# US 9,520,819 B2 · System and method for controlling a power generation system based on a detected islanding event > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,520,819 B2 - Document ID: US9520819B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/193,786 - Filed: 2014-02-28 - Published: 2015-09-03 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2014-02-28 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Sidney Allen Barker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9520819B2 ## CPC - H02J 3/381: {Dispersed generators} - F03D 7/00: Controlling wind motors (supplying or distributing electrical power H02J, e.g. arrangements for adjusting, eliminating or compensating reactive power in networks H02J3/18; controlling electric generators H02P, e.g. arrangements for controlling electric generators for the purpose of obtaining a desired output H02P9/00) - F03D 9/255: {connected to electrical distribution networks; Arrangements therefor} - H02H 7/067: {on occurrence of a load dump (control on sudden change of load H02P9/10)} - H02M 5/42: by static converters - H02P 9/007: {Control circuits for doubly fed generators} - H02P 9/04: Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator - H02P 9/10: Control effected upon generator excitation circuit to reduce harmful effects of overloads or transients, e.g. sudden application of load, sudden removal of load, sudden change of load - H02J 3/388: Arrangements for the handling of islanding, e.g. for disconnection or for avoiding the disconnection of power - H02J 2101/28: Wind energy - Y02E 10/72: Wind turbines with rotation axis in wind direction - Y02E 10/76: Power conversion electric or electronic aspects - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - F03D: WIND MOTORS - H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H) - H02M: APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF (transformers H01F; dynamo-electric converters H02K47/00; controlling transformers, reactors or choke coils, control or regulation of electric motors, generators or dynamo-electric converters H02P) - 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 In one aspect, a method for controlling the operation of a power generation system configured to supply power to an electrical grid may generally include detecting an occurrence of an islanding event associated with the power generation system and adjusting a regulator gain applied within a regulator of the power generation system to an islanding gain value in response to the detection of the islanding event, wherein the islanding gain value exceeds a maximum gain value defined for the regulator in the event of an occurrence of any ride-through transient event. In addition, the method may include controlling a power converter of the power generation system based on a control signal generated by the regulator as the power generation system is being isolated from the electrical grid and shutting down the power generation system upon isolation of the power generation system from the electrical grid. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for controlling the operation of a power generation system configured to supply power to an electrical grid, the method comprising: detecting an occurrence of an islanding event associated with the power generation system, wherein the islanding event is caused by an opening of one or more phase conductors; adjusting a regulator gain applied within a regulator of the power generation system to an islanding gain value in response to the detection of the islanding event, wherein the islanding gain value exceeds a maximum gain value defined for the regulator in the event of an occurrence of any ride-through transient event; controlling a power converter of the power generation system based on a control signal generated by the regulator as the power generation system is being isolated from the electrical grid, the control signal being generated within the regulator as a function of the islanding gain value; and shutting down the power generation system upon isolation of the power generation system from the electrical grid. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the power generation system has a short circuit ratio ranging from about 1.0 to about 3.0. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the regulator comprises a phase-locked loop (PLL) regulator of the power generation system. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising adjusting a frequency limit applied within the PLL regulator to an islanding frequency limit in response to the detection of the islanding event, wherein the islanding frequency limit exceeds a maximum frequency limit defined for the PLL regulator in the event of the occurrence of any ride-through transient event or is less than a minimum frequency limit defined for the PLL regulator in the event of the occurrence of any ride-through transient event. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, whether the islanding frequency limit is applied within the PLL regulator when generating the control signal. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the regulator comprises a voltage regulator of the power generation system. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the ride-through transient event corresponds to a low voltage ride-through event, a high voltage ride-through event or a zero voltage ride-through event. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising opening at least one of a breaker or a contactor of the power generation system in order to isolate the power generation system from the electrical grid. ### Claim 9 A method for controlling the operation of a power generation system configured to supply power to an electrical grid, the method comprising: detecting an occurrence of an islanding event associated with the power generation system, wherein the islanding event is caused by an opening of one or more phase conductors; adjusting a frequency limit applied within a phase-locked loop (PLL) regulator of the power generation system to an islanding frequency limit in response to the detection of the islanding event, wherein the islanding frequency limit exceeds a maximum frequency limit defined for the PLL regulator in the event of an occurrence of any ride-through transient event or is less than a minimum frequency limit defined for the PLL regulator in the event of the occurrence of any ride-through transient event; controlling a power converter of the power generation system based on a control signal generated by the PLL regulator as the power generation system is being isolated from the electrical grid, the islanding frequency limit being applied within the PLL regulator when generating the control signal; and shutting down the power generation system upon isolation of the power generation system from the electrical grid. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein the power generation system has a short circuit ratio ranging from about 1.0 to about 3.0. ### Claim 11 A power generation system, the system comprising: a generator; a power converter coupled to the generator; and a computing device configured to control the operation of the power converter, the computing device storing instructions that, when implemented by one or more processors, configure the computing device to: detect an occurrence of an islanding event associated with the power generation system, wherein the islanding event is caused by an opening of one or more phase conductors; adjust a regulator gain applied within a regulator to an islanding gain value in response to the detection of the islanding event, wherein the islanding gain value exceeds a maximum gain value defined for the regulator in the event of an occurrence of any ride-through transient event; control the power converter based on a control signal generated by the regulator as the power generation system is being isolated from the electrical grid, the control signal being generated within the regulator as a function of the islanding gain value; and shut down the power generation system upon isolation of the power generation system from the electrical grid. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the power generation system has a short circuit ratio ranging from about 1.0 to about 3.0. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the regulator comprises a phase-locked loop (PLL) regulator implemented within or coupled to the controller. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust a frequency limit applied within the PLL regulator to an islanding frequency limit in response to the detection of the islanding event, wherein the islanding frequency limit exceeds a maximum frequency limit defined for the PLL regulator in the event of the occurrence of any ride-through transient event or is less than a minimum frequency limit defined for the PLL regulator in the event of the occurrence of any ride-through transient event. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the islanding frequency limit is applied within the PLL regulator when generating the control signal. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the regulator comprises a voltage regulator implemented within or coupled to the controller. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the ride-through transient event corresponds to a low voltage ride-through event, a high voltage ride-through event or a zero voltage ride-through event. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the controller is further configured to open at least one of a breaker or a contactor of the power generation system in order to isolate the power generation system from the electrical grid.