore adjusted in substantially real-time in response to changes in field conditions, which improves furrow depth consistency and reduces wear on the gauge wheel and its components.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Publication date: December 22, 2011
    Inventors: Trevor Kowalchuk, Robin B. Schilling, Jack Turner
  • Patent number: 8078332
    Abstract: Methods are provided for managing high or low voltage conditions from selected areas of a power system of a utility company. Rubber-banding or lassoing is used to select geographic areas. Potential low or high voltage situations are identified in the selected geographic areas. Geographic displays are overlayed with superimposed VAR reserves to create overlayed geographic displays for the selected geographic areas. The overlayed geographic displays are used to identify potential low or high voltage instances in the selected geographic areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Areva T & D, Inc.
    Inventors: Gennaro Castelli, Michael Hackett, Michael Quinn Howard, Lawrence Edmund Jones, HulChu Su Shung, Heath Daniel Brand
  • Patent number: 8078330
    Abstract: Automatic energy management is provided, in even the most complex multi-building system. The necessity of a human operator for managing energy in a complex, multi-building system is reduced and even eliminated. Computer-based monitoring and computer-based recognition of adverse energy events (such as the approach of a new energy peak) is highly advantageous in energy management. Immediate automatic querying of energy users within a system of buildings for energy curtailment possibilities is provided. Such immediate, automatic querying may be answered by the energy users through artificial intelligence and/or neural network technology provided to or programmed into the energy users, and the queried energy users may respond in real-time. Those real-time computerized responses with energy curtailment possibilities may be received automatically by a data processing facility, and processed in real-time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Intercap Capital Partners, LLC
    Inventors: Peter J. Brickfield, Dirk Mahling, Mark Noyes, David Weaver
  • Patent number: 8073759
    Abstract: Financial data associated with one or more “contributing consumers” is obtained from one or more sources. The financial data obtained from the one or more contributing consumers is then aggregated, analyzed, and/or categorized, according to one or more events causing the changes and one or more criteria/parameters associated with the financial transaction data and/or the contributing consumer. The aggregated and/or categorized data representing the event related changes in the financial data is then stored. A “user consumer” then initiates a request for predictive event cost data associated with one or more specified events and the aggregated and/or categorized data representing the event related changes in the financial data is searched based. Results data representing the changes in the financial data for one or more similarly situated contributing consumers associated the specified event is then obtained and presented to the user consumer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Intuit Inc.
    Inventors: James Robert Del Favero, Chris Lee, Barron R. Ernst, Marko Rukonic
  • Patent number: 8073573
    Abstract: Electrical power distribution control methods, electrical energy demand monitoring methods, and power management devices are described. In one aspect, an electrical power distribution control method includes providing electrical energy from an electrical power distribution system, applying the electrical energy to a load, providing a plurality of different values for a threshold at a plurality of moments in time and corresponding to an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy, and adjusting an amount of the electrical energy applied to the load responsive to an electrical characteristic of the electrical energy triggering one of the values of the threshold at the respective moment in time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventors: David P. Chassin, Matthew K. Donnelly, Jeffery E. Dagle
  • Publication number: 20110295585
    Abstract: The present invention provides novel techniques for controlling energy systems. In particular, parametric hybrid models may be used to parameterize inputs and outputs of groups of equipment of energy systems. Each parametric hybrid model may include an empirical model, a parameter model, and a dynamic model. Critical parameters for groups of equipment modeled by the parametric hybrid models, which are correlated with, but not the same as, input and output variables of the groups of equipment may be monitored during operation of the energy system. The critical parameters may be used to generate optimal trajectories for the energy system, which may be used to control the energy system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventor: Bijan Sayyar-Rodsari
  • Patent number: 8068923
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for optimizing the operation of a single or multiple power generating units using advanced optimization, modeling, and control techniques. In one embodiment, a plurality of component optimization systems for optimizing power generating unit components are sequentially coordinated to allow optimized values determined by a first component optimization system to be fed forward for use as an input value to a subsequent component optimization system. A unit optimization system may be provided to determine goals and constraints for the plurality of component optimization systems in accordance with economic data. In one embodiment of the invention, a multi-unit optimization system is provided to determine goals and constraints for component optimization systems of different power generating units. Both steady state and dynamic models are used for optimization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: NeuCo, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen Piche
  • Patent number: 8068938
