System and method for operating a diesel engine

A power generating set comprising:

• a generator operable to produce a total electrical power;
• a diesel engine operable in response to a flow of fuel to drive the generator and to produce a flow of exhaust gas having an exhaust gas temperature;
• a particulate filter positioned to receive the flow of exhaust gas from the diesel engine and to filter particulate matter from the exhaust gas;
• a primary load electrically connected to the generator to receive a portion of the total electrical power, the primary load having a cyclical pattern;
• a secondary load selectively connected to the generator to selectively receive a portion of the total electrical power;
• a switching element operable to selectively transition between a connected state and a disconnected state, wherein the secondary load is connected to the generator when the switching element is in the connected state and is disconnected from the generator when the switching element is in the disconnected state;
• and
• a controller operable to vary the state of the switching element to maintain an engine at a total load above a predetermined value for a predetermined portion of each cycle of the primary load such that the heat from the flow of exhaust is sufficient to one of passively regenerate or actively regenerate the particulate filter.

A method of operating a power generating set, the method comprising:

• operating a diesel engine to drive a generator;
• generating a total electrical power during generator operation;
• switching a switching element between a connected state and a disconnected state to selectively direct a portion of the total electrical power to a secondary load when the switching element is in the connected state;
• directing the remaining total electrical power to a primary load, the primary load having a cyclical pattern;
• and
• regenerating a particulate filter by moving the switching element between the connected state and the disconnected state to maintain an engine at a total load above a predetermined value for a predetermined portion of each cycle of the primary load such that the heat from a flow of exhaust from the diesel engine is sufficient to one of passively regenerate or actively regenerate the particulate filter.