EP1352435A4 - Electrical power generation - Google Patents
Electrical power generationInfo
- Publication number
- EP1352435A4 EP1352435A4 EP01988379A EP01988379A EP1352435A4 EP 1352435 A4 EP1352435 A4 EP 1352435A4 EP 01988379 A EP01988379 A EP 01988379A EP 01988379 A EP01988379 A EP 01988379A EP 1352435 A4 EP1352435 A4 EP 1352435A4
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- generator
- engine
- alternator
- rotor
- electrical power
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
- B63J—AUXILIARIES ON VESSELS
- B63J3/00—Driving of auxiliaries
- B63J3/02—Driving of auxiliaries from propulsion power plant
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01P—COOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
- F01P3/00—Liquid cooling
- F01P3/20—Cooling circuits not specific to a single part of engine or machine
- F01P3/202—Cooling circuits not specific to a single part of engine or machine for outboard marine engines
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
- H02K7/00—Arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with dynamo-electric machines, e.g. structural association with mechanical driving motors or auxiliary dynamo-electric machines
- H02K7/18—Structural association of electric generators with mechanical driving motors, e.g. with turbines
- H02K7/1807—Rotary generators
- H02K7/1815—Rotary generators structurally associated with reciprocating piston engines
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F01—MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; ENGINE PLANTS IN GENERAL; STEAM ENGINES
- F01P—COOLING OF MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; COOLING OF INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES
- F01P2050/00—Applications
- F01P2050/02—Marine engines
- F01P2050/12—Outboard engine
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
- F02B63/00—Adaptations of engines for driving pumps, hand-held tools or electric generators; Portable combinations of engines with engine-driven devices
- F02B63/04—Adaptations of engines for driving pumps, hand-held tools or electric generators; Portable combinations of engines with engine-driven devices for electric generators
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
- F02B75/00—Other engines
- F02B75/007—Other engines having vertical crankshafts
Definitions
- This invention relates to electrical power generation, and more particularly to fuel-powered, on-board marine generators.
- a typical marine engine-generator set has a water- cooled engine with its crankshaft coupled to the rotor of an electrical generator, with the crankshaft and rotor collinear and horizontal as mounted in operation. Injecting seawater directly into the exhaust stream cools the engine exhaust.
- the engine preferably operates on a four-stroke, gasoline (Otto) cycle, and has an exhaust elbow adapted to mix a flow of water into the streaming exhaust to cool the exhaust before it is discharged.
- Four-stroke engines are particularly preferred for their ability to operate under elevated exhaust back pressures, such as are required to push water-injected exhaust streams through backwash-inhibiting exhaust risers.
- the engine and generator are preferably mounted to a portable frame that may also support power-conditioning circuits for the alternator.
- the output shaft of the engine may be coupled to the rotor shaft of the generator by belted pulleys, for quiet power transmission at a desired speed ratio.
- the alternator or generator may be of several types known in the art, but for some applications a variable speed, permanent magnet alternator is preferred.
- Such alternators are commonly used in generating electrical power from wind-driven turbines, for example, and can be equipped with power conditioning circuitry to provide a stable output frequency over a wide range of input speeds.
- An advantage of variable speed operation is that the engine can be configured to change speeds in response to load, to maintain an optimum operating efficiency and to enable the use of advantageously small, less powerful engines.
- rotor I mean the rotating portion of the alternator, whether carrying electrical windings as an armature, or carrying magnets.
- the permanent magnet alternator is coupled to the engine to run at a relatively constant, "synchronous" speed (e.g., 1800 RPM), to produce a desired output frequency.
- a relatively constant, "synchronous" speed e.g. 1800 RPM
- Such a configuration is appropriate for applications that will accommodate some variation in output voltage over a range of operational loads and temperatures.
- One advantage of this configuration is that it employs a much simpler alternator architecture than that of a wound generator stator with exciter circuits, for example, without the added expense of solid state frequency generation circuitry.
