US20190366953A1 - Power generation system and associated method - Google Patents
Power generation system and associated method Download PDFInfo
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- US20190366953A1 US20190366953A1 US15/991,255 US201815991255A US2019366953A1 US 20190366953 A1 US20190366953 A1 US 20190366953A1 US 201815991255 A US201815991255 A US 201815991255A US 2019366953 A1 US2019366953 A1 US 2019366953A1
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- load current
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02M—APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF
- H02M1/00—Details of apparatus for conversion
- H02M1/32—Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- B60L1/00—Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles
- B60L1/14—Supplying electric power to auxiliary equipment of vehicles to electric lighting circuits
-
- B60L11/02—
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- B60L3/00—Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption
- B60L3/0092—Electric devices on electrically-propelled vehicles for safety purposes; Monitoring operating variables, e.g. speed, deceleration or energy consumption with use of redundant elements for safety purposes
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- B60L50/00—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle
- B60L50/10—Electric propulsion with power supplied within the vehicle using propulsion power supplied by engine-driven generators, e.g. generators driven by combustion engines
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60L—PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL; MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES
- B60L8/00—Electric propulsion with power supply from forces of nature, e.g. sun or wind
- B60L8/006—Converting flow of air into electric energy, e.g. by using wind turbines
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R16/00—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for
- B60R16/02—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for electric constitutive elements
- B60R16/03—Electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for; Arrangement of elements of electric or fluid circuits specially adapted for vehicles and not otherwise provided for electric constitutive elements for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J3/00—Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
- H02J3/38—Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J3/00—Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
- H02J3/38—Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
- H02J3/40—Synchronising a generator for connection to a network or to another generator
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J3/00—Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
- H02J3/38—Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
- H02J3/46—Controlling of the sharing of output between the generators, converters, or transformers
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J9/00—Circuit arrangements for emergency or stand-by power supply, e.g. for emergency lighting
- H02J9/04—Circuit arrangements for emergency or stand-by power supply, e.g. for emergency lighting in which the distribution system is disconnected from the normal source and connected to a standby source
- H02J9/06—Circuit arrangements for emergency or stand-by power supply, e.g. for emergency lighting in which the distribution system is disconnected from the normal source and connected to a standby source with automatic change-over, e.g. UPS systems
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02M—APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF
- H02M7/00—Conversion of ac power input into dc power output; Conversion of dc power input into ac power output
- H02M7/02—Conversion of ac power input into dc power output without possibility of reversal
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02M—APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF
- H02M7/00—Conversion of ac power input into dc power output; Conversion of dc power input into ac power output
- H02M7/02—Conversion of ac power input into dc power output without possibility of reversal
- H02M7/04—Conversion of ac power input into dc power output without possibility of reversal by static converters
- H02M7/12—Conversion of ac power input into dc power output without possibility of reversal by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode
- H02M7/21—Conversion of ac power input into dc power output without possibility of reversal by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode using devices of a triode or transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal
- H02M7/217—Conversion of ac power input into dc power output without possibility of reversal by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode using devices of a triode or transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only
- H02M7/23—Conversion of ac power input into dc power output without possibility of reversal by static converters using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode using devices of a triode or transistor type requiring continuous application of a control signal using semiconductor devices only arranged for operation in parallel
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02M—APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF
- H02M7/00—Conversion of ac power input into dc power output; Conversion of dc power input into ac power output
- H02M7/42—Conversion of dc power input into ac power output without possibility of reversal
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02M—APPARATUS FOR CONVERSION BETWEEN AC AND AC, BETWEEN AC AND DC, OR BETWEEN DC AND DC, AND FOR USE WITH MAINS OR SIMILAR POWER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; CONVERSION OF DC OR AC INPUT POWER INTO SURGE OUTPUT POWER; CONTROL OR REGULATION THEREOF
- H02M1/00—Details of apparatus for conversion
- H02M1/32—Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection
- H02M1/325—Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection with means for allowing continuous operation despite a fault, i.e. fault tolerant converters
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02T—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION
- Y02T10/00—Road transport of goods or passengers
- Y02T10/60—Other road transportation technologies with climate change mitigation effect
- Y02T10/7072—Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
Definitions
- Embodiments of the present specification generally relate to a power generation system and in particular, to a method for controlling the power generation system in an event of one or more power converters in the power generation system experiencing a determined operating condition.
- Power generation systems including alternators and/or other renewable or non-renewable power sources are typically being used in various applications including stationary applications such as uninterruptible power supply and mobile applications including vehicles.
- the power generation systems typically include power converters such as inverters and/or rectifiers to facilitate conversion of electrical power from one form to another form.
- multiple power generation system blocks are operated in parallel or in other suitable configurations.
- the power generation system blocks are required to be electrically synchronized before powering up electrical loads connected thereto.
- a centralized control of the power converters disposed in the multiple power generation system blocks is not possible and/or not permissible, synchronization of the operations of the power converters remains a challenging task.
- a method in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, includes detecting a determined operating condition of a first power converter that is one of a plurality of first power converters in a power generating unit, and the power generating unit is one of a plurality of power generating units.
- the method further includes responding to detection of the determined operating condition by: controlling, via at least one remaining first power converter of the plurality of first power converters, a load current flowing through a power bus coupled to the plurality of power generating units, and altering one or more droop characteristics corresponding to one or more second power converters disposed in other power generating units based at least in part on the controlled load current flowing through the power bus, where the one or more second power converters disposed in other power generating units are coupled to the power bus.
- a power generation system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, includes a first power generating unit electrically coupled to a load via a power bus.
- the first power generating unit includes a plurality of first power converters and at least one first controller operatively coupled to the plurality of first power converters.
- the at least one first controller is configured to detect a determined operating condition corresponding to at least one first power converter of the plurality of first power converters. Further, the at least one first controller is configured to control, if the determined operating condition is detected, a load current flowing through the power bus via at least one remaining first power converter of the plurality of first power converters.
- the power generation system includes a second power generating unit electrically coupled to the power bus.
- the second power generating unit includes a plurality of second power converters and at least one second controller operatively coupled the plurality of second power converters.
- the at least one second controller is configured to alter one or more droop characteristics corresponding to the plurality of second power converters based on the controlled load current flowing through the power bus.
- FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a power generation system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification
- FIG. 2 is a graphical representation of first droop characteristics of a power converter employed in the power generation system of FIG. 1 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification;
- FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of second droop characteristics of a power converter employed in the power generation system of FIG. 1 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification;
- FIG. 4 is a graphical representation of modified first droop characteristics, in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification.
- FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of modified second droop characteristics, in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification.
- FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method for operating the power generation system of FIG. 1 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification;
- FIG. 7 is a graphical representation of a modulating signal used to generate a controlled load current, in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification.
- FIG. 8 is a graphical representation of the controlled load current flowing through a power bus, in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification.
- circuit and “controller” may include either a single component or a plurality of components, which are active and/or passive and are connected or otherwise coupled together to provide the described function.
- operatively coupled includes wired coupling, wireless coupling, electrical coupling, magnetic coupling, radio communication, software based communication, or combinations thereof.
- the terms “may” and “may be” indicate a possibility of an occurrence within a set of circumstances; a possession of a specified property, characteristic or function; and/or qualify another verb by expressing one or more of an ability, capability, or possibility associated with the qualified verb. Accordingly, usage of“may” and “may be” indicates that a modified term is apparently appropriate, capable, or suitable for an indicated capacity, function, or usage, while taking into account that in some circumstances, the modified term may sometimes not be appropriate, capable, or suitable.
- the power generation system includes a first power generating unit electrically coupled to a load via a power bus.
- the first power generating unit includes a plurality of first power converters and at least one first controller operatively coupled to the plurality of first power converters.
- the at least one first controller is configured to detect a determined operating condition corresponding to at least one first power converter of the plurality of first power converters. Further, the at least one first controller is configured to control, if the determined operating condition is detected, a load current flowing through the power bus via at least one remaining first power converter of the plurality of first power converters.
- the power generation system includes a second power generating unit electrically coupled to the power bus.
- the second power generating unit includes a plurality of second power converters and at least one second controller operatively coupled the plurality of second power converters.
- the at least one second controller is configured to alter one or more droop characteristics corresponding to the plurality of second power converters based on the controlled load current flowing through the power bus.
- FIG. 1 a block diagram of a power generation system 100 is presented, in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification.
- the power generation system 100 of FIG. 1 may be employed as a stationary power generation system or a mobile power generation system.
