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US 11,394,323 B2Granted
Generator control systems and methods
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsMichael A. Snopko, David M. Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of operating a plurality of power sources is provided. The method includes operating a first power source at a first power output and operating a second power source at a second power output. The second power source has a second operational capacity greater than the first operational capacity. First transient zone parameters are determined to operate in a first transient output power range. The first transient zone parameters include a first planned power output and a second planned power output constrained to be less than the first operational capacity.
Claims20
A method of operating a plurality of power sources, the method comprising:
- operating a first power source in the plurality of power sources at a first power output, the first power source having a first operational capacity;
- operating a second power source in the plurality of power sources at a second power output, the second power source having a second operational capacity greater than the first operational capacity;
- harnessing the first power output and the second power output to produce a combined power output for an initial power demand;
- determining first transient zone parameters to operate the plurality of power sources to output power in a first transient output power range that is greater than the combined power output, the first transient zone parameters having:
- a first planned power output for the first power source;
- and
- a second planned power output for the second power source, the second planned power output being constrained to be less than the first operational capacity, wherein a sum of the first planned power output and the second planned power output is within the first transient output power range;
- responsive to detecting a first transient increase to the initial power demand that is within the first transient output power range, operating the first power source at the first planned power output and operating the second power source at the second planned power output to meet the first transiently increased power demand.
5 more elements
A system comprising:
- a first power source having a first operational capacity;
- a second power source having a second operational capacity that is greater than the first operational capacity;
- an electrical distribution circuit configured to harness a first power output from the first power source and a second power output from the second power source to produce a combined power output for an initial power demand;
- a power-source controller configured to:
- determine increased zone parameters to operate the first power source and the second power source to output power in an increased output power range that is greater than the combined power output, wherein the increased zone parameters include a first planned power output for the first power source and a second planned power output for the second power source that is constrained to be less than the first operational capacity;
- determine decreased zone parameters to operate the first power source and the second power source to output power in a decreased output power range that is less than the combined power output, wherein the decreased zone parameters include a third planned power output for the first power source and a fourth planned power output for the second power source that is constrained to be less than the first operational capacity;
- detect one of a transient increase of the initial power demand that is within the increased output power range and a transient decrease of the initial power demand that is within the decreased output power range;
- responsive to detecting the transient increase, causing the first power source to operate at the first planned power output and causing the second power source to operate at the second planned power output;
- and
- responsive to detecting the transient decrease, causing the first power source to operate at the third planned power output and causing the second power source to operate at the fourth planned power output.
7 more elements
A vessel comprising:
- a first electrical power source having a first operational capacity and operating at a first power output;
- a second electrical power source having a second operational capacity greater than the first operational capacity and operating at a second power output;
- an electrical distribution circuit configured to harness the first power output and the second power output to produce a combined power output for an initial electrical power demand of the vessel;
- a power-source controller configured to:
- determine increased zone parameters to operate the first electrical power source and the second electrical power source to output electrical power in an increased output power range that is greater than the combined power output, wherein the increased zone parameters include a first planned power output for the first electrical power source and a second planned power output for the second electrical power source that is constrained to be less than the first operational capacity;
- determine decreased zone parameters to operate the first electrical power source and the second electrical power source to output power in a decreased output power range that is less than the combined power output, wherein the decreased zone parameters include a third planned power output for the first electrical power source and a fourth planned power output for the second electrical power source that is constrained to be less than the first operational capacity;
- detect one of a transient increase of the initial power demand that is within the increased output power range and a transient decrease of the initial power demand that is within the decreased output power range;
- responsive to detecting the transient increase, causing the first electrical power source to operate at the first planned power output and causing the second electrical power source at the second planned power output;
- and
- responsive to detecting the transient decrease, causing the first electrical power source to operate at the third planned power output and causing the second electrical power source at the fourth planned power output.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.