The present disclosure relates to an interface, and more particularly, to an interface for a system for generating electric power.
It may be desirable to generate electric power, for example, in situations in which electric power is not available from an electric power utility source, for example, in remote locations and/or locations experiencing a power outage. This may be accomplished, for example, using electric power generation systems that are configured to generate electric power via operation of one or more internal combustion engines to drive an electric machine configured to convert mechanical energy supplied by the one or more engines into electric power.
The user of such power generating systems may desire to monitor the status of the power generating systems from a location exterior to the power generating system. Moreover, it may be desirable to control the power generating system from an exterior location, such as, for example, the location of the systems and/or devices that will receive the electric power being supplied by the power generating system. For example, if a system for generating electric power is used to supply electric power to a building or group of buildings, it may be desirable to control the power generating system via controls associated with the one or more buildings. Further, it may be desirable to coordinate operation of more than one power generation system supplying power to an end user. As a result, it may be desirable to provide the power generating system with an interface for facilitating control and/or monitoring of the status of the power generating system(s) from a location exterior to the power generating system(s).
A mobile power generation system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,765,304 issued to Baten et al. (“the '304 patent”). The '304 patent discloses a mobile power generation system including a main trailer having an engine and an electric generator turned by the engine. The system of the '304 patent further includes an air filtration trailer having air filtration equipment, an exhaust trailer having part of an exhaust silencing system for reducing engine output noise, and an auxiliary trailer having equipment for use during operation of the engine. The '304 patent does not disclose, however, an interface for controlling operation and/or monitoring the status of a power generation system from exterior to the power generation system.
The systems and methods described in an exemplary manner in the present disclosure may be directed to mitigating or overcoming one or more of the drawbacks set forth above.
In one aspect, the present disclosure includes an interface for facilitating at least one of control and monitoring of a system for generating electric power, the system including a control panel. The interface may include a compartment configured to be operably associated with a housing defining an interior at least partially containing the system for generating electric power. The interface may further include at least one electrical connector contained within the compartment and an access panel operably associated with the compartment. The access panel may be configured to facilitate selective access to an interior of the compartment from an exterior of the housing. The at least one electrical connector may be configured to be coupled to an electric line electrically connected to the control panel and an electric line extending to a location exterior to the housing.
According to a further aspect, a system for generating electric power may include an engine configured to output mechanical power and an electric machine configured to convert mechanical power into electric power. The electric machine may be operably coupled to the engine. The system may further include a control panel configured to facilitate control of at least one of the engine and the electric machine, and a housing configured to contain at least one of the engine and the electric machine. The housing may include at least one wall configured to define at least an exterior of the housing. The system may also include an interface operably associated with the at least one wall, the interface being configured to facilitate operable connection, to the control panel, of electric wires and/or power cables extending exterior of the housing.
System 10 may further include power load connections 16 configured to facilitate supply of electric power generated by system 10 to any device or system that receives input of a source of electric power, such as, for example, a power grid. According to some embodiments, a number of systems 10 may be coupled to one another and/or used together to supply additional electric power.
As depicted in
According to the exemplary embodiment shown in
According to some embodiments, system 10 may include a reservoir 34 (e.g., a fuel tank) within the interior of housing 20 for providing a supply of fuel to engine 12. Reservoir 34 may be coupled to engine 12 via one or more fuels lines (not shown). According to some embodiments, reservoir 34 may be located external to housing 20 and/or fuel may be supplied via an external source, such as, for example, a pipe line for supplying a fuel, such as, for example, gasoline, diesel fuel, natural gas, hydrogen, ethanol, methanol, and/or any combinations thereof.
According to some embodiments, system 10 may include a cooling system 36 configured to regulate the temperature of engine 12 and/or electric machine 14. For example, cooling system 36 may include one or more heat exchangers 38, such as, for example, one or more air-to-air-after-coolers (ATAAC) operably coupled to engine 12 and/or one or more radiators 40, such as, for example, a jacket water radiator, operably coupled to engine 12. According to some embodiments, engine 12 may include one or more turbochargers (not shown), and heat exchanger(s) 38 may be operably coupled to the one or more turbochargers to cool air entering the turbocharger(s). System 10 may include one or more fans (not shown), for example, located between engine 12 and heat exchanger 38. Such a fan may be operably coupled to engine 12 via a drive belt (not shown) and/or may be driven via an electric motor (not shown), and may supply a flow of air to and/or through heat exchanger 38 in order to provide cooling air to heat exchanger 38.
Exemplary radiator(s) 40 may be configured to receive and cool a flow of coolant (e.g., a liquid coolant), which may be circulated into and/or through engine 12 via coolant lines (not shown), thereby cooling engine 12. One or more fans 42 may be associated with radiator 40 and may be configured to provide a flow of cooling air to radiator 40. Fan(s) 42 may be driven, for example, via an electric motor (not shown), which may be coupled to fan 42 via, for example, a belt drive (not shown).
