U.S. patent application number 16/411262 was filed with the patent office on 2020-03-12 for hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system and method.
The applicant listed for this patent is PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP.. Invention is credited to Richard Freer, Eric LATULIPE.
Application Number | 20200079514 16/411262 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 67875361 |
Filed Date | 2020-03-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200079514 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LATULIPE; Eric ; et
al. |
March 12, 2020 |
HYBRID ELECTRIC AIRCRAFT PROPULSION SYSTEM AND METHOD
Abstract
There is provided a hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system
and method for operating same. The method comprises providing, to a
first electric motor and a second electric motor, alternating
current (AC) electric power from a generator, the generator
receiving rotational power from a thermal engine, providing, to the
first electric motor and the second electric motor, AC electric
power from at least one motor inverter, the at least one motor
inverter configured to convert DC electric power from a DC power
source into AC electric power, and selectively driving the first
and second electric motors from the generator, the at least one
motor inverter, or a combination thereof, wherein the first
electric motor drives a first rotating propulsor and the second
electric motor drives a second rotating propulsor.
Inventors: |
LATULIPE; Eric; (Ste-Julie,
CA) ; Freer; Richard; (Saint-Basile-Le-Grand,
CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
PRATT & WHITNEY CANADA CORP. |
Longueuil |
|
CA |
|
|
Family ID: |
67875361 |
Appl. No.: |
16/411262 |
Filed: |
May 14, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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62727673 |
Sep 6, 2018 |
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62727678 |
Sep 6, 2018 |
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62727681 |
Sep 6, 2018 |
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62727683 |
Sep 6, 2018 |
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62729818 |
Sep 11, 2018 |
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62731384 |
Sep 14, 2018 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60L 2210/42 20130101;
F05D 2220/323 20130101; B60L 50/13 20190201; H02K 2213/06 20130101;
F02K 3/06 20130101; B64D 35/02 20130101; H02P 2101/25 20150115;
H02P 9/008 20130101; Y02T 50/64 20130101; H02K 47/04 20130101; H02P
6/12 20130101; B60L 2200/10 20130101; B64D 31/06 20130101; B60L
50/60 20190201; B64D 27/10 20130101; B60L 2220/20 20130101; B64D
2027/026 20130101; F05D 2220/764 20130101; G08C 19/38 20130101;
H02P 17/00 20130101; B60L 53/24 20190201; B64D 27/02 20130101; B64D
27/12 20130101; H02P 6/005 20130101; H02P 27/06 20130101; H02K
19/34 20130101; H02P 2101/30 20150115; H02K 51/00 20130101; B64D
35/08 20130101; H02P 5/74 20130101; B64D 31/00 20130101; H02K 41/03
20130101; B64D 27/26 20130101; F01D 15/10 20130101; B60L 50/51
20190201; B64D 27/24 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B64D 27/02 20060101
B64D027/02; B64D 31/06 20060101 B64D031/06; B64D 27/10 20060101
B64D027/10; B64D 27/24 20060101 B64D027/24; F01D 15/10 20060101
F01D015/10; F02K 3/06 20060101 F02K003/06; H02P 5/74 20060101
H02P005/74; H02P 9/00 20060101 H02P009/00 |
Claims
1. A hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system, the system
comprising: a thermal engine configured for outputting rotational
mechanical power; a generator configured for generating a first
source of alternating current (AC) electric power from the
rotational mechanical power; at least one motor inverter configured
to convert DC electric power received from a DC power source to AC
electric power to provide a second source of AC electric power; a
first electric motor and a second electric motor operatively
coupled to the generator to receive AC electric power therefrom and
operatively coupled to the at least one motor inverter to receive
AC electric power therefrom, the first electric motor configured to
generate a first rotating output for driving a first rotating
propulsor, the second electric motor configured to generate a
second rotating output for driving a second rotating propulsor; and
a controller configured for selectively driving the first and
second electric motors from the generator, the at least one motor
inverter, or a combination thereof.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured for
selectively connecting the generator to the first electric motor or
the second electric motor.
3. The system of claim 2, wherein the generator comprises a first
generator stator and a second generator stator, and wherein the
first generator stator drives the first electric motor and the
second generator stator drives the second electric motor.
