US6700214B2 — Mobile power generation system

Claim 1

Independent Claim 112 words

A power generation system comprising: a generator to generate electrical power; a DC storage or source device (DCSSD); a power bus coupled to said generator; and a bi-directional conversion unit coupled between said power bus and said DCSSD, said bi-directional conversion unit comprising a bi-directional circuit having switching elements, and a controller to generate control signals to selectively activate the switching elements to control a direction and amount of electrical power flowing between said DCSSD and the power bus through said bi-directional current circuit, wherein in a first direction power flows from said power bus to said DCSSD and in a second direction power flows from said DCSSD to said power bus.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 112 words

A power generation system comprising: a generator to generate electrical power; a DC storage or source device (DCSSD); a power bus coupled to said generator; and a bi-directional conversion unit coupled between said power bus and said DCSSD, said bi-directional conversion unit comprising a bi-directional circuit having switching elements, and a controller to generate control signals to selectively activate the switching elements to control a direction and amount of electrical power flowing between said DCSSD and the power bus through said bi-directional current circuit, wherein in a first direction power flows from said power bus to said DCSSD and in a second direction power flows from said DCSSD to said power bus.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 12 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein said DCSSD is a battery.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

The system of claim 2 , wherein electrical power demanded by a load applied to the system is supplied by at least one of said generator and said battery via said power bus.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 47 words

The system of claim 2 , wherein electrical power demanded by a load applied to the system is supplied by said power bus without an interruption during transitioning of said bi-directional conversion unit from said first direction of power flow to said second direction of power flow.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 71 words

The system of claim 2 , wherein, when the generator is actively generating electrical power, battery power is used to compensate a for drop in the voltage level of the power bus, to provide power to a load without interruption in a situation selected from the group comprising when load demand increases, when the power bus is experiencing a load surge, and when said generator is being driven at low RPM.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 1 , further comprising an AC inverter coupled to receive DC power from said power bus and convert said DC power into AC power.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 39 words

The system of claim 6 , wherein electrical power generated by said generator supplies AC load when the AC inverter is turned and any remaining power that the AC load does not require is used to recharge said battery.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 82 words

The system of claim 1 , wherein said bi-directional conversion unit operates in said first direction of power flow when the voltage level of the power bus exceeds an upper threshold value and operates in said second direction of power flow when the voltage level of the power bus drops below a lower threshold value, said upper threshold value being set at a defined value below the power bus voltage level maintained by the controller when the generator is actively generating power.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 38 words

The system of claim 2 , further comprising a thermal sensor located at the battery to provide battery temperature information, wherein a battery charge current supplied to recharge the battery is regulated according to the battery temperature information.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 31 words

The system of claim 1 , further comprising a generator drive coupled between the generator and the power bus, said generator drive capable of adjusting the output power of the generator.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 47 words

The system of claim 10 , further comprising a rotational speed sensor coupled to said generator and output therefrom is input to a processor, wherein said processor controls the output power generated by the generator via the generator drive to match the electrical power supplied to loads.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 66 words

The system of claim 11 , wherein said processor is configured to determined if the generator is capable of producing sufficient power to match the power demanded by the loads, wherein if the current generator rotational speed is inadequate to meet the load demand, the processor is configured to send control signals to vary the speed of a drive device supplying mechanical force to the generator.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 85 words

A power generation system comprising: a generator to generate electrical power; an electronic control unit coupled to said generator, said electrical control unit containing a power supply bus; and a bi-directional conversion unit comprising a bi-directional power supply circuit coupled between said power bus and a battery, said bi-directional power supply circuit capable of transitioning between a first direction wherein electrical power flows from said power bus to a battery and a second direction wherein electrical power flows from said battery to said power bus.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 85 words

A power generation system comprising: a generator to generate electrical power; an electronic control unit coupled to said generator, said electrical control unit containing a power supply bus; and a bi-directional conversion unit comprising a bi-directional power supply circuit coupled between said power bus and a battery, said bi-directional power supply circuit capable of transitioning between a first direction wherein electrical power flows from said power bus to a battery and a second direction wherein electrical power flows from said battery to said power bus.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 27 words

The power generation system of claim 13 , wherein said electronic control unit further comprises a generator drive to selectively adjust the power produced by the generator.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 35 words

