Power distribution controller and related systems and methods

A power generation system comprising:

• a turbine that rotates a shaft when fluid flows through the turbine;
• a generator coupled to the turbine, that generates electrical power from the rotation of the turbine's shaft;
• and
• a system controller that:
• distributes, for simultaneous consumption, the power generated by the generator to a first power load and to one or more second power loads,
• monitors the amount of power consumed by the one or more second power loads,
• determines whether or not the amount of power generated by the generator is or substantially is the maximum amount of power that the turbine-generator combination can generate from the fluid flowing through the turbine, and
• in response to the amount of power consumed by the one or more second power loads and the amount of generated power relative to the maximum amount of power that the turbine-generator combination can generate from the fluid flowing through the turbine, the system controller diverts to the first power load an amount of power that causes the turbine-generator combination to generate or substantially generate the maximum amount of power from the fluid flowing through the turbine.

A direct current power generation system comprising:

• a turbine that rotates a shaft when fluid flows through the turbine;
• a generator coupled to the turbine, that generates electrical power from the rotation of the turbine's shaft;
• a rectifier that converts the power generated by the generator into direct current power;
• and
• a system controller that:
• distributes, for simultaneous consumption, the power generated by the generator to a first power load and to one or more second power loads,
• monitors the amount of power consumed by the one or more second power loads,
• determines whether or not the amount of power generated by the generator is or substantially is the maximum amount of power that the turbine-generator combination can generate from the fluid flowing through the turbine, and
• in response to the amount of power consumed by the one or more second power loads and the amount of generated power relative to the maximum amount of power that the turbine-generator combination can generate from the fluid flowing through the turbine, the system controller diverts to the first power load an amount of power that causes the turbine-generator combination to generate or substantially generate the maximum amount of power from the fluid flowing through the turbine.

A method for distributing power to a first power load and to one or more second power loads, the method comprising:

• receiving power;
• monitoring the amount of power consumed by the one or more second power loads;
• determining whether or not the amount of power received is or substantially is the maximum amount of power that is available to be received;
• and
• in response to the amount of power consumed by the one or more second power loads and the amount of power received relative to the maximum amount of power that is available to be received, diverting to the first power load an amount of power that causes the amount of power received to be or substantially be the maximum amount of power that is available to be received.