Paralleling module for a generator system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9871378-B2
Application number	US-201514675412-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 31, 2015
Priority date	Sep 28, 2012
Publication date	Jan 16, 2018
Grant date	Jan 16, 2018

Abstract

A power management system that 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 electrically connects the first generator to the second generator without opening the paralleling enclosure. The first generator includes an engine and an alternator. A first contactor is powered by the alternator to close the first contactor in order to provide an electrically conductive path from the alternator to an output. The second generator includes an engine and an alternator. A second contactor is powered by the alternator to close the contactor in order to provide an electrically conductive path from the alternator to the output.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A power management system comprising:
a first generator that includes an engine and an alternator; and
a contactor that is powered by the alternator to close the contactor in order to provide an electrically conductive path from the alternator to an output;
a second generator that includes an engine and an alternator, wherein the first generator is inside a first enclosure and the contactor is a first contactor that is inside the first enclosure;
a second contactor that is powered by the alternator of the second generator to close the second contactor in order to provide an electrically conductive path from the alternator of the second generator to the output; and
a second enclosure, wherein the second generator and the second contactor are inside the second enclosure,
a paralleling enclosure that electrically connects the first generator and the second generator in parallel, wherein the paralleling enclosure includes the output; and
a trailer including at least two wheels, wherein the paralleling enclosure is secured to the trailer.

2. The power management system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller that operates at least one of the first generator or the second generator;
where the controller is configured to match the frequency of the power provided by the first generator and the second generator.

3. The power management system of claim 2 , wherein the contactor is within the paralleling enclosure such that the controller is configured to close the contactor to provide power from the first and/or second generators to the output of the paralleling enclosure.

4. The power management system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first generator controller that operates the first generator, the first generator controller within the first enclosure;
a second generator controller that operates the second generator, the second generator controller within the second enclosure; and

where at least one of the first and second generator controllers are configured to match the frequency of the power provided by the first generator and the second generator.

5. The power management system of claim 4 , wherein the contactor is within the paralleling enclosure such that at least one of the first and second generator controllers configured to close the contactor to provide power from the first and/or second generators to the output of the paralleling enclosure.

6. A paralleling enclosure comprising:
a first input connector positioned on a first side of the paralleling enclosure and configured to selectively receive power from a first generator;
a second input connector positioned on the first side and configured to selectively receive power from a second generator;
an output connector electrically connected to the first and second input connector, the output connector positioned on a second side of the paralleling enclosure; and
a paralleling module inside the paralleling enclosure, the paralleling module configured to electrically connect the first generator and the second generator in parallel.

7. The paralleling enclosure of claim 6 , wherein the paralleling module is configured to match the frequencies of the power provided by the first generator and the power provided by the second generator before supplying power to the output.

8. The paralleling enclosure of claim 6 , wherein the first side of the paralleling enclosure and the second side of the paralleling enclosure are opposing sides of paralleling enclosure.

9. The paralleling enclosure of claim 6 , wherein the output connector is configured to be connected to a load.

10. A paralleling enclosure comprising:
a first input connector positioned on a first side of the paralleling enclosure and configured to selectively receive power from a first generator;
a second input connector positioned on the first side and configured to selectively receive power from a second generator;
an output connector electrically connected to the first and second input connector, the output connector positioned on a second side of the paralleling enclosure; and
wherein the first input connector, the second input connector and the output connector are cam locks.

11. A paralleling enclosure comprising:
a first input connector configured to selectively receive power from a first generator;
a second input connector configured to selectively receive power from a second generator;
an output connector electrically connected to the first and second input connector;
a protective bar;
a plurality of protective bar holders, including a first input connector protective bar holder adjacent the first input connector, a second input connector protective bar holder adjacent the second input connect, and an output connector protective bar holder adjacent the output connector; and
wherein each of the protective bar holders are configured to receive the protective bar and cover the respective input connector or output connector when the protective bar is received.

12. The paralleling enclosure of claim 11 , wherein the protective bar is configured to be interchangeably connected to any of the protective bar holders and cover any of the first input connector, the second input connector, or the output connector.

13. The paralleling enclosure of claim 11 , wherein the first input connector is configured to be electrically connected to the first generator, the second input connector is configured to be electrically connected to the second generator, and the output connector is configured to be electrically connected to a load without opening the paralleling enclosure.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Stenson Chad

Classifications

• H02K7/1815

  structurally associated with reciprocating piston engines (general aspects of generating sets, e.g. housing, F02B63/04) · CPC title

• H02B1/22

  Layouts for duplicate bus-bar selection · CPC title

• H02J9/066

  characterised by the use of dynamo-electric machines (H02J9/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02J3/381 Primary

  Dispersed generators · CPC title

• H02P9/08

  Control of generator circuit during starting or stopping of driving means, e.g. for initiating excitation · CPC title