CONTROL OF AN ENGINE-DRIVEN GENERATOR TO ADDRESS TRANSIENTS OF AN ELECTRICAL POWER GRID CONNECTED THERETO

• US 20120175876A1
• Filed: 11/21/2011
• Published: 07/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc.
• Inventors: Pendray, John R., Pierz, Patrick M., Palmer, Bradford K., Kitchen, Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 8,912,672 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/41
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 19/02 peculiar to engines working with gaseous fuels
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/06 peculiar to engines driving electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0212 comprising at least 3 C-Atoms, e.g. liquefied petroleum gas [LPG], propane or butane
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 21/0215 Mixtures of gaseous fuels; Natural gas; Biogas; Mine gas; Landfill gas
• CPC Class Codes: F02P 5/15 Digital data processing
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/46 for ICE-powered road vehicles
• 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: H02P 2101/15 for wind-driven turbines
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/04 Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/10 Control effected upon generator excitation circuit to reduce harmful effects of overloads or transients, e.g. sudden application of load, sudden removal of load, sudden change of load
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/102 for limiting effects of transients
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/105 for increasing the stability
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/107 for limiting effects of overloads
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/30 Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/40 Engine management systems

Abstract

A technique for providing electric power to an electric power utility grid includes driving an electric power alternator coupled to the grid with a spark-ignited or direct injection internal combustion engine; detecting a change in electrical loading of the alternator; in response to the change, adjusting parameters of the engine and/or generator to adjust power provided by the engine. In one further forms of this technique, the adjusting of parameters for the engine includes retarding spark timing and/or interrupting the spark ignition; reducing or retarding direct injection timing or fuel amount and/or interrupting the direct injection; and/or the adjusting of parameters for the generator including increasing the field of the alternator or adding an electrical load.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

providing electric power to a utility grid, which includes driving a field-adjustable alternator coupled to the grid with a spark-ignited internal combustion engine;

detecting a low voltage condition of the utility grid;

in response to the low voltage condition;

changing spark ignition of the engine; and

adjusting a field produced by the alternator.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting of the field includes changing to a full field state of the alternator.

3. The method of claim 1, which further includes braking at least one of the alternator and the engine in response to the low voltage condition.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the braking includes applying an exhaust brake.

5. The method of claim 1, which further includes switching in an impedance circuit to increase electrical load on the alternator in response to the low voltage condition.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the changing of the spark ignition includes retarding spark ignition timing.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the adjusting of the field includes adjusting to a full field state in response to a field control voltage.

8. The method of claim 1, which includes:

operating the alternator and the engine as a genset regulated with a controller;

performing the changing of the spark ignition timing and the adjusting of the field in accordance with operating instructions executed with the controller;

performing the detecting of the low voltage condition by sensing voltage with one or more sensors; and

fueling the engine with a gaseous type of fuel.

9. An apparatus comprising:

an electric power generator structured for coupling to an electric power grid;

a spark-ignited internal combustion engine to drive the generator;

a sensing device; and

a controller responsive to the sensing device to regulate operation of the generator and the engine, the controller being structured to determine a low voltage condition of the electric power grid and in response to the low voltage condition to provide one or more output signals to change spark ignition of the engine and adjust a field of the generator.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller executes programming operable to adjust the field by increasing to a full field state of the generator.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the controller is structured to generate the one or more output signals to change the spark ignition by retarding spark ignition timing of the engine.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the generator, the engine, the sensing device, and the controller are provided as a genset, and the controller includes an engine control module and one or more other control devices.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the engine is of a multiple cylinder, reciprocating piston type.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a fuel source containing a gaseous fuel for the engine.

15-52. -52. (canceled)

53. A method, comprising:

providing electric power to a utility grid, which includes driving a field-adjustable alternator coupled to the grid with a direct injection compression-ignition internal combustion engine with fuel injection;

detecting a low voltage condition of the utility grid;

in response to the low voltage condition;

changing ignition of the engine by altering the fuel injection; and

adjusting a field produced by the alternator.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the adjusting of the field includes changing to a full field state of the alternator.

55. The method of claim 53, wherein the changing of the ignition includes at least one of retarding timing of the fuel injection and reducing an amount of injected fuel.

56. The method of claim 55, wherein the reducing of the amount of injected fuel includes withholding fuel from a cylinder of the engine.

57. An apparatus comprising:

an electric power generator structured for coupling to an electric power grid;

a compression ignition internal combustion engine to drive the generator, the engine including one or more cylinders with fuel injection;

a sensing device; and

a controller responsive to the sensing device to regulate operation of the generator and the engine, the controller being structured to determine a low voltage condition of the electric power grid and in response to the low voltage condition to provide one or more output signals to change the fuel injection to alter engine ignition and adjust a field of the generator.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the controller executes programming operable to provide the change to the fuel injection by retarding the fuel injection and adjust the field by increasing to a full field state of the generator.