Power generation system that provides efficient battery charger selection

• US 9,331,498 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2012
• Issued: 05/03/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kohler Company
• Original Assignee: Kohler Company
• Inventors: Albsmeier, Eric D., Mauk, Richard A., Chiu, Harrison C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dunn, Drew A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Trischler, John
• Application Number:
  US13/606,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20140070760A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0013 acting upon several batteries simultaneously or sequentially H02J7/1423 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0048 Detection of remaining charge capacity or state of charge [SOC]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/005 Detection of state of health [SOH]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/1423 with multiple batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/342 The other DC source being a battery actively interacting with the first one, i.e. battery to battery charging with circuits for polarity protection H02J7/0034
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/13 Energy storage using capacitors

Abstract

Some embodiments relate to a power generation system. The power generation system includes a first generator and a first battery charger. The first battery charger is adapted to charge a first battery and a second battery. The first battery and the second battery are each adapted to provide power to start the first generator. The power generation system further includes a controller that determines a state of charge for each of the first battery and the second battery. Based on the state of charge for each of the first battery and the second battery, the controller determines which of the first battery and the second battery receives charging current from the first battery charger.

Claims

1. A power generation system comprising:

a first generator that includes an internal combustion engine and an alternator;

a second generator that includes an internal combustion engine and an alternator;

a first generator controller that operates the first generator;

a second generator controller that operates the second generator;

a first battery charger that is configured to charge a first battery and determine a state of charge for the first battery, wherein the first battery charger is configured to charge the first battery using power received from a primary power source, the alternator of the first generator or the alternator of the second generator;

a second battery charger that is configured to charge a second battery and determine a state of charge for the second battery, wherein the second battery charger is configured to charge the second battery using power received from a primary power source, the alternator of the first generator or the alternator of the second generator; and

wherein at least one of the first generator controller and second generator controller determines which of the first battery charger and second battery charger is supplied with power from the primary power source, the alternator of the first generator or the alternator of the second generator, wherein the first battery and the second battery are each configured to provide power to start the first generator, wherein the first battery and the second battery are each configured to provide power to start the second generator, and wherein the first battery charger is configured to charge the second battery and determine a state of charge for the second battery, and the second battery charger is configured to charge the first battery and determine a state of charge for the first battery.

2. The power generation system of claim 1, wherein the first generator controller displays information relating to operating parameters of the first generator, the second generator, the first battery charger and the second battery charger.

3. The power generation system of claim 1, wherein the second generator controller displays information relating to operating parameters of the first generator, the second generator, the first battery charger and the second battery charger.

4. The power generation system of claim 1, wherein the first generator controller exchanges signals with the second generator controller relating to a state of charge of the first battery and the second battery.