- the power generation system 100 includes a plurality of power generating units such as a first power generating unit 102 and a second power generating unit 104 .
- the first and second power generating units 102 , 104 may also be alternatively referred to as power generating units 102 , 104 .
- one or both of the power generating units 102 , 104 may be a stationary power generating unit, for example, an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) based system.
- one or both of the power generating units 102 , 104 may be a mobile power generating unit such as a vehicle.
- the vehicle may include one or more of trains, cars, trucks, boats, drones, and aircrafts, and the like.
- the power generating units 102 , 104 may be locomotives.
- the power generation system 100 of FIG. 1 is shown to include two power generating units 102 , 104 , use of more than two power generating units in the power generation system 100 is also envisioned within the purview of the present specification.
- the number of power generating units in the power generation system 100 may vary depending on the application and/or design considerations including but not limited to a rated power of the power generation system 100 and a rated power of each of the power generating units to be used.
- the first and second power generating units 102 , 104 are electrically coupled to a power bus 108 , as shown in FIG. 1 .
- the first and second power generating units 102 , 104 may be coupled to the power bus 108 to supply the electrical power thereto.
- the power bus 108 is also electrically coupled to the load 106 . More particularly, the first and second power generating units 102 , 104 are coupled to the power bus 108 such that the electrical power may be supplied to the load 106 from one or both of the first and second power generating units 102 , 104 via the power bus 108 .
- the term “power bus” as used herein, refers to an electrical line which is used to couple electrical components of the first and second power generating units 102 , 104 .
- the power bus 108 may be a single phase or a multi-phase line, for example, a three-phase line.
- Reference numerals 107 , 109 represent two ends of the power bus 108 within the first power generating unit 102 .
- reference numerals 110 and 112 represent two ends of the power bus 108 within the second power generating unit 104 .
- each of the power generating units 102 , 104 may include a power source, a plurality of power converters, one or more controllers, and one or more sensors.
- the first power generating unit 102 may include a first power source 116 , a plurality of first power converters such as first power converters 118 A, 118 B, one or more first controllers such as first controllers 120 A, 120 B, and one or more of first sensors 122 A, 122 B, 122 C, 122 D (hereinafter referred to as first sensors 122 A- 122 D).
- first sensors 122 A- 122 D hereinafter referred to as first sensors 122 A- 122 D.
- the first power generating unit 102 is shown to include two first power converters 118 A, 118 B, two first controllers 120 A, 120 B, and four first sensors 122 A- 122 D.
- the first power generating unit 102 including different number of components than depicted in FIG. 1 is also contemplated.
- the first power converters 118 A, 118 B are shown as electrically coupled in parallel with each other. It is to be noted that the plurality of first power converters may be arranged in other suitable configurations including but not limited to a series configuration, a series-parallel configuration, a networked configuration, and the like.
- the first controller 120 A is operatively coupled to the first power converter 118 A and the first controller 120 B is operatively coupled to the first power converter 11 B to control respective operations.
- the first controllers 120 A, 120 B of the first power generating unit 102 are communicatively coupled to each other.
- a common single first controller (not shown) may be coupled to both the first power converters 118 A, 118 B.
- the second power generating unit 104 may include a second power source 124 , a plurality of second power converters such as second power converters 126 A, 126 B, one or more second controllers such as second controllers 128 A, 128 B, and one or more second sensors 130 A, 130 B, 130 C, 130 D (hereinafter referred to as second sensors 130 A- 130 D).
- the second power generating unit 104 is shown to include two second power converters 126 A, 126 B, two second controllers 128 A, 128 B, and four second sensors 130 A- 130 D.
- use of the second power generating unit 104 including different number of components than depicted in FIG. 1 is also contemplated.
- the components of the second power generating unit 104 may be arranged in a similar fashion as described with reference to the first power generating unit 102 .
- the first and second power sources 116 , 124 as used respectively in the first and second power generating units 102 , 104 may be representative of an electric machine capable of generating an electrical power, for example, a generator/alternator.
- the generator may be a synchronous generator, an asynchronous generator, a doubly-fed induction generator, and the like.
- the generator may be operated via a prime mover (not shown in FIG. 1 ) including, but not limited to, an engine, a compressor, a wind-turbine, a hydro-turbine, or any other suitable source of mechanical energy.
- the generator used as the power source 116 , 124 may generate alternating current (AC) power.
- each of the power generating units 102 , 104 may additionally include a rectifier (not shown in FIG. 1 ) electrically coupled to the respective power source 116 , 124 to convert the AC power generated by the generator to a direct current (DC) power.
- the power source 116 , 124 may additionally or alternatively include a source that may generate direct current (DC) power, for example, a fuel-cell or a photovoltaic (PV) based power source.
- each of the first power converters 118 A, 118 B, and the second power converters 126 A, 126 B may be an inverter that is configured to convert the DC power received from the respective power source 116 , 124 to an AC power.
- the first power converters 118 A, 118 B, and the second power converters 126 A, 126 B may be alternatively referred to as power converters 118 A- 126 B.
- the AC power from the power converters 118 A- 126 B is supplied to the load 106 via the power bus 108 .
- the power converters 118 A- 126 B may include an electronic circuit including plurality of switches (not shown in FIG. 1 ) to effect conversion of the DC power to the AC power.
- the switches used in the power converters 118 A- 126 B may be electrically controllable switches, such as, semiconductor switches.
- semiconductor switches may include transistors, gate commutated thyristors, field effect transistors (FETs), insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), gate turn-off thyristors (GTOs), static induction transistors, static induction thyristors, or combinations thereof.
- materials used to form the semiconductor switches may include, but are not limited to, silicon (Si), silicon carbide (SiC), gallium nitride (GaN), or combinations thereof.
- the power converters 118 A- 126 B may be three-phase inverters, for example.
- the switches may be arranged in one or more phase-legs where each phase-leg generates one signal.
- each of the power converters 118 A- 126 B may include three phase-legs including one or more switches.
- the power converters 118 A- 126 B may be configured to generate AC power/current of various shapes including, but not limited to, a square wave, a sine wave, a modified sine wave, a pulsed sine wave, a pulse width modulated wave (PWM), and the like.
- PWM pulse width modulated wave
- an electrical power to meet a total electrical power demand of the load 106 is shared among the first power generating unit 102 and the second power generating unit 104 . More particularly, the electrical power to meet the total power demand of the load 106 may be shared among the power converters 118 A- 126 B.
- the quantity of the electrical power to be supplied to the load 106 is equally shared among the first and second power converters 118 A- 126 B of the first and second power generating units 102 , 104 .
- the first and second power generating units 102 , 104 are configured to share about 50% of a total electrical power demand from the load 106 .
- the controllers 120 A, 120 B, 128 A, 128 B are configured to respectively operate the power converters 118 A, 118 B, 126 A, 126 B such that each of the power converters 118 A- 126 B supply about 25% of the total electrical power demand from the load 106 .
- each of the power generating units 102 , 104 may be configured to contribute 500 kW, where each of the power converters 118 A- 126 B may be configured to contribute 250 kW.
- the quantity of the electrical power to be supplied to the load 106 is shared unequally among the first and second power converters 118 A- 126 B of the first and second power generating units 102 , 104 .
- the power converters 118 A- 126 B are configured to generate active power and/or reactive power. More particularly, one or more of the power converters 118 A- 126 B are configured to generate active power and/or reactive power are based on one or more droop characteristics (see FIGS. 2 and 3 ) under the control of the respective controllers 120 A, 120 B, 128 A, 128 B.
- FIG. 2 a graphical representation 200 of first droop characteristics 202 of one power converter, for example, any of the power converters 118 A- 126 B, employed in the power generation system 100 of FIG. 1 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification.
- Reference numerals 204 and 206 respectively represent the X-axis and the Y-axis of the graphical representation 200 .
- the X-axis 204 and the Y-axis 206 respectively represent active power in kilo-watts (kW) and frequency in Hertz (Hz) of the active power generated by any of the power converters 118 A- 126 B.
- kW kilo-watts
- Hz Hertz
- the first droop characteristics 202 indicates that the active power generated by any of the power converters 118 A- 126 B may be varied from 0 kW (zero) to 250 kW (i.e., 25% of the rated capacity of the power generation system 100 ) when the frequency of the electrical power generated by the power converters 118 A- 126 B is varied from 59.8 Hz to 60.2 Hz.
- FIG. 3 is a graphical representation 300 of second droop characteristics 302 of one power converter, for example, any of the power converters 118 A- 126 B, employed in the power generation system 100 of FIG. 1 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification.
