Allen Michael Ritter

US Patent:

6791852, Sep 14, 2004

Filed:

Dec 28, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/683437

Inventors:

Richard W. Carter - Roanoke VA
Rick L. Gintz - Roanoke VA
Allen M. Ritter - Roanoke VA

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

H02H 700

US Classification:

363 57, 363 51, 361100, 361 931

Abstract:

A method is provided for determining a shorted thyristor cell in a bridge that supplies a load from a source, the bridge including a plurality of the thyristor cells. The method includes the step of sequentially gating each of the cells to a conducting state, so that only one cell is gated at one time; providing at least one current transformer in the bridge; generating a current flow that passes through the bridge including the one cell that is gated; observing current in the at least one current transformer to determine a short in one of the cells the that is not gated; and determining a shorted cell based on the step of observing current in the at least one current transformer.

US Patent:

6801433, Oct 5, 2004

Filed:

Jan 9, 2002

Appl. No.:

09/683496

Inventors:

Brian Eric Lindholm - Blacksburg VA
Paul Stephen Pate - Troutville VA
Allen Michael Ritter - Roanoke VA

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

H05K 720

US Classification:

361707, 361702, 361696, 361712, 165 802, 165170, 165907, 337166, 337248

Abstract:

An apparatus for cooling electrical protective devices comprises an electrical protective device mounted to at least one electrical terminal, wherein the electrical terminals are cooled to indirectly cool the electrical protective devices. A pressurized coolant source passes a coolant fluid through coolant passages attached to the electrical terminals, thereby cooling the electrical terminals. The cooled electrical terminals maintain the temperature of the electrical protection device within an appropriate operating temperature range. This cooling method may be used to increase the fuse power rating of a fuse array while maintaining electrical coordination between the fuses in the fuse array and electrical devices protected by the fuse array.

US Patent:

6840308, Jan 11, 2005

Filed:

May 31, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/063985

Inventors:

Allen M. Ritter - Roanoke VA, US
Hugh David Black - Salem VA, US

Assignee:

General Electric Co. - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

H05K 720

US Classification:

165 804, 165 802, 165170

Abstract:

The invention provides a heat sink assembly, and a method of making and using a heat sink assembly, for cooling a device using circulating fluid. The heat sink assembly comprises a housing including at least one housing inlet passage and at least one housing outlet passage. A first cavity is disposed in the housing and a plurality of first cavity column members are disposed in the first cavity. The first cavity column members are arranged in a plurality of rows such that first cavity column members in a row are staggered with respect to first cavity column members in an adjacent row. The heat sink assembly further includes a second cavity disposed in the housing and a plurality of second cavity column members disposed in the second cavity. The second cavity column members are arranged in a plurality of rows, which are also staggered.

US Patent:

7239036, Jul 3, 2007

Filed:

Jul 29, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/192840

Inventors:

John Douglas D'Atre - Salem VA, US
Anthony Michael Klodowski - Hardy VA, US
Allen Michael Ritter - Roanoke VA, US
David Smith - Roanoke VA, US
Robert Gregory Wagoner - Roanoke VA, US
Luis Jose Garces - Schenectady NY, US
Henning Luetze - Bad Bentheim, DE

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

H02P 9/04

US Classification:

290 44

Abstract:

A system and method for power control in wind turbines are provided. The method includes switching a plurality of switching devices in a power conversion component of the wind turbine system in a normal switching mode to provide power flow through the power conversion component. The method further includes switching the plurality of switches devices in the power conversion component of the wind turbine system in a short circuit switching mode to prevent power flow through the power conversion component.

US Patent:

7324360, Jan 29, 2008

Filed:

Oct 17, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/251727

Inventors:

Allen Michel Ritter - Roanoke VA, US
Richard S. Zhang - Rexford NY, US
Luis Jose Garces - Niskayuna NY, US
Rajib Datta - Niskayuna NY, US
Ravisekhar Nadimpalli Raju - Clifton Park NY, US
Mark E. Shepard - Roanoke VA, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

H02M 7/00

US Classification:

363 71, 363 65, 363 37

Abstract:

Methods and apparatus for converting power from a power source are described. In one example embodiment, the method includes controlling multiple transformer and switchgear units coupled to a power source, and controlling multiple converter units connected in parallel. Each converter unit is coupled to a respective one of the transformer and switchgear units to form an individual thread. The transformer and switchgear unit and power converters are controlled so that the carrier waveforms for each individual thread are interleaved between each other over a carrier cycle.

US Patent:

7327134, Feb 5, 2008

Filed:

Jul 26, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/460064

Inventors:

Haiqing Weng - Shanghai, CN
Kunlun Chen - Shanghai, CN
Rajib Datta - Niskayuna NY, US
Allen Michael Ritter - Roanoke VA, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Niskayuna NY

International Classification:

G01R 15/18

US Classification:

324127

Abstract:

A method to balance transformer flux among a plurality of transformers is disclosed. The plurality of transformers is connected to a plurality of converters, each transformer having an associated converter. The method comprises determining a reference flux value, measuring an actual flux value for each transformer, and developing a plurality of voltage command signals in relation to a plurality of variance values between the reference flux value and each actual flux value. In response to the voltage command signals being received at a modulator in signal communication with the plurality of converters, the method proceeds by generating a plurality of switching signals to reduce each of the variance values by making available the plurality of switching signals to each of the associated plurality of converters.

US Patent:

7423412, Sep 9, 2008

Filed:

Jan 31, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/344730

Inventors:

Haiqing Weng - Shanghai, CN
Robert A. Seymour - Roanoke VA, US
John D. D'Atre - Salem VA, US
Allen M. Ritter - Roanoke VA, US
Xiaoming Yuan - Shanghai, CN
Renchang Dai - Shanghai, CN
Robert W. Delmerico - Clifton Park NY, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

H02H 7/06
H02P 9/00
H02P 11/00
H02P 9/04
F02N 11/06

US Classification:

322 20, 290 40 R

Abstract:

Method and apparatus that provide a response to the negative sequence current demands during a disturbance of the grid system connected to power-generating equipment, such as a wind turbine system, provide for tracking components in the grid signal, orienting at least a portion of the signal, and injecting the oriented portion. Controlled injection of negative sequence current provides for extending small-signal control response, and also provides for modifications of the apparent impedance to the grid interconnect of the power conversion equipment.

US Patent:

7446435, Nov 4, 2008

Filed:

Nov 30, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/289919

Inventors:

Richard S. Zhang - Rexford NY, US
Changyong Wang - Shanghai, CN
Lei Li - Shanghai, CN
James Patrick Lyons - Niskayuna NY, US
Zhuohui Tan - Shanghai, CN
Allen Michael Ritter - Roanoke VA, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Niskayuna NY

International Classification:

H02M 1/12

US Classification:

307105, 363 41

Abstract:

A power system for providing an output power to a load is provided. The system comprises a generator configured to generate an alternating current input power and an power converter system coupled to the generator and configured to generate an output power and provide the output power to the load through at least one transformer. The system further comprises a converter control system coupled to the converter system and configured to drive the converter system in an interleaved pattern to reduce harmonic components in the output power and the alternating current input power.