Control system for a cogeneration unit
First Claim
1. A control system for a cogeneration unit, the cogeneration unit including a heat engine and an alternator driven by the heat engine, the alternator generating AC electricity for an electrical load, the control system including:
- a. parameter sensing means for sensing;
i. designated parameter(s) of the generated AC electricity; and
ii. the temperature of a body heated by energy provided by the cogeneration unit;
the parameter sensing means providing a sensed parameter value for each sensed parameter;
b. for each sensed parameter, a comparator means for comparing a sensed parameter value with a respective desired value, each comparator means being able to provide an error signal according to the difference between the sensed parameter value and the desired value; and
c. each comparator means being coupled to a respective controlling means, each controlling means being capable of using the error signal from the comparator means to provide a control signal, such that each control signal can used to regulate a respective parameter;
wherein the regulation of the designated parameters is performed by controlling characteristics of the alternator, and the regulation of the temperature of the body is performed by controlling fuel supply to the heat engine.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A control system for a cogeneration unit, the cogeneration unit including a heat engine and an alternator, driven by the heat engine, which generates AC electricity for an electrical load. The control system includes a parameter sensing means for sensing one or more parameters, and providing a sensed parameter value for each sensed parameter. For each sensed parameter, a comparator means compares the sensed parameter value with a respective desired value and provides an error signal according to the difference between the sensed parameter value and the desired value. One or more controlling means use the one or more of the error signals to provide a plurality of control signals, such that each control signal is able to regulate one or more of the controlling characteristics of the alternator and a temperature of a body heated using energy from the cogeneration unit.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A control system for a cogeneration unit, the cogeneration unit including a heat engine and an alternator driven by the heat engine, the alternator generating AC electricity for an electrical load, the control system including:
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a. parameter sensing means for sensing;
i. designated parameter(s) of the generated AC electricity; and
ii. the temperature of a body heated by energy provided by the cogeneration unit;
the parameter sensing means providing a sensed parameter value for each sensed parameter;
b. for each sensed parameter, a comparator means for comparing a sensed parameter value with a respective desired value, each comparator means being able to provide an error signal according to the difference between the sensed parameter value and the desired value; and
c. each comparator means being coupled to a respective controlling means, each controlling means being capable of using the error signal from the comparator means to provide a control signal, such that each control signal can used to regulate a respective parameter;
wherein the regulation of the designated parameters is performed by controlling characteristics of the alternator, and the regulation of the temperature of the body is performed by controlling fuel supply to the heat engine. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 19, 39, 40, 41)
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17. A method for controlling a cogeneration unit, the cogeneration unit including a heat engine and an alternator driven by the heat engine, the alternator generating AC electricity for an electrical load, the method including:
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a. sensing parameters, the parameters including;
i. designated parameter(s) of the generated AC electricity; and
ii. the temperature of a body heated by energy provided by the cogeneration unit;
such that the sensing provides a sensed parameter value for each sensed parameter;
b. comparing a sensed parameter value with a respective desired value, the comparison providing an error signal according to the difference between the sensed parameter value and the desired value; and
c. using the error signal from the comparator means to provide a control signal, such that each control signal being can used to regulate a respective parameter;
wherein the regulation of the designated parameters is performed by controlling characteristics of the alternator, and the regulation of the temperature of the body is performed by controlling fuel supply to the heat engine.
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18. A programmed computer for controlling a cogeneration unit, the cogeneration unit including a heat engine and an alternator driven by the heat engine, the alternator generating AC electricity for an electrical load, the programmed computer including software and hardware for:
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a. sensing parameters, the parameters including;
i. designated parameter(s) of the generated AC electricity; and
ii. the temperature of a body heated by energy provided by the cogeneration unit;
such that the sensing provides a sensed parameter value for each sensed parameter;
b. comparing a sensed parameter value with a respective desired value, the comparison providing an error signal according to the difference between the sensed parameter value and the desired value; and
c. using each error signal to provide a respective control signal, such that each control signal can be used to regulate a respective parameter;
wherein the regulation of the designated parameters is performed by controlling characteristics of the alternator, and the regulation of the temperature of the body is performed by controlling fuel supply to the heat engine.
