Turbogenerator power control system and method

• US 6,281,601 B1
• Filed: 07/23/1999
• Issued: 08/28/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corp.
• Original Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corp.
• Inventors: Wacknov, Joel B., Gilbreth, Mark G., Edelman, Edward C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ballato, Josie
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIOS CUEVAS, ROBERTO JOSE
• Application Number:
  US09/360,043
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 307/29, 307/31, 307/44, 307/45, 307/47, 290/52
• US Class Current: 307/29
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/1885 using rotating means, e.g. synchronous generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/24 Arrangements for preventing or reducing oscillations of power in networks by control effected upon a single generator H02P9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/28 Arrangements for balancing of the load in a network by storage of energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/14 Combined heat and power generation [CHP]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 40/30 Reactive power compensation

Abstract

The power meter, required in most utility grid connectged applications to measure load consumption, is utilized to provide a feedback to an associated turbogenerator power controller, providing a control system for peak shaving, load following, reactive power control, reverse flow protection and load analysis for scheduled turbogenerator operation. This control system operates with simple discrete signals for peak shaving operation, to more complex pulse signals for load following, to load profile analysis and scheduled operation based on a microprocessor based serial input from a digital power meter.

Claims

1. A power control system connected to an electric utility grid and a load, said system comprising:

a power meter connected to said electric utility grid;

at least one turbogenerator connected to said electric utility grid, said power meter, and said load, each of said at least one turbogenerator including a controller for said power meter to provide a plurality of analog pulse input signals including a real power feedback signal and a reactive power feedback signal to the controller of each of said at least one turbogenerator.

2. The power control system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first comparator to compare said real power feedback signal with a utility load real demand signal; and

a second comparator to compare said reactive power feedback signal with a utility load reactive demand signal.

3. The power control system of claim 2, further comprising:

means operably associated with said first comparator to time average said compared signal from said first comparator; and

means operably associated with said second comparator to time average said compared signal from said second comparator.