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US 11,387,744 B2Granted
Generator power systems with active and passive rectifiers
AssigneeCummins Power Generation Inc.
InventorsElias M. Ayana, Brad K. Palmer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system comprising a controllable alternating current power source; an active rectifier coupled to the controllable alternating current power source and configured to rectify an output of the controllable alternating current power source to supply a direct current to a load; and a controller configured to adjust at least one of a parameter of the controllable alternating current power source and a parameter of the active rectifier in response to a target output.
Claims20
A system, comprising:
- a controllable alternating current power source including an engine and a generator configurable to provide a controlled output;
- an active rectifier coupled to the controllable alternating current power source and configured to rectify an output of the controllable alternating current power source to supply a direct current to a load;
- and
- a controller configured to adjust a speed of the engine and an output voltage of the direct current of the active rectifier in response to a target output associated with the load, and configured to selectably operate in at least a first mode and a second mode,
- wherein in the first mode the controller is configured to:
- adjust the speed of the engine to a selected first engine speed within limits of a first range of speed in response to the target output falling within a predetermined power output range during passive rectification, not operate the active rectifier, and to operate the engine at a first mode point within the first range of speed, wherein the first mode point corresponds to a point that has a maximized fuel consumption efficiency within an efficiency fuel contour for the selected first engine speed and the predetermined power output range, thereby optimizing fuel efficiency within the first range of speed,
- wherein in the second mode the controller is configured to:
- reduce the speed of the engine to a second engine speed within a second range of speed in response to the target output falling within a predetermined second power output range, operate the active rectifier to boost the output voltage to satisfy the target output and to operate the engine at a second mode point within the second range of speed, wherein the second mode point corresponds to a point that has a maximized fuel consumption efficiency within an efficiency fuel contour for the second engine speed and the predetermined second power output range, thereby optimizing fuel efficiency within the second range of speed, and wherein the second range of speed is lower than the first range of speed.
5 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a controllable alternating current power source including an engine and a generator configurable to provide a controlled output power to satisfy a load;
- a hybrid rectifier configured to rectify the controlled output power of the controllable alternating current power source and configurable to operate in an active rectification mode and a passive rectification mode;
- and a controller configured to adjust a speed of the engine and to switch an operation of the hybrid rectifier between the active rectification mode and the passive rectification mode in response to the controlled output power and the load, and configured to selectably operate in at least a first mode and a second mode,
- wherein in the first mode the controller is configured to:
- adjust the speed of the engine to a selected first speed limited to a first range of speed in response to the controlled output power falling within a predetermined power output range adapted to the passive rectification mode of the hybrid rectifier, operate the hybrid rectifier in the passive rectification mode, and to operate the engine at a first mode point within the first range of speed, wherein the first mode point corresponds to a point that has a maximized fuel consumption efficiency within an efficiency fuel contour for the selected first speed and the predetermined power output range, thereby optimizing fuel efficiency of the engine within the first range of speed, and
- wherein in the second mode the controller is configured to:
- adjust the speed of the engine to a second speed within a second range of speed in response to the controlled output power falling within a predetermined second power output range, operate the hybrid rectifier in the active rectification mode to boost the output voltage to satisfy the load, and operate the engine at a second mode point within the second range of speed, wherein the second mode point corresponds to a point that has the maximized fuel consumption efficiency within an efficiency fuel contour for the second engine speed and the predetermined second power output range, thereby optimizing fuel efficiency within the second range of speed, wherein the second speed range of speed is lower than the first range of speed.
4 more elements
A method, comprising:
- generating an alternating current with an alternating current power source having a controllable output power to satisfy a load,
- wherein the alternating current power source includes an engine and a generator;
- controlling a speed of the engine;
- rectifying the alternating current with a hybrid rectifier configurable to operate in an active rectification mode and a passive rectification mode;
- and
- operating the hybrid rectifier and the engine in a first mode, wherein the speed of the engine is limited to a first range of speed adapted to the passive rectification mode of the hybrid rectifier, the hybrid rectifier is operated in the passive rectification mode, and the speed of the engine is set to a first mode point within the first range of speed, wherein the first mode point corresponds to a point that has a maximized fuel consumption efficiency within an efficiency fuel contour for a set first engine speed corresponding to the controllable output power falling within a predetermined power output range, thereby optimizing fuel efficiency of the engine within the first range of speed, and
- operating the hybrid rectifier and the engine in a second mode, wherein the speed of the engine is reduced to a second speed, operation of the hybrid rectifier is switched to the active rectification mode, and the engine is operated at a second mode point in a second range of engine speed below the first range of speed, wherein the second mode point corresponds to a point that has a maximized fuel consumption efficiency within an efficiency fuel contour for the second speed corresponding to the controllable output power falling within a second predetermined power output range, thereby optimizing fuel efficiency of the engine within the second range of speed.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.