Distributed power system

Patent 6812586 Issued on November 2, 2004. Estimated Expiration Date:

January 30, 2022. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

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Inventors

Assignee

Capstone Turbine Corporation

Application

No. 10066349 filed on 01/30/2002

US Classes:

290/52, TURBOGENERATORS290/40B, Control in response to generator line conditions290/40REngine control

Examiners

Primary: Tomai, Karl
Assistant: Cuevas, Pedro J.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox P.L.L.C.

Foreign Patent References

3634328 DE 04/01/1987
19704662 DE 08/01/1998
0 472 294 EP 02/01/1992
0 679 800 EP 11/01/1995
0 837 231 EP 04/01/1998
0 901 218 EP 03/01/1999
1453862 FR 04/01/1965
2395316 FR 01/01/1979
52-60924 JP 05/01/1977
WO 9427359 WO 11/01/1994

International Classes

H02P 900
H02P 904
F02N 1100
F02N 1106

Abstract

A power generation system is disclosed. In one embodiment, the power generation system includes a fuel source, a turbogenerator coupled to the fuel source, and a power controller coupled to the turbogenerator. The power controller includes an AC/DC power converter that converts AC power generated by the turbogenerator to DC power on output lines for supplying a DC load. The power controller regulates the fuel to the turbogenerator, independent of a DC voltage on the output lines. A capacitor such as an electrochemical capacitor or a hybrid capacitor, coupled across the output lines, sources power to and/or sinks power from the output lines due to load changes by the DC load. In a further embodiment, the power controller includes an additional DC/DC power converter. In yet a further embodiment, the power controller includes a second additional DC/DC power converter to controllably couple the capacitor to a DC bus.

Other References

US 6,512,306, 1/2003, Gilbreth et al. (withdrawn)*
Japanese Patent Abstract entitled “Method and Equipment for Controlling Permanent Magnet Turbine Generator/Motor”; filed May 13, 1999, Japanese Application No. 11- 133003.
Japanese Patent Abstract entitled “Command and Control System Method for Multiturbo Generators”, filed Oct. 27, 1999, Japanese Application No. 11-305375.
Japanese Patent Abstract entitled “Turbine Generator-Motor Controller”, filed Aug. 4, 1998, Japanese Application No. 10-220231.
German Patent Abstract entitled “Control Circuit for Turbine AC Motor-Generator”; for DE 3634328 (Apr. 1987).
German Patent Abstract entitled “Load Symmetrising e.g. for Several Power Supply Modules Including Rectifier Modules”;for DE 19704662 (Aug. 1998).
French Patent Abstract entitled “Control System for Turbine Driven by Blast Furnace Throat Gas”; for FR 2395316 (Jan. 1979).