    Abstract: A method for managing electrical demand on a power grid in response to electrical supply conditions is described. The method includes determining a first energy demand forecast using stored information, determining a first energy supply forecast based on a known energy production and transmission capacity, and comparing the first energy demand forecast to the first energy supply forecast. The method also includes transmitting at least one of an adjusted price signal and an electrical load shedding signal to a customer over a bi-directional communication system based on the comparison of the first energy demand forecast to the first energy supply forecast.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Lincoln Mamoru Fujita
  • Patent number: 8065041
    Abstract: The present invention provides a control method for generating data sets for reduction of sulfur dioxide discharge in energy grid. The electric price parameters, energy-consumption parameters, and SO2 discharge parameters of the generating sets are collected and processed, and the final generating sets are selected according to different control goals or the comprehensive analysis of the electric price parameters, the energy-consuming parameters and the SO2 discharge parameters of the generating sets. The present invention sets the least SO2 discharge in general power grids as a target and solves the problem of the present loss of control of SO2 discharge in the generating sets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Inventors: Jiangang Yao, Shan Ouyang
  • Patent number: 8065040
    Abstract: An on-site power plant (24) has a controller (40) that selectively controls operation of prime movers (26, 28, 30). In one example, the controller (40) changes the number of operating prime movers responsive to a transient in a load (22) requirement while continuing to operate at least one of the prime movers. One example includes prioritizing the prime movers (26, 28, 30) for operation based upon the needs of a cogeneration unit (32, 34, 36) associated with the prime movers for providing a temperature control function within a facility. Another example includes controlling operation of the prime movers based upon a capacity for fueling the prime movers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Mithun R. Kamat, Sara E. Atkinson, Aaron W. Morrow, David P. Lavigne, Guang-Yan Zhu
  • Patent number: 8065098
    Abstract: A method, via a processor, of forecasting energy usage including selecting a plurality of reference days with at least one feature matching a corresponding feature of a day to be forecasted and filtering the plurality of reference days with a humidity filter to identify at least one matching reference day. The at least one matching reference day is associated with a correlation coefficient greater than or equal to a minimum correlation coefficient, and a minimum number of humidity values within a range of corresponding humidity values of the day to be forecasted. The method also includes retrieving energy load values and corresponding temperature values corresponding to the at least one matching reference day, calculating a plurality of regression coefficients of a polynomial equation linking the temperature values to the energy load values, and calculating and storing a forecasted load value of the day to be forecasted according to the polynomial equation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventor: Shruti Gautam
  • Publication number: 20110282508
    Abstract: The subject specification comprises a generalized grid security platform (GGSP) that can control power distribution and operations in a power transmission and distribution grid (PTDG) in real or near real time. The GGSP can receive data from one or more data sources, including a PMU(s) or an IED(s), which can obtain power system related data and provide at least a portion of such data to the GGSP at a subsecond rate. The GGSP can correlate data from the data sources based at least in part on a temporal, geographical, or topological axis. The GGSP can analyze the data, including performing predictive analysis, e.g., via simulation, root cause analysis, post mortem analysis, or complex event processing, when desired, to facilitate identifying a current or predicted future state of the PTDG, a cause or source of an abnormal condition, or a remedial action execution plan, new operation or maintenance guidance, etc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: ALSTOM GRID
    Inventors: Eric Goutard, Spero Mensah
  • Publication number: 20110278928
    Abstract: This document describes various techniques for powering a computer data center using a wind-powered generator. The computer data center may include network connected servers that are electrically connected to, and powered by, the wind-powered generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Douglas C. Burger, Eric C. Peterson, Sompong Paul Olarig, Mark E. Shaw, David Kim, Christian L. Belady
  • Publication number: 20110276192
    Abstract: A solar power inverter that detects islanding conditions includes a power generation component that generates alternating current (AC) from direct current produced by photovoltaic cells. The inverter generates AC for a load or an electrical power grid. The inverter also includes a component that generates synchrophasors from characteristics of electrically proximate AC. The inverter further includes a component that receives grid synchrophasors transmitted from a location on the electrical power grid (e.g., a transmission substation). The inverter further includes a controller that uses the inverter synchrophasors and the grid synchrophasors to calculate a degree of correlation between the electrical power grid AC frequency and the frequency of the electrically proximate AC. If the degree of correlation dips below a predefined value or exhibits certain patterns or behaviors that are indicative of a loss of mains (e.g.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 9, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventor: Michael Ropp
  • Patent number: 8055390
    Abstract: Controller for a blade adjustment angle for at least one rotor blade of a wind power plant, in which a first controller branch is switched for the determination of the blade adjustment angle depending on the operating states of the wind power plant, wherein at least one differentiating member is provided in the switched first controller branch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: Nordex Energy GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Kabatzke
  • Publication number: 20110270461
