Granted Patent B2

US 6,871,495 · App. 10/431,690 · Granted Mar 29, 2005

Abstract

Claims (57)

1. A system for controlling a thermal cycle engine powering an alternator to produce a power transfer, comprising:

a processor able to carry out a set of instructions;

a current sensing subsystem for sensing a current flowing through a current sensor to determine a V emf ; and

an error amplifying subsystem;

a temperature sensor to sense the temperature of a portion of the thermal cycle engine; and

a position sensor to sense the position of at least one of the thermal cycle engine and the alternator;

wherein said processor controls said error amplifying module depending upon the temperature in the position of the thermal cycle engine or the alternator to achieve a selected power transfer from the alternator to a load;

wherein said processor is able to control said error amplifying module to provide a load current that is substantially of the same wave shape and phase of the V emf of the thermal cycle engine to achieve a selected power transfer from the alternator.

2. A system for controlling a thermal cycle engine powering an alternator to produce a power transfer, comprising:

a processor able to carry out a set of instructions;

a current sensing subsystem for sensing a current flowing through a current sensor to determine a V emf ; and

an error amplifying subsystem;

a zero crossing link signal to said processor such that said processor can operate the thermal cycle engine synchronously with a second thermal cycle engine;

wherein said processor is able to control said error amplifying module to provide a load current that is substantially of the same wave shave and phase of the V emf of the thermal cycle engine to achieve a selected power transfer from the alternator.

3. A system for efficiently producing electrical power, comprising:

a thermal cycle engine;

an alternator driven by said thermal cycle engine;

a load to consume electrical power produced by said alternator; and

a digital controller for controlling at least a portion of at least one of said thermal cycle engine and said alternator to provide power transfer from said alternator to said load;

wherein said controller is able to control a stroke length of said alternator to obtain a selected power transfer from said alternator;

said controller is able to alter the consumption of electrical power from said alternator with said load during difference phases of a life cycle of said thermal cycle; and

said load is generally lower at a beginning of said life cycle and higher at a intermediate portion of said life cycle.

4. A method of operating a thermal cycle engine and an alternator to produce a power transfer from the alternator to a load during a life cycle of the thermal cycle engine, comprising:

transferring a generally maximum attainable power from the alternator;

determining a current of the alternator with a processor;

adjusting said current remotely to the thermal cycle engine;

determining a stroke length of the thermal cycle engine; and

selecting an optimal stroke length for the thermal cycle engine or the alternator;

starting the thermal cycle engine substantially stall free;

wherein the step of transferring a generally maximum obtainable power from the alternator includes transferring an amount of power less than an amount required to stall the thermal cycle engine; and

wherein selecting a stroke includes selecting a stroke generally less than the knocking stroke to remove the maximum amount of power.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein starting the thermal cycle engine includes:

determining said stroke a plurality of times; and

adjusting said current prior to said determined stroke reaching said knocking stroke.

6. A computer program executed by a processor to control either a thermal cycle engine or an alternator to obtain a power transfer from the alternator, the program comprising:

starting the thermal cycle engine generally stall free;

optimizing a stroke length of at least one of the alternator and the thermal cycle engine;

optimizing a current from the alternator; and

optimizing a heater head temperature of the thermal cycle engine; wherein optimizing a current from the alternator includes;

reading a wave table stored in a computer accessible memory;

determining a error correction value to achieve a optimum current from the alternator;

providing the error correction value to a analog system to provide a feed forward signal such that the next cycle of detected current substantially matches the wave table.

7. The computer program of claim 6 , wherein starting the thermal cycle engine includes:

selecting a load to achieve a maximum stroke length at the start-up of the thermal cycle engine.

8. The computer program of claim 7 , wherein:

said load is selectable as said stroke length generally reaches a knocking stroke length;

said computer program controls an analog source to increase a load on the alternator to reduce the current stroke length.

9. A computer program executed by a processor to control either a thermal cycle engine or an alternator to obtain a power transfer from the alternator, the program comprising:

starting the thermal cycle engine generally stall free;

optimizing a stroke length of at least one of the alternator and the thermal cycle engine;

optimizing a current from the alternator; and

optimizing a heater head temperature of the thermal cycle engine;

wherein optimizing a heater head temperature includes;

calculating a current temperature of the heater head;

checking the calculated current temperature with a stored optimal temperature of the heater head; and

optimizing a stroke length to substantially equalize said sensed temperature and said stored selected temperature.

10. The computer program of claim 9 , wherein a longer stroke length cools said heater head.

Assignments (12)