Abstract: An energy accumulator module (EAM) is coupleable electrically in parallel between a power source and an electrical load via a first transmission line and a second transmission line, to receive a DC voltage from the power source. The EAM includes a power converter having inductor coupled at a first end to the first transmission line, and at a second end to a node, a switching stage including a buck leg and a boost leg, and a capacitor coupled electrically in series between the boost leg and the second transmission line. A controller module is configured to control the switching stage to operate in one of a charge mode to charge the capacitor, and a discharge mode to provide a current to the first transmission line.

Abstract: A ripple current reduction circuit is disclosed. The circuit includes a set of first coupled inductors, each comprising a primary winding configured to receive at a first end a respective phase voltage, and a secondary winding. The circuit also includes a set of second coupled inductors and a set of first capacitors, each first capacitor having an upstream end and a downstream end, wherein the set of first capacitors are coupled together at the downstream end to define a first node. The circuit further includes a set of auxiliary circuits each corresponding to a respective phase voltage, and coupled between the second end of the primary winding of a respective first inductor and the first node, wherein each auxiliary circuit comprises a respective second coupled inductor, a respective first capacitor, and the secondary winding of a respective first coupled inductor coupled in series.

Abstract: There is provided a system for use with a set of generators. The system includes a processor and a memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform certain operations. The operations can include receiving a command and receiving a signal indicative of a current of at least one generator in the set of generators. The operations can further include causing, based on the command and the signal, a controller to adjust a voltage level of at least one other generator in the set of generators.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a DC to AC inverter providing a multiphase output at a fundamental frequency are provided. More particularly, a synchronous reference frame control scheme can be employed to regulate a DC to AC inverter to attenuate error at various frequencies of interest for the DC to AC inverter. According to particular example aspects of the present disclosure, the synchronous reference frame control scheme can include control structures to provide for attenuation of the negative sequence and zero sequence currents, leading to reduced total harmonic distortion and voltage unbalance in the output voltage of the inverter.

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling a DC to AC inverter providing a multiphase output at a fundamental frequency are provided. More particularly, a synchronous reference frame control scheme can be employed to regulate a DC to AC inverter to attenuate error at various frequencies of interest for the DC to AC inverter. According to particular example aspects of the present disclosure, the synchronous reference frame control scheme can include control structures to provide for attenuation of the negative sequence and zero sequence currents, leading to reduced total harmonic distortion and voltage unbalance in the output voltage of the inverter.

Abstract: There is provided a system for use with a set of generators. The system includes a processor and a memory including instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform certain operations. The operations can include receiving a command and receiving a signal indicative of a current of at least one generator in the set of generators. The operations can further include causing, based on the command and the signal, a controller to adjust a voltage level of at least one other generator in the set of generators.

Abstract: A method and power converter unit for operating a generator includes a rotatable shaft operably coupled with a source of rotational force, a rotor mounted to the rotatable shaft and having at least one rotor pole defining a rotatable direct axis, a stator encircling the rotor and having a set of stator windings, and a power output electrically coupled with the set of stator windings and operable in a power generating mode and a power absorption mode

Abstract: A method and power converter unit for operating a generator includes a rotatable shaft operably coupled with a source of rotational force, a rotor mounted to the rotatable shaft and having at least one rotor pole defining a rotatable direct axis, a stator encircling the rotor and having a set of stator windings, and a power output electrically coupled with the set of stator windings and operable in a power generating mode and a power absorption mode

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a generator control unit having power bridge, further including having an input and at least one output, wherein the input is operably coupled with a generator power output, and a controller communicatively coupled with the power bridge and configured to operate the power bridge.

Abstract: A circuit and method for allocating power among two or more generators to a single load on a shared bus includes a sharing regulator and a feedback loop for each generator. A digital share command input and current in the feedback loops will cause the sharing regulators to alter the power of the generators at the generator outputs, thereby allocating the load on the shared bus according to the share command, and confirming the allocation of power at the outputs.

Abstract: A circuit and method for allocating power among two or more generators to a single load on a shared bus includes a sharing regulator and a feedback loop for each generator. A digital share command input and current in the feedback loops will cause the sharing regulators to alter the power of the generators at the generator outputs, thereby allocating the load on the shared bus according to the share command, and confirming the allocation of power at the outputs.

Abstract: A starting and generating system for use with an aircraft engine includes a starter/generator and an inverter/converter/controller (ICC) coupled to the starter/generator. The starter/generator is configured to start the aircraft engine in a start mode and to generate AC power in a generate mode. The starter/generator includes an exciter and a rotational shaft. The ICC is configured to provide AC power at a first frequency the starter/generator in the start mode and to control the exciter during the generate mode such that the generate mode AC power has a second frequency, wherein the first frequency is based on a shaft speed of the shaft.

