Command and control system for controlling operational sequencing of multiple turbogenerators using a selected control mode

• US 6,664,653 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2000
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corp.
• Original Assignee: Capstone Turbine Corp.
• Inventors: Edelman, Edward C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Nestor
• Assistant Examiner(s): GONZALEZ, JULIO CESAR
• Application Number:
  US09/689,577
• Time in Patent Office: 1,160 Days
• Field of Search: 290/46, 290/52, 307/29, 166/53, 417/53
• US Class Current: 290/52
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers

Abstract

A command and control system and method for multiple turbogenerators in a grid parallel system includes a master controller to start, sequence, coordinate power commands, and provide fault handling to each of the individual turbogenerators and the specific control modes. A bidirectional power meter, that measures the load consumption (or production when a turbogenerator system is installed) in a building or application, may also be utilized. This power meter can provide a reference or setpoint to the master controller for controlling the individual turbogenerators.

Claims

1. A command and control system for a plurality of turbogenerators, comprising:

a plurality of individual turbogenerators, each of said plurality of individual turbogenerators having a controller;

a command and control system bus, each of said plurality of individual turbogenerator controllers operably connected to said command and control system bus;

a plurality of disconnect switches, a disconnect switch provided in each operable connection of an individual turbogenerator controller to said command and control bus;

a bidirectional power meter;

a master controller operably associated with each of the turbogenerator controllers and with said bi-directional power meter to control operational sequencing of the individual turbogenerators in a selected control mode; and

a junction box operably connecting an electric utility, said power meter, the output of the plurality of individual turbogenerators, and a load,

wherein said operational sequencing includes the starting stopping and loading of each of said plurality of individual turbogenerators, and

wherein a turbogenerator is automatically restarted in the event of a fault shutdown.

2. The command and control system of claim 1, and in addition:

a timed relay operably associated with said command and control system bus, said bi-directional power meter, and said junction box to prevent the feedback of electrical power to the electric Utility.

3. The command and control system of claim 1, wherein said selected control mode is a utility load following mode in which utility power consumption and turbogenerator power generation are compared to produce an error signal which is integrated over a defined specified time to produce a power demand signal.

4. The command and control system of claim 1 wherein said selected control mode is a utility base load mode in which a defined utility power signal and the power meter signal are compared to produce an error signal which is integrated over a defined specified time to produce a power demand signal.

5. The command and control system of claim 1 wherein said selected control mode is a base load mode in which the power meter signal and a base load demand signal are compared to produce an error signal which is integrated over a defined specified time to produce a power demand signal.

6. The command and control system of claim 1 wherein said master controller includes a sequencing and control logic system.

7. The command and control system of claim 6 wherein said sequencing and control logic system includes a proportional-plus-integrated control to regulate power demand.

8. The command and control system of claim 1 wherein the operational sequencing is based on the use time of each of said plurality of individual turbogenerators.

9. The command and control system of claim 8 wherein the turbogenerator with the least use time is stared first.

10. The command and control system of claim 8 wherein the turbogenerator with the most use time is shut down first.

11. The command and control system of claim 1 wherein the starting of each of the plurality of turbogenerators is selected to minimize the total power draw requirements.

12. The command and control system of claim 1 wherein an inactive turbogenerator is automatically restarted in the event of a fault shutdown of an active turbogenerator.

13. The command and control system of claim 1 wherein said selected control mode includes power hysterisis bands, rate limits and set points integrated over time.

14. A control system for a plurality of turbogenerators, comprising:

a plurality of turbogenerators, each of said plurality of individual turbogenerators having a controller;

a control system bus, each of said plurality of turbogenerator controllers operably connected to said control system bus;

a switch provided in each operable connection of an individual turbogenerator controller to said control bus;

a power meter;

a master controller operably associated with each of the turbogenerator controllers and with the power meter to control the operational sequences for the individual turbogenerators in a selected control mode; and

a junction box operably connecting an electric utility, said power meter, the output of the plurality of individual turbogenerators, and a load,

wherein the operational sequences include a start sequence, a stop sequence and a load sequence, and

wherein a turbogenerator is automatically restarted in the event of a fault shutdown.

15. The control system of claim 14, further comprising:

a timed relay operably associated with said control system bus, said power meter, and said junction box to prevent the feedback of electrical power to the electric utility.

16. The control system of claim 14, wherein said selected control mode is a utility load following mode in which utility power consumption and turbogenerator power generation are compared to produce an error signal which is integrated over a defined specified time to produce a power demand signal.

17. The control system of claim 14 wherein said selected control mode is a utility base load mode in which a defined utility power signal and the power meter signal are compared to produce an error signal which is integrated over a defined specified time to produce a power demand signal.

18. The control system of claim 14 wherein said selected control mode is a base load mode in which the power meter signal and a base load demand signal are compared to produce an error signal which is integrated over a defined specified time to produce a power demand signal.

19. The control system of claim 14 wherein said master controller includes a sequencing and control logic system.

20. The control system of claim 19 wherein said sequencing and control logic system includes a proportional-plus-integrated control to regulate power demand.

21. The control system of claim 14 wherein the start sequence is based on the use time of each of said plurality of individual turbogenerators.

22. The control system of claim 21 wherein the turbogenerator with the least use time is started first.

23. The control system of claim 21 wherein the turbogenerator with the most use time is shut down first.

24. The control system of claim 14 wherein the start sequence of each of the plurality of turbogenerators is selected to minimize the total power draw requirements.

25. The control system of claim 14 wherein an inactive turbogenerator is automatically restarted in the event of a fault shutdown of an active turbogenerator.

26. The control system of claim 14 wherein said selected control mode includes power hysteresis bands, rate limits and set points integrated over time.

27. The control system of claim 14 wherein the switch is a disconnect switch.

28. The control system of claim 14 wherein the power meter is a bi-directional power meter.