Method and architecture for reduction in vehicle wiring

• US 20090015063A1
• Filed: 07/09/2007
• Published: 01/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Michalko, Rodney G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,800,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/19
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/00 Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods perform power conversion and distribution. A system for power conversion and distribution, according to one embodiment comprises: a first generator substation (70) receiving power from a first electrical generator (10); a first main substation (100) for distributing converted power to at least one load, said load being local to the first main substation (100); a ring bus including ring bus feeders (1000, 2000); and at least one satellite substation (700) for powering a remote load, wherein the ring bus feeders (1000, 2000) connect the first generator substation (70) and the first main substation (100) in a ring arrangement, and the at least one satellite substation (700) receives power from the ring bus through a branch substation (500).

Claims

1. A system for power conversion and distribution, said system comprising:

a first generator substation receiving power from a first electrical generator;

a first main substation for distributing converted power to at least one load, said load being local to said first main substation;

a ring bus including ring bus feeders; and

at least one satellite substation for powering a remote load,

wherein said ring bus feeders connect said first generator substation and said first main substation in a ring arrangement, and said at least one satellite substation receives power from said ring bus through a branch substation.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a second main substation for distributing converted power to at least one load, said load being local to said second main substation, said second main substation being connected to said ring bus,

a first conversion device associated with said first main substation,

a second conversion device associated with said second main substation, and

a control system for controlling contactors, so that outputs of said first and second conversion devices are additively combined.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a transformer rectifier unit connected to said first main substation,

an autotransformer connected to said first main substation,

a second electrical generator providing power to said first generator substation,

wherein said ring bus includes first and second feeder rings, said transformer rectifier unit and said first electrical generator are connected to said first ring bus, and said autotransformer and said second electrical generator are connected to said second ring bus.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a second generator substation receiving power from a second electrical generator,

a second main substation connected to said second generator substation, said second main substation distributing converted power to at least one load, said load being local to said second main substation, and

a cross tie connection that can be controlled to electrically connect said first and second main substations.

5. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a second main substation for distributing converted power to at least one load, said load being local to said second main substation, said second main substation being connected to said ring bus,

wherein, when a fault occurs in said first main substation, contactors along said ring arrangement are controlled to connect said second main substation to said load local to said first main substation.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said ring arrangement includes contactors that can be controlled to set a direction of a current flow in said ring bus.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said branch substation is connected inside said ring arrangement.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

contactors along said ring arrangement, and

a control system for controlling said contactors, to isolate a faulty section in said ring arrangement,

wherein said ring arrangement includes redundant power paths.

9. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein said system is used for power conversion and distribution in an aircraft.

10. A system for power conversion and distribution, said system comprising:

a left generator substation for receiving power from a left electrical generator;

a right generator substation for receiving power from a right electrical generator;

a forward main substation for converting power for at least one forward local load;

an aft main substation for converting power for at least one aft local load;

a ring bus including ring bus feeders; and

a branch substation along said ring bus for supplying at least one satellite substation for powering a remote load,

wherein said ring bus feeders connect said left generator substation, said right generator substation, said forward main substation and said aft main substation in a ring arrangement, and said at least one satellite substation receives power from said ring bus via said branch substation that intersects said ring bus.

11. The system as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

a first conversion device associated with said forward main substation,

a second conversion device associated with said aft main substation, and

a control system for controlling contactors, so that outputs of said first and second conversion devices are additively combined.

12. The system as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

a transformer rectifier unit connected to said forward main substation,

an autotransformer connected to said forward main substation,

a second left electrical generator providing power to said left generator substation,

wherein said ring bus includes first and second feeder rings, said transformer rectifier unit and said left electrical generator are connected to said first ring bus, and said autotransformer and said second left electrical generator are connected to said second ring bus.

13. The system as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

a second forward main substation connected to said right generator substation, said second forward main substation converting power for at least one load local to said second forward main substation, and

a cross tie connection that can be controlled to electrically connect said forward and said second forward main substations.

14. The system as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

a second forward main substation for converting power for at least one load local to said second forward main substation, said second forward main substation being connected to said ring bus,

wherein, when a fault occurs in said forward main substation, contactors along said ring arrangement are controlled to connect said second forward main substation to said load local to said forward main substation.

15. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein said ring arrangement includes contactors that can be controlled to set a direction of a current flow in said ring bus.

16. The system as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

multiple branch substations connected inside said ring arrangement, said multiple branch substations providing power to multiple satellite substations.

17. The system as recited in claim 10, further comprising:

contactors along said ring arrangement, and

a control system for controlling said contactors, to isolate a faulty section in said ring arrangement,

wherein said ring arrangement includes redundant power paths.

18. The system as recited in claim 10, wherein said system is used for power conversion and distribution in an aircraft.

19. A method for secondary power conversion and distribution, said method comprising:

receiving power from an electrical generator;

transporting power along a ring path to a first location and a second location;

converting power at said first location for use by a local load;

converting power at said second location for use by a remote load; and

transporting power from said second location to said remote load.

20. The method for secondary power conversion and distribution as recited in claim 19, further comprising:

controlling contactors along said ring path to

provide redundant power paths,

control a direction of a current flow, and

isolate a faulted section in said ring path without impacting said transporting steps and said converting steps.