Flower Turbines, Inc.

Jonathan Forbes

Mark Daniel Farb

Irakli Baitish

James Boyle

Systems, method, and computer readable medium are provided for a controller for a generator. The system includes a rectifier for converting a first AC signal generated by the generator to a first DC signal; a first DC-DC associated with energy storage and a first mode; a second DC-DC associated with an inverter and a second mode; a switch for alternately toggling between the first DC-DC and the second DC-DC, wherein the first mode prevents output to the electrical grid, and the second mode enables inversion of the second DC signal to a second AC signal via the inverter; and a processor that uses the indicator to operate the switch to operate the generator in the first mode when a connection to the grid does not conform with a parameter, and operate the generator in the second mode when the connection to the grid conforms with the parameter.

Dual mode turbine for supplying energy using a smart inverter

A fluid turbine may include a vertically-orientable shaft having at least one opening extending transversely therethrough, a first blade portion configured for vertical orientation on first side of the shaft, a second blade portion configured for vertical orientation on a second opposite side of the shaft, at least one rod extending through the shaft opening and connectable at a first end to the first blade portion and at a second end to the second blade portion. A reinforcing sleeve may extend through the shaft opening and may be interposed between the rod and the shaft opening for reinforcing at least one of the shaft, the at least one shaft opening, or the rod against forces exerted by the first and second blade portions when fluid impacts the first and second blade portions.

Sleeves for turbine shafts

This disclosure describes many innovations including but not limited to systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media for controlling an energy generator. A system for controlling an energy generator includes a detector for sensing an indicator of electrical energy generated by the generator; an energy storage component configured, in a first mode of operation, to store energy generated during operation at a sub-threshold level insufficient for real-time supply to an electrical energy sink; an energy converter configured, in a second mode of operation, to provide energy generated during operation above the threshold level for real-time supply of energy to the electrical energy sink; and a controllable switch, electrically associated with the detector, and configured to alternately toggle between the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation based on the indicator to thereby permit energy generated at the sub-threshold level to be collected and intermittently used.

Dual mode turbine collects energy during low wind conditions

Systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for determining a power curve for a fluid turbine. Determining a power curve for a fluid turbine includes receiving an indication of a fluid speed condition; if a predetermined load compliant with an MPPT protocol for the fluid turbine operating under the fluid speed condition is available, obtaining the predetermined load; and applying the predetermined load to the fluid turbine, thereby adjusting a rotational velocity in accordance with the MPPT protocol and the fluid speed condition; if the predetermined load is unavailable, applying a plurality of candidate loads in an iterative manner in accordance with the MPPT protocol and the fluid speed condition; determining an MPPT-compliant load that generates greater power; applying the MPPT-compliant load to the fluid turbine; and storing the MPPT-compliant load in association with the fluid speed condition for subsequent application.

Application of machine learning to an MPPT protocol for a fluid turbine

Systems, methods, and computer program products are disclosed for controlling a voltage output of a turbine. Controlling a voltage output of a turbine includes a rectifier for converting an AC output of a turbine to a DC voltage; a sensor for measuring the DC voltage; a charge controller for receiving the DC voltage from the rectifier and produce a DC output, including: a first circuit meeting a first performance criterion for a first DC range, a second circuit meeting a second performance criterion for a second DC operating range, a switch channeling the DC voltage between the first and second circuits; and a processor for receiving the DC voltage measurement from the sensor, and use the switch to channel the DC voltage between the first and second circuits, thereby meeting the first and second performance criteria when the DC voltage is in the first and second DC ranges, respectively.

Step gradations for a charge controller of a fluid turbine

Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media including instructions for coordinated braking of a plurality of geographically-associated fluid turbines. Coordinated braking of a plurality of geographically-associated fluid turbines includes accessing memory storing information indicative of a tolerance threshold for an operating parameter associated with the plurality of geographically-associated fluid turbines; receiving information from a sensor indicative of the operating parameter for a particular fluid turbine among the plurality of geographically-associated fluid turbines; comparing the information indicative of the operating parameter for the particular fluid turbine with the tolerance threshold; determining, based on the comparison, whether the operating parameter for the particular fluid turbine deviates from the tolerance threshold; and upon a determination that the operating parameter for the particular fluid turbine deviates from the tolerance threshold, sending a braking signal to each of the geographically-associated fluid turbines to slow each of the geographically-associated fluid turbines.

Common brake for a cluster of turbines

Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media including instructions for coordinating MPPT operations for a cluster of geographically-associated fluid turbines are disclosed. Coordinating MPPT operations for a cluster of geographically-associated fluid turbines includes receiving data from the cluster of geographically-associated fluid turbines; determining changes to total power output of the cluster based on changes in loading states of individual fluid turbines in the cluster; selecting a combination of loading states for the individual fluid turbines in the cluster to coordinate total power output for the cluster; and transmitting the selected combination of loading states to at least some of the individual fluid turbines in the cluster in order to vary rotational speeds of the at least some of the individual fluid turbines in the cluster.

MPPT high level control of a turbine cluster

Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media including instructions for synchronizing a plurality of geographically-associated fluid turbines. Synchronizing a plurality of geographically-associated fluid turbines includes receiving first signals indicative of a phase of a rotational cycle of first rotating blades of a first turbine configured to generate a downstream fluid flow; receiving second signals indicative of a phase of a rotational cycle of second rotating blades of a second turbine configured to receive at least a portion of the downstream fluid flow and generate a differential power output; determining from the first and second signals that greater aggregate power output is achievable through blade phase coordination; determining a phase correction between the first and second rotating blades based on the first and second signals to achieve the greater aggregate power output; calculating coordinating signals based on the phase correction; and outputting the coordinating signals to impose the phase correction.

Coordinating blade orientation to optimize cluster power output

Systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media including instructions for a dual-channel fluid turbine controller. A dual-channel fluid turbine controller includes at least one processor configured to: receive, via an AC channel coupled to an AC output of a fluid turbine, first signals indicating fluctuations in power generated by the fluid turbine operating beneath a grid power supply threshold; access an MPPT protocol; determine a correspondence between the first signals and a portion of the MPPT protocol; apply the portion of the MPPT protocol to a generator of the fluid turbine to generate greater power than would be generated in an absence of the MPPT protocol, wherein the generated power is stored as energy in a capacitor associated with the generator; receive, via a DC channel, second signals indicating a level of energy stored in the capacitor; and use the second signals to determine when to release the stored energy.

Growing community of inventors

Lauderhill, FL, United States of America

Jonathan Forbes