Power conditioning system for turbine motor/generator

• US 20040085046A1
• Filed: 11/01/2002
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Garces, Luis Jose, Ye, Zhihong, Sinha, Gautam
• Application Number:
  US10/065,596
• Publication Number:
  US 20040085046A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 322/13
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 the motors being associated with current generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/797 using semiconductor devices only

Abstract

A motor/generator power conditioner is provided with a rectifier electrically coupled to a motor/generator port, and an inverter electrically coupled to the rectifier and to a load port. In a startup mode, the combined rectifier and inverter provides startup power to the motor/generator port. In an operational mode, the combined rectifier and inverter provides generated power to the load port and generates a neutral output.

Claims

1. A motor/generator power conditioner, comprising:

a rectifier electrically coupled to a motor/generator port; and

an inverter electrically coupled to the rectifier and to a load port,

wherein in a startup mode, the combined rectifier and inverter provides startup power to the motor/generator port, and

wherein in an operational mode, the combined rectifier and inverter provides generated power to the load port and generates a neutral output.

2. The motor/generator power conditioner of claim 1, further comprising:

a DC power bus capable of bi-directional power flow electrically coupling the rectifier to the inverter; and

a bus capacitor positioned in parallel to the DC power bus.

3. The motor/generator power conditioner of claim 2, further comprising a startup power source is coupled to the DC power bus,

4. The motor/generator power conditioner of claim 3, wherein in the operational mode the startup power source is recharged by at least one of the rectifier and the inverter.

5. The motor/generator power conditioner of claim 1, wherein the rectifier comprises an active rectifier.

6. The motor/generator power conditioner of claim 5, wherein the rectifier comprises a three-leg rectifier comprised of:

a plurality of switching devices; and

a plurality of diodes, each of said diodes being electrically coupled in parallel to a respective corresponding switching device.

7. The motor/generator power conditioner of claim 1, wherein the inverter comprises a four-leg inverter comprised of:

a plurality of switching devices; and

a plurality of diodes, each of said diodes being electrically coupled in parallel to a respective corresponding switching device,

wherein one of the four legs is electrically coupled to the neutral output.

8. The motor/generator power conditioner of claim 1, wherein the combined rectifier and inverter provides sufficient generated power and sufficient startup power without a separate starter circuit.

9. The motor/generator power conditioner of claim 1, further comprising a separate starter circuit for producing the startup power.

10. The motor/generator power conditioner of claim 1, wherein a power factor of the generated power is adjustable.

11. The motor/generator power conditioner of claim 1, wherein a power factor of the generated power is greater than about 0.95 leading or lagging.

12. The motor/generator power conditioner of claim 1, wherein a power factor of the generated power is about zero.

13. The motor/generator power conditioner of claim 1, further comprising a prime mover for the motor/generator.

14. The motor/generator power conditioner of claim 13, wherein the prime mover for the motor/generator comprises one of a turbine and a diesel motor.

15. The motor/generator power conditioner of claim 1, wherein the motor/generator power conditioner is a two stage conditioner.

16. A method of controlling a motor/generator, comprising:

supplying startup power to the motor/generator via a rectifier electrically coupled to an inverter;

conditioning generated power from the motor/generator via the rectifier and the inverter; and

generating a neutral output via the combined rectifier and inverter while conditioning generated power.

17. The method of claim 16,

wherein supplying startup power to the motor/generator comprises supplying sufficient power to the motor/generator absent a separate starter circuit, and

wherein conditioning generated power from the motor/generator comprises conditioning sufficient power from the motor/generator absent a separate starter circuit.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

adjusting a power factor of the generated power.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the power factor of the generated power is greater than about 0.95 leading or lagging.

20. A motor/generator power conditioner, comprising:

means for supplying startup power to the motor/generator;

means for conditioning generated power from the motor/generator; and

means for generating a neutral output from the means for conditioning generated power.

21. A motor/generator power conditioner, comprising:

a three-leg active rectifier electrically coupled to a motor/generator port;

a four-leg inverter electrically coupled to a load port;

a bi-directional DC power bus electrically coupling the rectifier to the inverter; and

a neutral output coupled to one of the legs of the inverter.

22. The motor/generator power conditioner of claim 21,

wherein in a startup mode, the combined rectifier and inverter provides startup power to the motor/generator port, and

wherein in an operational mode, the combined rectifier and inverter provides generated power to the load port and a neutral for the neutral output.

23. The motor/generator power conditioner of claim 22 wherein a power factor of the generated power is adjustable.

24. The motor/generator power conditioner of claim 22 wherein a power factor of the generated power is greater than about 0.95 leading or lagging.