Synchronization controller for multiple pulsed alternator applications
AssigneeCurtiss-Wright Electro-Mechanical Corporation
InventorGary E. Baumgart
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A control concept for large pulsed power applications that use multiple pulsed alternators to generate high-energy current pulses. Pulsed alternators produce a large reaction torque during discharge, but paired pulsed alternators are characterized by equal and opposite torque which result in a negligible reaction. However, it is necessary to synchronize the pulsed alternators prior to discharge to ensure that the load current will share equally and large transient and unequal torque reactions will not occur. The present control system utilizes closed loop feedback control to synchronize two or more pulsed alternators at the discharge speed and maintain synchronization before discharge and between multiple discharges in a burst pulse mode.
Claims20
A system for controlling parallel-pulsed alternators, comprising:
- a first pulsed alternator characterized by a speed and a rotor angle;
- a second pulsed alternator characterized by a speed and a rotor angle, wherein said first and second alternators are alternatingly brought up to a discharge speed and then pulsed;
- and
- a closed loop controller operatively coupled to said first and second pulsed alternators, said controller being based on differential torque of said first and second pulsed alternators and being adapted to adjust the speed and rotor angle of the second pulsed alternator to match the speed and rotor angle of the first pulsed alternator at discharge speed.
A method for synchronizing two pulsed alternators, comprising the steps of:
- providing a first pulsed alternator characterized by a speed and a rotor angle;
- providing a second pulsed alternator characterized by a speed and a rotor angle, wherein said first and second alternators are alternatingly brought up to a discharge speed and then pulsed;
- and
- controlling said first and second pulsed alternators using a closed loop controller operatively coupled to said first and second pulsed alternators, wherein said controlling step is based on differential torque of said first and second pulsed alternators and includes the step of adjusting the speed and rotor angle of the second pulsed alternator to match the speed and rotor angle of the first pulsed alternator at discharge speed.
A system for controlling parallel-pulsed alternators, comprising:
- a first pulsed alternator characterized by a speed and a rotor angle;
- a second pulsed alternator characterized by a speed and a rotor angle, wherein said first and second alternators are alternatingly brought up to a discharge speed and then pulsed;
- a first machine observer for monitoring the voltage angle αv and phase current angle αi of the first pulsed alternator;
- a second machine observer for monitoring the voltage angle αv and phase current angle αi of the second pulsed alternator;
- and
- a closed loop controller operatively coupled to said first and second pulsed alternators, said controller being based on differential torque of said first and second pulsed alternators and being adapted to adjust the speed and rotor angle of the second pulsed alternator to match the speed and rotor angle of the first pulsed alternator at discharge speed, further wherein said controller comprises a proportional plus integral controller (PI) to drive the power factor angle to zero.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.