Assembly for an electrically hybridised turbine engine
Patent Information
- Application Number
- EP2023751672
- Authority / Receiving Office
- EP · EP
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2022-07-07
- Filing Date
- 2023-07-05
- Publication Date
- 2025-05-14
AI Technical Summary
Aircraft engines face challenges in meeting the power requirements of electrical loads while respecting their own operating constraints, particularly during takeoff when the low-pressure body is stressed and cannot afford thrust oscillations due to variable mechanical draws from the electrical system.
An electrically hybridized turbomachine assembly is proposed, comprising a first and second rotating body for mechanical power, alternating current generators for converting mechanical power into electrical power, and converters to regulate bus voltage, along with a control device to manage voltage evolution through a determined sampling sequence, ensuring optimal power distribution across multiple electrical sources.
This solution effectively meets the power requirements of electrical loads while optimizing engine operation by stabilizing bus voltage and minimizing thrust oscillations, ensuring reliable and efficient energy supply during varying flight phases.
Smart Images

Figure 1.1
Abstract
Description
[0001] KIT FOR AN ELECTRICALLY HYBRID TURBOMACHINE
[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present application relates to the field of turbomachines, in particular aircraft engines. More specifically, the present application relates to the management of the power supply of electrical loads of an engine and / or an aircraft.
[0004] STATE OF THE ART
[0005] An aircraft may include at least one engine, and each of the engine and the aircraft may include electrical loads and / or electrical power sources. An electrical system may connect the loads, the sources, and the engine to each other to enable electrical exchanges between these different elements. The loads may be powered by mechanical tapping on the engine, and the engine may be assisted by electrical tapping on the sources, whether during start-up or in flight. During engine operation, the power supply requirements of the loads may change, sometimes abruptly. On the other hand, the mechanical tapping on the engine must comply with a certain number of constraints to ensure optimization of the engine's operation.For example, during takeoff, it is preferable to limit the draw on the low pressure body of the engine, which is extremely stressed to provide thrust and cannot, in this respect, afford to experience thrust oscillations linked to variable mechanical draw from the electrical system.
[0006] STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0007] One aim of the invention is to enable an aircraft engine to meet the power requirements of electrical loads while respecting its own operating constraints.
[0008] In this regard, there is provided, according to one aspect of the present disclosure, an assembly for an electrically hybridized turbomachine, comprising: a first rotating body forming a first source of mechanical power; a second rotating body forming a second source of mechanical power; and an electrical system comprising: an electrical power bus intended to be connected to at least one electrical load and configured to supply electrical power to the load in the form of a continuous signal; a plurality of electrical power sources configured to transfer electrical power to the bus and comprising: a first alternating current generator connected to the first rotating body to take mechanical power from the first rotating body and transform it into electrical power capable of being transferred to the bus;a second alternating current generator connected to the second rotating body for taking mechanical power from the second rotating body and transforming it into electrical power capable of being transferred to the bus; a plurality of converters connected to the plurality of electrical power sources and to the bus, the converters being configured to regulate the bus in voltage from an electrical power supplied by the electrical power sources and comprising: a first converter connected to the first alternating current generator, the first converter being connected to the bus and configured to regulate the bus in voltage from an electrical power supplied by the first alternating current generator;a second converter connected to the second alternating current generator, the second converter being connected to the bus and configured to regulate the bus voltage from an electrical power supplied by the second alternating current generator; and a control device connected to the converters and configured to control the converters in order to compensate for a change in a bus voltage by successively requesting the electrical power sources according to a determined sampling sequence.;
[0009] Advantageously, but optionally, the assembly may comprise at least one of the following characteristics, taken alone or in any combination:
[0010] - in this assembly: the plurality of electrical power sources comprises a direct current source; the plurality of converters comprises a third converter connected to the direct current source and to the bus, the third converter being configured to regulate the bus voltage from a power supplied by the direct current source; and the control device is connected to the third converter;
[0011] - each converter comprises a control member configured to control the converter, the control device further comprising a central member configured to: receive an instruction relating to the sampling sequence; and transmit to each of the control members a control signal for controlling the converters, the control signal having been generated from the instruction;
[0012] - the control device is further configured to control the converters according to a draw threshold specific to each of the electrical power sources;
[0013] - the control device is further configured to: receive a control signal representative of a correction associated with a difference between a measurement of a bus voltage and a reference, the difference being representative of the change in the bus voltage; and carry out frequency filtering of the control signal so as to determine at least one low-frequency component and at least one high-frequency component, the control of the converters being implemented from at least one of the low-frequency component and the high-frequency component;
[0014] - the control device is configured to drive the converters from the low frequency component;
[0015] - the control device is configured to drive the converters from the high frequency component; and
[0016] - the control device is further configured to control the converters according to a setpoint for the distribution of the draw between the electrical power sources.
