Apparatus and method for controlling self-contained power generation and power utilization system
First Claim
1. A silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) system for drilling a borehole, said SCR system including modular analog hardware comprising:
- a SCR that converts alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC);
an engine AC generator for generating alternating current coupled to said SCR;
an AC generator controller coupled to the engine AC generator;
one or more DC motors coupled to the SCR;
a DC load coupled to said one or more DC motors through mechanical means;
a DC load controller coupled to the SCR and DC motors, wherein said DC load controller further comprises;
isolator hardware that receives a first signal and a second signal, said isolator hardware filtering the first signal and the second signal to reduce noise and carriers;
load share hardware coupled to the isolator hardware, wherein said load share hardware receives the filtered first signal and second signal and determines the error between the two signals;
feedback hardware coupled to the load share hardware, said feedback hardware modifying a power output of one motor based on the error; and
wherein said DC load controller performs automatic load share control between the DC motors as each DC motor powers up.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method is disclosed for drilling a borehole using a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) system. The SCR system includes analog rack mounted hardware cards for control of an engine AC generator and a DC load. The engine AC generator of the SCR system generates alternating current (AC) that is then converted to direct current (DC) by a silicon controlled rectifier transformer connected to the output of the engine AC generator. The DC power from the silicon controlled rectifier transformer drives one or more DC motors that are coupled to a load by a mechanical linkage. An AC generator controller controls the engine AC generator and includes an engine control module that controls operating speed of the engine AC generator and air-fuel mixture at engine start. A DC load controller coupled to the silicon controlled rectifier transformer and DC motors performs automatic load share control between the DC motors.
21 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) system for drilling a borehole, said SCR system including modular analog hardware comprising:
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a SCR that converts alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC);
an engine AC generator for generating alternating current coupled to said SCR;
an AC generator controller coupled to the engine AC generator;
one or more DC motors coupled to the SCR;
a DC load coupled to said one or more DC motors through mechanical means;
a DC load controller coupled to the SCR and DC motors, wherein said DC load controller further comprises;
isolator hardware that receives a first signal and a second signal, said isolator hardware filtering the first signal and the second signal to reduce noise and carriers;
load share hardware coupled to the isolator hardware, wherein said load share hardware receives the filtered first signal and second signal and determines the error between the two signals;
feedback hardware coupled to the load share hardware, said feedback hardware modifying a power output of one motor based on the error; and
wherein said DC load controller performs automatic load share control between the DC motors as each DC motor powers up. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for drilling a borehole utilizing a modular analog hardware silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) system, comprising the steps of:
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performing an engine start of an engine AC generator using a lean mixture of air and fuel, wherein said engine AC generator is coupled to a engine control module that controls said mixture of air and fuel;
adjusting said engine AC generator using said engine control module to a constant engine speed by performing feedback control; and
drilling a borehole by maintaining constant engine speed that generates sufficient rotation of a drill bit. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A hardwired control system of modular design for drilling a borehole, comprising:
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a silicon controlled rectifier that converts alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC);
a diesel engine AC generator for generating alternating current coupled to said SCR;
an AC generator controller coupled to the diesel engine AC generator, wherein said AC generator controller includes an engine control module that controls operating speed of the diesel engine AC generator and air-fuel mixture at diesel engine start;
one or more DC motors coupled to said silicon controlled rectifier; and
a DC load controller coupled to said silicon controlled rectifier and said DC motors, said DC load controller receiving control parameters from the silicon controlled rectifier and DC motors and generating control signals to the silicon controlled rectifier and DC motors. - View Dependent Claims (15)
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16. A hardwired control system of modular design for drilling a borehole, comprising:
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a transformer that converts alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC);
a diesel engine AC generator for generating alternating current coupled to said transformer;
an AC generator controller coupled to the diesel engine AC generator;
a DC load coupled to said transformer, wherein said DC load is an electric motor; and
a DC load controller coupled to said transformer and DC load, said DC load controller receiving control parameters from the transformer and DC load and outputting control signals to the transformer and DC load. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification