Systems, apparatuses, and methods to control output power of groups of engines

A computer-implemented method of controlling power output by engines of a multi-engine machine, the method comprising:

• determining a first engine group of the engines based on a requested output power amount for the multi-engine machine, an engine performance characteristic of each of the engines of the multi-engine machine, and a current engine load of each of the engines of the multi-engine machine;
• determining a second engine group of the engines, different from the first engine group, based on the requested output power amount for the multi-engine machine, the engine performance characteristic of each of the engines of the multi-engine machine, and the current engine load of each of the engines of the multi-engine machine, a response time of the first engine group being faster than a response time of the second engine group;
• determining a sequence of operating the first engine group and the second engine group to reach the requested output power amount for the multi-engine machine according to a determined total minimum response time from a current total output power amount of the engines, the sequence of operating the first engine group and the second engine group including switching operation from the first engine group to the second engine group when a predetermined power output threshold is reached;
• and
• outputting at least one distributed power request to selectively drive engines of the first engine group and the second engine group according to the sequence of operating the first engine group and the second engine group.

A multi-engine marine vessel comprising:

• a plurality of first engines each having a first performance rating with a first response time characteristic;
• a plurality of second engines each having a second performance rating, different from the first performance rating, with a second response time characteristic different from the first response time characteristic;
• and
• control circuitry configured to:
• detect a transient stepped power load condition resulting from a requested amount of engine power output for the multi-engine marine vessel relative to a current power load of the multi-engine marine vessel,
• switch engine control to a performance mode upon detection of the transient stepped power load condition,
• determine which engines of the plurality of first engines are available for control by the control circuitry in the performance mode,
• determine which engines of the plurality of second engines are available for control by the control circuitry in the performance mode,
• detect current power load conditions of each of the first engines determined to be available in the performance mode,
• detect current power load conditions of each of the second engines determined to be available in the performance mode,
• determine an engine power control strategy by which to control the available first and second engines to achieve a minimum total engine response time to reach the requested amount of engine power output for the multi-engine marine vessel from the current power load of the multi-engine marine vessel, based on a determined number of available first and second engines, the current power load conditions of the available first and second engines, the first performance rating, and the second performance rating,
• output a distributed power request to selectively drive the available first and second engines according to a plurality of different engine groupings to control a total engine response time according to the minimum total response time to reach the requested amount of engine power output for the multi-engine marine vessel from the current power load of the multi-engine marine vessel, and
• selectively drive the available first and second engines according to the plurality of different engine groupings to control the total response time according to the minimum total response time to reach the requested amount of engine power output for the multi-engine marine vessel from the current power load of the multi-engine marine vessel,
• wherein the selective driving includes switching from one engine grouping of the available first and second engines to a different engine grouping of the available first and second engines responsive to detection of a power load condition of the one engine grouping reaching a predetermined power load condition threshold.