Continuous power supply with back-up generation
AssigneeCapstone Turbine Corporation
InventorsMark G. Gilbreth, Everett R. Geis, Claude Khalizadeh, David McShane, Joel B. Wacknov, Simon R. Wall
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A continuous power supply may include a turbogenerator to provide power to supply the load and or an energy storage element and possibly also to the primary energy source. Utilizing an isolated DC bus architecture permits bi-directional power flow among interconnected elements.
Claims40
A power supply with back-up generation comprising:
- a power source connected to a first bi-directional converter;
- a turbogenerator connected to a second bi-directional converter;
- a load connected to a converter;
- a DC bus interconnecting each of the converters;
- an energy storage element connected to the DC bus;
- a bus sensor element connected to the DC bus, providing bus status signals;
- and
- a controller receiving bus status signals for controlling said turbogenerator.
A method of providing uninterruptable power to a load comprising:
- providing a primary power source isolated by a first bi-directional power converter;
- providing a turbogenerator isolated by a second bi-directional power converter;
- providing a load isolated by a power converter;
- interconnecting each of the isolation power converters with a DC bus;
- connecting an energy storage element to the DC bus;
- monitoring the status of the DC bus and providing the status signals to the controller;
- and
- controlling the turbogenerator using bus status signals.
A standby system for supplying power to a network when a preferred power supply system is unavailable, the network including a coupling device adapted to be coupled between the preferred power supply system and a load, a DC bus adapted to be coupled to and between the coupling device and the load, a power converter coupled to the DC bus, and an energy storage device coupled to the power converter, comprising:
- an electric power supply adapted to be coupled between the energy storage device and the power converter;
- a sensor for sensing energy capacity of the energy storage device;
- and
- a controller coupled to said sensor and to said electric power supply for controlling the operation of said electric power supply as a function of energy capacity sensed by said sensor
An uninterruptable continuous power supply system, compising:
- a first power converter adapted to be coupled to a primary power source;
- a second power converter adapted to be coupled to a load;
- a DC bus coupled to and between the first and second power converters;
- an energy storage device coupled to the DC bus;
- an electric power supply coupled between the energy storage device and the DC bus;
- a sensor for sensing energy capacity of the energy storage device;
- and
- a controller coupled to said sensor and to said electric power supply for controlling the operation of said electric power supply as a function of energy capacity sensed by said sensor.
An uninterruptable continuous power supply system, comprising:
- a first AC/DC bi-directional power converter, adapted to be coupled to a primary power source;
- a second AC/DC bi-directional power converter, adapted to be coupled to a load;
- a DC bus coupled to and between said first and second power converters;
- a secondary power source coupled to said DC bus between said first and second power converters;
- a turbogenerator/motor coupled to and between said secondary power source and said DC bus;
- a voltage sensor for sensing voltage at said secondary power source;
- and a controller coupled to said voltage sensor and to said turbogenerator/motor for controlling the operation of said turbogenerator/motor as a function of voltage detected by said voltage sensor.
A method for supplying power to a network when a preferred power supply system is unavailable, wherein the network includes a coupling device adapted to be coupled between the preferred power supply system and a load, a DC bus adapted to be coupled to and between the coupling device and the load, a power converter coupled to the DC bus, and an energy storage device coupled to the power converter, comprising:
- sensing energy capacity of the energy storage device;
- and
- controlling the operation of an electric power supply for supplying power to the network when the sensed energy capacity of the energy storage device is below a predetermined limit.
A method of augmenting an energy storage device associated with an uninterruptable power supply system, comprising:
- sensing a voltage at the energy storage device;
- converting the sensed voltage into a control signal;
- and
- controlling the operation of an electric power supply as a function of said control signal to supply power to the uninterruptable power supply system to augment the energy storage device and maintain a desired D.C. bus voltage.
For use with an uninterruptable continuous power supply system having a first AC/DC bi-directional power converter adapted to be coupled to a primary power source, and a second AC/DC bi-directional power converter adapted to be coupled to a load, comprising:
- a DC bus adapted to be coupled to and between the first and second power converters;
- a secondary power source coupled to said DC bus;
- a turbogenerator/motor coupled to and between said secondary power source and said DC bus;
- a voltage sensor coupled to said DC bus for sensing voltage on said bus;
- and
- a controller coupled to said voltage sensor and to said turbogenerator/motor for controlling the operation of said turbogenerator/motor as a function of voltage detected by said voltage sensor.
A standby system for supplying power to a network when a preferred power supply system is unavailable, the network including first and second power converters adapted to be coupled between the preferred power supply system and a load, a DC bus coupled to and between the first and second power converters, and an energy storage device coupled to the DC bus, comprising:
- an electric power supply adapted to be coupled between the energy storage device and the DC bus;
- a sensor for sensing energy capacity of the energy storage device;
- and
- a controller coupled to said sensor and to said electric power supply for controlling the operation of said electric power supply as a function of energy capacity sensed by said sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.