POWER CONVERTERS FOR AIRCRAFT STARTER/GENERATORS

• US 20160028321A1
• Filed: 07/28/2014
• Published: 01/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: White, Adam M., Kheraluwala, Mustansir
• Granted Patent: US 9,590,521 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/458 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/4585 having a rectifier with controlled elements
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/483 Converters with outputs that each can have more than two voltages levels

Abstract

A method of converting power includes receiving alternating current (AC) at the first phase leg set of a power conversion system having first and second phase legs sets connected by direct current (DC) leads. The first phase leg set rectifies the received AC power into DC power by switching outer switches of the first phase leg set into an off state. The DC lead conveys the DC power from the first phase leg set to the second phase leg set. The second phase leg set inverts the DC power into AC power.

Claims

1. A method of converting power, comprising:

receiving AC power at a first set of phase legs;

rectifying the received AC power into DC power using the first set of phase legs;

receiving the rectified DC power at a second set of phase legs; and

inverting the received DC power into AC power using the second set of phase legs, wherein at least one of the rectifying and inverting processes further includes switching respective outer switches of the first or second phase leg sets into an off state.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving AC power includes receiving constant frequency AC power.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein inverting the converted DC power into AC power includes inverting the converted DC power into variable frequency AC power.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer switches are a plurality of outer switches in the second set of phase legs, and further including converting received constant frequency AC power into variable frequency AC power in a start mode by routing current through diodes in parallel with the outer switches of the second phase leg set.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein receiving AC power includes receiving variable frequency AC power.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein inverting the converted DC power into the AC power includes inverting the converted DC power into constant frequency AC power.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the outer switches are a plurality of outer switches arranged within the first phase leg set, and further including converting received variable frequency AC power into constant frequency AC power in a generate mode by routing current through diodes in parallel with the outer switches of the first phase leg set.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, further including:

switching a power conversion circuit from a start mode to a generate mode by configuring the first phase leg set as a VIENNA rectifier;

receiving variable frequency AC power at the first phase leg set; and

outputting constant frequency AC power at the second phase leg set.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, further including switching the power conversion circuit from a start mode to a generate mode by configuring the first phase leg set as a VIENNA rectifier.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, further including:

reconfiguring the first phase leg set as an inverter;

receiving constant frequency AC power at the second phase leg set; and

outputting variable frequency AC power at the first phase leg set.

11. A method as recited in claim 10, further including flowing current in opposite directions through a DC link coupling the AC phase leg sets in the start mode and the generate mode.

12. A power conversion system, comprising:

first and second AC phase leg sets connected by a DC link; and

a controller operatively associated with first and second AC phase leg sets including a processor and a memory, wherein the processor is communicative with the memory and the memory has instructions recorded therein that, when read by the processor, cause the processor to;

receive AC power at the first AC phase leg set;

rectify the AC power into DC power using the first AC phase leg set;

convey the DC power from the first AC phase leg set to the second AC phase leg set through the DC link; and

invert the DC power into AC power using the second AC phase leg set.

13. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the second AC phase leg set is a constant frequency phase leg set and the instructions further include cause the processor to:

configure the system to convert power in a start mode by opening a constant frequency phase leg set outer switches; and

convert received constant frequency AC power into variable frequency AC power by flowing current through a diode arranged in parallel with the constant frequency phase leg set outer switches.

14. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the phase legs of the first AC phase leg set are variable frequency phase legs and the instructions further include cause the processor to:

configure the system to convert power in a generate mode by opening a variable frequency phase leg set outer switches; and

convert received variable frequency AC power into constant frequency AC power by flowing current through diodes arranged in parallel with the variable frequency phase leg set outer switches.

15. A system as recited in claim 12, wherein the instructions further cause the processor to flow current through the DC link in opposite directions in start and generate modes.