4. The system of claim 3, wherein the at least one motor inverter
comprises a first motor inverter operatively coupled to the first
electric motor and a second motor inverter operatively coupled to
the second electric motor.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein at least one of the first
electric motor and the second electric motor comprises a first
motor stator and a second motor stator, and wherein the first motor
stator is operatively coupled to the generator and the second motor
stator is operatively coupled to the at least one motor
inverter.
6. The system of claim 5, wherein the at least one motor inverter
is selectively connected to the first motor stator and the second
motor stator, and the generator is selectively connected to the
first motor stator and the second motor stator.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to
perform any one of: driving the first motor stator, the second
motor stator or both from the generator; and driving the first
motor stator, the second motor stator, or both, from the at least
one motor inverter.
8. The system of claim 1, wherein the generator and the at least
one motor inverter are selectively coupled together, and the
controller is configured to charge the DC power source using the AC
electric power through the at least one motor inverter.
9. A method for operating a hybrid electric aircraft propulsion
system, the method comprising: providing, to a first electric motor
and a second electric motor, alternating current (AC) electric
power from a generator, the generator receiving rotational power
from a thermal engine; providing, to the first electric motor and
the second electric motor, AC electric power from at least one
motor inverter, the at least one motor inverter configured to
convert DC electric power from a DC power source into AC electric
power; and selectively driving the first and second electric motors
from the generator, the at least one motor inverter, or a
combination thereof, wherein the first electric motor drives a
first rotating propulsor and the second electric motor drives a
second rotating propulsor.
10. The method of claim 9, wherein providing AC electric power from
a generator comprises providing AC electric power to the first
electric motor from a first stator of the generator and providing
AC electric power to the second electric motor from a second stator
of the generator.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein providing AC electric power to
the first electric motor from a first stator of the generator
comprises providing AC electric power from the first stator of the
generator to a first stator of the first electric motor, and
wherein providing AC electric power from at least one motor
inverter comprises providing AC electric power from the at least
one motor inverter to a second stator of the first electric
motor.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein providing AC electric power
from at least one motor inverter comprises providing AC electric
power from a first motor inverter to the first electric motor and
providing AC electric power from a second motor inverter to the
second electric motor.
13. The method of claim 11, further comprising: selectively
connecting the generator to the at least one motor invertor and
disconnecting the generator from the first electric motor or second
electric motor; and charging the DC power source using AC electric
power through the at least one motor inverter.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein selectively driving the first
electric motor comprises: selectively connecting the generator to
the first stator and the second stator of the first electric motor
and disconnecting the second stator of the first electric motor
from the at least one motor inverter; and driving the first stator
and the second stator of the first electric motor with the
generator.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein selectively driving the first
electric motor comprises: selectively connecting the at least one
motor inverter to the first stator and the second stator of the
first electric motor and disconnecting the first stator of the
first electric motor from the generator; and driving the first
stator and the second stator of the first electric motor with the
at least one motor inverter.
16. The method of claim 11, wherein selectively driving the first
electric motor comprises: driving at least one of the first stator
of the first electric motor and the second stator of the first
electric motor from the generator; and driving at least one of the
first stator of the first electric motor and the second stator of
the first electric motor from the at least one motor inverter.
17. The method of claim 9, further comprising: driving a third
rotating propulsor using propulsion power generated by the thermal
engine.
18. The method of claim 9, further comprising charging the DC power
source using AC electric power through the at least one motor
inverter.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application claims the benefit of U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 62/727,673 filed on Sep. 6,
2018, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/727,678 filed on
Sep. 6, 2018, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/727,681
filed on Sep. 6, 2018, U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
62/727,683 filed on Sep. 6, 2018, U.S. Provisional Patent
Application No. 62/729,818 filed on Sep. 11, 2018 and U.S.
Provisional Patent Application No. 62/731,384 filed on Sep. 14,
2018, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in
their entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to aircraft
propulsion systems that use power from both an internal combustion
engine and an electric motor.
BACKGROUND OF THE ART
[0003] Hybrid electric aircraft propulsion systems combine internal
combustion and electric propulsion technologies. In an electric
propulsion system, electrical energy is converted to rotational
energy by an electric motor to drive a propulsion fan or a
propeller.
[0004] There are environmental and cost benefits to having at least
a portion of the power for an aircraft propulsion system come from
electric motors. Therefore, there is a need for improvement to
existing architectures.
SUMMARY
[0005] In accordance with a broad aspect, there is provided hybrid
electric aircraft propulsion system. The system comprises a thermal
engine configured for outputting rotational mechanical power, and a
generator configured for generating a first source of alternating
current (AC) electric power from the rotational mechanical power.
The system comprises at least one motor inverter configured to
convert DC electric power received from a DC power source to AC
electric power to provide a second source of AC electric power, a
first electric motor and a second electric motor operatively
coupled to the generator to receive AC electric power therefrom and
operatively coupled to the at least one motor inverter to receive
AC electric power therefrom, the first electric motor configured to
generate a first rotating output for driving a first rotating
propulsor, the second electric motor configured to generate a
second rotating output for driving a second rotating propulsor, and
a controller configured for selectively driving the first and
second electric motors from the generator, the at least one motor
inverter, or a combination thereof.
[0006] In accordance with another broad aspect, there is provided a
method for operating a hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system.
The method comprises providing, to a first electric motor and a
second electric motor, alternating current (AC) electric power from
a generator, the generator receiving rotational power from a
thermal engine, providing, to the first electric motor and the
second electric motor, AC electric power from at least one motor
inverter, the at least one motor inverter configured to convert DC
electric power from a DC power source into AC electric power, and
selectively driving the first and second electric motors from the
generator, the at least one motor inverter, or a combination
thereof, wherein the first electric motor drives a first rotating
propulsor and the second electric motor drives a second rotating
propulsor.
[0007] Features of the systems, devices, and methods described
herein may be used in various combinations, in accordance with the
embodiments described herein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Reference is now made to the accompanying figures in
which:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a gas turbine
engine, in accordance with an illustrative embodiment;
[0010] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a hybrid electric aircraft
propulsion system, in accordance with an illustrative
embodiment;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a hybrid electric aircraft
propulsion system having two electric motors, in accordance with an
illustrative embodiment;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a block diagram of a hybrid
electric aircraft propulsion system having a dual stator generator,
in accordance with an illustrative embodiment;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a hybrid electric aircraft
propulsion system having dual stator electric motors, in accordance
with an illustrative embodiment;
[0014] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a hybrid electric aircraft
propulsion system having selective connectivity, in accordance with
an illustrative embodiment;
[0015] FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a hybrid electric aircraft
propulsion system having additional propulsive power, in accordance
with an illustrative embodiment;
[0016] FIG. 8 is an example of a motor inverter, in accordance with
an illustrative embodiment;
[0017] FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an example controller, in
accordance with an illustrative embodiment; and
[0018] It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like
features are identified by like reference numerals.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] There is described herein a hybrid electric aircraft
propulsion system and method. The aircraft propulsion system uses
power generated by a thermal engine and power generated by an
electric generator. FIG. 1 illustrates an example thermal engine of
a type preferably provided for use in subsonic flight, namely a gas
turbine engine 10. The gas turbine engine 10 generally comprises in
serial flow communication, a fan 12 through which ambient air is
propelled, a compressor section 14 for pressurizing the air, a
combustor 16 in which the compressed air is mixed with fuel and
ignited for generating an annular stream of hot combustion gases,
and a turbine section 18 for extracting energy from the combustion
gases. High pressure rotor(s) 20 of the turbine section 18 are
drivingly engaged to high pressure rotor(s) 22 of the compressor
section 14 through a high pressure shaft 24. Low pressure rotor(s)
26 of the turbine section 18 are drivingly engaged to the fan rotor
12 and to other low pressure rotor(s) (not shown) of the compressor
section 14 through a low pressure shaft 28 extending within the
high pressure shaft 24 and rotating independently therefrom.
[0020] Although illustrated as a turbofan engine, the gas turbine
engine 10 may alternatively be another type of engine, for example
a turboshaft engine, also generally comprising in serial flow
communication a compressor section, a combustor, and a turbine
section. A turboprop engine may also apply. In some embodiments,
the thermal engine may be of a type other than a combustion engine,
such as a piston engine or a rotary engine. In addition, although
the engine 10 is described herein for flight applications, it
should be understood that other uses, such as industrial or the
like, may apply. Note that a constant volume combustion thermal
machine, other than a piston or a rotary engine, may also be
used.
[0021] Referring now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated an example
embodiment for a hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system 200.