The power generation system of claim 13 , wherein said electrical control unit further comprises an AC inverter coupled to receive DC power from said power bus and convert said DC power into AC power.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 47 words

The power generation system of claim 15 , further comprising a battery pack coupled to said bi-directional conversion unit, wherein electrical power generated by said generator supplies AC load and any remaining power that the AC load does not require is used to recharge said battery pack.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 78 words

The power generation system of claim 16 , wherein, when the generator is actively generating electrical power, battery power stored in said battery pack is used to compensate for a drop in the voltage level of the power bus, to provide power to a load without interruption in a situation selected from the group comprising when load demand increases, when the power bus is experiencing a load surge, and when said generator is being driven at low RPM.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 38 words

The power generation system of claim 13 , which includes the ability to derive power from both said generator and said battery pack to prevent AC voltage brownouts when power devices that require high levels of temporary power.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 62 words

The power generation system of claim 13 , which includes an idle control that sets the vehicle's idle speed, working in conjunction with said inverter charger unit such that when high power levels is demanded, additional power is derived from said battery pack via the bi-directional power supply, eliminating sudden application of torque by said generator and thus eliminating engine RPM fluctuations.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 58 words

The power generation system of claim 13 , further comprising a thermal sensor for monitoring the temperature of the batteries in said battery pack, and adjust the recharge voltage level established in said inverter charger unit such that the batteries are recharged in an optimal way to extend said battery pack life and maximum amount of stored charge.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 89 words

A method of generating power comprising: generating electrical power; charging a power bus using the electrical power generated; charging a battery using the electrical power from said power bus if a voltage level of said power bus exceeds an upper threshold value; charging said power bus using the electrical power from said battery if the voltage level of said power bus drops below a lower threshold value; and adjusting the electrical power generated if load demand exceeds the electrical power generated and the electrical power supplied by the battery.

Claim 24

Independent Claim 89 words

A method of generating power comprising: generating electrical power; charging a power bus using the electrical power generated; charging a battery using the electrical power from said power bus if a voltage level of said power bus exceeds an upper threshold value; charging said power bus using the electrical power from said battery if the voltage level of said power bus drops below a lower threshold value; and adjusting the electrical power generated if load demand exceeds the electrical power generated and the electrical power supplied by the battery.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method of claim 21 , wherein said electrical power is generated by a generator which is driven by an engine.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 22 , further comprising adjusting said electrical power generated by operating said generator by varying AC voltage level applied to generator stator coils while maintaining optimum slip in order to maintain the power bus within a defined voltage range.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method of claim 22 , further comprising adjusting said electrical power generated by adjusting the speed of the engine driving the generator in order to maintain the power bus within a defined voltage range.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 133 words

The method of claim 21 , further comprising providing AC and DC electrical power simultaneously, a power supply controller coupled between said at least one electrical storage device and said at least one electrical source device to control the flow of electrical energy between said storage device and said source device and to control the flow of electrical energy demanded by said at least one load from at least one of said storage and source devices; wherein said power supply controller comprises a power bus and a bi-directional conversion unit capable of transitioning between a first direction wherein electrical power flows from said power bus to said at least one electrical storage device and a second direction wherein electrical power flows from said at least one electrical storage device to said power bus.

Claim 29

Independent Claim 83 words

A system comprising: at least one electrical power storage device; at least one electrical power source device; at least one load; and a power supply controller coupled between said at least one electrical storage device and said at least one electrical source device to control the flow of electrical energy between said storage device and said source device and to control the flow of electrical energy demanded by said at least one load from at least one of said storage and source devices.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 83 words

A system comprising: at least one electrical power storage device; at least one electrical power source device; at least one load; and a power supply controller coupled between said at least one electrical storage device and said at least one electrical source device to control the flow of electrical energy between said storage device and said source device and to control the flow of electrical energy demanded by said at least one load from at least one of said storage and source devices.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 26 , wherein said at least one electrical storage device is a battery and said at least one electrical source device is a generator.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 20 words

The system of claim 26 , wherein said at least one load comprises an AC load and a DC load.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2007-03-02	2007-09-01	2008-03-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2011-03-02	2011-09-01	2012-03-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2015-03-02	2015-09-01	2016-03-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Mobile power generation system

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