Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080288198 | Method and Apparatus for Generalized Performance Evaluation of Equipment Using Achievable Performance Derived from Statistics and Real-Time Data - A statistical performance evaluation system for a thermodynamic device and process uses the achievable performance derived from statistics and real-time data for the device or process to evaluate the current performance of the device or process, and to adjust the operations of the device or process accordingly, or provide feedback to an operator or other monitoring system for taking corrective actions to obtain performance approaching the optimum achievable performance. The achievable performance of the device or process is derived from data collected during operational periods when the best achievable performance is anticipated, such as after maintenance is performed, and supersedes the ideal or design performance specified by the manufacturer, which typically does not represent the actual operating conditions in the field, as the basis for evaluating the real-time performance of the device. The statistical performance evaluation system may set desired upper and lower limits for performance parameters, and compare desired limits to the actual performance parameter values to determine the readjustment to be made to the operation of the device or process. | 11-20-2008 |
20090012653 | USE OF STATISTICAL ANALYSIS IN POWER PLANT PERFORMANCE MONITORING - A technique of implementing performance monitoring in a power plant is appropriate to control operating parameters and factors connected with the efficiency of the energy production process in an energy marketplace that is more complex than in the past, and that takes into account more than just the cost of fuel. In particular, this method works well when the real costs of production are dependent on other variable costs besides the cost of fuel, such as environmental credits, equipment degradation and repair costs, as well as electrical energy trade market factors like ramp rate, LMP factors, and the ability to deliver contracted power levels and spot transactions. The power plant performance monitoring technique applies a statistical analysis to collected power plant data to determine the factors that are best controlled or changed to affect (increase) the efficiency or other primary performance indication of the plant, in whatever state or operating level the plant is run. Because heat rate calculation applications are typically performed on-line, it is possible to analyze collected plant data in detail and to apply for example, principal component analysis (PCA) and linear and nonlinear regression analysis to the data, which enables the performance method to obtain a more accurate detection of the influence of the principal process parameters that affect heat rate deviation (efficiency), as well as to establish baseline or best-possible operational constraints to be used to control the plant in the future. This performance based control methodology will allow for near optimum performance of power plants by constantly allowing for refinement and best practices and control to be realized. | 01-08-2009 |
20110066298 | OPTIMIZED CONTROL OF POWER PLANTS HAVING AIR COOLED CONDENSERS - An optimization and control system for a utility plant that uses fan based air cooled condensers controls the operation of the power generation system at the plant in conjunction with the operation of the air cooled condensers so as to run the power plant at an optimum operating point associated with minimizing or reducing the cost of each kilowatt-hour of energy or other useful energy produced by the plant. The optimization and control system includes an optimizer having a numerical solver that determines values for a set of control variables associated with an optimal operating point of the plant and an expert system that oversees and modifies the control variable settings prior to providing these settings to a plant controller. The numerical solver uses an objective function and one or more models of plant equipment to determine the operating point of the plant that minimizes the cost per unit of useful energy generated by the plant. As part of determining the optimal plant operating point, the numerical solver may determine the number of fans to run within the air cooled condensers of the plant and/or the speed of the fans to use in the air cooled condensers in conjunction with the amount of fuel to burn in the boiler, the desired temperature of the steam at the input of the steam turbine, etc., all required to produce a given amount of power (load demand) at the particular environmental conditions currently experienced at the plant. The expert system may modify these outputs by determining which fans to actually use at any particular time based on, for example, the availability of or the operational status of the fans, the wear of the fans and fan motors, etc. | 03-17-2011 |
20120010757 | ENERGY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - An energy management system uses an expert engine and a numerical solver to determine an optimal manner of using and controlling the various energy consumption, producing and storage equipment in a plant/communities in order to for example reduce energy costs within the plant, and is especially applicable to plants that require or that are capable of using and/or producing different types of energy at different times. The energy management system operates the various energy manufacturing and energy usage components of the plant to minimize the cost of energy over time, or at various different times, while still meeting certain constraints or requirements within the operational system, such as producing a certain amount of heat or cooling, a certain power level, a certain level of production, etc. In some cases, the energy management system may cause the operational equipment of the plant to produce unneeded energy that can be stored until a later time and then used, or that can be sold back to a public utility, for example, so as to reduce the overall cost of energy within the plant. | 01-12-2012 |