The system 200 presents an AC-AC architecture, whereby alternating
current (AC) electric power is generated and applied directly to an
electric motor. In an AC-DC-AC architecture, the AC electric power
is converted to direct current (DC) and then reconverted to AC
electric power to drive the electric motor. The AC-AC architecture
is more efficient than the AC-DC-AC architecture as there are
losses incurred during the conversion stages from AC to DC and from
DC to AC.
[0022] Thermal engine 201 is operatively coupled to a generator
202. The generator 202 receives motive power (or mechanical energy)
from the thermal engine 201 and converts the motive power into
electrical power. The generator 202 outputs alternating current
(AC) electric power. The AC electric power is then provided
directly to an electric motor 204. The electric motor 204 converts
the AC electric power into mechanical energy in the form of a
rotary force. The rotary force is applied to a rotating structure
206 (i.e. a rotating propulsor), such as a propeller or a
propulsion fan of an aircraft.
[0023] The electric motor 204 also receives AC electric power from
a motor inverter 208. The motor inverter 208 is operatively coupled
to a battery 210 (or the aircraft electrical system). The battery
210 may be a dedicated battery provided for the hybrid electric
aircraft propulsion system 200. Alternatively, the electric power
supplied to the inverter 208 may come from: an auxiliary power
unit, a supplementary power unit, a backup power generator system,
or the aircraft electrical system that does not include batteries
or capacitors. The motor inverter 208 may thus be connected to the
battery 210 via a battery bus on the aircraft, or via dedicated
wiring and/or connectors. Any type of device containing one or more
cells that convert chemical energy directly into electrical energy
may be used as the battery 210. In some embodiments, the battery
210 is based on a non-chemical principal, such as using the
electricity of a supercapacitor in an energy storage mode.
[0024] The motor inverter 208 receives direct current (DC) electric
power from the battery 210 (or another direct current source) and
converts the DC voltage to AC voltage whose frequency and phase is
adjusted to enable the motor 204 to generate mechanical power. The
motor inverter 208 can also be used in the opposite sense to charge
the battery 210 when the electric motor 204 is being driven by
external machine forces, making it behave as a generator, in which
condition the inverter can convert AC voltage back into DC voltage.
In some embodiments, the motor inverter 208 may also be used in a
reverse mode, whereby AC electric power is converted to DC electric
power.
[0025] The electric motor 204 therefore has a first input
operatively coupled to the generator 202 to receive a first source
of AC electric power. The electric motor 204 also has a second
input operatively coupled to the motor inverter 208 to receive a
second source of AC electric power. Note that the electric motor
204 does not need to have two independent inputs (i.e. one from the
generator 202 and one from the inverter 208). The output of the
generator 202 and the output of the inverter 208 may be combined or
connected in parallel before a motor input interface. The electric
motor 204 will, in response to receiving either one of the first
source of AC electric power and the second source of AC electric
power (or both simultaneously), generate a rotating output for
driving the rotating structure 206.
[0026] A controller 212 is configured for selectively driving the
electric motor 204 using the first source of AC electric power from
the generator 202, the second source of AC electric power from the
motor inverter 208, or a combination thereof. When AC electric
power is received concurrently from both the generator 202 and the
motor inverter 208, a greater amount of power is available to the
electric motor 204. This in turn allows for a greater rotary force
to be applied to the rotating structure 206.
[0027] In some embodiments, the first source of AC electric power
provided by the generator 202 is the primary source of propulsion
power for the electric motor 204. For example, under low power
operating conditions, such as in cruise mode, all propulsive power
for the rotating structure 206 may be provided by the generator
202. Under high power operating conditions, such as in climb mode
or take-off mode, a boost of propulsion power may be provided by
the battery 210 through the motor inverter 208. A secondary or
additional source of electric power is thus available for the
electric motor 204 through the motor inverter 208 in order to
supplement the electric power provided by the generator 202.
[0028] In some embodiments, the motor inverter 208 is sized to
match the secondary power requirements of the electric motor 204,
i.e. the motor inverter 208 does not need to be a full-size motor
inverter in order to drive the electric motor 204 on its own. In
addition, there is no need for a generator converter to convert the
voltage from AC to DC, since the electric power generated by the
generator 202 is fed to the electric motor 204 without conversion.
This architecture thus avoids the need for two stages of conversion
during low power operating conditions. In some embodiments, the
battery 210 is recharged directly from the motor inverter 208.
