METHOD FOR STARTING AIRCRAFT ENGINES

• US 20160208709A1
• Filed: 09/06/2013
• Published: 07/21/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: HUANG, Hao
• Granted Patent: US 9,810,155 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/26 Starting; Ignition
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/268 Starting drives for the rotor , acting directly on the rotor of the gas turbine to be started
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/006 using a plurality of electric motors
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/04 the motors being associated with current generators
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/08 Circuits or control means specially adapted for starting of engines
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 11/087 Details of the switching means in starting circuits, e.g. relays or electronic switches
• CPC Class Codes: F02N 2011/0896 Inverters for electric machines, e.g. starter-generators
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/68 by static converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 2101/30 for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/08 Control of generator circuit during starting or stopping of driving means, e.g. for initiating excitation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

A method of starting an aircraft having at least a first starter/generator (S/G) and a second S/G using at least one inverter/converter and at least one of an AC power source and a first DC power source, the method includes selectively starting at least one of the first S/G or second S/G in an AC start mode and in a DC start mode.

Claims

1. A method of starting an aircraft having at least a first turbine engine having a first starter/generator (S/G) and a second turbine engine having a second S/G using at least one inverter/converter and at least one of an AC power source having an AC power output and a first DC power source having a DC power output, the method comprising:

selectively starting at least one of the first S/G or second S/G in an AC start mode, where the AC power output is supplied to a first inverter/converter, which converts the AC power output to a second DC power output supplied to a second inverter/converter, which inverts the second DC power output to a second AC power output, which is supplied to the at least one of the first S/G or second S/G, and in a DC start mode, where the DC power output is supplied to the inverter/converter, which inverts the DC power output to a second AC power output, which is then supplied to the at least one of the first S/G or second S/G.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising selectively starting the other of the at least one first S/G or second S/G in the AC start mode, where the AC power output is supplied to a first inverter/converter, which converts the AC power output to a second DC power output supplied to a second inverter/converter, which inverts the second DC power output to a second AC power output, which is supplied to the at least one of the first S/G or second S/G, and in the DC start mode, where the DC power output is supplied to the inverter/converter, which inverts the DC power output to a second AC power output, which is then supplied to the at least one of the first S/G or second S/G.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively starting the other of the at least one first S/G or second S/G by a third AC power output from the started at least one first S/G or second S/G.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the third AC power output is selectively supplied to a first inverter/converter, operating the inverter/converter to convert the third AC power output to a third DC power output, supplying the third DC power output to a second inverter/converter and outputting a fourth AC output, which is then supplied to the other of the at least one first S/G or second S/G.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively starting an auxiliary power unit (APU) to generate the AC power output.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising selectively starting the other at least one first S/G or second S/G by the AC power output from the started APU.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the AC power output is selectively supplied to a first inverter/converter, operating the inverter/converter to convert the AC power output to a third DC power output, supplying the third DC power output to a second inverter/converter and outputting a third AC output, which is then supplied to at least one of the first S/G or second S/G.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the selectively starting the APU occurs prior to selectively starting the at least one first S/G or second S/G.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising selectively starting at least one of the first S/G or second S/G by the AC power output from the started APU.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the AC power output is selectively supplied to a first inverter/converter, operating the inverter/converter to convert the AC power output to a third DC power output, supplying the third DC power output to a second inverter/converter and outputting a third AC output, which is then supplied to at least one of the first S/G or second S/G.