# US 11,898,532 B2 · Hydropower generation system and power generator control method

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 11,898,532 B2
- Document ID: US11898532B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/702,709
- Filed: 2022-03-23
- Published: 2022-07-07
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2019-09-26
- Assignees: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
- Applicants: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
- Inventors: Takahiro Abe; Atsushi Suhara; Takao Sonoda; Takahiro Yokoyama
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11898532B2

## CPC

- F03B 15/08: by speed, e.g. by measuring electric frequency or liquid flow
- F05B 2270/301: Pressure
- F05B 2270/335: Output power or torque
- H02J 3/381: {Dispersed generators}
- H02J 3/48: Controlling the sharing of active power
- H02J 2101/20: Dispersed power generation using renewable energy sources
- H02P 2101/10: for water-driven turbines
- Y02E 10/20: Hydro energy
- 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)
- 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
- 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
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A hydroelectric power generation system is included in a channel control system. The channel control system includes a command section that outputs a command value of a flow rate or pressure of a fluid, an opening degree control unit that calculates a target opening degree based on the command value, and a motor-operated valve installed in a channel through which the fluid flows. The valve opens and closes in accordance with the target opening degree. The hydroelectric power generation system includes a water turbine disposed in the channel, a generator driven by the water turbine, and a generator control unit that controls at least one of a torque and a number of rotations of the generator based on opening degree information that indicates a measured value of an actual opening degree of the valve or an opening degree estimated.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A hydroelectric power generation system included in a channel control system including a command section configured to output a command value of a flow rate or pressure of a fluid, an opening degree control unit configured to calculate a target opening degree based on the command value output by the command section, and a motor-operated valve installed in a channel through which the fluid flows and configured to open and close in accordance with the target opening degree, the hydroelectric power generation system comprising:
a water turbine disposed in the channel in series or parallel with the motor-operated valve;
a generator configured to be driven by the water turbine; and
a generator control unit configured to control at least one of a torque and a rotational speed of the generator with reference to opening degree information indicating a measured value of an opening degree of the motor-operated valve,
a signal obtained by an opening degree sensor configured to measure the opening degree of the motor-operated valve being transmitted to the generator control unit as the opening degree information.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The hydroelectric power generation system of claim 1, wherein
the channel is provided with a sensor configured to measure the flow rate or pressure of the fluid flowing through the channel, the sensor being disposed in series with the motor-operated valve and the water turbine, and
the command section is configured to calculate the command value based on a value measured by the sensor so that the value measured by the sensor be an intended value.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The hydroelectric power generation system of claim 1, wherein
the generator control unit does not receive the command value from the command section.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The hydroelectric power generation system of claim 1, wherein
the channel is provided with a sensor configured to measure the flow rate or pressure of the fluid flowing through the channel, the sensor being disposed in series with the motor-operated valve and the water turbine,
the command section is configured to calculate the command value based on a value measured by the sensor so that the value measured by the sensor will be an intended value, and
the generator control unit is configured to control the at least one of the torque and the rotational speed of the generator so that the opening degree indicated by the opening degree information is
greater than or equal to a first threshold value that is above 0% and
less than or equal to a second threshold value that is below 100%.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The hydroelectric power generation system of claim 4, wherein
the sensor is configured to measure the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the channel, and
the generator control unit is configured to control the at least one of the torque and the rotational speed of the generator so that
a flow rate of the water turbine decreases if the opening degree indicated by the opening degree information is less than the first threshold value, and
the flow rate of the water turbine increases if the opening degree indicated by the opening degree information is greater than the second threshold value.

### Claim 6 (depends on 4)

The hydroelectric power generation system of claim 4, wherein
the sensor is configured to measure the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the channel, and
the generator control unit is configured to control the at least one of the torque and the rotational speed of the generator so that
an effective head of the water turbine increases if the opening degree indicated by the opening degree information is less than the first threshold value, and
the effective head of the water turbine decreases if the opening degree indicated by the opening degree information is greater than the second threshold value.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The hydroelectric power generation system of claim 1, wherein
the channel is provided with a flow rate sensor configured to measure the flow rate of the fluid flowing through the channel, the flow rate sensor being disposed in series with the motor-operated valve and the water turbine,
the command section is configured to calculate the command value based on a value measured by the flow rate sensor so that the value measured by the flow rate sensor will be an intended value, and
a rate of flow rate change resulting from a change in the at least one of the torque and the rotational speed of the generator is lower than a rate of flow rate change resulting from opening and closing of the motor-operated valve.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The hydroelectric power generation system of claim 1, wherein
the channel is provided with a pressure sensor configured to measure the pressure of the fluid flowing through the channel, the pressure sensor being disposed in series with the motor-operated valve and the water turbine,
the command section is configured to calculate the command value based on a value measured by the pressure sensor so that the value measured by the pressure sensor will be an intended value, and
a rate of fluid pressure change resulting from a change in the at least one of the torque and the rotational speed of the generator is lower than a rate of fluid pressure change resulting from opening and closing of the motor-operated valve.

### Claim 9

A generator control method for use in a channel control system including a command section configured to output a command value of a flow rate or pressure of a fluid, an opening degree control unit configured to calculate a target opening degree based on the command value output by the command section, a motor-operated valve installed in a channel through which the fluid flows, the motor-operated valve being configured to open and close in accordance with the target opening degree, a water turbine disposed in the channel in series or parallel with the motor-operated valve, and a generator configured to be driven by the water turbine, the generator control method comprising:
using a generator control unit to control at least one of a torque and a rotational speed of the generator with reference to opening degree information indicating a measured value of an opening degree of the motor-operated valve,
a signal obtained by an opening degree sensor configured to measure the opening degree of the motor-operated valve being transmitted to the generator control unit as the opening degree information.