Charging an energy storage device with a variable speed generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9425727-B2
Application number	US-201213448729-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2012
Priority date	Apr 17, 2012
Publication date	Aug 23, 2016
Grant date	Aug 23, 2016

Abstract

Some embodiments relate to a power management system. The power management system includes a variable speed generator that provides a voltage output to a bus that is adapted to be connected to a load and an energy storage device. The power management system further includes a generator controller that controls the speed of the variable speed generator and monitors a charge level of the energy storage device. The generator controller also remotely displays information relating to the charge level of the energy storage device by supplying information relating to operation of the power management system over a network. The generator controller may remotely display information relating to the charge level of the energy storage device by supplying information relating to operation of the power management system over the Internet. The generator controller may also start/stop the variable speed generator based on the charge level of the energy storage device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power management system comprising:
a variable speed generator that provides a voltage output to a bus, wherein the bus is adapted to be connected to a load and an energy storage device; and
a generator controller that controls the speed of the variable speed generator, wherein the generator controller monitors a charge level of the energy storage device, wherein the generator controller remotely displays information relating to operation of the power management system, wherein the generator controller provides information relating to operation of the power management system over a network, wherein the generator controller operates in a lower power state when the generator controller determines that the variable speed generator does not need to operate based on the charge level of the energy storage device.

2. The power management system of claim 1 , wherein the variable speed generator includes an internal combustion engine that drives an alternator.

3. The power management system of claim 1 , wherein the generator controller starts and stops the variable speed generator based on the charge level of the energy storage device.

4. The power management system of claim 1 , wherein the generator controller supplies power from the variable speed generator to the energy storage device.

5. The power management system of claim 4 , wherein the generator controller supplies power from the variable speed generator to the energy storage device based on the charge level of the energy storage device.

6. The power management system of claim 1 , wherein the generator controller displays information relating to a charge level of the energy storage device.

7. The power management system of claim 1 , wherein the generator controller displays information relating to the variable speed generator.

8. The power management system of claim 1 , wherein the generator controller displays information relating to a percentage load of the variable speed generator.

9. The power management system of claim 1 , further comprising a server that is connected to the generator controller over the network, wherein the server stores information relating to the charge level of the energy storage device and the operation of the power management system.

10. A power management system comprising:
a variable speed generator that provides a voltage output to a bus that is adapted to be connected to a load and an energy storage device; and
a generator controller that controls the speed of the variable speed generator, wherein the generator controller monitors at least one of (i) a voltage of the energy storage device; (ii) a current supplied by the energy storage device; (iii) a temperature of the energy storage device; or (iv) a time in service of the energy storage device, wherein the generator controller monitors a charge level of the energy storage device based on at least one of the time, voltage, current and temperature, wherein the generator controller determines whether to operate the variable speed generator based on the charge level of the energy storage device, wherein the generator controller operates in a lower power state when the generator controller determines that the variable speed generator does not need to operate based on the charge level of the energy storage device.

11. The power management system of claim 10 , further comprising a server that is connected to the generator controller over the network, wherein the server synchronizes the adjustable set points with the generator controller.

12. The power management system of claim 10 , wherein the generator controller monitors current supplied by the energy storage device accumulated over time.

13. The power management system of claim 10 , wherein the generator controller operates in a lower power state for a predetermined period of time.

14. The power management system of claim 13 , wherein the generator controller again determines whether to operate the variable speed generator based on the charge level of the energy storage device after the predetermined period of time.

15. The power management system of claim 10 , wherein the generator controller provides commands to other components in the power management system to operate in a lower power state before the generator controller operates in the lower power state.

16. A power management system comprising:
a variable speed generator that provides a voltage output to a bus, wherein the bus is adapted to be connected to a load and an energy storage device;
a generator controller that controls the speed of the variable speed generator, wherein the generator controller monitors a charge level of the energy storage device, wherein the generator controller supplies power from the energy storage device to other components in the power management system besides the load, wherein the generator controller operates in a lower power state when the generator controller determines that the variable speed generator does not need to operate based on the charge level of the energy storage device.

17. The power management system of claim 16 , wherein the energy storage device starts the variable speed generator.

18. The power management system of claim 16 , wherein the energy storage device powers the generator controller.

19. The power management system of claim 16 , wherein the other components in the power management system are connected to the bus.

20. A power management system comprising:
a variable speed generator that provides a voltage output to a bus that is adapted to be connected to a load and an energy storage device;
a generator controller that controls the speed of the variable speed generator, wherein the generator controller obtains data relating to the charge level of the energy storage device, wherein the generator controller operates the variable speed generator based on the data, wherein the generator controller operates in a lower power state when the generator controller determines that the variable speed generator does not need to operate based on the charge level of the energy storage device.

21. The power management system of claim 20 , wherein the generator controller displays information relating to a charge level of the energy storage device.

22. The power management system of claim 20 , wherein the generator controller displays information relating to a percentage load of the energy storage device.

23. The power management system of claim 20 , further comprising a server that synchronizes operating parameters of the power management system with the generator controller over a network.

Assignees

• Albsmeier Eric D
• Mauk Richard A
• Frampton Isaac S
• Chiu Harrison C
• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Albsmeier Eric D
• Mauk Richard A
• Frampton Isaac S
• Chiu Harrison C

Classifications

• H02P9/48 Primary

  Arrangements for obtaining a constant output value at varying speed of the generator, e.g. on vehicle (H02P9/04 - H02P9/46 take precedence) · CPC title

• H02J7/1438

  in combination with power supplies for loads other than batteries · CPC title

• H02P9/04

  Control effected upon non-electric prime mover and dependent upon electric output value of the generator · CPC title