Control for an electrical generating and distribution system, and method of operation

• US 4,403,292 A
• Filed: 09/22/1980
• Issued: 09/06/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1979
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Peterson, William J., Glennon, Timothy F., Thom, James B., Ejzak, Richard P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gruber, Felix D.
• Application Number:
  US06/189,776
• Time in Patent Office: 1,079 Days
• Field of Search: 364/492, 364/493, 307/18, 307/19, 307/23, 307/29, 307/65, 307/70, 307/71, 307/85, 322/28
• US Class Current: 700/297
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 47/00 Equipment not otherwise provided for
• 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: H02P 2101/30 for aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/14 by variation of field H02P9/08, H02P9/10 take precedence

Abstract

A control for an electrical generating and distribution system utilizing a plurality of interconnected microprocessors. An electrical system, for an aircraft for example, may have two engine driven generators and an auxiliary power unit generator with loads connected to each of the engine driven generators through generator circuit breakers. An electrical distribution bus connected through bus tie breakers interconnects the load circuits and the auxiliary generator so that any one generator can power either or both loads. Each generator has a microprocessor generator control unit responsive to the associated generator conditions to control generator operation. A microprocessor bus power control unit is responsive to distribution circuit conditions and correlates information from the generator control units, contributing to operation of the bus tie breakers, controlling distribution of power from the generators to the loads. Serial data links between the bus power control unit and each of the generator control units provide for communication of input and control information and enable comparison of redundant circuit information enhancing reliability of the system operation. A generator voltage regulator utilizes the microprocessor of the generator control unit to develop an error voltage which is added to the average phase voltage of the generator, controlling the generator field current. In the event of a phase failure the generator control unit senses an abnormally high phase voltage condition, disables the average phase voltage circuit and the regulator continues to operate with the error voltage.

Claims

1. In an electrical generation and distribution system having at least two generators (15, 16) each having an output circuit and having for at least one of the generators a load circuit (20) and a generator circuit breaker (18) connecting the load circuit with the generator, an electrical bus (22) and a bus tie breaker (26) connecting the load circuit through said bus with the other of such generator, an improved control, comprising:

a microprocessor generator control unit (30,

     31) for each of said generators, said generator control units having inputs and outputs;

a microprocessor bus power control unit (42) having inputs and outputs;

means connecting the output circuit of each of said generators with inputs of the generator control unit associated therewith for the generator control unit to respond to generator conditions;

means connecting outputs of said generator control units with said generator to establish operation thereof;

means connecting inputs of said bus power control unit with the electrical distribution system for the bus power control unit to respond to distribution system conditions;

serial data links (104, 105,

     106) interconnecting said bus power control unit (42) with each of said generator control units (30,

     31) to transmit generator and distribution system condition information and control unit outputs among the control units to correlate operation of the control units; and

means connecting the generator circuit and bus tie breakers (18,

     26) to respond to the outputs circuit and bus tie breakers (18,

     26) to respond to the outputs of said control units (30, 31,

     42) to connect the load circuit with one of said generators.

2. The control of claim 1 in which the output of said bus power control unit operates said bus tie breaker.

3. The control of claim 1 in which the output of said generator control unit operates the generator circuit breaker.

4. The control of claim 1 including means responsive to the state of the circuit and tie breakers to provide inputs to said bus power control unit.

5. A control of claim 5 including means responsive to the state of said circuit breaker to provide inputs to the generator control unit for said one generator and to the bus power control unit.

6. In an electrical generating and distribution system having a first generator (15) having an output circuit, a first load circuit (20) and a first generator circuit breaker (18) connecting the first load circuit with the first generator, a second generator (16) having an output circuit, a second load circuit (21) and a second generator circuit breaker (19) connecting the second load circuit with the second generator, an auxiliary generator (26) having an output circuit, an electrical tie bus (22) interconnecting the first and second load circuits (20, 21) and the auxiliary generator (26) through first, second and auxiliary tie breakers (23, 24, 27) respectively, an improved control comprising:

a first microprocessor generator control unit (30) for the first generator;

a second microprocessor generator control unit (31) for said second generator;

a third microprocessor generator control unit (32) for said auxiliary generator each of said generator control units having inputs and outputs;

a microprocessor bus power control unit (42) having inputs and outputs;

means connecting inputs of each of said generator control units with the output circuit of the corresponding generator to respond to generator conditions;

means connecting outputs of each of said generator control units with the respective generator to control the operation thereof;

means connecting the inputs of said bus power control unit with the electrical distribution system for the bus power control unit to respond to distribution system conditions;

a serial data link (104, 105,

     106) between said bus power control unit (42) and each of said generator control units (30, 31,

     32) to transmit generator and distribution system condition information and control unit outputs among the control units to correlate operation of the control units; and

means connecting the generator circuit and bus tie breakers (18, 19, 23, 24,

     27) to respond to outputs of the control units (30, 31, 32,

     42) to connect each load (20,

     21) with one of the generators (15, 16,

     26).

7. The control of claim 6 in which the output of the bus power control unit operates the bus tie breakers.

8. The control of claim 6 for a system having an external power source connected with the electrical tie bus through an external power contactor and in which said bus power control unit operates said external power contactor.

9. In an electrical generating and distribution system having a first generator (15), a first load circuit (20) and a first generator circuit breaker (18) connecting the first load circuit with the first generator, a second generator (16), a second load circuit (21) and a second generator circuit breaker (19) connecting the second load circuit with the second generator, an auxiliary generator (26), an electrical tie bus (22) interconnecting the first and second load circuits and the auxiliary generator through first, second and auxiliary tie breakers (23, 24, 27), a microprocessor generator control unit (30, 31, 32) for each generator and a microprocessor bus power control unit (42), having a control method with the steps of,

operating each of said generator control units in accordance with conditions of the associated generator to control the generator operation, and

operating said bus power control unit in accordance with electrical distribution circuit conditions, the improvement which comprises:

communicating generator and distribution circuit condition and control information between the generator control units and the bus power control unit to control said circuit and tie breakers to deliver power from one of said generators to each of said loads.