AC/AC POWER CONVERTER FOR AIRCRAFT

• US 20090256419A1
• Filed: 04/11/2008
• Published: 10/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Xu, Mingzhou, Anghel, Cristian E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,906,866 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/9.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 1/003 to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/10 Air crafts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/20 AC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 the motors being associated with current generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0859 specially adapted to the type of the starter motor or integrated into it
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/0866 comprising several power sources, e.g. battery and capacitor or two batteries
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0885 Capacitors, e.g. for additional power supply
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0896 Inverters for electric machines, e.g. starter-generators
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

A matrix converter circuit having two AC/AC matrix converters coupled in parallel in a first mode to power a starter and decoupled in a second mode to each power separate functions used in aircraft power applications. Three common functional modes include 1) start mode with two matrix converters operating in parallel powering the starter, 2) a motor mode where one matrix converter powers a motor, and 3) a constant frequency power mode where the other matrix converter provides constant frequency AC power.

Claims

1. A power system circuit for delivering power, comprising at least one of the following:

a matrix converter circuit coupled to a power supply in a first mode, the first mode powering a starter/generator operating as a starter for an engine;

the matrix converter circuit coupled to the starter/generator functioning as a generator providing internal power in a second mode, the second mode providing power from the starter/generator operating as a generator;

a switch having a first position and a second position, the first position allowing power to flow through the matrix converter circuit in a forward direction in the first mode from the power supply and the second position allowing power to flow through the matrix converter circuit in a reverse direction in the second mode from the starter/generator; and

the power converted to a controlled frequency power after flowing through the matrix converter circuit.

2. The power converter circuit of claim 1, wherein the power supply is either constant frequency power or variable frequency power.

3. The power converter circuit of claim 2, wherein the power supply constant frequency power is provided by an auxiliary power unit or from an external generator, and variable frequency power is provided from an engine-driven generator.

4. The power converter circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

three inputs carrying a three-phase power input, each input including a filter for filtering out frequency components on the input of the matrix converter circuit.

5. The power converter circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

an array of nine bidirectional switches organized in a 3×

3 array.

6. The power converter circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

three outputs carrying a pulse width modulated power output, each output including a filter for filtering out frequency components on the output of the matrix converter circuit.

7. The power converter circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a combined pulse width modulated power output from the matrix converter circuit delivering a constant frequency power input to an aircraft component.

8. The power converter circuit of claim 1, further comprising:

a combined pulse width modulated power output from the matrix converter circuit delivering a controlled frequency power input to an aircraft component.

9. An electric power circuit for converting variable or constant frequency power, comprising:

two matrix converters coupled together in parallel to receive power flow from a power supply in a forward direction, said matrix converters delivering a controlled frequency power to a starter/generator to operate said starter/generator as a starter; and

the two matrix converters decoupled to receive power flow from the starter/generator operating as a generator providing power in a reverse direction, with one matrix converter delivering constant frequency power for a first function and the other matrix converter delivering controlled frequency power for a second function.

10. The circuit of claim 9, further comprising:

three inputs carrying a three-phase power input, each input including an inductor circuit for filtering out frequency components on the input of each of the matrix converter; and

a capacitor coupled in parallel linking two of each of the three inputs, one capacitor coupled between each pair of inputs, and filtering out components on the inputs of each of the matrix converters.

11. The circuit of claim 10, further comprising:

three capacitors coupled in a triangular array, each one of the three inputs connected to one of three apex formed by connecting the triangular array, and filtering frequency components on the inputs.

12. The circuit of claim 9, further comprising:

a rectifier circuit connected parallel to each of the two matrix converters and coupling three inputs to three outputs.

13. The circuit of claim 9, further comprising:

an array of bidirectional switches.

14. The circuit of claim 9, further comprising:

three outputs from each of the two matrix converters carrying a pulse width modulated power output, each output including an inductor circuit for filtering out frequency components on the output of each of the matrix converters; and

three capacitors coupled in a triangular array, each of the three outputs connected to an apex formed by connecting the triangular array, and filtering frequency components on the outputs.

15. The circuit of claim 9, further comprising:

a power output of controlled frequency power flow from one of the matrix converters providing a constant frequency 400 Hz power load or a controlled frequency power load for powering a motor.

16. A matrix converter circuit producing power, comprising:

a first matrix converter converting variable or constant frequency power delivered by an electric component functioning as a generator in a first mode to deliver constant frequency power for a first function;

a second matrix converter converting variable or constant frequency power delivered by said electric component functioning as a generator in a first mode to deliver controlled frequency power for a second function; and

the first and second matrix converter converting power from an external power supply in a second mode to deliver controlled frequency power to said electric component functioning as a starter, the first and second matrix converter coupled in parallel to deliver said power.

17. The matrix converter circuit of claim 16, further comprising:

three inputs to each of the first matrix converters and the second matrix converter carrying a three-phase power signal, each input including an inductor circuit for filtering out frequency components of the power signal to each of the matrix converters; and

at least one capacitor filter coupled in parallel to each of the three inputs filtering out components to each of the matrix converters.

18. The matrix converter circuit of claim 16, further comprising:

the first matrix converter and the second matrix converter includes an array of bidirectional switches.

19. The matrix converter circuit of claim 16, further comprising:

three outputs from each of the first matrix converter and the second matrix converter carrying a controlled frequency pulse width modulated power signal output, each output including an inductor circuit for filtering out frequency components on the output of the matrix converters; and

at least one capacitor filter coupled in parallel to each of the three outputs filtering out frequency components on the outputs of each of the matrix converter circuits.

20. The matrix converter circuit of claim 16, wherein the first matrix converter powers a motor in the first mode and the second matrix converter powers an electronic component in the first mode.