Patent classifications
H02J3/1892
Smart-grid adaptive power management method and system with power factor optimization and total harmonic distortion reduction
A method and system of power factor optimization and total harmonic distortion are provided under the premise of efficient power management and distribution on an electrical grid. The method and system include a novel optimization technique based on a novel current profiling methodology enabling real-time power management with power factor correction as a function of the optimization. The optimization can be performed under dynamic current constraints. When deployed on an electrical grid, the method and system can provide a new technique for power management targeting an efficiency of the electrical grid. The method and system can thus provide for reduced costs of energy production and reduced carbon emissions into the atmosphere.
METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING POWER FLOW IN A HYBRID POWER SYSTEM
A power control system for managing energy transfer includes a shared electrical bus including an electrical energy generating source, an electrical energy storage device, and an electrical load, each connected to the shared electrical bus; and a controller operable to execute a plurality of instructions stored in a non-transitory memory on the controller to: receive a command corresponding to a desired operation of the power control system, generate a plurality of control commands as a function of a signal received from at least one sensor, and generate a log storing the present operating state for each of the electrical energy generating source, the electrical energy storage device, and the electrical load over a predefined duration, and wherein the at least one input corresponding to the past operating state of the power control system is the log.
FREQUENCY CONVERTER AND METHOD IN CONNECTION WITH A FREQUENCY CONVERTER
A frequency converter and a method in a frequency converter. The frequency converter is adapted to drive an electrical load, wherein the frequency converter comprises a communications interface through which the frequency converter is adapted to receive external requests to change input power of the frequency converter, and processing means adapted to change the input power of the frequency converter upon receipt of the external request in the limits set by the one or more conditions.
Method and apparatus to dissipate recovered energy from a mechanical load within a connected motor during braking
In a permanent magnet synchronous motor drive system, phase currents can be used to calculate a current that produces no shaft torque and only motor losses and a current that only produces shaft torque. These currents can be controlled to be resupplied into the motor drive system to a desired amount on a continuous basis to maintain a DC energy storage device voltage at a desired safe level. The calculated currents are resupplied to the motor drive system such that voltage levels within the DC energy storage device that approach a voltage maximum limit are transferred to the motor in the form of current that is dissipated by the motor without losing efficiency and control of driving a load with the motor.
ADAPTIVE VOLTAGE CONTROL OF DISTRIBUTED ENERGY RESOURCES
The disclosed system provides an adaptive control system technique generally related to distributed energy resources (DERs) located in distribution circuits. More specifically, the system technique relates to a DER with both active and reactive generation capability. In an embodiment, the system measures a voltage phase angle and a current phase angle of distribution feeder circuit, and measures a voltage value output by a power converter. The system calculates an active power setpoint value and a reactive power setpoint value of the power converter based on the measured voltage value, and the measured voltage phase angle and current phase angle. The system then sets the active and reactive power setpoint values on the power converter. The disclosed system automatically adjusts the setpoints to real-time load characteristics of the distribution feeder circuit, increases distribution feeder hosting capacity, and enables DERs to integrate in distribution feeders more efficiently.
System and method for synchronous condensing
A method includes aligning a generator shaft axis of a generator, a clutch axis of a clutch, and a pump axis of a pump along a common axis. The method also includes coupling a supply line from the pump to a radial surface of the clutch. Further, the generator is configured to operate in a power generation mode and a synchronous condensing mode, and the pump is configured to supply a lubricant to the clutch in a radial direction that is substantially perpendicular to the common axis.
Method to drive a power control device connected to unbalanced three-phase loads when no neutral reference is available in an alternative electrical network
A method for operating an unbalanced load manager for a three-phase induction motor or heater, includes receiving, by a load manager, values representative of current flow sensed by current sensors and voltages sensed by voltage taps corresponding to phases of a three-phase power system providing power to the motor or heater. The method includes detecting, by the load manager, a transition from positive or negative to zero current, to measure a phase shift between line-to-line and current. The method further includes synchronizing, by the load manager, firing from line-to-line signal to line-to-neutral signal of phases of the three-phase power system, using the measured phase shift between line-to-line and current.
Method and apparatus for controlling power flow in a hybrid power system
A system and method for controlling power flow in a hybrid power system includes a controller in communication with the hybrid power system. The controller is also in communication with at least one knowledge system to receive information related to power generation or power consumption within the hybrid power system. The controller generates a control command for each of the power converters in the hybrid power system and maintains a log of power flow to and from each device in the hybrid power system. The controller is also in communication with a provider of the utility grid and may generate the control commands for each of the power converters in response to commands provided from the provider of the utility grid.
POWER GRID SATURATION CONTROL WITH DISTRIBUTED GRID INTELLIGENCE
Distributed grid intelligence enables grid saturation control. A distributed control node can determine that a segment of the power grid exceeds a saturation threshold. A power grid can be saturated by real power when local power sources at customer premises are connected to the grid. The grid saturation threshold can be a point at which real power generation capacity of local energy sources exceeds a threshold percentage of peak real power demand for the power grid segment where the power generation capacity exists. The control node at a consumer node can dynamically adjust a ratio of real power to reactive power for the segment of the power grid as seen from the grid, and reduce grid saturation.
Virtual power grid
Distributed grid intelligence can enable a virtual power grid. Multiple consumer nodes can have local power sources, and be coupled to a same point of common coupling (PCC). The consumer nodes can be controlled by distributed control nodes at the consumer nodes. The control nodes control the distribution of power from the local power sources based on local power demand of each respective consumer node, and also based on distribution of power from the other respective control node. Thus, consumer nodes can share power generated locally, but operate independently without the need for central management or a central power plant.