Adaptive control system for a variable speed electrical generator

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are disclosed herein for controlling a variable speed electrical generator. The method includes setting a threshold for a parameter of an output power of the generator set, operating an engine of the generator set at a first speed to provide the output power to a load, comparing the parameter of the output power to the threshold over a plurality of changes in a demand of the load, and determining whether to adjust a speed of the engine from the first speed to a second speed in response to the comparison of the parameter to the threshold.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 operating an engine of a generator set at a first speed to provide an output power to a load;   recording a load response history comprising changes in a parameter of the output power over a plurality of changes in a demand of the load; and   determining whether to adjust a speed of the engine in response to the load response history.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the changes in the demand of the load are in response to an air conditioner compressor motor starting. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 comparing the parameter of the output power to a threshold over the plurality of changes in the demand of the load; and   determining whether to adjust the speed of the engine from the first speed to a second speed in response to the comparison of the parameter to the threshold over the plurality of changes in the demand of the load.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the parameter includes a magnitude of a voltage decrease, and wherein the method further comprises reducing the speed of the engine from the first speed to the second speed in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is less than the threshold. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the parameter includes a magnitude of a voltage decrease, wherein determining whether to adjust the speed of the engine in response to the comparison comprises determining not to adjust the speed of the engine from the first speed to the second speed in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is greater than the threshold. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the parameter includes a magnitude of a voltage decrease, and wherein the method further comprises increasing the speed of the engine from the first speed to the second speed in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is greater than the threshold. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising monitoring an ambient condition and determining whether to adjust the speed of the engine in response to the ambient condition. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the ambient condition comprises an ambient temperature, and wherein determining whether to adjust the speed in response to the ambient condition comprises determining to increase the speed from the first speed to the second speed in response to the ambient temperature exceeding a threshold temperature. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the threshold for the parameter is determined based on a pattern of historical load level. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus comprising:
 circuitry configured to:
 operate an engine of a generator set at a first speed to provide an output power to a load; 
 record a load response history comprising changes in a parameter of the output power over a plurality of changes in a demand of the load; and 
 determine whether to adjust a speed of the engine in response to the load response history. 
   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to:
 compare the parameter of the output power to a threshold over a plurality of changes in the demand of the load; and   determine whether to adjust the speed of the engine from the first speed to a second speed in response to the comparison of the parameter to a threshold over the plurality of changes in the demand of the load.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the parameter includes a magnitude of a voltage decrease, and wherein the circuitry is configured to reduce the speed of the engine from the first speed to the second speed in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is less than the threshold. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the parameter includes a magnitude of a voltage decrease, and wherein the circuitry is configured to determine not to adjust the speed of the engine from the first speed to the second speed in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is greater than the threshold. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the parameter includes a magnitude of a voltage decrease, and wherein the circuitry is configured to increase the speed of the engine from the first speed to the second speed in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is greater than the threshold. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to monitor an ambient condition and determine whether to adjust the speed of the engine in response to the ambient condition. 
     
     
         16 . A generator set, comprising:
 an engine;   a generator coupled to the engine and driven by the engine to generate electrical power; and   a controller communicably coupled to the engine and configured to:
 operate the engine of the generator set at a first speed to provide an output power to a load; 
 record a load response history comprising changes in a parameter of the output power over a plurality of changes in a demand of the load; and 
 determine whether to adjust a speed of the engine in response to the load response history. 
   
     
     
         17 . The generator set of  claim 16 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
 compare the parameter of the output power to a threshold over the plurality of changes in the demand of the load; and   determine whether to adjust the speed of the engine from the first speed to a second speed in response to the comparison of the parameter to the threshold over the plurality of changes in the demand of the load.   
     
     
         18 . The generator set of  claim 17 , wherein the parameter includes a magnitude of a voltage decrease, wherein the controller is configured to reduce the speed of the engine from the first speed to the second speed in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is less than the threshold. 
     
     
         19 . The generator set of  claim 17 , wherein the parameter includes a magnitude of a voltage decrease, and wherein the controller is configured to determine not to adjust the speed of the engine from the first speed to the second speed in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is greater than the threshold. 
     
     
         20 . The generator set of  claim 17 , wherein the parameter includes a magnitude of a voltage decrease, and wherein the controller is configured to increase the speed of the engine from the first speed to the second speed in response to determining the magnitude of the voltage decrease is greater than the threshold.