[0029] In some embodiments, the motor inverter 208 is used to
recover from or prevent desynchronization of the generator 202 and
the electric motor 204. When used for recovery of
desynchronization, the motor inverter 208 may resynchronize the
frequency of the electric motor 204 to the frequency of the
generator 202, in response to a command or control signal received
from the controller 212, or in response to logic implemented in the
inverter 208 which monitors and seeks to control the frequency and
phasing of the generator 202 and motor 204. During
resynchronization, the controller 212 may temporarily disconnect
the generator 202 from the electric motor 204, for example by
opening a relay therebetween. The motor inverter 208 may then
adjust the power to the electric motor 204 so that the speed of the
electric motor 204 is modified in such a way to match the frequency
of the electric motor 204 to the frequency of the generator 202.
The electric motor 204 and the generator 202 can then be brought
back in phase with each other. Once the electric motor 204 is back
in phase with the generator 202, the connection between the
generator 202 and the electric motor 204 is restored.
[0030] When used for prevention of desynchronization, the motor
inverter 208 may actively monitor the phase of the electric motor
204. Upon detection of a mismatch in phase between the generator
202 and the electric motor 204, for example in the case where the
motor is slowed down by external forces, the motor inverter 208 may
send an electric signal that is in-phase with the electric motor
204, to provide additional power to bring the electric motor 204
back in phase with the generator 202. This feature may be put into
effect by the controller 212 or it can be incorporated in the
inverter 208.
[0031] In some embodiments, the motor inverter 208 is used to
recharge the battery 210 or provide additional electrical power to
the aircraft electrical systems that are connected to the inverter
208. For example, the motor inverter 208 can increase the power
demand on the generator 202, such that the power produced by the
generator exceeds the power required by the rotating structure 206
or load, and feed the excess power back to the battery 210 or
aircraft electrical system. Alternatively, the motor inverter 208
can increase the power going to the electric motor 204 by feeding
energy from the battery 210 to the electric motor 204. This in turn
increases the power available to the rotating structure 206. The
motor inverter 208 can either increase the available torque to the
rotating structure 206 (ex: for a variable pitch propeller,
additional torque may be required depending on the selected pitch
of the propeller), or it can act as a generator to extract energy
from a windmilling propeller by converting the AC voltage to a DC
voltage that is higher than DC bus voltage in order to recharge the
battery or feed electrical power back to the aircraft electrical
system, if so desired. The inverter 208 has the ability to control
the voltage on the DC bus, thereby controlling the power going to
the DC bus.
[0032] Referring to FIG. 3, there is illustrated another example
embodiment for a hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system 200. In
this example, two electric motors 204a, 204b are driven by the
generator 202. Each electric motor 204a, 204b, is associated with
its own rotating structure 206a, 206b, respectively. Two motor
inverters 208a, 208b are also provided, one to feed each one of the
electric motors 204a, 204b, respectively. It should be understood
that a single motor inverter 308 may also be used instead of two
separate motor inverters 208a, 208b. The motor inverter 308 would
then be sized for the power requirements of two electric motors
204a, 204b instead of just one of the electric motors 204a, 204b.
In addition, the motor inverter 308 would need to be disconnected
from electric motor 204a in order to perform a resynchronization of
electric motor 204b, and disconnected from electric motor 204b in
order to perform a resynchronization of electric motor 204a.
[0033] In some embodiments, the two motor inverters 208a, 208b are
interconnected, in case of a failure of one of the two motor
inverters 208a, 208b. For example, if one motor inverter 208a
fails, the other motor inverter 208b may be used to charge the
battery 210 or to drive the electric motor 204a associated with the
failed motor inverter 208a. This may also be achieved using a
series of connections between the electric motors 204a, 204b and
the motor inverters 208a, 208b to allow for selective connection
and disconnection of the electric motors 204a, 204b to the motor
inverters 208a, 208b.
[0034] In some embodiments, one or more relays 314a, 314b are
provided in the interconnection path between the generator 202 and
each one of the electric motors 204a, 204b, respectively. The
relays 314a, 314b are an example embodiment for allowing selective
connection and disconnection of the generator 202 to either one of
the electric motors 204a, 204b. Other means of
connection/disconnection may also be used.
[0035] The electric motors 204a, 204b may be provided on separate
wings of an aircraft. Alternatively, they may be provided on a same
wing of an aircraft. Also alternatively, one or both of the
electric motors 204a, 204b may be provided in the nacelle or hub of
a rotating propulsion device such as a propeller, fan, lift rotor
or thruster, or in the hub of a contra-rotating propeller, fan
rotor or thruster.
[0036] Three or more electric motors may be provided, whereby each
electric motor 204 is associated with a motor inverter 208.
Alternatively, two or more motor inverters 208 may be combined to
form a larger motor inverter 308 for all of the electric motors 204
or a subset thereof.
[0037] FIG. 4 illustrates yet another embodiment of the hybrid
electric aircraft propulsion system 200. In this example, the
generator 202 is a dual stator generator, having a first generator
stator 402a driving one electric motor 204a and a second generator
stator 402b driving the other electric motor 204b. Note that this
embodiment could also be applied to three or more sets of generator
stators, motors and inverters. Two or more of the inverters 208 may
be combined to form a larger motor inverter 308 for all the
electric motors 204 or a subset thereof. In some embodiments, motor
inverters 208a, 208b comprise a converter to perform the conversion
from AC to DC to recharge the battery 210. The electric motors
204a, 204b are driven independently from each other. Relays 314a,
314b may or may not be present in this embodiment, so as to allow a
selective connection/disconnection of the generator 202 and the
electric motors 204a, 204b.
[0038] FIG. 5 illustrates another example embodiment of the hybrid
electric aircraft propulsion system 200. In this example, one or
more of the electric motors 204a, 204b have dual stators. The
example illustrated shows electric motor 204a having a first motor
stator 502a and a second motor stator 504a, and electric motor 204b
having a first motor stator 502b, and a second motor stator 504b.
Motor stator 502a is operatively coupled to generator stator 402a,
and motor stator 502b is operatively coupled to generator stator
402b. Motor stator 504a is operatively coupled to motor inverter
208a, and motor stator 504b is operatively coupled to motor
inverter 208b. In this configuration, the generator 202 does not
share the same motor stator as the motor inverters 208a, 208b, thus
resulting in the generator power and the motor inverter power being
independent from one another. Should the motor inverter 208a be
used to recharge the battery 210, stator 504b would act as a motor
while stator 504a would act as a generator from which a conversion
from AC to DC is required to recharge the battery 210. Should the
motor inverter 208b be used to recharge the battery 210, stator
504a would act as a motor while stator 504b would act as a
generator from which a conversion from AC to DC is required to
recharge the battery 210.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 6, there is illustrated another embodiment
of the hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system 200. In this
example, additional connections are provided between the generator
202, the electric motors 204a, 204b, and the motor inverters 208a,
208b. Generator stator 402a may be selectively connected to both
stators 502a, 504a of the electric motor 204a by closing relays
314a and 314c and opening relay 314d. Generator stator 402b may be
selectively connected to both stators 502b, 504b of the electric
motor 204b by closing relays 314b and 314e and opening relay 314f.
Motor inverter 208a may be selectively connected to both stators
502a, 502b of the electric motor 204a by closing relays 314d and
314c and opening relay 314a. Motor inverter 208b may be selectively
connected to both stators 502b, 504b of the electric motor 204b by
closing relays 314f and 314e and opening relay 314b. Also, each
stator 502a and/or 502b can be connected to both the generator
stator 402a and the inverter 208A simultaneously, without opening
relay 314a if so desired. This is useful to be able to use the
inverters to either provide additional power or extract power to
recharge batteries, or provide power to the aircraft DC bus, or to
adjust and to maintain the motor and generator in phase with each
other. Likewise for the other motor and associated generator
stator, inverters, relays etc. This architecture provides the
ability for the generator 202 to drive both stators 502a, 504a or
502b, 504b of either electric motor 204a, 204b, and for the motor
inverters 208a, 208b, to drive both stators 502a, 504a or 502b,
504b of either electric motor 204a, 204b.
[0040] The architecture of FIG. 6 also provides the ability to
recharge the battery 210 directly from the generator 202 by closing
relays 314a, 314c, 314d and/or 314b, 314e, 314f, thereby providing
a direct path between the generator 202 and the motor inverters
208a, 208b, respectively. In such a case, one or both of motor
inverters 208a, 208b would need to be provided with an AC-DC
converter to transform the AC power received by the generator 202
into DC power for the battery 210. The architecture of FIG. 6 also
provides the ability for the battery to be used to provide
mechanical power to the thermal engine, by driving the stator 402a
or 402b as an electric motor instead of as a generator, if so
desired, for example if this is useful to start the thermal engine
or drive auxiliary systems such as pumps that are connected to the
generator shaft before the engine is started. The same could be
said of other embodiments.
[0041] Turning to FIG. 7, there is illustrated yet another
embodiment of the hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system 200.
In this example, a rotating structure 206c is operatively coupled
to the thermal engine 201 so as to provide additional propulsion to
the aircraft. Indeed, the motive power generated by the thermal
engine 201 may also be applied directly to a rotating structure
206c such as a propeller or propulsion fan of the aircraft in order
to supplement propulsion provided by rotating structures 206a,
206b.
[0042] It should be noted that while rotating structure 206c is
illustrated in combination with the embodiment of FIG. 4, it may
also be added to any of the other embodiments provided in FIGS. 2,
3, 5 and 6, as well as variants thereof. Variants thereof include,
for example, a three-stator generator connected to three electric
motors. It will be understood that the present embodiments apply to
any number of generator stators and motor stators. Another example
of a variant to the present embodiments is a three stator electric
motor, each stator connected to one of a generator stator, a first
motor inverter, and a second motor inverter. The first and second
motor inverters can be connected to a same battery or to separate
batteries. Other variants will be readily understood by those
skilled in the art.
[0043] In some embodiments, the various architectures for the
hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system 200 are used to address
possible failures within the system 200. Various examples of
failure modes are described below.
[0044] Based on the embodiments of FIGS. 2 to 7, propulsion power
for the rotating structure(s) 206 are available via the battery 210
in case of a failure of the thermal engine 201. The available power
is however limited by the power & energy capacity of the
battery 210 (or aircraft DC bus) and the power rating of the motor
inverter(s) 208, 208a, 208b, 308. Similarly, in the case of a
generator failure due to a short circuit, propulsion power for the
rotating structure(s) 206, 206a, 206b is available via the battery
210, but limited by the capacity of the battery 210 and the power
rating of the motor inverter(s) 208, 208a, 208b, 308. In the case
of a battery failure, propulsion power is available but limited by
the power of the generator 202 and the available fuel for the
thermal engine 201.
[0045] Based on the embodiments of FIGS. 3 to 7 where there are at
least two electric motors 204a, 204b, in the case of a failure to
one electric motor 204a, full power is available to the other
functional electric motor 204b. In the case of a failure to one
motor inverter 208a, full power is available to one electric motor
204b and partial power is available to the other electric motor
204a, limited by the power of the generator 202 and the available
fuel for the thermal engine 201. If the two motor inverters 208a,
208b are connected together, then full power may be available to
either electric motor 204a, 204b.
[0046] Based on the embodiments of FIGS. 4 to 7 where the generator
202 has dual stators 402, 404, in the case of a generator failure
due to an open-circuit on one of the two stators 402, 404, full
power is available to one of the two electric motors 204a, 204b.
Partial power is available to the other one of the two electric
motors 204a, 204b, limited by the power and capacity of the battery
210 and the power rating of the motor inverter 208a, 208b
associated thereto. In addition, in case of battery depletion,
energy from the functioning generator stator can be transferred to
the opposite motor through the two motor inverters.
[0047] Based on the embodiment of FIG. 5 where each electric motor
204a, 204b has two stators, in the case of a failure to one stator
502a or 504a, some power is still available from the electric motor
204a. If the failure is to stator 502a, power is still available
from the battery 210 and is limited by the capacity of the battery
210 and the power rating of the motor inverter 208a associated
thereto and the power rating of the remaining motor stator 504a. If
the failure is to stator 504a, power is still available from the
generator 202 and is limited by the power of the generator 202 and
the available fuel for the thermal engine 201 and the power rating
of the remaining motor stator 502a.
[0048] Based on the embodiment of FIG. 6, if an inverter 208a or
208b fails, full power is still available for the associated
electric motor 204a or 204b from the generator stator 402a or 402b
with proper relay configuration, limited by generator rating.
Similarly, if a generator stator 402a or 402b fails, both motor
stators of the associated electric motor 204a or 204b may be
powered by the battery 210. The total power available would then
depend on the rating of the inverter 208a or 208b and of the
battery 210.
[0049] Based on the embodiment of FIG. 7, if both electric motors
204a, 204b fail and the aircraft is out of fuel, power from the
battery can be transferred to the main shaft of the thermal engine
201 to produce propulsion power for the rotating structure 206c.
