Controlling generator power
First Claim
1. A power controller for controlling an engine-driven generator, the controller comprising:
- a conductor defining a DC bus for conducting electrical DC power at a DC bus voltage of at least 120 volts;
a bi-directional DC-DC converter in electrical communication with the DC bus and a battery and constructed to transfer electrical power from the DC bus to the battery to charge the battery, and from the battery to the DC bus;
a rectifier in electrical communication with the DC bus and the generator and constructed to rectify electrical power from the generator and to supply the rectified power to the DC bus;
an inverter in electrical communication with the DC bus and constructed to convert DC bus electrical power to AC electrical power and to supply the AC power to an output connector; and
an AC-DC converter in electrical communication with both the DC bus and an input connector, the AC-DC converter constructed to convert AC electrical power, supplied via the input connector, to electrical power for the DC bus, wherein the controller is capable of motoring the engine-driven generator using either the electrical power from the AC-DC converter or the electrical power from the battery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A power controller for controlling an engine-driven generator includes a high voltage DC bus interconnecting various power modules. In electrical communication with the DC bus are: a bi-directional DC-DC converter constructed to transfer electrical power from the DC bus to a battery to charge the battery, and from the battery to the DC bus; a rectifier constructed to rectify electrical power from the generator and to supply the rectified power to the DC bus; an inverter constructed to convert DC bus electrical power to AC electrical power and to supply the AC power to an output connector; and an AC-DC constructed to convert AC electrical power, supplied via an input connector, to DC bus electrical power. The controller may be employed in a power supply on a mobile vehicle or boat, for example. The power modules of the controller cooperate in various combinations to provide a wide variety of power transfer functions.
165 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A power controller for controlling an engine-driven generator, the controller comprising:
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a conductor defining a DC bus for conducting electrical DC power at a DC bus voltage of at least 120 volts;
a bi-directional DC-DC converter in electrical communication with the DC bus and a battery and constructed to transfer electrical power from the DC bus to the battery to charge the battery, and from the battery to the DC bus;
a rectifier in electrical communication with the DC bus and the generator and constructed to rectify electrical power from the generator and to supply the rectified power to the DC bus;
an inverter in electrical communication with the DC bus and constructed to convert DC bus electrical power to AC electrical power and to supply the AC power to an output connector; and
an AC-DC converter in electrical communication with both the DC bus and an input connector, the AC-DC converter constructed to convert AC electrical power, supplied via the input connector, to electrical power for the DC bus, wherein the controller is capable of motoring the engine-driven generator using either the electrical power from the AC-DC converter or the electrical power from the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
an engine; a generator mechanically coupled to the engine for rotation to generate electrical power; and
the power controller of claim 1 electrically coupled to the generator for controlling the power generated by the generator.
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18. A marine power supply for supplying electrical power on board a boat, the power supply comprising
an engine adapted to be cooled by seawater; -
a generator mechanically coupled to the engine for rotation to generate electrical power; and
the power controller of claim 1 electrically coupled to the generator for controlling the power generated by the generator.
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19. The marine power supply of claim 18 wherein the power controller includes a controller housing, the bi-directional DC-DC converter, the rectifier, and the inverter being enclosed within the controller housing.
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20. A power controller for controlling an engine-driven generator, the controller comprising:
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a conductor defining a DC bus for conducting electrical DC power at a DC bus voltage of at least 120 volts;
an AC-DC converter in electrical communication with both the DC bus and an input connector, the AC-DC converter constructed to convert AC electrical power, supplied via the input connector, to DC bus electrical power;
a rectifier in electrical communication with the DC bus and the generator and constructed to rectify AC electrical power from the generator and to supply the rectified power to the DC bus; and
an inverter in electrical communication with the DC bus and constructed to convert DC bus electrical power to AC electrical power and to supply the AC power to an output connector;
wherein the controller is capable of motoring the engine-driven generator using the electrical power from the AC-DC converter. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification