Induction generator system with switched capacitor control

An induction generator system comprising:

• A. an n-phase induction machine having an input shaft and at least n output lines, where n is an integer, wherein each output line is coupled to an associated output terminal,
• B. means for generating a frequency control signal representative of the difference between the frequency of the voltage of at least one of said output terminals and a reference value,
• C. torque generating means responsive to said frequency control signal for applying a torque to said input shaft, said applied torque being related to said frequency control signal,
• D. an N-stage switched capacitor array, where N is an integer, each stage including n capacitor networks, each network being associated with a pair of said output lines, wherein the capacitor networks within each stage are each characterized by a predetermined capacitance for that stage, and wherein each of said capacitor networks includes an associated capacitor switch means, each switch means being responsive to a trigger signal for selectively coupling said capacitor network across its associated pair of output lines,
• E. feedback means coupled to said output lines and including trigger means for generating said trigger signals,
• wherein said feedback means includes power factor detection means for generating a power factor signal representative of the power factor at said output terminals, and wherein said feedback means is selectively operable in a first state to couple the output terminals of said induction machine to the power lines of an external power grid, said external power grid having a predetermined nominal frequency and voltage on said power lines, and further to couple said power factor signal to said trigger means whereby said induction generator system delivers only real power to said external power grid, and
• wherein said feedback means includes a voltage detection means for generating one or more amplitude signals representative of the difference between the amplitude of the voltages at said output terminals and a reference value, and wherein said feedback means is selectively operable in a second state to couple said amplitude signals to said trigger means whereby said induction generator system delivers real and reactive power to loads coupled to said output terminals at regulated voltage.

A power grid network comprising two or more induction generator systems, each induction generator system comprising:

• A. an n-phase induction machine having an input shaft and at least n output lines, where n is an integer, wherein each output line is coupled to an associated output terminal,
• B. means for generating a frequency control signal representative of the difference between the frequency of the voltage of at least one of said output terminals and a reference value,
• C. torque generating means responsive to said frequency control signal for applying a torque to said input shaft, said applied torque being related to said frequency control signal,
• D. an N-stage switched capacitor array, where N is an integer, each stage including n capacitor networks, each network being associated with a pair of said output lines, wherein the capacitor networks within each stage are each characterized by a predetermined capacitance for that stage, and wherein each of said capacitor networks includes an associated capacitor switch means, each switch means being responsive to a trigger signal for selectively coupling said capacitor network across its associated pair of output lines,
• E. feedback means coupled to said output lines and including trigger means for generating said trigger signals,
• wherein the output terminals of said induction generator systems are coupled to each other, and
• wherein said feedback means for each system includes a voltage detection means for generating an amplitude signal representative of the difference between the amplitude of the voltage at said output terminals and a reference value, and for coupling said amplitude signal to said trigger means, whereby said induction machine maintains a predetermined voltage to loads coupled to said output terminals.

An induction generator system comprising:

• A. an n-phase induction machine having an input shaft and at least n output lines, where n is an integer, wherein each output line is coupled to an associated output terminal,
• B. means for generating a frequency control signal representative of the difference between the frequency of the voltage of at least one of said output terminals and a reference value,
• C. torque generating means responsive to said frequency control signal for applying a torque to said input shaft, said applied torque being related to said frequency control signal,
• D an N-stage switched capacitor array, where N is an integer, each stage including n capacitor networks, each network being associated with a pair of said output lines, wherein the capacitor networks within each stage are each characterized by a predetermined capacitance for that stage, and wherein each of said capacitor networks includes an associated capacitor switch means, each switch means being responsive to a trigger signal for selectively coupling said capacitor network across its associated pair of output lines,
• E. feedback means coupled to said output lines and including trigger means for generating said trigger signals,
• wherein said system further includes at least one thermistor network coupled between one of said output lines and its associated output terminal, said thermistor network including:
• (1) a thermistor device and a first switch coupled in series between said output line and output terminal, wherein said thermistor has a characteristic resistance which varies with temperature between a relatively high resistance at a predetermined low temperature and a relatively low resistance at a predetermined high temperature, and wherein said first switch is selectively operable in a first state to establish a first current path between said output line to said output terminal by way of said thermistor device, and selectively operable in a second state to interrupt said first current path,
• (2) a second switch means selectively operable in a first state to establish a second current path between said output line and said output terminal by way of said second switch, and selectively operable in a second state to interrupt said second current path, and
• (3) a control means selectively operable in a first (RUN) state for controlling said first switch to be in its first state and said second switch to be in its second state, and selectively operable in a second (START UP) state for controlling said first switch to be in its second state and said second switch to be in its first state, and selectively operable in a third (OFF) state for controlling said first and second switches to be in their second states.

