General Electric Company

Bennett Steven Sheron

Lukas Mercer Hansen

Douglas Gene Austin

Wayne Allen Schulz

Robert Gregory Wagoner

Harold Robert Schnetzka

Wayne Allen Schultz

Systems and methods for extending black-start availability using energy storage systems can be provided. In one example implementation, a method includes detecting, by one or more controllers, a disconnection of the power system from a power grid; obtaining, by the one or more controllers, data indicative of the amount of energy present in a first energy storage system; obtaining, by the one or more controllers, data indicative of an amount of energy associated with powering one or more loads coupled to the power system; and determining, by the one or more controllers, to activate the auxiliary power source based at least in part on the amount of energy present in the first energy storage system and the amount of energy associated with powering the one or more loads.

Extending black-start availability using energy storage systems

Systems and methods associated with example power converter systems are disclosed. For instance, a power converter system can include a power converter couplable to an input power source and configured to generate an output power substantially at a grid frequency. The power converter can include one or more inverter bridge circuits, each associated with an output phase of the power converter. Each inverter bridge circuit can include one or more first switching modules having a pair of switching elements coupled in series with one another, and an output coupled between the pair of switching elements. At least one switching element of each first switching module includes a reverse blocking transistor. The power converter further includes one or more input bridge circuits having a plurality of second switching modules coupled in parallel, each second switching module comprising a pair of silicon carbide transistors.

Power converter topology for use in an energy storage system

Power converters that can allow for the transfer of DC power between a ground-referenced bus and a floating system are provided. In one embodiment, the power converter includes a ground-referenced DC bus associated with a DC voltage. The power converter further includes a first switching element, a second switching element, and a third switching element coupled in series between the ground-referenced DC bus and a ground reference. The power converter further includes a floating system associated with a floating DC voltage. The floating system can include a first terminal coupled to a first node between the first switching element and the second switching element. The floating system can further include a second terminal coupled to a second node between the second switching element and the third switching element.

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Schenectady, NY, United States of America

Bennett Steven Sheron