IP Library Granted Patent US 11,489,363
Granted Patent B2
US 11,489,363 · App. 17/184,474 · Granted Nov 1, 2022

System and method for black starting power plant

Inventor: Roland Hug (Altendorf, CH)
Assignee: General Electric Company
H02J11/00F01K13/02F02C6/14H02J3/32H02J3/381
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,489,363
App. No.
17/184,474
Granted
Nov 1, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An auxiliary power source is configured to black start a power plant. The auxiliary power source includes a first power source having an auxiliary generator driven by an auxiliary drive. The auxiliary power source also includes a second power source having energy storage. The auxiliary power source is configured to supply power from the first and second power sources to support the black start of the power plant.

Claims (25)

1. A system, comprising:

an auxiliary power source configured to black start a power plant, wherein the auxiliary power source comprises:

a first power source comprising an auxiliary generator driven by an auxiliary drive; and

a second power source comprising energy storage, wherein the auxiliary power source is configured to first supply a first power output from the first power source to support the black start of the power plant, and the auxiliary power source is configured to subsequently supply a second power output from the second power source to support the black start of the power plant when a black start power demand exceeds the first power output.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary power source is configured to supply the second power output from the second power source to cover one or more peaks of the black start power demand during the black start of the power plant, wherein the one or more peaks of the black start power demand exceed the first power output.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first power output is insufficient to support the black start, the second power output is insufficient to support the black start, and the first and second power outputs are collectively sufficient to support the black start.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary drive comprises a reciprocating engine.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage comprises chemical energy storage.

6. The system of claim 5 , wherein the chemical energy storage comprises a battery.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the energy storage comprises thermal energy storage, kinetic energy storage, a pressurized gas storage, or a combination thereof.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary power source is configured to supply power from the first power source to the second power source to charge the energy storage.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary power source is configured to perform the charge prior to the black start, after an unsuccessful attempt at the black start, or a combination thereof.

10. The system of claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary power source is configured to perform the charge prior to the black start of a first turbine driven generator of the power plant, prior to the black start of a second turbine driven generator of the power plant, or a combination thereof.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary power source is configured to provide power from the energy storage of the second power source to a power grid when the power plant is restoring power to the power grid.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary power source is configured to provide power from the energy storage of the second power source to help stabilize a frequency of a power grid.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary power source is configured to black start a primary power generation system of the power plant, wherein the primary power generation system comprises one or more primary generators driven by one or more respective primary drives.

14. The system of claim 13 , comprising the primary power generation system of the power plant, wherein the one or more primary drives comprise a gas turbine driven by exhaust gas from a combustor.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the auxiliary drive comprises a reciprocating engine, the energy storage comprises one or more batteries, and the auxiliary power source is configured to supply the second power output only during a portion of the black start when the black start power demand exceeds the first power output.

16. The system of claim 1 , comprising a controller configured to control the black start of the power plant using the first and second power outputs from the respective first and second power sources, wherein the controller is configured to control the first power source to provide the first power output as a baseline power for the black start, wherein the controller is configured to control the second power source to provide the second power output as a variable power to help meet transient power requirements for the black start.

17. A system, comprising:

a controller configured to control a black start of a power plant, wherein the controller is configured to first supply a first power output from a first power source of an auxiliary power source to support the black start, wherein the controller is configured to subsequently supply a second power output from a second power source of the auxiliary power source to support the black start when a black start power demand exceeds the first power output, wherein the first power source comprises an auxiliary generator driven by an auxiliary drive and the second power source comprises energy storage.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the auxiliary power source is configured to supply the second power output from the second power source to cover one or more peaks of the black start power demand during the black start of the power plant, wherein the one or more peaks of the black start power demand exceed the first power output.

19. The system of claim 17 , wherein the first power output is insufficient to support the black start, the second power output is insufficient to support the black start, and the first and second power outputs are collectively sufficient to support the black start.

20. A method, comprising:

controlling a black start of a power plant via a controller, wherein controlling the black start comprises first supplying a first power output from a first power source of an auxiliary power source to support the black start, wherein controlling the black start comprises subsequently supplying a second power output from a second power source of the auxiliary power source to support the black start when a black start power demand exceeds the first power output, wherein the first power source comprises an auxiliary generator driven by an auxiliary drive and the second power source comprises energy storage.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2023
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: GE INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY LLC
Reel/Frame 065727/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 26, 2021
From: HUG, ROLAND
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 055433/0548 →
Continuity (1)
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