IP Library Granted Patent US 6,909,199
Granted Patent B2
US 6,909,199 · App. 10/678,509 · Granted Jun 21, 2005

Method and apparatus for compensating output voltage fluctuations of turbine/alternator on common shaft

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 6,909,199
App. No.
10/678,509
Granted
Jun 21, 2005
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electrical system and method for a turbine/alternator comprising a gas driven turbine and a permanent magnet alternator rotating on a common shaft includes an inverter circuit connectable either to an output circuit or the stator winding of the alternator. A control circuit during a start-up mode switches the inverter circuit to the stator winding of the alternator and during a power out mode switches the inverter circuit to the output circuit. During the power out mode, output voltage is continuously measured and the inverter circuit is controlled to compensate for output voltage fluctuations.

Claims (23)

1. A method of controlling a turbine/alternator comprising a gas driven turbine and permanent magnet alternator on a common shaft comprising:

providing electric power to said turbine/alternator through an inverter circuit to start said turbine/alternator to achieve self-sustained operation of said turbine/alternator; and

reconfiguring said inverter circuit to output electric power from said turbine/alternator to a load when self-sustained operation of said turbine/alternator is achieved,

wherein the electric power is measured during outputting the electric power from said turbine/alternator to compensate for output voltage fluctuations.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the voltage of the electric power is measured during outputting of electric power.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the voltage of the electric power is continuously measured during outputting the electric power.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said inverter circuit comprises an inverter and a signal generator, and signals are sent to said generator to compensate for output voltage fluctuations.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein during providing electric power to said turbine/alternator, controlled combustion of fuel and air is provided to said gas driven turbine of said turbine/alternator.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein when reconfiguring said inverter circuit, said inverter circuit is connected to said turbine/alternator through a rectifier.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein said inverter circuit comprises an output filter for filtering said electric power, and said output filter is removed when providing electric power to said turbine/alternator through said inverter circuit.

8. An electric system for a turbine/alternator comprising a gas driven turbine and permanent magnet alternator on a common shaft comprising:

an inverter provided for operation of said turbine/alternator;

means to provide electric power to said turbine/alternator through said inverter to start said turbine/alternator to achieve self-sustained operation of said turbine/alternator;

means to reconfigure said inverter to output electric power from said permanent magnet alternator to supply the electric power to a load; and

a controller for measuring the electric power during outputting the electric power from said turbine/alternator to compensate for output voltage fluctuations.

9. The electric system of claim 8 , wherein the voltage of the electric power is measured during outputting the electric power.

10. The electric system of claim 8 , wherein the voltage of the electric power is continuously measured during outputting the electric power.

11. The electric system of claim 8 , wherein said inverter circuit comprises an inverter and a signal generator, and said controller sends signals to said signal generator to compensate for output voltage fluctuations.

12. The electric system of claim 8 , wherein said inverter circuit comprises an inverter and a signal generator, and said controller sends signals to said signal generator to compensate for output voltage fluctuations.

13. The electric system of claim 8 , further comprising means to provide controlled combustion of fuel and air to said gas driven turbine to achieve self-sustained operation of said gas driven turbine.

14. The electric system of claim 8 , wherein said means to reconfigure said inverter connects said inverter to said turbine/alternator through a rectifier.

15. The electric system of claim 9 , wherein said load comprises a power line and said means to reconfigure said inverter supplies electric power to said power line at a common line voltage and frequency.

16. The electric system of claim 8 , further comprising an output filter for filtering said electric power, which is removable when said means to provide electric power provides electric power to said turbine/alternator.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 7, 2023
From: GOLDMAN SACHS SPECIALTY LENDING GROUP, L.P.
To: CAPSTONE GREEN ENERGY CORPORATION F/K/A CAPSTONE TURBINE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065835/0541 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 11, 2019
From: WESTERN ALLIANCE BANK
To: CAPSTONE TURBINE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 048302/0838 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Feb 5, 2019
From: CAPSTONE TURBINE CORPORATION
To: GOLDMAN SACHS SPECIALTY LENDING HOLDINGS, INC.
Reel/Frame 048262/0001 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 7, 2017
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: CAPSTONE TURBINE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 042722/0630 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 5, 2017
From: CAPSTONE TURBINE CORPORATION
To: WESTERN ALLIANCE BANK, AN ARIZONA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 042690/0159 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 18, 2010
From: CAPSTONE TURBINE CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 024563/0073 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 22, 2010
From: CALNETIX POWER SOLUTIONS, INC.
To: CAPSTONE TURBINE CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023963/0927 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 29, 2010
From: ELLIOTT ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
To: CALNETIX POWER SOLUTIONS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023874/0424 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2010
From: BURNHAM, DOUGLAS R.; TEETS, J. MICHAEL; TEETS, JON W.
To: ELLIOTT ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023874/0676 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 29, 2010
From: GUPTA, SURESH C.
To: ELLIOTT ENERGY SYSTEMS, INC.
Reel/Frame 023873/0787 →