Thin haul hybrid electric propulsion system
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorsLijun Gao, Shengyi Liu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hybrid electric propulsion system may include an independent speed variable frequency (ISVF) generator coupled to an alternating current (AC) bus via a first switch. The system may further include a variable frequency independent speed (VFIS) motor coupled to the AC bus via a second switch, the system omitting circuitry to perform a full-power rated power conversion between the ISVF generator and the VFIS motor. The system may also include an alternating current direct current (AC/DC) converter coupled to the AC bus via a third switch. The system may include a battery coupled to the AC/DC converter.
Claims20
A hybrid electric propulsion system comprising:
- an independent speed variable frequency (ISVF) generator coupled to an alternating current (AC) bus via a first switch, wherein the ISVF generator is capable of generating an AC signal having a frequency that is independent from a rotor speed of the ISVF generator without performing a full-power rated power conversion;
- a variable frequency independent speed (VFIS) motor coupled to the AC bus via a second switch, the system omitting circuitry to perform the full-power rated power conversion between the ISVF generator and the VFIS motor;
- an alternating current direct current (AC/DC) converter coupled to the AC bus via a third switch;
- a battery coupled to the AC/DC converter;
- a second ISVF generator coupled to a second AC bus via a first additional switch, the AC bus coupled to the second AC bus via a central switch;
- a second VFIS motor coupled to the second AC bus via a second additional switch, the system omitting circuitry to perform a full-power rated power conversion between the second ISVF generator and the second VFIS motor;
- a second AC/DC converter coupled to the second AC bus via a third additional switch;
- and
- a second battery coupled to the second AC/DC converter.
A method for hybrid electric propulsion comprising:
- electrically connecting an independent speed variable frequency (ISVF) generator to an alternating current (AC) bus, wherein the ISVF generator is capable of generating an AC signal having a frequency that is independent from a rotor speed of the ISVF generator without performing a full-power rated power conversion;
- electrically connecting an alternating current direct current (AC/DC) converter to the AC bus, the AC/DC converter electrically connected to a battery;
- electrically connecting a variable frequency independent speed (VFIS) motor to the AC bus;
- driving the VFIS motor using a combination of the ISVF generator and the battery without performing the full-power rated power conversion between the ISVF generator and the VFIS motor;
- electrically disconnecting the ISVF generator from the AC bus;
- electrically connecting a second ISVF generator to a second AC bus;
- electrically connecting the AC bus to the second AC bus;
- and
- powering the AC bus using the second ISVF generator.
A method for hybrid electric propulsion comprising:
- coupling an independent speed variable frequency (ISVF) generator to an alternating current (AC) bus at a first switch, wherein the ISVF generator is capable of generating an AC signal having a frequency that is independent from a rotor speed of the ISVF generator without performing a full-power rated power conversion;
- coupling a variable frequency independent speed (VFIS) motor to the AC bus at a second switch;
- driving the VFIS motor using at least the ISVF generator without performing the full-power rated power conversion between the ISVF generator and the VFIS motor;
- coupling an alternating current direct current (AC/DC) converter to the AC bus via a third switch;
- coupling a battery to the AC/DC converter at a fourth switch;
- coupling a second ISVF generator to a second AC bus at a fifth switch;
- coupling the AC bus to the second AC bus at a sixth switch;
- and
- powering the AC bus using the second ISVF generator.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.