[0017] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, there is proposed a method for controlling an assembly as previously described, the method being implemented by the control device and comprising the control of the converters in order to compensate for a change in a bus voltage by successively soliciting the electrical power sources according to a predetermined sampling sequence.
[0018] Advantageously, but optionally, in the control method as previously described, the control according to a predetermined sampling sequence comprises the solicitation of a preferential electrical power source among the plurality of electrical power sources until reaching the sampling limit of the preferential electrical power source, the other electrical power sources not being solicited, then the successive solicitation of other electrical power sources once the sampling limit is exceeded.
[0019] Alternatively, in the control method as previously described, the control according to a predetermined sampling sequence comprises the solicitation of a preferential electrical power source among the plurality of electrical power sources until reaching the sampling limit of the preferential electrical power source, the other electrical power sources being further solicited at a minimum power threshold, then the successive solicitation of other electrical power sources once the sampling limit is exceeded.
[0020] DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0021] Other characteristics, aims and advantages of the invention will emerge from the following description, which is purely illustrative and non-limiting, and which must be read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:
[0022] Figure 1 schematically illustrates an aircraft.
[0023] Figure 2 schematically illustrates an engine.
[0024] Figure 3 schematically illustrates an electrical system according to one aspect of the present disclosure.
[0025] Figure 4 is a flowchart illustrating steps of a method of controlling an electrical system according to the present disclosure.
[0026] Figure 5 illustrates the operation of a portion of an electrical system according to one aspect of the present disclosure.
[0027] Figure 6 illustrates the operation of another portion of an electrical system according to another aspect of the present disclosure.
[0028] Throughout the figures, similar elements have identical references.
[0029] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] Aircraft
[0031] Figure 1 illustrates an aircraft 100 comprising at least one propulsion unit 1, in this case two propulsion units 1. The aircraft 100 shown is an airplane, civil or military, but could be any other type of aircraft 100, such as a helicopter. The propulsion units 1 are attached and fixed to the airplane 100, each under a wing of the airplane 100, as visible in Figure 1. This is not, however, limiting, since at least one propulsion unit 1 can also be mounted on the wing of the airplane or at the rear of its fuselage.
[0032] The aircraft 100 also comprises a plurality of electrical loads (or receivers) (not shown). Each electrical load is a device powered by electrical energy and can be configured to transform the electrical energy that supplies it into another form of energy, such as for example heat or mechanical energy. Non-limiting examples of electrical loads of the aircraft 100 are: an electric motor, a heating and / or air conditioning system, a compressor, etc. These electrical loads make it possible in particular to ensure a certain number of functionalities, in flight as well as on the ground, such as the pressurization and / or illumination of the cabin of the aircraft 100, the operation of the cockpit, etc.
[0033] To supply these electrical loads with electrical energy, the aircraft 100 comprises a plurality of electrical networks, including at least one direct current network. Each electrical network typically comprises a set of electrical conductors, typically a set of wire(s) or bar(s) and / or an assembly of wire(s) and / or one (or more) printed track(s) and / or some device which is used to conduct electricity. The direct current network only allows the circulation of electrical energy in the form of a continuous signal.
[0034] The electrical energy consumed by the electrical loads can, at least in part, be produced by the engine 2 of the propulsion unit 1, described in more detail below, and more precisely by mechanical extraction from rotating bodies BP, HP of the engine 2.
[0035] Propulsion unit
[0036] Figure 2 illustrates a propulsion unit 1 having a longitudinal axis XX, and comprising an engine 2, which is a turbomachine, and a nacelle 3 surrounding the engine 2.
[0037] The propulsion assembly 1 is intended to be mounted on an aircraft 100, for example in the manner illustrated in FIG. 1. In this regard, the propulsion assembly 1 may comprise a mast (not shown) intended to connect the propulsion assembly 1 to a part of the aircraft 100.
[0038] The engine 2 illustrated in FIG. 2 is a twin-spool, twin-flow turbojet engine with direct drive of the fan 20. This is not, however, limiting since the engine 2 may comprise a different number of spools and / or flows, and / or be another type of turbojet engine, such as a turbojet engine with fan drive via a reduction gear, or a turboprop engine. Similarly, what is described is applicable to all types of turbomachine, i.e. a system allowing energy transfer between a rotating part and a fluid.
