Electrical power stabilisation

• US 20070064458A1
• Filed: 09/05/2006
• Published: 03/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Cullen, John, Trainer, David
• Granted Patent: US 7,521,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 363/102
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 2101/30 for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/00 Arrangements for controlling electric generators for the purpose of obtaining a desired output
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/102 for limiting effects of transients

Abstract

Use of a common electrical power bus to which a number of electrical power generators and consumers are coupled is well known. Typically, a high electrical capacitance is provided across the bus in order to provide stabilisation in the switching of generators and consumer devices as well as differences in the operational performances of the electrical power generators. Particularly in aerospace applications provision of high capacity electrical capacitors creates problems. By providing a feedback control and an electrical power converter take primary electrical power from an electro-mechanical converter associated with a rotating component of a prime mover, electrical power stabilisation is achieved by applying torque changes through the electromechanical converter to the rotating component of the prime mover such that stored electrical power can then be drawn as required to accommodate transients in electrical power on the bus.

Claims

1. An electrical power stabilisation arrangement comprising a prime mover having a rotating component and an electromechanical converter associated with the rotating component of the prime mover to convert electrical rotation into electrical power and vice versa by variable applied torque, the electromechanical converter coupled to an electrical power converter to respectively interchange primary electrical power with the electromechanical converter and secondary electrical power with an electrical power bus, a feed back control associated with the electrical power bus to stabilise electrical power provided on the electrical power bus by feedback to the electrical power converter in order to proportionately control electrical power to the electromechanical converter to alter the torque applied to the rotating component of the prime mover by the electro-mechanical converter.

2. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the primary electrical power is of an alternating current.

3. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the secondary electrical power is a direct current.

4. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electromechanical converter is an electrical machine.

5. An arrangement as claimed in claim 4 wherein the electromechanical converter is a generator/motor.

6. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electrical power bus has a number of generator and/or consumer devices associated with it and the feed back control is configured to stabilise electrical power provided on the electrical power bus as a result of variable switching of these devices.

7. An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein the prime mover is a gas turbine engine.