Power distribution systems
AssigneeGE Energy Power Conversion Technology Limited
InventorsNicholas James Clarke, Stephen Paul Hudson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A power distribution system such as a marine power distribution and propulsion system. The system includes an ac busbar and a plurality of active front end power converters. Each AFE power converter includes a first active rectifier/inverter connected to the busbar and a second active rectifier/inverter connected to an electrical load such as an electric propulsion motor. Power sources are connected to the dc link of the AFE power converters and can be operated under the control of a power management controller or power management system.
Claims15
A power distribution system comprising:
- a plurality of ac generators configured to supply a variable frequency output during normal operation of the power distribution system;
- a main ac busbar configured to receive the variable-frequency distribution voltage from the plurality of ac generators;
- a plurality of first power converters each connected between an electrical load and the main ac busbar;
- a second power converter separately disposed from the plurality of first power converters, and comprising a first active rectifier/inverter comprising ac terminals and dc terminals, the ac terminals being connected to the main ac busbar, and a second active rectifier/inverter comprising ac terminals and dc terminals, the ac terminals of the second active rectifier/inverter being connected to a second ac busbar separately disposed from the main ac busbar, and wherein the dc terminals of the first and second active rectifier/inverters being connected together by a dc link;
- a power source being an alternative dc power source connected to the dc link via an extended dc link, and operated to selectively provide power to the main ac busbar through the first active rectifier/inverter and/or the second ac busbar through the second active rectifier/inverter when outside of the normal operation of the power distribution system;
- and wherein
- the main ac busbar carries the variable-frequency distribution voltage and the second ac busbar carries a fixed frequency distribution voltage.
A method of operating a power distribution system, the method comprising:
- supplying a variable-frequency output, via a plurality of ac generators, during normal operation of the power distribution system;
- receiving via a main ac busbar, the variable-frequency distribution voltage from the plurality of ac generators;
- connecting each first power converter of a plurality of first power converters, between an electrical load and the main ac bus bar;
- providing a second power converter separate from the plurality of first power converters and comprising a first active rectifier/inverter comprising ac terminals and dc terminals, the ac terminals being connected to the ac busbar, and a second active rectifier/inverter comprising ac terminals and dc terminals, the ac terminals being connected to a second ac busbar separately disposed from the main ac busbar, and wherein the dc terminals of the first and second active rectifier/inverters being connected together by a dc link;
- providing a power source being an alternative dc power source connected to the dc link via an extended dc link;
- and
- controlling the power source to selectively provide power to the main ac busbar through the first active rectifier/inverter and/or the second ac busbar through the second active rectifier/inverter when outside of the normal operation of the power distribution system, wherein the main ac busbar carrying the variable-frequency distribution voltage and the second ac busbar carrying a fixed frequency distribution voltage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.