    Abstract: A method, system, and computer usable program product for discovering an equipment power connection relationship between an equipment and an electrical power outlet. A workload executing on the equipment is monitored for a period resulting in monitoring data. The Metering data associated with a first power outlet in a plurality of power outlets is searched, the metering data representing electrical power drawn from a power outlet over the period. A determination is made whether the monitoring data matches with the metering data associated with the first power outlet. If a match is determined, a relationship is identified between the equipment and the first power outlet, whereby the first power outlet is known to supply electrical power to the equipment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: November 3, 2011
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: JEFFERY JOHN VAN HEUKLON, Douglas Andrew Wood
  • Patent number: 8050804
    Abstract: An electronic module compares the output voltage of a solar panel to an expected value and controls the power demand from the solar panel such that the output voltage does not vary from the expected value by more than a predetermined value. The predetermined value may be determined by correcting a room temperature value for the temperature dependence of the photodiodes comprising the solar panel and manufacturing tolerance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Array Converter, Inc.
    Inventor: Kent Kernahan
  • Patent number: 8050899
    Abstract: A method for determining wind turbine location within a wind power plant based on at least one design criteria. A wind turbine layout including at least one wind turbine location is prepared and site conditions at each wind turbine location are determined. One or more plant design metrics are evaluated in response to the site conditions. The plant design metrics are analyzed in response to the site conditions. The method further includes applying constraints to the wind turbine layout and comparing the plant design metrics to the design criteria and constraints. Thereafter, the wind turbine locations are selectively adjusted within the layout in response to the comparing step until a stop criteria is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Philippe Giguere, Venkatarao Ryali, Manish Gupta, Karsten Hilt, Srinivasa Reddy Gujju
  • Patent number: 8050803
    Abstract: A power feeding system includes a power feeding apparatus and a power line communication unit. The power feeding apparatus feeds power from a power line to an external apparatus. The power line communication unit communicates via the power line, which is a communication medium. The power feeding apparatus includes an acquisition unit, a restriction unit and a determination unit. The acquisition unit acquires restriction information used to restrict the feeding of the power to the external apparatus. The restriction unit restricts the feeding of the power to the external apparatus to which the power feeding apparatus is to feed the power. The determination unit determines as to whether or not the restriction unit has to restrict the feeding of the power, based on the restriction information acquired by the acquisition unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2011
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiko Miyata, Seiji Honda
  • Publication number: 20110264286
    Abstract: A smart control device is disclosed. The smart control device can be equipped in an electrical appliance, so as to be capable of controlling the electrical appliance by using diverse information that is provided from both the inside and the outside of the electrical appliance. In a smart control device monitoring and scheduling operations of an electrical appliance, the smart control device includes an interface unit configured to receive energy information, a smart controller configured to control energy saving functions of the electrical appliance based upon the energy information received from the interface unit, and an input unit configured to receive an inputted control command respective to the electrical appliance. Herein, the smart controller may be provided in the electrical appliance, and the smart controller may control the electrical appliance so that the electrical appliance can be operated in an energy saving operation mode based upon the received energy information.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2011
    Publication date: October 27, 2011
    Inventor: Jong Soo Park
  • Patent number: 8046108
    Abstract: A system and method for harnessing power associated with ocean waves and converting that power into electricity. The apparatus is a buoy that houses a vertically oriented central shaft, a pendulum, a generator mechanism, and other components that synergistically operate to optimize power output of the buoy. Both the load on the pendulum and the effective length of the pendulum may be varied in response to changing environmental conditions. Also, the buoy may be part of a network that shares environmental data and a series of best tuning responses to that data, across the network. A library of environmental data and associated tuning responses is built at a central location and shared across the network.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Neptune Wave Power, LLC
    Inventor: Steven C. Hench
  • Patent number: 8046111
    Abstract: Disclosed are a system and method with a cooperative control algorithm that can appraise voltage stability of a power system in cooperation with a supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)/emergency management system (EMS) for cooperative control on multiple parallel flexible alternating current transmission systems (FACTS) to enhance voltage stability, and that can calculate individual operation points of the FACTS.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Korea Electric Power Corporation
    Inventors: Byung Hoon Chang, Yong Hak Kim, Soo Yeol Kim, Jong Su Yoon, No Hong Kwak
  • Patent number: 8046110
    Abstract: A method and system of active power reserve regulation in a wind farm with a communication network having a plurality of wind turbines that provide an active power reserve in order to support eventual power grid contingencies and to deliver an increase of power in case it is needed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Ingeteam Energy, S.A.
    Inventors: Jesus Mayor, David Sole, Jorge Acedo, Ainhoa Carcar, Javier Perez Barbachano, Mikel Zabaleta, Susana Simon
  • Patent number: 8041466
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a wind turbine connected to a utility grid during a utility grid disturbance. The method comprises the steps of controlling active current in dependency of the frequency deviation from a reference frequency, and controlling reactive current in dependency of the voltage deviation from a reference voltage. The invention also relates to a wind turbine and wind park.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: Vestas Wind Systems A/S
    Inventors: Lars Helle, John Godsk Nielsen, Mark James Jensen
  • Patent number: 8041464
    Abstract: A knowledge-based system is defined that ensures network radiatity during reconfiguration of a power distribution system. Network radiality heuristics idenufy a pair of switching operations that will preserve radiality. A line section table specifies the line section identifier, start bus, end bus, line section type, and switch existence for each line section in the network. A bus table identifies the line section that supplies the bus and those line sections that are fed by the bus for each bus in the network. A matrix-structured knowledge base with five distinct rule bases is used. The line section and bus tables must be updated after any switching operations are enacted. Extensive simulations of the knowledge-based system revealed that a solution was found in a time-efficient manner. This knowledge-based system enhances network reliability and hence prevents power outages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Inventors: Ashu M. G. Solo, Robert John Sarfi, Ramakrishna Gokaraju
  • Publication number: 20110251732
    Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for calculating load models and associated tunable parameters that may be used to describe the behavior of loads connected to an electric power distribution system. The load models may be utilized to predict variations in demand caused by changes in the supply voltage, and may be utilized in determining an optimized control strategy based on load dynamics. Any action which causes a disruption to the electric power distribution system may provide information regarding the composition or dynamics of connected loads. Such actions may be referred to as modeling events. Modeling events may occur with some frequency in electric power distribution systems, and accordingly, a number of data sets may be acquired under a variety of conditions and at a variety of times. Load models may include static load models, dynamic load models, or a combination of static and dynamic load models.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2010
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Inventors: Edmund O. Schweitzer, III, Marcos A. Donolo, David E. Whitehead
  • Patent number: 8035250
    Abstract: A load sharing, multi-module power supply system for supplying power to a load. The system may involve: a first power supply module having a controller, and having a first per unit capacity (pu-c); a second power supply module having a controller, and having a second per unit capacity (pu-c); the controller of the first power supply module adapted to implement a reduction in an output power of the first power supply module upon the detection of an operating event, where a portion of the load being handled by the first power supply module is shed by a percentage, and such that the first power supply module remains operating during the operating event but at a reduced power output level; and upon the occurrence of the operating event the controller of the second power supply module is adapted to increase a power output of the second power supply module sufficient to accommodate the portion of the load that has been shed by the first power supply module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Liebert Corporation
    Inventor: Richard T. Caudill
  • Patent number: 8034497
    Abstract: A control device for a vehicular fuel cell system is provided with a warm-up output control section operative, when a fuel cell system is started up under a low temperature condition and in case that a fuel cell stack of the fuel cell system is warmed up, causing the fuel cell stack to generate electric power to allow predetermined warm-up electric power to be taken out, and a run permission section operative, during a period wherein the warm-up electric power is drawn by the warm-up output control section, to determine whether the fuel cell stack assumes a predetermined warm-up condition on the basis of one of a voltage value and an electric current value of the fuel cell stack. When a determination is made that the fuel cell stack assumes the predetermined warm-up condition, the run permission section provides a vehicle with run permission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiromasa Sakai
  • Patent number: 8035369
    Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a method for detecting an isolated network for an inverter (2) carrying a converter voltage that is adapted for connection in parallel with a grid (5) having a mains frequency and electric loads and that is decoupled from the grid (5) by a choke (3), a test signal being superimposed upon the converter voltage at a test frequency the frequency of which is smaller than the mains frequency, the amplitude of the test signal being much smaller than the nominal voltage amplitude of the mains voltage on the one side but still just large enough on the other side for changes in reactive power to be detectable as a result of the test signal, a reactive power share being determined, which oscillates with the test frequency, this share not being allowed to fall below an imposed minimum for an isolated operation to be reliably excluded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: SMA Solar Technology AG
