US6664654B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for dual mode control of a turbogenerator/motor
Assignee: Capstone Green Energy Corp
•
Filing: 2002-05-29
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Granted: 2003-12-16
•
Expires: 2022-05-29
Abstract
Abstract A method of controlling a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor includes providing a protected load connected in parallel with the turbogenerator/motor through a pulse width modulated inverter configured in a first operating mode to supply controlled current from the turbogenerator/motor to a utility electrical power source, and selectively connected to the utility electrical power source through an isolation device, monitoring the utility electrical power source, and automatically disconnecting the protected load from the utility electrical power source while reconfiguring the pulse width modulated inverter in a second operating mode to supply controlled voltage to the protected load when a fault is detected in the utility electrical power source. The present invention provides an external or integrated dual mode controller which can be used to provide automatic transitions of a turbogenerator/motor between grid-connected modes where a PWM inverter provides a controlled AC current source to stand-alone modes where the PWM inverter provides a controlled AC voltage source to a protected load. Three phase rotation sequence can be set to positive or negative rotation, or be set to the last measured rotation for the utility grid to enable automatic transitions from stand-alone to grid-connect modes. In addition, the present invention provides for detecting a reference phase angle of the three-phase power provided by a utility grid such that gradual synchronization/resynchronization of a protected parallel connected load can be performed by appropriately controlling the PWM inverter prior to re-connection to the utility grid.
Inventors
- 👤 Simon R. Wall
- 👤 Joel B. Wacknov
- 👤 Mark G. Gilbreth
- 👤 Ken Keller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 20:34
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02P; H02P9/00; H02P9/04; H02J; H02J3/00; H02J3/38; H02J3/40; H02J3/42; H02P9/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
201 words
A method for controlling a turbogenerator and suppling power to a load, comprising: (a) generating variable-voltage/variable-frequency electrical power with a permanent magnet turbogenerator the variable-voltage and the variable-frequency of the generated electrical power being dependent upon the output power level of the permanent magnet turbogenerator; (b) converting the variable-voltage/variable-frequency electrical power to fixed-voltage/fixed-frequency electrical power with a generator converter capable of operating in one of a grid-connected mode and a stand-alone mode; (c) supplying fixed-voltage/fixed-frequency electrical power from the generator converter and the permanent magnet turbogenerator to at least one of a utility electrical power source and a protected load when the generator converter is operating in the grid-connected mode; (d) monitoring the utility electrical power source; (e) automatically disconnecting the generator converter and the permanent magnet turbogenerator from the utility electrical power source upon detection of a fault in the utility electrical power source; (f) automatically switching the operating mode of the generator converter from grid-connected mode to stand-alone mode upon detection of a fault in the utility electrical power source; and (g) supplying fixed-voltage/fixed-frequency electrical power from the generator converter and the permanent magnet turbogenerator to the protected load when the generator converter is operating in the stand-alone mode.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
201 words
A method for controlling a turbogenerator and suppling power to a load, comprising: (a) generating variable-voltage/variable-frequency electrical power with a permanent magnet turbogenerator the variable-voltage and the variable-frequency of the generated electrical power being dependent upon the output power level of the permanent magnet turbogenerator; (b) converting the variable-voltage/variable-frequency electrical power to fixed-voltage/fixed-frequency electrical power with a generator converter capable of operating in one of a grid-connected mode and a stand-alone mode; (c) supplying fixed-voltage/fixed-frequency electrical power from the generator converter and the permanent magnet turbogenerator to at least one of a utility electrical power source and a protected load when the generator converter is operating in the grid-connected mode; (d) monitoring the utility electrical power source; (e) automatically disconnecting the generator converter and the permanent magnet turbogenerator from the utility electrical power source upon detection of a fault in the utility electrical power source; (f) automatically switching the operating mode of the generator converter from grid-connected mode to stand-alone mode upon detection of a fault in the utility electrical power source; and (g) supplying fixed-voltage/fixed-frequency electrical power from the generator converter and the permanent magnet turbogenerator to the protected load when the generator converter is operating in the stand-alone mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein step (d) comprises: monitoring a phase rotation sequence of the utility electrical power source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein step (d) comprises: monitoring a phase reference angle of the utility electrical power source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: (h) detecting that the utility electrical power source is acceptable for reconnection of the generator converter and the permanent magnet turbogenerator; and (i) reconnecting the generator converter and the permanent magnet turbogenerator to the utility electrical power source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 4 , further comprising: (j) prior to step (i), adjusting the phase angle of the fixed-voltage/fixed-frequency electrical power from the generator converter and the permanent magnet turbogenerator so that the phase angle of the fixed-voltage/fixed-frequency electrical power is synchronized with the phase angle of the utility electrical power source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 5 , further comprising: (k) switching the operating mode of the generator converter from stand-alone mode to grid-connected mode.