General Electric Company

William Robert Pearson

Rodney A Lawson

Pedro Monclova

Jordan Brantley Casteel

John Andrew Leonard

James William Zeleznik

Douglas Gregg Fowley

James E Curran

Sreedhar Desabhatla

Mark Eugene Shepard

Gautam Sinha

John Carver Maters

John Robert Booth

Shashidhar Nibhanupudi

Sudeep Pathak

Harold Copeland Sanderson

Mohammed Kassem Saleh

Bruce Allen Gerritsen

Ivan Elmo Freeman, Jr

A system includes an excitation system configured to regulate one or more outputs of a power generating system. The excitation system includes data processing circuitry configured to obtain an electrical voltage measurement and an electrical current measurement associated with the power generating system, a transformer failure detection system configured to detect an abnormality associated with the electrical voltage and electrical current measurements as an indication of a possible transformer failure, and a failure detection deactivation system configured to deactivate the transformer failure detection system based at least in part on whether the abnormality comprises one of a first condition or a second condition.

Systems and methods of transformer failure detection and control

A method for initializing a generator may include sending a field reference voltage to an exciter that may provide a direct current (DC) current and a DC voltage to a rotor of a generator based on a current set point that corresponds to the field reference voltage. The method may then include receiving a voltage feedback signal output by the generator, determining one or more locations of one or more poles of the generator based on the voltage feedback signal, and sending one or more firing signals to one or more switches of a starter after determining the locations of the poles, such that the switches couple the voltage to a stator of the generator.

Systems and methods for initializing a generator

Embodiments provide systems and methods for controlling electronic circuitry. A system can include at least a first controller and a second controller and at least one power electronic circuitry module. The first controller can be in electrical communication with the power electronic circuitry module via a first high-speed serial link (HSSL). The second controller can be in electrical communication with the power electronic circuitry module via a second HSSL.

Systems and methods for controlling electronic circuitry with separated controllers

A system for collecting frequency response data from a generator system including: applying a perturbing signal to a signal input of an exciter system for a synchronous generator; collecting data regarding signal output from a multiplicity of signal points in the exciter system; transforming the collected data to predict a signal response at a signal output in the system different from the signal points used for collecting data, and analyzing the frequency response of the system.

Method and system for rapid modeling and verification of excitation systems for synchronous generators

An exemplary embodiment includes a system for measuring and controlling a thyristor comprising a thyristor, a Rogowski coil in operable communication therewith the thyristor, and a processor operative to receive signals from the Rogowski coil, determine a direct current value of the thyristor, and control the thyristor.

Systems and methods involving thyristors

A method for modeling an excitation system for a synchronous electrical power generator including: selecting a standard mathematical excitation system model from a plurality of standard excitation system models stored electronically; wherein the selected standard model is selected based on a similarity to the excitation system and can be an IEEE standard model; collecting data from the excitation system; determining parameter settings for the selected standard model using first pre-calculated and then collected (measured) data; verifying the selected standard model with tailored parameter settings by comparing an output of the model to a corresponding output of the excitation system; storing electronically the verified selected standard model with tailored settings; generating a report of the verified selected standard model with the tailored settings; performing rapidly and automatically model generation from a maintenance computer proximate to the excitation system; performing rapidly and automatically model generation without the need for system experts or extra equipment; and providing means to repeat test an operating excitation system at low cost and risk.

An exemplary embodiment includes a method for balancing thyristor bridge circuits, the method comprising, determining currents of thyristors in a first leg of thyristors of a thyristor bridge circuit, determining a first set of gate firing times for the thyristors in the first leg of thyristors responsive to determining the current of the thyristors in the first gate of thyristors, wherein the first set of gate firing times are operative to balance a current load between the thyristors in the first leg of thyristors, and gating the thyristors in the first leg of thyristors according to the first set of gate firing times.

Systems and methods involving balancing currents for thyristors

A flux coil system has a first member having a first surface and a first flux coil being disposed in the first member. The flux coil has a first current flowing conduit having a second surface. When current traverses through the first current flowing conduit a first magnetic field is induced. The first surface is adjacent to the second surface such that the first flux coil is in the first magnetic field so that a signal is developed corresponding to the first magnetic field.

Flux coil system

A method and apparatus for generating a poly phase signal set from a single signal output of a single phase instrument. The method comprising: generating a first signal output X representing the single signal output; processing the single signal output to generate a time delayed version Y_Raw of the single signal output by a time delay T; and processing the time delayed version Y_Raw to compensate for frequency changes in the single signal output and generating a second signal output Y of the poly phase signal set. The second signal output Y is displaced from the first signal output X by about 90 degrees.

Method and apparatus to perform poly-phase instrumentation with single-phase instruments

The field ground fault detector of the present invention detects a ground fault that occurs in the field circuit and in any associated circuits galvanically connected to the field. The field ground fault detector discerns the ground resistance so that it can be monitored to detect gradual degradation of the ground resistance. The detector estimates the resistance of the ground fault and the location of the ground fault. The detector is able to estimate the location of the ground fault during system operation and during periods of non-operation. The invention utilizes a low frequency square wave oscillator to permit measurement of the ground fault resistance when field voltage is not applied, to insure that there are no blind spots when the field is energized, and to provide a method for estimating the ground fault resistance. The field ground detector can differentiate between ground faults that occur on the AC side form those on the DC side of the Thyristor Bridge.

Apparatus and method for detecting and calculating ground fault resistance

A method and apparatus for compensating, consistent with variations in cooling conditions, protection and limit functions of a generator. Limits of the capability curve of the generator, including the overexcited region, underexcited region and region limited by stator current heating, are modified in response to changes in coolant pressure or temperature depending on the type of generator being compensated. Feedback signals and setpoints being provided to fixed protection and limit functions are intercepted and modified in accordance with the relationship between generator rated values and generator performance in view of altered coolant conditions. Protection and limit functions are automatically coordinated. As a result, overall generator performance is improved.

Method and apparatus for modifying limit and protection software in a synchronous generator exciter to match the capability of the turbine-generator

A phase lock loop with an improved capture and lock characteristics. A first displacement error signal, a quadrature error signal, and a second displacement error signal arc generated, the second displacement error signal combining the benefits of the first displacement error signal and the quadrature error signal to more closely approximate an ideal error signal and avoid false lock.

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Roanoke, VA, United States of America

William Robert Pearson