JP6284611B2 - Engine drive power generator - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to an engine-driven power generation device, and more particularly to an engine power generation device that performs power assistance by power storage means.

  In a portable engine-driven power generator used outdoors, a power generator is driven by an engine, and electric power is supplied from the power generator to various electric devices (hereinafter referred to as loads).

  A conventional general engine-driven power generation apparatus basically requires a device that can obtain an engine output equivalent to the maximum power that can be obtained by a power generator.

  The larger the maximum electric power that can be obtained, the larger the power generator is required, and the larger the engine (the larger the displacement) is correspondingly required. Therefore, in an engine drive power generation device, the larger the maximum output, the larger both the engine and the power generation body.

  When the electric load for supplying electric power requires large electric power, a large engine-driven power generator is used. On the other hand, the user does not necessarily use only an electric load that generates a large amount of electric power. Instead, the user temporarily uses a large electric power at the time of start-up, etc. However, various electric loads, such as a load that uses a small amount of electric power during normal operation, are used according to the work contents.

  If one large engine-driven power generator is used, it is possible to cope with all of various electric loads. However, in addition to the disadvantages of a large installation space, a large weight, and a large number of man-hours to carry, a large engine-driven power generator has the disadvantages of high fuel consumption and high noise.

  Under such circumstances, portable engine-driven power generators used outdoors are required to be made more compact with a larger power output.

In response to such a request, techniques disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 below have been proposed.
Patent Document 1 discloses a technique in which a “battery” is prepared separately from the electric power obtained by the “engine / power generator” and the electric power of these two power sources is superimposed. . And the electric power assistance by a battery is performed with respect to the state which requires large electric power temporarily at the time of starting.

  By adopting such specifications, the “engine / power generator” can obtain the necessary power during normal operation of the electric load. At startup, it is “engine / power generator power” + “battery power”. By covering it, it is possible to cope with large electric power required only at the time of start-up with a power generator smaller than the conventional one.

  Patent Document 2 relates to an engine welder. In a small current welding operation, electric power is supplied only by an engine power generation device. In a large current welding operation, in addition to the engine / power generation body, electric power assistance by a battery is provided. A technique for reducing the size of the entire apparatus is disclosed.

  In the case of Patent Document 1, in order to superimpose an engine generator (AC power) and a battery (DC power), a rectifier is provided on the output side of the engine generator to convert AC to DC. Moreover, since the finally obtained power is AC power equivalent to that of a commercial power source, the superimposed DC power is converted into AC by an inverter.

  On the other hand, in the case of Patent Document 2, the direct current output is directly output to the welding machine after superimposing by direct current.

  As described above, in the technologies disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, there is a difference between whether the power finally supplied to the load is AC power or DC power, but both of them are batteries (power storage). The point that the electric power assistance by means) is performed is common.

  In the configurations disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a large amount of power can be obtained by superimposing the discharge output from the battery (power storage means) on the output of the power generator, but there is further technology for charging the power storage means. Improvement is desired.

  Specifically, in the configurations disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2, a cycle of “start-up → running in a normal state → stop ...” or “use (starting to use) → not-use → ...” is shortened. It is difficult to cope with a load that repeats in a cycle (high frequency). That is, it is difficult to cope with “an electrical load with a high start-up frequency or a short cycle of use or non-use”.

  When the battery is used in the “use method with high activation frequency” as described above, the frequency of discharge from the battery is high, and the amount of charge stored in the battery is consumed in a short time.

  In addition, the normal battery charging time varies depending on the type of battery and the charging method, but generally requires a charging time of about several minutes to several tens of minutes even for a short time. For this reason, for example, in the case of an electrical load of a short cycle usage method such as 30 seconds use → 30 seconds non-use →. Therefore, if the electric power assistance by the battery is repeatedly executed for such an electric load, the electric power assistance by the battery may not be performed.

  Examples of the electric load used in the short cycle as described above include an “pneumatic compressor” that is an inductive load that operates with AC power. In addition, examples of the “electric load used in a usage method with a high frequency of use and non-use” include a “welder”.

  Further, in the configurations of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, electric power assistance by a battery (power storage means) is performed only in a state where the power used by the load exceeds the maximum power determined by the engine and the power generator, that is, a so-called overload state. ing. However, in a so-called light load that is not in an overload state, power assistance by the battery (power storage means) is not performed. Therefore, the technologies disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 are the same as the engine-driven power generator that does not perform power assistance by the battery (power storage means) at light loads.

  On the other hand, engine-driven power generators are required not only to have a small size and to obtain a large output, but also to improve fuel efficiency and ensure quietness. However, in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, it cannot be said that a countermeasure for such a problem is sufficient.

JP 2003-102200 A Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 04-070269

  Therefore, the present invention is used in an engine power generation apparatus that performs power assistance by power storage means such as a battery or a capacitor in a usage method of “high start-up frequency or short (high frequency) use / non-use cycle”. The first object is to provide an engine-driven power generator suitable for portable use that can repeatedly perform power assistance by the power storage means even if it is an “electric load”.

  In addition, the present invention provides an engine-driven power generation device that achieves fuel efficiency improvement by reducing the burden on the engine by performing power assistance by the power storage means regardless of the size of the load, and having excellent silence. This is the second purpose.

  In order to achieve the first object, according to the engine-driven power generator of the first invention, the engine, a power generator that is driven by the engine to generate AC power, and AC power generated from the power generator is converted to DC. A rectifier that converts power, a DC power bus section provided on the output side of the rectifier, an output terminal section connected to the output side of the DC power bus section to connect a load, and a parallel connection to the DC power bus section Power storage means, a DC power bus section and a charger provided between the power storage means, a DC power bus section and a discharger provided between the power storage means and capable of voltage adjustment and current adjustment, DC Voltage detection means for detecting the voltage of the power bus section, current detection means for detecting the current of the DC power bus section, power storage means for detecting the terminal voltage of the power storage means, terminal voltage detection means, engine, power generator, charger And discharger Control means for controlling the operation, supplying DC power converted by the rectifier as charging power of the power storage means from the DC power bus through the charger, and storing the DC power converted by the rectifier In the engine-driven power generator that feeds the load by superimposing the DC power output to the DC power bus through the discharger, when the DC power converted by the rectifier is fed to the storage means by the charger When the state where the power storage means does not reach full charge is detected, power is supplied to the power storage means by the charger and the output of the power generator is maintained at a predetermined value not more than the maximum value of the set range. When at least one of the bodies is controlled and the state where the power storage means reaches full charge is detected, power supply to the power storage means is stopped by the charger, and the output of the power generator is To match the power used in the load, it is characterized by controlling at least one of the engine and generator body.

  According to the first invention, the output of the power generator is controlled in accordance with the state of charge of the power storage means. Thus, in a state where the power storage means is not fully charged, power is supplied to the power storage means by the charger while maintaining the output of the power generator at a predetermined value that is not more than the maximum value of the set range. As a result, in an engine power generation device that performs power assistance by power storage means such as a battery or a capacitor, “electric load used in a usage method with a high start-up frequency or a short (high frequency) use / non-use cycle However, it is possible to provide an engine-driven power generator suitable for portable use that can repeatedly perform power assistance by the power storage means.

  Further, in a state where the power storage means has reached full charge, the charging of the power storage means is stopped, and control is performed so that the output of the power generator matches the power used by the load. As a result, the engine can be operated so as to obtain the minimum electric power necessary for operating the load, and the fuel consumption can be improved and the noise can be reduced.

  Preferably, in the first invention, when it is detected that the power storage means is not fully charged, the charger supplies power to the power storage means, and the output of the power generator is a predetermined value lower than the maximum value of the setting range. At least one of the engine and the power generator is controlled so as to maintain the above.

  Thus, if the output of the power generator is maintained at a predetermined value lower than the maximum value of the setting range, fluctuations in the engine speed can be suppressed and the engine speed can be reduced as compared with the maximum output. Thereby, the fuel consumption reduction and noise reduction of an engine drive type electric power generating apparatus can be achieved.

  In order to achieve the first object, according to the engine-driven power generation device of the second invention, an engine, a power generator that is driven by the engine to generate AC power, and AC power generated from the power generator Is connected in parallel to the DC power bus section, a DC power bus section provided on the output side of the rectifier, an output terminal section connected to the DC power bus section for connecting a load, and a DC power bus section. Power storage means, a charger provided between the DC power bus section and the power storage means, a discharger provided between the DC power bus section and the power storage means and capable of voltage adjustment and current adjustment, and a DC power bus Voltage detection means for detecting the voltage of the power supply section, current detection means for detecting the current of the DC power bus section, power storage means for detecting the terminal voltage of the power storage means, terminal voltage detection means, engine, power generator, charger and discharge Electrical operation Control means for controlling, supplying DC power converted by the rectifier from the DC power bus as the charging power of the power storage means via the charger, and discharging the DC power converted by the rectifier from the power storage means. In an engine-driven power generator that feeds power to a load by superimposing DC power output to a DC power bus section via an electric appliance, when the DC power converted by the rectifier is supplied to the storage means by a charger, When the state that the means does not reach full charge is detected, the charger supplies power to the power storage means and controls at least one of the engine or the power generator so that the output of the power generator maintains the maximum value of the set range. When the state where the power storage means reaches full charge is detected, power supply to the power storage means is stopped by the charger, and the output of the power generator is connected to the load power consumption. To match the is characterized by controlling at least one of the engine or power generator.

  According to the second invention, the output of the power generator is controlled in accordance with the state of charge of the power storage means. Thereby, in the state in which the electrical storage means is not fully charged, the output of the power generator is maintained so that the maximum power can be obtained. As a result, the charging power to the power storage means can be maximized and the charging time can be minimized.

  Further, in a state where the power storage means has reached full charge, the charging of the power storage means is stopped, and control is performed so that the output of the power generator matches the power used by the load. As a result, the engine can be operated so as to obtain the minimum electric power necessary for operating the load, and the fuel consumption can be improved and the noise can be reduced.

  In the first or second aspect of the invention, preferably, a means for switching between permitting and prohibiting power feeding to the load is provided between the DC power bus and the output terminal unit, and allowing or prohibiting power feeding to the load. The means for performing the switching is when the output from the discharger to the DC power bus is stopped, the storage means is detected not being fully charged, and the load is detected to be non-operating. Prohibit power supply.

  As described above, when the load power supply ON / OFF switching is set to OFF (power supply is prohibited), not only the charging time is shortened, but the amount of power stored in the power storage means is insufficient, and sufficient power cannot be supplied to the load. Therefore, it is possible to prevent occurrence of an unfavorable situation that occurs for example, a situation in which poor welding occurs when applied to a welding machine, or a situation in which activation of an inductive load fails when applied to a generator.

  In the first or second aspect of the invention, preferably, a means for selecting whether to enable or disable the prohibition switching operation of the means for switching between permission and prohibition of power supply to the load is provided.

  As a result, regarding the control of “load power supply ON / OFF switching”, whether or not to perform “OFF (power supply prohibition) operation” in this control is determined based on whether the load power supply ON / OFF switching function is enabled / disabled. Since the user himself / herself selects the state, the user himself / herself can use this function for the work while being aware that this function works.

