Power management system including a variable voltage link

• US 7,036,028 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2003
• Issued: 04/25/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Controls Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Controls Incorporated (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Zalesski, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, VINCENT HUY
• Application Number:
  US10/249,855
• Publication Number:
  US 20040230844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 713/300, 713/323, 713/340, 713/320
• US Class Current: 713/320
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/06 Two-wire systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/007 Plural converter units in cascade push-pull DC/DC converters with pre-regulator H02M3/3374; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC stage including a high frequency transformer H02M7/4807; DC-AC converters following a DC-DC conversion stage generating periodically varying voltages H02M7/4826
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/008 Plural converter units for generating at two or more independent and non-parallel outputs, e.g. systems with plural point of load switching regulators

Abstract

A power management system and method of operation is disclosed. The power management system may include a controller associated with each load or subsystem of a plurality of loads or subsystems to determine a lowest operational voltage based on an operating point of the associated load or subsystem. The power management system may further include a voltage link to supply a highest voltage of the lowest operational voltages.

Claims

1. A power management system, comprising:

a controller associated with each load of a plurality of loads to determine a lowest operational voltage based on an operating point of the associated load;

a voltage link to supply a highest voltage of the lowest operational voltages; and

a variable frequency power converter associated with each controller, wherein the controller controls the associated variable frequency power converter to apply power from the voltage link to the associated load in response to the operating point of the load, wherein the variable frequency power converter alternately connect and disconnect the voltage link to the load at a predetermined frequency that is a function of a voltage on the voltage link and the operating point of the load.

2. The power management system of claim 1, wherein each controller comprises efficiency mapping data to determine the lowest operational voltage based on the operating point of the associated load.

3. The power management system of claim 1, further comprising a power management computer to receive a lowest operational voltage request from each controller and to select a highest one of the received operational voltage requests as a new link voltage.

4. The power management system of claim 3, further comprising at least one power source to apply the new link voltage to the voltage link in response to a predetermined signal from the power management computer.

5. The power management system of claim 4, wherein the at least one power source comprises an energy storage module.

6. A power management system, comprising:

a controller associated with each load of a plurality of loads to determine a lowest operational voltage based on an operating point of the associated load;

a voltage link to supply a highest voltage of the lowest operational voltages;

a variable frequency power converter associated with each controller, wherein the controller controls the associated variable frequency power converter to apply power from the voltage link to the associated load in response to the operating point of the load;

at least one energy source;

another variable frequency power converter coupled to the at least one energy source; and

another controller associated with the variable frequency power converter to control a level of voltage applied to the voltage link by the variable frequency power converter.

7. The power management system of claim 6, wherein the energy source comprises one of a battery, a capacitor, a pulse power generator, or a flywheel.

8. The power management system of claim 6, further comprising:

a power management computer to receive a lowest operational voltage request from each controller and to select a highest one of the received operational voltage requests as a new link voltage.

9. The power management system of claim 8, wherein the new link voltage is applied from the at least one energy source to the voltage link in response to a predetermined signal from the power management computer.

10. A power management system, comprising:

a voltage link to supply power to each of a plurality of loads;

a power management computer to control a magnitude of voltage applied to the voltage link;

at least one power source;

a first converter associated with the at least one power source to deliver a level of power at a predetermined voltage to the voltage link;

a first controller associated with the first converter to control the level of power at the predetermined voltage;

a second converter coupleable to the voltage link and associated with each load of the plurality of loads; and

a second controller associated with each load of the plurality of loads to determine a lowest operational voltage based on an operating point of the associated load and to control a level of power delivered to the associated load by the second converter associated with the load.

11. The power management system of claim 10, wherein the second controller monitors the operating point of the load to send a signal to the power management computer in response to a new operating point.

12. The power management system of claim 10, wherein the power management computer selects a highest one of a lowest operational voltage from each second controller to be applied to the voltage link.

13. The power management system of claim 12, wherein the level of power delivered to the voltage link corresponds the highest one of the lowest operational voltages from each second controller.

14. The power management system of claim 10, wherein each second converter comprises a variable frequency power converter associated with each second controller, wherein the second controller controls the associated variable frequency power converter to apply power from the voltage link to the associated load in response to the operating point of the load.

15. The power management system of claim 14, wherein the second controller causes the associated variable frequency power converter to alternately connect and disconnect the voltage link to the load to control a current flow into the load.

16. The power management system of claim 15, wherein the variable frequency power converter alternately connects and disconnects the voltage link to the load at a predetermined frequency that is a function of a voltage on the voltage link and the operating point of the load.

17. A method to manage power applied to each of a plurality of subsystems, comprising:

sending a lowest operational voltage request from each subsystem of the plurality of subsystems to a power management computer;

selecting a highest one of the lowest operational voltage requests as a link voltage;

delivering a level of power to a voltage link;

controlling the level of power delivered to the voltage link using a first controller;

delivering another level of power from the voltage link to a load of each subsystem; and

controlling the delivery of power from the voltage link to the load of each subsystem using a second controller in response to an operating point of the load.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising calculating a lowest operational voltage for each subsystem based on a load operating point of each subsystem.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising alternately connecting and disconnecting a voltage link to a load to control a current flow into the load.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the voltage link is alternately connected and disconnected to the load at a predetermined frequency that is a function of a voltage on the voltage link and an operating point of the load.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising monitoring an operating point of a load of each subsystem for any changes.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising sending a new lowest operational voltage request in response to a change in the operating point of the load of one of the subsystems.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising applying a new link voltage in response to selecting a new highest one of the lowest operational voltage requests.

24. A method to manage power applied to each of a plurality of subsystems, comprising:

calculating a lowest operational voltage for each subsystem based on a load operating point;

sending a lowest operational voltage request from each subsystem to a power management computer;

controlling the application of power from a voltage link to a load of each subsystem in response to the load operating point; and

alternately connecting and disconnecting a voltage link to the load at a predetermined frequency that is a function of a voltage on the voltage link and the load operating point.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising selecting a highest one of the lowest operational voltage requests as a link voltage.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising applying a new link voltage in response to a new highest one of the lowest operational voltage requests.

27. A power management system, comprising:

a voltage link;

at least one energy source;

a first converter associated with the at least one power source to deliver a level of power to the voltage link;

a first controller associated with the first converter to control the level of power delivered to the voltage link;

a second converter associated with each load of the plurality of loads to deliver another level of power to each load from the voltage link; and

a second controller associated with each second converter to control the other level of power delivered to the associated load by the second converter.

28. The power management system of claim 27, wherein the first converter and each second converter comprise a variable frequency power converter.

29. The power management system of claim 27, further comprising a power management computer to receive a request from each second controller based on a load operating point.

30. The power management system of claim 29, wherein the first controller controls the level of power applied to the voltage link in response to a signal from the power management computer.

31. The power management system of claim 27, wherein the second controller controls the level of power delivered to the associated load based on an operating point of the associated load.