Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110012430 | SMART AND SCALABLE POWER INVERTERS - A method and apparatus is disclosed for intelligently inverting DC power from DC sources such as photovoltaic (PV) solar modules to single-phase or three-phase AC power to feed the power grid for electricity generation. A number of smart single-input, dual-input, triple-input, quad-input, and multiple-input power inverters in a mixed variety can easily connect to single, dual, triple, quad, and multiple DC power sources, invert the DC power to AC power, and daisy chain together to generate a total power, which is equal to the summation of the AC power supplied by each smart and scalable power inverter of this invention. | 01-20-2011 |
20110040393 | DREAM CONTROLLER - A method and apparatus for intelligently controlling continuous process variables. A Dream Controller comprises an intelligent Engine mechanism and a number of Model-Free Adaptive (MFA) controllers, each of which is suitable to control a process with specific behaviors. The Intelligent Engine can automatically select the appropriate MFA controller and its parameters so that the Dream Controller can be easily used by people with limited control experience and those who do not have the time to commission, tune, and maintain automatic controllers. | 02-17-2011 |
20120212065 | SCALABLE AND REDUNDANT MINI-INVERTERS - The Scalable and Redundant Mini-inverters as described in this invention include double, triple, or quadruple redundant capabilities so that the Mini-inverters can work in a harsh environment for a prolonged period of time. A number of regular, redundant, triple redundant, or quadruple redundant Mini-inverters with one, two, three, or multiple input channels in a mixed variety can easily connect to one, two, three, or multiple DC power sources such as solar PV modules, invert the DC power to AC power, and daisy chain together to generate AC power to the power grid. | 08-23-2012 |
20120259437 | MODEL-FREE ADAPTIVE CONTROL OF ADVANCED POWER PLANTS - A novel 3-Input-3 -Output (3×3) Model-Free Adaptive (MFA) controller with a set of artificial neural networks as part of the controller is introduced. A 3×3 MFA control system using the inventive 3×3 MFA controller is described to control key process variables including Power, Steam Throttle Pressure, and Steam Temperature of boiler-turbine-generator (BTG) units in conventional and advanced power plants. Those advanced power plants may comprise Once-Through Supercritical (OTSC) Boilers, Circulating Fluidized-Bed (CFB) Boilers, and Once-Through Supercritical Circulating Fluidized-Bed (OTSC CFB) Boilers. | 10-11-2012 |
20120313443 | SMART AND SCALABLE OFF-GRID MINI-INVERTERS - A method and apparatus is disclosed for intelligently inverting DC power from DC sources such as photovoltaic (PV) solar modules to single-phase or three-phase AC power to supply power for off-grid applications. A number of regular or redundant off-grid Mini-Inverters with one, two, three, or multiple input channels in a mixed variety can easily connect to one, two, three, or multiple DC power sources such as solar PV modules, invert the DC power to AC power, and daisy chain together to generate and supply AC power to electrical devices that are not connected to the power grid including motors, pumps, fans, lights, appliances, and homes. | 12-13-2012 |
20130002031 | Enclosure and Message System of Smart and Scalable Power Inverters - An enclosure design is disclosed to accommodate and support the unique features and capabilities of the Smart and Scalable Power Inverters or Mini-Inverters that have multiple input channels to easily connect to multiple solar PV panels, invert the DC power to AC power, and daisy chain together to generate AC power to feed the power grid or supply power to electrical devices. Further disclosed is a message system using LEDs (light-emitting diodes) mounted on the enclosure to indicate the system status and the status of each input channel of the Smart and Scalable Mini-Inverters. | 01-03-2013 |
20130180244 | Model-Free Adaptive Control of Supercritical Circulating Fluidized-Bed Boilers - A novel 3-Input-3-Output (3×3) Fuel-Air Ratio Model-Free Adaptive (MFA) controller is introduced, which can effectively control key process variables including Bed Temperature, Excess O2, and Furnace Negative Pressure of combustion processes of advanced boilers. A novel 7-input-7-output (7×7) MFA control system is also described for controlling a combined 3-Input-3-Output (3×3) process of Boiler-Turbine-Generator (BTG) units and a 5×5 CFB combustion process of advanced boilers. Those boilers include Circulating Fluidized-Bed (CFB) Boilers and Once-Through Supercritical Circulating Fluidized-Bed (OTSC CFB) Boilers. | 07-18-2013 |