  In order to achieve the second object, according to the engine drive power generator of the third invention, the engine, the power generator that is driven by the engine to generate AC power, and the AC power generated from the power generator. To the DC power bus, a DC power bus section provided on the output side of the rectifier, an output terminal section connected to the output side of the DC power bus section to connect the load, and a DC power bus section Power storage means connected in parallel, a charger provided between the DC power bus section and the power storage means, a discharger provided between the DC power bus section and the power storage means and capable of voltage adjustment and current adjustment A voltage detection means for detecting the voltage of the DC power bus section, a current detection means for detecting a current of the DC power bus section, and a control means for controlling the operation of the engine, power generator, charger and discharger. Converted by rectifier DC power supplied from the DC power bus section via the charger as the charging power for the storage means, and DC power converted by the rectifier is output from the storage means to the DC power bus section via the discharger When the control means detects an increase in the load power consumption based on the voltage detected by the voltage detection means and the current detected by the current detection means In addition, DC power is output from the storage means by the discharger so that the power supplied to the load matches the load power used after the fluctuation, and the power supplied to the load matches the power usage after the fluctuation. It is characterized by increasing the output of the power generator while maintaining the state.

  In this way, by performing power assistance by discharging the power storage means when the load increases, the power assistance by discharging the power storage means is performed when there is an increase in load regardless of the size of the load. As a result, the fuel required for rapid acceleration of the engine in order to respond quickly to the increase in the load in the conventional engine-driven power generation apparatus becomes unnecessary, and fuel efficiency can be improved.

  Preferably, in the third aspect of the invention, when the power used by the load after the increase fluctuation is an overload, the setting from the power generator to the load after the output of the power generator reaches the maximum value in the setting range. The supply of the maximum power in the range is started, and the DC power from the power storage means is set to be the difference power between the power used by the load after the increase and the power of the maximum value of the power generator by the discharger.

  In this way, in the case of so-called overload, where the increase fluctuation of the load exceeds the maximum output determined by the engine and the power generation body, it is necessary for rapid acceleration to quickly respond to the increase fluctuation of the load in the conventional engine drive power generation device. Since the required fuel is no longer necessary, fuel consumption can be improved. Furthermore, if power is supplied from the generator to the load while the output of the generator is increasing, or after reaching the maximum value of the setting range, even if the increase in engine speed or the increase in generated torque is slow The adverse effect on the load side can be suppressed. In addition, since the engine speed is increased with a smaller load (rotational resistance) on the engine than in the conventional state where all the loads are handled by the engine, the fuel consumption at the start of the engine speed is reduced. Can be reduced.

  Preferably, in the third invention, when the power consumption of the load after the increase change is not an overload, the output of the power generator reaches the power consumption of the load after the increase change, Then, supply of electric power corresponding to the electric power used by the load after the increase change is started, and output of DC power from the power storage means is stopped by the discharger.

  In this way, when the load fluctuation is less than the maximum output determined by the engine and the power generator, so-called light load, it is necessary for rapid acceleration to quickly respond to the load fluctuation in the conventional engine-driven power generator. Therefore, fuel consumption can be improved. In addition, when the load power consumption increases and fluctuates, power is first supplied from the power storage means to the load, while the output of the power generator is increasing or after the output of the power generator is sufficiently increased, If power is supplied from the body to the load, adverse effects on the load side can be suppressed even when the increase in the rotational speed of the engine or the increase in the generated torque is slow. In addition, since the engine speed is increased with a smaller load (rotational resistance) on the engine than in the conventional state where all the loads are handled by the engine, the fuel consumption at the start of the engine speed is reduced. Can be reduced.

  Further, in the third invention, preferably, after the output of the DC power from the power storage means is stopped by the discharger, the power supplied to the load is maintained in a state suitable for the used power of the load after the fluctuation, While further increasing the output of the power generation body from the power corresponding to the power consumption of the load after the increase fluctuation, the power is supplied to the power storage means by the charger, and the power output of the load after the increase fluctuation is further increased. The battery is powered by the charger while reducing the power corresponding to

  As described above, when the increase fluctuation in the load is a light load, the power storage unit is charged after the power is supplemented by discharging the power storage unit. Further, since no extra fuel is required for rapid acceleration of the engine, fuel consumption can be improved. Further, the engine rotation speed can be changed gently. For this reason, the fluctuation of the driving sound generated from the engine which is annoying for the user becomes moderate, and it becomes easy to ensure the quietness.

  In order to achieve the second object, according to the engine drive power generator of the fourth invention, an engine, a power generator that is driven by the engine to generate AC power, and AC power generated from the power generator. To the DC power bus, a DC power bus section provided on the output side of the rectifier, an output terminal section connected to the output side of the DC power bus section to connect the load, and a DC power bus section Power storage means connected in parallel, a charger provided between the DC power bus section and the power storage means, a discharger provided between the DC power bus section and the power storage means and capable of voltage adjustment and current adjustment A voltage detection means for detecting the voltage of the DC power bus section, a current detection means for detecting a current of the DC power bus section, and a control means for controlling the operation of the engine, power generator, charger and discharger. Converted by rectifier Direct current power supplied from the DC power bus section via the charger as the charging power for the storage means, and DC power converted by the rectifier is output from the storage means to the DC power bus section via the discharger. In the engine-driven power generator that superimposes and supplies power to the load, when the control unit detects an increase in the load power consumption based on the voltage detected by the voltage detection unit and the current detected by the current detection unit The DC power from the power storage means is increased by the discharger so that the power supplied to the load matches the load power used after the fluctuation, and the power supplied to the load matches the power usage after the fluctuation. The DC power from the power storage means is decreased by the discharger while increasing the output of the power generator while maintaining the state.

  In this way, by performing power assistance by discharging the power storage means when the load increases, the power assistance by discharging the power storage means is performed when there is an increase in load regardless of the size of the load. As a result, the fuel required for rapid acceleration of the engine in order to respond quickly to the increase in the load in the conventional engine-driven power generation apparatus becomes unnecessary, and fuel efficiency can be improved.

  Preferably, in the third or fourth aspect of the invention, when the power consumption of the load after the increase fluctuation is an overload, the power supplied to the load is maintained in a state suitable for the power consumption of the load after the fluctuation fluctuation. While increasing the output of the power generator to the maximum output within the set range, the DC power from the power storage means is decreased by the discharger to the differential power between the power used by the load after the increase and the maximum output of the power generator.

  In this way, in the case of so-called overload, where the increase fluctuation of the load exceeds the maximum output determined by the engine and the power generation body, it is necessary for rapid acceleration to quickly respond to the increase fluctuation of the load in the conventional engine drive power generation device. Since the required fuel is no longer necessary, fuel consumption can be improved.

  Preferably, in the third or fourth aspect of the invention, when the load power used after the increase change is not an overload, the power supplied to the load is maintained in a state suitable for the load power use after the increase change. Then, while increasing the output of the power generation body to the power consumption of the load after the increase variation, the DC power from the power storage means is decreased to zero by the discharger.

  In this way, when the load fluctuation is less than the maximum output determined by the engine and the power generator, so-called light load, it is necessary for rapid acceleration to quickly respond to the load fluctuation in the conventional engine-driven power generator. Therefore, fuel consumption can be improved.

  Preferably, in the fourth aspect of the invention, while maintaining a state in which the power supplied to the load matches the power usage of the load after the increase fluctuation, the output of the power generator is increased to the power usage of the load after the fluctuation, After stopping the output of DC power from the power storage means by the discharger, the power supply is supplied to the power storage means by the charger while further increasing from the state that matches the power consumption of the load after the fluctuation of increase, and further increase The power is supplied to the power storage means by the charger while the output of the generated power generator is reduced to the power consumption of the load after the increase fluctuation.

  As described above, when the increase fluctuation in the load is a light load, the power storage unit is charged after the power is supplemented by discharging the power storage unit. Further, since no extra fuel is required for rapid acceleration of the engine, fuel consumption can be improved. Further, the engine rotation speed can be changed gently. For this reason, the fluctuation of the driving sound generated from the engine which is annoying for the user becomes moderate, and it becomes easy to ensure the quietness.

  Thus, according to the first and second aspects of the invention, in the engine power generation apparatus that performs power assistance by the power storage means, “use is frequently performed or the use and non-use cycles are short (frequency is high). Even with the “electric load used in the method”, it is possible to provide an engine-driven power generator suitable for portable use that can repeatedly perform power assistance by the power storage means.

  In addition, according to the third and fourth inventions, the power assistance by the power storage means is performed regardless of the magnitude of the load, thereby reducing the load on the engine and improving the fuel consumption, and being excellent in silence. An engine-driven power generator can be provided.

It is a block diagram which shows the engine drive electric power generating apparatus in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a modification of 1st Embodiment, Comprising: It is a block diagram which shows the engine drive electric power generating apparatus which supplies DC power to a welding rod and a welding preform | base_material. It is a modification of 1st Embodiment, Comprising: It is a block diagram which shows the engine drive electric power generating apparatus which supplies DC power to a welding rod and a welding preform | base_material. It is an electric power-rotation speed map in 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart of the determination control of the overload state in 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the electric power auxiliary control by discharge of the capacitor of an overload state. It is a graph which shows the time change of the electric power supplied to induction loads like the pneumatic compressor which operate | moves with alternating current power. It is a graph which shows the time change of the electric power supplied to the welding rod and welding base material of the welding machine using DC power. It is a flowchart of charge control of a capacitor. (A) is a graph which shows the time change of the input electric power to a load electric power supply part, (b) is a graph which shows the output of an electric power generation body. (A) is a graph which shows the time change of the input electric power to a load electric power supply part, (b) is a graph which shows the output of an electric power generation body. (A) is a graph which shows the time change of the input electric power to a load electric power supply part, (b) is a graph which shows the time change of the output of an electric power generation body. (A) is a graph which shows the time change of the input electric power to a load electric power supply part, (b) is a graph which shows the time change of the output of an electric power generation body. It is a block diagram which shows the engine drive electric power generating apparatus in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. In 2nd Embodiment, it is the schematic which shows allocation of the output of the electric power generation body for performing the electric power assistance by discharge of a capacitor, and the discharge output of the discharge device of a capacitor. It is explanatory drawing of the control action for performing gradual change control when there is an increase change of load. It is an electric power generation body output-variation period map in 2nd Embodiment. It is a rotational speed-variation period map in 2nd Embodiment. It is explanatory drawing of the calculation method of the discharge output of a discharger for performing the gradual variation control of the discharger of a capacitor. It is explanatory drawing of the gradual change control when there exists an increase fluctuation by overload. It is a flowchart of the gradual change control at the time of the increase fluctuation | variation of load in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the gradual change control at the time of the increase fluctuation | variation of load in 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of the electric power assistance by the capacitor at the time of gradual fluctuation control and an overload. It is explanatory drawing of the control action for performing gradual change control when there is an increase change of load. It is explanatory drawing of the electric power assistance by the capacitor at the time of gradual fluctuation control and an overload. It is explanatory drawing of the electric power required for charge of a capacitor, and charge time. It is explanatory drawing of the driving | running state of the engine for charging a capacitor. It is explanatory drawing of the driving | running state of the engine for charging a capacitor. It is explanatory drawing regarding the determination method of the engine speed when charging the capacitor in 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart of charge control of a capacitor. The upper stage is a graph showing the time change of the input power to the load power supply unit, the middle stage is a graph showing the time change of the output of the power generator, and the lower stage is a graph showing the time change of the engine rotation speed. .

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.
<First Embodiment>
First, the first and second aspects of the invention will be described as the first embodiment.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an engine-driven power generator in a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 shows an example in which the engine-driven power generator according to the first embodiment of the present invention is applied to a generator that supplies AC power to a load. The configuration is as follows.

  The power generator 2 is driven by the engine 1 to generate AC power. This AC power is converted into DC power by the rectifier 3, and power is supplied to the load power supply unit 60 via the DC power bus 4.

