Multiple power topologies from single power generator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10141829-B2
Application number	US-201615197460-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2016
Priority date	Jun 29, 2016
Publication date	Nov 27, 2018
Grant date	Nov 27, 2018

Abstract

A power unit for producing both alternating current and direct current includes a switcher connected to a direct current source, wherein the switcher includes circuitry configured to produce both alternating current having first characteristics and direct current having second characteristics, wherein the circuitry comprises a plurality of insulated gate bipolar transistor circuits and drive circuits connected to the insulated gate bipolar transistor circuits. The switcher may receive variable voltage and frequency or constant voltage and frequency. In either case, the switcher circuitry is able to provide power of the desired characteristics. The power unit may be used to power aircraft when the aircraft is on the ground.

First claim

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A power unit for producing both alternating current and direct current, comprising:
a switcher connected to a direct current source, wherein the switcher includes circuitry configured to produce both alternating current having first characteristics and direct current having second characteristics, wherein the circuitry comprises a plurality of insulated gate bipolar transistor circuits and drive circuits connected to the insulated gate bipolar transistor circuits, wherein insulated gate bipolar modules configured to operate as a pulse wave modulated inverter to produce alternating current are also the same insulated gate bipolar modules configured to produce the direct current, wherein both the alternating current and direct current are output directly from combining the output of two or more of the insulated gate bipolar modules to a first and second switch to supply the alternating current and the direct current, respectively.

2. The power unit of claim 1 , wherein the first characteristics include 3-phase, 400 hertz alternating current.

3. The power unit of claim 1 , wherein the second characteristics include 270 V direct current.

4. The power unit of claim 1 , wherein the switcher is connected to a rectifier, wherein the rectifier converts alternating current into direct current supplied to the switcher.

5. The power unit of claim 4 , comprising a first, second, and third insulated gate bipolar transistor circuit, and the first, second, and third insulated gate bipolar transistor circuits are connected in parallel to a cathode and anode terminal of the rectifier.

6. The power unit of claim 1 , comprising an interface circuit configured to apply a sinusoid control voltage to each of the insulated gate bipolar transistor circuits, wherein the sinusoid is out of phase 120 degrees between the insulated gate bipolar transistor circuits.

7. The power unit of claim 1 , comprising an interface circuit configured to generate two pulse wave modulated control voltage outputs which are applied 180 degrees out of phase of each other to two of the insulated gate bipolar transistor circuits.

8. The power unit of claim 1 , further comprising a rectifier connected to the switcher, wherein the rectifier converts alternating current into direct current supplied to the switcher, and a transformer connected to the rectifier.

9. The power unit of claim 8 , further comprising an engine and generator connected to the transformer.

10. The power unit of claim 9 , wherein the engine is a fixed speed engine.

11. The power unit of claim 9 , wherein the engine is a variable speed engine.

12. The power unit of claim 9 , further comprising a gearbox connecting the engine to the generator to increase generator rpms.

13. The power unit of claim 1 , comprising a variable frequency generator.

14. The power unit of claim 13 , wherein the generator is configured to vary the voltage from the range of 200 to 300 V.

15. The power unit of claim 13 , wherein the generator is configured to vary the frequency from 380 to 600 Hz.

16. The power unit of claim 13 , wherein the switcher is configured to receive input that varies in voltage or frequency or both voltage and frequency.

Assignees

• John Bean Technologies Corp

Inventors

• Fullmer Michael Lynn
• Nelson Kirk Rodney

Classifications

• H02M1/10

  Arrangements incorporating converting means for enabling loads to be operated at will from different kinds of power supplies, e.g. from AC or DC · CPC title

• H02M3/335

  using semiconductor devices only · CPC title

• H02M1/08 Primary

  Circuits specially adapted for the generation of control voltages for semiconductor devices incorporated in static converters · CPC title

• B64D2221/00

  Electric power distribution systems onboard aircraft · CPC title

• B64D41/00

  Power installations for auxiliary purposes · CPC title