Regulation system for a permanent magnet generator

• US 6,239,583 B1
• Filed: 05/07/1999
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Solar Turbines Incorporated (Caterpillar Incorporated)
• Inventors: Reichard, Jeffrey A., Mehrayin, Kourosh, Lindbery, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ponomarenko, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US09/307,532
• Time in Patent Office: 753 Days
• Field of Search: 322/17, 322/22, 322/25, 322/27, 322/28, 322/46, 322/47
• US Class Current: 322/46
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/48 Arrangements for obtaining a constant output value at varying speed of the generator, e.g. on vehicle H02P9/04 - H02P9/46 take precedence

Abstract

A regulation system for a permanent magnet generator for generating electrical power and for supplying the electrical power to a load comprises a switching circuit connected between the permanent magnet generator and the load, the switching circuit being capable of regulating the electrical power being supplied to the load and a control circuit connected to the switching circuit, the control circuit for determining the amount of electrical power being supplied by the permanent magnet generator and for controlling operation of the switching circuit to regulate the electrical power being supplied to the load.

Claims

1. A regulation system for a permanent magnet generator for generating electrical power and for supplying the electrical power to a load, the regulation system comprising:

a switching circuit connected in parallel with the permanent magnet generator, the switching circuit configured to impose a lagging power factor on the permanent magnet generator for regulating the electrical power being supplied to the load; and

a control circuit connected to the switching circuit, the control circuit for determining the amount of electrical power being supplied by the permanent magnet generator and for controlling operation of the switching circuit to regulate the electrical power being supplied to the load.

2. The regulation system of claim 1 wherein the switching circuit includes a pair of silicon controlled rectifiers (SCR'"'"'s) connected between the permanent magnet generator and the load, the SCR'"'"'s being selectively activated and deactivated for reducing the electrical power being supplied to the load.

3. The regulation system of claim 2 wherein the switching circuit further includes an inductor connected in series with the SCR'"'"'s.

4. The regulation system of claim 1 wherein the switching circuit includes a pair of SCR'"'"'s connected between the permanent magnet generator and the load, the SCR'"'"'s each having switching times and the switching times being controlled by the control circuit to reduce the electrical power being supplied to the load.

5. The regulation system of claim 4 wherein the switching circuit further includes an inductor connected to the SCR'"'"'s.

6. The regulation system of claim 1 wherein the control circuit is also connected to the load for determining an amount of electrical power being supplied to the load.

7. The regulation system of claim 1 wherein the switching circuit includes a pair of SCR'"'"'s connected between the permanent magnet generator and the load, the SCR'"'"'s each including a gate with each gate being connected to the control circuit for activating or deactivating each of the SCR'"'"'s through each gate.

8. A method for regulating electrical power generated by a permanent magnet generator, the electrical power being supplied to a load with a switching circuit being connected in parallel with the permanent magnet generator and a control circuit being connected to the switching circuit, the method comprising the steps of:

determining the amount of electrical power being supplied by the permanent magnet generator; and

controlling the operation of the switching circuit to impose a lagging power factor on the permanent magnet generator for regulating the electrical power being supplied to the load.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of controlling the operation of the switching circuit includes the step of reducing the electrical power being supplied to the load by activating and deactivating a pair of SCR'"'"'s located within the switching circuit.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of controlling the operation of the switching circuit includes the step of reducing the electrical power being supplied to the load by controlling the switching times of a pair of SCR'"'"'s located within the switching circuit.