1. Apparatus comprising:
scanning logic for scanning a plurality of radio frequency channels during a scan interval;
logic for receiving messages on each of the plurality of radio frequency channels during the scan interval;
logic for maintaining a scan table having an entry for each device from which a message is received during the scan interval;
logic for maintaining a channel map having an entry for each of the plurality of radio frequency channels on which a message was received, each entry containing a device ID of a device that sent a message on the corresponding channel;
logic for sorting the channel map into a triplet channel map, wherein each successive group of three entries is associated with three successive channels, wherein the average power is stored in the entry for each channel;
logic for selecting a channel from the triplet channel map, by selecting the channel from the triplet with the lowest center average power;
logic for transmitting preclaim messages on the selected channel during a preclaim interval;
logic for receiving messages on the selected channel and updating the scan table based on each message received during the preclaim interval;
logic for calculating an adjacency vector sum, the vector sum representing the sum of all average power levels on all channels;
logic for transmitting claim messages on the selected channel during a claim interval, the claim messages including the adjacency vector sum;
logic for receiving messages on the selected channel during the claim interval;
logic for maintaining a claim table having an entry for each device ID that sent a message on the selected channel during the claim interval;
logic for evaluating the claim table at the end of the claim interval, wherein:
if the claim table has no entries, the logic causes the apparatus to commence communications with other devices via the selected channel;
if the claim table has entries, then the logic checks to see if the selected channel was occupied at the beginning of the claim interval, and if the selected channel was not occupied at the beginning of the claim interval, the logic causes the apparatus to return to scanning channels during a scan interval;
if the selected channel was occupied at the beginning of the claim interval, the logic checks to see if all the claim table entries contain power levels that are less than a power level that was recorded on the selected channel before the claim interval, and if all the claim table entries contain power levels that are less than the power level that was recorded on the selected channel before the claim interval, then the logic causes the apparatus to commence communications with other devices via the selected channel;
if any claim table entry contains a power level that is greater than the power level that was recorded on the selected channel before the claim interval, then the logic compares the adjacency vector sum to an adjacency vector that was received in one of the messages, and if the adjacency vector sum is greater than the adjacency vector received, the logic causes the apparatus to commence communications with other devices via the selected channel, otherwise the logic causes the apparatus to return to scanning channels during a scan interval.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the logic for maintaining a channel map maintains, for each entry, the device ID of a device that sent a message or messages on the channel at the highest average power.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising logic for ascertaining during the scan interval whether any power level recorded in the channel map exceeds a threshold power level, and if so, the logic causes the apparatus to enter a standby mode.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 furthering comprising logic for ascertaining during the preclaim interval whether the scan table includes too many entries, and if so, the logic causes the apparatus to enter a standby mode.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method of controlling a turbinealternator comprising a gas driven turbine and permanent magnet alternator on a common shaft comprising:
providing electric power to said turbinealternator through an inverter circuit that outputs electrical power to said turbinealternator at frequencies and voltages required to start said turbinealternator to achieve self-sustained operation of said turbinealternator;
reconfiguring said inverter circuit by switches internal to the inverter circuit to output electric power from said turbinealternator at desired frequencies unrelated to turbinealternator rotation speed when self-sustained operation of said turbinealternator is achieved; and
monitoring turbine operation parameters prior to self-sustained operation to activate the reconfiguring step and to monitor and control turbine operation before and after the reconfiguring step.
2. The method of claim 1, further comprising logging a history of the turbine operation parameters.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring turbine operation parameters is performed by a controller comprising a microprocessor.
4. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring interfacing sensors.
5. The method of claim 3, wherein said controller comprises a plurality of microprocessors each having its own associated memory programmed to run independently.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the microprocessor comprising said plurality of microprocessors communicates with each other through a high speed serial link.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring a control panel for providing a user interface for system operation and diagnostics.
8. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a user interface configured to provide a user with line tie options, start-up options or shut-down options.
9. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring andor controlling fuel flow of said gas driven turbine.
10. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring andor controlling ignition of said gas driven turbine.
11. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring andor controlling rotation speeds of said turbinealternator.
12. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring andor controlling temperature of said turbinealternator.
13. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring andor controlling pressures of said turbinealternator.
14. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring andor controlling run time of said turbinealternator.
15. The method of claim 1, further comprising monitoring andor controlling diagnostics of said turbinealternator.
16. The method of claim 1, wherein during providing electric power to said turbinealternator, controlled combustion of fuel and air is provided to said gas driven turbine of the turbinealternator.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein when reconfiguring said inverter circuit, said inverter circuit is connected to said turbinealternator through a rectifier.
18. The method of claim 1, wherein said inverter circuit comprises an output filter for filtering said electric power, which output filter is removed when providing electric power to said turbinealternator through said inverter circuit.
19. An electric system for a turbinealternator comprising a gas driven turbine and permanent magnet alternator on a common shaft comprising:
an inverter provided for operation of said turbinealternator;
means to provide electric power to said turbinealternator through said inverter to start said turbinealternator to achieve self-sustained operation of said turbinealternator;
means to reconfigure said inverter to output electric power from said permanent magnet turbinealternator to supply the electric power to a load; and
a controller for monitoring turbine operation parameters prior to self-sustained operation to activate the reconfiguring step and to monitor and control turbine operation before and after the reconfiguring step.
20. The electric system of claim 19, wherein said controller is adapted to log a history of turbine operation parameters.
21. The electric system of claim 20, wherein said controller comprises a microprocessor devoted to monitoring turbine operation parameters.
22. The electric system of claim 20, wherein said controller comprises a microprocessor directed to monitoring interfacing sensors.
23. The electric system of claim 20, wherein said controller comprises a plurality of microprocessors each having its own associated memory programmed to run independently.
24. The electric system of claim 23, wherein the microprocessor comprising said plurality of microprocessors communicates with each other through a high speed serial link.
25. The electric system of claim 19, wherein said controller comprises a microprocessor for monitoring a control panel for providing a user interface for system operation and diagnostics.
26. The electric system of claim 19, further comprising a user interface configured to provide a user with line tie options, start-up options or shut-down options.
27. The electric system of claim 19, wherein said controller is adapted for control andor monitoring of fuel flow of said gas driven turbine.
28. The electric system of claim 19, wherein said controller is adapted for controlling andor monitoring of the ignition of said gas driven turbine.
29. The electric system of claim 19, wherein said controller is adapted for controlling andor monitoring of rotation speeds of said turbinealternator.
30. The electric system of claim 19, wherein said controller is adapted for controlling andor monitoring of temperatures of said turbinealternator.
31. The electric system of claim 19, wherein said controller is adapted for controlling andor monitoring of pressures of said turbinealternator.
32. The electric system of claim 19, wherein said controller is adapted for controlling andor monitoring of run time of said turbinealternator.
33. The electric system of claim 19, wherein said controller is adapted for controlling andor monitoring of diagnostics of said turbinealternator.
34. The electric system of claim 19, further comprising means to provide controlled combustion of fuel and air to said gas driven turbine to achieve self-sustained operation of said turbinealternator.
35. The electric system of claim 19, wherein said means to reconfigure said inverter connects said inverter to said turbinealternator through a rectifier.
36. The electric system of claim 19, wherein said load comprises a power line, and said means to reconfigure said inverter supplies electric power to said power line at a common line voltage and frequency.
37. The electric system of claim 19, wherein said inverter circuit comprises an output filter for filtering said electric power, which output filter is removed when providing electric power to said turbinealternator through said inverter circuit.