US 12,444,969 B2
Marine AC generator system and method
Steven J. Gonring, Slinger, WI (US)
Assigned to Brunswick Corporation, Mettawa, IL (US)
Filed by Brunswick Corporation, Mettawa, IL (US)
Filed on Jul. 7, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/922,782.
Prior Publication US 2022/0014036 A1, Jan. 13, 2022
Int. Cl. H02J 7/14 (2006.01); B63H 21/20 (2006.01); H02J 4/00 (2006.01); H02K 7/18 (2006.01); H02K 11/00 (2016.01)
CPC H02J 7/1423 (2013.01) [B63H 21/20 (2013.01); H02J 4/00 (2013.01); H02J 7/1469 (2013.01); H02K 7/1815 (2013.01); H02K 11/0094 (2013.01); B63H 2021/205 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A marine AC generator system on a marine vessel, the system comprising:
a marine generator driven by an internal combustion engine and configured to generate an AC current;
a rectifier configured to rectify the AC current to produce a DC current;
at least one battery configured to be charged by the DC current;
a battery powered inverter configured to be powered by the at least one battery and to generate a variable current output frequency such that AC electrical power is provided to a load when the marine generator is not running;
a first current sensor configured to sense a current input to the at least one battery and a second current sensor configured to sense a current output from the at least one battery, wherein a load amount is determined based on a difference between the current input and current output;
a controller configured to control operation of the marine generator to charge the at least one battery based on a comparison of the load amount to a threshold load; and
wherein the controller is configured to operate the marine generator at a low RPM to charge the at least one battery during a predefined low noise period so as to minimize noise and to operate the marine generator at a high RPM to charge the at least one battery during a predefined maximum charge speed period so as to minimize charge time, wherein the predefined low noise period and the predefined maximum charge speed period are defined based on a preset time schedule and/or a user mode selection; and
wherein the controller is configured to operate the marine generator to charge the at least one battery based on the user mode selection between at least a low speed mode defining the low noise period where the marine generator is operated at the low RPM to minimize noise and a high speed mode defining the maximum charge speed period where the marine generator is operated at the high RPM so as to minimize charge time.