Internal Electrification Scheme For Power Generation Plants

• US 20120181862A1
• Filed: 12/01/2011
• Published: 07/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ABB Research Ltd. (ABB Ltd.)
• Inventors: Gertmar, Lars, Vesel, Richard W., Kron, Dennis, Pan, Juiping, Chen, Yao, Babaee, Arash A.
• Granted Patent: US 9,300,131 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/22
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/102 being switching converters H02J1/108, H02J1/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/18 Arrangements for adjusting, eliminating or compensating reactive power in networks for adjustment of voltage H02J3/16

Abstract

An apparatus for use in an electrical power generation plant. The apparatus includes: at least two adjustable speed drives, each connected, on an alternating current side, to an associated auxiliary motor; at least one reactive power consuming auxiliary device connected to an alternating current bus; a controller; a converter for converting alternating current to direct current or vice versa between the alternating current bus and a direct current bus; and at least one electrical power source arranged to provide power to the direct current bus. Each of the at least two adjustable speed drive is connected, on a direct current side, to the direct current bus.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in an electrical power generation plant, said apparatus comprising:

at least two adjustable speed drives, each connected, on an alternating current side, to an associated auxiliary motor;

at least one reactive power consuming auxiliary device connected to an alternating current bus;

a controller; and

a converter for converting alternating current to direct current or vice versa between said alternating current bus and a direct current bus; and

at least two electrical power sources arranged to provide power to said direct current bus;

wherein each of said at least two adjustable speed drive is connected, on a direct current side, to said direct current bus.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of said at least two electrical power sources comprises a variable speed drive steam turbine generator.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said controller is configured to control said variable speed drive steam turbine generator to thereby control a voltage of said direct current bus.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of said at least two electrical power sources comprises a high inertia fan.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of said at least two electrical power sources comprises a start up source for said electrical power generation plant.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of said at least two electrical power sources comprises a tertiary winding of a main generator of said electrical power generation plant.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein one of said at least two electrical power sources generates electricity from rotating kinetic energy.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said one of said at least two electrical power sources generates electricity from rotating kinetic energy from a fan.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said controller is configured to control one of said at least two electrical power sources to thereby control a voltage of said direct current bus.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said controller is configured to control at least one electrical power source of a plurality of power sources to thereby control said voltage of said direct current bus.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising switchgears provided on said alternating current sides of each of said at least two adjustable speed drives.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises two direct current buses.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein each of said direct current buses is connected to a common alternating current bus.