POWER GENERATION SYSTEM AND METHOD WITH RESISTIVE BRAKING CAPABILITY

• US 20160172842A1
• Filed: 12/11/2014
• Published: 06/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ai Alpine Us Bidco LLC
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Panosyan, Ara, Boeld, Christoph, Schaumberger, Herbert
• Granted Patent: US 10,050,433 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/067 on occurrence of a load dump control on sudden change of load H02P9/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 9/026 Current limitation using PTC resistors, i.e. resistors with a large positive temperature coefficient
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/10 The dispersed energy generation being of fossil origin, e.g. diesel generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 3/22 by short-circuit or resistive braking
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/006 Means for protecting the generator by using control control effected upon generator excitation circuit to reduce harmful effects of overloads or transients H02P9/10
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/04 Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/102 for limiting effects of transients

Abstract

A power generation system includes a generator operatively coupled to an engine for generating electrical power and supplying the electrical power to a grid. Further, the power generation system includes a resistive braking system operatively coupled between the generator and the grid. The resistive braking system includes a mechanical switch connected in parallel with a resistor, and a controller for, in response to a grid event, controlling power from the engine and operating the mechanical switch to redirect current between the mechanical switch and the parallel connected resistor.

Claims

1. A power generation system comprising:

a generator operatively coupled to an engine for generating electrical power and supplying the electrical power to a grid;

a resistive braking system operatively coupled between the generator and the grid, the resistive braking system comprising;

a mechanical switch connected in parallel with a resistor; and

a controller for, in response to a grid event, controlling power from the engine and operating the mechanical switch to redirect current between the mechanical switch and the parallel connected resistor.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to send a first control signal to partially or fully switch OFF an ignition of the engine to control power from the engine when the grid event is detected.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the controller is configured to send a second control signal to open the mechanical switch when the grid event is detected, wherein the mechanical switch opens before a first predetermined time.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the resistor is sufficiently sized for absorbing a certain amount of electrical power and energy from the generator when the mechanical switch is opened.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to send a third control signal to partially or fully switch ON the ignition of the engine after the first predetermined time.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to regulate a speed of the generator based on the controlled power from the engine.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to send a fourth control signal to close the mechanical switch if the grid event is cleared before a second predetermined time from the occurrence of the grid event.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to send a fifth control signal to switch OFF the ignition of the engine if the grid event is continued after the second predetermined time.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to detect the grid event based on an input signal.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the input signal comprises a voltage signal, a current signal, a generator power signal, a speed signal, a rotor angle signal, an engine power signal, an engine torque signal, or any combination thereof.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the engine comprises a gas turbine, a gas engine, or a wind turbine.

12. A method of supplying electrical power to a grid from a generator coupled to a resistive braking system connected between the generator and the grid, the resistive braking system comprising a mechanical switch connected in parallel with a resistor, the method comprising:

supplying the electrical power to the grid through the mechanical switch under normal operating conditions;

upon a grid event being detected, (a) controlling power to the generator, and (b) operating the mechanical switch so that current from the generator is redirected between the mechanical switch and the resistor.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein controlling power to the generator comprises controlling power of an engine coupled to the generator.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising partially or fully switching OFF an ignition of the engine when the grid event is detected.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising partially or fully switching ON the ignition of the engine after a first predetermined time.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising closing the mechanical switch if the grid event is cleared before a second predetermined time.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising switching OFF the ignition of the engine if the grid event is continued after the second predetermined time.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the grid event is detected based on an input signal.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the input signal comprises a voltage signal, a current signal, a generator power signal, a speed signal, a rotor angle signal, an engine power signal, an engine torque signal, or any combination thereof.