Abstract: An electrical energy management system (100) for a more electrical vehicle is provided. The electrical energy management system (100) includes a vehicle operation system (120) for controlling operation of the more electrical vehicle; an electrical system (140) for controlling electrical power generation, conversion, distribution and aero system utilities of the more electrical vehicle; a first controller (102); and a second controller (104) redundant to the first controller (102). The second controller (104) is coupled to the first controller (102) via an inter-controller data bus (106). Each of the first and second controllers (102, 104) is coupled to the vehicle operation system (120) via a vehicle data bus (108). Each of the first and second controllers (102, 104) is coupled to the electrical system (140) via a local data bus (110). The first and second controllers (102, 104) process same data in a first operation mode and process different data in a second operation mode.

Abstract: An electronics-based system (100) for power conversion and load management provides control sequencing and prognostic health monitoring and diagnostics for fault tolerant operation of the system. The system (100) includes a prognostic health monitoring and diagnostic unit (30) for identifying present out-of-range conditions, overload conditions, and trending violations, for components of the system and a decision making unit (20), which controls transitions between a plurality of operating modes to ensure fail-safe operation without unnecessary tripping, cold-starts or system resets upon the occurrence of certain fault conditions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide a state observer control system 600 for a motor 106 that uses an extended Kalman filter 330 to predict initial rotor position and afterwards accurately predict rotor position and/or speed under variable types of loading conditions. A control system model 300 is generated that allows variable setting of an initial rotor position to generate estimated rotor position and speed as outputs. The control system model 300 includes an EKF (extended Kalman filter) estimator 330, speed controller 322, a current controller 324, and a variable load component 310. During operation, EKF estimator 330 estimates rotor speed 327 and position 333 based on reference voltages 402, 404 and currents 1325 generated by speed and current controllers 322, 324 and input from frame transformers 326, 328.

Abstract: A synchronous and bi-directional power conversion module (140) for use in a variable frequency power conversion system (100) comprises a first input/output side (142) for AC power input/output and DC power source input; a second input/output side (144) for DC link connection; and an active power switching arrangement (Q1-Q6), which is controlled by a gating pattern to perform multi-mode power conversion. The active power switching arrangement (Q1-Q6) is controlled to convert DC link voltage from the DC link connection (144) to an AC load supply voltage during a forward power mode; convert AC input power from the first input/output side (142) to a regulated DC link voltage during an AC source input, reverse power mode; and convert DC input power from the first input/output to a regulated DC link voltage during a DC source input, reverse power mode.

Abstract: A synchronous and bi-directional power conversion module (140) for use in a variable frequency power conversion system (100) comprises a first input/output side (142) for AC power input/output and DC power source input; a second input/output side (144) for DC link connection; and an active power switching arrangement (Q1–Q6), which is controlled by a gating pattern to perform multi-mode power conversion. The active power switching arrangement (Q1–Q6) is controlled to convert DC link voltage from the DC link connection (144) to an AC load supply voltage during a forward power mode; convert AC input power from the first input/output side (142) to a regulated DC link voltage during an AC source input, reverse power mode; and convert DC input power from the first input/output to a regulated DC link voltage during a DC source input, reverse power mode.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus detect series and/or parallel arc faults in AC and DC systems. The method according to one embodiment inputs an AC current signal; extracts a fundamental component of the AC current signal and monitoring an amplitude variation profile for the fundamental component, thereby generating a first arc fault detection measure; detects non-stationary changes in the AC current signal applying at least one measure of order higher than one, thereby generating a second arc fault detection measure; and determines whether an arc fault exists based on the first arc fault detection measure and the second arc fault detection measure.

Abstract: An electrical energy management system (100) for a more electrical vehicle is provided. The electrical energy management system (100) includes a vehicle operation system (120) for controlling operation of the more electrical vehicle; an electrical system (140) for controlling electrical power generation, conversion, distribution and aero system utilities of the more electrical vehicle; a first controller (102); and a second controller (104) redundant to the first controller (102). The second controller (104) is coupled to the first controller (102) via an inter-controller data bus (106). Each of the first and second controllers (102, 104) is coupled to the vehicle operation system (120) via a vehicle data bus (108). Each of the first and second controllers (102, 104) is coupled to the electrical system (140) via a local data bus (110). The first and second controllers (102, 104) process same data in a first operation mode and process different data in a second operation mode.

Abstract: A synchronous bi-directional active power conditioning system (11) suitable for wide variable frequency systems or active loads such as adjustable speed drives which require variable voltage variable frequency power management systems is disclosed. Common power electronics building blocks (100, 200) (both hardware and software modular blocks) are presented which can be used for AC-DC, DC-AC individually or cascaded together for AC-DC-AC power conversion suitable for variable voltage and/or wide variable frequency power management systems. A common control software building block (2, 5) includes a digital control strategy/algorithm and digital phase lock loop method and apparatus which are developed and implemented in a digital environment to provide gating patterns for the switching elements (3, 6) of the common power-pass modular power electronics building blocks (100, 200).

Abstract: A method and apparatus provide a state observer control system 600 for a motor 106 that uses an extended Kalman filter 330 to predict initial rotor position and afterwards accurately predict rotor position and/or speed under variable types of loading conditions. A control system model 300 is generated that allows variable setting of an initial rotor position to generate estimated rotor position and speed as outputs. The control system model 300 includes an EKF (extended Kalman filter) estimator 330, speed controller 322, a current controller 324, and a variable load component 310. During operation, EKF estimator 330 estimates rotor speed 327 and position 333 based on reference voltages 402, 404 and currents 1325 generated by speed and current controllers 322, 324 and input from frame transformers 326, 328.

Abstract: A soft-start system and method for use in the soft-start of DC links for capacitor banks are disclosed. The soft-start system (200) includes a capacitor (230) connected to a first bus (282) of a DC link (280). A resistor (210) is connected a second bus (284) of the DC link (280). The resistor (210) and capacitor (230) are connected in series. A switching device (220) is connected in parallel with the resistor (210). A triggering circuit (240) measures a DC voltage on the DC link (280) and activates the switching device (220) to short circuit the resistor (210). The method includes charging the capacitor (230) of the DC link (280), measuring the charge on the capacitor (280) and activating the switching device (220) thereby short circuiting the resistor (210) when the charge on the capacitor reaches a predetermined value.

Abstract: A synchronous bi-directional active power conditioning system (11) suitable for wide variable frequency systems or active loads such as adjustable speed drives which require variable voltage variable frequency power management systems is disclosed. Common power electronics building blocks (100, 200) (both hardware and software modular blocks) are presented which can be used for AC-DC, DC-AC individually or cascaded together for AC-DC-AC power conversion suitable for variable voltage and/or wide variable frequency power management systems. A common control software building block (2, 5) includes a digital control strategy/algorithm and digital phase lock loop method and apparatus which are developed and implemented in a digital environment to provide gating patterns for the switching elements (3, 6) of the common power-pass modular power electronics building blocks (100, 200).

Abstract: An electronics-based system (100) for power conversion and load management provides control sequencing and prognostic health monitoring and diagnostics for fault tolerant operation of the system. The system (100) includes a prognostic health monitoring and diagnostic unit (30) for identifying present out-of-range conditions, overload conditions, and trending violations, for components of the system and a decision making unit (20), which controls transitions between a plurality of operating modes to ensure fail-safe operation without unnecessary tripping, cold-starts or system resets upon the occurrence of certain fault conditions.

Abstract: A soft-start system and method for use in the soft-start of DC links for capacitor banks are disclosed. The soft-start system (200) includes a capacitor (230) connected to a first bus (282) of a DC link (280). A resistor (210) is connected a second bus (284) of the DC link (280). The resistor (210) and capacitor (230) are connected in series. A switching device (220) is connected in parallel with the resistor (210). A triggering circuit (240) measures a DC voltage on the DC link (280) and activates the switching device (220) to short circuit the resistor (210). The method includes charging the capacitor (230) of the DC link (280), measuring the charge on the capacitor (280) and activating the switching device (220) thereby short circuiting the resistor (210) when the charge on the capacitor reaches a predetermined value.