20140100674 | Model-Free Adaptive (MFA) Control with Intelligent Engine and Loop Inspection - A method and apparatus for intelligently controlling continuous process variables. An automatic controller comprises an Intelligent Engine mechanism and a number of Model-Free Adaptive (MFA) controllers, each of which is suitable to control a process with specific behaviors. The Intelligent Engine can automatically select the appropriate MFA controller and its parameters so that the automatic controller can be easily used by people with limited control experience and those who do not have the time to commission, tune, and maintain automatic controllers. | 04-10-2014 |
20140252862 | Maximizing Power Production at Low Sunlight by Solar Power Mini-Inverters - A method and apparatus is disclosed for maximizing power production for solar power systems when there is low sunlight during sunrise, sunset, clouding, partial shading, and other low irradiance conditions. A multiple-channel solar power Mini-Inverter can work in the low power mode when there is low sunlight, take power from one solar panel to supply DC power to its internal electronic circuits, and also invert the DC power from the remaining connected solar panels to single-phase or three-phase AC power feeding to the electrical grid or powering AC loads. This invention can significantly reduce the required startup and shutdown irradiance and DC power for the solar power inverter, avoid undesirable shutdowns due to partial shading, and allow the inverter to run in power generation mode for a few more hours each day. | 09-11-2014 |
20140265584 | Online Surveillance System to Protect Solar Power Plants - A method and apparatus is disclosed that can monitor the solar power inverters in real-time both day and night, and generate surveillance alarms and actions when a solar power inverter is removed or disconnected from the AC powerline for unknown reasons. It offers a low cost and reliable surveillance means to help guard a residential-scale, commercial-scale, or utility-scale solar power system in real-time at all times. | 09-18-2014 |
20140265595 | Smart and Scalable Lunar Power Inverters - A method and apparatus is disclosed for solar power generation when irradiance is low and unstable due to sunrise, sunset, clouding, partial shading, warped solar module surfaces, moving solar modules, and other low or varying irradiance conditions. A multi-channel solar power inverter connected to multiple solar modules can work in a “Lunar Power Mode”, inverting DC power induced from the sky, street lights, or surrounding environment to AC power by using a unique rotating power pulling technology. This allows the inverter to dynamically adapt to irradiance variations and generate AC power under complex irradiance conditions. A UPS (uninterruptible power supply) works with a DC power supply to provide DC power to the internal electronic circuits of the inverter allowing it to run in normal power, low power, or lunar power modes. | 09-18-2014 |
20140285024 | POWER INVERTERS WITH MULTIPLE INPUT CHANNELS - A method and apparatus is disclosed for intelligently inverting DC power from DC sources such as photovoltaic (PV) solar modules to single-phase or three-phase AC power to feed the power grid for electricity generation. A power inverter with multiple input channels or input ports that can connect to multiple DC sources is disclosed. | 09-25-2014 |
20140305507 | SELF-ORGANIZING MULTI-STREAM FLOW DELIVERY PROCESS AND ENABLING ACTUATION AND CONTROL - A Self-Organizing Multi-Stream Flow Delivery Process and Enabling Actuation and Control are introduced. The method and apparatus of building a general-purpose self-organizing multi-stream flow delivery process are presented. As a case example, an actuation and control system to control a multi-stream liquid flow delivery process using Self-Organizing Actuation and Control Units (SOACU) is described. | 10-16-2014 |
20140309793 | METHOD AND APPARATUS OF SELF-ORGANIZING ACTUATION AND CONTROL - A Self-Organizing Process Control Architecture is introduced with a Sensing Layer, Control Layer, Actuation Layer, Process Layer, as well as Self-Organizing Sensors (SOS), Self-Organizing Actuators (SOA), and Self-Organizing Actuation and Control Units (SOACU). The method and apparatus of SOA and SOACU for process control are presented. A control system as a case example for a gas mixing process is described using the unique SOA and SOACU approaches. A 2x1 Robust MFA (Model-Free Adaptive) controller as a key component of the SOACU is also disclosed. | 10-16-2014 |