Turbogenerator/motor controller with ancillary energy storage/discharge

• US 6,031,294 A
• Filed: 01/05/1998
• Issued: 02/29/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corp.
• Original Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corp.
• Inventors: Geis, Everett R., Peticolas, Brian W., Wacknov, Joel B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad, Elvin
• Application Number:
  US09/003,078
• Time in Patent Office: 785 Days
• Field of Search: 290/40, 290/46, 290/52, 322/10, 322/29
• US Class Current: 290/52
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 9/56 with power transmission control
• CPC Class Codes: F04B 47/022 driving of the walking beam
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2200/15 Inverse
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/04 Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator

Abstract

A turbogenerator/motor controller with a microprocessor based inverter having multiple modes of operation with an energy storage and discharge system including an ancillary electric storage device, such as a battery, connected to the generator controller through control electronics. Electrical energy can flow from the ancillary electric storage device to the turbogenerator controller during start up and increasing load and vice versa during self-sustained operation of the turbogenerator. When utility power is unavailable, the ancillary electric storage device can provide the power required to start the turbogenerator. When a load transient occurs, the gas turbine engine and the ancillary electric storage device provide the power required to successfully meet the transient.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor comprising the steps of:

providing utility electrical power to the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor through a pulse width modulated inverter to start the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor to achieve self-sustaining operation of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;

disconnecting the utility electrical power from the pulse width modulated inverter once self sustaining operation of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor is achieved;

reconfiguring the pulse width modulated inverter to supply voltage from the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor; and

providing an energy storage and discharge system for the pulse width modulated inverter to provide electrical energy to the inverter when utility electrical power is unavailable to start the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor and during self-sustained operation when the inverter cannot meet an instantaneous load requirement and to otherwise store electrical energy during self-sustained operation.

2. A method of controlling a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor including a gas turbine engine, comprising the steps of:

providing utility electrical power to the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor through a pulse width modulated inverter to drive the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor as a motor to accelerate the gas turbine engine of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;

providing spark and fuel to the gas turbine engine of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor during this acceleration to achieve self-sustaining operation of the gas turbine engine;

disconnecting the utility electrical power from the pulse width modulated inverter once self-sustaining operation of the gas turbine engine is achieved;

reconnecting the pulse width modulated inverter to the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor through a rectifier bridge to reconfigure the pulse width modulated inverter to supply utility frequency voltage; and

providing an energy storage and discharge system for the pulse width modulated inverter to provide electrical energy to the inverter when utility electrical power is unavailable to start the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor and during self-sustained operation when the inverter cannot meet an instantaneous load requirement and to otherwise store electrical energy during self-sustained operation.

3. A method of controlling a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor including a gas turbine engine, comprising the steps of:

providing utility electrical power to the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor through a first contactor and a pulse width modulated inverter to drive the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor as a motor through a second contactor to accelerate the gas turbine engine of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;

providing spark and fuel to the gas turbine engine of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor during this acceleration to achieve self sustaining operation of the gas turbine engine;

opening the first and second contactors to disconnect the utility electrical power from the pulse width modulated inverter once self-sustaining operation of the gas turbine engine is achieved;

reconnecting the pulse width modulated inverter to the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor through a rectifier bridge to reconfigure the pulse width modulated inverter to supply utility frequency voltage; and

providing an energy storage and discharge system for the pulse width modulated inverter to provide electrical energy to the inverter, when utility electrical power is unavailable to start the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor, during self-sustained operation when the inverter cannot meet an instantaneous load requirement, after shutdown to continue motoring the gas turbine engine of the permanent magnet generator/motor to cool down the permanent magnet generator/motor, and to otherwise store electrical energy during self-sustained operation.

4. The method of controlling a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor of claim 3 and in addition the step of connecting the reconfigured pulse width modulated inverter to a load by closing a third contactor.

5. A method of controlling a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor including a gas turbine engine, comprising the steps of:

providing utility electrical power to the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor through a first contactor and a multiple solid state switching device channel pulse width modulated inverter to drive the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor as a motor through a second contactor to accelerate the gas turbine engine of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;

providing spark and fuel to the gas turbine engine of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor during this acceleration to achieve self-sustaining operation of the gas turbine engine;

opening the first and second contactors to disconnect the utility electrical power from the multiple solid state switching device channel pulse width modulated inverter once self sustaining operation of the gas turbine engine is achieved;

reconnecting the multiple solid state switching device channel pulse width modulated inverter to the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor through a high frequency rectifier bridge to reconfigure the multiple solid state switching device channel pulse width modulated inverter;

connecting the reconfigured multiple solid state switching device channel pulse width modulated inverter to utility power by closing a third contactor; and

providing an energy storage and discharge system for the pulse width modulated inverter to provide electrical energy to the inverter, when utility electrical power is unavailable to start the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor, during self-sustained operation when the gas turbine engine cannot meet an instantaneous load requirement, after shutdown to continue motoring the gas turbine engine of the permanent magnet generator/motor to cool down the permanent magnet generator/motor, and to otherwise store electrical energy during self-sustained operation.

6. The method of controlling a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor of claim 5 wherein the number of multiple solid state switching device channels in said pulse width modulated inverter is four, and three of the four solid state switching device channels are reconfigured to supply utility frequency voltage and the fourth solid state switching device channels is switched at a fifty percent duty cycle to create an artificial neutral.

7. The method of controlling a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor of claim 6 wherein the four solid state switching device channels are IGBT channels.

8. The method of controlling a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor of claim 7 wherein the high frequency rectifier bridge is a three phase rectifier having three diode channels.

