Control arrangement for cooling power electronic components

• US 7,278,475 B2
• Filed: 04/18/2006
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Original Assignee: Rolls-Royce PLC (Rolls-Royce Holdings Plc)
• Inventors: Jones, Alan R.
• Primary Examiner(s): BARNES-BULLOCK, CRYSTAL JOY
• Application Number:
  US11/405,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20060259156A1
• Time in Patent Office: 539 Days
• Field of Search: 165/200, 165/201, 165/205, 165/244, 165/253, 165/287, 700/11, 700/12, 700/19, 700/20, 700/299, 123/41.01, 123/41.31, 123/41.44, 123/41.48, 123/41.49, 123/41.02, 607/72, 60/398.3
• US Class Current: 165/205
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 25/12 Cooling
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/12 Cooling of plants of component parts, see the relevant subclasses, e.g. F01D; cooling of engines in general F01P
• CPC Class Codes: F02C 7/18 the medium being gaseous, e.g. air F02C7/125 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

A control arrangement (10) comprises a first selectable controller (12) for controlling an action, and a second selectable controller (14) for controlling the action. The arrangement also includes a selector (22) for selecting one of the controllers (12, 14) to control the action. The arrangement (10) further includes a first heat exchanger (16) associated with the first controller (12) to effect a transfer of heat between the first controller (12) and the first heat exchanger (16). The arrangement also includes a second heat exchanger (18) associated with the second controller (14) to effect a transfer of heat between the second controller (14) and the second heat exchanger (18).

Claims

1. A control arrangement comprising a first selectable controller for controlling an action, a second selectable controller for controlling the same action as the first selectable controller, a selector for selecting one of the first and second controller to control said action, wherein the arrangement further comprises a first heat exchanger associated with the first controller to effect a transfer of heat between the first controller and the first heat exchanger dependent upon a first flow, and a second heat exchanger associated with the second controller to effect a transfer of heat between the second controller and the second heat exchanger dependent upon a second flow, the selector being capable of determining the availability of the first flow and/or the second flow and accordingly select the first controller or the second controller to control the action.

2. A control arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the selector is provided to select one of the first and second controller to control said action depending upon the condition of the control arrangement.

3. A control arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the selector is provided to select the first controller to control said action in a first condition of the arrangement, and to select the second controller to control said action in a second condition of the arrangement.

4. A control arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the first heat exchanger is arranged to effect said heat transfer when the first controller is selected, and, the second heat exchanger is arranged to effect said heat transfer when the second controller is selected.

5. A control arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the first and second controllers comprise electronic components.

6. A control arrangement according to claim 5 wherein the electronic components comprise power electronic components.

7. A control arrangement according to claim 5 wherein the electronic components comprise at least one transistor and at least one diode.

8. A control arrangement according to claim 7 wherein the, or each, transistor is an insulated gate bipolar transistor.

9. A control arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the first and second controllers are substantially identical to each other.

10. A control arrangement comprising a first selectable controller for controlling an action, a second selectable controller for controlling the action, a selector for selecting one of the first and second controller to control said action, wherein the arrangement further comprises a first heat exchanger associated with the first controller to effect a transfer of heat between the first controller and the first heat exchanger dependent upon a first flow, and a second heat exchanger associated with the second controller to effect a transfer of heat between the second controller and the second heat exchanger wherein the first heat exchanger is arranged to cool the first controller, and the second heat exchanger is arranged to cool the second controller.

11. A gas turbine engine incorporating a control arrangement comprising a first selectable controller for controlling an action, a second selectable controller for controlling the same action as the first selectable controller, a selector for selecting one of the first and second controller to control said action, wherein the arrangement further comprises a first heat exchanger associated with the first controller to effect a transfer of heat between the first controller and the first heat exchanger dependent upon a first flow, and a second heat exchanger associated with the second controller to effect a transfer of heat between the second controller and the second heat exchanger.

12. A control arrangement comprising a first selectable controller for controlling an action, a second selectable controller for controlling the action, a selector for selecting one of the first and second controller to control said action, wherein the arrangement further comprises a first heat exchanger associated with the first controller to effect a transfer of heat between the first controller and the first heat exchanger dependent upon a first flow, and a second heat exchanger associated with the second controller to effect a transfer of heat between the second controller and the second heat exchanger wherein the first heat exchanger comprises a first fluid to effect said transfer of heat, and the second heat exchanger comprises a second fluid, to effect said heat transfer wherein the first and second fluids comprise fuel or air.

13. A control arrangement according to claim 12 wherein the first fluid associated with the first heat exchanger comprises fuel, and the second fluid associated with the second heat exchanger comprises air.

14. A control arrangement according to claim 12 wherein the control arrangement is part of a gas turbine engine having a fan, the air comprises a flow of air from the fan.

15. A control arrangement comprising a first selectable controller for controlling an action, a second selectable controller for controlling the same action as the first selectable controller, a selector for selecting one of the first and second controller to control said action, wherein the arrangement further comprises a first heat exchanger associated with the first controller to effect a transfer of heat between the first controller and the first heat exchanger dependent upon a first flow, and a second heat exchanger associated with the second controller to effect a transfer of heat between the second controller and the second heat exchanger wherein the arrangement further comprises a selectable third controller for controlling the action, which can be selected by the selector, and a third heat exchanger to effect transfer of heat between the third controller and the third heat exchanger.

16. A control arrangement according to claim 15 wherein the third controller comprises electronic components.

17. A control arrangement according to claim 16 wherein the electronic components comprise power electronic components.

18. A control arrangement according to claim 16 wherein the electronic components comprise at least one transistor and at least one diode.

19. A control arrangement according to claim 18 wherein the, or each, transistor is an insulated gate bipolar transistor.

20. A control arrangement according to claim 15 wherein the third heat exchanger is arranged to cool the third controller.

21. A control arrangement according to claim 15 wherein the third heat exchanger comprises a third fluid to effect said transfer of heat.

22. A control arrangement according to claim 21 wherein the third fluid comprises fuel or air.

23. A control arrangement according to claim 22 wherein the control arrangement is part of an engine, the third fluid comprising a flow of ambient air from a region external of the engine.

24. A control arrangement according to claim 15 wherein the third controller is substantially identical to the first and second controllers, the third heat exchanger being arranged to effect said heat transfer when the third controller is selected by the selector.