Standby generator integration system

• US 7,180,210 B1
• Filed: 10/10/2003
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald Stuehm, Joel Jorgenson, Joydeep Mitra, Terry Shaner
• Original Assignee: Donald Stuehm, Joel Jorgenson, Joydeep Mitra, Terry Shaner
• Inventors: Jorgenson, Joel, Shaner, Terry, Mitra, Joydeep, Stuehm, Donald
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild; Lynn
• Assistant Examiner(s): RUTLAND WALLIS, MICHAEL
• Application Number:
  US10/685,304
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 307/65, 307/153, 307/73, 307/76, 307/78
• US Class Current: 307/153
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/40 Synchronising a generator for connection to a network or to another generator
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/08 requiring starting of a prime-mover
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 End-user application control systems

Abstract

A standby generator integration system for efficiently integrating one or more standby generators into an operational power grid. The standby generator integration system includes a control center in communication with a plurality of control units. Each of the control units are in communication with a standby generator, the power grid and a contactor unit. The control unit calculates the hard minimum of the grid voltage and the generator voltage where switching is desired by summing the rectified voltages together. The control unit then initiates the closing of the contactor unit to bring the standby generator online with the power grid.

Claims

1. A standby generator integration system, comprising:

a contactor unit electrically coupled between a standby generator and a power grid; and

a control unit in communication with said contactor unit, wherein said control unit monitors a generator voltage and a power grid voltage for calculating a hard minimum;

wherein said control unit rectifies a generator voltage and a power grid voltage and then sums the rectified voltages together to calculate a hard minimum.

2. The standby generator integration system of claim 1, wherein said control unit includes a first rectifier that receives a power grid voltage and a second rectifier that receives a generator voltage.

3. The standby generator integration system of claim 2, wherein said control unit includes a summary circuit in communication with said first rectifier and said second rectifier for summing the rectified voltages to form a summed voltage.

4. The standby generator integration system of claim 3, wherein said control unit includes a microcontroller in communication with said summary circuit, wherein said microcontroller calculates one or more hard minimums of said summed voltage.

5. The standby generator integration system of claim 1, wherein said control unit initiates closing of said contactor unit an advance time prior to a desired closing time, wherein said advance time is similar to a delay time of said contactor unit.

6. A method of integrating a standby generator into a power grid, said method comprising the steps of:

monitoring a power grid voltage and a generator voltage;

rectifying said power grid voltage and said generator voltage;

summing said rectified voltages;

calculating a first hard minimum;

calculating a second hard minimum;

calculating a time period between said first hard minimum and said second hard minimum; and

calculating one or more future hard minimums.

7. The method of integrating a standby generator of claim 6, including the step of initiating a closing of a contactor unit an advance time before a next hard minimum, wherein said advance time is approximately equal to a time delay of said contactor unit.

8. A standby generator integration system, comprising:

a contactor unit electrically coupled between a standby generator and a power grid; and

a control unit in communication with said contactor unit, wherein said control unit monitors a generator voltage and a power grid voltage for calculating a hard minimum;

wherein said control unit rectifies a generator voltage and a power grid voltage and then sums the rectified voltages together to calculate a hard minimum;

wherein said hard minimum is a lowest level of the summed rectified voltages;

wherein said control unit initiates closing of said contactor unit an advance time prior to a desired closing time, wherein said advance time is similar to a time delay of said contactor unit.

9. The standby generator integration system of claim 8, wherein said control unit includes a first rectifier that receives a power grid voltage and a second rectifier that receives a generator voltage.

10. The standby generator integration system of claim 9, wherein said control unit includes a summary circuit in communication with said first rectifier and said second rectifier for summing the rectified voltages to form a summed voltage.

11. The standby generator integration system of claim 10, wherein said control unit includes a microcontroller in communication with said summary circuit, wherein said microcontroller calculates one or more hard minimums of said summed voltage.