Method and apparatus for controlling cogeneration system

• US 20090127867A1
• Filed: 10/20/2008
• Published: 05/21/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Yuri, Nobuyuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,004,099 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/40.R
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/06 peculiar to engines driving electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/14 Combined heat and power generation [CHP]

Abstract

In an apparatus (and a method) for controlling a cogeneration system equipped with a generation unit having a generator connectable to an AC power feed line between a commercial power network and an electrical load and an internal combustion engine for driving the generator, and a heat exchanger that exchanges heat with coolant of the engine with exhaust heat from the engine to warm up the coolant, there are provided with an exhaust gas temperature sensor that detects temperature of exhaust gas passing the heat exchanger, a temperature comparator that compares the exhaust gas temperature with a predetermined value and an operation stopper that stops the operation of the cogeneration system when the exhaust gas temperature is found to be less than the predetermined value. With this, it becomes possible to prevent moisture in the exhaust gas from being condensed and accumulated in the exhaust-gas heat exchanger.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling operation of a cogeneration system equipped at least with a generation unit having a generator connectable to an AC power feed line between a commercial power network and an electrical load and an internal combustion engine for driving the generator, and a heat exchanger that exchanges heat with coolant of the engine with exhaust heat from the engine to warm up the coolant to be used for producing hot air or water for a thermal load, comprising:

an exhaust gas temperature sensor that detects temperature of exhaust gas passing the heat exchanger;

a temperature comparator that compares the detected exhaust gas temperature with a predetermined value; and

an operation stopper that stops the operation of the cogeneration system when the detected exhaust gas temperature is found to be less than the predetermined value.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including:

a second temperature sensor that detects temperature of a case that houses the generation unit and the heat exchanger; and

a corrector that corrects the predetermined value with the detected temperature in the case.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, further including:

a counter that counts a number of times in which the detected exhaust gas temperature is found to be less than the predetermined value,

and the operation stopper stops the operation when the count has reached a prescribed number.

4. A method of controlling operation of a cogeneration system equipped at least with a generation unit having a generator connectable to an AC power feed line between a commercial power network and an electrical load and an internal combustion engine for driving the generator, and a heat exchanger that exchanges heat with coolant of the engine with exhaust heat from the engine to warm up the coolant to be used for producing hot air or water for a thermal load, comprising the steps of:

detecting temperature of exhaust gas passing the heat exchanger;

comparing the detected exhaust gas temperature with a predetermined value; and

stopping the operation of the cogeneration system when the detected exhaust gas temperature is found to be less than the predetermined value.

5. The method according to claim 4, further including the steps of:

detecting temperature in a case that houses the generation unit and the heat exchanger; and

correcting the predetermined value with the detected temperature in the case.

6. The method according to claim 4, further including the step of:

counting a number of times in which the detected exhaust gas temperature is found to be less than the predetermined value,

and the step of operation stopping stops the operation when the stored number has reached a prescribed number.