Engine generator sets and methods of assembling same

• US 7,471,005 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2007
• Issued: 12/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Infrastructure Technology, LLC (General Electric Company)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kleen, Randall John
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzalez; Julio C.
• Application Number:
  US11/831,694
• Publication Number:
  US 20080018112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 518 Days
• Field of Search: 290/1.A, 290/40.C, 290/40.B, 290/40.A, 322/20, 322/19, 322/59, 318/700
• US Class Current: 290/40.00B
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/04 Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/06 Control effected upon clutch or other mechanical power transmission means and dependent upon electric output value of the generator

Abstract

Methods and systems for an engine generator set that includes an electrical generator configured to provide electrical energy to a first load rated at a first voltage and a first frequency, and to provide electrical energy to a second load rated at a second voltage and a second frequency, a prime mover coupled to the generator through a shaft, and configured to rotate the shaft at a first rotational speed at the first frequency and to rotate the shaft at a second rotational at the second frequency, and an engine generator set control system that includes a generator control system configured to control an output of the electrical generator, an engine control system configured to control a rotational speed of the shaft, and an output selector configured to modify the output of the engine generator set from the first voltage and the first frequency to at least one of the second voltage and the second frequency.

Claims

1. An engine generator set output conversion system comprising:

an output selector configured to modify an output of the engine generator set from a first output voltage and a first frequency to a second output voltage and a second frequency wherein the first output voltage is different than the second output voltage and the first frequency is different than the second output frequency, said output selector configured to modify a generator control system of the engine generator set from operation at the first output voltage and first frequency to operation at the second output voltage and second frequency, said output selector is further configured to modify a fuel control and sequencer system of the engine generator set from operation at the first output voltage and the first frequency to operation at the second output voltage and the second frequency; and

a relay communicatively coupled to said output selector, said relay configured to select a first transformer tap corresponding to the first output voltage and select a second transformer tap corresponding to the second output voltage.

2. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said output selector is further configured to select at least one of a motor overload setting and a trip unit setting that corresponds to a generator output selected by said output selector.

3. A system in accordance with claim 1 further comprising a generator output potential transformer tapped to provide a first sensing voltage when said engine generator set is operating at the first voltage and to provide a second sensing voltage when said engine generator set is operating at the second voltage.

4. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said engine generator set further comprises at least one of an integrated generator protection system, a demand-side management system, an auto-synchronizer, and an automatic voltage regulator communicatively coupled to said output selector, said output selector further configured to modify the at least one of an integrated generator protection system, a demand-side management system, an auto-synchronizer, and an automatic voltage regulator communicatively coupled to said output selector from operation at the first voltage and first frequency and at the second voltage and the second frequency.

5. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said engine generator set further comprises an electrical generator and an electric motor, said electric motor supplied with power from the output of said electrical generator through a motor protection circuit communicatively coupled to said output selector.

6. A system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said output selector is further configured to alter an operating state of said relay to select an operating voltage and an operating frequency.

7. A method of assembling an engine generator output conversion system, said method comprising:

coupling a generator, control system communicatively to an electrical generator to control an output of the electrical generator;

coupling an engine control system communicatively to a prime mover to control an operational speed of the prime mover;

communicatively coupling an output selector to the generator control system and the engine control system, wherein the output selector is configured to modify the output of the engine generator from a first voltage and a first frequency to at least one of a second voltage and a second frequency; and

communicatively coupling a fuel control and sequence system to the output selector, wherein the output selector is further configured to modify the fuel control and sequencer system from operation at the first voltage and the first frequency to operation at the second voltage and the second frequency.

8. A method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising communicatively coupling a generator output transformer to the output selector, such that the transformer provides a first sensing voltage when the engine generator operates at the first voltage and provides a second sensing voltage when the engine generator operates at the second voltage.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 further comprising communicatively coupling a relay to the output selector, wherein the relay is configured to select a first transformer tap corresponding to the first output voltage and select a second transformer.

10. A method in accordance with claim 9 wherein coupling a relay to the output selector comprises communicatively coupling a relay to the output selector, wherein the output selector is further configured to alter an operating state of the relay to select an operating voltage and an operating frequency.

11. A method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising communicatively coupling an indicator to the output selector, wherein the indicator is configured to indicate a frequency selected by the output selector.

12. A method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising communicatively coupling at least one of an integrated generator protection system, a demand-side management system, an auto-synchronizer, and an automatic voltage regulator to the output selector, wherein the output selector is further configured to modify the at least one of an integrated generator protection system, a demand-side management system, an auto-synchronizer, and an automatic voltage regulator from operation at the first voltage and first frequency and at the second voltage and the second frequency.

13. A method in accordance with claim 7 further comprising communicatively coupling a motor protection circuit to the output selector.

14. A system for converting at least one of a voltage and a frequency output by a generator, said system comprising:

an adjustment mechanism coupled to a generator control system, said adjustment mechanism configured to convert a first voltage and a first frequency produced by said generator to at least one of a second voltage and a second frequency, said adjustment mechanism further coupled to a fuel control and sequencer system and is further configured to modify said fuel control and sequencer system from operation at the first voltage and the first frequency to operation at the second voltage and the second frequency;

a transformer coupled to said generator and said adjustment mechanism, said transformer tapped to provide at least one of a first sensing voltage and a second sensing voltage based on an operating voltage of the generator; and

a relay coupled to said adjustment mechanism and said transformer, said relay configured to select at least one of a first transformer tap and a second transformer tap.

15. A system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said adjustment mechanism is further coupled to at least one of an integrated generator protection system, a demand-side management system, an auto-synchronizer, and an automatic voltage regulator.

16. A system in accordance with claim 14 wherein said adjustment mechanism is further configured to alter an operating state of said relay to select an operating voltage and an operating frequency.