    Inventors: Michael Strnad, Neidhardt Bechtel, Christian Hardt
  • Patent number: 8036872
    Abstract: A system for conducting performing real-time harmonics analysis of an electrical power distribution and transmission system is disclosed. The system includes a data acquisition component, a power analytics server and a client terminal. The data acquisition component is communicatively connected to a sensor configured to acquire real-time data output from the electrical system. The power analytics server is communicatively connected to the data acquisition component and is comprised of a virtual system modeling engine, an analytics engine and a machine learning engine. The machine learning engine is configured to store and process patterns observed from the real-time data output and the predicted data output, forecasting harmonic distortions in the electrical system subjected to a simulated contingency event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: EDSA Micro Corporation
    Inventor: Adib Nasle
  • Publication number: 20110245980
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for estimating the instantaneous rotational speed of a bottom hole assembly at the lower end of a drill string. In one embodiment, a method includes driving the drill string by a drilling mechanism at the upper end of the drill string. A fundamental frequency of stick-slip oscillations suffered by the drill string is estimated. Variations in a drive torque of the drilling mechanism are determined. Known torsional compliance of the drill string is combined with the variations in the drive torque. An output signal representing the instantaneous rotational speed is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2009
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: National Oilwell Varco LP
    Inventors: Pal Jacob Nessjoen, Age Kyllingstad
  • Publication number: 20110245982
    Abstract: A positioner operating mode identifying function is provided in a calculating unit. A pressure value of an amplified pneumatic pressure signal, from a single-mode pilot relay, is detected by a pressure sensor and sent to the calculating unit. The calculating unit, through the positioner operating mode identifying function, monitors a change in the amplified pneumatic pressure signal corresponding to a change in the control signal, and if the direction of change in the control output and the direction of change of the amplified pneumatic pressure signal are the identical direction, identifies the operating mode of the positioner as the positive operating mode. The operating mode of the positioner is identified as the negative operating mode if the direction of change in the control output and the direction of change of the amplified pneumatic pressure signal are the opposite directions. The identification results displayed on a screen of a display unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Applicant: YAMATAKE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Yohsuke Inagaki
  • Publication number: 20110245985
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the provision of Energy consumption information with Virtual Energy Metering from Non-Energy metering data sources within Automation and Historian control systems. Through the use of a Virtual Energy Meter using an Energy Interface to communicate with various Automation or Historian control systems, devices such as motors and valves that do not have Energy monitoring functionality can provide Energy consumption information. The virtual energy meter converts Automation and Historian control data, such as device commands and feedback signals, into energy consumption information through the use of an energy translation method. The energy information is then made available for analysis through the virtual meters information data store. The advantage of the invention is that it removes numerous overheads associated with traditional energy metering such as the necessity for metering infrastructure, hardware, downtime and installation costs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventor: Desmond Cooling
  • Patent number: 8032233
    Abstract: A client device manages consumption of power supplied by an electric utility to multiple power consuming devices. Power flow to the power consuming devices is selectively enabled and disabled by one or more controllable devices controlled by the client device. The client device receives a power control message from a load management server. In one embodiment, the power control message indicates at least one of an amount of electric power to be reduced and an identification of at least one controllable device to be instructed to disable a flow of electric power to one or more associated power consuming devices. Responsive to the power control message, the client device issues a power management command or instruction to one or more controllable devices under the client device's control. The power management command causes the controllable device(s) to disable a flow of electric power to at least one associated power consuming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Consert Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph W. Forbes, Jr., Joel L. Webb
  • Patent number: 8032259