  The load power supply unit 60 is provided with an inverter (power adjusting means) 60a for supplying AC power to the electrical equipment (load) connected to the output terminal unit 60c. This inverter 60a converts the DC power from the DC power bus section 4 into desired AC power.

  Further, a smoothing capacitor 5 for smoothing the pulsation of DC power is provided on the input side of the inverter (power adjusting means) 60a. Further, a filter 60b for removing AC power noise is provided in the load power supply unit 60 on the output side of the inverter 60a.

  In the present invention, a capacitor (power storage means) 7 is connected in parallel immediately after the rectifier 3 of the DC power bus section 4.

  In the first embodiment, a capacitor 7 (electric double layer capacitor) is used as a power storage means for performing power assistance. Capacitors are preferable as power storage means used in the present invention because they have a shorter charging time than a battery and can take a large current. However, the power storage means used for power assistance in the present invention is not limited to this, and various power storage means can be used.

  Charging and discharging of the capacitor 7 is performed via the DC power bus section 4. That is, first, AC power generated by the power generator 2 is converted by the rectifier 3 to obtain DC power. By supplying this DC power to the capacitor 7 via the DC power bus 4, the capacitor 7 is charged. This charging control is performed by a charger 8 provided between the DC power bus 4 and the capacitor 7.

  The charger 8 is preferably configured by a circuit including an electrical switching element, but can also be configured by a mechanical switch. In addition, the charger 8 may have a configuration capable of current adjustment and voltage adjustment like a step-up / step-down chopper circuit in order to prevent damage to the capacitor 7 due to excessive power supply to the capacitor 7. Further, the charger 8 is configured to allow current to flow from the DC power bus 4 to the capacitor 7 only in one direction.

  When the capacitor 7 is discharged, the DC power is output to the DC power bus 4. This DC power is superimposed on the DC power generated by the rectifier 3 from the AC power generated by the power generator 2 and supplied to the load power supply unit 60. The discharge of the capacitor 7 is controlled by a discharger 9 provided between the DC power bus 4 and the capacitor 7. The discharger 9 has a configuration capable of current adjustment and voltage adjustment, for example, a step-up / down chopper circuit.

Next, in order to perform the control of the above configuration, in the present embodiment, the voltage detection unit 10 and the current detection unit 11 are provided immediately before the load power supply 60 of the DC power bus unit 4, and the load power supply unit 60. The input voltage V _in and the input current I _in are detected. Further, the capacitor terminal voltage detecting means 12 is provided to detect the capacitor terminal voltage V _ca. Further, an engine rotation speed detecting means 13 is provided to detect the engine rotation speed N.
As a means for detecting the engine rotation speed N, in addition to providing a rotation speed sensor, the rotation speed may be detected by detecting the output voltage of the power generator 2.

Next, the control means 14 for controlling each component will be described.
In this embodiment, the control means 14 is controlling the operation | movement of the component of the engine 1, the electric power generation body 2, the charger 8, the discharger 9, and the inverter (electric power adjustment means) 60a.

In order to control the operation of these components, the control means 14 performs the following calculation.
First, the input power P _in is calculated from the detected values of the input voltage V _in and the input current I _in to the load power supply unit 60 detected by the voltage detection means 10 and the current detection means 11.

Furthermore, the charged amount Q _ca of the capacitor 7 is calculated from the capacitor terminal voltage V _ca detected by the capacitor terminal voltage detecting means 12 based on the characteristic curve of the capacitor 7.

  Further, as the power generator output calculation means 15, the power generated from the power generator 2 and the engine speed N at that time are determined by the power-rotation speed map 15a shown in FIG.

Power - the rotational speed map 15a, as shown in FIG. 4, the DC power P _g and the engine rotational speed based on the characteristic curve of the engine 1 and the power generator 2, and converts the AC power generated in the power generator 2 by the rectifier 3 This represents the relationship of N.

In the present application, the DC power P _g may be referred to as "output P _g of the generator body 2". This is described as DC power obtained by converting AC power generated by the power generator 2 by the rectifier 3.

Further, the output of the power generation body 2 obtained when the rotation speed setting range shown in FIG. 4 is at the maximum value N _max is described as “maximum power P _{g · max of the} power generation body 2”. In other words, the maximum power P _{g · max} of the power generator 2 is the value of the DC power obtained at the rotational speed N _max of the use limit of the power generator 2 in the DC power obtained by converting the AC power generated in the power generator 2 by the rectifier 3. It is.

  In the present invention, the power generator 2 obtains electric power necessary for operating the load and electric power necessary for charging the capacitor 7.

The electric power required for the load is obtained from the value of the input electric power P _in to the load electric power supply units 60, 61, 62.

Further, the power required for charging the capacitor 7 is obtained from the detected value of the capacitor terminal voltage V _{ca and} the calculated value of the capacitor storage amount Q _ca.

To obtain such a power output of the power generating body 2, the power of 4 - by the rotational speed map 15a, to determine the engine rotational speed N as necessary power can be obtained as the output P _g of the generator body 2.

  In the first embodiment of the present invention, the engine rotation speed N is controlled by the power-rotation speed map 15a. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the current-rotation speed map is used. The engine rotational speed N may be controlled, and a known engine rotational speed calculation means in an existing inverter generator can be used.

  Although the example which applied the engine drive electric power generating apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention to the generator which supplies alternating current power to a load was shown in FIG. 1, 1st Embodiment of this invention is shown in FIG.2 and FIG.3. The present invention can also be applied to a welding machine using DC power as shown.

  The difference between the configuration of the example applied to the welding machine of FIGS. 2 and 3 and the configuration of the example applied to the generator of FIG. 1 is the configuration of the load power supply unit (60, 61, 62). The load power supply unit 61 in the welding machine of FIG. 2 includes an inverter (power adjustment unit) 61a, a transformer 61b, a rectification unit 61c, and an output terminal unit 61d in order to adjust the welding output.

  Further, the load power supply unit 62 in the welding machine of FIG. 3 is not provided with a power adjusting unit, and is not provided with a smoothing capacitor on the inlet side of the load power supply unit 62. In this way, the DC power of the DC power bus 4 is used as it is as the DC power for welding.

  Such a configuration of the load power supply units 60, 61, and 62 is different in that the finally extracted power is AC power or DC power.

  However, DC power obtained by converting AC power generated by the power generator 2 by the rectifier 3 is supplied from the DC power bus 4 via the charger 8 as charging power for the capacitor 7 and generated by the power generator 2. DC power converted by the rectifier 3 is superimposed on the DC power output from the capacitor 7 to the DC power bus section 4 via the discharger 9 and output to the load power supply sections 60, 61, 62. The function of supplying power to the load is the same.

  Therefore, the effect obtained by the present invention is the same regardless of whether the working machine to be applied is a generator or a welding machine.

Next, a method for controlling the operation of the engine drive power generator according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
In the first embodiment of the present invention, power assistance by the capacitor (power storage means) 7 is performed only when an overload state occurs.

  In the first embodiment of the present invention, the control flow shown in FIG. 5 is started when the engine 1 is operated and the charging of the capacitor 7 is completed.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating control for determining whether or not an overload state is present in the first embodiment of the present invention.

In the present application, the “overload state” means that the input power P _in to the load exceeds the maximum power P _{g · max} determined by the engine 1 and the power generator 2, thereby limiting the performance limit of the engine 1. It is described as a state in which a rotational resistance exceeding it is generated. In such a state, the engine 1 not only cannot obtain the rotational speed necessary for the operation of the load, but also has a risk of stalling (engine stop) because a rotational resistance exceeding the performance limit occurs. Become.

On the contrary, a state that is not an overload state, that is, a case where the load power consumption is within the range of the maximum power _{Pg · max} of the power generator 2 is described as “light load state” or “light load”. .

  The operations of steps S1 to S5 are operations of the engine drive power generator when power assistance is not performed by discharging the capacitor 7 in a state where there is no overload.

In the first embodiment of the present invention, when the input power P _in changes due to a change _in the operating state of the load, the changed rotation speed N is determined based on the “power-rotation speed map 15a” in step S1. To do.

  Subsequently, in step S2, the rotational speed is adjusted quickly without taking as much time as possible with respect to the rotational speed N corresponding to the changed value. In the present application, such a control method is described as “immediate response” as shown in step S2.

  Then, in step S3, the charger 8 is controlled so as to stop the charging of the capacitor 7, and in step S4, the discharger 9 is controlled so as to stop the discharging of the capacitor 7.

  In step S5, control is performed so that the load power supply ON / OFF switching is turned on. The load power supply ON / OFF switching means as a means for switching between permitting and prohibiting power supply to the load is operated in a control flow relating to charging of the capacitor 7 in FIG. 9 to be described later, and the power supply to the load is turned on. Switching between (allowing power supply) and OFF (prohibiting power supply) is performed. For example, in the case of the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the load power supply ON / OFF switching unit operates as part of the control operation of the inverters 60a and 61a.

  In the case of the configuration of FIG. 3, the load power supply ON / OFF switching means 62a is executed as part of a control operation of a circuit breaker, for example.

  Step S6 is a determination unit for determining whether the operating state of the load is an overload state.

In the determination method of the “overload state” in the present invention, the calculated value of the input power P _in to the load power supply units 60, 61, 62 is the maximum power P _{g · max} (= maximum output of the engine 1). ) Or not.

  However, the present application is not limited to this, and a known method for determining an overload state can be used.

  For example, as described in Patent Document 1, the determination may be performed based on a DC voltage immediately after a full-wave rectifier circuit (equivalent to the rectifier 3 of the present invention).

  If it is determined in this step S6 that the load is not overloaded, steps S1 to S5 are repeated. In this state, no power assistance is performed by discharging the capacitor (step S4).

  When the operating state of the load changes to an overload state, it is determined that the load is in an overload state, the process proceeds to step S7, and the “control flow for executing power assistance of the capacitor in the overload state” shown in FIG. 6 is entered. .

  FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining power assistance by discharging the capacitor 7 when it is determined in step S6 of FIG. 5 (determination of whether or not it is an overload state).

In step S1, the maximum electric power _{Pg · max} from the power generator 2 is output with the engine rotational speed N as the maximum value N _max of the setting range in the “power-rotational speed map 15a” shown in FIG. In steps S2 to S4, the discharger 9 performs control so that the capacitor 7 is discharged.

  In step S2, the discharger 9 is controlled so as to discharge the capacitor 7.

In step S3, power that is “overload”, that is, power that is insufficient with only the maximum power P _{g · max of the} power generator 2 with respect to the input power P _in is calculated.

In step S 4, the “overload” power is supplied from the capacitor 7 to the DC power bus 4 by the discharge output P _c adjusted by the discharger 9.

If it is determined in step S5 that the charged amount Q _ca of the capacitor 7 is a value that allows the discharge to continue, the process proceeds to step S6.

In step S6, it is determined whether or not the overload state has been removed. The determination method is performed at the value of the step S6 similarly to the input power P _in of FIG. In this step, when the overload state continues, the process returns to step S1 to continue discharging from the capacitor 7 (steps S1 to S6).

  If the overload state is released, the process proceeds to step S7, and the discharger 9 is controlled to stop discharging the capacitor 7.

After stopping the power assistance due to the discharge of the capacitor 7, the process proceeds to step S8, and “control flow for charging the capacitor 7 when the engine rotational speed N is the maximum value N _max of the setting range” shown in FIG. move on.

Step S5 determines how long the capacitor 7 can be discharged. Even if the charged amount Q _ca of the capacitor 7 falls below a predetermined value, if the overload state continues (in the case of Yes), it is determined that the output allowable limit of the engine drive power generator (power generator 2 + capacitor 7) is exceeded. .

