Engine speed controlled generator set having an inverter and direct current output smoothing capacitor

• US 6,552,515 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2001
• Issued: 04/22/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Nakamura, Masashi, Shimizu, Motohiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Nestor
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cuevas, Pedro J.
• Application Number:
  US09/998,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20020089311A1
• Time in Patent Office: 505 Days
• Field of Search: 322/14, 322/15, 322/17, 322/28, 322/29, 322/38, 322/39
• US Class Current: 322/28
• 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 9/305 controlling voltage H02P9/302 takes precedence

Abstract

The performance of a generator is improved in a higher range of the output by correcting a decrease in the average direct current voltage supplied to an inverter.

An average calculator calculates an average of direct current voltage inputs to the inverter for comparing with a target voltage (level) VDC. When it is judged by an average voltage deviation detector that the average is smaller by a specific amount than the target voltage level, the target voltage level is increased by an adjusting unit. A conductor angle setting unit determines the conduction angle of thyristors to change the voltage input of the inverter to an adjusted target voltage level VDCm. A thyristor drive circuit controls the conduction of the thyristors in the converter according to the conduction angle.

Claims

1. A generator set having a converter composed of semiconductor rectifying devices for rectifying the power output of a magnetic generator, a capacitor smoothing means for smoothing a direct current output of the converter, and an inverter for converting an output of the capacitor smoothing means into an alternating current form at a particular frequency, comprising:

a semiconductor rectifying device driving means for controlling the conduction of the semiconductor rectifying devices to maintain the smoothed voltage output of the capacitor smoothing means at a target voltage level;

an average calculating means for calculating an average of the smoothed voltage output; and

a target voltage level adjusting means for increasing the target voltage level to raise the average when the average is smaller than the target voltage level by a specific amount.

2. A generator set having an inverter according to claim 1, wherein the average of the smoothed voltage output is calculated at every output period of the inverter.

3. A generator set having an inverter according to claim 1, further comprising:

a conduction rate detecting means for detecting the conduction rate of the semiconductor rectifying devices; and

an engine speed controlling means for controlling the speed of an engine to drive the generator so that the conduction rate is converged on a predetermined target rate, wherein

the controlling of the speed of the engine is implemented by adjusting the supply of fuel to the engine.

4. A generator set having an inverter according to claim 3, wherein the engine speed controlling means is arranged to decrease the speed of the engine when the deviation of the conduction rate from the target rate is positive and increase the same when negative.

5. A generator set having an inverter according to claim 4, wherein a rate of change of the speed of the engine is greater at a increase than at a decrease thereof.