No break power transfer for multi-source electrical power system

• US 9,966,764 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2015
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Original Assignee: GE Aviation Systems LLC (GE Aerospace)
• Inventors: Buffenbarger, Ryan, Zhang, Jinhui
• Primary Examiner(s): Fureman, Jared
• Assistant Examiner(s): BUKHARI, AQEEL H
• Application Number:
  US14/927,631
• Publication Number:
  US 20170126018A1
• Time in Patent Office: 921 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/00 Circuit arrangements for transfer of electric power between ac networks and dc networks H02J3/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/06 with automatic change-over , e.g. UPS systems
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/04 by static converters

Abstract

Systems and methods for transferring power delivery between power sources to an electrical bus are provided. More particularly, a multi-source electrical power system can include an electrical bus having at least two power sources that each can be selectively coupled to the electrical bus, for instance, via contactors. At least one of the power sources can include a unidirectional or bidirectional power converter. The electrical power system can further include a control system configured to control the power output (e.g., the output voltage and the output current) of the power converter to provide no break power transfer of power delivery to the electrical bus between the first and second power sources. In example embodiments, the no break power transfer can be achieved by regulating the output current of a power source to a fixed current value and/or by using a virtual resistance programmed into a voltage regulator.

Claims

1. A method for transferring no break power delivery between power sources to an electrical bus, the method comprising:

receiving a transfer signal indicative of initiating a transfer of power delivery to the electrical bus from a first power source to a second power source;

initializing the second power source for transfer to the electrical bus;

coupling the second power source to the electrical bus such that the first power source and the second power source are both coupled to the electrical bus for a transfer period;

during the transfer period, regulating, with a current regulator associated with the second power source, an output current of the second power source to be about zero amperes such that the second power source provides about zero power to the electrical bus; and

decoupling the first power source from the electrical bus at the end of the transfer period.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein initializing the second power source for transfer to the electrical bus comprises setting a current setpoint for the current regulator to a fixed current setpoint of about zero amperes.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein initializing the second power source for transfer to the electrical bus comprises setting a current ramp for the current regulator.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein after decoupling the first power source from the electrical bus, the method further comprises regulating, with a voltage regulator, an output voltage of the second power source.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein regulating, with the current regulator, the output current of the second power source to be about zero amperes comprises regulating, with the current regulator, the output current of the second power source based at least in part on the fixed current setpoint during the transfer period.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein regulating, with the current regulator, the output current of the second power source to be about zero amperes comprises ramping, with the current regulator, the output current of the second power source to be about zero amperes in accordance with the current ramp during the transfer period.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein after decoupling the first power source from the electrical bus, the method ceases regulating the output current of the second power source with the current regulator.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein initializing the second power source for transfer to the electrical bus further comprises regulating, with a voltage regulator, an output voltage of the second power source based at least in part on a measured voltage of the electrical bus.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

receiving a transfer signal indicative of initiating a transfer of power delivery to the electrical bus from the second power source back to the first power source;

setting a current setpoint of the current regulator to a fixed current setpoint of about zero amperes;

coupling the first power source to the electrical bus such that both the first power source and the second power source are connected to the electrical bus for a second transfer period; and

during the second transfer period, regulating the output current of the second power source based at least in part on the fixed current setpoint of about zero amperes; and

decoupling the second power source from the electrical bus at the end of the second transfer period.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second power source comprises a power converter.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the electrical bus is a DC bus or AC bus associated with an aircraft.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the first power source and the second power source each comprise a generator, each generator being mechanically powered by a gas turbine engine of the aircraft.

13. An electrical power system, comprising:

a first power source;

a second power source, the second power source comprising a power converter;

an electrical bus configured to be selectively coupled to the first power source and configured to be selectively coupled to the second power source;

a control system comprising a current regulator configured to regulate an output current of the power converter, the control system further comprising a voltage regulator configured to regulate an output voltage of the power converter;

wherein when the control system receives a transfer signal indicative of initiating a transfer of power delivery to the electrical bus from the first power source to the second power source, the voltage regulator is configured to regulate the output voltage of the second power source to match a voltage associated with the electrical bus, and a current setpoint for the current regulator is adjusted to a fixed current setpoint of about zero amperes.

14. The electrical power system of claim 13, wherein responsive to the transfer signal, the control system is configured to couple the second power source to the electrical bus such that the first power source and the second power source are both coupled to the electrical bus for a transfer period.

15. The electrical power system of claim 14, wherein during the transfer period, the current regulator is configured to regulate an output current of the second power source based at least in part on the fixed current setpoint of zero amperes.

16. The electrical power system of claim 14, wherein the control system is configured to decouple the first power source from the electrical bus at the end of the transfer period.

17. A method for transferring no break power delivery to an electrical bus from a second power source to a first power source, the method comprising:

receiving a transfer signal indicative of initiating a transfer of power delivery to the electrical bus from the second power source to the first power source;

setting a current setpoint of a current regulator associated with the second power source to a fixed current setpoint about zero amperes;

coupling the first power source to the electrical bus such that both the first power source and the second power source are connected to the electrical bus for a transfer period;

during the transfer period, regulating an output current of the second power source based at least in part on the fixed current setpoint to provide about zero power to the electrical bus from the second power source; and

decoupling the second power source from the electrical bus at the end of the transfer period.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the second power source comprises a power converter.