  After stopping the discharge of the capacitor 7 in step S9, a notification to the user is executed by an alarm lamp or a buzzer in step S10.

  In step S <b> 9, power assistance due to the discharge of the capacitor 7 is no longer performed, so the engine 1 and the power generator 2 are in an overload state. For this reason, in order to prevent an engine stop from occurring, a breaker operation is executed in step S11 to cut off the power supply to the load. In this breaker operation, in the configuration of FIGS. 1 and 2, for example, the inverters 60a and 61a stop power feeding, that is, the output is set to zero.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 3, in the case of a configuration having no power adjustment means such as an inverter, power supply to the load is interrupted by, for example, a circuit breaker.

After the breaker operation is performed from step S5 to steps S9 to S11, the charging of the capacitor 7 is executed by setting the engine speed N to the maximum value N _max using this period, or the engine speed N is set to One of the operations of waiting as the _idle state N _idle is performed.

If discharging of the capacitor 7 is executed in step S2, charging of the capacitor 7 is stopped. Thus, in the present invention, charging of the capacitor 7 is stopped while the capacitor 7 is being discharged. Accordingly, without the output P _g of the generator body 2 is used for charging, since all that is assigned to feeding to the load, it is possible to reliably supply power to the load.

Further, the output P _g of the generator body 2 Being not allocated to the charging of the capacitor 7, all of the output of the output P _g of the generator body 2, it may be assigned to power the load. For this reason, the discharge output from the capacitor 7 can be minimized. This makes it possible to minimize the charging time in charging the capacitor described later.

In step S3 and step S4, “the value of power for the overload” = P _in −P _{g · max} can be set to stop charging of the capacitor 7 while discharging the capacitor 7 It is because it is doing.

If the capacitor 7 is also charged,
“Power value of overload” = P _in − ((P _{g · max} ) − (charging power to the capacitor))
It becomes. For this reason, if the capacitor 7 is charged, it is necessary to increase the discharge output from the capacitor 7 correspondingly.

7 and 8 show the input power P _in to the load power supply unit (60, 61, 62) when the power is actually supplied to the load, the output P _g of the power generator 2 for this, and the capacitor 7 It is explanatory drawing about the relationship with the discharge output _Pc of the discharger 9. FIG. 7 and 8, the vertical axis represents the input power P _in to the load power supply units 60, 61 and 62, and the horizontal axis represents time t. Further, the discharge output _Pc from the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 is indicated by the hatched portion.

FIG. 7 shows an example in which electric power is supplied to an inductive load such as a pneumatic compressor that is operated by AC power. A period A01 in FIG. 7 is an “overload state” in which the input power P _in exceeds the maximum power P _{g · max} of the power generator 2. During this period A01, the overload state is determined in step S6 of FIG. As a result, in steps S1 to S6 of FIG. 6, the discharge output _Pc from the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 is continuously supplied.

Then, when the state of the period B01 and duration B02 in FIG. 7, the input power P _in is below the maximum power P _{g · max} of the power generator 2. For this reason, it is determined in step S6 in FIG. 6 that the overload state has been removed. As a result, in step S7, the discharge of the capacitor 7 from the discharger 9 is stopped.

The period B01 is a state in which the start of the inductive load is finished and the vehicle is operating in a normal state, and the load power (= input power P _in ) is supplied only by the output P _g of the power generator 2. .

FIG. 8 is an example of a welding machine that uses DC power, in which power is supplied to the welding rod and the welding base material. The period A11 in FIG. 8 is in an overload state, similarly to the period A01 in FIG. For this reason, the discharge output _Pc from the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 is continuously supplied.

On the other hand, in the welding machine as shown in FIG. 8, the magnitude of the load (the current consumed by the welding rod and the welding base material) becomes a substantially constant value during the use of electric power by the welding operation. For this reason, a state like period B01 of FIG. 7 does not occur. However, the welding work, and consume a welding rod, work once from that end, the meantime, the input power P _in does not occur, as in the period B11, the input power P _in is 0. As a result, at this time, the discharge of the capacitor 7 from the discharger 9 is stopped.

Next, a control method for charging the capacitor 7 in the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 9 shows the charge control of the capacitor 7 in a state where the power assist is performed by discharging the capacitor 7 and then the engine speed N is set to the maximum value N _max of the setting range of the “power-rotation speed map 15a”. It is a flowchart of.

  Step S <b> 1 is a determination unit that determines whether or not to perform “load power supply ON / OFF switching” that stops power supply to the load when the load is not in operation when the capacitor 7 is charged.

  In the “load power supply ON / OFF switching” in the first embodiment of the present invention, the operation of OFF (power supply prohibited) is performed because (1) the operation of the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 is stopped. 2) The operating condition is that the capacitor 7 is not fully charged, and (3) that the load is in a non-operating state.

As the determination method under operation / non-operation state of the load, in the present invention, the input power P _in is judged by whether or exceeds a predetermined value (for example, = 0). The predetermined value here means that, for example, the power adjusting means such as the inverters 60a and 61a may cause a weak current to flow even when the load is not operating depending on the circuit configuration. In this case, the input power P _in is obtained by considering that not 0 and, for a given value, so as to detect a non-operation time of the load, may be selected as appropriate.

If the load is in operation, i.e., when the input power P _in is not less than a predetermined value, "Yes" (load state during operation), and the process proceeds to step S2, "load power supply ON / OFF switching" is It remains ON (power supply is allowed), and the process proceeds to step S3.

  On the other hand, when the load is not in operation, it becomes “No” (the load is in an inactive state). If the condition is satisfied in step S11, the process proceeds to step S12, and “load power supply ON / OFF switching” is OFF (power supply is not (Prohibition) is performed, and the process proceeds to step S13.

  First, in step S1, it is determined that YES (the load is in an operating state), and in step S2, the load power supply ON / OFF switching is kept on, and the process proceeds to step S3.

In step S3, the engine rotational speed N is set to N _max , so that the maximum electric power P _{g · max} is generated from the power generator 2, and the process proceeds to step S4.

Step S4 is a determination unit for determining whether or not the capacitor 7 can be charged. The determination method is “the remaining power” that the output P _g of the power generator 2 can allocate to the power for charging the capacitor 7, that is, “(maximum power P _{g · max of the} power generator 2) − ( Whether or not the input power P _in ) ”exceeds 0 is performed.

When the remaining power does not exceed 0, that is, when (P _{g · max} ) − (P _in ) = 0, the load operates with the power used equivalent to the maximum power P _{g · max} of the power generator 2. ing. If the capacitor 7 is charged in this state, the engine 1 is overloaded. For this reason, it determines with charge not being possible, it progresses to step S5, and the charger 8 is controlled so that charge of a capacitor may be stopped.

On the other hand, when (P _{g · max} ) − (P _in )> 0, the load is operating with power used that is less than the maximum power P _{g · max} of the power generator 2. For this reason, it determines with charge being possible, it progresses to step S6, and charge of a capacitor is performed.

  The operation in step S4 is specifically as shown in FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b). FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are examples in which power is supplied to an inductive load operated by AC power.

In FIG. 10A, the vertical axis represents the input power P _in to the load power supply unit 60, the horizontal axis represents time t, and the discharge output P _c from the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 is indicated by the hatched portion. . In FIG. 10B, the vertical axis represents the output P _g of the power generator 2 and the horizontal axis represents time t, and the charging power to the capacitor 7 is indicated by the hatched portion.

The overload state in the period A21 is a state in which power assistance is performed by discharging the capacitor 7. When the input power P _in becomes the same value as the maximum power P _{g · max of the} power generator 2 as _{in the} subsequent periods C21 and C22, the remaining power at the output of the power generator 2 ((P _{g · max} ) − (P _in )) = 0. For this reason, the capacitor 7 is not charged in this state (step S5 in FIG. 9).

Then, as in the period B21 and the period B22, the remaining power ((P _{g · max} ) − (P _in )) _in the output of the power generator 2 is a region H21 in the output P _g of the power generator 2 in FIG. As shown by the region H22, it is not 0. In this state, the capacitor 7 is charged. (Step S6 in FIG. 9)

  As described above, if the charging power of the capacitor 7 cannot be secured, steps S3 → S4 → S5... In FIG.

On the other hand, if the charging power of the capacitor 7 can be secured, the process proceeds from step S4 in FIG. 9 to step S6, and the capacitor 7 is charged. Furthermore, it progresses to step S7 and it is determined whether the electrical storage amount _Qca of the capacitor 7 has reached full charge.

  If the charge amount of the capacitor 7 has not reached full charge, the process returns to step S3, and steps S3 → S4 → S6 → S7... Are repeated until full charge is reached.

  When the amount of charge of the capacitor 7 reaches full charge, the process proceeds from step S7 to step S8, and charging of the capacitor 7 is stopped. In step S9, the engine speed N is determined according to the “power-rotation speed map 15a”. Further, the process proceeds to step S10, and the engine speed N is adjusted by a quick variation method, that is, the adjustment is performed promptly.

At this point, since no to charge the capacitor 7, the power that needs to be generated by the power generator 2, the power necessary for the operation of the load, that is, only the input power P _in. For this reason, if the load power consumption is light, the engine speed N is reduced from the maximum value N _max of the set range during charging of the capacitor 7 in step S9.

  Further, in order not to supply excessive power to the power used by the load, in step S10, the engine speed N is adjusted by an immediate variation method.

In the example shown in FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B, when “(maximum power P _{g · max} ) − (input power P _in )” of the power generation body 2 exceeds 0 _in step S4. It is determined that the capacitor 7 is in a chargeable state. However, as will be described below, charging may be performed while maintaining the output of the power generator 2 at a predetermined value _Pga lower than the maximum power _{Pg · max} of the set range. The predetermined value, for example, the maximum power P 80% of _{g · max} or as 60%, may be set as a ratio to the maximum power P _{g · max.}

And in step S4, you may employ _| adopt lower predetermined value _Pga instead of the maximum electric power _{Pg * max} of the setting range of the electric power generation body 2. FIG. In this case, when (P _ga ) − (P _in ) = 0, the load is operating with power used equivalent to the predetermined value P _ga of the power generator 2. When charging of the capacitor 7 is executed in this state, the output of the engine 1 must be raised above a predetermined value _Pga . For this reason, it is determined that charging is not possible (prohibited state), the process proceeds to step S5, and the charger 8 is controlled so as to stop charging of the capacitor.

On the other hand, when (P _ga ) − (P _in )> 0, the load is operating with a power consumption lower than the predetermined value P _ga of the power generator 2. Therefore, it is determined that charging is possible (allowable state), the process proceeds to step S6, and the capacitor is charged.

  The operation in step S4 in this case is specifically as shown in FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b). 11 (a) and 11 (b) are also examples in which power is supplied to an inductive load operated by AC power, as in FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b).

In FIG. 11A, the vertical axis represents the input power P _in to the load power supply unit 60, the horizontal axis represents time t, and the discharge output P _c from the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 is indicated by the hatched portion. . In FIG. 111 (b), the vertical axis indicates the output P _g of the power generator 2, the horizontal axis indicates time t, and the charging power to the capacitor 7 is indicated by the hatched portion.

The overload state in the period A21 is a state in which power assistance is performed by discharging the capacitor 7. When the input power P _in becomes the same value as the maximum power P _{ga of the} power generator 2 as _{in the} subsequent periods C21 and C22, the remaining power ((P _ga ) − (P _in ) at the output of the power generator 2 )) = 0. For this reason, the capacitor 7 is not charged in this state (step S5 in FIG. 9).

