Grid-type engine generator apparatus for connecting an output of an engine-driven generator to a power network

• US 6,630,816 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2001
• Issued: 10/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kamimura, Kenji, Fukushima, Tomoki, Kotani, Yoshiaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Nestor
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cuevas, Pedro J.
• Application Number:
  US09/938,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20020024325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 322/37, 322/22-23, 322/17
• US Class Current: 322/37
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/388 Islanding, i.e. disconnection of local power supply from the network
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 20/14 Combined heat and power generation [CHP]

Abstract

A grid-type engine generator apparatus which can prevent reduction in the operational efficiency due to the stop motion of an engine at the cancellation of the interconnection and minimize loads exerted on the startup device for the engine. A network protector is provided for generating a fault signal when detecting a fault on the network source. Upon receiving the fault signal, an interconnection relay is opened to cancel the interconnection and simultaneously, a timer is started. The cancellation permits the engine to run with no load. When the fault signal is maintained until the setting duration of the timer is timed up, a time-out signal is released to stop the engine. On the other hand, when the fault signal is eliminated by canceling the cause of the fault before the setting duration of the timer is passed, the interconnection relay is closed to establish the interconnection again and the timer is reset.

Claims

1. An engine generator apparatus for interconnecting an output of a generator driven by an engine with a power network, comprising:

an oxygen density sensor provided on the engine for controlling the air-fuel ratio based on its output;

a means for interconnecting the output of the power generator with the power network when the oxygen density sensor is in its activated state after the engine has started;

a fault detecting means for detecting a fault in the interconnection with the power network;

a means for canceling the interconnection with the power network without stopping the engine when the fault detecting means detects a fault, and resuming the interconnection with the power network when the fault is removed; and

a means for stopping the engine when the interconnection is canceled for a predetermined length of time due to the fault detection.

2. A cogeneration system comprising:

an engine generator apparatus for interconnecting an output of a generator driven by an engine with a power network comprising;

an oxygen density sensor provided on the engine for controlling the air-fuel ratio based on its output;

a means for interconnecting the output of the power generator with the power network when the oxygen density sensor is in its activated state;

a fault detecting means for detecting a fault in the interconnection with the power network;

a means for canceling the interconnection with the power network when the fault detecting means detects a fault, and resuming the interconnection with the power network when the fault is removed;

a means for stopping the engine when the interconnection is canceled for a predetermined length of time due to the fault detection; and

a waste heat utilizing unit for utilizing waste heat produced by the operation of the engine generator apparatus, wherein the engine is started in response to a heat request generated by the waste heat utilizing unit.

3. A cogeneration system according to claim 2, wherein the waste heat utilizing unit comprises:

a hot-water tank for storing a first hot water heated with the waste heat released from the engine generator apparatus;

a first heat exchanger installed in the hot-water tank for generating the first hot water;

a second heat exchanger positioned above the first heat exchanger in the hot-water tank for heating the first hot water to a second hot water hotter than the first hot water using the heat of the first hot water;

a temperature sensor provided in proximity between the upper end of the first heat exchanger and the lower end of the second heat exchanger; and

a controller arranged responsive to an output of the temperature sensor for generating and supplying the heat request to the engine generator apparatus.