Engine start system with exciter
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsDhaval S. Patel, Andreas C. Koenig
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Abstract
An electric engine start architecture is provided and includes a motor controller including an exciter inverter and a controller, which outputs a control signal to the exciter inverter, and a generator. The generator includes an exciter receptive of alternating current (AC) from the exciter inverter with the exciter inverter responsive to the control signal, a rotating rectifier receptive of AC from the exciter and configured to convert the AC from the exciter into direct current (DC) and a main machine exclusively drivable by AC fields in the exciter to execute an engine start operation.
Claims20
An electric engine start architecture, comprising:
- a motor controller comprising an exciter inverter and a controller, which outputs a control signal to the exciter inverter;
- and
- a generator comprising:
- an exciter receptive of alternating current (AC) from the exciter inverter with the exciter inverter responsive to the control signal;
- a rotating rectifier receptive of AC from the exciter and configured to convert the AC from the exciter into direct current (DC);
- and
- a main machine exclusively drivable by AC fields in the exciter to execute an engine start operation.
An electric engine start architecture, comprising:
- an aircraft direct current (DC) bus;
- a generator control unit (GCU) comprising:
- an exciter inverter receptive of DC from the aircraft DC bus and configured to generate alternating current (AC) therefrom;
- and
- a controller receptive of DC from the aircraft DC bus and configured to output a control signal to the exciter inverter;
- and
- a generator comprising:
- an exciter receptive of AC from the exciter inverter with the exciter inverter being responsive to the control signal;
- a rotating rectifier receptive of AC from the exciter and configured to convert the AC from the exciter into direct current (DC);
- and
- a main machine exclusively drivable by AC fields in the exciter to execute an engine start operation.
An electric engine start architecture for a generator mode of operation, comprising:
- a generator load;
- a permanent magnet generator (PMG);
- a generator control unit (GCU) comprising:
- a rectifier receptive of alternating current (AC) from the PMG and configured to generate direct current (DC) therefrom,
- an exciter drive receptive of DC from the rectifier;
- and
- a controller receptive of DC from the rectifier and configured to output a control signal to the exciter drive;
- and
- a generator comprising:
- an exciter receptive of DC from the exciter drive with the exciter drive being responsive to the control signal;
- a rotating rectifier receptive of AC from the exciter and configured to convert the AC from the exciter into DC;
- and
- a main machine drivable by AC fields in the exciter to generate AC for the generator load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.