Method for slow starting a reciprocating engine

A method of slow starting with a pneumatic starter a reciprocating engine having pistons reciprocally movable within corresponding cylinders and operably coupled to a rotatable crankshaft in signal communication with a controller for automatically executing the method wherein a relative rotation of the crankshaft results in a relative corresponding reciprocation of the pistons, the method comprising:

• supplying air to a pneumatic starter to rotate the crankshaft at a slow start speed below an operational rotational speed and effect a reciprocation of the pistons without providing pressure relief to the corresponding piston chamber during a compression stroke of the piston;
• sensing a reciprocating engine characteristic correlated with an engine speed of the reciprocating engine;
• anticipating or predicting moments of a peak torque, and pre-emptively applying additional air pressure to overcome the peak torque, in order to keep the crankshaft rotating smoothly;
• comparing the sensed characteristic to a diagnostic profile for the sensed characteristic where the diagnostic profile is stored in a memory of the controller;
• determining whether a diagnostic fault condition exists or does not exist based on the comparison;
• and
• at least one of ceasing supplying air to the pneumatic starter or stopping operation of the pneumatic starter, to cease reciprocation of the pistons when a diagnostic fault condition exists.

A starter assembly for automatically controlling a starting sequence for a reciprocating engine having a crankshaft rotationally coupled with at least one piston reciprocally movable within a corresponding piston chamber, the system comprising:

• a flywheel rotationally coupled with the crankshaft;
• a pneumatic starter mechanically engaged with the flywheel and having a starter sensor;
• a pressure valve fluidly coupled to the pneumatic starter;
• and
• a controller in signal communication with the starter sensor and at least one of a position sensor or a pressure sensor, and including a memory in which a diagnostic profile;
• wherein during the starting sequence the controller sends a signal to the starter to apply a force causing movement of the crankshaft, receives a signal from the starter sensor of a sensed characteristic correlated with an engine speed of the reciprocating engine, anticipates or predicts moments of peak torque, and pre-emptively applies additional air pressure to overcome the peak torque, in order to keep the flywheel rotating smoothly, compares the sensed characteristic to the diagnostic profile, and upon receiving a signal from the starter sensor that a diagnostic fault condition exists, the controller sends a signal to the starter to cease application of the force causing movement of the crankshaft via one of the pressure valve or the flywheel.