American Superconductor Corporation

John A Diaz De Leon, Ii

Douglas C Folts

Arnold P Kehrli

Warren Elliott Buckles

Paul F Koeppe

Donald L Brown

William Vareka

The invention features a system and approach for minimizing the step voltage change as seen by the utility customer as well minimizing transients imposed on the fundamental waveform of a normal voltage carried on a utility power network when a reactive power source (e.g., capacitor bank) is instantaneously connected to the utility power. The reactive power source is adapted to transfer reactive power of a first polarity (e.g., capacitive reactive power) to the utility power network. The system includes a reactive power compensation device configured to transfer a variable quantity of reactive power of a second, opposite polarity to the utility power network, and a controller which, in response to the need to connect the shunt reactive power source to the utility power network, activates the reactive power compensation device and, substantially simultaneously, causes the shunt reactive power source to be connected to the utility power.

Reactive power compensation to minimize step voltage changes and transients

The invention features a system for connection to a utility power network. The system includes a reactive power compensation device coupled to the network and configured to transfer reactive power between the utility power network and the reactive power compensation device; a capacitor system configured to transfer capacitive reactive power between the utility power network and the capacitor system; an electro-mechanical switch for connecting and disconnecting the capacitor system to the utility power network; an interface associated with the electro-mechanical switch; a controller configured to provide control signals for controlling the electro-mechanical switch; and a communication channel for coupling the controller to the interface associated with the electro-mechanical switch. The electro-mechanical switch, interface, controller, and communication channel together are configured to connect or disconnect the capacitor system from the utility power network within about three line cycles or less of the nominal voltage frequency when a fault condition is detected on the utility power network.

Dynamic reactive compensation system and method

A voltage recovery device is configured to provide reactive power to a utility power network at a level and for a duration sufficient to recover the voltage on the utility power network within a predetermined proportion of the nominal voltage, following a fault condition detected on the utility power network. In operation, the voltage recovery device reduces the overall transmission losses in a utility power system.

Voltage recovery device for use with a utility power network

a voltage recovery device is configured to provide real and reactive power to a utility power network at a sufficient level and for a sufficient duration to recover the voltage on the utility power network within a predetermined proportion of the nominal voltage, following a fault condition detected on the utility power network. Moreover, the voltage recovery device reduces the overall transmission losses in a utility power system.

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Madison, WI, United States of America

John A Diaz De Leon, Ii