Power control system and method

• US 7,692,413 B2
• Filed: 08/18/2008
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: C E Niehoff & Company
• Original Assignee: C E Niehoff & Company
• Inventors: Jabaji, Shadi, Jabaji, Issam
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko; Nicholas
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cuevas; Pedro J
• Application Number:
  US12/229,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20090121496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 596 Days
• Field of Search: 322/24, 322/28, 322/29, 322/99, 290/40.C
• US Class Current: 322/45
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 29/06 peculiar to engines driving electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 2101/30 for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/04 Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator

Abstract

A power control system comprises a prime mover and a generator driven by the prime mover. A control device is coupled with the prime mover and the generator wherein the control device ascertains a power level of the generator and varies an output power of the prime mover according to the power level. The control device measures a duty cycle of a generator output power controller to ascertain the generator power level and generates a signal to a prime mover controller so that the generator duty cycle remains within a pre-determined range. The power control system may include a transmission wherein the control device operation may be conditioned on a state of the transmission. The power control system may include a speed converter coupled with the prime mover wherein the control device converts a speed of the prime mover according to the generator power level. The control device may operate to control an output power of the generator concurrently with controlling the output power of the prime mover.

Claims

1. A control device for a generator comprising a generator output power controller, said generator is driven by a prime mover, said prime mover coupled with a prime mover controller capable of manipulating an output power of the prime mover, said control device comprising:

a processor, including a programming code operable on the processor, coupled with the generator output power controller and the prime mover controller;

wherein said processor is configured to measure a duty cycle of the generator output power controller, via a first line, and to vary the output power of the prime mover by generating a signal to the prime mover controller, via a second line, according to said duty cycle.

2. The control device of claim 1, wherein said generator output power controller comprises at least one of a field coil, a silicon controlled rectifier, and a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor.

3. The control device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to generate a signal, via the second line, to vary the output power of the prime mover so that the duty cycle remains substantially within a pre-determined range.

4. The control device of claim 3, wherein the pre-determined range is substantially between 40% and 100%.

5. The control device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to measure an output voltage of the generator, via a third line, and to generate a signal, via the second line, to vary the output power of the prime mover substantially proportional to a difference between the output voltage and a pre-determined voltage.

6. The control device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to measure an output voltage of the generator, via a third line, and to vary the duty cycle of the generator output power controller, via the first line, so that the output voltage is substantially equal to a regulation voltage.

7. The control device of claim 6, wherein the processor is further configured to measure a temperature of at least one of battery, ambient air, generator, conductor, coolant, and output terminal, via a forth line, and to vary the regulation voltage according to the temperature.

8. The control device of claim 1, wherein the prime mover further comprises a transmission and wherein the processor is further configured to measure a transmission state, via a third line, and to generate a signal to vary the output power of the prime mover when said transmission state is substantially equivalent to at least one of a neutral and parked condition.

9. The control device of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to generate a signal, via the second line, to disengage the prime mover controller when the duty cycle is substantially below a pre-determined value.

10. The control device of claim 9, wherein the pre-determined value is substantially equal to 28%.

11. The control device of claim 1, further comprising means for communicating system information.

12. A method for controlling a generator comprising a generator output power controller, said generator is driven by a prime mover, said prime mover coupled with a prime mover controller capable of manipulating an output of the prime mover, said method comprising:

(a) measuring a duty cycle of the generator output power controller, via a first line; and

(b) varying the output power of the prime mover, via the prime mover controller, by generating a signal to the prime mover controller, via a second line, according to said duty cycle.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of varying the output power comprises varying the output power so that the duty cycle remains substantially within a pre-determined range.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising measuring an output voltage of the generator, via a third line, and varying the output power substantially proportional to a difference between the output voltage and a pre-determined voltage.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising measuring an output voltage of the generator, via a third line, and varying the duty cycle, via the first line, so that the output voltage is substantially equal to a regulation voltage.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising sensing a state of a transmission, via a third line, and engaging the prime mover when the state of the transmission is substantially equivalent to at least one of a neutral and parked condition.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising generating a signal, via the second line, to disengage the prime mover controller when the duty cycle is substantially below a pre-determined value.