Modular Equipment Center Solid State Primary Power Switching Network

• US 20150103457A1
• Filed: 10/11/2013
• Published: 04/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Original Assignee: The Boeing Co.
• Inventors: Shander, Mark S., Currier, Thomas F., Brouwer, Todd B., Liffring, Mark E., Dhondt, Jon J., Holley, Robert D., Schaffner, Lowell W., Solodovnik, Eugene, Thomas, Terrance L., Lurton, N. Evan, Kerr, Carolyn
• Granted Patent: US 9,676,351 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/88
• 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: H02J 3/0073 for providing alternative feeding paths between load and source when the main path fails, e.g. transformers, busbars
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/381 Dispersed generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc

Abstract

A solid state primary power switching network for modular equipment centers (MECs) distributing primary power throughout a vehicle. The solid state primary power switching network includes multiple primary power switch network devices (PPSNDs) of a MEC for controlling and distributing primary power to other MECs spatially distribute throughout a vehicle. In one or more configurations, the PPSNDs have a universal structure in that each includes a common power input source and a plurality of common power outputs. In one or more configurations, primary power sources to the vehicle are switched without a perceivably visible break in power.

Claims

1. A primary power switching network for use with a vehicle, the power switching network comprising:

a plurality of modular equipment centers (MECs) spatially distributed throughout the vehicle, each of the MECs comprising at least one primary power input configured for receiving primary power;

a plurality of equipment loads throughout the vehicle, each of the equipment loads serviced by the nearest MEC; and

a plurality of primary power switching network devices (PPSNDs) within one or more of the MECs, the plurality of PPSNDs having a common configuration relative to one another such that each PPSND comprises at least one common power input source and a plurality of common power outputs.

2. The primary power switching network of claim 1, wherein each PPSND further comprises a primary power bus configured for distributing primary power to one or more other MECs.

3. The primary power switching network of claim 1, wherein each PPSND further comprises at least one tie bus configured for distributing primary power to other MECs.

4. The primary power switching network of claim 1, wherein each PPSND further comprises at least one tie bus configured for receiving primary power from other MECs.

5. The primary power switching network of claim 1, wherein each PPSND further comprises a plurality of common power output connections configured for distributing primary power.

6. The primary power switching network of claim 5, wherein at least one of the common power output connections is configured for distributing primary power to a primary MEC.

7. The primary power switching network of claim 5, wherein at least one of the common power output connections is configured for distributing primary power to a secondary MEC.

8. The primary power switching network of claim 5, wherein at least one of the common power output connections is configured for distributing power to a high voltage AC load.

9. The primary power switching network of claim 1, further comprising at least one power distribution module configured for receiving power from the PPSNDs of a MEC of the plurality of MECs and distributing secondary power to equipment loads of the MEC.

10. The primary power switching network of claim 1, wherein at least one PPSND is coupled to a multi-layered integrated truss system, the multi-layered integrated truss system comprising at least one power transfer layer wherein the power transfer layer receives electrical power from a high power portion of the MEC through the PPSND and the power transfer layer includes a path for providing the electrical power to a low power portion of the MEC.

11. The primary power switching network of claim 1, further comprising at least one primary power source configured to distribute primary power to the plurality of MECs and wherein the at least one primary power source provides poly-phase primary power to PPSNDs within one or more of the MECs.

12. The primary power switching network of claim 1, wherein each PPSND further comprises a plurality of contactors, at least a portion of the plurality of contactors on each PPSND arranged in a common configuration relative one another for switching power from the common power input source and to the common power outputs.

13. The primary power switching network of claim 1, further comprising at least one primary power source configured to distribute primary power to the plurality of MECs and wherein the at least one primary power source provides three-phase primary power to PPSNDs within one or more of the MECs, each of the PPSNDs within each MEC receiving a different phase of the three-phase primary power.

14. A solid state primary power switching network for use with a vehicle, the power switching network comprising:

first and second modular equipment centers (MECs) spatially distributed throughout the vehicle;

first and second primary power sources distributing poly-phase primary power to the first and second MECs;

a plurality of equipment loads throughout the vehicle, each of the equipment loads serviced by the nearest of the first and second MECs; and

a plurality of primary power switching network devices (PPSNDs) within each of the first and second MECs, the plurality of PPSNDs sharing a common configuration relative to one another such that each of the PPSNDs comprise at least one common power input source and a plurality of common power outputs,

wherein each PPSND within the first MEC receives a different phase of the poly-phase primary power from the first primary power source and each power switching network device within the second MEC receives a different phase of the poly-phase primary power from the second primary power source.

15. The solid state primary power switching network of claim 14, wherein the first and second MECs are primary MECs and the first and second primary power sources are generators.

16. A primary power switching network for use with a vehicle, the power switching network comprising:

a modular equipment center (MEC) for use within the vehicle;

at least one primary power source configured to distribute three-phase primary power to the MEC;

a plurality of equipment loads in the vehicle serviced by the MEC; and

at least three primary power switching network devices (PPSNDs) within the MEC, the PPSNDs having a common configuration relative to one another such that each of the PPSNDs comprise at least one common power input source and a plurality of common power outputs,

wherein each of the PPSNDs within the MEC receives a different phase of the three-phase primary power generated from the primary power source.