- a method of producing electrical power on-board a boat is provided.
- the method includes the steps of attaching a crankshaft of an outboard motor engine to an electrical generator, mounting the engine and generator on-board a boat, and running the engine to produce electrical power, and directing electrical power from the generator to a remote electrical load, such as an electrical appliance or on-board power grid, to perform useful work.
- This invention can provide cost-effective electrical power generators of a physical size and power rating particularly needed by some boat owners, particularly those with moderate to low power requirements and who prefer a system that can be permanently mounted below deck and out of sight, rather than mounted outboard, for example, where they would be exposed to direct salt spray and less secure from theft.
- Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate an electrical power generator installed on board a boat.
- Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the electrical power generator.
- Fig. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the generator, showing the side-by- side arrangement of vertically oriented engine and alternator.
- Fig. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of the generator, showing an in-line, vertical coupling of engine and alternator.
- Fig. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a third embodiment of the generator, showing an in-line, horizontal coupling of engine and alternator. Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
- a boat 10 is equipped with an inboard, gasoline-powered engine 12 and an electric generator 14, with both the engine and generator mounted below deck and accessible through a hatch as shown.
- Engine 12 and generator 14 may be fed from the same fuel tank (not shown), and exhaust through respective transom bulkhead exhaust ports 16 and 18.
- the generator 14 is mounted upon a platform 20 secured to the boat hull below the rear deck 22.
- Platform 20 has appropriate mounting points (such as bolting bosses, tie-down features, or vibration-isolating mounting pads; not illustrated) for securing the generator to below-deck structure.
- Cooling water is suctioned from a seacock 24 through an inlet hose 26, for injection into the exhaust stream of the generator engine as discussed in more detail below. Cooled exhaust gasses are routed through the transom 28 through an exhaust pipe 30 that rises to above the water line 32.
- Generator 14 is controlled from a remote controller (e.g., switch panel 34 in Fig. 1), receiving input signals through electrical signal line 36.
- a remote controller e.g., switch panel 34 in Fig. 1
- Generated electrical power is routed to onboard electrical loads (e.g., appliances, air conditioners and such, not shown) via output cable 38.
- the generator is powered by liquid fuel (e.g., gasoline or diesel fuel) from tank 40, and a typical marine battery 41 provides 12VDC power.
- liquid fuel e.g., gasoline or diesel fuel
- generator 14 forms a compact, readily mountable, practically stand-alone unit.
- the generator may be equipped with a sound-deadening enclosure 42, as shown, or may alternately be mounted on a rigid frame 44 with open sides and top for increased air circulation. Details of a suitable enclosure 42 can be found in U.S. Patent No. 5,929,394, the contents of which are incorporated by reference as if entirely set forth.
- the height "H" of the entire unit is less than about 15 inches or 38 centimeters (more preferably, less than about 12 inches or 30 centimeters), and occupies a footprint with a length "L" of less than about 25 inches or 63 centimeters (more preferably, less than about 20 inches or 50 centimeters), and a width "W" of less than about 15 inches or 38 centimeters (more preferably, less than about 12 inches or 30 centimeters).
- the weight of a 3 to 4 kilowatt unit is only about 120 pounds.
- Louvers 46 may be provided through enclosure 42 for increased air circulation, and the enclosure may optionally be equipped with output power receptacles 48, as shown.
- generator 14 contains a engine 50 coupled to an electric alternator 52 through a flexible timing or synchronous belt 54 and respective pulleys 56 and 58.
- Belt 54 is of the type commonly used to drive camshafts in automotive engines, for example.
- Pulley 56 is mounted for rotation with one end of the vertical crankshaft 60 of engine 50, with the other end of crankshaft 60 turning a positive displacement pump 62 for suctioning seawater from inlet hose 26 and pumping the seawater out through hose 64 into engine exhaust elbow 66 where it is injected into the exhaust stream of the engine to cool the exhaust before it enters muffler 68.
