MANAGEMENT TECHNIQUES FOR ELECTRIC POWER GENERATION EQUIPMENT

• US 20110148214A1
• Filed: 10/28/2010
• Published: 06/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc. (Cummins Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc. (Cummins Incorporated)
• Inventors: Dahlen, Paul R.
• Granted Patent: US 8,547,668 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/87
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/40 Synchronising a generator for connection to a network or to another generator
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/544 Setting up communications; Call and signalling arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 using the power network as support for the transmission

Abstract

A method for controlling power generation equipment, including bringing a generator online into a shared power bus environment, is described. The method includes determining whether the shared power bus is currently active, and whether a voltage determination fault is present with respect to a specific generator. Where the shared power bus is inactive and no fault is present, the generator is brought online in response to a load request. Where the shared power bus is active, the generator is synchronized with the shared power bus before the generator is brought online.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing load sharing lines between generators operable to connect in parallel to a common bus to provide electric power from the generators;

sending one or more signals over the load sharing lines;

detecting one or more responses to the one or more signals;

determining a connection status of at least one of the generators to the common bus based on the one or more responses.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining that none of the generators are closed to the common bus and closing a breaker of a first one of the generators to the common bus.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting insufficient voltage to indicate connection of one or more of the generators to the common bus;

determining that at least one of the generators is closed to the common bus; and

declaring a fault.

4. The method of claim 1, which includes measuring voltage on the common bus, wherein the determining of the connection status is further performed as a function of the measuring of the voltage.

5. A method, comprising:

communicating between two or more generators, the generators each being operable to connect in parallel to a common bus to provide electric power therefrom;

providing an input corresponding to bus voltage;

determining a generator connection status relative to the bus as a function of the communicating between the generators and the input corresponding to bus voltage.

6. The method of claim 5, which includes determining the bus is in a nonoperational state and closing a breaker of one of the generators to the bus.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

determining the input and the generator connection status provided by the communicating of the generator connection status are in conflict; and

declaring a fault in response to the conflict.

8. A method, comprising:

providing a digital communications link between at least two generators,

communicating the status of a power bus between the at least two generators, and

communicating a breaker position of each individual generator to the at least two generators.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining the at least two generators indicate that the power bus is dead;

determining each individual generator has an open breaker position; and

closing a breaker of one of the generators to the power bus.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining a fault condition in response to at least one of;

determining that at least one generator of the at least two generators does not indicate that the power bus is dead;

determining that at least one generator of the at least two generators has a closed breaker position; and

in response to the fault condition, preventing a first generator from closing a breaker to the power bus and declaring a fault.

11. The method of claim 10, which further includes determining the fault condition further in response to a controller for the first generator indicating that the power bus is dead.

12. A method, comprising:

interpreting a first power bus voltage value;

interpreting an active bus signal; and

in response to the first power bus voltage value indicating a power bus voltage value is zero and the active bus signal indicating the power bus is active, providing a loss of bus voltage sensing fault.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising, in response to the first power bus voltage value indicating a power bus voltage value is zero and the active bus signal indicating the power bus is inactive, electrically coupling a first generator to the power bus.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising, in response to the loss of bus voltage sensing fault, preventing an electrical coupling of a first generator and the power bus.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising, in response to the first power bus voltage value indicating the power bus voltage value is not zero, synchronizing a first generator with the power bus voltage value then electrically coupling the first generator to the power bus.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising, in response to the loss of bus voltage sensing fault, interpreting a secondary power bus voltage value, synchronizing a first generator with the secondary power bus voltage value, then electrically coupling the first generator to the power bus.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a first bus voltage sensing module structured to interpret a first power bus voltage value;

a system communications module structured to interpret an active bus signal; and

a bus voltage fault module structured to, in response to the first power bus voltage value indicating a power bus voltage value is zero and the active bus signal indicating the power bus is active, provide a loss of bus voltage sensing fault.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a generator control module structured to, in response to the first power bus voltage value indicating a power bus voltage value is zero and the active bus signal indicating the power bus is inactive, electrically couple a first generator to the power bus.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the generator control module is further structured to, in response to the loss of bus voltage sensing fault, prevent an electrical coupling of the first generator and the power bus.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the generator control module is further structured to, in response to the first power bus voltage value indicating the power bus voltage value is not zero, synchronize a first generator with the power bus voltage value then electrically coupling the first generator to the power bus.

21. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the system communications module is further structured to, in response to the loss of bus voltage sensing fault, interpret a secondary power bus voltage value, and wherein the generator control module is further structured to synchronize a first generator output with the secondary power bus voltage value, then electrically couple the first generator to the power bus.

22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the active bus signal comprises one of a secondary power bus voltage value and a second generator coupling signal.

23. A system, comprising:

a first generator having a first breaker structured to selectively couple the first generator to a common bus;

a second generator having a second breaker structured to selectively couple the second generator to the common bus; and

a means for coupling the first generator to the common bus when the common bus is at one of a zero voltage and a known voltage.

24. The system of claim 23, further comprising a means for preventing coupling of the first generator to the common bus when the common bus is at an unknown voltage.

25. The system of claim 23, further comprising a means for determining when a first voltage sensing means is in a fault condition.

26. The system of claim 25, further comprising a means for determining the known voltage when the first voltage sensing means is in the fault condition.