The motor inverters 208a, 208b may be connected to the generator
202 to act as a motor and add power to the rotating structure 206C
and other devices such as pumps that might also be mechanically
connected to the rotating structure. If all electric systems fail,
the thermal engine 201 can still provide propulsion power for the
rotating structure 206c.
[0050] FIG. 8 is an example embodiment of a motor inverter 208.
There is illustrated one of many possible embodiments that can be
used with the hybrid electric aircraft propulsion system 200
described herein. Lines V+ and V- are connected to the positive and
negative terminals of the battery 210. Lines A, B, C are connected
to an electric motor 204, and represent the three phases of the AC
electric power provided thereto.
[0051] Wth reference to FIG. 9, there is illustrated an example
embodiment of controller 212, comprising a processing unit 902 and
a memory 904 which has stored therein computer-executable
instructions 906. FIG. 9 may also represent a control function
embedded in the inverter 208. The processing unit 902 may comprise
any suitable devices configured to implement the system such that
instructions 906, when executed by the controller 212 or other
programmable apparatus, may cause the functions/acts/steps as
described herein to be executed. The processing unit 902 may
comprise, for example, any type of general-purpose microprocessor
or microcontroller, a digital signal processing (DSP) processor, a
central processing unit (CPU), an integrated circuit, a field
programmable gate array (FPGA), a reconfigurable processor, other
suitably programmed or programmable logic circuits, or any
combination thereof.
[0052] The memory 904 may comprise any suitable known or other
machine-readable storage medium. The memory 904 may comprise
non-transitory computer readable storage medium, for example, but
not limited to, an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic,
infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus, or device, or any
suitable combination of the foregoing. The memory 904 may include a
suitable combination of any type of computer memory that is located
either internally or externally to the controller 212, for example
random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), compact disc
read-only memory (CDROM), electro-optical memory, magneto-optical
memory, erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), and
electrically-erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM),
Ferroelectric RAM (FRAM) or the like. Memory 904 may comprise any
storage means (e.g., devices) suitable for retrievably storing
machine-readable instructions 906 executable by processing unit
902. Note that the controller 212 can be implemented as part of a
full-authority digital engine controls (FADEC) or other similar
device, including electronic engine control (EEC), engine control
unit (EUC), and the like.
[0053] The methods and systems described herein may be implemented
in a high level procedural or object oriented programming or
scripting language, or a combination thereof, to communicate with
or assist in the operation of a computer system, for example the
controller 212. Alternatively, the methods and systems may be
implemented in assembly or machine language. The language may be a
compiled or interpreted language. Program code for implementing the
methods and systems may be stored on a storage media or a device,
for example a ROM, a magnetic disk, an optical disc, a flash drive,
or any other suitable storage media or device. The program code may
be readable by a general or special-purpose programmable computer
for configuring and operating the computer when the storage media
or device is read by the computer to perform the procedures
described herein. Embodiments of the methods and systems may also
be considered to be implemented by way of a non-transitory
computer-readable storage medium having a computer program stored
thereon. The computer program may comprise computer-readable
instructions which cause a computer, or in some embodiments the
processing unit 902 of the controller 212, to operate in a specific
and predefined manner to perform the functions described
herein.
[0054] Computer-executable instructions may be in many forms,
including program modules, executed by one or more computers or
other devices. Generally, program modules include routines,
programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., that perform
particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types.
Typically the functionality of the program modules may be combined
or distributed as desired in various embodiments.
[0055] The above description is meant to be exemplary only, and one
skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made to the
embodiments described without departing from the scope of the
invention disclosed. Still other modifications which fall within
the scope of the present invention will be apparent to those
skilled in the art, in light of a review of this disclosure.
[0056] Various aspects of the systems and methods described herein
may be used alone, in combination, or in a variety of arrangements
not specifically discussed in the embodiments described in the
foregoing and is therefore not limited in its application to the
details and arrangement of components set forth in the foregoing
description or illustrated in the drawings. For example, aspects
described in one embodiment may be combined in any manner with
aspects described in other embodiments. Although particular
embodiments have been shown and described, it will be apparent to
those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made
without departing from this invention in its broader aspects. The
scope of the following claims should not be limited by the
embodiments set forth in the examples, but should be given the
broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the description
as a whole.
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