An induction generator system comprising:

• A. an n-phase induction machine having an input shaft and at least n output lines, where n is an integer, wherein each output line is coupled to an associated output terminal,
• B. means for generating a frequency control signal representative of the difference between the frequency of the voltage of at least one of said output terminals and a reference value,
• C. torque generating means responsive to said frequency control signal for applying a torque to said input shaft, said applied torque being related to said frequency control signal,
• D. an N-stage switched capacitor array, where N is an integer, each stage including n capacitor networks, each network being associated with a pair of said output lines, wherein the capacitor networks within each stage are each characterized by a predetermined capacitance for that stage, and wherein each of said capacitor networks includes an associated capacitor switch means, each switch means being responsive to a trigger signal for selectively coupling said capacitor network across its associated pair of output lines,
• E. feedback means coupled to said output lines and including trigger means for generating said trigger signals,
• wherein said feedback means includes a voltage detection means for generating an amplitude signal representative of the difference between amplitude of the voltage at said output terminals and a reference value,
• means responsive to said frequency signal for modifying said amplitude signal whereby the modified amplitude signal is equal to said amplitude signal when said frequency signal is representative of frequencies outside a predetermined frequency range, and is equal to a predetermined value when said frequency signal is representative of frequencies within said predetermined frequency range,
• means for coupling said modified amplitude signal to said trigger means whereby said induction generator system delivers real and reactive power to loads coupled to said output terminals at a first predetermined voltage when said frequency is above said predetermined range and at a second predetermined voltage when said frequency is within said predetermined range, where said second predetermined voltage is less than said first predetermined voltage.

An induction generator system comprising:

• A. an n-phase induction machine having an input shaft and at least n output lines, where n is an integer, wherein each output line is coupled to an associated output terminal,
• B. means for generating a frequency control signal representative of the difference between the frequency of the voltage of at least one of said output terminals and a reference value,
• C. torque generating means responsive to said frequency control signal for applying a torque to said input shaft, said applied torque being related to said frequency control signal,
• D. an N-stage switched capacitor array, where N is an integer, each stage including n capacitor network, each network being associated with a pair of said output lines, wherein the capacitor networks within each stage are each characterized by a predetermined capacitance for that stage, and wherein each of said capacitor networks includes an associated capacitor switch means, each switch means being responsive to a trigger signal for selectively coupling said capacitor network across its associated pair of output lines,
• E. feedback means coupled to said output lines and including trigger means for generating said trigger signals,
• wherein said trigger means at a first predetermined voltage when said frequency is above said predetermined range and at a second predetermined voltage when said frequency is within said predetermined range, where said second predetermined voltage is less than said first predetermined voltage.

