Active control of battery charging profile by generator control unit
First Claim
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1. A battery recharging system for an engine, which comprises:
- a generator connected to drive means for producing electrical energy on a bus;
voltage regulator means connected to generator for controlling the voltage of the electrical energy on the bus;
a battery connected for receiving recharging energy from the bus, the battery also connected to provide electrical energy to start the engine; and
generator control means connected to the voltage regulator means for controlling the voltage on the bus used by the battery for recharging, the generator control means varying the voltage according to a predetermined charging profile, the generator control means decreasing the voltage when the battery is discharged to prevent excessive current from entering the battery.
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Abstract
A system for actively controlling the charging profile of a battery uses a software-based generator control unit to control the charging voltage. The voltage may be initially reduced following battery discharge to prevent large current inrush transients. The voltage may then be raised above a normal charging level to increase the battery charging rate. The control system provides better control over battery charging prevent overheating of the battery and generator and allows the battery to be recharged more quickly.
67 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A battery recharging system for an engine, which comprises:
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a generator connected to drive means for producing electrical energy on a bus; voltage regulator means connected to generator for controlling the voltage of the electrical energy on the bus; a battery connected for receiving recharging energy from the bus, the battery also connected to provide electrical energy to start the engine; and generator control means connected to the voltage regulator means for controlling the voltage on the bus used by the battery for recharging, the generator control means varying the voltage according to a predetermined charging profile, the generator control means decreasing the voltage when the battery is discharged to prevent excessive current from entering the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A battery recharging system for an engine, which comprises:
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a generator connected to drive means for producing electrical energy on a bus; voltage regulator means connected to generator for controlling the voltage of the electrical energy on the bus; a battery connected for receiving recharging energy from the bus, the battery also connected to provide electrical energy to start the engine; and generator control means connected to the voltage regulator means for controlling the voltage on the bus used by the battery for recharging, the generator control means varying the voltage according to a predetermined charging profile, the generator control means increasing the voltage when the battery is discharged to increase the charge rate of the battery. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An aircraft electrical system, which comprises:
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an engine; a starter/generator connected to the engine to generate electrical energy when the engine operates and to provide torque to the engine to start the engine when the engine is stopped; an electrical bus connected to the starter/generator to supply electrical energy therefrom; a voltage regulator connected to the bus to control the voltage of the electrical energy on the bus; a battery connected to the bus, the battery supplying electrical energy to the starter/generator to start the engine and the battery being discharged thereby, the battery receiving electrical energy on the bus to be recharged; and a generator control unit connected to operate the voltage regulator, the generator control unit directing the voltage regulator to change the voltage on the bus according to a preset battery charging profile, the generator control unit capable of causing the voltage regulator to decrease the voltage on the bus after the battery has supplied electrical energy to the starter/generator to avoid a large battery inrush current transient, the generator control unit capable of causing the voltage regulator to increase the voltage on the bus to a level above normal battery charging level to increase the battery charging rate, the generator control unit then reducing the voltage level on the bus following battery charging to the normal battery charging level to maintain battery charge. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of recharging a battery subjected to periodic substantial discharges, which comprises the steps of:
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providing a predetermined battery charging profile of voltage levels, a predetermined battery charging profile being provided which can be independent of battery temperature; using the charging profile to change the level of voltage supplied to the battery during different portions of the recharging operation; and returning the charging voltage to the normal charging voltage to maintain battery charge. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification