Power angle calculation for alternator controller
View Patent ↗In one embodiment, a generator includes a rotor configured to rotate in cooperation with a stator to generate electrical power. A sensor, which is supported by the rotor, is configured to generate a trigger signal indicative of a position of the rotor. A communication interface is configured to receive the trigger signal from the sensor of the rotor and receive data indicative of an output of the generator. A controller supported by the rotor or configured to perform a phase analysis of the trigger signal and the output of the generator and calculate a power angle for the generator based on the phase analysis.
1. A method comprising:
detecting a trigger signal from a pickup coil of a rotor for a generator;
receiving data indicative of an output of the generator;
performing, at a rotor controller, a phase analysis of the trigger signal and the output of the generator; and
calculating a power angle for the generator based on the phase analysis.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
querying a lookup table with the power angle for the generator; and
receiving a power value from the lookup table.
3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
comparing the power value to a threshold value.
4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
generating a safety signal in response to the power value exceeding the threshold level.
5. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
modifying a target value for the generator in response to the power value exceeding the threshold level.
6. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
generating a load balance signal in response to the power value exceeding the threshold level.
7. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:
generating a paralleling signal in response to the power value exceeding the threshold level.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
sending a command to a stator controller based on the power angle.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
starting a timer for the command sent to the stator controller; and
when the timer exceeds a timeout value, switching the rotor controller from a slave mode to a master mode.
10. An apparatus comprising:
a communication interface configured to receive a trigger signal from a pickup coil of a rotor for a generator and receive data indicative of an output of the generator; and
a controller supported by the rotor and configured to perform a phase analysis of the trigger signal and the output of the generator and calculate a power angle for the generator based on the phase analysis.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:
a memory storing a lookup table with the power angle for the generator associated with a power value,
wherein the controller is configured to query the lookup table with the power angle to receive the power value.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to compare the power value to a threshold value.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to generate a safety signal in response to the power value exceeding the threshold level.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to modify a target value for the generator in response to the power value exceeding the threshold level.
15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to generate a load balance signal in response to the power value exceeding the threshold level.
16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to generate a paralleling signal in response to the power value exceeding the threshold level.
17. A generator comprising:
a rotor configured to rotate in cooperation with a stator to generate electrical power;
a sensor supported by the rotor and configured to generate a trigger signal indicative of a position of the rotor;
a communication interface configured to receive the trigger signal from the pickup coil of a rotor for a generator and receive data indicative of an output of the generator; and
a controller supported by the rotor and configured to perform a phase analysis of the trigger signal and the output of the generator and calculate a power angle for the generator based on the phase analysis.
18. The generator of claim 17 , further comprising:
a memory storing a lookup table with the power angle for the generator associated with a power value,
wherein the controller is configured to query the lookup table with the power angle to receive the power value.
19. The generator of claim 18 , wherein the controller is configured to compare the power value to a threshold value and generate a command when the power value exceeds the threshold value.
20. The generator of claim 19 , wherein the command is a shutdown command, a load balance command, a paralleling command, or target adjustment command.