Portable electrical generator system for providing temporary distribution of single-phase and three-phase power

• US 10,389,261 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2016
• Issued: 08/20/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VMC Power Systems
• Original Assignee: VMC Power Systems
• Inventors: McCartney, Mark C., Valente, Nicolas V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tuyen T
• Application Number:
  US15/360,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20170077827A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 336 65, 336 83, 336 90- 98
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 63/047 Movable engine-generator combinations on wheels
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/002 Arrangements provided on the transformer facilitating its transport
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 30/10 Single-phase transformers H01F30/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/24 Voltage transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 38/32 Circuit arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/12 for conversion of voltage or current amplitude only

Abstract

A portable generator system is used to provide temporary electrical power. The portable generator system has a vehicle, a generator, a step-up system, and a output interface. The step up system has one or more transformers for stepping up a voltage of the generator to a distribution voltage.

Claims

1. A system for stepping up voltage for both single-phase electrical power and three-phase electrical power, the system comprising:

a first transformer for stepping up voltage;

a second transformer for stepping up voltage;

a third transformer for stepping up voltage; and

wherein;

the first transformer, the second transformer, and the third transformer are configured to work together to step up three-phase power and have ratios of windings that are configured to step up three-phase power of a first voltage, at a first time, to a target voltage; and

in the same system, the first transformer and the second transformer are configured to work together to step up single-phase power and have ratios of windings that are configured to step up single-phase power of a second voltage from the first voltage, at a second time different from the first time, to the same target voltage.

2. The system for stepping up voltage for both single-phase electrical power and three-phase electrical power as of claim 1, further comprising an enclosure that encases the first transformer, the second transformer, and the third transformer.

3. The system for stepping up voltage for both single-phase electrical power and three-phase electrical power of claim 1, wherein the target voltage is equal to or greater than 601 volts and equal to or less than 35,000 volts.

4. The system for stepping up voltage for both single-phase electrical power and three-phase electrical power of claim 1, wherein the target voltage is 2300, 4160, 12470, 13800, 17200, 25000, or 34500 volts.

5. The system for stepping up voltage for both single-phase electrical power and three-phase electrical power of claim 1, wherein the first voltage, measured phase to neutral, is greater than the second voltage, measured phase to neutral.

6. The system for stepping up voltage for both single-phase electrical power and three-phase electrical power of claim 1, wherein the first voltage, measured phase to neutral, is equal to or greater than 123 volts and equal to or less than 144 volts.

7. The system for stepping up voltage for both single-phase electrical power and three-phase electrical power of claim 6, wherein the first voltage, measured phase to neutral, is equal to or greater than 123 volts and equal to or less than 133 volts.

8. The system for stepping up voltage for both single-phase electrical power and three-phase electrical power of claim 6, wherein the second voltage, measured phase to neutral, is equal to or greater than 96 volts and equal to or less than 118 volts.

9. The system for stepping up voltage for both single-phase electrical power and three-phase electrical power of claim 1, wherein:

the first transformer is configured to step up a first phase of the three-phase power;

the second transformer is configured to step up a second phase of the three-phase power; and

the third transformer is configured to step up a third phase of the three-phase power.

10. The system for stepping up voltage for both single-phase electrical power and three-phase electrical power of claim 8, further comprising one or more potential transformers for monitoring the target voltage and one or more current transformers for monitoring current to the first transformer, the second transformer, and/or the third transformer.

11. The system for stepping up voltage for both single-phase electrical power and three-phase electrical power of claim 10, wherein:

the one or more potential transformers are connected to a high-voltage side of the first transformer, the second transformer, and/or the third transformer; and

the one or more current transformers are connected to a low-voltage side of the first transformer, the second transformer, and/or the third transformer.

12. The system for stepping up voltage for both single-phase electrical power and three-phase electrical power of claim 8, wherein the system is part of a vehicle configured to travel on a road.

13. The system for stepping up voltage for both single-phase electrical power and three-phase electrical power of claim 8, further comprising a generator and/or an output interface.