Redundant generator control

• US 9,685,819 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2014
• Issued: 06/20/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Discovery Energy LLC
• Original Assignee: Kohler Company
• Inventors: Frampton, Isaac S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Ryan
• Application Number:
  US14/262,419
• Publication Number:
  US 20150311749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• 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 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/066 characterised by the use of dynamo-electric machines H02J9/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/068 Electronic means for switching from one power supply to another power supply, e.g. to avoid parallel connection

Abstract

A generator system may include redundant control. The generator system may include any combination of redundant controllers, redundant communication paths, or other redundant control. A generator system may include an electrical bus, a first generator controller, and the second generator controller. The first generator controller may control a first generator breaker for connecting a first generator to the electrical bus and configured to control an external breaker for selectively connecting the electrical bus to an external source. The second generator controller may control a second generator breaker for connecting a second generator to the common bus and configured to control the external breaker for selectively connecting the electrical bus to the external source.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a first generator controller configured to control a breaker for connecting a first generator to a common bus and control an external breaker for selectively connecting the common bus to an external source; and

a communication interface configured to connect the first generator controller with a second generator controller configured to send a command for the external breaker for selectively connecting the common bus to the external source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first generator controller is configured to monitor the command for the external breaker from the second generator controller.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first generator controller receives at least one operating parameter from the second generator controller, wherein the first generator controller is configured to control the external breaker in response to the at least one operating parameter from the second generator controller.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one operating parameter includes a speed, an output voltage, an output phase angle, or a breaker status from a second generator.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the first generator controller is configured to generate a command for the first generator in response to the at least one operating parameter from the second generator controller.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first generator controller is configured to generate a start command for the first generator in response to data from the second generator controller.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first generator controller is configured to generate a switch command for a switch to selectively connect a load to the common bus, and wherein the second generator controller is configured to generate a switch command for the switch to selectively connect the load to the common bus.

8. A system comprising:

an electrical bus;

a first generator controller configured to control a first generator breaker for connecting a first generator to the electrical bus and configured to control an external breaker for selectively connecting the electrical bus to an external source; and

a second generator controller configured to control a second generator breaker for connecting a second generator to the common bus and configured to control the external breaker for selectively connecting the electrical bus to the external source,

wherein the second generator controller is configured to receive at least one command between the first generator controller and the external breaker.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first generator controller and the second generator controller execute a priority negotiation algorithm for assigning priority for controlling the external breaker.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the priority negotiation algorithm assigns priority to the first generator controller when the first generator controller powers up before the second generator controller.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the second generator controller controls the external breaker in response to an absence or a break in the communications between the first generator controller and the external breaker.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the first generator controller includes a memory configured to store data received from the second generator controller, and wherein the data received from the second generator controller includes at least one operating parameter of the second generator, an identifier for the second generator, or a peer generator command from the second generator.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the identifier for the second generator includes a model number, a serial number or a power rating for the second generator.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the peer generator command from the second generator instructs the first generator to begin running or to adjust output.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the first generator controller is configured to generate a command for the first generator in response to the at least one operating parameter from the second generator controller.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the first generator controller is configured to generate a load sharing command for removing a portion of a load from the second generator.

17. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a first communication path between the first generator controller and the second generator controller; and

a second communication path between the first generator controller and the second generator controller.

18. A method comprising:

detecting a breaker status for a breaker connecting a distribution bus to an external source, wherein the distribution bus electrically couples a first generator and a second generator to the external source;

receiving, at first generator controller, data from a second generator controller related to operation of the second generator; and

generating a command for controlling the breaker for the external source in response to the breaker status and the data related to operation of the second generator.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

monitoring communications from the second generator controller to the breaker, wherein generating the command for controlling the breaker comprises generating the command for controlling the breaker in response to the communication from the second generator controller to the breaker.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

generating a command for shedding a portion of a load from the first generator in response to the command for controlling the breaker.