Managing Efficiency of an Engine-Driven Electric Generator

• US 20140152006A1
• Filed: 12/05/2012
• Published: 06/05/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: DEIF A/S
• Original Assignee: DEIF A/S
• Inventors: Christensen, Sren Dahl, Schmidt, Allan, Sterregaard, Claes Hll, Evans, Steven E., Campion, Edmund M.
• Application Number:
  US13/705,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20140152006A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 290/7
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/08 including control of electric propulsion units, e.g. motors or generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02B 19/00 Engines characterised by precombustion chambers
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/06 peculiar to engines driving electric generators

Abstract

Systems and methods of managing an engine-driven electric generator. An example method may include populating an efficiency database with fuel provided and electrical power output data for the engine-driven electric generator. The method may also include receiving a desired electrical power output of the engine-driven electric generator. The method may also include adjusting fuel provided to the engine-driven electric generator to generate the desired electrical power output using the efficiency database.

Claims

1. A method of managing an engine-driven electric generator, comprising:

populating an efficiency database with fuel provided to an engine and electrical power output data from the engine-driven electric generator;

receiving a desired electrical power output of the engine-driven electric generator; and

adjusting fuel provided to the engine-driven electric generator to generate the desired electrical power output using the efficiency database.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein populating the efficiency database is done during an initialization operation using predetermined data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein populating the efficiency database is by dynamic and continuous self-populating during operation of the engine-driven electric generator.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting fuel provided optimizes efficient operation of the engine-driven electric generator for fuel consumption while still providing the desired power output within a predetermined range.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a desired electrical power output within specified tolerances of the desired electrical power output.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein adjusting fuel provided further comprises:

determining a maximum/minimum value for the desired electrical power output;

finding a new set point within the maximum/minimum value in the efficiency database; and

substituting the new set point from the efficiency database with a current set point operating the engine-driven electric generator, when the new set point corresponds to a higher operating efficiency of the engine-driven electric generator than the current set point.

7. A system for managing an engine-driven electric generator, comprising:

an efficiency calculator configured to populate an efficiency database with fuel provided and electrical power output data for efficient operation of the engine-driven electric generator; and

a controller configured to issue a new set point for fuel provided to the engine-driven electric generator for efficient operation while generating the desired electrical power output.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the efficiency calculator determines the new set point by:

determining maximum/minimum values for the desired electrical power output;

finding the new set point within the maximum/minimum value in the efficiency database.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the controller adjusts fuel provided to the engine-driven electric generator by:

substituting the new set point from the efficiency database with a current set point operating the engine-driven electric generator, when the new set point corresponds to a higher operating efficiency of the engine-driven electric generator than the current set point.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the efficiency calculator determines the set point on a substantially continuous basis during operation of the engine-driven electric generator.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising a digital engine control unit or an analog transmitter to provide the fuel data for the efficiency database.

12. The system of claim 7, further comprising an electrical metering device to provide the electrical power output data for the efficiency database.

13. The system of claim 7, further comprising a stability calculator employing an averaging algorithm to accommodate variable efficiencies during accelerating and decelerating the engine-driven electric generator.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the stability calculator waits for an efficiency reading to stabilize before determining an efficiency reading is valid for the efficiency database when values are changing.

15. The system of claim 7, further comprising a regulator to control generating the desired electrical power output.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising a limit control on the regulator to maintain generating the desired electrical power output within an acceptable range specified by an operator.

17. A system for managing an engine-driven electric generator, comprising:

means for storing fuel data and electrical power output data for the engine-driven electric generator;

means for receiving a desired electrical power output of the engine-driven electric generator; and

means for using the efficiency database to dynamically adjust fuel provided to generate the desired electrical power output while optimizing fuel efficiency of the engine-driven electric generator.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for determining a new set point to optimize fuel efficiency of the engine-driven electric generator.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for finding a new set point within a maximum/minimum value in the efficiency database, the new set point optimizing fuel efficiency of the engine-driven electric generator.

20. The system of claim 17, means for substituting a new set point from the efficiency database with a current set point operating the engine-driven electric generator, wherein the new set point corresponds to a higher operating efficiency of the engine-driven electric generator than the current set point.