METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPROVING PEAK POWER CAPABILITY OF AN AIRCRAFT

• US 20100066165A1
• Filed: 09/16/2008
• Published: 03/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Ganev, Evgeni, Warr, William, Sarlioglu, Bulent
• Granted Patent: US 7,986,057 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/9.100
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2221/00 Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/44 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/50 On board measures aiming to increase energy efficiency

Abstract

A method and system for improving peak power capability in an electrical system is disclosed. The system may include an auxiliary generator operated in conjunction with one or more main engine generators during the need for increased transient load demands. The system may include a main engine generator, an auxiliary generator, an inverter/converter controller (ICC) connected to respective generators, a semi-conductor power device connected between the ICCs, and a main bus between the semi-conductor power device and a load.

Claims

1. An electrical system, comprising:

a first main engine generator for providing steady state and transient power;

a first inverter/converter controller connected to the first main engine generator for converting power from the first main engine generator;

a first load for receiving the first main engine generator power;

an auxiliary generator activated for parallel operation in connection with the first main engine generator during transient power demands from the electrical system, the auxiliary generator providing a supplemental power to the electrical system; and

a supplemental inverter/converter controller connected to the auxiliary generator for converting the supplemental power into a supplemental current and for supplying the supplemental current to augment the first main engine generator power.

2. The electrical system of claim 1, further comprising a first diode connected between the supplemental inverter/converter controller and the first load for transferring the supplemental current supplied to the load.

3. The electrical system of claim 1, further comprising a first main bus for receiving the main engine generator power and transferring the main engine generator power to the first load.

4. The electrical system of claim 3, further comprising an auxiliary bus connected to the auxiliary generator for routing the supplemental power to the first main bus.

5. The electrical system of claim 1, further comprising:

a second main engine generator connected for parallel operation with the auxiliary generator, for providing steady state and transient power;

a second inverter/converter controller for converting power from the second main engine generator; and

a second load for receiving the second main engine power supplemented by the supplemental power.

6. The electrical system of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary generator is part of a power and thermal management system or auxiliary power unit.

7. An electrical system, comprising:

a plurality of main engine generators operating independently of one another for providing steady state and transient power;

a plurality of inverter/converter controllers connected respectively to the plurality of main engine generators for converting power from respective main engine generators;

a plurality of loads for receiving respective main engine generator power and for providing a regeneration current back to respective main engine generators;

an auxiliary generator activated for parallel operation in connection with the main engine generators, the auxiliary generator providing a supplemental power to the electrical system;

a supplemental inverter/converter controller connected to the auxiliary generator for converting the supplemental power into a supplemental current and for supplying the supplemental current to augment respective main engine generator power; and

a plurality of electrical gates connected between the supplemental inverter/converter controller and respective plurality of loads for controlling a flow of the regenerated current.

8. The electrical system of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of main buses connected respectively to the main engine generators and for receiving respective main engine generator power and transferring respective main engine generator power to respective loads.

9. The electrical system of claim 8, wherein the main buses further receive regenerated power from respective loads for transfer to respective main engine generators.

10. The electrical system of claim 8, wherein a first main bus receives regenerated power from a first load for transfer through the pair of bi-directional power devices to a second main engine generator.

11. The electrical system of claim 7, wherein the electrical gates include a combination of uni-directional and bi-directional power devices for controlling the flow of steady state, transient, and supplemental power in the system.

12. The electrical system of claim 7, wherein the loads are ancillary loads.

13. A method of providing increased peak power capability in an electrical system of a machine, comprising:

checking the electrical system for increases in motoring of the machine;

checking for increased power demands in the electrical system during an increase in motoring;

checking for insufficient power transferred to a first load during the increased power demand;

activating an auxiliary generator to operate in parallel with a first main generator engine wherein the first main engine generator is connected to a first inverter/converter controller for converting a first main engine generator power into a first main engine power for transfer to the first load;

transferring a supplemental power from the auxiliary generator to a supplemental inverter/converter controller;

converting the supplemental power into a supplemental current for transfer to the first load;

transferring the supplemental current to a main bus for supplementing the main generator engine power to meet the increased power demand;

transferring the supplemented main engine generator power to the first load.

14. The method of claim 13, further including:

operating a second main engine generator in parallel with the auxiliary generator for powering a second load independently of the first main engine generator; and

converting the power received from the second main engine generator to a second current for transfer to the second load.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the auxiliary generator is part of a power and thermal management system or an auxiliary power unit.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising routing the supplemental current through an auxiliary bus prior to transfer to the main bus.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising powering an actuator using the supplemented main engine generator power.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising regulating the flow of the supplemental current to one of the first or second loads by employing a pair of diodes connected between the supplemental inverter/converter controller and the first and second loads.

19. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

generating a regeneration power from the first load;

receiving the regeneration power on the first inverter/converter controller; and

converting the regeneration power into a converted power for use by the first main engine generator.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising employing a bi-directional power device for allowing the regeneration power to bypass the first main engine generator and the auxiliary generator for receipt of the regeneration power by the second main engine generator.