# US 10,122,241 B2 · Turbine-type flow rate controlling device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,122,241 B2 - Document ID: US10122241B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/086,140 - Filed: 2016-03-31 - Published: 2016-10-06 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-03-31 - Assignees: Azbil Corporation - Applicants: Azbil Corporation - Inventors: Hiroaki Narita; Makoto Saruwatari - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122241B2 ## CPC - H02K 7/1823: {structurally associated with turbines or similar engines} - F03B 13/00: Adaptations of machines or engines for special use; Combinations of machines or engines with driving or driven apparatus (if the apparatus aspects are predominant, see the relevant subclasses for such apparatus, e.g. H02K7/18); Power stations or aggregates (incorporating only machines or engines of positive-displacement type F03C; hydraulic engineering aspects E02B; {combinations with wind energy converters F03D9/008}) - F03B 15/08: by speed, e.g. by measuring electric frequency or liquid flow - F24F 11/83: by controlling the supply of heat-exchange fluids to heat-exchangers - F05B 2220/20: within closed fluid conduits, e.g. pipes - F05B 2220/32: in water turbines - F05B 2220/602: with energy recovery turbines - F05B 2220/706: an electrical generator - F05B 2270/101: to control rotational speed (n) - F24F 11/85: using variable-flow pumps - Y02B 10/50: Hydropower in dwellings - Y02E 10/20: Hydro energy - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - F03B: MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS (positive-displacement engines for liquid F03C; machines for liquids and gases F01; positive-displacement machines for liquids F04, rotary fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type F16H41/00) - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - F05B: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO WIND, SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS, TO MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS COVERED BY SUBCLASSES F03B, F03D AND F03G - Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A power generating portion formed of a rotor and a stator is provided. The rotor is formed of a ring incorporating a permanent magnet and an impeller. The rotor is regarded as a turbine. An actual flow rate of fluid flowing in a flow path is estimated from a present angular velocity of the turbine and a present torque of the power generating portion, a torque of the power generating portion in which the estimated actual flow rate corresponds to a setting flow rate is calculated and the torque of the power generating portion is controlled based on the calculated torque and a magnetic pole position of the turbine. The magnetic pole position of the turbine is estimated based on a present phase voltage value and a present phase current value of the power generating portion and a present winding temperature of the power generating portion. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A turbine-type flow rate controlling device, comprising: a turbine to convert energy of a fluid flowing in a flow path into rotational movement energy; a power generator to convert the rotational movement energy converted by the turbine into electrical energy; a flow rate controller configured to receive a setting flow rate, values of which vary due to a load fluctuation of a supply destination of the fluid, estimate an actual flow rate of the fluid flowing in the flow path from a present angular velocity of the turbine and a present torque of the power generator, and calculate a torque of the power generator for which the estimated actual flow rate will correspond to the received setting flow rate; a magnetic pole position estimator configured to estimate a position of a magnetic pole of a magnet incorporated in the turbine as a magnetic pole position of the turbine; and a power generating controller configured to control the torque of the power generator based on the torque calculated by the flow rate controller and the estimated magnetic pole position of the turbine. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The turbine-type flow rate controlling device according to claim 1, wherein the magnetic pole position estimator is further configured to estimate the magnetic pole position of the turbine based on a present phase voltage value, a present phase current value of the power generator, and a present temperature of winding of the power generator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The turbine-type flow rate controlling device according to claim 1, further comprising an inverter configured to input a phase voltage setting value from the power generating controller, output a phase voltage to the power generator, and output a present phase voltage value and a present phase current value of the power generator, respectively, to the power generating controller and the magnetic pole position estimator. ### Claim 4 A method of controlling a flow rate in a system including a turbine that converts energy of a fluid flowing in a flow path into rotational movement energy, and a power generator to convert the rotational movement energy into electrical energy, the method comprising: receiving a setting flow rate, values of which vary due to a load fluctuation of a supply destination of the fluid; estimating an actual flow rate of the fluid flowing in the flow path from a present angular velocity of the turbine and a present torque of the power generator, and calculating a torque of the power generator for which the estimated actual flow rate will correspond to the received setting flow rate; estimating a position of a magnetic pole of a magnet incorporated in the turbine as a magnetic pole position of the turbine; and controlling the torque of the power generator based on the calculated torque and the estimated magnetic pole position of the turbine. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, wherein the step of estimating the magnetic pole position of the turbine comprises estimating the magnetic pole position of the turbine based on a present phase voltage value, a present phase current value of the power generator, and a present temperature of winding of the power generator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: receiving a phase voltage setting value; outputting a phase voltage based on the phase voltage setting value; and outputting a present phase voltage value and a present phase current value of the power generator based on the phase voltage setting value.