Abstract: A starting and generating system for use with an aircraft engine includes a starter/generator and an inverter/converter/controller (ICC) coupled to the starter/generator. The starter/generator is configured to start the aircraft engine in a start mode and to generate AC power in a generate mode. The starter/generator includes an exciter and a rotational shaft. The ICC is configured to provide AC power at a first frequency the starter/generator in the start mode and to control the exciter during the generate mode such that the generate mode AC power has a second frequency, wherein the first frequency is based on a shaft speed of the shaft.

Abstract: A method and an article of manufacture are provided to monitor a temperature sensing circuit and detect a fault therein. The method comprises monitoring sensor readings output from a plurality of temperature sensing circuits. An average sensor reading is determined, calculated from the sensor readings output from a subset of the temperature sensing circuits. Each of the sensor readings is compared to the average sensor reading. A fault is identified when one of the sensor readings deviates from the average sensor reading by an amount greater than a threshold, more particularly when one of the sensor readings deviates from the average sensor reading by an amount greater than the threshold at least a quantity of X times out of Y sensor readings.

Abstract: A method and an article of manufacture are provided to monitor a temperature sensing circuit and detect a fault therein. The method comprises monitoring sensor readings output from a plurality of temperature sensing circuits. An average sensor reading is determined, calculated from the sensor readings output from a subset of the temperature sensing circuits. Each of the sensor readings is compared to the average sensor reading. A fault is identified when one of the sensor readings deviates from the average sensor reading by an amount greater than a threshold, more particularly when one of the sensor readings deviates from the average sensor reading by an amount greater than the threshold at least a quantity of X times out of Y sensor readings.

Abstract: PWM methods and apparatus are provided for loss minimized control of AC motors taking into consideration inverter non-linear limitations. The method comprises providing a voltage to the AC motor based on a switching cycle, adding a duty cycle of a zero vector to each phase leg of the switching cycle when a duty cycle of a first phase leg of the switching cycle is less than a minimum duty cycle, and subtracting the duty cycle of the zero vector from each phase leg of the switching cycle when a second duty cycle of a second phase leg is greater than a maximum duty cycle. The minimum duty cycle and maximum duty cycle indicate distortion regions.

Abstract: PWM methods and apparatus are provided for loss minimized control of AC motors taking into consideration inverter non-linear limitations. The method comprises providing a voltage to the AC motor based on a switching cycle, adding a duty cycle of a zero vector to each phase leg of the switching cycle when a duty cycle of a first phase leg of the switching cycle is less than a minimum duty cycle, and subtracting the duty cycle of the zero vector from each phase leg of the switching cycle when a second duty cycle of a second phase leg is greater than a maximum duty cycle. The minimum duty cycle and maximum duty cycle indicate distortion regions.

Abstract: An electric motor vehicle includes an electric motor driving a step-down differential, axles, and drive wheels. An operator control produces torque command signals, which are applied to a controller to command application of electric power to the motor in response to the torque commands, to achieve the desired torque. The low friction of the electric drive, in conjunction with the rotational compliance or imperfect stiffness of the axles, may result in low-frequency surges or jerky motion, especially at low speeds. A damping arrangement includes a differencing circuit coupled between the operator control and the controller, for taking the difference between the operator-commanded torque and a damping torque signal. The damping torque signal is produced by differentiating the electric motor speed to produce a motor-acceleration representative signal.

Abstract: A number N of AC machines, such as motors or generators, are independently controlled by a control system having 2N+1 phases, having N orthogonal sets of phase components. In a particular application, a hybrid vehicle including a generator and an induction motor are independently controlled by a five-phase controller having two independent sets of mutually orthogonal components. Each set of components controls one of the machines, and has no net effect on the other machine(s).

Abstract: A controller (400) for a variable-speed induction motor (498) includes field-oriented control (410, 476), which in a feedback (402) arrangement senses motor parameters to form field and torque error signals. The field error signals are processed by a first limited-state PI processor (490a), which individually limits the magnitude of the proportional component of the field voltage to no greater than the bus voltage. The field error signals are also processed by a state-limited integrator (426a) which limits the integral component of the field voltage to the difference between the proportional component and the bus voltage. A first summer (432a) sums the proportional and integral components to make the field voltage command. The torque error signals are processed by a further limited-state PI processor (490b) which individually limits the proportional component of the torque voltage to a value not greater than the available bus voltage, after the first PI processor has been given preference.