    Abstract: An electrical circuit for bi-directional power control between two devices, including a first battery-operated device, including a first battery for providing a source of power to the first battery-operated device, a first power management subsystem connected to the first battery, to power on and power off components of the first battery-operated device in response to a first wakeup event, WE1, and a first on/off button for generating WE1, a second battery-operated device, including a second battery for providing a source of power to the second battery-operated device, a second power management subsystem connected to the second battery, to power on and power off components of the second battery-operated device in response to a second wakeup event WE2, a second on/off button for generating WE2, and a switch for generating WE1 simultaneously when the second on/off button generates WE2, and circuitry including a single connection inter-connecting the first power management subsystem, the first on/off button, the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Itay Sherman, Eran Miller
  • Patent number: 8029288
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for collecting, aggregating, and analyzing data associated with the performance of systems. Energy systems, specifically renewable energy generation systems, are used as examples. The aggregated data serve as the basis for a variety of services that facilitate the adoption and deployment of these systems. Services are provided that aid in enhancing energy educational activities. The services represent the quantity of energy generation as energy demands that the students may appreciate. Furthermore, the services are interactive and may allow the students to change System Parameters so that they more fully understand the influence of these parameters on the energy generation efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: Power-One, Inc.
    Inventor: Christiaan Willem Beekhuis
  • Patent number: 8032614
    Abstract: A method for automatically configuring a local network in a windfarm is provided, the method including the steps of (a) automatically assigning an IP address to a device connected to the local windfarm network, (b) automatically receiving an identifier tag from the device, and (c) relating the automatically assigned IP address of the device to a specific wind turbine in the windfarm which is identified by said identifier tag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2011
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: André Riesberg, Anke Eggengoor
  • Publication number: 20110239053
    Abstract: A method for diagnosing a control system for a stacked battery is disclosed. The control system comprises a plurality of processors, a plurality of controllers, and a monitoring unit (control unit). The method comprises sending a diagnostic information from the central unit to a top processor of the plurality of processors, transmitting a return information from the top processor of the plurality of processors to the central unit, comparing the diagnostic information sent from the central unit with the return information received by the central unit, and indicating a communication problem if the diagnostic information sent from the central unit is different from the return information received by the central unit. The steps are repeated by eliminating the top processor from a previous cycle and assigning a new top processor if there is no problem with the reconfigurable communication system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: O2MICRO, INC.
    Inventors: Guoxing Li, Xiaojun Zeng, Anquan Xiao, Xiaohua Hou
  • Publication number: 20110238221
    Abstract: For full-closed position control, there is provided a position control device capable of suppressing occurrence of stick-slip which occurs during a feed operation performed in a very low speed region. An adder 5 and an adder 24 add an output obtained by multiplying an actual speed deviation El by a proportional gain Pl, an integral component Tl of the actual speed deviation which is obtained by inputting the actual speed deviation El to an integral compensator 25, an output obtained by multiplying a motor speed deviation Em by a proportional gain Pm, and an integral component Tim of the motor speed deviation which is obtained by inputting the motor speed deviation Em to an integral compensator 9, and the result is output as a torque feedback command Tfb.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2011
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Inventors: Yuji Kawazu, Tomohisa Kameyama
  • Publication number: 20110238231
    Abstract: Technology generally directed to operation of loading dock equipment such as vehicle restraints, dock levelers, overhead doors/openers, barrier gates, lights, and linked or unlinked control systems is disclosed herein. The disclosed technology may be employed to power electrical loading dock systems from batteries and/or alternative power sources, including “green” power sources. For example, the technology may be employed at new, temporary, and/or mobile facilities having any number of loading docks where reliable commercial power may not be readily available. Further, the technology may also be employed at warehouses in remote and/or developing areas where electrical infrastructure is not available and/or reasonably priced. The technology may be embodied as methods, apparatuses, manufactures (e.g., computer- and/or processor-readable storage and/or other mediums), and/or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2009
    Publication date: September 29, 2011
    Applicant: 4 FRONT ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Benjamin I. Blackwell, Brett A. Walford, L. B. Whitley, Michael Story, Allan Thomson