17. A primary power switching network system comprising:

a plurality of primary power switching buses configured for distributing primary power to a plurality of modular equipment centers (MECs); and

at least one standalone solid state switch on the primary power switch network system, the at least one standalone solid state switch having a self-contained control function configured to provide one or more of localized protections, voltage sensing, and current sensing, and wherein opening and closing of the at least one standalone solid state switch interrupts and routes primary power across one or more of the primary power switching buses to one or more of the plurality of MECs.

18. The primary power switching network system of claim 17 wherein the standalone solid state switch comprises pulse width modulation to limit current flow through the standalone solid state switch.

19. A fast break power transfer system for switching between primary power sources to a vehicle, the system comprising:

a plurality of primary power sources having different output frequencies configured to provide high voltage AC power inputs to a high voltage primary power bus;

a static inverter configured for receiving a DC input; and

a first solid state power breaker (SSPB) between the static inverter and a backup bus coupled to the high voltage primary power bus,

wherein the static inverter is further configured to sync to the output frequency and phasing of one of the primary power sources powering the high voltage primary power bus and the first SSPB is configured to provide a controlled frequency output and a voltage from the static inverter to the backup bus such that the high voltage primary power bus remains continuously powered during a power transfer to another of the primary power sources available for powering the high voltage primary power bus.

20. The fast break power transfer system of claim 19, wherein the static inverter is further configured to change its output frequency and phasing to match the output frequency of the other primary power source available to the high voltage primary power, the first SSPB is further configured to open to take the static inverter offline upon an occurrence of matching output frequencies, and the other primary power source is configured to begin powering the high voltage primary power bus.

21. The fast break power transfer system of claim 19, wherein one of the primary power sources is a high voltage AC power generator on an engine of the vehicle and another of the primary power sources is a high voltage AC auxiliary power unit of the vehicle.

22. The fast break power transfer system of claim 19, wherein one of the primary power sources is a high voltage AC power generator on an engine of the vehicle and another of the primary power sources is a high voltage AC external power unit of the vehicle.

23. The fast break power transfer system of claim 19, further comprising a power converter receiving power from a non-time limited power source, wherein the static inverter receives a DC input from the power converter.

24. The fast break power transfer system of claim 23, wherein the static inverter receives another DC input from a time-limited power source.

25. The fast break power transfer system of claim 24, wherein the time-limited power source is a high voltage DC battery.

26. The fast break power transfer system of claim 19, wherein a RAM air turbine (RAT) powers the static inverter during loss of primary power sources.

27. The fast break power transfer system of claim 19, wherein a high power portion of a primary MEC includes the high voltage primary power bus and a low power portion of the primary MEC includes the backup bus.

28. The fast break power transfer system of claim 19, wherein the high voltage primary power bus is continuously powered while switching primary power sources such that functioning of equipment loads is not disrupted.

29. The fast break power transfer system of claim 19, wherein a standby MEC comprises the static inverter.

30. The fast break power transfer system of claim 19, wherein the first SSPB is further configured to close to provide power from a time-limited power source to the backup bus for powering critical loads when the primary power sources are lost.

31. The fast break power transfer system of claim 30, further comprising a second SSPB between the backup bus and the high voltage primary power bus configured to open to isolate the backup bus from non-critical loads.

32. The fast break power transfer system of claim 19, wherein the static inverter coordinates changes to the first SSPB and a computing and networking interface (CNI) module opens and closes the first SSPB, wherein the CNI module comprises hardware and software.

33. A method for switching between primary power sources to a vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

providing first and second primary power sources having different output frequencies;

providing a high voltage AC power input to a high voltage primary power bus from the first primary power source;

synchronizing a static inverter to an output frequency of the first power source powering the high voltage primary power bus;

interrupting the high voltage AC power input from the first primary power source to the high voltage primary power bus;

in response to interrupting the high voltage AC power from the first primary power source, providing a controlled frequency output and a voltage from the static inverter to a backup bus coupled to the high voltage primary power bus;

powering the high voltage primary power bus from the backup bus until the second primary power source powers the high voltage primary power bus;

changing the output frequency of the static inverter to match an output frequency of the second primary power source;

taking the static inverter offline upon an occurrence of matching output frequencies; and

powering the high voltage primary power bus from the second primary power source.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of providing a DC power input to the static inverter.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the step of providing a DC power input comprises a RAM air turbine (RAT) powering the static inverter during loss of the first and second primary power sources.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of providing a DC power input to the static inverter from a time limited power source.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of providing a controlled frequency output and a voltage from the static inverter to a backup bus comprises closing a solid state power breaker (SSPB) coupled between the static inverter and the backup bus.

38. The method of claim 37, further comprising the step of a computing and networking interface (CNI) module opening and closing the SSPB, wherein the CNI module comprises hardware and software.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of taking the static inverter offline comprises opening a solid state power breaker coupled between the static inverter and the backup bus.

40. The method of claim 33, further comprising the step of providing power from a time-limited power source to the backup bus for powering critical loads when the first and second primary power sources are lost.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of isolating the backup bus from non-critical loads.

42. The method of claim 40, further comprising the step of turning off equipment loads when the backup bus is powered by the static inverter.