Multi-engine optimizer zone strategy

An electrical power system for a marine vessel, the electrical power system comprising a plurality of gensets, each genset including an engine connected to an electrical power generator, wherein a plurality of electrical power generators is connected to an electrical bus of the marine vessel, the electrical bus of the marine vessel being connected to one or more power consuming devices or systems onboard the marine vessel, the electrical power system comprising:

• at least one sensor associated with the electrical bus, the at least one sensor providing an electrical signal during operation, the electrical signal being indicative of an electrical power consumption through the electrical bus, wherein the electrical power consumption is variable over time and wherein the at least one sensor is configured to provide the electrical signal, in real time;
• and
• an electronic controller associated with the plurality of gensets and with the at least one sensor, the electronic controller programmed and configured to:
• monitor the electrical signal during operation to determine an instantaneous power consumption;
• record the instantaneous power consumption with respect to time over a time period as recorded values;
• analyze the recorded values to determine a plurality of power consumption zone boundaries;
• compare the instantaneous power consumption with the plurality of power consumption zone boundaries to classify the instantaneous power consumption into a selected one zone of the plurality of power consumption zones, wherein each of the plurality of power consumption zones includes a corresponding base power value and a corresponding dynamic range value;
• apportion the corresponding base power value and the corresponding dynamic range value of the selected one zone among the plurality of gensets;
• and
• provide command signals to operate each genset of the plurality of gensets based on the corresponding base power and the corresponding dynamic range value of the selected one zone that is allotted to each genset.

A method for operating a power system for a marine vessel, the power system comprising a plurality of gensets connected to an electrical bus of the marine vessel, the electrical bus of the marine vessel being connected to one or more power consuming devices or systems onboard the marine vessel, the method comprising:

• using a sensor associated with the electrical bus to provide an electrical signal indicative of an electrical power consumption through the electrical bus to an electronic controller;
• monitoring the electrical signal with the electronic controller to determine an instantaneous power consumption;
• compiling a set of recorded values in the electronic controller, the recorded values being indicative of the instantaneous power consumption with respect to time for a time period;
• analyzing the recorded values with the electronic controller to determine a plurality of power consumption zone boundaries;
• comparing the instantaneous power consumption with the plurality of power consumption zone boundaries to classify the instantaneous power consumption into a selected one zone of the plurality of power consumption zones, wherein each of the plurality of power consumption zones includes a corresponding base power value and a corresponding dynamic range value;
• apportioning the corresponding base power value and the corresponding dynamic range value of the selected one zone among the plurality of gensets;
• and
• providing command signals to operate each of the plurality of gensets based on the corresponding base power value and the corresponding dynamic range value of the selected one zone that is allotted to each genset.