Parallel modular converter architecture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10079493-B2
Application number	US-201414502350-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2014
Priority date	Sep 30, 2014
Publication date	Sep 18, 2018
Grant date	Sep 18, 2018

Abstract

A system and method for providing power to a vehicle is disclosed. The system can include a plurality of parallel module converter modules (“modules”) each capable of supplying a predetermined electrical load. The plurality of parallel module converter modules can be networked to form a parallel module converter (“converter”) for prioritizing and allocating each electrical load to one or more parallel module converter modules. Each module can include an internal protection controller and a logic controller. The individual modules can provide power to various loads in the vehicle either alone, or in concert with other modules. The system can enable fewer power controllers to be used, saving weight and time. The controllers in the system can also be utilized at a higher level reducing unnecessary redundancy.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A parallel modular converter comprising:
a first parallel converter module configured to provide a first alternating current (AC) output signal and connected to a module communications bus;
a second parallel converter module configured to provide a second AC output signal and connected to the module communications bus;
a master logic controller configured to:
assign, responsive to receiving a first load request, one or more modules of the first parallel converter module and the second parallel converter module to power a first load specified by the first load request,
select, based on information indicating a type of the first load, a first control algorithm from a plurality of predefined control algorithms to be applied to the one or more modules, and
generate a command for a control switching network to route the first control algorithm to the one or more modules; and

a master communications controller connected to the module communications bus and configured to route control messages between the master logic controller and the one or more modules, wherein at least one of the first AC output signal and the second AC output signal are controlled responsive to the control messages.

2. The parallel modular converter of claim 1 , wherein the master logic controller is configured to assign the first parallel converter module to power the first load, and is further configured to assign, responsive to receiving a second load request, the second parallel converter module to power a second load specified by the second load request.

3. The parallel modular converter of claim 1 , wherein the one or more modules comprises the first parallel converter module and the second parallel converter module, wherein the master logic controller assigning the one or more modules to power the first load comprises:
operating a power switching network to arrange the first parallel converter module and the second parallel converter module in parallel.

4. The parallel modular converter of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third parallel converter module configured to provide a third AC output signal and connected to the module communications bus,
wherein the one or more modules comprises the first parallel converter module, the second parallel converter module, and the third parallel converter module, wherein the master logic controller assigning the one or more modules to power the first load comprises:
operating a power switching network to arrange the first parallel converter module, the second parallel converter module, and the third parallel converter module in parallel.

5. The parallel modular converter of claim 1 , further comprising:
a master protection controller configured to monitor one or more first inputs or first outputs of the first parallel converter module, and to monitor one or more second inputs or second outputs of the second parallel converter module,
wherein the master protection controller is further configured to deactivate, upon detecting a fault based on the monitored first inputs, first outputs, second inputs, and second outputs, at least one of the first parallel converter module and the second parallel converter module.

6. The parallel modular converter of claim 5 , wherein the first inputs and the second inputs each comprise one or more of an input voltage and an input current.

7. The parallel modular converter of claim 5 , wherein the first outputs and the second outputs each comprise one or more of an output voltage and an output current.

8. The parallel modular converter of claim 1 , further comprising:
a master data logger coupled with the master communications controller and configured to log one or more datasets; and
a data storage medium configured to store the one or more datasets.

9. The parallel modular converter of claim 8 , wherein the one or more datasets comprise one or more of master logic controller commands, master communications controller messages, failure messages, and sensor readings.

10. The parallel modular converter of claim 8 , further comprising:
a data logging bus connecting the master data logger and the data storage medium,
wherein data logging communications are communicated via the data logging bus, and
wherein control communications are communicated via the module communications bus.

11. A method of providing power using at least a first parallel converter module and a second parallel converter module coupled with a module communications bus, the method comprising:
receiving, at a master logic controller, one or more load requests from one or more aircraft systems;
assigning, using the master logic controller, one or more modules of the first parallel converter module and the second parallel converter module to power one or more loads specified by the one or more load requests;
selecting, based on information indicating types of the one or more loads, at least a first control algorithm from a plurality of predefined control algorithms to be applied to the one or more modules;
generating a command for a control switching network to route the first control algorithm to the one or more modules;
routing, via a master communications controller coupled with the module communications bus, control messages between the master logic controller and the one or more modules; and
generating, based on the routed control messages, one or more of a first alternating current (AC) signal using the first parallel converter module and a second AC signal using the second parallel converter module to thereby power the one or more loads.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more load requests comprises a first load request received from a first aircraft system, the method further comprising:
arranging, using a power switching network, the first parallel converter module in parallel with the second parallel module converter module; and
assigning the first parallel converter module and the second parallel converter module to power a first load specified by the first load request.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more load requests comprises a first load request received from a first aircraft system, the method further comprising:
arranging, using a power switching network, the first parallel converter module in parallel with the second parallel converter module and a third parallel converter module;
assigning the first parallel converter module, the second parallel converter module, and the third parallel converter module to power a first load specified by the first load request; and
generating a third AC signal using the third parallel converter module.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
detecting, using a master protection controller coupled with the module communications bus, a fault in the first parallel converter module;
arranging, using the power switching network, the second parallel converter module in parallel with a third parallel converter module;
assigning the second parallel converter module and the third parallel converter module to power the first load; and
deactivating, using the master protection controller, the first parallel converter module.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the one or more load requests comprises a first load request and a second load request received from the one or more aircraft systems, the method further comprising:
assigning the first parallel converter module to power a first load specified by the first load request; and
assigning the second parallel converter module to power a second load specified by the second load request.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Winstanley Adam J
• Solodovnik Eugene V
• Karimi Kamiar J
• Liu Shengyi
• Gao Lijun
• Krolak Matthew J

Classifications

• H02M7/00

  Conversion of AC power input into DC power output; Conversion of DC power input into AC power output · CPC title

• H02J2105/32

  for aircrafts · CPC title

• H02J3/38 Primary

  Arrangements for feeding a single network from two or more generators or sources in parallel; Arrangements for feeding already energised networks from additional generators or sources in parallel · CPC title

• G05B23/0286

  Modifications to the monitored process, e.g. stopping operation or adapting control · CPC title

• H02M1/32

  Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection · CPC title