- Reference numerals 304 and 306 respectively represent the X-axis and the Y-axis of the graphical representation 300 .
- the X-axis 304 and the Y-axis 306 respectively represent reactive power in kilo-Var (kVar) and voltage of the reactive power generated by any of the power converters 118 A- 126 B.
- kVar reactive power in kilo-Var
- the second droop characteristics 302 indicates that the reactive power generated by any of the power converters 118 A- 126 B may be varied from 0 kVar (zero) to 250 kVar (i.e., 25% of the rated capacity of the power generation system 100 ) when the voltage of the electrical power generated by the power converters 118 A- 126 B is varied from 475 volts to 480 volts.
- the first sensors 122 A- 122 D are disposed at various locations in the first power generating unit 102 .
- the first sensors 122 A and 122 B are connected at an output of the first power converters 118 A and 118 B, respectively.
- the first sensors 122 C and 122 D are connected to the ends 107 and 109 , respectively, of the power bus 108 .
- the second sensors 130 A- 130 D are disposed at various locations.
- the second sensors 130 A and 130 B are connected at an output of the second power converters 126 A and 126 B, respectively.
- the second sensors 130 C and 130 D are connected to the ends 110 and 112 , respectively, of the power bus 108 .
- the first sensors 122 A- 122 D and the second sensors 130 A- 130 D may be alternatively referred to as the sensors 122 A- 130 D.
- the sensors 122 A- 130 D are described as current sensors.
- the sensors 122 A- 130 D may generate signals indicative of a current flowing through their respective point of connection in the power generating units 102 , 104 .
- the sensors that may be used as the sensors 122 A- 130 D may include voltage sensors, temperature sensors, or combinations thereof.
- the first sensors 122 A- 122 D and the second sensors 130 A- 130 D may be coupled to the respective controllers 120 A- 120 B and 128 A- 128 B via wired control lines, as depicted in FIG. 1 .
- the first sensors 122 A- 122 D and the second sensors 130 A- 130 D may be coupled to the respective controllers 120 A- 120 B and 128 A- 128 B via a wireless communication medium.
- the wireless communication medium may be effected by wireless communication techniques based on Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi® (IEEE 802.11), WiMAX® (IEEE 802.16), Wi-Bro®, cellular communication techniques, such as, but not limited to global system for mobile (GSM) communications or code division multiple access (CDMA), data communication techniques, including, but not limited to, broadband, 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G.
- wireless communication techniques based on Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi® (IEEE 802.11), WiMAX® (IEEE 802.16), Wi-Bro®, cellular communication techniques, such as, but not limited to global system for mobile (GSM) communications or code division multiple access (CDMA), data communication techniques, including, but not limited to, broadband, 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G.
- GSM global system for mobile
- CDMA code division multiple access
- the controllers 120 A, 120 B, 128 A, 128 B may be configured to control operation of the power converters 118 A, 118 B, 126 A, 126 B, respectively. More particularly, the controllers 120 A- 128 B are configured to control switching of the switches contained respectively in the power converters 118 A- 126 B to generate a desired output. The desired output may be a desired magnitude and/or frequency of an AC voltage, a AC current, and/or AC power. In some embodiments, the controllers 120 A- 128 B are configured to control the operation of the power converters 118 A- 126 B based on the electrical signals received from the respective sensors 122 A- 122 D, 130 A- 130 D.
- controller may refer to hardware elements such as integrated circuits, a computer, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a programmable logic controller (PLC), a specification specific integrated circuit, specification-specific processor, digital signal processors (DSPs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and/or any other programmable circuits.
- PLC programmable logic controller
- DSP digital signal processors
- ASICs application specific integrated circuits
- FPGAs field programmable gate arrays
- the “controller” may include input/output ports, and a storage medium, such as an electronic memory.
- the “controller” may be a single-core type or multi-core type.
- the “controller” may be implemented as software running on a processor such as a personal computer (PC), or the microcontroller.
- the determined operating condition may include a complete failure, a partial failure, a malfunction condition, an overheating condition, or combinations thereof.
- the complete failure may be representative of an operating condition of a given power converter when all phase-legs of the given power converter stop functioning due to failure of one or more switches contained in the phase-legs.
- the partial failure may be representative of an operating condition of the given power converter when one or more but not all phase-legs of the given power converter stop functioning.
- the malfunction condition may be representative of an operating condition of the given power converter when one or more phase-legs of the given power converter generate electrical power deviating from its desired output power.
- the overheating condition may be representative of an operating condition of the given power converter when a temperature of the power converter or one or more switches used in the power converter raises above a threshold value.
- the controllers 120 A- 128 B may be configured to detect if the respective one of the power converters 118 A- 126 B is experiencing the determined operating condition. If it is detected that one or more of the power converters 118 A- 126 B are experiencing the determined operating condition, in some embodiments, the operation of remaining power converters of the power converters 118 A- 126 B may be controlled such that the total electrical power demand of the load 106 is met uninterrupted. By way of example, the remaining power converters are the ones that are not experiencing the determined operating condition.
- one or more of the controllers 120 A- 128 B may be configured to modify operating characteristics, for example, the one or more droop characteristics (see FIGS. 2 and 3 ) of the remaining converters.
- FIGS. 4 and 5 represent modified droop characteristics.
- At least one first controller is configured to detect the determined operating condition corresponding to at least one first power converter, such as, the first power converter 118 A, of the plurality of first power converters 118 A, 118 B. Further, in some embodiments, if the determined operating condition is detected, the first controller 120 B may be configured to control a load current flowing through the power bus 108 via at least one remaining first power converter, for example, the first power converter 118 B.
- At least one second controller 128 A, 128 B operatively coupled the plurality of second power converters 126 A, 126 B is configured to alter one or more droop characteristics corresponding to the plurality of second power converters 126 A, 126 B based on the controlled load current flowing through the power bus 108 .
- the first controller 120 B is also configured to alter one or more droop characteristics of the first power converter 118 B. Additional details of operations performed by one or more of the controllers 120 A- 128 B to operate the power generation system 100 are illustrated with reference to a method described in FIG. 6 .
- FIG. 4 a graphical representation 400 depicting modified first droop characteristics 402 is presented, in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification.
- Reference numerals 404 and 406 respectively represent the X-axis and the Y-axis of the graphical representation 400 .
- the X-axis 404 and the Y-axis 406 respectively represent active power (kW) and frequency (Hz) of the active power generated by any of the power converters 118 B, 126 A, 126 B.
- active power kW
- Hz frequency
- the modified first droop characteristics 402 indicates that the active power generated by any of the power converters 118 B, 126 A, 126 B may be varied from 0 kW (zero) to 333.3 kW when the frequency of the electrical power generated by the power converters 118 B, 126 A, 126 B is varied from 59.2 Hz to 60.2 Hz.
- the power converters 118 B, 126 A, 126 B can generate about 83.3 kW of excess active power, thereby compensating for a deficiency of active power from the power converter 118 A.
- FIG. 5 a graphical representation 500 depicting modified second droop characteristics 502 is presented, in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification.
- Reference numerals 504 and 506 respectively represent the X-axis and the Y-axis of the graphical representation 500 .
- the X-axis 504 and the Y-axis 506 respectively represent reactive power (kVar) and voltage (volts) of the reactive power generated by any of the power converters 1188 , 126 A, 126 B.
- the modified second droop characteristics 502 indicates that the reactive power generated by any of the power converters 118 B, 126 A, 126 B may be varied from 0 kVar (zero) to 333.3 kVar when the voltage of the electrical power generated by the power converters 118 B, 126 A, 126 B is varied from 475 volts to 480 volts.
- the power converters 118 B, 126 A, 126 B can generate about 83.3 kVar of excess reactive power, thereby compensating for a deficiency of reactive power from the power converter 118 A.
- the flow diagram 600 illustrates a method for operating the power generation system 100 when one or more of the power converters 118 A- 126 B experience the determined operating condition.
- the determined operating condition may include the complete failure, the partial failure, the malfunction condition, the overheating condition, or combinations thereof.
- the method of FIG. 6 is described with respect to a situation when the first power converter 118 A experiences the determined operating condition. It is to be noted that the method of FIG. 6 is also applicable to the situations when any other of the power converters 118 B, 126 A, 26 B experiences the determined operating condition.
- the first controller 120 A may be configured to receive electrical signals from the one or more first sensors 122 A, 122 C connected thereto.
- the electrical signal received from the sensor 122 A may be indicative of the current supplied to the power bus 108 from the power converter 118 A.
- the electrical signal received from the sensor 122 C may be indicative of the load current flowing through the power bus 108 .
