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US 2017/0285677 A1Published application
System for Controlling Load Sharing
AssigneeCaterpillar Inc.
InventorsPerry D. Converse, Jeffrey A. Slabaugh
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Abstract
A system for allocating power generation between a constant speed generator set and a variable speed generator set. A controller determines an operating power demand from on-line consumers, and determines an anticipated transient power demand from a new consumer or one with an increasing power demand. The controller allocates the electrical power response between the generator sets to meet both the operating power demand prior to a transient condition and the total power demand upon the occurrence of the transient condition. The allocation may be based upon operating modes of the system.
Claims20
A power system for providing power to a bus, comprising:
- a first generator set configured to operate at a constant speed, the first generator set including a first prime mover and a first generator driven by the first prime mover, the first generator providing power to the bus;
- a first operating characteristic sensor associated with the first prime mover;
- a second generator set configured to operate at a variable speed, the second generator set including a second prime mover and a second generator driven by the second prime mover, the second generator providing power to the bus;
- a second operating characteristic sensor associated with the second prime mover;
- an engine speed sensor associated with the second prime mover, the engine speed sensor being operative to determine an operating speed of the second prime mover;
- a plurality of on-line consumers operatively connected to the bus;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- store a plurality of first maximum torque capabilities of the first prime mover, each of the plurality of first maximum torque capabilities being based upon at least one operating characteristic of the first prime mover;
- store a plurality of second maximum torque capabilities of the second prime mover, each of the plurality of second maximum torque capabilities being based upon at least one operating characteristic and the operating speed of the second prime mover;
- determine an operating power demand from the plurality of on-line consumers;
- determine an anticipated transient power demand from a consumer;
- the operating power demand and the anticipated transient power demand defining a total power demand;
- determine a desired first available electrical power response of the first generator;
- determine a desired second available electrical power response of the second generator;
- the desired first available electrical power response and the desired second available electrical power response defining a desired total available electrical power response at least equal to the total power demand;
- prior to a transient condition, the first generator generating a first electrical power response and the second generator generating a second electrical power response in response to the operating power demand, the first electrical power response resulting in the first prime mover operating at a first load factor, the second electrical power response resulting in the second prime mover operating at a second load factor;
- during the transient condition, the first generator generating a first transient electrical power response and the second generator generating a second transient electrical power response in response to the total power demand, the first transient electrical power response resulting in the first prime mover operating at a first transient load factor, the second transient electrical power response resulting in the second prime mover operating at a second transient load factor, the first load factor and the second load factor defining an operating ratio, the first transient load factor and the second transient load factor defining a transient ratio, the operating ratio being different from the transient ratio;
- generate first signals to control the first prime mover, the first signals being operable to control a fuel flow rate to the first prime mover to operate the first prime mover at a desired first maximum torque capability to provide the desired first available electrical power response;
- and
- generate second signals to control the second prime mover, the second signals being operable to control a fuel flow rate to and an operating speed of the second prime mover to operate the second prime mover at a desired second maximum torque capability to provide the desired second available electrical power response.
18 more elements
A method of providing power to a bus, comprising:
- storing a plurality of first maximum torque capabilities of a first prime mover, each of the plurality of first maximum torque capabilities being based upon at least one operating characteristic of the first prime mover;
- storing a plurality of second maximum torque capabilities of a second prime mover, each of the plurality of second maximum torque capabilities being based upon at least one operating characteristic and an operating speed of the second prime mover;
- determining an operating power demand from a plurality of on-line consumers;
- determining an anticipated transient power demand from a consumer;
- the operating power demand and the anticipated transient power demand defining a total power demand;
- determining a desired first available electrical power response of a first generator driven by the first prime mover;
- determining a desired second available electrical power response of a second generator driven by the second prime mover;
- the desired first available electrical power response and the desired second available electrical power response defining a desired total available electrical power response at least equal to the total power demand,
- prior to a transient condition, the first generator generating a first electrical power response and the second generator generating a second electrical power response in response to the operating power demand, the first electrical power response resulting in the first prime mover operating at a first load factor, the second electrical power response resulting in the second prime mover operating at a second load factor;
- during the transient condition, the first generator generating a first transient electrical power response and the second generator generating a second transient electrical power response in response to the total power demand, the first transient electrical power response resulting in the first prime mover operating at a first transient load factor, the second transient electrical power response resulting in the second prime mover operating at a second transient load factor, the first load factor and the second load factor defining an operating ratio, the first transient load factor and the second transient load factor defining a transient ratio, the operating ratio being different from the transient ratio;
- generating first signals to control the first prime mover, the first signals being operable to control a fuel flow rate to the first prime mover to operate the first prime mover at a desired first maximum torque capability to provide the desired first available electrical power response;
- and
- generating second signals to control the second prime mover, the second signals being operable to control a fuel flow rate to and an operating speed of the second prime mover to operate the second prime mover at a desired second maximum torque capability to provide the desired second available electrical power response.
10 more elements
A system for allocating power generation of a bus between a first generator set and a second generator set, the first generator set being configured to operate at a constant speed, the first generator set including a first prime mover and a first generator driven by the first prime mover, the first generator providing power to the bus, the second generator set being configured to operate at a variable speed, the second generator set including a second prime mover and a second generator driven by the second prime mover, the second generator providing power to the bus, the system comprising:
- a first operating characteristic sensor associated with the first prime mover;
- a second operating characteristic sensor associated with the second prime mover;
- an engine speed sensor associated with the second prime mover, the engine speed sensor being operative to determine an operating speed of the second prime mover;
- a plurality of on-line consumers operatively connected to the bus;
- and
- a controller configured to:
- store a plurality of first maximum torque capabilities of the first prime mover, each of the plurality of first maximum torque capabilities being based upon at least one operating characteristic of the first prime mover;
- store a plurality of second maximum torque capabilities of the second prime mover, each of the plurality of second maximum torque capabilities being based upon at least one operating characteristic and the operating speed of the second prime mover;
- determine an operating power demand from the plurality of on-line consumers;
- determine an anticipated transient power demand from a consumer;
- the operating power demand and the anticipated transient power demand defining a total power demand;
- determine a desired first available electrical power response of the first generator;
- determine a desired second available electrical power response of the second generator;
- the desired first available electrical power response and the desired second available electrical power response defining a desired total available electrical power response at least equal to the total power demand;
- prior to a transient condition, the first generator generating a first electrical power response and the second generator generating a second electrical power response in response to the operating power demand, the first electrical power response resulting in the first prime mover operating at a first load factor, the second electrical power response resulting in the second prime mover operating at a second load factor;
- during the transient condition, the first generator generating a first transient electrical power response and the second generator generating a second transient electrical power response in response to the total power demand, the first transient electrical power response resulting in the first prime mover operating at a first transient load factor, the second transient electrical power response resulting in the second prime mover operating at a second transient load factor, the first load factor and the second load factor defining an operating ratio, the first transient load factor and the second transient load factor defining a transient ratio, the operating ratio being different from the transient ratio;
- generate first signals to control the first prime mover, the first signals being operable to control a fuel flow rate to the first prime mover to operate the first prime mover at a desired first maximum torque capability to provide the desired first available electrical power response;
- and
- generate second signals to control the second prime mover, the second signals being operable to control a fuel flow rate to and an operating speed of the second prime mover to operate the second prime mover at a desired second maximum torque capability to provide the desired second available electrical power response.
16 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.