An induction generator system comprising:

• A. an n-phase induction machine having an input shaft and at least n output lines, where n is an integer, wherein each output line is coupled to an associated output terminal,
• B. means for generating a frequency control signal representative of the difference between the frequency of the voltage of at least one of said output terminals and a reference value,
• C. torque generating means responsive to said frequency control signal for applying a torque to said input shaft, said applied torque being related to said frequency control signal,
• D. an N-stage switched capacitor array, where N is an integer, each stage including n capacitor networks, each network being associated with a pair of said output lines, wherein the capacitor networks within each stage are each characterized by a predetermined capacitance for that stage, and wherein each of said capacitor networks includes an associated capacitor switch means, each switch means being responsive to a trigger signal for selectively coupling said capacitor network across its associated pair of output lines,
• E. feedback means coupled to said output lines and including trigger means for generating said trigger signals,
• wherein for each output line pair for each of said N stages, said capacitor network includes an inductor connected in series with a capacitor between two terminals, and
• said associated capacitor switch means includes:
• a first semiconductor switch network coupled between said inductor and one line of said pair of output lines, said first switch network including a TRIAC device having its MT2 terminal coupled to said one output line and its MT1 terminal coupled to one terminal of said capacitor network and a diode having its cathode coupled to the gate terminal of said TRIAC device and its anode coupled to said one line, wherein one of said trigger signals is selectively coupled across the gate and MT1 terminals of said TRIAC device, and a second semiconductor switch network coupled between said capacitor and the other line of said pair of output lines, said second switch network including an SCR device having its anode terminal coupled to said other output line and its cathode coupled to the other terminal of said capacitor network, and a diode having its cathode terminal coupled to said other output line and its anode terminal coupled to the cathode terminal of said SCR device, wherein one of said trigger signals is selectively coupled across the gate and cathode terminals of said SCR device.

An induction generator system comprising:

• A. an n-phase induction machine having an input shaft and at least n output lines, where n is an integer, wherein each output line is coupled to an associated output terminal,
• B. means for generating a frequency control signal representative of the difference between the frequency of the voltage of at least one of said output terminals and a reference value,
• C. torque generating means responsive to said frequency control signal for applying a torque to said input shaft, said applied torque being related to said frequency control signal,
• D. an N-stage switched capacitor array, where N is an integer, each stage including n capacitor networks, each network being associated with a pair of said output lines, wherein the capacitor networks within each stage are each characterized by a predetermined capacitance for that stage, and wherein each of said capacitor networks includes an associated capacitor switch means, each switch means being responsive to a trigger signal for selectively coupling said capacitor network across its associated pair of output lines,
• E. feedback means coupled to said output lines and including trigger means for generating said trigger signals,
• F. an overload capacitance network, said overload capacitance network including n branch networks, wherein each branch network includes:
• (1) an A.C. electrolytic capacitor coupled in series with a normally-conductive bi-directional switch network, said switch network being responsive to a gate signal to be non-conductive, and
• (2) means for generating said gate signal only when the voltage across said switch network is lower than a predetermined threshold.

An induction generator system comprising:

• A. an n-phase induction machine having an input shaft and at least n output lines, where n is an integer, wherein each output line is coupled to an associated output terminal,
• B. means for generating a frequency control signal representative of the difference between the frequency of the voltage of at least one of said output terminals and a reference value,
• C. torque generating means responsive to said frequency control signal for applying a torque to said input shaft, said applied torque being related to said frequency control signal,
• D. an N-stage switched capacitor array, where N is an integer, each stage including n capacitor networks, each network being associated with a pair of said output lines, wherein the capacitor networks within each stage are each characterized by a predetermined capacitance for that stage, and wherein each of said capacitor networks includes an associated capacitor switch means, each switch means being responsive to a trigger signal for selectively coupling said capacitor network across its associated pair of output lines,
• E. feedback means coupled to said output lines and including trigger means for generating said trigger signals,
• wherein said feedback means includes power factor detection means for generating power factor signals representative of the power factors at the respective ones of said output terminals, and wherein said feedback means includes means for coupling the output terminals of said induction machine to the power lines of an external power grid, said external power grid having a predetermined nominal frequency and voltage on said power lines, and said feedback means further includes means for coupling said power factor signals to said trigger means whereby said induction generator system delivers substantially only real power to said external power grid.