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US 6,713,892 B2Granted
Automatic turbogenerator restarting 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 fatal 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.
Claims9
A permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor restarting system, comprising:
- means for determining that the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor has a fatal fault present and is in the process of shutting down;
- means for determining that the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor has more than a fixed number of restart attempts since the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor was determined to have a fatal fault;
- and
- means for continuing shutdown of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor.
1 more element
A permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor restarting system, comprising:
- means for determining that the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor has a fatal fault present and is in the process of shutting down;
- means for determining that the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor has less than a fixed number of restart attempts since the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor was determined to have a fatal fault;
- means for determining that the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor is in a recharge state where an internal energy storage device is being recharged as part of the shutdown process;
- means for determining that a fixed period of time has elapsed since any previous attempt to restart the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;
- means for attempting to clear the fault present in the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;
- means for issuing a restart command to the permanent magnet turbo generator/motor if the fatal fault is successfully cleared;
- and
- means for continuing normal operation of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor.
5 more elements
A permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor restarting system, comprising:
- means for determining that the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor has a fatal fault present and is in the process of shutting down;
- means for determining that the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor has less than a fixed number of restart attempts since the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor was determined to have a fatal fault;
- means for determining that the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor is in a cooldown state where the turbogenerator/motor is being rotated when combustion has ceased to lower the internal temperature as part of the shutdown process and that the internal temperature is below a cooldown restart temperature;
- means for determining that a fixed period of time has elapsed since any previous attempt to restart the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;
- means for attempting to clear the fault present in the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;
- means for issuing a restart command to the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor if the fatal fault is successfully cleared;
- and
- means for continuing normal operation of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor.
5 more elements
A permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor restarting system, comprising:
- means for determining that the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor has a fatal fault present and is in the process of shutting down;
- means for determining that the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor has less than a fixed number of restart attempts since the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor was determined to have a fatal fault;
- means for determining that the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor is in a fault state;
- means for determining that a fixed period of time has elapsed since any previous attempt to restart the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;
- means for attempting to clear the fault present in the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;
- means for issuing a restart command to the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor if the fatal fault is successfully cleared;
- and
- means for continuing normal operation of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor.
5 more elements
A permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor restarting system, comprising:
- means for determining that the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor has a fatal fault present and is in the process of shutting down;
- means for determining that the permanent magnet:
- turbogenerator/motor has less than a fixed number of restart attempts since the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor was determined to have a fatal fault;
- means for determining that the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor is in a standby state;
- means for issuing a restart command to the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;
- and
- means for continuing normal operation of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor.
4 more elements
A permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor restarting system, comprising:
- means for determining that the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor has a fatal fault present and is in the process of shutting down;
- means for determining that the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor has less than a fixed number of restart attempts since the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor was determined to have a fatal fault;
- means for determining that the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor is in a recharge state where an internal energy storage device is being recharged as part of the shutdown process;
- means for determining that a fixed period of time has not elapsed since any previous attempt to restart the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;
- and
- means for continuing shutdown of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor.
3 more elements
A permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor restarting system, comprising:
- means for determining that the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor has a fatal fault present and is in the process of shutting down;
- means for determining that the permanent magnet turbo generator/motor has less than a fixed number of restart attempts since the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor was determined to have a fatal fault;
- means for determining that the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor is in a cooldown state where the turbogenerator/motor is being rotated when combustion has ceased to lower the internal temperature as part of the shutdown process and that the internal temperature is below a cooldown restart temperature;
- means for determining that a fixed period of time has elapsed since any previous attempt to restart the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;
- means for attempting to clear the fault present in the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;
- and
- means for continuing shutdown of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor when the fault is not cleared.
4 more elements
A permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor restarting system, comprising:
- means for determining that the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor has a fatal fault present and is in the process of shutting down;
- means for determining that the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor has a less than a fixed number of restart attempts since the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor was determined to have a fatal fault;
- means for determining that the permanent magnet turbo generator/motor is in a fault state;
- means for determining that a fixed period of time has elapsed since any previous attempt to restart the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;
- means for attempting to clear the fault present in the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;
- and
- means for continuing shutdown of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor when the fault is not cleared.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.