Method of determining a rotor displacement angle

1. A method of determining a rotor displacement angle of a synchronous generator having a rotor and electrically connected to a power supply network, the method comprising:

during a revolution of the rotor, communicating at least one rotary speed signal to an evaluation unit using at least one rotary speed measuring device;

communicating a frequency signal to the evaluation unit for each period duration of a voltage signal of the power supply network using a frequency measuring device;

determining a time duration between the communication of the rotary speed signal and the communication of the frequency signal using the evaluation unit;

inferring the rotor displacement angle based on the determined time duration;

determining a no-load time duration;

storing, for calibration, the determined time duration as the no-load time duration in the evaluation unit, after synchronisation of the synchronous generator with the power supply network has been effected and substantially without load application to the synchronous generator;

determining the rotor displacement angle, using a differential time formed from the determined time duration less the no-load time duration; and

inferring the rotor displacement angle based on the differential time.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:

mechanically rigidly connecting the rotor to an engine shaft of an internal combustion engine; and

communicating, using the at least one rotary speed measuring device, the at least one rotary speed signal to the evaluation unit for each revolution of the engine shaft or a camshaft of the internal combustion engine.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the at least one rotary speed measuring device includes a sensor, and the method further comprises arranging the sensor along a periphery of the rotor or along a periphery of the engine shaft.

4. A method as set forth in claim 3 , wherein the at least one rotary speed measuring device includes a signalling device co-operating with the sensor, and the method further comprises arranging the signalling device along a periphery of a stator of the synchronous generator or at a housing of the internal combustion engine.

5. A method as set forth in claim 2 , wherein the internal combustion engine comprises a gas engine.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:

proportionally converting the differential time into degrees of the rotor displacement angle, wherein a value of the differential time of substantially zero seconds corresponds to a rotor displacement angle of 0 degrees and a value of the differential time of substantially a quarter of the period duration of the voltage signal of the power supply network corresponds to a rotor displacement angle of 90 degrees.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:

outputting, using the evaluation unit, a warning signal to signal a threatening pole slippage when the rotor displacement angle is determined to be of more than 5 degrees.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the rotor displacement angle of more than 5 degrees comprises a rotor displacement angle of more than 7 degrees.

9. A method as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising:

determining an actual period duration of the voltage signal, so as to take account of a network frequency fluctuation with respect to the voltage signal of the power supply network upon or during the operation of determining the time duration between the communication of the rotary speed signal and the communication of the frequency signal; and

determining at least one correction factor formed from a predeterminable theoretical period duration fractionised by the actual period duration, wherein the determined time duration is multiplied by the at least one correction factor.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 , further comprising:

determining the actual period duration of the voltage signal by measurement of a time difference between two successive frequency signals.

11. A method as set forth in claim 9 , further comprising:

forming a correction factor upon or during the operation of determining the no-load time duration;

multiplying the no-load time duration by the correction factor; and

storing, in the evaluation unit, the multiplied no-load time duration as a standardised no-load time duration.

12. A method as set forth in claim 9 , further comprising:

forming a correction factor upon or during the operation of determining the differential time;

forming a standardised time duration by multiplication of the determined time duration by the correction factor;

determining the rotor displacement angle by forming a standardised differential time from a standardised time duration less a standardised no-load time duration; and

inferring the rotor displacement angle based on the standardised differential time.

13. A method as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the revolution of the rotor comprises each revolution of the rotor.