20120010758 | OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM USING AN ITERATIVELY COUPLED EXPERT ENGINE - An energy management system uses an expert engine and a numerical solver to determine an optimal manner of using and controlling the various energy consumption, producing and storage equipment in a plant/communities in order to for example reduce energy costs within the plant, and is especially applicable to plants that require or that are capable of using and/or producing different types of energy at different times. The energy management system operates the various energy manufacturing and energy usage components of the plant to minimize the cost of energy over time, or at various different times, while still meeting certain constraints or requirements within the operational system, such as producing a certain amount of heat or cooling, a certain power level, a certain level of production, etc. In some cases, the energy management system may cause the operational equipment of the plant to produce unneeded energy that can be stored until a later time and then used, or that can be sold back to a public utility, for example, so as to reduce the overall cost of energy within the plant. | 01-12-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100083456 | Vacuum Assembly with Inlet Through Removable Tank - The disclosed vacuum assembly can be mounted in a vehicle. The motor/fan assembly is positioned above a chassis wall. Lateral flanges on opposed sides of the tank support the tank in generally horizontal sliding motion from a forward position to an elevated rearward position. A rear flange supports the tank as it pivots to a mounted position in which an inlet on a removable lid on the tank communicates with a hose, and an outlet on the lid communicates with the motor/fan assembly. In a removed position, the inlet and outlet are disconnected. Alignment bosses fit in aligned openings when the tank is in the mounted position. | 04-08-2010 |
20100083457 | Vacuum Assembly for Automobile - The disclosed vacuum cleaner system for an automobile fits in a cavity in the vehicle and has a tank that can be removed in a lateral direction without tools and without detaching the vacuum hose. A circuit board that carries an electronic controller is positioned alongside the motor and extends generally parallel to both the axis of the motor and the lateral direction in which the tank is removed. Cooling air is drawn though a cooling air inlet on the cabin wall to the circuit board, and then one side of the motor, through the center of the motor, to the cooling fan. From there, it is blown into a cavity where it joins exhausted working air from the vacuum and is exhausted from the vehicle through an air release opening that leads to the exterior of the vehicle. | 04-08-2010 |
20100083461 | System and Method of Controlling Current Draw of a Switched Reluctance Motor - Disclosed is a system and method for controlling current in a switched reluctance motor by changing a dwell state including starting the motor in a normal mode, measuring current in the motor, comparing the measured current to a first threshold, triggering an interrupt if the measured current exceeds the first threshold, keeping a count of consecutive readings exceeding the first threshold, changing the dwell state from a first state to a second state if the measured current exceeds the first threshold and the count equals a set value, changing the dwell state from a second state to a third state if the measured current exceeds a second threshold, and triggering a fault condition if the measured current in the third state exceeds a third threshold. | 04-08-2010 |
20100083462 | System and Method of Controlling Start-Up of a Switched Reluctance Motor - Embodiments of a switched reluctance (SR) motor for use in a integrated vacuum system for a vehicle are disclosed. The SR motor may receive input voltage directly from an electrical storage device used to start up an engine of the vehicle. The SR motor may include an encoder that triggers an optical sensor to provide signals to a motor controller. The motor controller may energize stator poles based on the received signals. The encoder may be mechanically phase-advanced with respect to poles of the rotor to ensure proper start-up of the SR motor. Commutations of the motor may occur before a point of maximum inductance where the rotor and stator are aligned. In a preferred embodiment, the input voltage received by the SR motor is in a range of 9-16 Volts DC, a maximum drawn current is 36 amps, and the phase advance is between 9-11 degrees. | 04-08-2010 |
20120206078 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SPEED OF A MOTOR BASED ON DWELL - In a method of controlling speed of a brushless, direct current (BLDC) motor based on dwell, an indication of a desired speed of the BLDC motor is received. A dwell is determined based on a magnitude of a voltage corresponding to the indication of the desired speed. A pulse-width modulation (PWM) pulse having a pulse length corresponding to the determined dwell is applied to a stator of the BLDC motor to adjust a rotational speed of a rotor of the BLDC motor to the desired speed. | 08-16-2012 |
20140165323 | Vacuum Assembly for Automobile - The disclosed vacuum cleaner system for an automobile fits in a cavity in the vehicle and has a tank that can be removed in a lateral direction without tools and without detaching the vacuum hose. A circuit board that carries an electronic controller is positioned alongside the motor and extends generally parallel to both the axis of the motor and the lateral direction in which the tank is removed. Cooling air is drawn though a cooling air inlet on the cabin wall to the circuit board, and then one side of the motor, through the center of the motor, to the cooling fan. From there, it is blown into a cavity where it joins exhausted working air from the vacuum and is exhausted from the vehicle through an air release opening that leads to the exterior of the vehicle. | 06-19-2014 |