Office Action 2: Notice of Allowance (2025-03-05)

CLAIMS:
Amendments to the Claims

The listing of claims will replace all prior versions, and listings, of claims in the application.

Listing of Claims:

1\. (Currently Amended) A microgrid power system, comprising:a power module configured to generate direct current (DC) power;
an inverter module having a DC side and an AC side, and configured to invert DC power received from the power module on the DC side and output alternating current (AC) power on the AC side;
a DC bus electrically connecting an output of the power module to an input on the DC side of the inverter module;
an AC load bus configured to electrically connect an output on the AC side of the inverter module to an AC load;
an energy storage device electrically connected to the DC bus; \[\[and\]\] a kinetic storage device (KSD) electrically connected to the AC load bus ,and
a first charging line which electrically connects the KSD to an external AC power grid, wherein the first charging line is configured to provide AC power to the KSD from the external AC power grid.

2\. (Original) The microgrid power system of claim 1, wherein the KSD comprises a flywheel and a motor/generator connected to the flywheel.

3\. (Original) The microgrid power system of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to control the KSD according to a detected frequency of AC power provided to the AC load through the AC load bus, such that the KSD maintains the frequency of the AC power within a set frequency range.

4\. (Original) The microgrid power system of claim 3, wherein the controller is configured to control the KSD, such that:the KSD supplies power to the AC load bus when the detected frequency of the AC power is more than one hertz (Hz) lower than a set frequency; and
the KSD receives power from the AC load bus when the detected frequency of the AC power is more than one Hz greater than the set frequency.

5\. (Original) The microgrid power system of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to control the KSD in response to detecting a fault condition, such that the KSD supplies a fault current to the AC load bus for a set period of time after the fault condition is detected.

6\. (Original) The microgrid power system of claim 1, further comprising a resistive load electrically connected to the DC bus and configured to selectively dissipate at least a portion of the DC power generated by the power module.

7\. (Currently Amended) microgrid power system, comprising:a power module configured to generate direct current (DC) power;
an inverter module having a DC side and an AC side, and configured to invert DC power received from the power module on the DC side and output alternating current (AC) power on the AC side;
a DC bus electrically connecting an output of the power module to an input on the DC side of the inverter module;
an AC load bus configured to electrically connect an output on the AC side of the inverter module to an AC load;
an energy storage device electrically connected to the DC bus;
a kinetic storage device (KSD) electrically connected to the AC load bus on the AC side of the inverter module;
a discharging line electrically connecting an output of the KSD to the AC load bus;

a first charging line electrically connected to an external AC power source;
a charging switch configured to selectively connect the first charging line to an input of the KSD; \[\[and\]\] a second charging line electrically connected to the AC load bus and the charging switch\[\[,\]\],\_and acontroller \[\[is\]\] configured to control the charging switch, such that the KSD is provided with power from the first charging line or the second charging line.

8\. (Original) The microgrid power system of claim 1, wherein:the power module comprises a fuel cell power module; and
the energy storage device comprises an ultracapacitor energy storage device.

9\. (Original) The microgrid power system of claim 1, further comprising the AC load electrically connected to the AC load bus.

10\. (Original) The microgrid power system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of additional power modules configured to provide DC power to the DC bus.

11\. (Currently Amended) A method of operating a microgrid power system, comprising:providing direct current (DC) power from a power module to an energy storage device and to a DC side of an inverter module; and
providing alternating current (AC) power from an AC side of the inverter module to an AC load and to a kinetic storage device (KSD),\_and stopping the providing of AC power from the AC side of the inverter module to the KSD and providing AC power from an external power grid to the KSD.

12\. (Original) The method of claim 11, wherein the KSD comprises a flywheel and a motor/generator connected to the flywheel.

13\. (Original) The method of claim 11, further comprising controlling the KSD according to a detected frequency of AC power provided to the AC load, such that the KSD maintains the frequency of the AC power provided to the AC load within a set frequency range.

14\. (Original) The method of claim 13, wherein the KSD receives the AC power from the AC side of the inverter module when the detected frequency of the AC power is more than one Hz greater than the set frequency.

15\. (Original) The method of claim 14, further comprising providing the AC power from the KSD to the AC load when the detected frequency of the AC power is more than one hertz (Hz) lower than a set frequency.

16\. (Original) The method of claim 11, further comprising controlling the KSD in response to detecting a fault condition, such that the KSD supplies a fault current for a set period of time after the fault condition is detected.

17\. (Original) The method of claim 11, further comprising a resistive load electrically connected to the power module and configured to selectively dissipate at least a portion of the DC power generated by the power module.

18\. (Cancelled)

19\. (Original) The method of claim 11, wherein:the power module comprises a fuel cell power module; and
the energy storage device comprises an ultracapacitor energy storage device.

