초록 ▼

A control system is provided for use with a plurality of generator sets. The control system may have a bus, an arbitration relay, a switching device, a control module, and first, second, and third discrete signal cables. The control module may be configured to receive a group start signal and initia

A control system is provided for use with a plurality of generator sets. The control system may have a bus, an arbitration relay, a switching device, a control module, and first, second, and third discrete signal cables. The control module may be configured to receive a group start signal and initiate startup of a first of the plurality of generator sets, and to generate a signal on the first discrete signal cable based on an operational status of the first of the plurality of generator sets. The control module may also be configured to determine if the second discrete signal cable is active, to activate the second discrete signal cable and the arbitration relay based on the determination, and to activate the switching device to connect the first of the plurality of generator sets to the bus based on a status of the third discrete signal cable.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A control system for use with a plurality of generator sets, the control system comprising: a bus connected to supply power to an external load;a first discrete signal cable operatively connected to the plurality of generator sets;a second discrete signal cable operatively connected to the plural

1. A control system for use with a plurality of generator sets, the control system comprising: a bus connected to supply power to an external load;a first discrete signal cable operatively connected to the plurality of generator sets;a second discrete signal cable operatively connected to the plurality of generator sets;a third discrete signal cable operatively connected to the plurality of generator sets;an arbitration relay disposed within the third discrete signal cable and being associated with a first of the plurality of generator sets;a switching device configured to selectively connect the first of the plurality of generator sets to the bus; anda control module connected to the first discrete signal cable, the second discrete signal cable, the third discrete signal cable, the arbitration relay, and the switching device, the control module being configured to: receive a group start signal and initiate startup of the first of the plurality of generator sets;generate a signal on the first discrete signal cable based on an operational status of the first of the plurality of generator sets;determine if the second discrete signal cable is active;activate the second discrete signal cable and the arbitration relay based on the determination; andactivate the switching device to connect the first of the plurality of generator sets to the bus based on a status of the arbitration relay. 2. The control system of claim 1, wherein the operational status of the first of the plurality of generator sets is associated with a voltage and a frequency output of the first of the plurality of generator sets. 3. The control system of claim 1, wherein the control module is configured to inhibit activation of the arbitration relay and the switching device when the second discrete signal cable has already been activated by another control module associated with another of the plurality of generator sets. 4. The control system of claim 1, wherein the control module is further configured to: detect when the bus has already been energized by another of the plurality of generator sets; andresponsively release the first and second discrete signal cables and the arbitration relay, and enter a synchronization mode of operation. 5. The control system of claim 1, wherein the control module is further configured to release the first discrete signal cable when activating the second discrete signal cable. 6. The control system of claim 1, wherein the status of the arbitration relay includes an activation status of the third discrete signal cable on both sides of the arbitration relay. 7. The control system of claim 6, wherein the control module is configured to activate the switching device to connect the first of the plurality of generator sets to the bus only when a pre-arbitration relay status of the third discrete signal cable is active and a post-arbitration relay status of the third discrete signal cable is inactive. 8. The control system of claim 7, wherein the control module is further configured to determine the first of the plurality of generator sets has lost arbitration when the pre-arbitration relay status of the third discrete signal cable is in-active, and to release the third discrete signal cable. 9. The control system of claim 7, wherein the control module is further configured to delay a time period after activating the arbitration relay and before activating the switching device. 10. The control system of claim 9, wherein the control module is further configured to determine a failure has occurred and to release the second and third discrete signal cables when at least one of the pre- and post-arbitration relay statuses of the third discrete signal cable changes during the time period. 11. The control system of claim 7, wherein a separate arbitration relay is associated with each of the plurality of generator sets and disposed in series. 12. A power system, comprising: a bus connected to supply power to an external load;a first generator set configured to provide power to the bus;a second generator set configured to provide power to the bus in parallel with the first generator set;a first discrete signal cable operatively connected to the first and second generator sets;a second discrete signal cable operatively connected to the first and second generator sets;a third discrete signal cable operatively connected to the first and second generator sets;a first arbitration relay disposed within the third discrete signal cable and being associated with the first generator set;a second arbitration relay disposed within the third discrete signal cable and being associated with the second generator set;a first switching device configured to selectively connect the first generator set to the bus; anda second switching device configured to selectively connect the second generator set to the bus;a first control module connected to the first discrete signal cable, the second discrete signal cable, the third discrete signal cable, the first and second arbitration relays, and the first and second switching devices; anda second control module connected to the first discrete signal cable, the second discrete signal cable, the third discrete signal cable, the first and second arbitration relays, and the first and second switching devices,wherein each of the first and second control modules is configured to: receive a group start signal and initiate startup of the corresponding one of the first and second generator sets;generate a signal on the first discrete signal cable based on an operational status of the corresponding one of the first and second generator sets;determine if the second discrete signal cable has been activated by the other of the first and second control modules;activate the second discrete signal cable and the corresponding one of the first and second arbitration relays based on the determination; andactivate the corresponding one of the first and second switching devices to connect the corresponding one of the first and second generator sets to the bus based on a status of the third discrete signal cable on both sides of the corresponding one of the first and second arbitration relays.