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for controlling a turbogenerator and supplying power to a load, comprising: (a) providing power to a load from a utility electrical power source; (b) providing power to the utility electrical power source from a turbogenerator; (c) monitoring the utility electrical power source; (d) disconnecting the load and the turbogenerator from the utility electrical power source upon detecting a fault in the utility electrical power source; and (e) after step (d), providing power from the turbogenerator to the load.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for controlling a turbogenerator and supplying power to a load, comprising: (a) providing power to a load from a utility electrical power source; (b) providing power to the utility electrical power source from a turbogenerator; (c) monitoring the utility electrical power source; (d) disconnecting the load and the turbogenerator from the utility electrical power source upon detecting a fault in the utility electrical power source; and (e) after step (d), providing power from the turbogenerator to the load.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein step (c) comprises: monitoring a phase rotation sequence of the utility electrical power source.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 7 , wherein step (c) comprises: monitoring a phase reference angle of the utility electrical power source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 7 , further comprising: (f) upon detecting that the utility electrical power source is acceptable for reconnection of the turbogenerator, reconnecting the turbogenerator to the utility electrical power source and providing power to the utility electrical power source from the turbogenerator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 7 , further comprising: (g) prior to step (f), adjusting the phase angle of the electrical power of the turbogenerator so that the phase angle of the electrical power is synchronized with the phase angle of the utility electrical power source.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
195 words
A method for controlling a turbogenerator and suppling power to a load, comprising: (a) generating electrical power with a turbogenerator, the electrical power having a voltage and a frequency that is dependent upon the output power level of the turbogenerator; (b) converting the electrical power to fixed-voltage/fixed-frequency electrical power with a generator converter capable of operating in one of a grid-connected mode and a stand-alone mode; (c) supplying fixed-voltage/fixed-frequency electrical power from the generator converter and the permanent magnet turbogenerator to at least one of a utility electrical power source and a protected load when the generator converter is operating in the grid-connected mode; (d) monitoring the utility electrical power source; (e) automatically disconnecting the generator converter and the permanent magnet turbogenerator from the utility electrical power source upon detection of a fault in the utility electrical power source; (f) automatically switching the operating mode of the generator converter from grid-connected mode to stand-alone mode upon detection of a fault in the utility electrical power source; and (g) supplying fixed-voltage/fixed-frequency electrical power from the generator converter and the permanent magnet turbogenerator to the protected load when the generator converter is operating in the stand-alone mode.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
195 words
A method for controlling a turbogenerator and suppling power to a load, comprising: (a) generating electrical power with a turbogenerator, the electrical power having a voltage and a frequency that is dependent upon the output power level of the turbogenerator; (b) converting the electrical power to fixed-voltage/fixed-frequency electrical power with a generator converter capable of operating in one of a grid-connected mode and a stand-alone mode; (c) supplying fixed-voltage/fixed-frequency electrical power from the generator converter and the permanent magnet turbogenerator to at least one of a utility electrical power source and a protected load when the generator converter is operating in the grid-connected mode; (d) monitoring the utility electrical power source; (e) automatically disconnecting the generator converter and the permanent magnet turbogenerator from the utility electrical power source upon detection of a fault in the utility electrical power source; (f) automatically switching the operating mode of the generator converter from grid-connected mode to stand-alone mode upon detection of a fault in the utility electrical power source; and (g) supplying fixed-voltage/fixed-frequency electrical power from the generator converter and the permanent magnet turbogenerator to the protected load when the generator converter is operating in the stand-alone mode.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 12 , further comprising: (h) detecting that the utility electrical power source is acceptable for reconnection of the generator converter and the permanent magnet turbogenerator; and (i) reconnecting the generator converter and the permanent magnet turbogenerator to the utility electrical power source.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein step (d) comprises: monitoring a phase reference angle of the utility electrical power source.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
The method of claim 14 , further comprising: (j) prior to step (i), adjusting the phase angle of the fixed-voltage/fixed-frequency electrical power from the generator converter and the permanent magnet turbogenerator so that the phase angle of the fixed-voltage/fixed-frequency electrical power is synchronized with the phase angle of the utility electrical power source.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 15 , further comprising: (k) switching the operating mode of the generator converter from stand-alone mode to grid-connected mode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 12 , wherein step (d) comprises: monitoring a phase rotation sequence of the utility electrical power source.
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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 |