ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR AN AIRCRAFT

• US 20140333126A1
• Filed: 11/01/2013
• Published: 11/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: VYAS, Parag
• Granted Patent: US 10,053,030 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 307/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2221/00 Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/44 for aircrafts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/46 Controlling of the sharing of output between the generators, converters, or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc

Abstract

This invention relates to an electrical system for an aircraft, comprising: a first main generator connected to at least one load via a first bus; a second main generator connected to at least one load via a second bus; a first and a second auxiliary generator associated with the first and second buses, the auxiliary generators being driven by a common prime mover.

Claims

1. An electrical system for an aircraft, comprising:

a first main generator connected to at least one load via a first bus system;

a second main generator connected to at least one load via a second bus system;

a first and a second auxiliary generator respectively associated with the first and second bus systems, the auxiliary generators being simultaneously driven by a common prime mover,

further comprising electrical conditioning units arranged to alter the electrical output of one of the auxiliary generators to substantially match one of the main generators.

2. An electrical system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrical outputs of both auxiliary generators are connectable to the same electrical conditioning equipment.

3. An electrical system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least two electrical conditioning units, one for each auxiliary generator.

4. An electrical system as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the bus systems includes a main generator bus and an auxiliary generator bus.

5. An electrical system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second bus system includes a DC bus.

6. An electrical system as claimed in claim 5, further comprising a back to back AC-to-AC convertor having a DC link, wherein the DC bus connected to the DC link.

7. An electrical system as claimed in claim 6, wherein the back to back convertor includes a bidirectional unit through which power can be passed from the DC bus to the first bus system, and the first bus system to the DC bus.

8. An electrical system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second buses are electrically isolated during normal use.

9. An electrical system as claimed in claim 8, further comprising switchable links between the first bus system and the loads, and the second bus system and the loads.

10. An electrical system as claimed in claim 9, further comprising a controller which is configured to connect only one of either the first or second bus systems to electrical loads at any one time.