Power generating system with flux regulated generator

• US 8,432,137 B2
• Filed: 05/19/2009
• Issued: 04/30/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Rtx Corporation)
• Inventors: Rozman, Gregory I., Nguyen, Vietson M., Gieras, Jacek F., Vedula, Sastry V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, John K
• Application Number:
  US12/468,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20100295517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,442 Days
• Field of Search: 322/46, 322/57, 322/49, 322/50, 322/52, 322/59, 310/190, 310/263
• US Class Current: 322/57
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/34 using magnetic devices with controllable degree of saturation in combination with controlled discharge tube or controlled semiconductor device

Abstract

A method for generating and controlling power by means of at least one controlled permanent magnet machine (PMM) with a permanent magnet (PM) rotor and a stator with a magnetic flux diverter circuit for controlling the output of the PMM, comprises the steps of: rotating the PM rotor at a velocity sufficient to develop a high frequency alternating current (HFAC) power output from the stator; transforming the HFAC output to produce a desired non-HFAC power output; sensing desired power output parameters; generating a control signal responsive to the sensed parameters; and applying the control signal to the magnetic flux diverter circuit to control the desired power output.

Claims

1. A method for generating and regulating power by means of at least one controlled permanent magnet machine (PMM) with a permanent magnet (PM) rotor and a stator with a magnetic circuit that diverts flux within the stator for controlling the output of the PMM, comprising the steps of:

rotating the PM rotor at a velocity sufficient to develop an alternating current (AC) power output from the stator;

transforming the AC output from the stator to produce a desired power output that has a frequency less than the AC power output from the stator;

sensing desired power output parameters;

generating a control signal responsive to the sensed parameters; and

applying the control signal to the magnetic circuit that diverts flux within the stator to control the desired power output.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transforming comprises transformation by means of synchronous rectification.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transforming comprises transformation by means of bi-directional switching.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of transforming transformation comprises transformation by means of cycloconversion.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sensed power output parameters comprise electrical potential difference and current.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired power output is direct current (DC).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the desired power output is AC that is lower in frequency than the AC power output from the stator.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the control signal includes a reference AC component that is lower in frequency than the AC power output from the stator.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein N number of PMMs produce N phases of desired AC power output.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein one PMM produces one phase of AC power output from its stator and the cycloconversion produces N phases of desired AC power output.

11. A method for generating and regulating direct current (DC) power by means of a single-phase permanent magnet machine (PMM) with a permanent magnet (PM) rotor and a stator with a magnetic circuit that diverts flux within the stator for controlling the output of the PMM, comprising the steps of:

rotating the PM rotor of the PMM at a velocity sufficient to develop an alternating current (AC) power output from the stator of each PMM;

transforming the AC output from the stator of each PMM to produce a desired DC power output;

sensing desired power output parameters of the desired power output;

generating a control signal for the PMM responsive to the sensed parameters for the desired DC power output; and

applying the control signal to the magnetic circuit that diverts flux within the stator to control the desired DC power output.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step of transforming comprises transformation by means of synchronous rectification.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the sensed power output parameters comprise electrical potential difference and current.

14. A method for generating and regulating alternating current (AC) power with N phases by means of N controlled single-phase permanent magnet machines (PMMs), each with a permanent magnet (PM) rotor and a stator with a magnetic circuit that diverts flux within the stator for controlling the output of the PMM, comprising the steps of:

rotating the PM rotor of each PMM at a velocity sufficient to develop an alternating current (AC) power output from the stator of each PMM;

transforming the AC output from the stator of each PMM to produce a desired AC power output with N phases that has a frequency less than the AC power output from the stator of each PMM;

sensing desired power output parameters for each respective phase of the desired power output;

generating a respective AC control signal that is lower in frequency than the AC power output from the stator for each PMM responsive to the sensed parameters for a respective phase of the desired AC power output; and

applying each control signal to the magnetic circuit that diverts flux within the stator for each respective PMM to control the desired power output.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of transforming comprises transformation by means of bi-directional switching.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the sensed power output parameters comprise electrical potential difference and current.

17. A method for generating and regulating alternating current (AC) power with N phases by means of one controlled permanent magnet machine (PMM) with a permanent magnet (PM) rotor and a stator with a magnetic circuit that diverts flux within the stator for controlling the output of the PMM, comprising the steps of:

rotating the PM rotor at a velocity sufficient to develop an alternating current (AC) power output from the stator;

transforming the AC output to produce a desired AC power output with N phases that has a frequency less than the AC power output from the stator of each PMM;

sensing desired power output parameters for each respective phase of the desired power output;

generating a control signal responsive to the sensed parameters; and

applying the control signal to the magnetic flux diverter circuit within the stator of the PMM to control the desired power output.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of transforming comprises transformation by means of cycloconversion.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the sensed power output parameters comprise electrical potential difference and current.