- the first controller 120 A may receive electrical signals indicative of the temperature of the first power converter 118 A.
- a check may be performed by the first controller 120 A to detect the determined operating condition of the first power converter 118 A. More particularly, detecting the determined operating condition at step 604 includes determining whether the first power converter 118 A experiences the determined operating condition based on the electrical signal received from the sensors 122 A and/or 122 B. By way of example, the first controller 120 A may detect the determined operating condition of the first power converter 118 A based on one or more properties such as a magnitude, a frequency, or a phase of the electrical signals received from the sensors 122 A and/or 122 B. If values of the one or more properties of the electrical signal is not in a desired predefined range, the first controller 120 A may determine that the first power converter 118 A experiences the determined operating condition. In certain other embodiments, if the temperature of the first power converter 118 A is raises above a threshold temperature value, the first controller 120 A may determine that the first power converter 118 A experiences the determined operating condition.
- step 604 if it is detected that the first power converter 118 A does not experience the determined operating condition, a control may be passed to step 602 . However, at step 604 , if it is detected that the first power converter 118 A experiences the determined operating condition, one or more of the controllers 120 A- 128 B may respond to the determined operating condition by performing necessary control actions.
- the first controller 120 A is configured to electrically uncouple the first power converter 118 A from the power bus 108 .
- the first controller 120 A may discontinue operating the switches disposed in the first power converter 118 A by stopping the control signals supplied thereto.
- the first controller 120 A may be configured to disconnect the first power converter 118 A from the power bus 108 via a circuit breaker (not shown) that may be disposed between the first power converter 118 A and the power bus 108 .
- the first controller 120 A is configured to communicate information regarding the determined operating condition of the first power converter 118 A from the first controller 120 A to at least one first controller 120 B coupled to at least one remaining first power converter 118 B.
- the first controller 120 A may be configured to send a status signal to the first controller 120 A indicating that the power converter 118 A has experienced the determined operating condition.
- the load current flowing through the power bus 108 may be controlled via the at least one remaining first power converter 118 B, as indicated by step 610 , to generate a controlled load current.
- the method of controlling the load current flowing through the power bus 108 may include sub-steps 612 , 614 .
- the controller 120 B may be configured to operate the power converter 118 B (i.e., a remaining power converter in the power generating unit 102 that is not experiencing the determined operating condition) such that the power converter 118 B generate a power that includes a modulating signal (see FIG. 7 ).
- a graphical representation 700 of a modulating signal 702 is presented, in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification.
- Reference numerals 704 and 706 respectively represent the X-axis and the Y-axis of the graphical representation 700 .
- the X-axis 704 and the Y-axis 706 respectively represent amplitude and time.
- the modulating signal 702 may be a low frequency modulating signal.
- the load current flowing through the power bus 108 may be modulated via the at least one remaining first power converter (e.g., the first power converter 118 B) of the plurality of first power converters 118 A, 118 B using the modulating signal.
- modulation techniques that may be used to modulate the load current may include one or more of an amplitude modulation, a frequency modulation, a phase modulation, a pulse width modulation (PWM), and the like.
- modulating the load current using the amplitude modulation technique includes varying an amplitude of the load current in accordance with the amplitude of the modulating signal.
- the first controller 120 B may be configured to operate the first power converter 1188 such that the modulating signal is supplied to the power bus 108 .
- the modulating signal may be supplied to the power bus 108 along with a current supplied from the first power converter 118 B to the power bus 108 .
- the modulating signal may be superimposed on the current supplied from the first power converter 118 B to the power bus 108 . Therefore, when the modulating signal is supplied to the power bus 108 , the current flowing though the power bus 108 may be modulated.
- Such modulated load current is also hereinafter referred to as a controlled load current (see FIG. 8 ).
- a graphical representation 800 of an example controlled load current 802 flowing through the power bus 108 after the detection of the determined operating condition is presented, in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification.
- Reference numerals 804 and 806 respectively represent the X-axis and the Y-axis of the graphical representation 800 .
- the X-axis 804 and the Y-axis 806 respectively represent amplitude and time.
- the controlled load current 802 represents an amplitude modulated load current flowing through the power bus 108 .
- an amplitude of the controlled load current is varied in accordance with the amplitude of the modulating signal 702 .
- the controlled load current flows through the power bus 108 .
- a flow of the controlled load current through the power bus 108 may be indicative of the one or more power converters (e.g., the first power converter 118 A) experiencing the determined operating condition.
- the second controllers 128 A, 128 B disposed in the second power generating unit 104 may be configured to filter the controlled load current to determine a spectral component corresponding to the modulating signal.
- filtering of the controlled load current may include demodulating the controlled load current.
- the second controllers 128 A, 128 B may receive electrical signals indicative of the controlled current flowing through the power bus 108 respectively from the second sensors 130 C and 130 D. Further, the electrical signals received from the second sensors 130 C and 130 D may be filtered by the second controllers 128 A, 128 B, respectively, to determine the spectral component corresponding to the modulating signal.
- the magnitude of the spectral component corresponding to the modulating signal may be indicative of the number of power converters that are experiencing the determined operating condition. Accordingly, the second controllers 128 A, 128 B may determine the number of available power converters (i.e., the power converters that are not experiencing the determined operating condition) and the amount of active and/or reactive power to be supported by the second power converters 126 A, 126 B based on the rated capacity of the power generation system 100 . In certain other embodiments, the magnitude of the spectral component corresponding to the modulating signal may be indicative of the quantity of active and/or reactive power desirable from the second power converters 126 A, 126 B.
- one or more droop characteristics corresponding to one or more second power converters 126 A, 1268 disposed in other power generating units may be altered based at least in part on the controlled load current flowing through the power bus 108 .
- the second controllers 128 A. 128 B may be configured to alter one or more droop characteristics corresponding to one or more second power converters 126 A, 126 B.
- the controllers 128 A, 128 B may send active power commands and/or reactive power commands to the respective second power converters 126 A, 126 B.
- control circuits for example, driver circuits (not shown) disposed in the second power converters 126 A, 1268 may apply current commands/control signals to the switches in the respective second power converters 126 A, 126 B in accordance with the changed/modified droop characteristics.
- FIGS. 2 and 3 represent the one or more droop characteristics that may be modified to achieve one or more modified droop characteristics.
- altering the one or more droop characteristics includes increasing an active power capability of the one or more second power converters disposed in other power generating units (see FIG. 4 ). In certain embodiments, altering the one or more droop characteristics includes increasing a reactive power capability of the one or more second power converters disposed in other power generating units (see FIG. 5 ).
- one or more droop characteristics corresponding to the at least one remaining first power converter 118 B may also be altered by the first controller 120 B.
- FIGS. 2 and 3 represent the one or more droop characteristics that may be modified to achieve one or more modified droop characteristics.
- the one or more modified droop characteristics are depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5 , as described earlier.
- the first controller 120 B may be configured to alter the droop characteristics corresponding to the at least one remaining first power converter 118 B based at least in part on a total number of available power converters in the plurality of power generating units 102 , 104 and on the total rated capacity of the power generation system 100 .
- the term “total number of available power converters” may be representative of the number of the power converters that are not experiencing the determined operating condition. In the present example, three power converters 118 B, 126 A, 126 B are not experiencing the determined operating condition and the total rated capacity of the power generation system 100 is 1000 kW.
- the total rated capacity of 1000 kW is divided by three to obtain desired modified droop characteristics (e.g., the active power of 333.3 kW and/or the reactive power of 333.3 kW) of the first power converter 118 B.
- desired modified droop characteristics e.g., the active power of 333.3 kW and/or the reactive power of 333.3 kW
- the one or more droop characteristics of the two or more power converters other than the first power converter 118 A may be altered such that about equal or equal amount of active power may be supplied from each of the power converters 118 B, 126 A, 126 B to the power bus 108 .
- the one or more droop characteristics of the power converters 118 B, 126 A, 126 B may be adjusted to be substantially identical.
- the droop characteristics may be modified such that each of the remaining power converters 118 B, 126 A, 126 B may generate about 333.3 kW of active power or 333.3 kVar of reactive power.
- the one or more droop characteristics of the two or more power converters other than the first power converter 118 A may be altered such that a different/unequal amount of the active power may be supplied from each of the power converters 118 B, 126 A, 126 B to the power bus 108 .
- the one or more droop characteristics of the power converters 118 B, 126 A, 126 B may be different.
