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US6664653B1 Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Command and control system for controlling operational sequencing of multiple turbogenerators using a selected control mode

Assignee: Capstone Green Energy Corp
•
Filing: 2000-10-12
•
Granted: 2003-12-16
•
Expires: 2020-10-12
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Abstract

Abstract A command and control system and method for multiple turbogenerators in a grid parallel system includes a master controller to start, sequence, coordinate power commands, and provide fault handling to each of the individual turbogenerators and the specific control modes. A bidirectional power meter, that measures the load consumption (or production when a turbogenerator system is installed) in a building or application, may also be utilized. This power meter can provide a reference or setpoint to the master controller for controlling the individual turbogenerators.

Inventors

  • 👤 Edward C. Edelman

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 11:35
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J3/00; H02J3/38; H02J3/46; H02J3/466; H02J3/40

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim 162 words
A command and control system for a plurality of turbogenerators, comprising: a plurality of individual turbogenerators, each of said plurality of individual turbogenerators having a controller; a command and control system bus, each of said plurality of individual turbogenerator controllers operably connected to said command and control system bus; a plurality of disconnect switches, a disconnect switch provided in each operable connection of an individual turbogenerator controller to said command and control bus; a bidirectional power meter; a master controller operably associated with each of the turbogenerator controllers and with said bi-directional power meter to control operational sequencing of the individual turbogenerators in a selected control mode; and a junction box operably connecting an electric utility, said power meter, the output of the plurality of individual turbogenerators, and a load, wherein said operational sequencing includes the starting stopping and loading of each of said plurality of individual turbogenerators, and wherein a turbogenerator is automatically restarted in the event of a fault shutdown.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 162 words
A command and control system for a plurality of turbogenerators, comprising: a plurality of individual turbogenerators, each of said plurality of individual turbogenerators having a controller; a command and control system bus, each of said plurality of individual turbogenerator controllers operably connected to said command and control system bus; a plurality of disconnect switches, a disconnect switch provided in each operable connection of an individual turbogenerator controller to said command and control bus; a bidirectional power meter; a master controller operably associated with each of the turbogenerator controllers and with said bi-directional power meter to control operational sequencing of the individual turbogenerators in a selected control mode; and a junction box operably connecting an electric utility, said power meter, the output of the plurality of individual turbogenerators, and a load, wherein said operational sequencing includes the starting stopping and loading of each of said plurality of individual turbogenerators, and wherein a turbogenerator is automatically restarted in the event of a fault shutdown.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 43 words
The command and control system of claim 1 , and in addition: a timed relay operably associated with said command and control system bus, said bi-directional power meter, and said junction box to prevent the feedback of electrical power to the electric Utility.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 50 words
The command and control system of claim 1 , wherein said selected control mode is a utility load following mode in which utility power consumption and turbogenerator power generation are compared to produce an error signal which is integrated over a defined specified time to produce a power demand signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 52 words
The command and control system of claim 1 wherein said selected control mode is a utility base load mode in which a defined utility power signal and the power meter signal are compared to produce an error signal which is integrated over a defined specified time to produce a power demand signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 51 words
The command and control system of claim 1 wherein said selected control mode is a base load mode in which the power meter signal and a base load demand signal are compared to produce an error signal which is integrated over a defined specified time to produce a power demand signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 19 words
The command and control system of claim 1 wherein said master controller includes a sequencing and control logic system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
The command and control system of claim 6 wherein said sequencing and control logic system includes a proportional-plus-integrated control to regulate power demand.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 26 words
The command and control system of claim 1 wherein the operational sequencing is based on the use time of each of said plurality of individual turbogenerators.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 19 words
The command and control system of claim 8 wherein the turbogenerator with the least use time is stared first.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 20 words
The command and control system of claim 8 wherein the turbogenerator with the most use time is shut down first.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 27 words
The command and control system of claim 1 wherein the starting of each of the plurality of turbogenerators is selected to minimize the total power draw requirements.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 26 words
The command and control system of claim 1 wherein an inactive turbogenerator is automatically restarted in the event of a fault shutdown of an active turbogenerator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 25 words
The command and control system of claim 1 wherein said selected control mode includes power hysterisis bands, rate limits and set points integrated over time.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 142 words
A control system for a plurality of turbogenerators, comprising: a plurality of turbogenerators, each of said plurality of individual turbogenerators having a controller; a control system bus, each of said plurality of turbogenerator controllers operably connected to said control system bus; a switch provided in each operable connection of an individual turbogenerator controller to said control bus; a power meter; a master controller operably associated with each of the turbogenerator controllers and with the power meter to control the operational sequences for the individual turbogenerators in a selected control mode; and a junction box operably connecting an electric utility, said power meter, the output of the plurality of individual turbogenerators, and a load, wherein the operational sequences include a start sequence, a stop sequence and a load sequence, and wherein a turbogenerator is automatically restarted in the event of a fault shutdown.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 142 words
A control system for a plurality of turbogenerators, comprising: a plurality of turbogenerators, each of said plurality of individual turbogenerators having a controller; a control system bus, each of said plurality of turbogenerator controllers operably connected to said control system bus; a switch provided in each operable connection of an individual turbogenerator controller to said control bus; a power meter; a master controller operably associated with each of the turbogenerator controllers and with the power meter to control the operational sequences for the individual turbogenerators in a selected control mode; and a junction box operably connecting an electric utility, said power meter, the output of the plurality of individual turbogenerators, and a load, wherein the operational sequences include a start sequence, a stop sequence and a load sequence, and wherein a turbogenerator is automatically restarted in the event of a fault shutdown.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 37 words
The control system of claim 14 , further comprising: a timed relay operably associated with said control system bus, said power meter, and said junction box to prevent the feedback of electrical power to the electric utility.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 48 words
The control system of claim 14 , wherein said selected control mode is a utility load following mode in which utility power consumption and turbogenerator power generation are compared to produce an error signal which is integrated over a defined specified time to produce a power demand signal.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 50 words
The control system of claim 14 wherein said selected control mode is a utility base load mode in which a defined utility power signal and the power meter signal are compared to produce an error signal which is integrated over a defined specified time to produce a power demand signal.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 49 words
The control system of claim 14 wherein said selected control mode is a base load mode in which the power meter signal and a base load demand signal are compared to produce an error signal which is integrated over a defined specified time to produce a power demand signal.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 17 words
The control system of claim 14 wherein said master controller includes a sequencing and control logic system.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 21 words
The control system of claim 19 wherein said sequencing and control logic system includes a proportional-plus-integrated control to regulate power demand.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 24 words
The control system of claim 14 wherein the start sequence is based on the use time of each of said plurality of individual turbogenerators.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 17 words
The control system of claim 21 wherein the turbogenerator with the least use time is started first.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 18 words
The control system of claim 21 wherein the turbogenerator with the most use time is shut down first.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 26 words
The control system of claim 14 wherein the start sequence of each of the plurality of turbogenerators is selected to minimize the total power draw requirements.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 24 words
The control system of claim 14 wherein an inactive turbogenerator is automatically restarted in the event of a fault shutdown of an active turbogenerator.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 23 words
The control system of claim 14 wherein said selected control mode includes power hysteresis bands, rate limits and set points integrated over time.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 13 words
The control system of claim 14 wherein the switch is a disconnect switch.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 15 words
The control system of claim 14 wherein the power meter is a bi-directional power meter.

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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2006-12-15 2007-06-16 2007-12-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2010-12-15 2011-06-16 2011-12-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2014-12-15 2015-06-16 2015-12-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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