Hybrid propulsion system and method for controlling such a system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12304645-B2
Application number	US-202017601816-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 10, 2020
Priority date	Apr 16, 2019
Publication date	May 20, 2025
Grant date	May 20, 2025

Abstract

A hybrid propulsion system for a multi-rotor rotary-wing aircraft, including: an internal combustion engine, an electric machine coupled to the internal combustion engine, a rectifier connected to the electric machine, a converter, an electric network connecting the rectifier to the converter, electric motors connected to the converter, rotary-blade assemblies coupled to the electric motors, wherein the system includes: a detector configured to detect a reduction in a demand for electrical power within the system to below a predetermined value, a bypass circuit configured to bypass the electric machine when the detector detects a reduction in the demand for electrical power.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A hybrid propulsion system for a multi-rotor rotary wing aircraft, comprising:
an internal combustion engine,
at least one electric machine coupled to the internal combustion engine so that in operation the internal combustion engine drives the at least one electric machine,
a rectifier connected to the electric machine and configured to convert an alternative current delivered from the electric machine into a direct current,
means for converting direct current into alternative current,
an electrical network connecting the rectifier to the conversion means,
electric motors connected to the means for converting so that in operation the conversion means supply the electric motors with alternative current,
propellers coupled to the electric motors so that in operation the electric motors drive the propellers,
wherein the system comprises:
detection means configured to detect a reduction in a demand for electrical power within the system below a predetermined value,
short-circuit means configured to short-circuit the at least one electric machine when the detection means detects a reduction in the demand for electrical power.

2. The hybrid propulsion system according to claim 1 , also comprising electrical energy storage means connected to the electrical network and configured to inject a direct current to the at least one electric machine.

3. The hybrid propulsion system according to claim 2 , comprising at least one ohmic conductor arranged between the electrical energy storage means and the at least one electric machine.

4. The hybrid propulsion system according to claim 3 , comprising switching means arranged between the at least one ohmic conductor and the at least one electric machine.

5. The hybrid propulsion system according to claim 2 , wherein the rectifier is reversible and configured to inject a direct current from the electrical energy storage means to terminals of the at least one electric machine.

6. The hybrid propulsion system according to claim 5 , comprising a boost chopper arranged between the electrical energy storage means and the rectifier.

7. The hybrid propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the short-circuit means are arranged between the at least one electric machine and the rectifier.

8. The hybrid propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the rectifier is active and comprises the short-circuit means.

9. A multi-rotor rotary wing aircraft, comprising a hybrid propulsion system according to claim 1 .

10. A method for controlling a hybrid propulsion system according to claim 1 , comprising the steps of:
detecting a reduction in a demand for electrical power within the system below a predetermined value, and
short-circuiting the at least one electric machine in accordance with the detected reduction in the demand for electrical power within the system.

11. The hybrid propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the electric motors are polyphase synchronous motors.

12. The hybrid propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the propellers are coaxial counter-rotating propellers.

13. The hybrid propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the short-circuit means are configured to short-circuit a phase or phases of the at least one electric machine that are mechanically linked to the internal combustion engine.

14. The hybrid propulsion system according to claim 1 , wherein the short-circuit means comprise a pyrotechnic switch, a static component of the solid state power controllers type or a thyristor.

Assignees

• Safran Helicopter Engines

Inventors

• Vive Lois Pierre Denis
• Klonowski Thomas
• Serghine Camel

Classifications

• H02J2105/32

  for aircrafts · CPC title

• B64D27/24 Primary

  using steam or spring force (jet aircraft B64D27/16) · CPC title

• B64D27/35

  Arrangements for on-board electric energy production, distribution, recovery or storage · CPC title

• B64D27/33

  Hybrid electric aircraft · CPC title

• B64D27/026 Primary

  comprising different types of power plants, e.g. combination of a piston engine and a gas-turbine (Hybrid electric aircraft B64D27/33) · CPC title