초록 ▼

Hydrocarbon fuel energy is converted to AC electrical energy by a new system utilized to supplement AC power for household and similar limited size loads in synchronism with existing AC utility service via pre-existing wiring between the load and the utility lines. The system has an externally excit

Hydrocarbon fuel energy is converted to AC electrical energy by a new system utilized to supplement AC power for household and similar limited size loads in synchronism with existing AC utility service via pre-existing wiring between the load and the utility lines. The system has an externally excited commutator AC motor-generator driven by an internal combustion engine to provide AC power at a magnitude which is a function of the drive shaft velocity and degree of excitation. An exciter circuit provides excitation for the motor-generator to cause the generated AC power to be in phase with utility power. A load demand sensor senses current flowing through the wiring to the load, providing a control signal signifying magnitude of the current, thus measuring load power requirements. Control circuitry interconnected with the exciter circuitry and the engine is responsive to the control signal to control excitation for causing the generated supplemental power substantially to meet load requirements. The control circuitry also controls engine speed to provide sufficient engine power to meet these load requirements. Mechanical elements of the system are contained by an insulated, sound-proofed enclosure. Air is drawn into the enclosure for cooling of the motor-generator and for recovering heat from the engine and the engine exhaust. The heated air is ducted out of the housing for use in household heating, etc. Various circuit features, including a phase sensitive detector, ensure that electrical power generated by the system does not flow back to the utility service. The system starts and stops automatically according to power demand.

대표청구항 ▼

An energy conversion system for independently supplying demand-controlled supplemental AC electrical power continuously upon demand to an electrical load in electrical phase synchronism with, simultaneously with, and in parallel with an operating, existing source of AC electrical power, said system

An energy conversion system for independently supplying demand-controlled supplemental AC electrical power continuously upon demand to an electrical load in electrical phase synchronism with, simultaneously with, and in parallel with an operating, existing source of AC electrical power, said system comprising commutator AC generator means operating at an controllably variable shaft speed unrelated to the frequency of said existing source of AC electrical power, a prime mover for operating said commutator AC generator means, said prime mover being controllable to vary the magnitude of the available mechanical shaft power thereof to produce a controllably variable shaft speed of said commutator AC generator means which shaft speed is unrelated to the frequency of said existing source of AC electrical power, said commutator AC generator means being adapted to generate supplemental AC power for delivery to said electrical load for satisfying AC power requirements of said electrical load, exciter means for exciting said commutator AC generator means proportional to the magnitude of in-phase real power demand of said electrical load regardless of the controllably variable shaft speed of said commutator AC generator means, electrical load current demand sensor means, independent from said operating, existing source of AC power, for providing a demand control signal which is proportional to the magnitude of in-phase real power demand of said electrical load, first control means interconnected with said prime mover for controlling the production of available mechanical shaft power by said prime mover in proportion to the magnitude of in-phase real power demand of said electrical load, and second control means interconnected with said exciter means for controlling the degree of excitation of said commutator AC generator means to cause the electrical power output thereof to substantially meet and be continually responsive to the magnitude of in-phase real power demand of said electrical load regardless of the mechanical shaft power produced by said prime mover and regardless of the controllably variable shaft speed of said commutator AC generator means.