Genset remote start control

• US 10,008,965 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2016
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc.
• Inventors: Priem, Dan G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ali, Mohammad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sanders, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US15/006,899
• Publication Number:
  US 20170214349A1
• Time in Patent Office: 882 Days
• Field of Search: 700287
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/04 Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/08 Control of generator circuit during starting or stopping of driving means, e.g. for initiating excitation

Abstract

Systems and methods for controlling a generator set are disclosed herein. The method includes determining a state of local modes selectable via a local interface proximate to the generator set. The local modes include a local standby mode and a local remote enabled mode. The method also includes determining a state of a plurality of remote modes using a command from a device remote from the location of the generator set in response to determining the remote enabled mode is active. The method includes, in response to determining the local standby mode is active, the remote enabled mode is active, and one of the remote modes is active, determining whether to activate or stop the generator set based on the active remote mode and disabling the local standby mode from controlling activation of the generator set.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a generator set, comprising:

determining a state of a plurality of local modes selectable via a local interface proximate to the generator set, wherein the local modes comprise a remote enabled mode in which the generator set is enabled locally to activate or stop in response to receiving one or more commands from a device remote from a location of the generator set, a local standby mode in which the generator set activates or stops in response to detecting one or more conditions, a local start mode in which the generator set is activated locally, and a local stop mode in which the generator set is stopped locally;

in response to determining the remote enabled mode is active, determining a state of a plurality of remote modes using the one or more commands, wherein the plurality of remote modes are selectable via a user interface on the device remote from the location of the generator set, and wherein the remote modes comprise;

a remote start mode in which the generator set is activated remotely;

a remote stop mode in which the generator set is stopped remotely; and

a remote standby mode in which the generator set is enabled remotely to activate or stop automatically in response to the one or more conditions being detected;

in response to determining the local standby mode is active, the remote enabled mode is active, and the remote start and remote stop modes are inactive, determining whether to activate or stop the generator set in response to detecting the one or more conditions in accordance with the local standby mode;

in response to determining the local standby mode is active, the remote enabled mode is active, and one of the remote start mode or remote stop mode is active, determining whether to activate or stop the generator set based on the active remote mode and disabling the local standby mode from controlling activation of the generator set; and

in response to selection of the remote enabled mode from the local interface, enabling selection of the remote modes on the user interface of the device remote from the location of the generator set;

in response to selection of the local start mode or the local stop mode from the local interface, disabling selection of the remote modes on the user interface of the device remote from the location of the generator set;

wherein the one or more conditions comprise a power outage, and wherein, in response to selection of the remote enabled mode from the local interface and the remote standby mode from the remote interface, the generator set activates automatically in response to the power outage being detected.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more conditions further comprise at least one remote condition monitored by a remote device communicably connected to the generator set.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more conditions further comprise a fuel level of the generator set, and wherein, in response to selection of the remote enabled mode from the local interface and the remote standby mode from the remote interface, the generator set stops automatically in response to detecting that the fuel level is below a predetermined fuel level.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more conditions further comprise a demand input generated from a load, and wherein, in response to selection of the remote enabled mode from the local interface and the remote standby mode from the remote interface, the generator set activates automatically in response to receiving the demand input.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the load comprises at least one of a sump pump, an air conditioner, a refrigerator, or a freezer.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more conditions further comprise a grid use, and wherein, in response to selection of the remote enabled mode from the local interface and the remote standby mode from the remote interface, the generator set activates automatically in response to the grid use being detected above a predetermined grid use level.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more conditions further comprise a condition of a battery of the generator set, and wherein, in response to selection of the remote enabled mode from the local interface and the remote standby mode from the remote interface, the generator set starts automatically in response to detecting that the condition of the battery is below a predetermined battery condition.

8. A system for controlling a generator set, comprising:

circuitry configured to;

determine a state of a plurality of local modes selectable via a local interface proximate to the generator set, wherein the local modes comprise a remote enabled mode in which the generator set is enabled locally to activate or stop in response to receiving one or more commands from a device remote from a location of the generator set configured for wireless communication, a local standby mode in which the generator set activates or stops in response to detecting one or more conditions, a local start mode in which the generator set is activated locally, and a local stop mode in which the generator set is stopped locally;

in response to determining the remote enabled mode is active, determine a state of a plurality of remote modes using the one or more commands, wherein the plurality of remote modes are selectable via a user interface on the device remote from the location of the generator set, and wherein the remote modes comprise;

a remote start mode in which the generator set is activated remotely;

a remote stop mode in which the generator set is stopped remotely; and

a remote standby mode in which the generator set is enabled remotely to activate or stop automatically in response to the one or more conditions being detected;

in response to determining the local standby mode is active, the remote enabled mode is active, and the remote start and remote stop modes are inactive, determine whether to activate or stop the generator set in response to detecting the one or more conditions in accordance with the local standby mode;

in response to determining local standby mode is active, the remote enabled mode is active, and one of the remote start mode or remote stop mode is active, determine whether to activate or stop the generator set based on the active remote mode and disable the local standby mode from controlling activation of the generator set; and

in response to selection of the remote enabled mode from the local interface, enabling selection of the remote modes on the user interface of the device remote from the location of the generator set;

in response to selection of the local start mode or the local stop mode from the local interface, disabling selection of the remote modes on the user interface of the device remote from the location of the generator set;

wherein the one or more conditions comprise a power outage, and wherein, in response to selection of the remote enabled mode from the local interface and the remote standby mode from the remote interface, the generator set activates automatically in response to the power outage being detected.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more conditions further comprise at least one remote condition monitored by a remote device communicably connected to the generator set.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more conditions further comprise a fuel level of the generator set, and wherein, in response to selection of the remote enabled mode from the local interface and the remote standby mode from the remote interface, the generator set stops automatically in response to detecting that the fuel level is below a predetermined fuel level.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the one or more conditions further comprise a grid use, and wherein, in response to selection of the remote enabled mode from the local interface and the remote standby mode from the remote interface, the generator set activates automatically in response to the grid use being detected above a predetermined grid use level.

12. A generator set comprising:

an engine;

a generator operatively connected to the engine;

a local interface;

a communication interface structured to receive commands from a device remote from the generator set,

a controller communicably connected with the engine, the generator, the local interface, and the communication interface, the controller configured to;

determine a state of a plurality of local modes selectable via the local interface, wherein the local modes comprise;

a local start mode in which the generator set is activated locally;

a local stop mode in which the generator set is stopped locally;

a local standby mode in which the generator set is enabled locally to activate or stop automatically in response to one or more conditions being detected; and

a remote enabled mode in which the generator set is enabled locally to activate or stop in response to receiving one or more commands from a device remote from a location of the generator set;

in response to determining the remote enabled mode is active, determine a state of a plurality of remote modes using the one or more commands, wherein the plurality of remote modes are selectable via a user interface on the device remote from the location of the generator set, and wherein the remote modes comprise;

a remote start mode in which the generator set is activated remotely;

a remote stop mode in which the generator set is stopped remotely; and

a remote standby mode in which the generator set is enabled remotely to activate or stop automatically in response to the one or more conditions being detected;

in response to determining the local standby mode is active, the remote enabled mode is active, and the remote start and remote stop modes are inactive, determine whether to activate or stop the generator set in response to detecting the one or more conditions in accordance with the local standby mode;

in response to determining local standby mode is active, the remote enabled mode is active, and one of the remote start mode or remote stop mode is active, determine whether to activate or stop the generator set based on the active remote mode and disable the local standby mode from controlling activation of the generator set; and

in response to selection of the remote enabled mode from the local interface, enabling selection of the remote modes on the user interface of the device remote from the location of the generator set;

in response to selection of the local start mode or the local stop mode from the local interface, disabling selection of the remote modes on the user interface of the device remote from the location of the generator set;

wherein the one or more conditions comprise a power outage, and wherein, in response to selection of the remote enabled mode from the local interface and the remote standby mode from the remote interface, the generator set activates automatically in response to the power outage being detected.

13. The generator set of claim 12, wherein the one or more conditions further comprise at least one remote condition monitored by a remote device communicably connected to the generator set.

14. The generator set of claim 12, wherein the one or more conditions further comprise a fuel level of the generator set, and wherein, in response to selection of the local standby mode from the local interface or the remote enabled mode from the local interface and the remote standby mode from the remote interface, the generator set stops automatically in response to detecting that the fuel level is below a predetermined fuel level.

15. The generator set of claim 12, wherein the one or more conditions further comprise a grid use, and wherein, in response to selection of the local automatic mode from the local interface or the remote enabled mode from the local interface and the remote standby mode from the remote interface, the generator set activates automatically in response to the grid use being detected above a predetermined grid use level.