Adaptive variable speed genset control

An adaptive control system for a variable speed genset having at least a primary power source, an electric machine, and a common bus, the adaptive control system comprising:

• at least one controller in electrical communication with each of the primary power source and the common bus, the controller being configured to:
• determine a desired operating speed of the primary power source based on a load value associated with the common bus, the desired operating speed being associated with an applied offset value that is adjustable between a minimum offset value and a maximum offset value,
• increment the applied offset value of the desired operating speed to decrease the actual operating speed if an actual operating speed of the primary power source approximates the desired operating speed and the applied offset value is less than the maximum offset value, and
• determine the desired operating speed as the optimal operating speed if the actual operating speed approximates the desired operating speed, and the applied offset value is equal to the maximum offset value.

A variable speed genset, comprising:

• a primary power source;
• an electric machine mechanically coupled to the primary power source, the electric machine being electrically coupled to one or more loads through a common bus;
• an energy storage device in electrical communication with the common bus;
• and
• at least one controller in electrical communication with one or more of the primary power source, the energy storage device and the common bus, the controller being configured to:
• track an agreement between an actual operating speed and a desired operating speed of the genset,
• incrementally increase an applied offset value to the desired operating speed to decrease the actual operating speed as long as the agreement substantially holds and the applied offset value is not maximized, and
• operate the primary power source at an optimal operating speed when the agreement substantially holds and the applied offset value is maximized.