Micro grid power system

• US 10,146,242 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2016
• Issued: 12/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Steffen, Joshua W., Hasler, Gregory S., Yu, Dachuan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tri T
• Application Number:
  US15/246,909
• Publication Number:
  US 20180059700A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 19/0426 Programming the control sequence
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/32184 Compare time, quality, state of operators with threshold value
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 23/0235 based on a comparison with predetermined threshold or range, e.g. "classical methods", carried out during normal operation; threshold adaptation or choice; when or how to compare with the threshold
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/66 Regulating electric power
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/24 of photovoltaic origin
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/46 Controlling of the sharing of output between the generators, converters, or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/1815 structurally associated with reciprocating piston engines general aspects of generating sets, e.g. housing, F02B63/04
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/56 Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

A micro grid power system includes a plurality of generator sets, a photovoltaic system, an external load, and a controller. Each generator set includes an engine and a sensor to determine a temperature of exhaust gases exiting the engine. The photovoltaic system includes a plurality of photovoltaic panels for generating power. The external load is powered by the plurality of generator sets and the photovoltaic system. The controller is configured to determine the external load, and control the plurality of generator sets to maintain the temperature above a threshold temperature. The controller is further configured to determine a remaining load which is the external load subtracted by a portion of the external load powered by the plurality of generator sets, and control the photovoltaic system to power the remaining load.

Claims

1. A micro grid power system, comprising:

a plurality of generator sets, each said generator set including;

an engine;

an exhaust stack coupled to the engine to facilitate discharge of exhaust gases exiting the engine; and

a sensor configured to determine a temperature of the exhaust gases in the exhaust stack;

an external load powered by the plurality of generator sets; and

a controller configured to;

determine an increase of the external load,

control the plurality of generator sets to meet the increase of the external load, and to maintain the temperature above a threshold temperature for each said generator set, and

distribute the increased external load between generator sets of the plurality of generator sets such that the temperature of the exhaust gases determined by the sensor of each said generator set is at or above the threshold temperature, and such that respective portions of the external load handled by generator sets, of the plurality of generator sets, that are operating prior to the distributing the increased external load are not increased upon the distribution of the increased external load.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is positioned proximal to an outlet of the exhaust stack.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the threshold temperature corresponds to a condensation temperature of a fuel used for operating the engine.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a dedicated control unit for each generator set for controlling the generator set.