Dual fuel generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11215126-B2
Application number	US-202017124173-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 16, 2020
Priority date	Apr 5, 2019
Publication date	Jan 4, 2022
Grant date	Jan 4, 2022

Abstract

A control circuit for a dual fuel generator includes a primary fuel valve to control the supply of a primary fuel, a secondary fuel valve to control the supply of a secondary fuel, a primary fuel pressure switch to detect the primary fuel, a secondary fuel pressure switch to detect the secondary fuel, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a primary signal for availability of the primary fuel from the primary fuel pressure switch and a secondary signal for availability of the secondary fuel from the secondary and operate the primary fuel valve and the secondary fuel valve in response to the primary signal and the secondary signal. When the secondary fuel valve is open so that the secondary fuel is provided to the dual fuel generator, the control circuit is configured to ground the primary signal by connecting the primary fuel pressure switch to ground.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method comprising:
receiving sensor data for availability of at least a primary fuel source of a dual fuel generator;
performing a changeover from the primary fuel source to a secondary fuel source of the dual fuel generator; and
preventing detection of the primary fuel source in response to the changeover from the primary fuel source to the secondary fuel source.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a changeover from the secondary fuel source to the primary fuel source is prevented.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving updated sensor data for the availability of at least the primary fuel source, the updated sensor data indicating that the primary fuel source is operational, wherein a changeover from the secondary fuel source to the primary fuel source is prevented.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
receiving a reset signal to stop preventing detection of the primary fuel source.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the reset signal is generated by a switch actuation.

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a variable generator rating based on operation of the primary fuel source or the secondary fuel source, wherein the variable generator rating describes an output of the dual fuel generator.

7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
generating a load command based on operation of the primary fuel source or the secondary fuel source, wherein the load command connects or disconnects a load for the dual fuel generator.

8. A method comprising:
receiving sensor data for availability of at least a primary fuel source of a dual fuel generator;
switching the dual fuel generator from the primary fuel source to a secondary fuel source; and
preventing detection of the primary fuel source after the dual fuel generator has been switched from the primary fuel source to the secondary fuel source.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein preventing detection of the primary fuel source comprises:
grounding a circuit element associated with the primary fuel source.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein preventing detection of the primary fuel source comprises:
activating a relay connected to a circuit element associated with the primary fuel source.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein preventing detection of the primary fuel source comprises:
connecting a path between ground and a circuit element associated with the primary fuel source.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
monitoring availability of the primary fuel source.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
receiving a user input to return to normal operation or switch to the primary fuel source.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising:
switching the dual fuel generator from the secondary fuel source to the primary fuel source in response to the user input.

15. An apparatus for a dual fuel generator, the apparatus comprising:
a controller configured to receive a primary signal for availability of a primary fuel from and a secondary signal for availability of a secondary fuel and perform a changeover from the primary fuel to a secondary fuel,
wherein detection of the primary fuel source is prevented in response to the changeover from the primary fuel to the secondary fuel.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein detection of the primary fuel source is prevented by grounding a switch associated with the primary fuel.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the controller is configured to generate a reset signal that disconnect the switch from ground.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the reset signal activates the switch and deactivate the secondary fuel.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the controller is configured to determine a variable generator rating based on operation time of the primary fuel or the secondary fuel.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising:
a relay energized by activation of the secondary fuel, wherein the relay grounds the primary signal.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Chiu Harrison
• Thompson Peter
• Gudmundson Seth
• Meulemans Zachary

Classifications

• F02D19/06

  peculiar to engines working with pluralities of fuels, e.g. alternatively with light and heavy fuel oil, other than engines indifferent to the fuel consumed · CPC title

• Y02T10/30

  Use of alternative fuels, e.g. biofuels · CPC title

• F02D19/0615 Primary

  being initiated by automatic means, e.g. based on engine or vehicle operating conditions · CPC title

• F02D19/0623

  Failure diagnosis or prevention; Safety measures; Testing · CPC title

• F02D19/0628 Primary

  Determining the fuel pressure, temperature or flow, the fuel tank fill level or a valve position · CPC title