DEVICE FOR SIMULATING AN ALTERNATOR, METHOD OF CONTROLLING SUCH A DEVICE AND SIMULATION SYSTEM COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE

• US 20120205991A1
• Filed: 02/13/2012
• Published: 08/16/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Original Assignee: Airbus Operations (European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company EADS NV)
• Inventors: IRUBETAGOYENA, Patrick, RESSEGUIER, Eric, MERCADAL, Hervé, BOUISSET, Nicolas
• Granted Patent: US 9,105,199 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/131
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 23/188 for motors; for generators; for power supplies; for power distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 25/02 of industrial processes; of machinery

Abstract

A device (10) for simulating an alternator is connected to an alternator control circuit (20) and supplies a voltage on an electrical network (30).

This device comprises:

• • a circuit for receiving an excitation current (I_exc) generated by the control circuit (20);
  • a switch (15) able to apply voltage to the network (30) and controlled on the basis of the excitation current (I_exc).

A method of controlling such a device and a simulation system comprising such a device also are described.

Claims

1. Device for simulating an alternator able to be connected to an alternator control circuit (20) and to supply a voltage on an electrical network (30), characterized in that it comprises:

a circuit for receiving an excitation current (I_exc) generated by the control circuit (20);

a switch (15) able to apply voltage to the network (30) and controlled on the basis of the excitation current (I_exc).

2. Simulation device according to claim 1, comprising a current sensor (13) able to measure the excitation current (I_exc) and a command module (14) able to control the switch (15) according to the measured current.

3. Simulation device according to claim 2, in which the command module is designed to control the closing of the switch when the excitation current exceeds a predetermined threshold.

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, comprising an inductive circuit (12) to which the excitation current is applied.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, comprising means (11) for delivering a variable voltage intended for an input of the control circuit (20) allowing determination of the excitation current.

8. Simulation system comprising a simulation device according to one of claims 1 to 5 and the control circuit, in which the control circuit comprises a module for determining the excitation current according to a value representative of a voltage received at the input of the control circuit.

9. System according to claim 8, in which the simulation device is set up to supply a first equipment item (IB).

10. System according to claim 9, in which the simulation device is connected to the first equipment item (IB) through a switching box (SW) and in which an alternator (ALT A;

ALT B) is connected to a second equipment item (EFIB) through the switching box (SW).

6. Method of controlling a device for simulating an alternator able to be connected to an alternator control circuit (20) and to supply a voltage on an electrical network (30), characterized by the following steps:

receiving an excitation current (I_exc) generated by the control circuit (20);

controlling a switch (15) able to apply voltage to the network (30) on the basis of the excitation current (I_exc).

7. Control method according to claim 6, in which closing of the switch is commanded when the excitation current exceeds a predetermined threshold.