- engine 50 is a four-stroke gasoline engine designed for use in a vertical shaft configuration in outboard marine motors, and is therefore appropriate for marine environmental conditions.
- Such engines are typically already equipped with exhaust cooling elbow 66 and seawater pump 62, and are therefore readily adapted for use in generator 14 by mounting the engine block to the generator frame, and supporting the lower end of crankshaft 60 in a frame-mounted bearing block 70.
- a generator 14 rated at about 3 to 4 kilowatts a two cylinder, 15 horsepower outboard engine motor is suitable.
- a one cylinder, 6 horsepower outboard engine motor is sufficient.
- alternator 52 As emissions regulations continue to encourage the replacement of two-stroke outboard motor engines with four-stroke versions, the cost and availability of appropriate engines suitable for use in my generator should continue to improve.
- the overall height of the generator is kept advantageously low by arranging alternator 52 to occupy the same vertical space as engine 50, with their shafts running parallel, spaced apart and vertical.
- the rotor shaft 72 of alternator 52 is mounted upon two spaced apart bearings (not shown) within the alternator housing, such that pulley 58 is mounted in cantilevered fashion at the end of the rotor shaft.
- alternator 52 is a permanent magnet alternator designed to be run at variable speed.
- Variable speed PM alternators are also known to be employed in wind machines and in some modern automotive systems, such as in hybrid vehicles.
- Engine 50 may include a speed regulator to maintain the speed of the engine as close as possible to a speed selected with respect to the drive ratio to cause a synchronous alternator speed for producing a desired output frequency.
- the engine may be speed-regulated about a 1500 RPM set point to cause a four-pole alternator to rotate at 1800 RPM for producing a 60 hertz output frequency.
- Such embodiments may require an increase in engine capacity over variable speed arrangements in order to maintain the speed and voltage within acceptable ranges over operational loads and temperatures, but advantageously do not require elaborate power conditioning circuitry.
- controller 74 is disclosed in presently pending U.S. serial number 09/368,200, filed August 4, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference as if entirely set forth, and in corresponding PCT application US00/21141, published August 3, 2000 as WO 01/11765.
- generator 14' contains a vertically-shafted, four-stroke outboard engine motor 50 in which the standard flywheel at the end of its crankshaft has been replaced with a cup-shaped rotor 76 of a pancake profile, permanent magnet alternator 78.
- Rotor 76 turns with the motor crankshaft and carries an arrangement of permanent magnets 80 attached to its inner circumferential surface. The weight and position of magnets 80 are selected to balance firing impulses and radial accelerations of the motor and its rotating components.
- Packaged within rotating rotor 76 is a stationary, wound stator 82 responsive to the moving magnetic fields generated by rotor 76.
- This type of alternator can be constructed to have a very low profile or axial length, such that, replacing the flywheel of the motor, the motor-alternator combination can add only few inches to the height of the motor itself.
- Pump 62 may be mounted on the other end of the crankshaft, as shown, or can be electrically powered and mounted remotely for even lower package height.
- engine 50' is mounted with its crankshaft 60 extending horizontally and coupled through a flexible coupling 82 to the rotor shaft of alternator 52. Because engine 50' was designed to operate with shaft 60 vertical, a few key modifications are made to ensure proper operation and reliability. First, engine 50' is equipped with a bottom oil sump 84 with an appropriate internal oil pickup for siphoning lubricating oil up into the engine.
