Caterpillar Inc.

Caterpillar Global Mining LLC

Marcelo C Algrain

Brian Douglas Hoff

Sivaprasad Akasam

Kris William Johnson

Paul A Dicke

William H Lane

David T Bienfang

Michael G Onsager

Michael Edward Brandt

James P Johnson

Robert A Hamann

A hybrid electrical power generation system is providing for powering a power consuming system including first and second loads. The hybrid system includes first and second primary generator sets, a redundant generator set, and a utility connection. Each generator set includes an engine mechanically coupled to an electrical power generator. The first primary generator set is fueled by a first fuel and is configured to supply electrical power to the first load, and the second primary generator set is configured to supply electrical power to the second load. The redundant generator set is fueled by a second fuel and is configured to supply electrical power to at least one of the first and second loads. The utility connection is configured to supply electrical power from a utility power grid to the first and the second loads. A controller controls distribution of electrical power to the first and second loads.

Hybrid electrical power generation system and method

Systems and methods for monitoring an electrical energy storage unit and a parameter related to the load and based on the monitoring, if the load parameter is greater than a second rate of change of electrical power for a second component of an electrical power system, providing power from the electrical energy storage unit to the second component until the load parameter and the second component have equivalent rates of change of electrical power.

Systems and methods for stabilizing power rate of change within generator based applications

A power system includes a prime mover configured to generate a drive force, a generator configured to receive the drive force and be driven by the prime mover to produce electrical power for an external load. The system includes a power storage device configured to store electrical power or to discharge electrical power to the external load. The system further includes a controller configured to control the power storage device to discharge power to supplement the electrical power from the generator directed to the external load.

Control system for load sharing between a generator set and an inverter-based energy storage

A control system for use with a genset is disclosed. The control system may have a bus configured to receive power from the generator set, and a first sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a characteristic of power on the bus. The control system may also have a second sensor configured to generate a second signal indicative of an engine parameter of the generator set, and a controller in communication with the first and second sensors. The controller may be configured to synchronize an electrical output of the generator set with the power on the bus based on the first and second signals.

Genset control system implementing engine synchronization

A method of operating a power system is provided. The power system has a plurality of generator sets and a bus. The method monitors the bus and generator sets disconnected from the bus. The method supplies to a control device information associated with the operating state of each of the generator sets and the bus. The method determines a relative frequency mismatch, multiplied by a first weight factor, and a relative phase mismatch, multiplied by a second weight factor, between the frequency and phase of the bus and a generator, and generates a frequency speed bias and a phase speed bias for the generator. The method adds the frequency and phase speed biases to form a total speed bias and connects the generator to the bus when the voltage, frequency, and phase of the generator are within a permissible range of the bus.

Power system with method for adding multiple generator sets

A stationary genset power may have a combustion engine configured to produce a mechanical output, and a main generator driven by the combustion engine to convert a majority portion of the mechanical output to electricity directed to an external load. The stationary genset power system may also have a turbine fluidly connected to the combustion engine, a compressor operatively driven by the turbine to compress combustion air directed to the combustion engine, and a secondary generator operatively driven by the turbine to produce electricity directed to the external load. The stationary genset power system may further have a controller in communication with the primary and second generators. The controller may be configured to synchronize an electrical power output of the secondary generator with an electrical power output of the primary generator prior to connection of the secondary generator to the external load.

Stationary genset power system having turbo-compounding

A method of operating a power system is provided. The power system has a plurality of generator sets and a bus. The method monitors the bus and generator sets disconnected from the bus. The method supplies to a control device information associated with the operating state of each of the generator sets and the bus. The method determines a relative frequency mismatch and a relative phase mismatch between the frequency and phase of the bus and a generator, and generates a frequency speed bias and a phase speed bias for the generator. The method adds the frequency and phase speed biases to form a total speed bias, tunes the total speed bias to make the frequency and phase speed biases combine in a complementary manner, and connects the generator to the bus when the voltage, frequency, and phase of the generator are within a permissible range of the bus.

A power system includes an engine having a first lubrication circuit and at least one auxiliary power unit having a second lubrication circuit. The first lubrication circuit is in fluid communication with the second lubrication circuit.

Power system with an integrated lubrication circuit

A power system includes an engine, a motor/generator operatively connected to the engine, and a starter operatively connected to at least one of the engine and the motor/generator.

Power system

An electrical system for a vehicle includes a first power source generating a first voltage level, the first power source being in electrical communication with a first bus. A second power source generates a second voltage level greater than the first voltage level, the second power source being in electrical communication with a second bus. A starter generator may be configured to provide power to at least one of the first bus and the second bus, and at least one additional power source may be configured to provide power to at least one of the first bus and the second bus. The electrical system also includes at least one power consumer in electrical communication with the first bus and at least one power consumer in electrical communication with the second bus.

Electrical system architecture

A method of managing power resources for an electrical system of a vehicle may include identifying enabled power sources from among a plurality of power sources in electrical communication with the electrical system and calculating a threshold power value for the enabled power sources. A total power load placed on the electrical system by one or more power consumers may be measured. If the total power load exceeds the threshold power value, then a determination may be made as to whether one or more additional power sources is available from among the plurality of power sources. At least one of the one or more additional power sources may be enabled, if available.

Power management system

Turbocompound systems can be used to affect engine operation using the energy in exhaust gas that is driving the available turbocharger. A first electrical device acts as a generator in response to turbocharger rotation. A second electrical device acts as a motor to put mechanical power into the engine, typically at the crankshaft. Apparatus, systems, steps, and methods are described to control the generator and motor operations to control the amount of power being recovered. This can control engine operation closer to desirable parameters for given engine-related operating conditions compared to actual. The electrical devices can also operate in 'reverse,' going between motor and generator functions. This permits the electrical device associated with the crankshaft to drive the electrical device associated with the turbocharger as a motor, overcoming deficient engine operating conditions such as associated with turbocharger lag.

Electric turbocompound control system

A method of controlling the delivery of fluid to an engine includes receiving a fuel flow rate signal. An electric pump is arranged to deliver fluid to the engine. The speed of the electric pump is controlled based on the fuel flow rate signal.

Fluid delivery control system

A system may be provided to perform multiple power conversion operations. The system may include a transformer interconnected between a high voltage DC bus and a low voltage DC bus, and an AC load connected to the transformer through an AC power supply line. The system may be configured to simultaneously provide power from the low voltage DC bus to the high voltage DC bus and the AC load, through the transformer. Further, the system may also be configured to simultaneously provide power from the high voltage DC bus to the low voltage DC bus and the AC load, through the transformer. And, the system may be configured to simultaneously provide power from a shore power source to the AC load, and, to the low voltage DC bus and high voltage DC bus through the transformer.

System for providing multiple power conversion operations

A control system and method for controlling the speed of a plurality of fans for cooling a plurality of fluids in a work machine in accordance with the heat dissipation requirements of the particular heat transfer cores, the present control system including a plurality of sensors positioned to sense the temperature of each of the plurality of fluids, each sensor being operable to output a signal indicative of the temperature of that particular fluid. An electronic controller coupled to the sensors receives signals indicative of the temperature of each of the plurality of fluids, determines therefrom a desired fan speed for each fan, and outputs a signal to individually control the speed of each fan. Each output signal is based upon a comparison of at least some of the temperature error signals determined from the plurality of sensor signals.

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Dunlap, IL, United States of America

Marcelo C Algrain