20\. (Currently Amended) The method of claim 11, wherein the AC power is provided from the AC side of the inverter module to the KSD when the microgrid is operating in an island mode disconnected from the external power grid.

21\. (New) The microgrid power system of claim 7, wherein the external power source comprises an external AC power grid.

OFFICE ACTION:
DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA  or AIA  Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Reasons for Allowance
The following is an examiner’s statement of reasons for allowance.
Applicant’s arguments/amendments of 2/19/2025 have been considered and are persuasive, accordingly claims 1, 7, 11 and their dependent claims are allowable.
Any comments considered necessary by applicant must be submitted no later than the payment of the issue fee and, to avoid processing delays, should preferably accompany the issue fee.  Such submissions should be clearly labeled “Comments on Statement of Reasons for Allowance.”
Conclusion

APPLICANT REBUTTAL: REMARKS
Claims 1, 7, 11 and 20 are amended, new claim 21 is added, and claim 18 is cancelled without prejudice or disclaimer. Support for the amendments is found in original claims 7 and 18, paragraph [046] of the specification and FIGS. 1A, 2A and 2B. Thus, claims 1-17 and 19-21 are currently pending and under consideration. No new matter has been added.
I.    Allowable Subject Matter
Applicants appreciate the indication that claim 7 includes allowable subject matter. Claim 7 has been rewritten in independent form. As such, claim 7 is allowable.
II.   Claim Rejections - 35 U.S.C. § 102
Claims 1-5, 9-16, 18, 20 is/are rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 102(a)(1) as being anticipated by Wobben (US 2005/0200133). In particular, the Office asserts that Wobben discloses a microgrid power system that includes a KSD, and that "Figure 3 discloses receiving AC power from an external power source 30." Office Action, pgs. 2-3.
A. Wobben Fails to Disclose or Suggest All Elements of Amended Claims 1 and 11
Claim 1 has been amended to further recite "a first charging line which electrically
connects the KSD to an external AC power grid, wherein the first charging line is configured to provide AC power to the KSD from an external AC power grid". Claim 11 has been amended to further recite "stopping the providing of AC power from the AC side of the inverter module to the KSD and providing AC power from an external power grid to the KSD".
Wobben does not teach these elements. The external power source of Wobben is an
internal combustion engine 30. However, Wobben does not teach to connect a flywheel 16 to an external power grid, as recited in amended claims 1 and 11.
Specifically, Wobben discloses an island network microgrid system that includes a
synchronous generator 32 that is connected to the AC side of an inverter 24. Wobben, FIG. 3, [0024]-[0028]. Wobben also discloses that the generator 32 is connected to a flywheel 16 that can store energy during the motor-driven operation of the generator 32. Id., [0041]. In
particular, Wobben discloses that the generator 32 is mechanically connected to an internal combustion engine 30, via a magnetic coupling 34, such that the engine 30 may rotate the generator 32 to generate power when there is insufficient power generated by renewable energy sources connected to the microgrid system. Wobben, FIG. 3, [0032], [0042].
Wobben does not teach that the engine 30 receives AC power from or is connected to an external power grid. In fact, Wobben fails to provide any teaching that the island network is connected to an external power grid.
Therefore, Wobben fails to disclose or suggest "a first charging line which electrically connects the KSD to an external AC power grid, wherein the first charging line is configured to provide AC power to the KSD from an external AC power grid", as recited in amended claim 1. For similar reasons, Wobben also fails to disclose or suggest "stopping the providing of AC power from the AC side of the inverter module to the KSD and providing AC power from an external power grid to the KSD", as recited in amended claim 11.
Therefore, Wobben fails to disclose or suggest all aspects of at least amended claims 1 and 11. Accordingly, the rejection of claims 1-5, 9-16, 18, 20 over Wobben is overcome. Reconsideration and withdrawal are respectfully requested.
III.  Claim Rejections - 35 U.S.C. § 103
Claims 6, 8, 17 and 19 stand rejected under 35 U.S.C. § 103 as being obvious over Wobben in view of Ballantine (US 2020/0076200). In particular, the Office asserts that Ballantine remedies the deficits of Wobben by disclosing "a fuel cell system connected to a DC bus and a resistive load bank 360" and "a fuel cell 320 for providing power to a DC bus 380 and a load 350".
In response, Applicants respectfully assert that Ballantine fails to remedy the above- identified deficits of Wobben, with respect to at least claims 1 and 11. As such, claims 6, 8, 17, and 19 should also be allowable for at least depending from claims 1 and 11.
Therefore, the rejection of claims 6, 8, 17, and 19 has been traversed. Reconsideration and withdrawal are respectfully requested.
IV.
Conclusion