- the exemplary process steps such as those that may be performed by the exemplary system may be implemented by suitable code on a processor-based system such as a general-purpose or special-purpose computer. It should also be noted herein that different exemplary implementations may perform some or all of the steps described herein in different orders or substantially concurrently. Furthermore, the functions may be implemented in a variety of programming languages including but not limited to C++ or Java. Such code may be stored or adapted for storage on one or more tangible, machine readable media such as on data repository chips, local or remote hard disks, optical disks (that is, CDs or DVDs), memory or other media, which may be accessed by a processor-based system to execute the stored code.
- the tangible media may include paper or another suitable medium upon which the instructions are printed. For instance, the instructions may be electronically captured via optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted or otherwise processed in a suitable manner if necessary, and then stored in the data repository or memory.
- improved power generation system 100 and method of operating the power generation system 100 are provided.
- the improved method described herein facilitates altering operating capabilities of the remaining power converters (e.g., the power converters 118 B, 126 A, 126 B) to continue supply of the electrical power to the load 106 .
- the controllers 120 B, 128 A, 128 B are configured to alter the one or more droop characteristics of the power converters 118 B. 126 A, 126 B, respectively.
- supply of the electrical power to the load 106 may not be discontinued despite of the power converter 118 A experiencing the determined operating condition.
- the controllers 128 A, 128 B undertake this corrective action by detecting the controlled load current flowing through the power bus 108 .
- Operations of the power converters 118 A- 126 B are synchronized via a use of the controlled load current to alter/adapt the respective one or more droop characteristics.
- use of expensive communication devices between the power generating units 102 , 104 may be eliminated.
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Abstract
A method is presented. The method includes detecting a determined operating condition of a first power converter that is one of a plurality of first power converters in a power generating unit, and the power generating unit is one of a plurality of power generating units. The method further includes responding to detection of the determined operating condition by: controlling, via at least one remaining first power converter of the plurality of first power converters, a load current flowing through a power bus coupled to the plurality of power generating units, and altering one or more droop characteristics corresponding to one or more second power converters disposed in other power generating units based at least in part on the controlled load current flowing through the power bus, wherein the one or more second power converters disposed in other power generating units are coupled to the power bus.
Description
- Embodiments of the present specification generally relate to a power generation system and in particular, to a method for controlling the power generation system in an event of one or more power converters in the power generation system experiencing a determined operating condition.
- Power generation systems including alternators and/or other renewable or non-renewable power sources are typically being used in various applications including stationary applications such as uninterruptible power supply and mobile applications including vehicles. The power generation systems typically include power converters such as inverters and/or rectifiers to facilitate conversion of electrical power from one form to another form.
- In certain stationary and mobile applications, to supply increasing power demands and to facilitate high availability/redundancy, sometimes, multiple power generation system blocks are operated in parallel or in other suitable configurations. When such multiple power generation system blocks are operational in a given power generation system, the power generation system blocks are required to be electrically synchronized before powering up electrical loads connected thereto. In particular, in some implementations where a centralized control of the power converters disposed in the multiple power generation system blocks is not possible and/or not permissible, synchronization of the operations of the power converters remains a challenging task. Moreover, when one or more such power converters fail and/or malfunction, it may be desirable to maintain continuity of the supply of the electrical power to the electrical load.
- In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method is presented. The method includes detecting a determined operating condition of a first power converter that is one of a plurality of first power converters in a power generating unit, and the power generating unit is one of a plurality of power generating units. The method further includes responding to detection of the determined operating condition by: controlling, via at least one remaining first power converter of the plurality of first power converters, a load current flowing through a power bus coupled to the plurality of power generating units, and altering one or more droop characteristics corresponding to one or more second power converters disposed in other power generating units based at least in part on the controlled load current flowing through the power bus, where the one or more second power converters disposed in other power generating units are coupled to the power bus.
- In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a power generation system is presented. The power generation system includes a first power generating unit electrically coupled to a load via a power bus. The first power generating unit includes a plurality of first power converters and at least one first controller operatively coupled to the plurality of first power converters. The at least one first controller is configured to detect a determined operating condition corresponding to at least one first power converter of the plurality of first power converters. Further, the at least one first controller is configured to control, if the determined operating condition is detected, a load current flowing through the power bus via at least one remaining first power converter of the plurality of first power converters. Moreover, the power generation system includes a second power generating unit electrically coupled to the power bus. The second power generating unit includes a plurality of second power converters and at least one second controller operatively coupled the plurality of second power converters. The at least one second controller is configured to alter one or more droop characteristics corresponding to the plurality of second power converters based on the controlled load current flowing through the power bus.
- These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present specification will become better understood when the following detailed description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like characters represent like parts throughout the drawings, wherein:
-
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a power generation system, in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification; -
FIG. 2 is a graphical representation of first droop characteristics of a power converter employed in the power generation system ofFIG. 1 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification; -
FIG. 3 is a graphical representation of second droop characteristics of a power converter employed in the power generation system ofFIG. 1 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification; -
FIG. 4 is a graphical representation of modified first droop characteristics, in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification; -
FIG. 5 is a graphical representation of modified second droop characteristics, in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification; -
FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method for operating the power generation system ofFIG. 1 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification; -
FIG. 7 is a graphical representation of a modulating signal used to generate a controlled load current, in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification; and -
FIG. 8 is a graphical representation of the controlled load current flowing through a power bus, in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification. - In an effort to provide a concise description of these embodiments, all features of an actual implementation may not be described in the specification. It should be appreciated that in the development of any such actual implementation, as in any engineering or design project, numerous implementation-specific decisions may be made to achieve the developer's specific goals such as compliance with system-related and business-related constraints.
- Unless defined otherwise, technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as is commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this specification belongs. The terms “first”, “second”, and the like, as used herein do not denote any order, quantity, or importance, but rather are used to distinguish one element from another. Also, the terms “a” and “an” do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. The use of “including,” “comprising” or “having” and variations thereof herein are meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. The terms “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings, and can include electrical connections or couplings, whether direct or indirect. Furthermore, terms “circuit” and “controller” may include either a single component or a plurality of components, which are active and/or passive and are connected or otherwise coupled together to provide the described function. In addition, the term “operatively coupled,” as used herein, includes wired coupling, wireless coupling, electrical coupling, magnetic coupling, radio communication, software based communication, or combinations thereof.
- As used herein, the terms “may” and “may be” indicate a possibility of an occurrence within a set of circumstances; a possession of a specified property, characteristic or function; and/or qualify another verb by expressing one or more of an ability, capability, or possibility associated with the qualified verb. Accordingly, usage of“may” and “may be” indicates that a modified term is apparently appropriate, capable, or suitable for an indicated capacity, function, or usage, while taking into account that in some circumstances, the modified term may sometimes not be appropriate, capable, or suitable.
- As will be described in detail hereinafter, various embodiments of a power generation system and associated method are presented. The power generation system includes a first power generating unit electrically coupled to a load via a power bus. The first power generating unit includes a plurality of first power converters and at least one first controller operatively coupled to the plurality of first power converters. The at least one first controller is configured to detect a determined operating condition corresponding to at least one first power converter of the plurality of first power converters. Further, the at least one first controller is configured to control, if the determined operating condition is detected, a load current flowing through the power bus via at least one remaining first power converter of the plurality of first power converters. Moreover, the power generation system includes a second power generating unit electrically coupled to the power bus. The second power generating unit includes a plurality of second power converters and at least one second controller operatively coupled the plurality of second power converters. The at least one second controller is configured to alter one or more droop characteristics corresponding to the plurality of second power converters based on the controlled load current flowing through the power bus.
