Power angle calculation for alternator controller

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9590545-B2
Application number	US-201514675001-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2015
Priority date	Nov 26, 2014
Publication date	Mar 7, 2017
Grant date	Mar 7, 2017

Abstract

In one embodiment, a generator includes a rotor configured to rotate in cooperation with a stator to generate electrical power. A sensor, which is supported by the rotor, is configured to generate a trigger signal indicative of a position of the rotor. A communication interface is configured to receive the trigger signal from the sensor of the rotor and receive data indicative of an output of the generator. A controller supported by the rotor or configured to perform a phase analysis of the trigger signal and the output of the generator and calculate a power angle for the generator based on the phase analysis.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method comprising:
detecting a trigger signal from a pickup coil of a rotor for a generator;
receiving data indicative of an output of the generator;
performing, at a rotor controller, a phase analysis of the trigger signal and the output of the generator; and
calculating a power angle for the generator based on the phase analysis.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
querying a lookup table with the power angle for the generator; and
receiving a power value from the lookup table.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
comparing the power value to a threshold value.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
generating a safety signal in response to the power value exceeding the threshold level.

5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
modifying a target value for the generator in response to the power value exceeding the threshold level.

6. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
generating a load balance signal in response to the power value exceeding the threshold level.

7. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
generating a paralleling signal in response to the power value exceeding the threshold level.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending a command to a stator controller based on the power angle.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
starting a timer for the command sent to the stator controller; and
when the timer exceeds a timeout value, switching the rotor controller from a slave mode to a master mode.

10. An apparatus comprising:
a communication interface configured to receive a trigger signal from a pickup coil of a rotor for a generator and receive data indicative of an output of the generator; and
a controller supported by the rotor and configured to perform a phase analysis of the trigger signal and the output of the generator and calculate a power angle for the generator based on the phase analysis.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:
a memory storing a lookup table with the power angle for the generator associated with a power value,
wherein the controller is configured to query the lookup table with the power angle to receive the power value.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to compare the power value to a threshold value.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to generate a safety signal in response to the power value exceeding the threshold level.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to modify a target value for the generator in response to the power value exceeding the threshold level.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to generate a load balance signal in response to the power value exceeding the threshold level.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to generate a paralleling signal in response to the power value exceeding the threshold level.

17. A generator comprising:
a rotor configured to rotate in cooperation with a stator to generate electrical power;
a sensor supported by the rotor and configured to generate a trigger signal indicative of a position of the rotor;
a communication interface configured to receive the trigger signal from the pickup coil of a rotor for a generator and receive data indicative of an output of the generator; and
a controller supported by the rotor and configured to perform a phase analysis of the trigger signal and the output of the generator and calculate a power angle for the generator based on the phase analysis.

18. The generator of claim 17 , further comprising:
a memory storing a lookup table with the power angle for the generator associated with a power value,
wherein the controller is configured to query the lookup table with the power angle to receive the power value.

19. The generator of claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured to compare the power value to a threshold value and generate a command when the power value exceeds the threshold value.

20. The generator of claim 19 , wherein the command is a shutdown command, a load balance command, a paralleling command, or target adjustment command.

Assignees

• Kohler Co
• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Frampton Isaac S
• Larson Adam
• Van Maaren Richard

Classifications

• H02P9/48

  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

• H02P9/04

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

• H02P9/009

  Circuit arrangements for detecting rotor position · CPC title

• H02P2101/45

  for motor vehicles, e.g. car alternators · CPC title

• H02P9/14 Primary

  by variation of field (H02P9/08, H02P9/10 take precedence) · CPC title