Automatic turbogenerator restarting method and system
AssigneeCapstone Turbine Corporation
InventorsMark G. Gilbreth, Simon R. Wall, Ake N. C. Almgren, Joel B. Wacknov
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and system to automatically restart a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor when a fatal fault is detected. The automatic restart logic includes time constraints and limitations on the number of iterations, and is useful regardless of whether the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor is in a grid connect mode or a standalone mode, and regardless of how the fault originates or is detected. Additional control logic is utilized to handle grid transients and over load conditions to prevent a fatal fault from occurring by using time constraints and an iterative process, together with a brake resistor to control DC bus voltage.
Claims13
A method of determining the fault condition of a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor in a grid connect mode, comprising the steps of:
- detecting no output over-current;
- detecting a loss of output current control or a loss of DC bus voltage control;
- determining that more than a fixed number of warning faults has occurred within a fixed period of time;
- reporting a grid fatal and initiating shutdown of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor.
A method of determining the fault condition of a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor in a grid connect mode, comprising the steps of:
- detecting no output over-current;
- detecting a loss of output current control or a loss of DC bus voltage control;
- determining that less than a fixed number of warning faults has occurred within a fixed period of time;
- reporting a grid unbalance warning fault;
- disabling the output power converter of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;
- analyzing the grid voltage magnitude and frequency for an acceptable connection;
- and
- enabling the output power converter of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor to continue normal operation of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor.
A method of determining the fault condition of a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor in a grid connect mode, comprising the steps of:
- detecting no output over-current;
- detecting a loss of output current control or a loss of DC bus voltage control;
- determining that less than a fixed number of warning faults has occurred within a fixed period of time;
- reporting a grid unbalance warning fault;
- disabling the output power converter of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;
- analyzing the grid voltage magnitude and frequency for an unacceptable connection;
- determining that the maximum allowable reconnection time has expired;
- and
- reporting a grid fatal fault and initiating shutdown of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor.
A method of determining the fault condition of a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor in a grid connect mode, comprising the steps of:
- detecting no output over-current;
- detecting a loss of output current control or a loss of DC bus voltage control;
- determining that less than a fixed number of warning faults has occurred within a fixed period of time;
- reporting a grid unbalance warning fault;
- disabling the output power converter of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;
- analyzing the grid voltage magnitude and frequency for an unacceptable connection;
- determining that the maximum allowable reconnection time has not expired;
- determining that the DC bus level is not below the turn on point of the brake resistor;
- applying the brake resistor to control DC bus voltage;
- determine that the grid is acceptable for connection;
- and
- enabling the output power converter of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor to continue normal operation of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor.
A method of determining the fault condition of a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor in a grid connect mode;
- comprising the steps of:
- detecting no output over-current;
- detecting a loss of output current control or a loss of DC bus voltage control;
- determining that less than a fixed number of warning faults has occurred within a fixed period of time;
- reporting a grid unbalance warning fault;
- disabling the output power converter of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;
- analyzing the grid voltage magnitude and frequency for an unacceptable connection;
- determining that the maximum allowable reconnection time has not expired;
- determining that the DC bus level below the turn on point of the brake resistor;
- determine that the grid is acceptable for connection;
- and
- enabling the output power converter of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor to continue normal operation of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor.
A method of determining the fault condition of a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor in a grid connect mode, comprising the steps of:
- detecting no output over-current;
- detecting a loss of output current control or a loss of DC bus voltage control;
- determining that less than a fixed number of warning faults has occurred within a fixed period of time;
- reporting a grid unbalance warning fault;
- disabling the output power converter of the permanent turbogenerator/motor;
- analyzing the grid voltage magnitude and frequency for an unacceptable connection;
- determining that the maximum allowable reconnection time has not expired;
- determining that the DC bus level is not below the turn on point of the brake resistor;
- applying the brake resistor to control DC bus voltage;
- determine that the grid is unacceptable for connection;
- determining that the maximum allowable reconnection time has expired;
- and
- reporting a grid fatal fault and initiating shutdown of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor.
A method of determining the fault condition of a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor in a grid connect mode, comprising the steps of:
- detecting an over-current condition;
- determining that less than a fixed number of over-current events have occurred within a fixed period of time;
- disabling the output power converter of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;
- determining that the output current of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor is not at a normal level in all phases;
- determining that the DC bus level is not below the turn on point of the brake resistor;
- applying the brake resistor to control DC bus voltage;
- determining that the output current of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor is at a normal level in all phases;
- and
- enabling the output power converter of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor to continue normal operation of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor.
A method of determining the fault condition of a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor in a grid connect mode, comprising the steps of:
- detecting an over-current condition;
- determining that less than a fixed number of over-current events have occurred within a fixed period of time;
- disabling the output power converter of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;
- determining that the output current of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor is not at a normal level in all phases;
- determining that the DC bus level is below the -turn on point of the brake resistor;
- determining that the output current of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor is at a normal level in all phases;
- and
- enabling the output power converter of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor to continue normal operation of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor.
A method of determining the fault condition of a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor in a grid connect mode, comprising the steps of:
- detecting an over-current condition;
- determining that more than a fixed number of over-current events have occurred within a fixed period of time;
- determining that more than a fixed number of warning faults has occurred within a fixed period of time;
- reporting a grid fatal fault and initiating shutdown of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor.
A method of determining the fault condition of a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor in a standalone mode, comprising the steps of:
- detecting an over-current condition;
- determining that less than a fixed number of over-current events have occurred within a fixed period of time;
- disabling the output power converter of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;
- determining that the output current of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor is at a normal level in all phases;
- and
- enabling the output power converter of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor to continue normal operation of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor.
A method of determining the fault condition of a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor in a standalone mode, comprising the steps of:
- detecting an over-current condition;
- determining that more than a fixed number of over current events have occurred within a fixed period of time;
- determining that less than a fixed number of warning faults has occurred within a fixed period of time;
- reporting a grid unbalance warning fault;
- disabling the output power converter of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;
- resetting the output voltage control ready for a soft start;
- and
- enabling the output power converter of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor to continue normal operation of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor.
A method of determining the fault condition of a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor in a standalone mode, comprising the steps of:
- detecting an over-current condition;
- determining that less than a fixed number of over-current events have occurred within a fixed period of time;
- disabling the output power converter of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;
- determining that the output current of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor is not at a normal level in all phases;
- determining that the DC bus level is below the turn on point of the brake resistor;
- determining that the output current of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor is at a normal level in all phases;
- and
- enabling the output power converter of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor to continue normal operation of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor.
A method of determining the fault condition of a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor in a standalone mode, comprising the steps of:
- detecting an over-current condition;
- determining that less than a fixed number of over-current events have occurred within a fixed period of time;
- disabling the output power converter of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;
- determining that the output current of the permanent magnet is not at a normal level in all phases;
- determining that the DC bus level is not below the turn on point of the brake resistor;
- applying the brake resistor to control DC bus voltage;
- determining that the output current of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor is at a normal level in all phases;
- and
- enabling the output power converter of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor to continue normal operation of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.