The Boeing Company

Matthew Joseph Krolak

Shengyi Liu

Lijun Gao

Kamiar J Karimi

Eugene V Solodovnik

John M Fifield

Adam J Winstanley

John Anthony Trela

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.

Parallel modular converter architecture

A synchronous machine () has a frame (), a shaft (), a main section (), and an exciter section (). The main section () has a stator winding () which is mounted on the frame, and a rotor winding () which is mounted on the shaft. The exciter section has a transformer () and a rectifier (). The transformer has a primary winding (A) mounted on the frame and a secondary winding (B) mounted on the shaft. The rectifier is mounted on the shaft and rectifies an output of the secondary winding to provide a rectified output to the rotor. A control unit () provides a high-frequency control signal to the primary winding. This signal is magnetically coupled to the secondary winding, rectified, and then applied to the rotor to control the operation of the synchronous machine.

Synchronous machine with common motor/generator exciter stage

A method and system for controlling power transfer includes the operations of receiving a power transfer value indicating a power level to be transferred either to or from an energy storage sub-system and receiving an input comprising a rotational speed of a rotating mass in the energy storage sub-system. The operations further include calculating a torque value corresponding to the power transfer value based on the rotational speed of the rotating mass and determining whether the torque value exceeds a maximum allowed torque. The operations further include defining an adjusted torque value as the maximum allowed torque value if the torque value exceeds the maximum allowed torque value or defining the adjusted torque value as the torque value if the torque value does not exceed the maximum allowed torque value, and providing the torque value to a direct torque controller for controlling the torque of the rotating mass.

Integrated control architecture and method for a bi-directional AC-to-AC converter

Method and apparatus for powering electric motors. The electric motors are connected to a DC power supply by a parallel modular converter that includes a plurality of parallel power converters that convert the DC power to AC power. The parallel modular converter selectively connects different parallel power converters to different ones of the electric motors to provide an adequate supply of electrical power to meet the load conditions of the electric motor. As the load conditions of the electric motors dynamically change, the parallel modular converter can selectively connect certain PPCs to different motors to satisfy the changing load conditions.

Parallel modular converter architecture for efficient ground electric vehicles

To provide current balancing between paralleled first and second inverter units of a modular converter system, a system controller is configured to determine a gate driver offset value based on respective voltages at the phase output nodes of the first and second inverter units. The system controller controls gate drivers for the first and second inverter units based on the determined gate driver offset value. In turn, the gate drivers drive the first and second inverter units with subsequent drive signals such that the amounts of current provided by the first and second inverter units when producing an in-phase power output are balanced.

Balancing current within a modular converter system

A system and method for providing power to a vehicle with reduced circulating current and phase-top-phase imbalance is disclosed. The system can include a plurality of parallel module converter for prioritizing and allocating each electrical load to one or more parallel modular converter modules. The system can also comprise a load balancer to ensure that differences in the properties (e.g., impedance) of the parallel modular converter modules do not create circulating currents or phase-to-phase imbalances. The load balancer can monitor the outputs to the plurality of parallel modular converter modules and modify the inputs to equalize, synchronize, or both the outputs.

Systems and methods for reducing circulating current and phase to phase imbalance in a parallel modular converter system

A system and method for providing power to a vehicle is disclosed. The system can include a plurality of parallel module converter for prioritizing and allocating each electrical load to one or more parallel module converter modules. The centralization of power distribution can enable the reduction of components. The system can enable fewer power controllers, filters, and other components to be used, saving weight and time. The system can enable the controllers, inverters, and filters, among other things, to be utilized at a higher level reducing unnecessary redundancy. The system can enable the use of a single input EMI filter, for example, reducing the number of filters in the system significantly. Methods for designing EMI filters for each electrical load are also disclosed.

EMI filter systems and methods for parallel modular converters

A system and method for controlling the main field current in an electrical generator is disclosed. The system can include a controller to sense the voltages and currents in the system to identify load faults. The system can also comprise one or more switches and an energy dissipator to absorb, store, or dissipate the main field current in the event of a load fault, such as a short circuit. In the event of a load fault, the controller can change the position of the one or more switches to redirect the main field current from the main field windings of the rotor to the energy dissipator. The energy dissipator can absorb or store the main field current significantly reducing the time required to stop the output current of the generator.

System and method for generator main field energy extraction

A power electronics and control architecture for powering an AC load from a multi-source power system through a single conversion stage is disclosed. A controllable DC-to-AC inverter accepts a DC output voltage range from a DC power source at a DC input, and outputs an adjustable AC at an AC output. A sensor measures an output power of the DC power source to obtain a measured output power, and a processor sets a power level at the DC input based on the measured output power. The processor sets the power level to control the output power of the DC power source, and synchronizes the adjustable AC to a common AC output of the multi-source power system.

Architecture and control method for dynamically conditioning multiple DC sources to drive an AC load

The present disclosure provides a system, method, and apparatus for battery thermal management. In one or more embodiments, the disclosed method involves sensing, with at least one temperature sensor, a temperature of at least one battery cell, where at least one battery cell is at least partially submerged within a liquid contained within a battery case. The method further involves comparing the temperature of at least one battery cell with a maximum threshold temperature, and commanding a cooling unit to be activated when at least one processor determines that the temperature of at least one battery cell is above the maximum threshold temperature. Further, the method involves circulating, by at least one pump, the liquid via tubing from the battery case to the cooling unit back to the battery case.

Active thermal management and thermal runaway prevention for high energy density lithium ion battery packs

A synchronous brushless machine having a single exciter field stator winding. The single exciter field stator winding is energized by a high frequency alternating current to provide a single excitation field to magnetically couple with the exciter field armature winding in both the starter mode and the generator mode. With a higher excitation frequency relative to the main armature current frequency, a steady main field voltage can be achieved which improves stability control while in the starter mode. In one or more configurations, the single exciter field stator winding is driven by a H-bridge converter.

Method and system for controlling synchronous machine as generator/starter

The present disclosure is directed to a system including a power source connected to at least two electrical buses, and a battery connected to each one of the electrical buses. Each battery is charged by the power source and is connected to a load via one of the electrical buses. A battery error signal generator generates a battery error signal for each battery by finding a difference between a sensed battery voltage and a reference voltage. A reference control signal generator generates a reference control signal for each battery based on the battery error signals for each battery. A power sensor produces a sensed power signal between the power source and each battery connected to each of the two electrical buses. The reference control signal and the sensed power signal for each battery controls a power output value from the power source to each battery.

Electrical energy management method and apparatus for multiple distribution buses and batteries

A method, system, and apparatus are provided for managing battery data. A health monitoring unit monitors a number of battery units for battery data. A data logger stores the battery data. A data processing system identifies performance information from the battery data. A new battery design may be modified based on the performance data. Also, the performance data may be compared to health thresholds for inconsistencies to identify when the number of battery units may need to be serviced.

Growing community of inventors

Renton, WA, United States of America

Matthew Joseph Krolak