Electronic Governor for Engine-Driven Power Generator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Engine-driven synchronous power generators face challenges in maintaining stable output frequency and efficiency due to mechanical governors' aging issues and high manufacturing costs of inverter-type generators.
Innovation Solution
An engine-driven power generator with an electronic governor that allows for two operation modes: a normal mode maintaining constant engine revolution and an economic mode adjusting engine speed within a range based on load fluctuations, along with an automatic voltage regulator for stable output voltage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a mechanical governor is used to control engine revolution, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but it produces aging change and makes offset adjustment difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical governor with an electronic governor that uses sensors, microprocessors, and electronic control circuits to detect engine speed and adjust fuel injection timing and quantity. This substitution eliminates mechanical wear and aging while maintaining the ability to control engine revolution, thereby resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The electronic governor dynamically adjusts engine operating parameters (fuel injection timing, quantity, and injection pressure) based on real-time sensor feedback and pre-stored maps. This allows the system to adapt to changing conditions and compensate for aging effects, improving reliability while keeping the control system programmable and adjustable.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an inverter type power generator is used to control output frequency, then the output frequency can be controlled independently of engine revolution, but the manufacturing cost is significantly high
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the frequency control function from the engine speed control system by using pre-stored revolution-speed maps that correlate engine revolution with output frequency. Instead of using an inverter to convert frequency, the system directly controls engine speed to match the required frequency, eliminating the need for expensive inverter hardware while maintaining frequency control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pre-stored maps (lookup tables) that contain the relationship between engine revolution and output frequency under various load conditions. These maps are copied from characteristic curves and stored in memory, allowing the electronic governor to quickly determine target revolution values without complex real-time calculations or additional hardware, thereby reducing manufacturing cost.
3Reliability
If the engine revolution is maintained at a predetermined value to maintain output frequency, then the output frequency remains stable, but the fuel consumption increases during low load operation
Solution Approach 1:
The electronic governor dynamically adjusts the target engine revolution based on the actual load condition by retrieving values from pre-stored maps. During low-load operation, the system reduces engine revolution from the fixed predetermined value to an optimized lower value, while during high-load operation, it maintains or increases revolution as needed. This dynamic adjustment maintains frequency stability when necessary while reducing fuel consumption during low-load conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the engine revolution parameter according to load conditions using pre-calculated maps that specify optimal revolution values for different load levels and frequency requirements. This allows the engine to operate at efficient revolution points during low-load operation while maintaining stable output frequency when required, thereby reducing fuel consumption without sacrificing frequency stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables stable output frequency, reduced fuel consumption and noise during low loads, and increased output during high loads, while maintaining performance within predetermined frequency fluctuations and reducing manufacturing costs.
Implementation Method 1
The mechanical governor detects the engine revolution as centrifugal force
Implementation Method 2
a synchronous power generator driven by the engine
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention provides an engine-driven synchronous power generator that selects the operation state with respect to the load of the power generator by controlling the revolution. The electronic governor 4 includes a target revolution determining unit 10 including a storage 101 for providing a constant target engine revolution irrespective of the load current, and a map 102 for providing the target engine revolution corresponding to the load. The target revolution corresponding to the revolution of no-load operation and loaded operation is set in the map 102. The storage 101 or the map 102 is selected by operating a switch 9. A governor motor 14 is controlled so that the actual engine revolution calculated in an engine revolution calculator 7 converges to the target revolution. An automotive voltage regulator (AVR) 15 for controlling the output voltage of the power generator 1 constant irrespective of the load is provided.