Then, as in the period B21 and the period B22, the remaining power ((P _ga ) − (P _in )) at the output of the power generator 2 is equal to the region H21 ′ in the output P _g of the power generator 2 in FIG. As indicated by the region H22 ′, it is not zero. In this state, the capacitor 7 is charged (step S6 in FIG. 9). Thereafter, the same steps as those shown in FIGS. 10A and 10B may be performed.

In this way, if at least one of the engine 1 and the power generation body 2 is controlled and the output of the power generation body 2 maintains the predetermined value _Pga lower than the maximum value _{Pg · max of the} setting range, the fluctuation of the engine speed is reduced. In addition to being able to be suppressed, the engine speed can be reduced more than at the maximum output. Thereby, the fuel consumption reduction and noise reduction of an engine drive type electric power generating apparatus can be achieved.

Next, in step S1, the input power P _in does not exceed the predetermined value, i.e., the load is non-operational, it is determined that will be described state proceeds to step S11.

  In step S11, the valid / invalid selection switch 16 of the load power supply ON / OFF switching function in FIGS. 1 to 3 as means for selecting whether to enable or disable the prohibition switching operation is “valid”. If the state is selected by the user, the process proceeds to step S12. In step S12, the load power supply ON / OFF switching is turned OFF (power supply is prohibited), and the process proceeds to step S13.

  On the other hand, when the user selects the “invalid” state, the operation of turning off by the load power supply ON / OFF switching function is invalidated, that is, the switching operation to OFF is not executed. And so on. For this reason, even if a load non-operating state is detected, the process advances to step S2 in order to keep the load power supply ON / OFF switching ON (power supply is allowed).

In step S13, the engine rotational speed N is set to _Nmax , so that the maximum electric power _{Pg · max} is generated from the power generator 2. In step S14, the capacitor 7 is charged. Further, in step S15, it is determined whether or not the capacitor 7 has reached full charge, and steps S13 → SS14 → S15... Are repeated until the capacitor 7 reaches full charge. When the capacitor 7 reaches full charge, operations from step S8 to S10 are performed.

  The operations from step S12 to step S13 after step S12 are steps S3 → S4 → S5 among the operations from step S3 to S7 after the load power supply ON / OFF switching is kept ON in step S2. This control operation is the same as that in which the operation of stopping the charging of the capacitor 7 is eliminated. This is because by turning off the load power supply ON / OFF switching (power supply is prohibited), the power supply to the load itself is forcibly prohibited until the charging of the capacitor 7 is completed.

  By performing such an operation, the capacitor 7 can be fully charged reliably in the shortest time.

As an advantage of providing a load power supply ON / OFF switching function and turning off the power supply, for example, as shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the first embodiment of the present invention is applied to a welding machine, for example. It is demonstrated in the example which applied. In FIG. 12A, the vertical axis represents the input power P _in to the load power supply units 60, 61, 62, the horizontal axis represents time t, and the discharge output P _c of the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 is indicated by the hatched portion. ing. In FIG. 12 (b), the vertical axis indicates the output P _g of the power generator 2, the horizontal axis indicates time t, and the charging power to the capacitor 7 is indicated by the hatched portion.

  In the welding operation, the period A31 and the period A32 are the states in which the welding operation is being performed, and as shown in FIG.

On the other hand, when the welding rod is used up in the welding operation, it is necessary to temporarily stop the welding operation. Further, the welding rod may be replaced, and the welding residue may be removed as preparation for the next welding operation. Therefore, the input power Pin is not generated _{in the} period B31 and the period B32 due to the nature of the work.

Therefore, if the control is performed so that the load power supply ON / OFF switching is turned off when the work is stopped in the period B31 and the period B32 in FIG. 12A, the power generator 2 shown in FIG. output P _g regions H31, in the region H32, the charging of the capacitor 7, it is possible to assign all of, it is possible to minimize the charging time.

  Moreover, in welding work, if the electric power necessary for the welding rod and the welding base material cannot be reliably supplied, poor welding occurs. This not only causes undesirable results (welding failure) in the work, but also leads to an increase in charging time because the charging power of the capacitor 7 cannot be maximized.

  Therefore, in the period B31 and the period 32 shown in FIG. 12A, if the control is performed so that the load power supply ON / OFF switching is turned off while the capacitor 7 is being charged, An undesirable state can be prevented.

Therefore, when performing such work, the load power supply ON / OFF switching is set to OFF (power supply is prohibited), thereby minimizing the charging time and being applied to an unfavorable state in the load, for example, a welding machine. In this case, it is possible to prevent a state in which a welding failure occurs, or a state in which the induction load fails when applied to a generator.
In addition, in this application, although the welding work was mentioned as an example, if it is a load of the same work content, that is, a load of a usage method such that it is known in advance that power is not used in the middle, Benefit from the benefits.

As described above, in the example shown in FIG. 12A, the power generation body 2 is set to N _max during the period A31 and the period A32 during the welding operation in the overload state, thereby setting the power generation body 2 to N _max. 2 generates the maximum power _{Pg · max} . On the other hand, in the period B31 and the period B32 in which the welding operation is interrupted, as shown in FIG. 12B, the maximum power P _{g · max} of the power generator 2 is assigned to the charging of the capacitor 7 in the regions H31 and H32. Yes.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the output of the power generator 2 is maintained at a predetermined value _Pga lower than the maximum power _{Pg · max} of the set range, Welding work and charging may be performed. Similarly to FIG. 12A, FIG. 13A also shows discharge of the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 with the vertical axis representing the input power P _in to the load power supply units 60, 61 and 62 and the horizontal axis representing time t. The output _Pc is indicated by the hatched portion. Similarly to FIG. 12B, FIG. 13B also shows the charging power to the capacitor 7 in a hatched portion with the output P _g of the power generator 2 on the vertical axis and the time t on the horizontal axis.

In the example shown in FIG. 13A, the output of the power generator 2 is set to the maximum power through the periods A31 and A32 during the welding operation in the overload state, and the periods B31 and B32 during which the welding operation is interrupted. A predetermined value _Pga lower than _{Pg · max} is set. And as shown in FIG.13 (b), the output of predetermined value _Pga of the electric power generation body 2 is allocated to charge of the capacitor 7 in area | region H31 'and area | region H32'.

In this way, if at least one of the engine 1 and the power generation body 2 is controlled and the output of the power generation body 2 maintains the predetermined value _Pga lower than the maximum value _{Pg · max of the} setting range, the fluctuation of the engine speed is reduced. In addition to being able to be suppressed, the engine speed can be reduced more than at the maximum output. Thereby, the fuel consumption reduction and noise reduction of an engine drive type electric power generating apparatus can be achieved.

  Further, in the present invention, as shown in step S11 of FIG. 9, regarding the control of “load power supply ON / OFF switching”, whether or not to perform “OFF (power supply prohibition) operation” in this control is determined. Since the user himself / herself selects the state of the valid / invalid selection switch 16 of the / OFF switching function, the user himself / herself can be used for work with an awareness that this function works. .

Further, in the present invention, a series of steps S2 to S7 and steps S12 to S15 in the “control flow for charging the capacitor when the engine rotation speed is the maximum value N _max of the setting range” shown in FIG. In the control of the above, while the capacitor 7 is being charged, until the capacitor 7 reaches full charge, the engine speed N is set to N _max , thereby generating the maximum power P _{g · max} from the power generator 2. It is in a state to let

Then, after the capacitor 7 reaches full charge as in the control from step S7 or step S15 to steps S8, S9, and S10, charging of the capacitor 7 is stopped to match the power used by the load. as such, the power of the engine rotational speed N - so that to adjust the output P _g of the generator body 2 according to the rotational speed map 15a.

Thus, depending on the state of the storage amount Q _ca capacitor 7, by controlling the output P _g of the generator body 2, in a state where the capacitor 7 is not fully charged, the output P _g of the generator body 2 The state where the maximum power _{Pg · max} is obtained is maintained. Thereby, the charging power to the capacitor 7 can be maximized, and the charging time can be minimized. In a state where the capacitor 7 reaches the fully charged, to stop the charging of the capacitor 7, and controls to match the output P _g of the generator body 2 to use the power of the load. As a result, the engine 1 can be operated so as to obtain the minimum electric power necessary for operating the load, and the fuel consumption can be improved and the noise can be reduced.

Second Embodiment
Next, as a second embodiment, embodiments of the third and fourth inventions will be described.
FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing an engine drive power generator in a second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 shows an example in which the engine-driven power generation apparatus according to the second embodiment of the present invention is applied to a generator that supplies AC power to a load. The configuration is different from the configuration in FIG. 1 of the first embodiment in that a rotation speed-variation period map 15b and a power generator output-variation period map 17 are further provided. About the same structure, the code | symbol same as FIG. 1 of 1st Embodiment is attached | subjected.

FIG. 15 is a schematic diagram showing the allocation of the output P _g of the power generator 2 and the discharge output P _c of the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 for assisting power by discharging the capacitor 7 in the second embodiment. In FIG. 15, the vertical axis represents the input power P _in to the load power supply unit 60 and the horizontal axis represents time t.

In the first embodiment, power assistance by discharging the capacitor 7 is performed only when the load operation is overloaded. In contrast, in the second embodiment, when the load fluctuates regardless of the magnitude of the load, immediately after the load fluctuates, the rotation speed N of the engine 1 is not changed and the output P _{g of the} power generator 2 is changed. Is maintained in the state before the fluctuation, and electric power corresponding to the fluctuation amount of the increase fluctuation of the load is supplied from the capacitor 7 through the discharger 9. Thereafter, the output P _g of the generator body 2, together with the increase gradually over time, the discharge power P _c from the capacitor 7, the same amount as the output P _g of the power generator 2 is increased, over time And gradually decrease it.

Such increases the output P _g of the generator body 2 gradually, on the contrary, describes a "gradual change control" in the present invention gradually controlled to reduce the discharge power P _c from the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 ing.

15, the variation range of the output P _g of the generator body 2 is in the range shown in III-IV-V in FIG. If the load increases and fluctuates, the power fluctuates from the idle time (III in the figure) to the maximum power P _{g · max} (V in the figure) of the power generator 2 during the maximum value T _{x · max} of the fluctuation period. .

For example, when the maximum power P _{g · max} = 10 [kW] and the maximum value T _{x · max} = 3 [seconds] of the fluctuation period, the increase rate k = 10 / 3≈3.33 [kW / second]. Moreover, if it is 3 second, the rotational speed of an engine can fully be increased.

On the contrary, the discharge output _Pc of the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 is changed when the load increases and fluctuates in the range indicated by I-II-III-V-VI in the figure. The fluctuation range of _c is decreased by the output in the range II-III-V in the figure. This range is the portion that forms the variation range III-IV-V and the pair of output P _g of the generator body 2.

Here, I-II-V-VI in the figure is a range exceeding the maximum power _{Pg · max} of the power generator 2, that is, a range equivalent to the overload. Output corresponding to this part, when the input power P _in is overloaded supplies discharge output P _c of the discharge vessel 9 of the capacitor 7. For this reason, in this range, the output reduction control by the gradual change control of the output is not performed.

In FIG. 15 of the present invention, the setting of the maximum value P _{c · max} of the discharge output P _c of the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 is illustrated as being about twice the maximum power P _{g · max} of the power generator 2. Yes. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and may be appropriately selected according to the performance of the capacitor 7 and the engine drive power generator.

First, as shown in FIG. 16, a description will be given of a case of so-called increase fluctuation with a light load in which the fluctuation of the load is within the range of the maximum power _{Pg · max} of the power generator 2 at the end of the fluctuation.

FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of a control operation for performing gradual change control when there is an actual increase in load change based on the allocation of FIG. A region indicated by H41 indicates the discharge output _Pc from the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7. In FIG. 16, the time immediately after the increase variation of the load and the time when the gradual variation control is started are set as t1, and then the time when the gradual variation control is ended is set as t2.

The output P _{g · 1} of the power generation body 2 before the load increase fluctuation can be detected and monitored by the power-rotation speed map 15a. The intersection of the output P _{g · 1} of the power generator 2 before the fluctuation and the fluctuation curve III-V of the electric power is a time t1 at which the gradual fluctuation control is started. When the increase in variation of the load occurs, the input power P _in of the load power supply unit 60 is increased.

Immediately after the increase change in the load occurs, without changing the engine rotational speed N, while maintaining the output P _g of the generator body 2, first, through a discharger 9 from the capacitor 7, to deal performs power assist . The discharge output of the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 at this time t1 is P _{c · 1} .

This input power P _in is obtained by calculation from the detected value of the input voltage V _in of the voltage detecting means 10 and the detected value of the input current I _in of the current detecting means 11.

The input power P _in (t1) at time t1 in FIG.
P _in (t1) = P _{c · 1} + P _{g · 1}

Next, the time t2 at the end of the gradual change control is obtained from the intersection of the value of the input power P _in (t1) and the power fluctuation curve III-V at the time t1 when the gradual change control is started. The output of the power generator 2 at this time t2 is defined as Pg _{· 2} .

At time t2 at the end of the gradual change control, the input power P _in (t2) is
_Let P _in (t2) = P _{g · 2} .
In other words, the order of all to supply at the output P _g of the generator body 2, and from time t1 to time t2, in accordance with variation curve III-V of the power output P _g of the generator body 2, P from P g _{· 1} Increase to _{g · 2} .

Conversely, the discharge output P _c of the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 is from time t1 to time t2,
According to the power fluctuation curve III-V, decrease from P _{c · 1} to 0.

Figure 17 is a representation of the variation range of the output P _g of the power generator 2 illustrated in FIG. 15 (III-IV-V) as the horizontal axis represents time t, and the vertical axis indicates the power generator output P _g. In this embodiment, this map is described as “power generator output-variation period map 17”.

As shown in FIG. 16, the power generator output-variation period map 17 indicates that the output of the power generator 2 at the start of the variation of the gradual variation control is P _{g · 1} , and The output is P _{g · 2} , the time at the start of the fluctuation of the gradual fluctuation control is t1, and the time at the end of the fluctuation of the gradual fluctuation control is t2.

Figure 18 is a power obtained by displaying the vertical axis as the output P _g of the power generator 2 17 - based rotational speed map 15a, it is replaced with a corresponding engine speed N. In this embodiment, this map is described as “rotational speed-variation period map 15b”.

In the rotational speed-variation period map 15b of FIG. 18, the output of the power generator 2 before the fluctuation in FIG. 17 is set to N _{1 as} the rotational speed corresponding to P _{g · 1} , and when the fluctuation of the gradual fluctuation control in FIG. The rotational speed corresponding to P _{g · 2} is N ₂ . Xu variation control of the output P _g of the generator body 2, the rotational speed - is carried out in accordance with the variation period map 15b.

  Based on the characteristic curve that defines the relationship between the rotation speed and the fluctuation period in the rotation speed-fluctuation period map 15b in FIG. 18, the fluctuation start time t1 and the fluctuation end time t2 are calculated, and the time from the fluctuation start time to the fluctuation end time. Ask for. Then, while maintaining the power supplied to the load constant, the output of the capacitor is gradually decreased by the discharger while gradually increasing the output of the power generator over this time.

The output P _g of the power generator 2 is subjected to the gradual variation control according to FIG. 18, but the gradual variation control of the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 is calculated based on the power generator output-variation period map 17 of FIG.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram of a calculation method of the discharge output P _c of the discharger 9 for performing the gradual variation control of the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7. FIG. 19 is illustrated based on FIG. Discharge power P _c of the discharge vessel 9 of the capacitor 7, and calculates the amount of output P _g of the power generator 2 is increased, the discharge device 9 performs control to reduce this increase.

As shown in FIG. 16, the discharge output P _{c · 1} of the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 at the time t1 at which the gradual variation control is started is
P _{c · 1} = P _in (t1) −P _{g · 1} = P _{g · 2} −P _{g · 1}
In FIG. 19, at time t1, the discharge output P _{c · 1} from the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 is indicated by a dashed arrow from the position i to the position ii in the figure.

On the other hand, the output P _g of the power generator 2 is increased by the amount of discharge output P _{c · 1} from the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7. As a result, it increases from P _{g · 1} to P _{g · 2} from time t1 to time t2. In FIG. 19, this operation varies from the position i to the position iii along the variation curve III-V.

Thus, discharge power Pc of the discharger 9 for capacitor 7 is opposite of the output P _g of the generator body 2. If the discharge output of the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 at time t2 is P _{c · 2} , where P _{c · 1} = P _{g · 2} −P _{g · 1} at time t1, then P _{c · 2} at time t2 Change to _{c · 2} = 0. This operation is indicated by a dashed arrow from the position ii to the position iv in FIG. For example, if the fluctuation curve III-V is a straight line, the slope k of the fluctuation curve III-V in FIGS.
k = ( _{Pg * max} / _{Tx * max} ) = ( _{Pg * 2-} Pg _{* 1} ) / (t2-t1).

The value of the output P _g of the power generator 2 can be represented by a line segment i-iii in FIG.
The value at time t is
P _g (t) = k (t−t1) + P _{g · 1}

Further, the value of the discharge output P _c of the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 can be represented by a line segment ii-iv with the point i in FIG. 19 as the origin. Therefore, the value at time t is
P _c (t) = − k (t−t1) + (P _{g · 2} −P _{g · 1} ).

Thus, the value of the discharge output P _c of the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 for performing gradual variation control can be calculated by calculating from the power generator output-variation period map 17.
In the present invention, the case where the variation curve III-V is a straight line has been described for the sake of simplification. However, as long as a function for determining the variation curve III-V is prepared, even if it is a curve, FIG. The increase can be calculated in the same way as. For this reason, it is possible to calculate the amount of decrease in the discharge output P _c of the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7.

The variation curve III-V is not a function, even map data powered characteristic value of at each time, if the change amount of the output P _g of the power generator 2 for each time is obtained, this A value obtained by multiplying the change amount by −1 may be used as a control amount of the discharge output P _c of the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7.

In FIG. 16 to FIG. 19, the so-called light load in which the increase fluctuation of the load is within the range of the maximum power P _{g · max} of the power generator 2 has been described. However, in the second embodiment of the present invention, not only the increase fluctuation at the light load but also the overload state, the power assist by the discharge of the capacitor 7 to the increase fluctuation of the load by the allocation shown in FIG. Is possible.

As shown in FIG. 20, in the case of fluctuation due to overload, the discharge output P _{c · 1} of the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 at the time t1 when the gradual fluctuation control is started, and the fluctuation range component as P _{c · 1 -n} , dividing the overload range component into P _{c · 1-EX} ,
P _{c · 1} = P _{c · 1−n} + P _{c · 1−EX}

In the case of a change in an overload state, the overload range component P _{c · 1-EX} is not changed, but the change range component P _{c · 1-n} is changed according to the maps shown in FIGS.

In FIG. 20, in the discharge output P _c from the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7, the range indicated by the region H51 is the overload range component, and the range indicated by the region H52 is the variation range component.

Specifically, the overload range component P _{c · 1-EX} and the fluctuation range component P _{c · 1-n} are respectively shown in FIG.
P _{c · 1−EX} = P _in (t1) −P _{g · max}
P _{c · 1−n} = P _{g · max} −P _{g · 1}
It becomes.

P _{g · 1} is calculated from the engine rotation speed N by the power-rotation speed map 15a. Also, P _in (t1) is calculated from the input voltage V _in and the input current I _in . P _{g · max} is a value determined by the performance of the engine 1 and the power generator 2.

With respect to the fluctuation range component P _{c · 1-n} obtained by the above calculation, overload is generated in the power generator output-fluctuation period map 17 shown in FIG. 17 and the rotation speed-fluctuation period map 15b shown in FIG. 20, the time t2 at the end of the fluctuation is the maximum value _{Tx · max} of the gradual fluctuation period, and the power generator output _{Pg · 2} at the end of the fluctuation is obtained as shown in FIG. As the maximum power _{Pg · max} , the engine rotation speed N ₂ at the end of the fluctuation is set to the maximum value N _max of the setting range.

Output P _g of the generator body 2, because it increases by the amount of discharge power P _{c · 1-n} from the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7, the period from the time t1 to the time t2, P _{g · 2} from P g _{· 1} (= _{Pg · max} ).

On the other hand, the discharge output P _c from the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 is
P _{c · 1} = P _{c · 1−n} + P _{c · 1−EX}
= (P _{g · 2} −P _{g · 1} ) + P _{c · 1−EX} = (P _{g · max} −P _{g · 1} ) + P _{c · 1−EX}
It is.

At time t2 (= T _{x · max} ), if the discharge output of the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 at this time is P _{c · 2} ,
P _{c · 2} = 0 + P _{c · 1-EX}
It becomes.

As in the case described with reference to FIG. 19, when the fluctuation period III-V is a straight line, the value of the discharge output P _c of the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 at time t is
P _g (t) = k (t−t1) + P _{g · 1}
P _c (t) = − k (t−t 1) + (P _{g · 2} −P _{g · 1} ) + P _{c · 1−EX}
= -K (t-t1) + (P g · max -P g · 1) + P c · 1-EX
It becomes. This is the same as that obtained by adding the overload range component P _{c · 1-EX} as compared with the fluctuation of the light load shown in FIGS.

  21 and 22 are flowcharts of the gradual change control at the time of an increase change in the load in the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 21 is a flowchart for determining whether or not there is an increase in load. This determination control flow is started when the engine is operated and the charging of the capacitor is completed.

  The determination as to whether or not there is an increase variation in load is made in the determination unit in step S10. If there is an increase variation in load, the process proceeds to step S11, and the process proceeds to a control flow for performing gradual variation control with respect to the increase variation in load shown in FIG.

  On the other hand, if there is no increase variation in load, steps S1 to S10 are repeated.

For the presence of variation of the load, as in the first embodiment, performed by the calculation value of the input power P _in of the load power supply unit 60.

Step S1 to S3, when the input power P _in is reduced, a control for performing deceleration adjustment of the rotational speed.

  By step S1, the engine rotation speed N is controlled according to the power-rotation speed map 15a.

  Here, in order to prevent excessive power from being supplied to the power used by the load in step S2, here, the engine speed N is adjusted by an immediate variation method.

In step S3, when the input power P _in is reduced, the process returns to step S1, step S1 → S2 → S3 → ... repeated.

Then, a state in which the input power P _in is not reduced, that is, if no change, or, if there was an increase change, the process proceeds to step S4.

If there is no change _in the input power Pin, control is performed to return to step S1 in step S10.

Steps S4 to S6 are a control flow for acquiring and monitoring information at the start of fluctuation. In step S4, the rotation speed (N ₁ ) at the start of fluctuation is acquired from the power-rotation speed map 15a.

  In step S5, the fluctuation start time (t1) is acquired from the rotation speed-variation period map 15b.

In step S 6, the power generator output (P _{g · 1} ) at the start of fluctuation is acquired from the power generator output-fluctuation period map 17.