9. The method of controlling a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor of claim 8 wherein each of said three diode channels include a pair of diodes.

10. A controller for a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor including a gas turbine engine, comprising:

a pulse width modulated inverter operably associated with said permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;

means to provide utility electrical power to said permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor through said pulse width modulated inverter to start said permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor to achieve self sustaining operation of the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;

means to disconnect the utility electrical power from said pulse width modulated inverter once self sustaining operation of said permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor is achieved; and

means to reconfigure said pulse width modulated inverter to supply voltage from said permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor; and

an energy storage and discharge system for the pulse width modulated inverter to provide electrical energy to the inverter, when utility electrical power is unavailable to start the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor, during self-sustained operation when the inverter cannot meet an instantaneous load requirement, after shutdown to continue motoring the gas turbine engine of the permanent magnet generator/motor to cool down the permanent magnet generator/motor, and to otherwise store electrical energy during self-sustained operation.

11. The controller for a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor of claim 10 wherein said pulse width modulated inverter includes a plurality of solid state switching device channels.

12. The controller for a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor of claim 11 wherein said plurality of solid state switching device channels in said pulse width modulate inverter is four, and three of the four solid state switching device channels are reconfigured to supply utility frequency voltage and the fourth solid state switching device channels is switched at a fifty percent duty cycle to create an artificial neutral.

13. The controller for a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor of claim 12 wherein said four solid state switching device channels are IGBT channels.

14. A controller for a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor having a gas turbine engine, comprising:

a pulse width modulated inverter operably associated with said permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;

means to provide utility electrical power to said permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor through said pulse width modulated inverter to drive said permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor as a motor to accelerate said gas turbine engine of said permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;

means to provide spark and fuel to said gas turbine engine of said permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor during this acceleration to achieve self sustaining operation of said gas turbine engine;

means to disconnect the utility electrical power from said pulse width modulated inverter and said permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor once self-sustaining operation of said gas turbine engine is achieved;

a rectifier bridge operably associated with said pulse width modulated inverter and said permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;

means to reconnect said pulse width modulated inverter to said permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor through said rectifier bridge to reconfigure said pulse width modulated inverter to supply utility frequency voltage; and

an energy storage and discharge system for the pulse width modulated inverter to provide electrical energy to the inverter when utility electrical power is unavailable to start the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor and during self-sustained operation when the gas turbine engine cannot meet an instantaneous load requirement and to otherwise store electrical energy during self-sustained operation.

15. A controller for a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor having a gas turbine engine and a permanent magnet generator/motor, comprising:

a pulse width modulated inverter operably associated with said permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor, said pulse width modulated inverter having a plurality of solid state switching device channels;

a first contactor operably associated with said pulse width modulated inverter;

a second contactor operable associated with said the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;

means to provide utility electrical power to said pulse width modulated inverter through said first contactor when closed to drive said permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor as a motor through said second contactor when closed to accelerate said gas turbine engine of said permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;

means to provide spark and fuel to said gas turbine engine of said permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor during this acceleration to achieve self sustaining operation of said gas turbine engine;

means to open said first and second contactors to disconnect the utility electrical power from said pulse width modulated inverter once self sustaining operation of said gas turbine engine is achieved;

a rectifier bridge operable associated with said pulse width modulated inverter and said permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor;

a third contactor operably associated with said pulse width modulated inverter;

means to reconnect said pulse width modulated inverter to said permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor through said rectifier bridge to reconfigure said pulse width modulated inverter;

means to connect said reconfigured pulse width modulated inverter to supply utility frequency voltage to a load through said third contactor when closed; and

an energy storage and discharge system for the pulse width modulated inverter to provide electrical energy to the inverter when utility electrical power is unavailable to start the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor and during self-sustained operation when the inverter cannot meet an instantaneous load requirement and to otherwise store electrical energy during self-sustained operation.

16. The controller for a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor of claim 15 wherein the number of solid state switching device channels in said pulse width modulate inverter is four, and three of the four solid state switching device channels are reconfigured to supply utility frequency voltage and the fourth solid state switching device channel is switched at a fifty percent duty cycle to create an artificial neutral.

17. The controller for a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor of claim 16 wherein the four solid state switching device channels are IGBT channels.

18. The controller for a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor of claim 17 wherein said rectifier bridge is a three phase rectifier having three diode channels.

19. The controller for a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor of claim 18 wherein each of said three diode channels includes a pair of diodes.

20. The controller for a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor of claim 15 wherein said energy storage and discharge system includes an off-load device having an off-load resistor and an off-load switching device in series, and a switching device having a charge switching device and a discharge switching device in series.

21. The controller for a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor of claim 20 wherein said energy storage and discharge system includes an energy storage and discharge device connected across said discharge switching device, and said energy storage and discharge device includes a main power switch, and a precharge switch and precharge resistor in parallel with said main power switch.

22. The controller for a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor of claim 21 wherein said energy storage and discharge system includes a series inductor and a parallel capacitor between said discharge switching device and said energy storage and discharge device to filter the pulse width modulated waveform from said charge switching device and said discharge switching device.

23. The controller for a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor of claim 15 wherein said energy storage and discharge system includes an off-load device having an off-load resistor and an off-load switching device in series, a switching device having a charge switching device and a discharge switching device in series, a battery connected across said discharge switching device, a main power switch in series with said battery, a precharge switch and a precharge resistor in parallel with said main power switch, and a series inductor and a parallel capacitor between said discharge switching device and said battery to filter the pulse width modulated waveform from said charge switching device and said discharge switching device.