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20. A multi-mode control system for a cogeneration unit, the cogeneration unit including a heat engine and an alternator driven by the heat engine, the alternator generating AC electricity for an electrical load, the control system including:
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a. parameter sensing means for sensing;
i. designated parameter(s) of the generated AC electricity; and
ii. the temperature of a body heated by energy provided by the cogeneration unit;
the parameter sensing means providing a sensed parameter value for each sensed parameter, the designated parameters being mode dependent such that in a first mode the designated parameters include the voltage and frequency of the AC electricity and in a second mode the designated parameters include the power factor of the AC electricity;
b. for each sensed parameter, a comparator means for comparing a sensed parameter value with a respective desired value, each comparator means being able to provide an error signal according to the difference between the sensed parameter value and the desired value; and
c. each comparator being coupled to a respective controlling means, each controlling means using the error signal from the comparator to provide a control signal, each control signal being used to regulate a respective parameter;
wherein the regulation of the designated parameters is performed by controlling characteristics of the alternator, and the regulation of the temperature of the body is performed by controlling fuel supply to the heat engine and wherein the mode of the control system is selectable using a switch. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A control system for a cogeneration unit, the cogeneration unit including a heat engine and an alternator driven by the heat engine, the alternator generating AC electricity for an electrical load, the control system including:
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a. parameter sensing means for sensing plural parameters, said plural parameters including designated parameters of the generated AC electricity, the parameter sensing means providing a sensed parameter value for each sensed parameter;
b. for each sensed parameter, a comparator means for comparing the sensed parameter value with a respective desired value, each comparator means being able to provide an error signal according to the difference between the sensed parameter value and the desired value; and
c. one or more controlling means, the one or more controlling means being capable of using one or more of the error signals to provide a plurality of control signals, such that each control signal is able to regulate one or more of the sensed parameters;
wherein the regulation of the sensed parameters is performed by controlling characteristics of the alternator and a temperature of a body heated using energy from the cogeneration unit. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for controlling a cogeneration unit, the cogeneration unit including a heat engine and an alternator driven by the heat engine, the alternator generating AC electricity for an electrical load, the control system including:
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a. sensing plural parameters, said plural parameters including designated parameters of the generated AC electricity, the sensing providing a sensed parameter value for each sensed parameter;
b. comparing a sensed parameter value with a respective desired value;
c. providing an error signal according to the difference between the sensed parameter value and the desired value; and
d. using one or more of the error signals to provide at least one control signal, such that each control signal is able to regulate one or more of the sensed parameters;
wherein the regulation of the sensed parameters uses the control signals to control characteristics of the alternator and a temperature of a body heated using energy from the cogeneration unit.
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38. A control system for a cogeneration unit, the cogeneration unit including a heat engine and an alternator driven by the heat engine, the alternator generating AC electricity for an electrical load, the control system including:
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a. Parameter sensing means for sensing;
i. At least one designated parameter of the generated AC electricity; and
the parameter sensing means providing a sensed parameter value for each sensed parameter;
b. for each sensed parameter, a comparator for comparing a sensed parameter value with a respective desired value and providing an error signal according to the difference between the sensed parameter value and the desired value; and
c. each comparator being coupled to a controller for using a respective error signal to provide a control signal for regulating a respective sensed parameter, such that at least one of the designated parameter control signals is provided to the alternator;
wherein the regulation of said at least one designated parameter is performed by controlling characteristics of the alternator and regulation of the temperature of the body is performed by controlling fuel supply to the heat engine.
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42. A method for controlling a cogeneration unit, the cogeneration unit including a heat engine and an alternator driven by the heat engine, the alternator generating AC electricity for an electrical load, the method including:
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a. sensing parameters, the sensed parameters including at least one designated parameters of the generated AC electricity and the temperature of a body heated by energy provided by the cogeneration unit such that the sensing provides a sensed parameter value for each sensed parameter;
b. comparing each sensed parameter value with a respective desired value;
c. providing an error signal for each sensed parameter according to the difference between the sensed parameter value and the desired value; and
d. using a respective error signal to provide a control signal for regulating a respective sensed parameter, such that at least one of the designated parameter control signals is provided to the alternator;
wherein the regulation of said at least one designated parameter is performed by controlling characteristics of the alternator and regulation of the temperature of the body is performed by controlling fuel supply to the heat engine.
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Specification