Multiple voltage generator and voltage regulation methodology for power dense integrated power systems

• US 8,928,292 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2009
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/22/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DRS Naval Power Systems, Inc. (Leonardo S.p.A.)
• Original Assignee: DRS Power & Control Technologies, Inc. (Finmeccanica SPA)
• Inventors: Castles, Gene, Thaxton, Edgar S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuevas, Pedro J
• Application Number:
  US13/060,205
• Publication Number:
  US 20110185206A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,961 Days
• Field of Search: 322/24, 322/28
• US Class Current: 322/24
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/32 Waterborne vessels
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/42 with use of more than one motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/54 Windings for different functions
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/10 using propulsion power supplied by engine-driven generators, e.g. generators driven by combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 21/17 by electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B63H 23/24 electric dynamo-electric machines H02K
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/263 Arrangements for using multiple switchable power supplies, e.g. battery and AC G06F1/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/42 for ships or vessels
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/38 Arrangements for parallely feeding a single network by two or more generators, converters or transformers
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 19/34 Generators with two or more outputs
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 9/307 more than one voltage output
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/126 the energy generation units being or involving electric vehicles [EV] or hybrid vehicles [HEV], i.e. power aggregation of EV or HEV, vehicle to grid arrangements [V2G]

Abstract

An integrated power system suitable for simultaneously powering marine propulsion and service loads. The system includes: (a) at least one generator configured with at least first and second armature windings configured to output respective first and second alternating current power signals of different voltages, the at least two armature windings positioned within the same stator slots so that they magnetically couple; (b) at least first and second rectifier circuits coupled to said generator to convert said first and second alternating current power signals into first and second direct current power signals; and (c) a first load to which said first direct current power signal is coupled and a second load to which said second direct current power signal is coupled.

Claims

1. An integrated power system suitable for simultaneously powering multiple electrical loads of different types, comprising:

a single power generator comprising;

an armature;

a stator coaxially coupled around the armature;

at least first and second windings configured to output respective first and second alternating current (AC) power signals of different voltages, wherein the first and second windings are electrically isolated from each other, wherein the first and second windings are positioned within the same slots of the stator and have mutual magnetic coupling therebetween, and wherein each of the first and second windings are wound with an appropriate number of turns to output the first and second AC power signals;

first and second rectifier circuits physically integrated into the power generator and coupled with respective outputs of the first and second windings to convert the first and second AC power signals into first and second direct current (DC) power signals; and

a first electrical load to which the first DC power signal is coupled and a second electrical load to which the second DC power signal is coupled.

2. The integrated power system of claim 1 wherein the first and second DC power signals are provided from the single power generator directly without using transformers coupled between the generator and the first and second electrical loads.

3. The integrated power system of claim 2 wherein the first and second windings of the stator operate as transformers.

4. The integrated power system of claim 1 wherein field coils in the armature generate a rotating magnetic field that affects the first and second windings in the stator to output the respective first and second AC power signals of different voltages.

5. The integrated power system of claim 1 wherein voltages generated in the first and second windings are proportional to the number of turns.

6. The integrated power system of claim 1 wherein magnitude of voltage levels of the first and second AC power signals is controlled by increasing a field current in the armature or by increasing a rotational speed of the armature.

7. The integrated power system of claim 1 wherein the first and second electrical loads include a propulsion load and a service load.

8. The integrated power system of claim 7 wherein variable voltage levels are applied to the propulsion load while maintaining the service load at a constant voltage level.

9. A single power generator configured to simultaneously deliver power to multiple electrical loads of different types, the single power generator comprising:

an armature;

a stator coaxially coupled around the armature;

multiple separate winding sets electrically isolated from each other to output multiple respective alternating current (AC) power signals having different voltage levels, wherein each separate winding set is wound with a different number of turns to output an AC power signal at a voltage level appropriate for each respective type of electrical load, wherein the multiple separate winding sets are positioned within the same slots of the stator and have mutual magnetic coupling therebetween; and

multiple rectifier circuits physically integrated into the single power generator, each of the multiple rectifier circuits being adapted to receive a respective one of the AC power signals to convert it into a direct current (DC) power signal for powering a corresponding electrical load.

10. The power generator of claim 9 wherein each DC power signal is provided from the power generator directly without using transformers coupled between the power generator and the electrical loads.

11. The power generator of claim 10 wherein functions of the transformers are integrated into the winding sets in the stator.

12. The power generator of claim 9 wherein field coils in the armature generate a rotating magnetic field that affects the winding sets in the stator differently to output the respective AC power signals of different voltages.

13. The power generator of claim 9 wherein voltages generated in a each winding set are proportional to the number of turns.

14. The power generator of claim 9 wherein magnitude of voltage levels of the AC power signals is controlled by increasing a field current in the armature or by increasing rotational speed of the armature.

15. The power generator of claim 9 wherein the multiple electrical loads at least include a propulsion load and a service load.

16. The power generator of claim 15 wherein variable voltage levels are applied to the propulsion load while maintaining the service load at a constant voltage level.