Paralleling module for a generator system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9548612-B2
Application number	US-201213630367-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2012
Priority date	Sep 28, 2012
Publication date	Jan 17, 2017
Grant date	Jan 17, 2017

Abstract

Some embodiments relate to an example power management system. The power management system includes a first enclosure and a second enclosure. A first generator is inside the first enclosure and a second generator is inside the second enclosure. The power management system further includes a paralleling enclosure and a paralleling module inside the paralleling enclosure. The paralleling module includes at least one switching device within the paralleling enclosure to electrically connect the first generator to the second generator. The paralleling enclosure further includes a plurality of connectors that permit electrical connection between the paralleling module and the first generator, the second generator and an output without opening the paralleling enclosure.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power management system comprising:
a first enclosure;
a first generator inside the first enclosure;
a second enclosure;
a second generator inside the second enclosure;
a paralleling enclosure; and
a paralleling module inside the paralleling enclosure, wherein the paralleling module includes at least one switching device within the paralleling enclosure to electrically connect the first generator to the second generator, wherein an outer surface of the paralleling enclosure further includes a plurality of connectors that permit electrical connection between the paralleling module and the first generator, the second generator and an output without opening the paralleling enclosure;
a third enclosure;
a third generator inside the third enclosure;
a fourth enclosure;
a fourth generator inside the fourth enclosure;
an additional paralleling enclosure; and
an additional paralleling module inside the additional paralleling enclosure,
wherein the additional paralleling module includes at least one switching device within the additional paralleling enclosure to electrically connect the third generator to the fourth generator, wherein an outer surface of the paralleling enclosure further includes a plurality of connectors that permit electrical connection between the paralleling module and the third generator, the fourth generator and an output without opening the additional paralleling enclosure;
a bus that is electrically connected to the output of the paralleling module and the output of the additional paralleling module such that the bus selectively receives current from the paralleling module and the additional paralleling module; and
wherein the paralleling module is electrically connected to the additional paralleling module via the bus and another conductor.

2. The power management system of claim 1 , wherein the first generator includes a first generator controller inside the first enclosure and the second generator includes a second generator controller inside the second enclosure, wherein at least some plurality of connectors on the outer surface of the paralleling enclosure permit electrical connection between the paralleling module and the first generator controller and the second generator controller without opening the paralleling enclosure.

3. The power management system of claim 2 , wherein the paralleling module allows the first generator controller and the second generator controller to exchange signals.

4. The power management system claim 1 further comprising:
a plurality of additional enclosures;
a plurality of additional generators, wherein each of the additional generators is inside one of the additional enclosures; and
wherein the at least one switching device in the paralleling module within the paralleling enclosure electrically connects the plurality of additional generators with the first generator and the second generator, wherein the plurality of connectors on the outer surface of the paralleling enclosure further permits electrical connection of the plurality of additional generators with the first generator, the second generator and the output without opening the paralleling enclosure.

5. The power management system of claim 4 , wherein each of the additional generators includes a generator controller located inside one of the respective additional enclosures, and wherein at least some plurality of connectors on the outer surface of the paralleling enclosure permit electrical connection between each of the generator controllers without opening the paralleling enclosure.

6. The power management system of claim 5 , wherein the paralleling module allows each of the generator controllers to exchange signals.

7. The power management system of claim 1 , wherein the third generator includes a third generator controller inside the third enclosure and the fourth generator includes a fourth generator controller inside the fourth enclosure, wherein at least some plurality of connectors on the outer surface of the additional paralleling module permit electrical connection between the third generator controller and the fourth generator controller without opening the additional paralleling enclosure.

8. The power management system of claim 7 , wherein the additional paralleling module allows the third generator controller and the fourth generator controller to exchange signals.

9. The power management system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of connectors on the outer surface of the paralleling enclosure and at least one of the plurality of connectors on the outer surface of the additional paralleling enclosure permit electrical connection between the paralleling enclosure and the additional paralleling enclosure.

10. The power management system of claim 1 , wherein the paralleling module enclosure and the additional paralleling module enclosure are configured to exchange signals.

11. A generator paralleling system comprising:
an enclosure; and
a paralleling module inside the enclosure, wherein the paralleling module includes at least one switching device within the enclosure to electrically connect a first generator to a second generator, wherein an outer wall of the enclosure further includes a plurality of connectors that permit electrical connection with the first generator, the second generator and an output without opening the enclosure;
an additional enclosure; and
an additional paralleling module inside the additional enclosure,

wherein the additional paralleling module includes at least one switching device within the additional enclosure to electrically connect a third generator to a fourth generator, wherein an outer wall of the additional enclosure further includes a plurality of connectors that permit electrical connection with the third generator, fourth generator and an output without opening the additional enclosure; and
a bus that is electrically connected to the at least one switching device in the paralleling module and the at least one switching device in the additional paralleling module such that bus selectively receives current from the paralleling module and the additional paralleling module; and
wherein at least one of the plurality of connectors on the enclosure is electrically connected to at least one of the plurality of connectors on the additional enclosure.

12. The generator paralleling system of claim 11 , wherein at least some plurality of connectors on the paralleling enclosure permit electrical connection with a first generator controller that operates the first generator and a second generator controller that operates the second generator without opening the enclosure, wherein the paralleling module allows the first generator controller and the second generator controller to exchange signals.

13. The generator paralleling system of claim 11 , wherein the at least one switching device in the paralleling module within the paralleling enclosure electrically connects a plurality of additional generators with the first generator and the second generator, wherein the plurality of connectors on the outer wall of the enclosure further permit electrical connection of the plurality of additional generators with the first generator, the second generator and an output without opening the enclosure.

14. The generator paralleling system of claim 13 , wherein at least some plurality of connectors on the outer wall of the enclosure permit electrical connection with generator controllers that operate each of the respective additional generators without opening the enclosure.

15. The generator paralleling system of cla

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Stenson Chad

Classifications

• H02J3/381 Primary

  Dispersed generators · CPC title

• H02J4/00

  Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as AC or DC; Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks combining AC and DC sections or sub-networks (arrangements using intermediate DC-AC-DC conversion H02J1/002; arrangements using high-voltage DC [HVDC] links H02J3/36) · CPC title

• H02J2105/12

  supplying households or buildings · CPC title

• H02J2101/10

  Dispersed power generation using fossil fuels, e.g. diesel generators · CPC title

• Y10T307/724

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic