# US 10,483,887 B2 · Gas turbine generator temperature DC to DC converter control system

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- Number: US 10,483,887 B2
- Document ID: US10483887B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/675,685
- Filed: 2017-08-11
- Published: 2019-02-14
- Granted: 2019-11-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-08-11
- Assignees: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
- Applicants: Rolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
- Inventors: Keith D. Noderer
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10483887B2

## CPC

- F01D 15/10: Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators
- F01D 21/12: responsive to temperature
- H02J 7/34: Parallel operation in networks using both storage and other DC sources, e.g. providing buffering (H02J7/14 takes precedence)
- H02P 9/008: {wherein the generator is controlled by the requirements of the prime mover}
- F05D 2220/32: in gas turbines
- F05D 2220/762: of the direct current (D.C.) type
- F05D 2270/024: to keep rotational speed constant
- H02J 1/06: Two-wire DC power distribution systems
- H02J 1/082: DC supplies with two or more different DC voltage levels
- H02J 4/00: Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as AC or DC; Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks combining AC and DC sections or sub-networks (arrangements using intermediate DC-AC-DC conversion H02J1/002; arrangements using high-voltage DC [HVDC] links H02J3/36)
- F01D: NON-POSITIVE DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, e.g. STEAM TURBINES (machines or engines for liquids F03; non-positive displacement pumps F04D)
- H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS
- F05D: INDEXING SCHEME FOR ASPECTS RELATING TO NON-POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES OR ENGINES, GAS-TURBINES OR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS

## Abstract

A system includes a DC to DC converter coupled with a load, a power source bus coupled with an input of the DC to DC converter, and an energy storage device. The energy storage device and an output of the DC to DC converter are coupled with a load bus, which supplies the load. The power source bus is supplied power by a generator being driven by a gas turbine. During operation, an operational temperature of the gas turbine may be received by the controller. The controller may dynamically adjust a demand output of the DC to DC converter in response to the operational temperature of the gas turbine exceeding a predetermined threshold temperature value for a predetermined period of time.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system comprising:
a gas turbine operable at a rated constant speed to rotate an output shaft;
a temperature sensor configured to output a temperature signal indicative of an operational temperature of the gas turbine;
a generator rotatably coupled with the output shaft and operable to output electric power;
a DC to DC converter configured to receive electric power from the generator, the DC to DC converter coupled with a load bus;
an energy storage device coupled with the load bus; and
a controller configured to receive the temperature signal and dynamically adjust a demand output of the DC to DC converter in response to the operational temperature of the gas turbine, rotating at the rated constant speed, exceeding a predetermined threshold temperature value for a predetermined period of time, the controller configured to dynamically adjust the demand output lower in proportion to a duration of time that the operational temperature exceeds the predetermined threshold temperature value.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to dynamically adjust the demand output lower in proportion to a difference between the operational temperature of the gas turbine and the predetermined threshold temperature value.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to dynamically adjust the demand output to a predetermined lower demand output.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to receive operational parameters comprising an ambient temperature and an ambient pressure, the controller is further configured to adjust the predetermined threshold temperature value as a function of the ambient temperature and the ambient pressure.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to receive a control signal indicative of a magnitude and a duration of a load event prior to occurrence of the load event causing a change in the load, and the controller is further configured to dynamically adjust the demand output of the DC to DC converter only in response to the indicated duration of the load event being greater than a duration predetermined period of time.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to receive operational parameters comprising an ambient temperature and an ambient pressure, the controller is further configured to dynamically adjust the demand output of the DC to DC converter in response to at least one of the operational parameters or the operational temperature of the gas turbine exceeding a predetermined threshold value for the predetermined period of time.

### Claim 7

A method comprising:
rotating an electric generator with a gas turbine rated at a constant rotational speed, the electric generator rotated to produce electric power;
changing a magnitude of a voltage of the electric power with a DC to DC converter to output a first source of DC electric power on a load bus;
supplying a second source of DC electric power to the load bus from an energy storage device;
monitoring an operational temperature of the gas turbine; and
dynamically adjusting a demand output of the DC to DC converter in response to the operational temperature exceeding a predetermined threshold for a predetermined period of time while the gas turbine is rotating at the constant rotation speed, the demand output of the DC to DC converter dynamically adjusted by varying a level of adjustment of the demand output in accordance with a duration of time the operational temperature exceeds the predetermined threshold.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving a control signal indicative of a magnitude and a duration of a load event prior to occurrence of the load event causing a change in the load, and wherein dynamically adjusting the demand output of the DC to DC converter comprises only adjusting the demand output of the DC to DC converter when the duration of the load event exceeds a duration predetermined period of time.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein dynamically adjusting the demand output of the DC to DC converter comprises varying a level of adjustment of the demand output in proportion to a value of the operational temperature.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, further comprising dynamically adjusting the demand output of the DC to DC converter in response to operational parameters, the operational parameters comprising an ambient temperature and an ambient pressure.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The method of claim 10, wherein the operational parameters comprise a measured air speed and a measured altitude.

### Claim 12 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein monitoring the operational temperature of the gas turbine further comprises measuring a mean gas temperature of the gas turbine.

### Claim 13 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein dynamically adjusting a demand output of the DC to DC converter in response to the operational temperature exceeding the predetermined threshold comprises accessing a table of operational parameters to calculate a reduction in the demand output.

### Claim 14

A system comprising:
a DC to DC converter configured to output DC power on a load bus;
a energy storage device configured to output DC power on the load bus;
a gas turbine operable at a constant rated speed to drive a generator to supply electric power as an input to the DC to DC converter;
a temperature sensor configured to provide a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of gas in the gas turbine; and
a controller configured to lower output of the DC power by the DC to DC converter in response to the temperature of gas in the gas turbine being above a temperature threshold for a predetermined length of time during operation of the gas turbine at the constant rated speed, a magnitude of the output of the DC power by the DC to DC converter lowered in proportion to the duration of time the temperature of gas in the gas turbine engine exceeds the temperature threshold.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to calculate an adjustment of the output of the DC power using a calculated altitude and a calculated day time ambient temperature.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to review a transient load control signal indicative of a projected duration of an upcoming transient step change load on the load bus, and only lower output of the DC power by the DC to DC converter in response to the temperature of gas in the gas turbine being above the temperature threshold for the predetermined length of time, and the projected duration of the upcoming transient step change load being greater than a predetermined duration.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The system of claim 16, wherein the controller is further configured to rate limit an amount by which the output of the electric power by the DC to DC converter is limited in accordance with an operational parameter related to operation of the gas turbine, the operational parameter dynamically received by the controller.

### Claim 18 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to lower output of the DC power by the DC to DC converter to a predetermined lower output of the DC power.