  As described above, when there is no load fluctuation, in Steps S4 to S6, the information at the start of the fluctuation is continuously acquired, so that the operation state before the fluctuation starts is continued.

  In step S7, charging of the capacitor 7 is stopped. Further, the discharge of the capacitor 7 is stopped by step S8. Moreover, load power supply ON / OFF switching is set to an ON state by step S9.

FIG. 22 shows a gradual increase in the output P _g of the power generator 2 when a load increase variation is detected in step S10 in FIG. 21, and a gradual increase in the discharge output P _c from the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7. It is a flowchart of the gradual variation control to decrease.

In step S1, the engine rotational speed N is in a state where the same rotational speed N _{1 as} that at the start of fluctuation is maintained.

In step S2, it is determined whether the magnitude of the input power P _in (t1) at the time t1 at the start of fluctuation is a light load state or an overload state. If the load is light, the process proceeds to step S3. If the load is overloaded, the process proceeds to step S12.

  First, the case where it is determined in step S2 that the load is light and the process proceeds to step S3 will be described.

In step S3, the discharge output P _{c · 1} by the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 is calculated.

In steps S4 and S5, discharge is performed from the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 with a discharge output P _{c · 1} that matches the magnitude of the increase in load.

In step S6, the information at the change completion gradual change control power - from the rotational speed map 15a, obtains the rotational speed N ₂ at change ends. In step S7, the time t2 at the end of the change is acquired from the rotation speed-variation period map 15b. In step S8, the output _{Pg · 2} of the power generator 2 at the end of the fluctuation is acquired from the power generator output-fluctuation period map 17.

  In step S9, the gradual variation control is executed toward the target values acquired in steps S6, S7, and S8 according to each map.

  If the load is light, the target value is reached by the gradual variation control in step S9. Further, the discharge of the capacitor 7 is stopped in step S10. Then, in step S11, the process proceeds to the "capacitor charging control flow at light load" shown in FIG.

  Next, a case where it is determined in step S2 that the load is overloaded and the process proceeds to step S12 will be described.

In step S12, the discharge output P _{c · 1} by the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 is calculated. Further, the overload range component P _{c · 1-EX} and the fluctuation range component P _{c · 1-n} in the discharge output P _{c · 1} by the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 are calculated.

Then, in steps S13 and S14, discharge is performed from the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 with a discharge output _{Pc · 1} that matches the magnitude of the increase in load.

Through steps S15, S16, and S17, information at the time of the end of the variation of the gradual variation control is acquired. As the rotation speed N ₂ at the end of the fluctuation, the maximum value N _max of the setting range in the power-rotation speed map 15a is acquired. Further, the maximum value T _{x · max} of the setting range in the rotation speed-variation period map 15b is acquired as the time t2 at the end of the fluctuation. Further, the maximum value P _{g · max} of the setting range in the power generator output-fluctuation period map 17 is acquired as the output P _{g · 2} of the power generator ₂ at the end of the fluctuation.

  Then, in step S18, the gradual variation control is executed toward each target value acquired in steps S15, S16, and S17 according to the map.

  In the case of an overload, the overload state may continue even after the gradual change control in step S18. In that case, in step S19, the process proceeds to the “control flow for performing power assistance of the capacitor during overload” shown in FIG. 6 of the first embodiment.

  The transition of the control method from step S19 in FIG. 22 to “control flow for executing power assistance by discharging the capacitor at the time of overload” in FIG. 6 is as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 23, in the gradual variation control, in the discharge output P _c from the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7, a region H61 is an overload range component, and a region H62 is a variation range component. Further, the region H63 becomes a discharge output from the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 in the control for executing the power assist of the capacitor at the time of overload after the gradual variation control is finished.

  As shown in FIG. 23, the gradual variation control of FIG. 22 is executed from time t1 to time t2. After the time t2, the power assist by the capacitor 7 is performed by the control for performing the power assist of the capacitor at the time of overload in FIG.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, by performing power assistance by discharging the capacitor 7 when the load increases, the capacitor 7 discharges when there is an increase in the load regardless of the size of the load. Perform power assistance. As a result, the conventional engine-driven power generation apparatus can eliminate the fuel required for the rapid acceleration that has been performed in order to respond quickly to the increase in the load, thereby improving the fuel consumption.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, the means that can cope with both the light load and the overload has been described, but it is also possible to accommodate only the light load. As a method corresponding to only a light load, for example, the setting range of the discharge output _Pc of the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7 shown in FIG. 15 may be set to a range of II-III-V in the drawing. .

In the second embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 16 shows an example in which “load increase fluctuation state” remains in a light load state as a power assist operation for load increase fluctuation, and FIG. FIG. 23 shows an example when the overload state is reached. In these examples, power is supplied to the load from “both” of “engine 1 / power generator 2” and “capacitor 7 / discharger 9” during the period T _{x (t1 → t2)} during which the fluctuation control is performed. ing. That is, “both” of “engine 1 / power generator 2” and “capacitor 7 / discharger 9” share power.

  However, the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, when the load increases and changes, the output of the engine 1 / power generator 2 is gradually changed. / Until the output of the power generator 2 rises (until time t2 in FIGS. 16, 20, and 23), it is also possible to supply power to the load using only the output from the capacitor 7.

  FIG. 24 shows an example in which the increase variation of the load remains at a light load. The same contents as those in FIG. 16 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. FIG. 25 shows an example in which the increase in load reaches an overload. The same contents as those in FIG. 23 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG.

Immediately after the load fluctuation, the “engine / power generator output P _g ” is the “power generator output-fluctuation period map 17” shown in FIG. 17 and the “rotational speed-fluctuation period map 15b” shown in FIG. Accordingly, the rotational speed of the engine 1 is increased. On the other hand, during the period between them, that is, during the period of T _{x (t1 → t2),} no power is supplied from the engine 1 / power generator 2 to the load, and only the output P _c from the capacitor 7 is obtained. Supply the power necessary to operate the load. That is, the input power P _in = P _c .

Specifically, during the fluctuation period T _{x (t1 → t2)} , the output from the capacitor 7 is P _c = P as shown in a region H41 ′ in the figure in the example of the light load shown in FIG. It is a fixed value of _{c · 1} (= P _{g · 2} −P _{g · 1} ). Further, in the example at the time of overload shown in FIG. 25, as shown in regions H61 ′ and H62 ′ in the figure, a fixed value of P _c = P _{c · 1} (= P _{c1−n−fixed} + P _c1−EX ) It is.

  By adjusting the output voltage from the “power generator 2 + rectifier 3” and the “magnitude” of the output voltage from the “discharger 9”, both “engine / power generator” and “capacitor / discharger” Can be fed to the load, or “only one” of them can be fed to the load. Specifically, when “both output voltages are equal”, power is supplied from “both” to the load. Further, when either “the output voltage of one side is high”, the load is fed from the higher output voltage, that is, “only one side”.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, during the fluctuation period T _{x (t1 → t2)} , (the output voltage of “engine 1 / power generator 2 / rectifier 3”) <(“capacitor 7 / discharger 9”). Therefore, power is supplied to the load only from “capacitor 7 / discharger 9”. Subsequently, after the end of the fluctuation period (after time t2), (output voltage of “engine 1 / power generator 2 / rectifier 3”)> (output voltage of “capacitor / discharger”) The load is supplied only from “engine 1 / power generator 2 / rectifier 3”.
In the example shown in FIG. 24 and FIG. 25, “the control of the output from the capacitor is a simpler method and easy to design”, and “the engine is in a no-load state, so the rotation There is an advantage that the amount of fuel consumed at the start of speed is small compared to a state where a load is applied.

  As described above, in the second embodiment of the present invention, the examples shown in FIGS. 16, 20, and 23 may be implemented, or the examples shown in FIGS. 24 and 25 may be implemented.

  Next, the output of the power generation body 2 for obtaining the electric power necessary for charging in the second embodiment of the present invention and the operation method of the engine 1 will be described.

  In the second embodiment of the present invention, when “control for performing gradual fluctuation control in load increase fluctuation” shown in FIGS. 21 and 22 is executed, an increase fluctuation in the “light load” range is detected. When performing power assistance by discharging the capacitor 7, the capacitor 7 is charged so that sufficient power can be supplied for power assistance for the next increase in load after the gradual variation control is completed.

After the gradual variation control is completed, it is necessary to supply electric power necessary for operating the load and to obtain charging power for the capacitor 7. For this reason, in addition to the power supplied to the load (P _{g · 2} in FIG. 16), it is necessary to generate charging power for the capacitor 7 by the output P _g of the power generator 2. Therefore, the rotation speed is further increased from the rotation speed (N ₂ in FIG. 18) after the gradual variation control is performed, and the charging power of the capacitor 7 is obtained.

  In the second embodiment of the present invention, according to the control flow of FIG. 30, the engine-driven power generation device of the engine drive power generation device can be implemented so as to achieve an improvement in fuel consumption and to achieve quietness in this further increase in rotational speed. Take control.

First, the power and charging time required for charging the capacitor 7 will be described.
As shown in FIG. 26, in the capacitor 7 (electric double layer capacitor), the charged amount Q _ca is substantially proportional to the terminal voltage V _ca. By detecting the terminal voltage V _ca [V], the storage amount Q _ca [A · hr] can be calculated from the characteristic curve.

Further, the power and charging time required for charging the capacitor 7 are the detected value of the terminal voltage V _{ca · 11} before charging _, the calculated value of the charged amount Q _{ca · 11} before charging, and the performance of the capacitor 7. as a value determined by the terminal voltage V _{ca · max} at full charge, the storage amount Q _{ca · max} at full charge, by calculating the value of the area of the region L _y in FIG. 26 [V · a · hr] , A value [W · hr] of “power × time” can be obtained.

  27 and 28 are explanatory diagrams relating to the operating state of the engine 1 for charging the capacitor 7.

Note that the value of the product of the power × time for the capacitor 7 is fully charged is equal to the value of the area of the region L _y shown in FIG. 26. 27 and 28, the same components are described with the same reference numerals.

For example, as shown in FIG. 27A, _in addition to the power P _in supplied to the load until the capacitor 7 reaches full charge, the power for charging the capacitor 7 is set as a constant power P _y , and the generator 2 Consider the case where the engine 1 is operated so as to output from the engine. In this case, the control is performed simply by determining the rotation speed of the engine 1 according to the power-rotation speed map 15a and promptly adapting the fluctuation method of the rotation speed, as in the case of supplying power to the load. It is possible. However, in such control, as shown in FIG. 27 (b), the engine operation, at time t11, the so charge power P _y is obtained, necessary to obtain the power P _in of the load In addition to the rotational speed N _in , the engine is rapidly accelerated to the rotational speed N _in + ΔN _{y obtained} by adding the increase amount ΔN _y of the engine rotational speed. Further, during the charging period T _y , the rotation speed is kept at a constant value of N _in + ΔN _y , and at time t12 when the capacitor 7 reaches full charge, this time, the engine rotation speed is returned to the original value N _in. The engine speed will be suddenly reduced.

In such an operation method of the engine 1, the engine 1 is accelerated rapidly at time t11, and the engine 1 is rapidly decelerated at time t12. For this reason, as shown in FIG. 27 (c), when the control is performed so as to reach the required rotational speed N _in + ΔN _y without delay at the time of the acceleration of t11, the rotational speed N _in + ΔN _y is maintained. For the required fuel input amount G, extra fuel is required for rapid acceleration.

