Hybrid powertrain system and method
AssigneePegasus Aeronautics Corporation
InventorsMatthew McRoberts, Joseph Kinsella, John Biskey, Carl Engelmann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hybrid powertrain system and method includes a prime mover driving a generator/motor to produce an AC power output. The AC power output is applied to a rectifier which is controlled to transform the applied AC power to DC power to supply a DC Power bus at a selected voltage and current. An energy storage device is also connected to the DC power bus and the current flow between the energy storage device and the DC power bus is monitored and compared to preselected values and the results of that comparison are used to alter the operation of the rectifier to increase or decrease, as needed, the current provided to the DC power bus as electrical loads on the DC power bus change.
Claims13
A hybrid powertrain system for powering at least one electric drive motor of a vehicle comprising:
- an energy storage device;
- a prime mover operable to combust a fuel and produce a rotational output;
- an engine controller controlling the operating parameters of the prime mover, including at least its throttle;
- a generator/motor operable, in a first state, to produce an electrical alternating current when rotated by the rotational output of the prime mover and operable, in a second state, to produce a rotational output to rotate the prime mover when provided with an electrical alternating current input;
- a rectifier operable in a first state, to convert the electrical alternating current produced by the generator/motor into a direct current at a selected voltage and to provide that direct current to a power bus to which the energy storage device is connected, and operable in a second state to invert direct current energy provided from the energy storage device into an alternating current which can be provided to the generator/motor;
- and
- a generator control unit operable to select the state of the rectifier and to monitor the flow of direct current between the power bus and the energy storage device when the rectifier is in the first state and to adjust the operation of the activc rectifier to select an output voltage such that the monitored current flow is substantially the same as a preselected target current flow.
A hybrid powertrain system comprising:
- a prime mover operable to combust a fuel and produce a rotational output;
- an engine controller controlling the operating parameters of the prime mover, including at least its operating speed;
- a generator/motor operable, in a first state, to produce an electrical alternating current when rotated by the rotational output of the prime mover and operable, in a second state, to produce a rotational output to rotate the prime mover when provided with an electrical alternating current input;
- an active rectifier operable in a first state, to convert the electrical alternating current produced by the generator/motor into a direct current at a selected voltage and to provide that direct current to a power bus to which an energy storage device is connected, and operable in a second state to invert direct current energy provided from the energy storage device into an alternating current which can be provided to the generator/motor;
- and
- a generator control unit operable to select the state of the active rectifier and to monitor the flow of direct current between the power bus and the energy storage device when the active rectifier is in the first state and to adjust the operation of the active rectifier to select an output voltage such that the monitored current flow is substantially the same as a preselected target current flow, wherein the voltage provided to the power bus is independent from the operating speed of the generator/motor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.