- Turning now to the drawings, in
FIG. 1 , a block diagram of apower generation system 100 is presented, in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification. Thepower generation system 100 ofFIG. 1 may be employed as a stationary power generation system or a mobile power generation system. In the illustrated embodiment ofFIG. 1 , thepower generation system 100 includes a plurality of power generating units such as a firstpower generating unit 102 and a secondpower generating unit 104. Hereinafter, the first and secondpower generating units power generating units power generating units power generating units power generating units - Moreover, while the
power generation system 100 ofFIG. 1 is shown to include twopower generating units power generation system 100 is also envisioned within the purview of the present specification. The number of power generating units in thepower generation system 100 may vary depending on the application and/or design considerations including but not limited to a rated power of thepower generation system 100 and a rated power of each of the power generating units to be used. - In some embodiments, the first and second
power generating units power bus 108, as shown inFIG. 1 . The first and secondpower generating units power bus 108 to supply the electrical power thereto. Moreover, thepower bus 108 is also electrically coupled to theload 106. More particularly, the first and secondpower generating units power bus 108 such that the electrical power may be supplied to theload 106 from one or both of the first and secondpower generating units power bus 108. The term “power bus” as used herein, refers to an electrical line which is used to couple electrical components of the first and secondpower generating units power bus 108 may be a single phase or a multi-phase line, for example, a three-phase line.Reference numerals power bus 108 within the firstpower generating unit 102. Further,reference numerals power bus 108 within the secondpower generating unit 104. - In some embodiments, each of the
power generating units power generating unit 102, as depicted inFIG. 1 , may include afirst power source 116, a plurality of first power converters such asfirst power converters first controllers first sensors first sensors 122A-122D). In the embodiment ofFIG. 1 , the firstpower generating unit 102 is shown to include twofirst power converters first controllers first sensors 122A-122D. However, use of the firstpower generating unit 102 including different number of components than depicted inFIG. 1 is also contemplated. - Further, in the embodiment of
FIG. 1 , thefirst power converters power generating unit 102, thefirst controller 120A is operatively coupled to thefirst power converter 118A and thefirst controller 120B is operatively coupled to the first power converter 11B to control respective operations. In some embodiments, thefirst controllers power generating unit 102 are communicatively coupled to each other. In certain other embodiments, a common single first controller (not shown) may be coupled to both thefirst power converters - The second
power generating unit 104, as depicted inFIG. 1 , may include asecond power source 124, a plurality of second power converters such assecond power converters second controllers second sensors second sensors 130A-130D). In the embodiment ofFIG. 1 , the secondpower generating unit 104 is shown to include twosecond power converters second controllers second sensors 130A-130D. However, use of the secondpower generating unit 104 including different number of components than depicted inFIG. 1 is also contemplated. In some embodiments, the components of the secondpower generating unit 104 may be arranged in a similar fashion as described with reference to the firstpower generating unit 102. - In some embodiments, the first and
second power sources power generating units FIG. 1 ) including, but not limited to, an engine, a compressor, a wind-turbine, a hydro-turbine, or any other suitable source of mechanical energy. By way of example, the generator used as thepower source power sources power generating units FIG. 1 ) electrically coupled to therespective power source power source - Further, each of the
first power converters second power converters respective power source first power converters second power converters power converters 118A-126B. The AC power from thepower converters 118A-126B is supplied to theload 106 via thepower bus 108. Thepower converters 118A-126B may include an electronic circuit including plurality of switches (not shown inFIG. 1 ) to effect conversion of the DC power to the AC power. The switches used in thepower converters 118A-126B may be electrically controllable switches, such as, semiconductor switches. Non-limiting examples of these semiconductor switches may include transistors, gate commutated thyristors, field effect transistors (FETs), insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), gate turn-off thyristors (GTOs), static induction transistors, static induction thyristors, or combinations thereof. Moreover, materials used to form the semiconductor switches may include, but are not limited to, silicon (Si), silicon carbide (SiC), gallium nitride (GaN), or combinations thereof. - The
power converters 118A-126B may be three-phase inverters, for example. In each of thepower converters 118A-126B, the switches may be arranged in one or more phase-legs where each phase-leg generates one signal. For example, if thepower converters 118A-126B are three-phase inverters, each of thepower converters 118A-126B may include three phase-legs including one or more switches. In some embodiments, thepower converters 118A-126B may be configured to generate AC power/current of various shapes including, but not limited to, a square wave, a sine wave, a modified sine wave, a pulsed sine wave, a pulse width modulated wave (PWM), and the like. - In some embodiments, during an operation of the
power generation system 100, an electrical power to meet a total electrical power demand of theload 106 is shared among the firstpower generating unit 102 and the secondpower generating unit 104. More particularly, the electrical power to meet the total power demand of theload 106 may be shared among thepower converters 118A-126B. - In one embodiment, the quantity of the electrical power to be supplied to the
load 106 is equally shared among the first andsecond power converters 118A-126B of the first and secondpower generating units power generation system 100, the first and secondpower generating units load 106. More particularly, thecontrollers power converters power converters 118A-126B supply about 25% of the total electrical power demand from theload 106. In a non-limiting example, for a rated capacity of 1000 kilo-watts (kW), each of thepower generating units power converters 118A-126B may be configured to contribute 250 kW. In another embodiment, the quantity of the electrical power to be supplied to theload 106 is shared unequally among the first andsecond power converters 118A-126B of the first and secondpower generating units - In some embodiments, during normal operation of the
power generation system 100, thepower converters 118A-126B are configured to generate active power and/or reactive power. More particularly, one or more of thepower converters 118A-126B are configured to generate active power and/or reactive power are based on one or more droop characteristics (seeFIGS. 2 and 3 ) under the control of therespective controllers FIG. 2 , agraphical representation 200 offirst droop characteristics 202 of one power converter, for example, any of thepower converters 118A-126B, employed in thepower generation system 100 ofFIG. 1 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification.Reference numerals graphical representation 200. TheX-axis 204 and the Y-axis 206 respectively represent active power in kilo-watts (kW) and frequency in Hertz (Hz) of the active power generated by any of thepower converters 118A-126B. In the non-limiting example ofFIG. 2 , thefirst droop characteristics 202 indicates that the active power generated by any of thepower converters 118A-126B may be varied from 0 kW (zero) to 250 kW (i.e., 25% of the rated capacity of the power generation system 100) when the frequency of the electrical power generated by thepower converters 118A-126B is varied from 59.8 Hz to 60.2 Hz. -
FIG. 3 is agraphical representation 300 ofsecond droop characteristics 302 of one power converter, for example, any of thepower converters 118A-126B, employed in thepower generation system 100 ofFIG. 1 , in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification.Reference numerals graphical representation 300. TheX-axis 304 and the Y-axis 306 respectively represent reactive power in kilo-Var (kVar) and voltage of the reactive power generated by any of thepower converters 118A-126B. In the non-limiting example ofFIG. 3 , thesecond droop characteristics 302 indicates that the reactive power generated by any of thepower converters 118A-126B may be varied from 0 kVar (zero) to 250 kVar (i.e., 25% of the rated capacity of the power generation system 100) when the voltage of the electrical power generated by thepower converters 118A-126B is varied from 475 volts to 480 volts. - With returning reference to
FIG. 1 , thefirst sensors 122A-122D are disposed at various locations in the firstpower generating unit 102. In a non-limiting example, thefirst sensors first power converters first sensors ends power bus 108. Similarly, in the secondpower generating unit 104, thesecond sensors 130A-130D are disposed at various locations. In a non-limiting example, thesecond sensors second power converters second sensors ends power bus 108. Hereinafter, thefirst sensors 122A-122D and thesecond sensors 130A-130D may be alternatively referred to as thesensors 122A-130D. - In the description of
FIG. 1 , thesensors 122A-130D are described as current sensors. Thesensors 122A-130D may generate signals indicative of a current flowing through their respective point of connection in thepower generating units sensors 122A-130D may include voltage sensors, temperature sensors, or combinations thereof. - Furthermore, in some embodiments, the
first sensors 122A-122D and thesecond sensors 130A-130D may be coupled to therespective controllers 120A-120B and 128A-128B via wired control lines, as depicted inFIG. 1 . In certain other embodiments, thefirst sensors 122A-122D and thesecond sensors 130A-130D may be coupled to therespective controllers 120A-120B and 128A-128B via a wireless communication medium. The wireless communication medium may be effected by wireless communication techniques based on Bluetooth®, Wi-Fi® (IEEE 802.11), WiMAX® (IEEE 802.16), Wi-Bro®, cellular communication techniques, such as, but not limited to global system for mobile (GSM) communications or code division multiple access (CDMA), data communication techniques, including, but not limited to, broadband, 2G, 3G, 4G, or 5G. - The
controllers controllers 120A-128B, may be configured to control operation of thepower converters controllers 120A-128B are configured to control switching of the switches contained respectively in thepower converters 118A-126B to generate a desired output. The desired output may be a desired magnitude and/or frequency of an AC voltage, a AC current, and/or AC power. In some embodiments, thecontrollers 120A-128B are configured to control the operation of thepower converters 118A-126B based on the electrical signals received from therespective sensors 122A-122D, 130A-130D. As used herein, the term “controller” may refer to hardware elements such as integrated circuits, a computer, a microcontroller, a microprocessor, a programmable logic controller (PLC), a specification specific integrated circuit, specification-specific processor, digital signal processors (DSPs), application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), and/or any other programmable circuits. Further, the “controller” may include input/output ports, and a storage medium, such as an electronic memory. Further, the “controller” may be a single-core type or multi-core type. Alternatively, the “controller” may be implemented as software running on a processor such as a personal computer (PC), or the microcontroller. - During the operation of the
