Mixed mode power generation architecture

• US 8,928,166 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2011
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Seger, Mark J., Spierling, Todd A., Behling, David S., LeGros, Craig R., Grell, Brandon M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuevas, Pedro J
• Application Number:
  US13/222,395
• Publication Number:
  US 20130049366A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,224 Days
• Field of Search: 290/46, 322/25, 322/28, 322/29
• US Class Current: 290/46
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 2221/00 Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft
• CPC Class Codes: F01D 15/10 Adaptations for driving, or combinations with, electric generators
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/7642 of the synchronous type
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2220/768 equipped with permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: F05D 2260/85 Starting
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 50/60 Efficient propulsion technologies, e.g. for aircraft

Abstract

An electric power generation system (EPGS) employs both a wild-source generator and a variable and/or constant frequency generator. The wild-source generator is coupled to receive mechanical power from a low-pressure spool on an aircraft engine and to generate in response a wild-source output for consumption by voltage and frequency-tolerant loads. The variable and/or constant frequency generator is coupled to receive mechanical power from a high-pressure spool on the aircraft engine and to generate in response a variable and/or constant frequency output for consumption by voltage and frequency-intolerant loads.

Claims

1. An electric power generation system (EPGS) comprising:

a wild-source generator coupled to receive mechanical power from a low-pressure spool on an aircraft engine and to generate in response a wild-source output for consumption by voltage and frequency-tolerant loads, wherein the wild-source output is voltage unregulated and speed unregulated; and

a variable-frequency and/or constant frequency generator with regulated voltage output coupled to receive mechanical power from a high-pressure spool on the aircraft engine and to generate in response a variable and/or constant frequency output for consumption by voltage and frequency-intolerant loads.

2. The EPGS of claim 1, wherein the wild-source generator is a permanent magnet generator (PGM).

3. The EPGS of claim 1, wherein the wild-source generator is a wound-field synchronous machine.

4. The EPGS of claim 1, wherein the variable frequency generator is a starter motor coupled to provide mechanical energy to the high-pressure spool to start the aircraft engine.

5. An electrical power generation and distribution system (EPGDS) comprising:

an aircraft engine having a low-pressure spool and a high-pressure spool;

a wild-source generator coupled to receive mechanical power from the low-pressure spool and to generate in response a wild-source output that is voltage unregulated and speed unregulated;

a variable-frequency and/or constant frequency generator coupled to receive mechanical power from the high-pressure spool and to generate in response a regulated voltage output with variable/constant frequency;

at least one voltage and/or frequency-tolerant load connected to receive the wild-source output generated by the wild-source generator; and

at least one wild-source intolerant load connected to receive the regulated voltage with variable/constant frequency output generated by the variable-frequency and/or constant frequency generator.

6. The EPGDS of claim 5, wherein the wild-source generator is a permanent magnet generator (PGM).

7. The EPGDS of claim 5, wherein the wild-source generator is a wound-field synchronous machine.

8. The EPGDS of claim 5, wherein the variable frequency generator is a starter motor coupled to provide mechanical energy to the high-pressure spool to start the aircraft engine.

9. The EPGDS of claim 5, wherein the frequency-tolerant load is a resistive load.