# US 10,122,308 B2 · Adaptive control system for a variable speed electrical generator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,122,308 B2 - Document ID: US10122308B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/229,460 - Filed: 2016-08-05 - Published: 2018-02-08 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-05 - Assignees: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc. - Applicants: Cummins Power Generation IP, Inc. - Inventors: Mark E. Turpin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10122308B2 ## CPC - H02P 9/04: Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator - H02P: CONTROL OR REGULATION OF ELECTRIC MOTORS, ELECTRIC GENERATORS OR DYNAMO-ELECTRIC CONVERTERS; CONTROLLING TRANSFORMERS, REACTORS OR CHOKE COILS ## Abstract Systems, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed herein for controlling a variable speed electrical generator. The method includes setting a threshold for a parameter of an output power of the generator set, operating an engine of the generator set at a first speed to provide the output power to a load, comparing the parameter of the output power to the threshold over a plurality of changes in a demand of the load, and determining whether to adjust a speed of the engine from the first speed to a second speed in response to the comparison of the parameter to the threshold. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method, comprising: recording a load response history comprising changes in a voltage of a generator set over a plurality of changes in demand of a load; determining a threshold for a magnitude of a voltage decrease of an output power of the generator set; operating an engine of the generator set at a first speed to provide the output power to a load; comparing the magnitude of the voltage decrease to the threshold over the plurality of changes in a demand of the load reflected in the load response history; and determining whether to adjust a speed of the engine in response to the comparison of the magnitude of the voltage decrease to the threshold over the plurality of changes in the demand of the load reflected in the load response history, wherein determining whether to adjust the speed of the engine comprises at least one of the following: reducing the speed of the engine from the first speed to a second speed lower than the first speed in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is less than the threshold; determining not to adjust the speed of the engine in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is greater than the threshold; or increasing the speed of the engine from the first speed to a third speed greater than the first speed in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is greater than the threshold. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the changes in the demand of the load are in response to an air conditioner compressor motor starting. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to adjust the speed of the engine comprises reducing the speed of the engine from the first speed to the second speed in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is less than the threshold. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to adjust the speed of the engine in response to the comparison comprises determining not to adjust the speed of the engine in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is greater than the threshold. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to adjust the speed of the engine comprises increasing the speed of the engine from the first speed to the third speed in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is greater than the threshold. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring an ambient condition and determining whether to adjust the speed of the engine in response to the ambient condition. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the ambient condition comprises an ambient temperature, and wherein determining whether to adjust the speed in response to the ambient condition comprises determining to increase the speed from the first speed to the second speed in response to the ambient temperature exceeding a threshold temperature. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the threshold is determined based on a pattern of the load response history. ### Claim 9 An apparatus comprising: circuitry configured to: record a load response history comprising changes in a voltage of a generator set over a plurality of changes in demand of a load; determine a threshold for a magnitude of a voltage decrease of an output power of the generator set; operate an engine of the generator set at a first speed to provide the output power to a load; compare the magnitude of the voltage decrease to the threshold over the plurality of changes in a demand of the load reflected in the load response history; and determine whether to adjust a speed of the engine in response to the comparison of the magnitude of the voltage decrease to the threshold over the plurality of changes in the demand of the load reflected in the load response history, wherein the circuitry is configured to do at least one of the following: reduce the speed of the engine from the first speed to a second speed lower than the first speed in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is less than the threshold; determine not to adjust the speed of the engine in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is greater than the threshold; or increase the speed of the engine from the first speed to a third speed greater than the first speed in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is greater than the threshold. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the circuitry is configured to reduce the speed of the engine from the first speed to the second speed in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is less than the threshold. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the circuitry is configured to determine not to adjust the speed of the engine in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is greater than the threshold. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the circuitry is configured to increase the speed of the engine from the first speed to the third speed in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is greater than the threshold. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the circuitry is further configured to monitor an ambient condition and determine whether to adjust the speed of the engine in response to the ambient condition. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the ambient condition comprises an ambient temperature, and wherein the circuitry is configured to determine to increase the speed from the first speed to the second speed in response to the ambient temperature exceeding a threshold temperature. ### Claim 15 A generator set, comprising: an engine; a generator coupled to the engine and driven by the engine to generate electrical power; and a controller communicably coupled to the engine and configured to: record a load response history comprising changes in a voltage of the generator set over a plurality of changes in demand of a load; determine a threshold for a magnitude of a voltage decrease of an output power of the generator set; operate the engine of the generator set at a first speed to provide the output power to a load; compare the magnitude of the voltage decrease to the threshold over the plurality of changes in a demand of the load reflected in the load response history; and determine whether to adjust a speed of the engine in response to the comparison of the magnitude of the voltage decrease to the threshold over the plurality of changes in the demand of the load reflected in the load response history, wherein the controller is configured to do at least one of the following: reduce the speed of the engine from the first speed to a second speed lower than the first speed in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is less than the threshold; determine not to adjust the speed of the engine in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is greater than the threshold; or increase the speed of the engine from the first speed to a third speed greater than the first speed in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is greater than the threshold. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The generator set of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to reduce the speed of the engine from the first speed to the second speed in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is less than the threshold. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The generator set of claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to either determine not to adjust the speed of the engine or to increase the speed of the engine from the first speed to the third speed in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is greater than the threshold. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The generator set of claim 15, wherein the controller is further configured to: monitor an ambient temperature; and determine to increase the speed from the first speed in response to the ambient temperature exceeding a threshold temperature.