  In addition, when such rapid acceleration and rapid deceleration are performed, the fluctuation of the driving sound generated from the engine 1 increases. For this reason, the driving sound is annoying for the user. As a result, it is necessary to devise soundproofing means in order to ensure quietness.

  In order to improve the adverse effect caused by performing control such as rapid acceleration and rapid deceleration as shown in FIG. 27, in the second embodiment of the present invention, in order to obtain the power required for charging and the charging time. The following method is adopted.

As shown in FIG. 28 (b), the period from time t11 to t12, gradually causing accelerated rotational speed of the engine 1 from the N _in the N _in + .DELTA.N _y. Then, over a period from time t12 to t13, thereby gradually reducing the rotation speed of the engine 1 from the N _in + ΔN _y to N _in. In this way, control is performed so as to obtain a value of electric power × time required for charging from the power generator 2.

  When the engine 1 is gradually accelerated and decelerated as in the examples shown in FIGS. 28B and 28C, sudden acceleration and sudden deceleration are performed as in the examples shown in FIGS. 27B and 27C. In this case, it is possible to eliminate the supply of extra fuel for the rapid acceleration that is necessary in the case of generating the fuel. For this reason, fuel consumption can be improved. In addition, since the fluctuation of the driving sound generated from the engine 1 that is annoying to the user becomes moderate, it is easy to ensure quietness.

When the operation method of the engine 1 as shown in FIG. 28B is performed, it is considered that the value of the product of the obtained electric power × time is the same as that in FIG. In the operation method of FIG. 27B, as shown in FIG. 27A, the value of the charging power is set to a constant value P _y during the charging period T _y . On the other hand, in the driving method of FIG. 28 (b), as shown in FIG. 28 (a), the maximum value of the charging power is reached when the gradual acceleration is completed. Therefore, the maximum value of the charging power, if the charge power P _y and equivalent in FIG. 27 (a), the charging time T _y in FIG. 27 (a) the charging time T _ys in FIG 28 (a) If it is doubled, the product of power required for charging × time is the same as that in FIG.

In FIG. 28A, the period T _{y · i in} which the slow acceleration is performed and the period T _{y · ii in} which the slow deceleration is performed are illustrated as substantially the same value. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and these periods can be appropriately selected according to the performance of the engine 1 and the power generation body 2. Further, for example, the charging time T _ys = 3 [seconds] may be set.

  FIG. 29 is an explanatory diagram relating to a method for determining the rotation speed in the power-rotation speed map 15a when the operation method for the engine 1 shown in FIG. 28 is executed.

The power required for operating the load is determined by the value of the input power Pin _in the load power supply unit 60.

On the other hand, the power and time required for charging the capacitor 7 are calculated by calculating the capacitor storage amount Q _ca from the capacitor terminal voltage V _ca and the characteristic curve of the capacitor 7 shown in FIG. Find the value.

Then, in the preset charging time T _ys , the maximum power value P _y when the engine 1 is gradually accelerated and then gradually decelerated is obtained from the value of “power × time” obtained from FIG. .

Then, the engine rotation speed N _in required for the operation of the load is obtained from the input power P _in based on the power-rotation speed map 15a.

Further, the engine rotational speed N _in + ΔN _y to obtain the maximum value P _y of power necessary for charging the input power P _in to the load, the power - on the basis of the rotational speed map 15a, the power value P _in + P _Calculate from _y .

  FIG. 30 is a flowchart of control for charging the capacitor 7 in FIG.

In step S1, to calculate the area of the region L _y shown in FIG. 26, it calculates the value of the product of "power × time" needed to charge.

In step S2, as shown in FIG. 28 (a), and gradually accelerating the engine 1 at a predetermined charging period T _ys a preset, the maximum value P _y of the required power in case of its gradual deceleration.

Step S3 is a determination unit for comparing the maximum value P _y of the necessary power calculated by the remaining power (P g _{· max} -P _in) and step S2 of the power generator 2.

If the maximum value P _y required power is less than the remaining power of the power generator _{2 (P g · max -P in} ) , the process proceeds to step S4. Then, as shown in FIG. 29, the maximum value (N _in) of the engine speed for obtaining the input power P _in to the load and the maximum value P _{y of the} power necessary for charging from the power-rotation speed map 15a. + ΔN _y ) is calculated.

  In step S5, the capacitor 7 is charged.

In step S6, as shown in FIG. 28 (b), in a predetermined charging period T _ys, the engine rotational speed, an engine rotational speed N _in required operating load, the charging and the input power P _in to the load Therefore, the engine is gradually accelerated to the maximum value (N _in + ΔN _y ) of the engine speed for obtaining the maximum value P _{y of the} electric power necessary for this. Thereafter, the rotational speed is gradually decelerated to the engine rotational speed N _in necessary for operating the load.

  Then, it progresses to step S7 and the charge of the capacitor 7 is stopped. In step S8, the engine rotation speed N is controlled according to the power-rotation speed map 15a.

  When the charging control of the capacitor 7 is completed by the control from step S1 to step S8, the process proceeds to step S9, and the control flow for supplying power to the load shown in FIG. 21 is entered.

Note that, in step S3, if the maximum value P _y required power exceeds the remaining power of the power generator _{2 (P g · max -P in} ) can not obtain the maximum value P _y required power . In this case, the process proceeds to step S10, and the engine speed N is adjusted to the maximum value N _max of the setting range. In step S11, the control flow for charging the capacitor 7 in the state where the engine speed is set to the maximum value N _max of the setting range shown in FIG. 9 is entered, and the capacitor 7 is charged.

31 proceeds to step S11 in FIG. 22 after performing power assist for discharging the capacitor 7 according to FIG. 22, and when the control from step S4 to S7 in the control operation for charging the capacitor 7 in FIG. 30 is executed. The state of the input power P _in to the load power supply unit, the output P _g of the power generator 2 and the engine speed N is shown.

In FIG. 31A, the amount of power supplied from the power generator 2 is gradually increased from time t1 to time t11 while the amount of power supplied from the capacitor 7 is gradually decreased. However, in the present embodiment, from time t1 to time t11, the power supply from the capacitor 7 to the load is kept constant while increasing the output of the power generator 2, and at time t11, the power supply from the capacitor to the load is stopped. In addition, supply of power from the power generator 2 to the load, corresponding to the power used by the load after the increase fluctuation, that is, the power of the output P _{g · 2} of the power generator 2 at the end t2 of the gradual fluctuation control in FIG. You may do it.

  From time t1 to t11, power is supplemented by discharging the capacitor 7 according to the control flow of FIG. Further, from time t11 to t13, the control operation for charging the capacitor 7 shown in FIG. 30 is performed.

  As shown in FIGS. 31 (b) and 31 (c), the engine speed N fluctuates gently from the start time t1 of the load increase fluctuation to the end time t13 of the charging control operation of the capacitor 7. .

  As described above, in the operation method of the engine 1 as shown in FIGS. 27B and 27C, it is possible to eliminate the extra fuel necessary for the rapid acceleration, so that the fuel consumption can be improved. In addition, the engine rotation speed N fluctuates more slowly than in the operation method of the engine 1 as shown in FIG. For this reason, since the fluctuation of the driving sound generated from the engine 1 that is annoying to the user becomes moderate, it is easy to ensure the quietness.

  In the above-described embodiment, the example in which the present invention is configured under specific conditions has been described. However, the present invention can be variously modified and combined, and is not limited thereto. For example, in the first and second embodiments described above, the example in which the capacitor is used as the power storage means has been described. However, in the first to fourth inventions, the power storage means is not limited to this, and various batteries are used. May be.

Further, for example, in the present invention, as a means to adjust the output P _g of the generator body 2, has been described by way of controlling the engine rotational speed N, it may adjust the output of the power generator to control the power generating body . Specifically, if the configuration of the power generator is of a system in which a rotor is provided with a winding and an electromagnet is used, a method of adjusting the generated magnetic flux by adjusting the excitation current of the rotor winding is used. Even with the method, it is possible to control the output P _g of the power generator 2. Further, the output of the power generator may be adjusted by adjusting both the engine speed and the exciting current of the power generator.

  When the output of the power generator is increased and the current flowing through the stator winding of the power generator is increased, the electromagnetic force generated by the increase in the current is increased, so that the resistance against rotation of the engine 1 is increased. For example, when the engine rotational speed N is fixed, the engine 1 is adjusted to generate a larger torque by increasing the fuel input amount with respect to such an increase in rotational resistance. Control is performed so as to maintain the speed N.

  Thus, even if the method of increasing the output of the power generator by increasing the excitation current, there is no change in increasing the fuel input amount. Therefore, even when using a means for controlling the output of the power generator by controlling the exciting current, the present invention is effective.

  Specifically, the rotational speed N of the engine 1 is fixed to a predetermined value, and the power-rotational speed map 15a of FIG. Replace with a power-excitation current map. Further, in the second embodiment of the present invention, in the rotation speed-variation period map 15b of FIG. 18, the vertical axis representing the rotation speed is changed to the excitation current and replaced with the excitation current-variation period map. As a result, an effect equivalent to that of the present invention can be obtained.

In the present invention, in the control of the engine rotation speed N and the discharger 9 of the capacitor 7, the power-rotation speed map 15a of FIG. 4 and the power generator-variation period map 17 of FIG.
Although the control method using the map type calculation means such as the rotation speed-variation period map 15b of FIG. 18 has been described, the present invention is not limited to the map type calculation means. Specifically, the necessary information may be calculated according to a calculation formula instead of obtaining a characteristic curve obtained by providing a plurality of characteristic values as in the case of the map formula calculation means.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Engine 2 Electric power generation body 3 Rectifier 4 DC power bus part 5 Smoothing capacitor 7 Capacitor 8 Charger 9 Discharger 10 Voltage detection means 11 Current detection means 12 Capacitor terminal voltage detection means 13 Engine rotational speed detection part 14 Control part (CPU)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 15 Power generator output calculating means 15a Electric power-rotation speed map 16 Load feed ON / OFF switching function valid / invalid selection switch 60, 61, 62 Load electrode supply part 60a, 61a Inverter (power adjusting means)
60b Filter 60c Output terminal part 61b Transformer 61c Rectifying means 61d Output terminal part 62a Load feeding ON / OFF switching means 62b Output terminal part

Claims (2)

An engine-driven power generator,
Engine,
A power generator driven by the engine to generate AC power;
A rectifier that converts AC power generated from the power generator into DC power;
DC power bus provided on the output side of the rectifier,
An output terminal connected to the output side of the DC power bus for connecting a load;
Power storage means connected in parallel to the DC power bus,
A charger provided between the DC power bus and the power storage means;
A discharger provided between the DC power bus and the power storage means ;
The engine, the power generating body, and a control means for controlling operation of said charger and said discharger,
DC power converted by the rectifier can be supplied from the DC power bus section through the charger as charging power for the power storage means,
The DC power converted by the rectifier can be supplied to the load by superimposing the DC power output from the power storage means to the DC power bus section through the discharger,
After the end of power supply from the power storage means after an increase in load in the light load range, the control means calculates the product of the power required for charging × time and gradually stops the engine during a predetermined charging period. The maximum value of electric power required for acceleration and slow deceleration is calculated, the maximum rotation speed of the engine for obtaining the maximum value of the required electric power is calculated, and the rotation speed of the engine during the predetermined charging period An engine-driven power generator characterized in that the power storage means is charged by slowly decelerating the motor to a maximum rotational speed and then slowly decelerating the motor. The said control means adjusts the rotational speed of the said engine to the maximum value of a setting range, when the maximum value of the said required electric power exceeds the remaining electric power which can be supplied with the said electric power generation body. The engine-driven power generator according to 1.

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