A microturbine engine that includes a compressor that is operable to provide a flow of compressed air. The compressed air flows through a recuperator where it is preheated before delivery to a combustor. The preheated compressed air mixes with a fuel and is combusted within the combustor to provide a flow of products of combustion. The flow of products of combustion pass through one or more turbines to drive the compressor and a synchronous generator. The synchronous generator is able to synchronize to a priority load, to the utility grid or to both depending on the mode of operation. A control system monitors various engine parameters as well as load and grid parameters to determine the desired mode of operation.
RELATED APPLICATION DATA
This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/464,380 filed Jun. 18, 2003, which is a continuation of U.S. Provisional Application 60/389,765 filed Jun. 18, 2002. The entire contents of both prior patent applications are hereby incorporated by reference.
A system for testing is described. The system includes a wind turbine, a grid generator configured to generate power and coupled to the wind turbine, and a portable load coupled to the grid generator.
A method and apparatus for operating a combined-cycle power system is provided. The system is coupled to an electric power grid. The system includes at least one electric power generator, at least one steam turbine coupled to the generator, at least one combustion turbine coupled to the generator, and at least one steam source that is in flow communication with the steam turbine. The method includes operating the system at a first power output level with the steam turbine and the combustion turbine being synchronized to an operating frequency of the grid, so that the steam turbine, the combustion turbine, and the grid are operating at a frequency substantially similar to a standardized grid frequency value. The method also includes sensing a grid frequency deviation away from the standardized grid frequency value. The method further includes accelerating or decelerating the turbines and facilitating a predetermined rate of grid frequency recovery for a predetermined period of time, such that the predetermined rate of frequency recovery is substantially uniform.
A method and apparatus for operating a combined-cycle power system is provided. The system is coupled to an electric power grid. The system includes at least one electric power generator, at least one steam turbine coupled to the generator, at least one combustion turbine coupled to the generator, and at least one steam source that is in flow communication with the steam turbine. The method includes operating the system at a first power output level with the steam turbine and the combustion turbine being synchronized to an operating frequency of the grid, so that the steam turbine, the combustion turbine, and the grid are operating at a frequency substantially similar to a standardized grid frequency value. The method also includes sensing a grid frequency deviation away from the standardized grid frequency value. The method further includes accelerating or decelerating the turbines and facilitating a predetermined rate of grid frequency recovery for a predetermined period of time, such that the predetermined rate of frequency recovery is substantially uniform.
One embodiment includes an internal combustion engine, a sensor signal representative of an observed engine speed, and a controller. This controller is responsive to the sensor signal to determine a control input representative of a difference between the observed engine speed and a desired engine speed. The controller defines a compensator that is one or more of a proportional-integral type, a proportional-derivative type, and a proportional-integral-derivative type. The controller determines at least one gain factor of the compensator with a signal corresponding to engine load. The compensator is responsive to the control input to generate an output signal to adjust engine fueling as a function of the control input and the gain factor.
The present invention is a DC power system incorporated into a modular housing. The primary source of power is an electrical utility. Because the electrical utility provides alternating current, the module includes a rectifier which makes the conversion to DC. The module also includes an air turbine which is used as a backup source of power. Also included is an array of lithium-metal-polymer (LMP) batteries to bridge and also for backup power if necessary.
