Brian W Peticolas

US Patent:

6495929, Dec 17, 2002

Filed:

Apr 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/829035

Inventors:

Robert W. Bosley - Cerritos CA
Edward C. Edelman - Agoura Hills CA
Steven W. Lampe - Thousand Oaks CA
Brian W. Peticolas - Redondo Beach CA

Assignee:

Capstone Turbine Corporation - Chatsworth CA

International Classification:

H02P 900

US Classification:

290 52, 322 28, 318140

Abstract:

A power control system for a turbogenerator which provides electrical power to one or more pump-jack oil wells. When the induction motor of a pump-jack oil well is powered by three-phase utility power, the speed of the pump-jack shaft varies only slightly over the pumping cycle but the utility power requirements can vary by four times the average pumping power. This power variation makes it impractical to power a pump-jack oil well with a stand-alone turbogenerator controlled by a conventional power control system. This power control system comprises a turbogenerator inverter, a load inverter, and a central processing unit which controls the frequency and voltage/current of each inverter. Throughout the oil wells pumping cycle, the central processing unit increases or decreases the frequency of the load inverter in order to axially accelerate and decelerate the masses of the down hole steel pump rods and oil, and to rotationally accelerate and decelerate the masses of the motor rotors and counter balance weights. This allows kinetic energy to be alternately stored in and extracted from the moving masses of the oil well and allows the oil pumping power to be precisely controlled throughout the pumping cycle, resulting in a constant turbogenerator power requirement.

US Patent:

RE40713, May 19, 2009

Filed:

May 11, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/853852

Inventors:

Everett R. Geis - Orange CA, US
Brian W. Peticolas - Redondo Beach CA, US

Assignee:

Capstone Turbine Corporation - Chatsworth CA

International Classification:

H02P 7/00

US Classification:

318140, 318145, 318147, 318375

Abstract:

A turbogenerator/motor controller with a microprocessor based inverter having multiple modes of operation. To start the turbine, the inverter connects to and supplies fixed current, variable voltage, variable frequency, AC power to the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor, driving the permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor as a motor to accelerate the gas turbine. During this acceleration, spark and fuel are introduced in the correct sequence, and self-sustaining gas turbine operating conditions are reached. The inverter is then disconnected from the permanent magnet generator/motor, reconfigured to a controlled 60 hertz mode, and then either supplies regulated 60 hertz three phase voltage to a stand alone load or phase locks to the utility, or to other like controllers, to operate as a supplement to the utility. In this mode of operation, the power for the inverter is derived from the permanent magnet generator/motor via high frequency rectifier bridges. The microprocessor monitors turbine conditions and controls fuel flow to the gas turbine combustor.

US Patent:

20040080165, Apr 29, 2004

Filed:

Mar 11, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/384790

Inventors:

Everett Geis - Orange CA, US
Brian Peticolas - Redondo Beach CA, US
Joel Wacknov - Westlake CA, US

Assignee:

Capstone Turbine Corporation

International Classification:

F02C006/00
H02P009/04
H02K007/18
F01D015/10

US Classification:

290/052000

Abstract:

A turbogenerator/motor controller with a microprocessor based inverter having multiple modes of operation with an energy storage and discharge system including an ancillary electric storage device, such as a battery, connected to the generator controller through control electronics. Electrical energy can flow from the ancillary electric storage device to the turbogenerator controller during start up and increasing load and vice versa during self-sustained operation of the turbogenerator. When utility power is unavailable, the ancillary electric storage device can provide the power required to start the turbogenerator. When a load transient occurs, the gas turbine engine and the ancillary electric storage device provide the power required to successfully meet the transient.

