Isolated electrical power generation system with multiple isochronous, load-sharing engine-generator units

• US 4,136,286 A
• Filed: 07/05/1977
• Issued: 01/23/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Woodward Governor Company (Woodward Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Woodward Governor Company (Woodward Incorporated)
• Inventors: O'Halloran, William J., Trombley, James Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hix, L. T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Schreyer, S. D.
• Application Number:
  US05/812,995
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 307/117, 307/43, 307/47, 307/52, 307/57, 307/62, 307/86, 307/87, 307/18, 307/19, 307/59, 322/17, 322/20, 322/33, 322/34, 322/7, 322/8, 310/113, 290/40 A, 290/40 C, 290/40 E, 290/40 R, 318/99
• US Class Current: 307/57
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/46 Controlling of the sharing of output between the generators, converters, or transformers

Abstract

An isolated electrical power generation system is described with multiple isochronous, load-sharing engine-generator units. The system includes load sensing means for generating a signal representing the individual power output of each engine-generator unit, means for generating a signal representing the total power output of all the engine-generator units in the system, and load-sharing means responsive to deviations between each individual power output signal and the total power output signal for controlling the fuel inputs to the respective engines in the various units. A load simulating means responds to the occurrence of a preselected condition, such as an excessive temperature, in an individual unit for adding a simulated power output signal to the individual power output signal for that particular unit. This reduces the fuel input unit to that particular unit without reducing the total power output signal, thereby avoiding a reduction in the fuel inputs to the other units and a resultant reduction in the frequency of the power output of the system.

Claims

1. In an isolated electrical power generation system having multiple isochronous, load-sharing engine-generator units including

(1) load sensing means for generating a signal representing the individual power output of each engine-generator unit,

(2) means for generating a signal representing the total power output of all the engine-generator units in said system, and

(3) load-sharing means responsive to deviations between each individual power output signal and said total power output signal for controlling the fuel inputs to the respective engines in said units,

the improvement comprising load simulating means responsive to the occurrence of a preselected condition in an individual unit for adding a simulated power output signal to the individual power output signal for the unit to reduce the fuel input to that unit without reducing said total power output signal, thereby avoiding a reduction in the fuel inputs to the other units and a resultant reduction in the frequency of the power output of the system.

2. An isolated electrical power generation system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said preselected condition is engine temperature.

3. An isolated electrical power generation system as set forth in claim 1 wherein said simulated power output signal represents the integral of any increase in the actual engine temperature above a preselected reference temperature.

4. An isolated electrical power generation system having multiple isochronous, load-sharing engine-generator units, said system comprising the combination of

(1) load sensing means for generating a signal representing the individual power output of each engine-generator unit,

(2) load simulating means responsive to the occurrence of a preselected condition in an individual unit for producing a simulated power output signal for that unit,

(3) summing means for adding said simulated power output signal to the actual power output signal for the unit in which said preselected condition occurs so as to produce a signal representing a power output higher than the actual power output of that unit,

(4) means for generating a signal representing the total power output of all the engine-generator units in said system, including said simulated power output signals for any units in which said preselected condition is present, and load-sharing means responsive to deviations between each individual power output signal, including said simulated signals, and said total power output signal for controlling the fuel inputs to the respective engines in said units.

5. An isolated electrical power generation system having multiple isochronous, load-sharing engine-generator units, said system comprising the combination of

(1) load sensing means for generating a signal representing the individual power output of each engine-generator unit,

(2) load simulating means responsive to the occurrence of a preselected condition in an individual unit for producing a simulated power output signal for that unit representing a power output higher than the actual power output of the unit,

(3) means for generating a signal representing the total power output of all the engine-generator units in said system, with said simulated power output signal being substituted for the actual power output signal of any unit in which said preselected condition has occurred, and

(4) load-sharing means responsive to deviations between each individual power output signal and said total power output signal for controlling the fuel inputs to the respective engines in said units.