IP Library Granted Patent US 8,953,344
Granted Patent B2
US 8,953,344 · App. 12/957,567 · Granted Feb 10, 2015

Power converter control method associated to a generator

Inventors: David Sole Lopez (Navarra, ES); Ainhoa Carcar Mayor (Navarra, ES); Josu Elorriaga Llanos (Navarra, ES); Eneko Olea Oregi (Navarra, ES)
Assignee: Ingeteam Power Technology, S.A.
H02J3/24F03D9/00H02P3/22H02P9/00H02P9/006
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,953,344
App. No.
12/957,567
Granted
Feb 10, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Optimizes the operation and control of electric generators against events produced in the power grid, such as voltage dips or overvoltages, comprising the following steps: detecting that the DC bus voltage level (V bus ) ( 301 ) exceeds the maximum operating limit established in normal conditions; enabling activation permission of the chopper ( 201 ); activating the different operating states ( 304 ) of the chopper ( 201 ) according to the DC bus voltage level (V bus ) ( 301 ) and to the current entering the DC bus (I in.bus ) from the generator; detecting that the DC bus voltage level (V bus ) ( 301 ) is within the normal operating range; enabling deactivation permission of the chopper ( 201 ); deactivating the different operating states ( 304 ) of the chopper ( 201 ) according to the DC bus voltage level (V bus ) ( 301 ) and to the current entering the DC bus (I in.bus ) from the generator.

Claims (12)

1. A power converter control method associated to a generator, a power converter featuring one chopper comprising several branches ( 1 . . . n) in a DC bus, the method comprising: detecting whether a DC bus voltage (V bus ) exceeds a threshold which determines an activation of the chopper, enabling chopper activation permission, activating different operating states of the chopper with different equivalent resistance levels (Req 1 . . . Req m ) corresponding to the activation and a deactivation (p 1 . . . pn) of its branches ( 1 . . . n), according to a DC bus voltage level (V bus ) and a current entering the DC bus (I in.bus ) from the generator or from a grid, detecting whether the DC bus voltage (V bus ) is lower than a threshold which determines a deactivation of the chopper, enabling chopper deactivation permission, deactivating the different operating states of the chopper according to the DC bus voltage (V bus ) and the current entering the DC bus (I in.bus ) from the generator or from the grid and wherein if the current entering the DC bus (I in.bus ) exceeds a certain percentage of a nominal current, an equivalent resistance value (Req 1 . . . Req m ) to connect is determined based on the DC bus voltage level (V bus ) reached.

2. The power converter control method according to claim 1 , wherein the current entering the DC bus (I in.bus ) is obtained from a value selected from one of the following: a value of current measured in the generator, a value of current measured in a grid-side converter, a value of current measured in a generator-side converter, and a value of current measured in the DC bus.

3. The power converter control method according to claim 1 , wherein a determination of the activation of the chopper is carried out according to a level of current entering the DC bus (I in.bus ).

4. A power converter control method associated to a generator, a power converter featuring one chopper comprising several branches ( 1 . . . n) in a DC bus, the method comprising: detecting whether a DC bus voltage (V bus ) exceeds a threshold which determines a activation of the chopper, enabling chopper activation permission, activating different operating states of the chopper with different equivalent resistance levels (Req 1 . . . Req m ) corresponding to the activation and a deactivation (p 1 . . . pn) of its branches ( 1 . . . n), according to a DC bus voltage level (V bus ) and of a current entering the DC bus (I in .bus ) from the generator or from a grid, detecting whether the DC bus voltage level (V bus ) is lower than a threshold which determines a deactivation of the chopper, enabling chopper deactivation permission, deactivating the different operating states of the chopper according to the DC bus voltage level (V bus ) and of the current entering the DC bus (I in.bus ) from the generator or from the grid, and wherein if the current entering the DC bus (I in.bus ) is below a certain percentage of a nominal current, an equivalent resistance value (Req 1 . . . Req m ) to connect is determined based on the bus voltage level (Vb bus ) reached and a minimum resistance value is established.

5. The power converter control method according to claim 4 , wherein the current entering the DC bus (I in.bus ) is obtained from a value selected from one of the following: a value of current measured in the generator, a value of current measured in a grid-side converter, a value of current measured in a generator-side converter, and a value of current measured in the DC bus.

