Communication failure handling

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10158248-B2
Application number	US-201414570642-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 15, 2014
Priority date	Dec 15, 2014
Publication date	Dec 18, 2018
Grant date	Dec 18, 2018

Abstract

An electrical power generator system may include two or more paralleled generators. At least one of the generators includes a first power source and a second power source. A disconnection of a first power source is identified at a generator controller of one of the generators. The generator controller may be configured to access or generate a power failure message indicative of the disconnection of the first power source. The generator controller may be configured to transmit the power failure message using the second power source because the second power source is switched to the generator controller in response to the disconnection of the first power source. The system may enter a communication failure handling mode based on the power failure message.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method comprising:
identifying a disconnection of a first power source from a generator controller of an engine generator set, wherein the generator controller is connected to an alternator and connected to an engine of the engine generator set;
generating a power failure message indicative of the disconnection of the first power source from the generator controller; and
transmitting the power failure message indicative of the disconnection of the first power source from the generator controller of the engine generator set using a second power source, wherein the second power source is switched to power the generator controller in response to the disconnection of the first power source.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the generator controller operates the engine generator set in parallel with at least one other engine generator set.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first power source is a battery configured to start or crank the engine generator set.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second power source is a temporary power source of the engine generator set.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the temporary power source is a capacitor.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second power source is a communication signal.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the power failure message includes a code to inform an external controller that the generator controller experienced the battery disconnection or other maintenance related to the battery disconnection.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending the power failure message to an external controller for one or more other engine generator sets.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein in response to the power failure message, the one or more other engine generator sets do not change operation in response to a lack of communication from the generator controller.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
repeating the power failure message to the external controller for one or more other engine generator sets according to a time slice assigned to the generator controller.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the power failure message includes a code to modify a failure mode of the external controller for the one or more other engine generator sets.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the power failure message includes a code to ignore a cessation of communication messages from the generator controller.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the power failure message disables a display or an auxiliary device of the engine generator set.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
detecting an end of a battery disconnection at the generator controller; and
performing a synchronization in response to the end of the battery disconnection.

15. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
monitoring temporary power from the second power source to the generator controller; and
detecting when the temporary power to the generator controller meets a threshold,
wherein the power failure message is generated in response to the temporary power meeting the threshold.

16. A method comprising:
establishing communication between a first engine generator set and a second engine generator set, wherein the first engine generator and the second engine generator set are configured to be connected in parallel to provide power to a common load;
receiving, at the first engine generator set, a power failure message indicative of a power failure from a generator controller of the second engine generator set wherein the generator controller is connected to an alternator and connected to an engine; and
modifying a failure response algorithm of the first engine generator set in response to the power failure message from the second engine generator set.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the power failure message is transmitted using a temporary power stored at the first engine generator set.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the temporary power is stored in a capacitor.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the failure response algorithm is modified to temporarily ignore a communication failure from the second engine generator set and accordingly prevent a droop sharing mode at the first engine generator set in response to the communication failure, wherein in the droop sharing mode the first generator set and the second generator set operate independently.

20. An apparatus comprising:
a generator controller configured to operate an engine generator set wherein the generator controller is connected to an alternator and connected to an engine of the engine generator set;
a secondary power source for the generator controller;
a memory including a power disconnection message; and
a switching unit configured to switch the generator controller from a primary power source to the secondary power source in response to a failure of the primary power source,
wherein the generator controller accesses the power disconnection message from the memory in response to being switched to the secondary power source.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Dorn Douglas W
• Frampton Isaac S
• Jungers Steve

Classifications

• H02J13/00

  Circuit arrangements for providing remote monitoring or remote control of equipment in a power distribution network · CPC title

• Y04S20/12

  Energy storage units, uninterruptible power supply [UPS] systems or standby or emergency generators, e.g. in the last power distribution stages · CPC title

• H02J3/381

  Dispersed generators · CPC title

• H02J3/40

  Synchronisation of generators for connection to a network or to another generator · CPC title

• H02J3/38

  Arrangements for feeding a single network from two or more generators or sources in parallel; Arrangements for feeding already energised networks from additional generators or sources in parallel · CPC title