power generation system 100, one or more of thepower converters 118A-126B may experience a determined operating condition. In some embodiments, the determined operating condition may include a complete failure, a partial failure, a malfunction condition, an overheating condition, or combinations thereof. By way of example, the complete failure may be representative of an operating condition of a given power converter when all phase-legs of the given power converter stop functioning due to failure of one or more switches contained in the phase-legs. Further, by way of another example, the partial failure may be representative of an operating condition of the given power converter when one or more but not all phase-legs of the given power converter stop functioning. Furthermore, by way of another example, the malfunction condition may be representative of an operating condition of the given power converter when one or more phase-legs of the given power converter generate electrical power deviating from its desired output power. Moreover, by way of yet another example, the overheating condition may be representative of an operating condition of the given power converter when a temperature of the power converter or one or more switches used in the power converter raises above a threshold value. - Accordingly, in some embodiments, the
controllers 120A-128B may be configured to detect if the respective one of thepower converters 118A-126B is experiencing the determined operating condition. If it is detected that one or more of thepower converters 118A-126B are experiencing the determined operating condition, in some embodiments, the operation of remaining power converters of thepower converters 118A-126B may be controlled such that the total electrical power demand of theload 106 is met uninterrupted. By way of example, the remaining power converters are the ones that are not experiencing the determined operating condition. In order to maintain such continuity in the electrical power delivery to theload 106, one or more of thecontrollers 120A-128B may be configured to modify operating characteristics, for example, the one or more droop characteristics (seeFIGS. 2 and 3 ) of the remaining converters. By way of example,FIGS. 4 and 5 represent modified droop characteristics. - In a non-limiting example, at least one first controller, for example, the
first controller 120A, is configured to detect the determined operating condition corresponding to at least one first power converter, such as, thefirst power converter 118A, of the plurality offirst power converters first controller 120B may be configured to control a load current flowing through thepower bus 108 via at least one remaining first power converter, for example, thefirst power converter 118B. Additionally, at least onesecond controller second power converters second power converters power bus 108. Moreover, thefirst controller 120B is also configured to alter one or more droop characteristics of thefirst power converter 118B. Additional details of operations performed by one or more of thecontrollers 120A-128B to operate thepower generation system 100 are illustrated with reference to a method described inFIG. 6 . - Referring now to
FIG. 4 , agraphical representation 400 depicting modifiedfirst droop characteristics 402 is presented, in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification.Reference numerals graphical representation 400. TheX-axis 404 and the Y-axis 406 respectively represent active power (kW) and frequency (Hz) of the active power generated by any of thepower converters FIG. 4 , the modifiedfirst droop characteristics 402 indicates that the active power generated by any of thepower converters power converters power converters power converter 118A. - Moreover in
FIG. 5 , agraphical representation 500 depicting modifiedsecond droop characteristics 502 is presented, in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification.Reference numerals graphical representation 500. TheX-axis 504 and the Y-axis 506 respectively represent reactive power (kVar) and voltage (volts) of the reactive power generated by any of thepower converters FIG. 5 , the modifiedsecond droop characteristics 502 indicates that the reactive power generated by any of thepower converters power converters power converters power converter 118A. - Referring now to
FIG. 6 , a flow diagram 600 of a method for operating thepower generation system 100 ofFIG. 1 is presented, in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification. By way of example, the flow diagram 600 illustrates a method for operating thepower generation system 100 when one or more of thepower converters 118A-126B experience the determined operating condition. As previously noted, the determined operating condition may include the complete failure, the partial failure, the malfunction condition, the overheating condition, or combinations thereof. - By way of a non-limiting example and for ease of illustration, the method of
FIG. 6 is described with respect to a situation when thefirst power converter 118A experiences the determined operating condition. It is to be noted that the method ofFIG. 6 is also applicable to the situations when any other of thepower converters - At
step 602, thefirst controller 120A may be configured to receive electrical signals from the one or morefirst sensors sensor 122A may be indicative of the current supplied to thepower bus 108 from thepower converter 118A. The electrical signal received from thesensor 122C may be indicative of the load current flowing through thepower bus 108. In other non-limiting example, when temperature sensors are employed, thefirst controller 120A may receive electrical signals indicative of the temperature of thefirst power converter 118A. - Further, at
step 604, a check may be performed by thefirst controller 120A to detect the determined operating condition of thefirst power converter 118A. More particularly, detecting the determined operating condition atstep 604 includes determining whether thefirst power converter 118A experiences the determined operating condition based on the electrical signal received from thesensors 122A and/or 122B. By way of example, thefirst controller 120A may detect the determined operating condition of thefirst power converter 118A based on one or more properties such as a magnitude, a frequency, or a phase of the electrical signals received from thesensors 122A and/or 122B. If values of the one or more properties of the electrical signal is not in a desired predefined range, thefirst controller 120A may determine that thefirst power converter 118A experiences the determined operating condition. In certain other embodiments, if the temperature of thefirst power converter 118A is raises above a threshold temperature value, thefirst controller 120A may determine that thefirst power converter 118A experiences the determined operating condition. - At
step 604, if it is detected that thefirst power converter 118A does not experience the determined operating condition, a control may be passed to step 602. However, atstep 604, if it is detected that thefirst power converter 118A experiences the determined operating condition, one or more of thecontrollers 120A-128B may respond to the determined operating condition by performing necessary control actions. - For example, at
step 606, thefirst controller 120A is configured to electrically uncouple thefirst power converter 118A from thepower bus 108. In some embodiments, to electrically uncouple thefirst power converter 118A from thepower bus 108, thefirst controller 120A may discontinue operating the switches disposed in thefirst power converter 118A by stopping the control signals supplied thereto. In some other embodiments, thefirst controller 120A may be configured to disconnect thefirst power converter 118A from thepower bus 108 via a circuit breaker (not shown) that may be disposed between thefirst power converter 118A and thepower bus 108. - Further, at
step 608, thefirst controller 120A is configured to communicate information regarding the determined operating condition of thefirst power converter 118A from thefirst controller 120A to at least onefirst controller 120B coupled to at least one remainingfirst power converter 118B. In particular, thefirst controller 120A may be configured to send a status signal to thefirst controller 120A indicating that thepower converter 118A has experienced the determined operating condition. Further, in response to receiving the status signal from thefirst controller 120A, the load current flowing through thepower bus 108 may be controlled via the at least one remainingfirst power converter 118B, as indicated bystep 610, to generate a controlled load current. In some embodiments, the method of controlling the load current flowing through thepower bus 108 may include sub-steps 612, 614. - Furthermore, at
sub-step 612, thecontroller 120B may be configured to operate thepower converter 118B (i.e., a remaining power converter in thepower generating unit 102 that is not experiencing the determined operating condition) such that thepower converter 118B generate a power that includes a modulating signal (seeFIG. 7 ). Referring now toFIG. 7 , agraphical representation 700 of amodulating signal 702 is presented, in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification.Reference numerals graphical representation 700. In the graphical representation, theX-axis 704 and the Y-axis 706 respectively represent amplitude and time. In some embodiments, the modulatingsignal 702 may be a low frequency modulating signal. - With returning reference to
FIG. 6 , atsub-step 614, in some embodiments, the load current flowing through thepower bus 108 may be modulated via the at least one remaining first power converter (e.g., thefirst power converter 118B) of the plurality offirst power converters - In some embodiments, to modulate the load current flowing through the
power bus 108, thefirst controller 120B may be configured to operate the first power converter 1188 such that the modulating signal is supplied to thepower bus 108. In some embodiments, the modulating signal may be supplied to thepower bus 108 along with a current supplied from thefirst power converter 118B to thepower bus 108. In certain embodiments, the modulating signal may be superimposed on the current supplied from thefirst power converter 118B to thepower bus 108. Therefore, when the modulating signal is supplied to thepower bus 108, the current flowing though thepower bus 108 may be modulated. Such modulated load current is also hereinafter referred to as a controlled load current (seeFIG. 8 ). - In
FIG. 8 , agraphical representation 800 of an example controlled load current 802 flowing through thepower bus 108 after the detection of the determined operating condition is presented, in accordance with one embodiment of the present specification.Reference numerals graphical representation 800. TheX-axis 804 and the Y-axis 806 respectively represent amplitude and time. In the example ofFIG. 8 , the controlled load current 802 represents an amplitude modulated load current flowing through thepower bus 108. In particular, an amplitude of the controlled load current is varied in accordance with the amplitude of the modulatingsignal 702. - Referring again to
FIG. 6 , after sub-step 614 is executed, the controlled load current flows through thepower bus 108. In some embodiments, a flow of the controlled load current through thepower bus 108 may be indicative of the one or more power converters (e.g., thefirst power converter 118A) experiencing the determined operating condition. - At
step 616, thesecond controllers power generating unit 104 may be configured to filter the controlled load current to determine a spectral component corresponding to the modulating signal. By way of example, filtering of the controlled load current may include demodulating the controlled load current. Thesecond controllers power bus 108 respectively from thesecond sensors second sensors second controllers second controllers second power converters power generation system 100. In certain other embodiments, the magnitude of the spectral component corresponding to the modulating signal may be indicative of the quantity of active and/or reactive power desirable from thesecond power converters - Further, at