- carburetor 86 has been repositioned to maintain a vertical throat orientation as designed. In some cases, this entails installing a custom intake manifold designed for this purpose. Other necessary modifications will also be recognized and understood by those of ordinary skill, depending on the specific outboard motor engine selected for any given application.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Power Engineering (AREA)
- Connection Of Motors, Electrical Generators, Mechanical Devices, And The Like (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US24655400P | 2000-11-07 | 2000-11-07 | |
US246554P | 2000-11-07 | ||
PCT/US2001/049981 WO2002045189A2 (en) | 2000-11-07 | 2001-11-07 | Electrical power generation |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1352435A2 EP1352435A2 (en) | 2003-10-15 |
EP1352435A4 true EP1352435A4 (en) | 2004-12-01 |
Family
ID=22931176
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP01988379A Withdrawn EP1352435A4 (en) | 2000-11-07 | 2001-11-07 | Electrical power generation |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1352435A4 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2004515200A (en) |
AU (1) | AU2002241692A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2002045189A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7311066B1 (en) | 2000-05-22 | 2007-12-25 | Wbip, Llc | Controlling exhaust temperatures |
US7005756B2 (en) * | 2000-11-07 | 2006-02-28 | Westerheke Corporation | Marine power generation and engine cooling |
EP1697620A4 (en) * | 2003-10-27 | 2008-11-12 | Wbip Llc | Engine control system for reduced exhaust emissions |
JP2006291927A (en) * | 2005-04-14 | 2006-10-26 | Yamaha Motor Co Ltd | Outboard generator |
US11306652B1 (en) | 2019-01-22 | 2022-04-19 | Westerbeke Corporation | Small diesel engine-generator set |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4836123A (en) * | 1988-04-07 | 1989-06-06 | Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha | Compact motor/generator set for providing alternating current power to a marine craft |
US5014660A (en) * | 1990-10-29 | 1991-05-14 | Westerbeke Corporation | Cooling system for an enclosed heat source |
WO1998038729A1 (en) * | 1997-02-28 | 1998-09-03 | Clifton Gerard Anderson | Portable power generator |
US5904604A (en) * | 1995-11-28 | 1999-05-18 | Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Watercraft electrical system |
Family Cites Families (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2196486B (en) * | 1986-08-25 | 1990-06-06 | Kubota Ltd | Forcedly air-cooled engine generator of vertical shaft-type |
US5078627A (en) * | 1989-12-18 | 1992-01-07 | Outboard Marine Corporation | Voltage regulator and rectifier having over-temperature protection |
US5626105A (en) * | 1995-10-24 | 1997-05-06 | Kohler Co. | Vertical shaft generator with single cooling fan |
US5929394A (en) | 1997-10-07 | 1999-07-27 | Westerbeke Corporation | Sound enclosure |
US6624533B1 (en) | 1999-08-04 | 2003-09-23 | Westerbeke Corporation | Controlling generator power |
-
2001
- 2001-11-07 AU AU2002241692A patent/AU2002241692A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-11-07 WO PCT/US2001/049981 patent/WO2002045189A2/en active Application Filing
- 2001-11-07 JP JP2002547248A patent/JP2004515200A/en active Pending
- 2001-11-07 EP EP01988379A patent/EP1352435A4/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4836123A (en) * | 1988-04-07 | 1989-06-06 | Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha | Compact motor/generator set for providing alternating current power to a marine craft |
US5014660A (en) * | 1990-10-29 | 1991-05-14 | Westerbeke Corporation | Cooling system for an enclosed heat source |
US5904604A (en) * | 1995-11-28 | 1999-05-18 | Sanshin Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Watercraft electrical system |
WO1998038729A1 (en) * | 1997-02-28 | 1998-09-03 | Clifton Gerard Anderson | Portable power generator |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See also references of WO0245189A2 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP2004515200A (en) | 2004-05-20 |
AU2002241692A1 (en) | 2002-06-11 |
WO2002045189A2 (en) | 2002-06-06 |
WO2002045189A3 (en) | 2003-05-30 |
EP1352435A2 (en) | 2003-10-15 |
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Legal Events
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PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
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A4 | Supplementary search report drawn up and despatched |
Effective date: 20041018 |
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RIC1 | Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant |
Ipc: 7F 02B 63/04 B Ipc: 7H 01M 2/00 A |
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GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
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STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
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18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 20090603 |