US Patent:

20060066112, Mar 30, 2006

Filed:

Jul 26, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/189429

Inventors:

Everett Geis - Orange CA, US
Brian Peticolas - Redondo Beach CA, US
Joel Wacknov - Westlake CA, US

International Classification:

H02P 9/04

US Classification:

290052000

Abstract:

A turbogenerator/motor controller with a microprocessor based inverter having multiple modes of operation with an energy storage and discharge system including an ancillary electric storage device, such as a battery, connected to the generator controller through control electronics. Electrical energy can flow from the ancillary electric storage device to the turbogenerator controller during start up and increasing load and vice versa during self-sustained operation of the turbogenerator. When utility power is unavailable, the ancillary electric storage device can provide the power required to start the turbogenerator. When a load transient occurs, the gas turbine engine and the ancillary electric storage device provide the power required to successfully meet the transient.

US Patent:

20090181286, Jul 16, 2009

Filed:

Dec 8, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/329903

Inventors:

DOUGLAS A. BRUNNER - Bear DE, US
Brian W. Peticolas - Redondo Beach CA, US

International Classification:

H01M 10/48
H01M 10/44

US Classification:

429 50, 429 92

Abstract:

Cell voltage measuring systems and methods for determining voltage levels across cells within a string of electrochemical cells coupled to each other in series are provided. The string of electrochemical cells has a plurality of tap points dispersed throughout the string. A network of electro-mechanical relays electrically couple to the string of electrochemical cells with each relay coupling to a respective tap point. A controller is coupled to the network of relays and selectively activates a pair of relays within the network responsive to a selection signal. Activation of the pair of relays develops an output voltage level that corresponds to the voltage across one or more cells between respective tap points of the activated pair of relays.

US Patent:

60207132, Feb 1, 2000

Filed:

Jan 5, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/002890

Inventors:

Everett R. Geis - Trabuco Canyon CA
Brian W. Peticolas - Redondo Beach CA
Joel B. Wacknov - Monrovia CA

Assignee:

Capstone Turbine Corporation - Woodland Hills CA

International Classification:

H02P 700

US Classification:

318801

Abstract:

A controller for a permanent magnet turbogenerator/motor having a pulse width modulated inverter and a rectifier bridge. The pulse width modulated inverter includes a positive section magnetic winding and a separate equal negative section magnetic winding, and the inverter has a positive section connected to the positive section magnetic winding of the pulse width modulated inverter and a negative section connected to the separate negative section magnetic winding of the pulse width modulated inverter.

US Patent:

60491957, Apr 11, 2000

Filed:

Jul 19, 1999

Appl. No.:

9/356065

Inventors:

Everett R. Geis - Trabuco Canyon CA
Brian W. Peticolas - Redondo Beach CA
Joel B. Wacknov - Monrovia CA

Assignee:

Capstone Turbine Corporation - Woodland Hills CA

International Classification:

H02P 1106
H02P 900

US Classification:

322 46

Abstract:

A permanent magnet generator having a winding split into two equal windings with each of the two windings connected to a separate three phase rectifier block of a pulse width modulated inverter The pulse width modulated inverter includes three (3) IGBT channels across the voltage bus with the neutral created between the separate three phase rectifier blocks.

US Patent:

60312947, Feb 29, 2000

Filed:

Jan 5, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/003078

Inventors:

Everett R. Geis - Trabuco Canyon CA
Brian W. Peticolas - Redondo Beach CA
Joel B. Wacknov - Monrovia CA

Assignee:

Capstone Turbine Corporation - Woodland Hills CA

International Classification:

F01D 1510
F02C 600
H02K 718
H02P 904

US Classification:

290 52

Abstract:

A turbogenerator/motor controller with a microprocessor based inverter having multiple modes of operation with an energy storage and discharge system including an ancillary electric storage device, such as a battery, connected to the generator controller through control electronics. Electrical energy can flow from the ancillary electric storage device to the turbogenerator controller during start up and increasing load and vice versa during self-sustained operation of the turbogenerator. When utility power is unavailable, the ancillary electric storage device can provide the power required to start the turbogenerator. When a load transient occurs, the gas turbine engine and the ancillary electric storage device provide the power required to successfully meet the transient.