step 618, one or more droop characteristics corresponding to one or moresecond power converters 126A, 1268 disposed in other power generating units (e.g., the power generating unit 104) may be altered based at least in part on the controlled load current flowing through thepower bus 108. In some embodiments, thesecond controllers 128A. 128B may be configured to alter one or more droop characteristics corresponding to one or moresecond power converters second power converters controllers second power converters second power converters 126A, 1268 may apply current commands/control signals to the switches in the respectivesecond power converters FIGS. 2 and 3 represent the one or more droop characteristics that may be modified to achieve one or more modified droop characteristics. - Accordingly, in some embodiments, altering the one or more droop characteristics includes increasing an active power capability of the one or more second power converters disposed in other power generating units (see
FIG. 4 ). In certain embodiments, altering the one or more droop characteristics includes increasing a reactive power capability of the one or more second power converters disposed in other power generating units (seeFIG. 5 ). - Moreover, at
step 620, one or more droop characteristics corresponding to the at least one remainingfirst power converter 118B may also be altered by thefirst controller 120B. As noted earlier, in a non-limiting example,FIGS. 2 and 3 represent the one or more droop characteristics that may be modified to achieve one or more modified droop characteristics. The one or more modified droop characteristics are depicted inFIGS. 4 and 5 , as described earlier. In one embodiment, thefirst controller 120B may be configured to alter the droop characteristics corresponding to the at least one remainingfirst power converter 118B based at least in part on a total number of available power converters in the plurality ofpower generating units power generation system 100. The term “total number of available power converters” may be representative of the number of the power converters that are not experiencing the determined operating condition. In the present example, threepower converters power generation system 100 is 1000 kW. Accordingly, in a non-limiting example, the total rated capacity of 1000 kW is divided by three to obtain desired modified droop characteristics (e.g., the active power of 333.3 kW and/or the reactive power of 333.3 kW) of thefirst power converter 118B. - As noted herein above, in some embodiments, the one or more droop characteristics of the two or more power converters other than the
first power converter 118A (e.g., thepower converters power converters power bus 108. In such operation of thepower generation system 100, the one or more droop characteristics of thepower converters FIGS. 4 and 5 , the droop characteristics may be modified such that each of the remainingpower converters - In certain embodiments, the one or more droop characteristics of the two or more power converters other than the
first power converter 118A (e.g., thepower converters power converters power bus 108. In such operation of thepower generation system 100, the one or more droop characteristics of thepower converters - The exemplary process steps such as those that may be performed by the exemplary system may be implemented by suitable code on a processor-based system such as a general-purpose or special-purpose computer. It should also be noted herein that different exemplary implementations may perform some or all of the steps described herein in different orders or substantially concurrently. Furthermore, the functions may be implemented in a variety of programming languages including but not limited to C++ or Java. Such code may be stored or adapted for storage on one or more tangible, machine readable media such as on data repository chips, local or remote hard disks, optical disks (that is, CDs or DVDs), memory or other media, which may be accessed by a processor-based system to execute the stored code. The tangible media may include paper or another suitable medium upon which the instructions are printed. For instance, the instructions may be electronically captured via optical scanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted or otherwise processed in a suitable manner if necessary, and then stored in the data repository or memory.
- In accordance with the embodiments described herein, improved
power generation system 100 and method of operating thepower generation system 100 are provided. In an event of one or more power converters (e.g., thepower converter 118A) experiencing the determined operating condition such as a complete failure, a partial failure, a malfunction condition, an overheating condition, or combinations thereof, the improved method described herein facilitates altering operating capabilities of the remaining power converters (e.g., thepower converters load 106. More particularly, thecontrollers power converters 118B. 126A, 126B, respectively. Advantageously, supply of the electrical power to theload 106 may not be discontinued despite of thepower converter 118A experiencing the determined operating condition. Moreover, thecontrollers power bus 108. Operations of thepower converters 118A-126B are synchronized via a use of the controlled load current to alter/adapt the respective one or more droop characteristics. Advantageously, use of expensive communication devices between thepower generating units - This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the preferred embodiments, and also to enable any person skilled in the an to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. Aspects from the various embodiments described, as well as other known equivalents for each such aspects, can be mixed and matched by one of ordinary skill in the art to construct additional embodiments and techniques in accordance with principles of this application.
Claims (18)
1. A method comprising:
detecting a determined operating condition of a first power converter that is one of a plurality of first power converters in a power generating unit, and the power generating unit is one of a plurality of power generating units;
responding to detection of the determined operating condition by:
controlling, via at least one remaining first power converter of the plurality of first power converters, a load current flowing through a power bus coupled to the plurality of power generating units; and
altering one or more droop characteristics corresponding to one or more second power converters disposed in other power generating units based at least in part on the controlled load current flowing through the power bus, wherein the one or more second power converters disposed in other power generating units are coupled to the power bus.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising electrically uncoupling the first power converter having the determined operating condition from the power bus.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein controlling the load current comprises modulating the load current flowing through the power bus via the at least one remaining first power converter of the plurality of first power converters.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein modulating the load current comprises varying an amplitude of the load current.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein modulating the load current comprises supplying a modulating signal to the power bus via the at least one remaining first power converter of the plurality of first power converters.
6. The method of claim 5 , further comprising filtering the controlled load current to determine a spectral component corresponding to the modulating signal.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein altering the one or more droop characteristics comprises increasing an active power capability of the one or more second power converters disposed in other power generating units.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein altering the one or more droop characteristics comprises increasing a reactive power capability of the one or more second power converters disposed in other power generating units.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising supplying an about equal amount of active power to the power bus by two or more power converters other than the first power converter.
10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising supplying unequal amount of active power to the power bus by two or more power converters other than the first power converter.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising altering one or more droop characteristics of the at least one remaining first power converter based at least in part on a total number of available power converters in the plurality of power generating units and on a total rated capacity of a power generation system.
12. A power generation system, comprising:
a first power generating unit electrically coupled to a load via a power bus, the first power generating unit comprising:
a plurality of first power converters; and
at least one first controller operatively coupled to the plurality of first power converters, wherein the at least one first controller is configured to
detect a determined operating condition corresponding to at least one first power converter of the plurality of first power converters; and
control, if the determined operating condition is detected, a load current flowing through the power bus via at least one remaining first power converter of the plurality of first power converters; and
a second power generating unit electrically coupled to the power bus, the second power generating unit comprising:
a plurality of second power converters; and
at least one second controller operatively coupled the plurality of second power converters, wherein the at least one second controller is configured to alter one or more droop characteristics corresponding to the plurality of second power converters based on the controlled load current flowing through the power bus.
13. The power generation system of claim 12 , wherein each of the first power generating unit and the second power generating unit comprises a vehicle.
14. The power generation system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of first power converters are coupled in parallel with each other, and the plurality of second power converters are coupled in parallel with each other.
15. The power generation system of claim 12 , wherein the determined operating condition comprises a complete failure, a partial failure, a malfunction condition, an overheating condition, or combinations thereof.
16. The power generation system of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of first power converters and the plurality of first power converters comprise a plurality of inverters.
17. The power generation system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one remaining first power converter is configured to modulate the load current flowing through the power bus to generate the controlled load current.
18. The power generation system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one second controller is further configured to filter the controlled load current.
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US15/991,255 US20190366953A1 (en) | 2018-05-29 | 2018-05-29 | Power generation system and associated method |
US17/004,860 US11938877B2 (en) | 2018-05-29 | 2020-08-27 | Power generation system and associated method |
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US15/991,255 US20190366953A1 (en) | 2018-05-29 | 2018-05-29 | Power generation system and associated method |
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US11938877B2 (en) | 2024-03-26 |
US20200391682A1 (en) | 2020-12-17 |
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