According to some embodiments, engine 12 may include an exhaust system 44 (see
According to some embodiments, for example, as shown in
According to some embodiments, interface 52 may include a compartment 58 operably coupled, for example, to side wall 22 of housing 20 (e.g., at least partially recessed within side wall 22). Compartment 58 and/or housing 20 may define a peripheral recess 60, which may be provided with a gasket 62 configured to provide a weather-resistant (e.g., water-resistant) sealing engagement with a corresponding surface 64 on a rear side of access panel 56. According to some embodiments, access panel 56 may be hingedly coupled to housing 20 and/or compartment 58. Access panel 56 may include one or more latches 66 (e.g., locking latches) configured secure access panel 56 in a closed position with respect to compartment 58, for example, such that an exterior face of the access panel 56 is generally flush with respect to side wall 22.
Compartment 58 may define a number of apertures (not shown) for facilitating extension of electric power and/or control lines 67 (e.g., wires and/or cables) from within housing 20 (e.g., electric lines from control panel 18) to an interior of compartment 58. Interface 52 may further include one or more electrical connectors 68 within the interior of compartment 58.
For example, as shown in
According to some embodiments, interface 52 may include electrical connectors 72 configured to provide electric connection for 120 and/or 240 volt applications, such as, for example, shore connections, which may include, for example, connections for providing power to battery chargers included with system 10, power for jacket water heaters, and/or other devices/systems included in system 10, for example, to maintain system 10 in a “ready-to-run” status. According to some embodiments, interface 52 may include electrical connectors 74 configured to provide connection for, for example, electric lines for communicating control signals and/or operation status signals associated with system 10. For example, electrical connectors 74 may be configured to connect electric wire having gauges ranging from, for example, about 12 gauge to about 18 gauge, for example, 16 gauge. Such electric wires may carry, for example, DC signals.
According to some embodiments, electric power, control, and/or status signal lines extending from the interior of housing 20 may be connected to electrical connectors 68, which may facilitate connection of electric power, control, and/or status lines extending from a location exterior to housing 20. According to some embodiments, housing 20 may include an opening to facilitate entry of lines extending exterior to housing 20 into interface 52 without necessitating opening of access panel 56. For example, as shown in
Exemplary system 10 may be used to generate electric power, for example, in situations in which electric power is not available from an electric power utility source, for example, in remote locations and/or locations experiencing a power outage. One or more engines 12 of exemplary system 10 may be configured to output mechanical power and one or more electric machines 14 may be configured to convert mechanical power into electric power. One or more control panels 18 may be configured to facilitate control of at least one of engine 12 and electric machine 14. Housing 20 may be configured to contain at least one of engine 12 and electric machine 14. Housing 20 may define an interior, and interface 52 may be operably associated with at least one wall of housing 20, and interface 52 may be configured to facilitate operable connection of electric wires and/or power cables from the exterior of housing 20 to control panel(s) 18.
Interface 52 may include one or more electrical connectors 70 configured to facilitate coordination of load sharing between a number of power generation systems at least similar to exemplary system 10. For example, electrical connectors 70 may be connectors consistent with, for example, MODBUS protocol, and control panel(s) 18 of system 10 may include controller(s) that are configured to coordinate the power load among a number of electric power generation systems that may be operably coupled to one another to collectively supply electric power (e.g., via a load sharing strategy) to an end user. Electrical connectors 70 may facilitate communication between system 10 and other electric power generation systems to facilitate such coordination.
Interface 52 may include electrical connectors 72 configured to provide electric connection for 120 and/or 240 volt applications (or, for example, 100 and/or 200 volt applications), such as, for example, shore connections, which may include, for example, connections for providing power to battery chargers included with system 10, power for jacket water heaters, and/or other devices/systems included in system 10, for example, to maintain system 10 in a “ready-to-run” status. According to some embodiments, interface 52 may include electrical connectors 74 configured to provide connection for, for example, electric lines for communicating control signals and/or operation status signals associated with system 10. For example, electrical connectors 74 may be configured to connect electric wire having gauges ranging from, for example, about 12 gauge to about 18 gauge, for example, 16 gauge. Such electric wires may carry, for example, DC signals.
Electric power, control, and/or status signal lines extending from the interior of housing 20 may be connected to electrical connectors 68, which may facilitate connection of electric power, control, and/or status lines extending from a location exterior to housing 20. According to some embodiments, housing 20 may include an opening to facilitate entry of lines extending exterior to housing 20 into interface 52 without necessitating opening of access panel 56. For example, side wall 22 of housing 20 may define an aperture 76 for receiving such exteriorly extending lines (not shown) and connecting them to electrical connectors 68.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the exemplary disclosed systems for generating electric power. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the exemplary disclosed systems and methods. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only.
This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/______, filed Jun. 25, 2008 [Title: SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR GENERATING ELECTRIC POWER; Attorney Docket No.: 08350.6990], the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
61129417 | Jun 2008 | US |