System and method for paralleling electrical power generators

摘要

A plurality of generators can be connected in parallel to a common electrical bus. Each generator has a controller that regulates the voltage and frequency of the electricity being produced. Before a given generator connects to the electrical bus, its controller senses whether electricity is present on the bus and if not, the connection is made. Otherwise, the controller synchronizes the electricity being produced to the electricity is present on the bus before the connection occurs. The controller in each generator may also implement a load sharing function which ensures that the plurality of generators equitably share in providing the total amount of power demanded by the loads. The load sharing can be accomplished by controlling the generators to operate a substantially identical percentages of their individual maximum power generation capacity.

主权项

1. A generator arrangement for supplying electricity to a parallel electrical bus to which at least one other energy source is able to supply electricity, said generator arrangement comprising:
an alternator that produces alternating electricity; a circuit breaker selectively connecting and disconnecting the alternator to and from the parallel electrical bus; an output sensor for sensing at least one of voltage and current of the alternating electricity; a bus sensor for sensing at least one of voltage and current of electricity in the parallel electrical bus; a genset controller connected to the output sensor, the bus sensor and the circuit breaker, and operatively connected to control excitation and speed of the alternator; prior to applying the alternating electricity to the parallel electrical bus, the genset controller:
a) determines whether electricity is present on the parallel electrical bus,b) if electricity is not present on the parallel electrical bus, the genset controller operates the circuit breaker to apply the alternating electricity produced by the alternator to the parallel electrical bus,c) if electricity is present on the parallel electrical bus, then the genset controller:
1) varies operation of the alternator to synchronize the alternating electricity produced by the alternator to the electricity present on the parallel electrical bus, and thereafter2) operates the circuit breaker to apply the alternating electricity produced by the alternator to the parallel electrical bus; and a communication interface for exchanging messages with all other energy sources; wherein the genset controller sends a message via the communication interface to inform other energy sources that the alternating electricity produced by the alternator is about to be applied to the parallel electrical bus; and wherein the alternating electricity produced by the alternator is applied to the parallel electrical bus only if the genset controller receives a response message from at least one other energy source.