Generator Cooling Control via Thermal Thresholds
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooling systems for transport units require complex calculations to determine the maximum available electrical power of a generator before switching on additional loads, which is resource-intensive and lacks clarity on operational reliability due to neglecting thermal conditions.
Innovation Solution
A method that uses a thermal generator model to predict the generator's temperature and frequency, allowing the system to assess whether an additional load can be safely connected without calculating the current maximum power, ensuring the generator operates within safe thresholds and adjusting based on actual conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the maximum electrical power of the generator is calculated and distributed among various electrical loads, then the additional electrical load can be connected, but the calculation is complex and resource-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the thermal state parameter from the complex power calculation process. Instead of calculating maximum available electrical power by distributing power among loads, the system only needs to monitor the generator's thermal state and compare it against a threshold. This extraction of the critical thermal parameter simplifies the decision-making process for connecting additional loads.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the monitoring parameter from electrical power distribution to thermal state. By tracking temperature or thermal capacity rather than calculating power availability through complex load distribution algorithms, the system achieves simpler parameter-based control for determining whether additional loads can be connected.
2Productivity
If the maximum electrical power calculation is performed, then power distribution among loads is determined, but the thermal state of the generator is not considered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary monitoring of the generator's thermal state before attempting to connect additional loads. By continuously tracking thermal capacity and maintaining an updated thermal model, the system is prepared to make immediate reliability-based decisions when load connection is requested, without needing to perform complex real-time power distribution calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by continuously monitoring the generator's thermal state and using this information to determine whether additional loads can be connected. The thermal state measurement feeds back into the control decision, ensuring that reliability considerations are always taken into account when managing electrical load connections.
3Reliability
If the generator temperature threshold is exceeded, then the generator may be damaged, but complex power calculations are required to prevent this
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by monitoring only the critical thermal state parameter rather than performing complete power distribution calculations. This partial monitoring approach provides sufficient protection against generator damage without requiring the excessive computational effort of full power balance calculations among all electrical loads.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a method for controlling a generator of a cooling system, wherein the method determines the need to connect an additional electrical load to the cooling system (S1), determines the expected generator temperature of a generator of the cooling system based on a thermal generator model including the additional electrical load (S2), checks whether the expected generator temperature is below a generator temperature threshold (S3), and if this is not the case, continues to operate the cooling system without connecting the additional electrical load (S6), and if the expected generator temperature is below a generator temperature threshold, checks whether a generator frequency is above a generator frequency threshold (S4), and if this is not the case, continues to operate the cooling system without connecting the additional electrical load (S6).and if the generator frequency is above a generator frequency threshold, the additional electrical load is added to the cooling system (S5).