Generator management system that determines a time to activate and deactivate generators based on the load level

• US 9,368,972 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2012
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kohler Company
• Original Assignee: Kohler Company
• Inventors: Frampton, Isaac S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barnie, Rexford
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ortiz, Elim
• Application Number:
  US13/559,643
• Publication Number:
  US 20140028102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 307/34, 307/80
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2300/10 The dispersed energy generation being of fossil origin, e.g. diesel generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/466 Scheduling the operation of the generators, e.g. connecting or disconnecting generators to meet a given demand

Abstract

Some embodiments relate to a generator management system 10. The generator management system 10 includes a first generator 11 and a second generator 13. A bus 15 connects at least one of the first generator 11 and the second generator 13 to a load L. A control 16 determines a time delay to (i) connect the first generator 11 and the second generator 13 to the bus 15; and/or (ii) disconnect the first generator 11 and second generator 13 from the bus 15. The control 16 varies the time delay based on the load L supplied by the first generator 11 and the second generator 13.

Claims

1. A generator management system comprising:

a first generator;

a second generator;

a bus that connects the first generator and the second generator to a load; and

a control that determines a time delay to connect the first generator and second generator to the bus and disconnect the first generator and second generator from the bus, wherein the control continuously monitors the instantaneous load supplied by the first generator and the second generator and varies the time delay based on the monitored instantaneous load supplied, wherein the control determines the time delay to connect the first generator and second generator to the bus and disconnect the first generator and second generator from the bus based on a relationship between the load supplied by any of the connected first generator and second generator and a set point stored in the control.

2. The generator management system of claim 1, wherein the control determines the time delay to connect at least one of the first generator and the second generator based on a factor that is proportional to the reciprocal of the square of the difference between the load supplied by the first generator and the second generator and a set point stored in the control.

3. The generator management system of claim 1, wherein the control determines the time delay to connect at least one of the first generator and the second generator based on a factor that is proportional to the difference between a set point stored in the control and the load supplied by the first generator and the second generator.

4. The generator management system of claim 1, wherein the control determines the time delay to connect at least one of the first generator and the second generator by obtaining a time from a predetermined set of data stored within the control based on the load supplied by the first generator and the second generator.

5. The generator management system of claim 1, wherein the control increases the time delay to connect at least one of the first generator and the second generator as the load supplied by the first generator and the second generator decreases.

6. The generator management system of claim 1, wherein the control decreases the time delay to connect at least one of the first generator and the second generator as the load supplied by the first generator and the second generator increases.

7. The generator management system of claim 1, wherein the control determines the time delay to disconnect at least one of the first generator and the second generator based on a factor that is proportional to the square of the difference between the load supplied by the first generator and the second generator and a set point stored in the control.

8. The generator management system of claim 1, wherein the control determines the time delay to disconnect at least one of the first generator and the second generator based on a factor that is proportional to the difference between the load supplied by the first generator and the second generator and a set point stored in the control.

9. The generator management system of claim 1, wherein the control determines the time delay to disconnect at least one of the first generator and the second generator by obtaining a time from a predetermined set of data stored within the control based on the load supplied by the first generator and the second generator.

10. The generator management system of claim 1, wherein the control increases the time delay to disconnect at least one of the first generator and the second generator as the load supplied by the first generator and the second generator increases.

11. The generator management system of claim 1, wherein the control decreases the time delay to disconnect at least one of the first generator and the second generator as the load supplied by the first generator and the second generator decreases.

12. The generator management system of claim 1, wherein the control determines the time delay to connect the first generator and second generator to the bus and disconnect the first generator and second generator from the bus, wherein the control varies the time delay based on a difference between the load supplied by the first generator and the second generator and a set point stored within the controller.

13. The generator management system of claim 12, wherein the set point stored within the control is a load level.

14. The generator management system of claim 12, wherein the set point stored within the control is a percentage of a maximum output capacity of the first generator and the second generator.

15. The generator management system of claim 1, wherein the control also controls the operating parameters of at least one of the first generator and the second generator.

16. The generator management system of claim 1, wherein the control is connected to a network such that the control is able to change operating parameters of at least one of the first generator and the second generator based on data received from the network.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein network is the Internet.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein changing the operating parameters includes changing the factors that determine the time delay to connect at least one of the first generator and the second generator to the bus and disconnect at least one of the first generator and the second generator from the bus.

19. The generator management system of claim 1, wherein the first generator and the second generator are part of a plurality of generators such that the control determines a time delay to connect any of the plurality of generators to the bus and disconnect any of the plurality of generators from the bus, wherein the control varies the time delay based on the load supplied by the plurality of generators.

20. The generator management system of claim 1, wherein the load is determined by measuring the real power produced by at least one of the first generator and the second generator.