NO BREAK POWER TRANSFER FOR MULTI-SOURCE ELECTRICAL POWER SYSTEM

• US 20170126018A1
• Filed: 10/30/2015
• Published: 05/04/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Zhang, Jinhui, Buffenbarger, Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 9,966,764 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/00 Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/04 by static converters

Abstract

Systems and methods for transferring power delivery between power sources to an electrical bus are provided. More particularly, a multi-source electrical power system can include an electrical bus having at least two power sources that each can be selectively coupled to the electrical bus, for instance, via contactors. At least one of the power sources can include a unidirectional or bidirectional power converter. The electrical power system can further include a control system configured to control the power output (e.g., the output voltage and the output current) of the power converter to provide no break power transfer of power delivery to the electrical bus between the first and second power sources. In example embodiments, the no break power transfer can be achieved by regulating the output current of a power source to a fixed current value and/or by using a virtual resistance programmed into a voltage regulator.

Claims

1. A method for transferring power delivery to an electrical bus between a first power source and a second power source, the method comprising:

regulating, with a voltage regulator, an output voltage of the second power source based at least in part on a measured voltage of the electrical bus;

coupling the second power source to the electrical bus such that the first power source and the second power source are both coupled to the electrical bus for a transfer period;

during the transfer period, allocating power delivery to the electrical bus between the first power source and the second power source such that the second power source provides a controlled power delivery to the electrical bus; and

decoupling the first power source from the electrical bus at the end of the transfer period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein prior to coupling the second power source to the electrical bus, the method comprises setting a current setpoint for a current regulator associated with the second power source to a fixed current setpoint.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the fixed current setpoint is about zero amperes.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein after decoupling the first power source from the electrical bus, the method further comprises regulating, with the voltage regulator, the output voltage of the second power source.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein allocating power delivery to the electrical bus from the first power source and the second power source comprises regulating, with a current regulator, an output current of the second power source based at least in part on a fixed current setpoint during the transfer period.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein allocating power delivery to the electrical bus from the first power source and the second power source comprises regulating, with a current regulator, an output current of the second power source in accordance with a current ramp during the transfer period.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein after decoupling the first power source from the electrical bus, the method ceases regulating the output current of the second power source with the current regulator.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein allocating power delivery to the electrical bus from the first power source and the second power source comprises regulating, with the voltage regulator, the output voltage of the second power source based at least in part on a virtual resistance such that the output voltage of the second power source is reduced as an output current provided from the second power source is increased.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the transfer period is a time period having a predetermined duration.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

setting a current setpoint of a current regulator associated with the second power source to a fixed current setpoint of about zero amperes;

coupling the first power source to the electrical bus such that both the first power source and the second power source are connected to the electrical bus for a second transfer period; and

during the second transfer period, regulating an output current of the second power source based at least in part on the fixed current setpoint of about zero amperes; and

decoupling the second power source from the electrical bus at the end of the second transfer period.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the second power source comprises a power converter.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the electrical bus is a DC bus or AC bus associated with an aircraft.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first power source and the second power source each comprise a generator, each generator being mechanically powered by a gas turbine engine of the aircraft.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the second power source comprises a power converter.

14. An electrical power system, comprising:

a first power source;

a second power source, the second power source comprising a power converter;

an electrical bus configured to be selectively coupled to the first power source and configured to be selectively coupled to the second power source;

a control system comprising a current regulator configured to regulate an output current of the power converter, the control system further comprising a voltage regulator configured to regulate an output voltage of the power converter;

wherein when the control system receives a transfer signal indicative of initiating a transfer of power delivery to the electrical bus from the first power source to the second power source, the voltage regulator is configured to regulate the output voltage of the second power source to match a voltage associated with the electrical bus, and a current setpoint for the current regulator is adjusted to a fixed current setpoint of about zero amperes.

15. The electrical power system of claim 14, wherein responsive to the transfer signal, the control system is configured to couple the second power source to the electrical bus such that the first power source and the second power source are both coupled to the electrical bus for a transfer period

16. The electrical power system of claim 15, wherein during the transfer period, the current regulator is configured to regulate an output current of the second power source based at least in part on the fixed current setpoint of zero amperes.

17. The electrical power system of claim 15, wherein the control system is configured to decouple the first power source from the electrical bus at the end of the transfer period.

18. A method for transferring power delivery to an electrical bus between a first power source and a second power source, the method comprising:

setting a current setpoint of a current regulator associated with the second power source to a fixed current setpoint;

coupling the first power source to the electrical bus such that both the first power source and the second power source are connected to the electrical bus for a transfer period; and

during the transfer period, regulating an output current of the second power source based at least in part on the fixed current setpoint to provide a controlled power delivery to the electrical bus from the second power source; and

decoupling the second power source from the electrical bus at the end of the transfer period.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the fixed current setpoint is zero amperes.