Electrical architecture for an aircraft, aircraft comprising the architecture and method for operating the architecture

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019393809-A1
Application number	US-201916447722-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 20, 2019
Priority date	Jun 22, 2018
Publication date	Dec 26, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

An architecture for an aircraft comprises two air-conditioning systems, two converters, each intended to supply one of the air-conditioning systems, and at least one first electric machine which starts up a first main engine of the aircraft. The electrical architecture is configured such that the two converters can together supply the first electric machine. A method of operating the architecture is also provided.

First claim

1 . An electrical architecture for an aircraft comprising two air-conditioning systems, two converters, each intended to supply one of the air-conditioning systems, and at least one first electric machine which starts up a first main engine of the aircraft, wherein the electrical architecture is configured such that the two converters can together supply the first electric machine, wherein each of the two converters comprises two inverters, wherein the architecture further comprises a coupler which serves to link at least two first of the inverters, and wherein the electric machine comprises a main winding that can be supplied by the coupler and an exciter winding that can be supplied by a second one of the inverters.

2 . The electrical architecture according to claim 1 , wherein below a predetermined altitude the two converters are configured to supply just one of the two air-conditioning systems.

3 . The electrical architecture according to claim 1 , wherein an inverter of each converter may supply an air recirculation fan.

4 . The electrical architecture according to claim 1 , wherein an inverter of at least one of the converters may supply an electric motor for powering a wheel of the aircraft.

5 . The electrical architecture according to claim 1 , further comprising a second electric machine that starts up a second main engine of the aircraft, wherein the electrical architecture is configured such that the two converters can together supply the first electric machine or the second electric machine.

6 . The electrical architecture according to claim 5 , further comprising a first driver module associated with a first one of the two converters, a second driver module associated with a second one of the two converters and a bus that allows the first and second driver modules to communicate, wherein the architecture is configured so as to make the first converter and the first driver module masters during combined supply of the first electric machine, the second converter and the second driver module being slaves, and wherein the architecture is configured so as to make the second converter and the second driver module masters during combined supply of the second electric machine, the first converter and the first driver module being slaves.

7 . The electrical architecture according to claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary power unit and an electric machine for starting up the auxiliary power unit, wherein the electrical architecture is configured such that the two converters can supply the electric machine for starting up the auxiliary power unit.

8 . The electrical architecture according to claim 7 , further comprising at least one battery for storing electrical energy, wherein the electric machine for starting up the auxiliary power unit is supplied by the battery via the converters.

9 . An aircraft comprising an electrical architecture for an aircraft comprising two air-conditioning systems, two converters, each intended to supply one of the air-conditioning systems, and at least one first electric machine which starts up a first main engine of the aircraft, wherein the electrical architecture is configured such that the two converters can together supply the first electric machine, wherein each of the two converters comprises two inverters, wherein the architecture further comprises a coupler which serves to link at least two first of the inverters, and wherein the electric machine comprises a main winding that can be supplied by the coupler and an exciter winding that can be supplied by a second one of the inverters.

10 . A method for operating an electrical architecture according to claim 5 , wherein the first and second electric machines are configured so as to permit operation as a motor or as a generator, making it possible to supply the two converters, the method consisting in supplying the first electric machine operating as a motor so as to start up the first main engine until the first electric machine operates as a generator, receiving mechanical energy from the first main engine, the first electric machine then supplying the two converters, the method further consisting in supplying the second electric machine operating as a motor in order to start up the second main engine.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the electric machine for starting up the auxiliary power unit is configured so as to permit operation as a motor or as a generator, making it possible to supply the two converters the method consisting in supplying the electric machine for starting up the auxiliary power unit operating as a motor in order to start up the auxiliary power unit from the battery until the electric machine for starting up the auxiliary power unit, receiving mechanical energy from the auxiliary power unit, operates as a generator to supply the two converters, the method then consisting in supplying the first electric machine operating as a motor in order to start up the first main engine.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , consisting in supplying the electric motor for powering a wheel of the aircraft once the auxiliary power unit has been started up and before starting up of the first main engine by the first electric machine.

Assignees

• Thales Sa

Inventors

• Lacaux Frédéric
• Guguen Stéphane
• Maalouf Amira

Classifications

• B64D2013/0696

  with provisions for starting power plants · CPC title

• B64D13/06

  the air being conditioned (pressurising B64D13/02) · CPC title

• B64D33/00

  Arrangement in aircraft of power plant parts or auxiliaries not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• B64D2013/0644

  including electric motors or generators · CPC title

• B64C25/405

  Powered wheels, e.g. for taxing · CPC title