6. The power converter control method according to claim 4 , wherein a determination of the activation of the chopper is carried out according to a level of current entering the DC bus (I in.bus ).

7. A power converter control method associated to a generator, a power converter featuring one chopper comprising several branches ( 1 . . . n) in a DC bus, the method comprising: detecting whether a DC bus voltage (V bus ) exceeds a threshold which determines an activation of the chopper, enabling chopper activation permission, activating different operating states of the chopper with different equivalent resistance levels (Req 1 . . . Req m ) corresponding to the activation and a deactivation (p 1 . . . pn) of its branches ( 1 . . . n), according to a DC bus voltage level (V bus ) and of a current entering the DC bus (I in .bus ) from the generator or from a grid, detecting whether the DC bus voltage level (V bus ) is lower than a threshold which determines a deactivation of the chopper, enabling chopper deactivation permission, deactivating different operating states of the chopper according to the DC bus voltage level (V bus ) and of the current entering the DC bus (I in.bus ) from the generator or from the grid, and wherein if the current entering the DC bus (I in.bus ) exceeds a certain percentage of a nominal current, the chopper is forced to go from an equivalent resistance state to a next sequentially greater state.

8. The power converter control method according to claim 7 , wherein the current entering the DC bus (I in.bus ) is obtained from a value selected from one of the following: a value of current measured in the generator, a value of current measured in a grid-side converter, a value of current measured in a generator-side converter, and a value of current measured in the DC bus.

9. The power converter control method according to claim 7 , wherein a determination of the activation of the chopper is carried out according to a level of current entering the DC bus (I in.bus ).

10. A power converter control method associated to a generator, a power converter featuring one chopper comprising several branches ( 1 . . . n) in a DC bus, the method comprising: detecting whether a DC bus voltage (V bus ) exceeds a threshold which determines an activation of the chopper, enabling chopper activation permission, activating different operating states of the chopper with different equivalent resistance levels (Req 1 . . . Req m ) corresponding to the activation and a deactivation (p 1 . . . pn) of its branches ( 1 . . . n), according to a DC bus voltage level (V bus ) and of a current entering the DC bus (I in.bus ) from the generator or from a grid, detecting whether the DC bus voltage level (V bus ) is lower than a threshold which determines a deactivation of the chopper, enabling chopper deactivation permission, deactivating the different operating states of the chopper according to the DC bus voltage level (V bus ) and of the current entering the DC bus (I in.bus ) from the generator or from the grid, and wherein if the current entering the DC bus (I in.bus ) is i below a certain percentage of a nominal current, or the DC bus voltage level (V bus ) is low enough, a jump from one equivalent resistance (Req 1 . . . Req m ) to another nonconsecutive resistance is permitted.

11. The power converter control method according to claim 10 , wherein the current entering the DC bus (I in.bus ) is obtained from a value selected from one of the following: a value of current measured in the generator, a value of current measured in a grid-side converter, a value of current measured in a generator-side converter, and a value of current measured in the DC bus.

12. The power converter control method according to claim 10 , wherein a determination of the activation of the chopper is carried out according to a level of current entering the DC bus (I in.bus ).

Assignments (4)
MERGER Recorded Jun 14, 2012
From: INGETEAM ENERGY, S.A.
To: INGETEAM POWER TECHNOLOGY, S.A.
Reel/Frame 028373/0110 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 11, 2012
From: INGETEAM ENERGY, S.A.
To: INGETEAM POWER TECHNOLOGY, S.A.
Reel/Frame 028349/0238 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE TO CORRECT ASSIGNEE'S NAME. ASSIGNEE'S NAME SHOULD BE INGETEAM ENERGY, S.A. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 026036 FRAME 0972. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded May 13, 2011
From: SOLE LOPEZ, DAVID; CARCAR MAYOR, AINHOA; ELORRIAGA LLANOS, JOSU; OLEA OREGI, ENEKO
To: INGETEAM ENERGY, S.A.
Reel/Frame 026275/0799 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 29, 2011
From: SOLE LOPEZ, DAVID; CARCAR MAYOR, AINHOA; ELORRIAGA LLANOS, JOSU; OLEA OREGI, ENEKO
To: INGETEAM ENERGY S.A.
Reel/Frame 026036/0972 →
Priority Claims (1)
EP 10382294 · Nov 11, 2010 · regional
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20120119722A1 · May 17, 2012