[0039] Unless otherwise specified, the terms “upstream” and “downstream” are used with reference to the overall direction of airflow through the propulsion unit 1 in operation. Similarly, an axial direction corresponds to the direction of the longitudinal axis XX and a radial direction is a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal axis XX and intersecting the longitudinal axis XX. Furthermore, an axial plane is a plane containing the longitudinal axis XX and a radial plane is a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis XX. A circumference is understood to be a circle belonging to a radial plane and whose center belongs to the longitudinal axis XX. A tangential or circumferential direction is a direction tangent to a circumference: it is orthogonal to the longitudinal axis XX but does not pass through the longitudinal axis XX.Finally, the adjectives "inner" (or "internal") and "outer" (or "external") are used in reference to a radial direction so that the inner part of an element is, in a radial direction, closer to the longitudinal axis XX than the outer part of the same element.
[0040] As seen in Figure 2, the engine 2 comprises, from upstream to downstream, a fan 20, a compression section 22 comprising a low pressure compressor 220 and a high pressure compressor 222, a combustion chamber 24 and an expansion section 26 comprising a high pressure turbine 262 and a low pressure turbine 260. Each of the low pressure compressor 220, the high pressure compressor 222, the high pressure turbine 262 and the low pressure turbine 260 comprises a rotor part and a stator part, the rotor part being capable of being driven in rotation relative to the stator part around the longitudinal axis XX. The fan 20, the rotor part of the low pressure compressor 220, and the rotor part of the low pressure turbine 260 are connected to each other by a low pressure shaft 280 extending along the longitudinal axis XX, thus forming a low pressure body (LP body) which is a first rotating body.The rotor part of the high pressure compressor 222 and the rotor part of the high pressure turbine 262 are connected to each other by a high pressure shaft 282 also extending along the longitudinal axis XX, around the low pressure shaft 280, thus forming a high pressure body (HP body) which is a second rotating body. As seen in Figure 2, the compression section 22, the combustion chamber 24 and the expansion section 26 are surrounded by a motor casing 23, to which the stator parts of the low pressure compressor 220, the high pressure compressor 222, the high pressure turbine 262 and the low pressure turbine 260 are connected, while the fan 20 is surrounded by a fan casing 25.The engine casing 23 and the fan casing 25 are connected to each other by profiled arms 27 forming rectifiers (or OGV for "Outlet Guide Vanes" in English terminology) distributed circumferentially all around the longitudinal axis XX. At least some of these arms 27 can be provided structural. The longitudinal axis XX defines the axis of rotation for the fan 20, the rotor parts of the compression section 22 and the rotor parts of the expansion section 26, in other words for the LP body and the HP body, which are each capable of being driven in rotation around the longitudinal axis XX relative to the engine casing 23 and the fan casing 25.
[0041] The nacelle 3 extends radially outside the engine 2, all around the longitudinal axis XX, so as to surround both the fan casing 25 and the engine casing 23, and to define, with a downstream portion of the engine casing 23, a downstream portion of a secondary duct B, the upstream portion of the secondary duct B being defined by the fan casing 25 and an upstream portion of the engine casing 23. The upstream portion of the nacelle 3 further defines an air inlet 29 through which the fan 20 sucks in the air flow circulating through the propulsion unit 1. The nacelle 3 is integral with the fan casing 25 and attached and fixed to the aircraft 100 by means of the mast.
[0042] The engine 2 may also comprise at least one accessory gear box (not shown), called ÀGB (for “Accessory gear box” in English terminology), typically housed in a cavity provided within the nacelle 3. The accessory gear box comprises a set of gears for driving a plurality of shafts in rotation around their own axis, accessories being mounted on these shafts to derive useful mechanical power from their rotation. The set of gears is itself driven using a power take-off shaft (or RDS for “Radial Drive Shaft” in English terminology) connecting, possibly via a transfer case (not shown), the accessory gear box to at least one of the high-pressure body HP and the low-pressure body BP, typically by being meshed with at least one of the high-pressure shaft 282 and the low-pressure shaft 280.In this regard, the power take-off shaft may extend inside a longitudinal cavity provided within one of the arms 27. In this way, mechanical power may be taken from at least one of the high pressure HP body and the low pressure LP body to be delivered to at least one of the accessories via the accessory housing.
[0043] The engine 2 may also include a plurality of electrical loads (not shown), such as a starter, variable geometries or defrosting systems, which must also be supplied with electrical energy. The supply of at least some of these electrical loads may be in the form of a continuous signal, typically a direct voltage.
[0044] In operation, the fan 20 draws in an air flow, a portion of which, circulating within a primary vein A, is successively compressed within the compression section 22, ignited within the combustion chamber 24 and expanded within the expansion section 26 before being ejected from the engine 2. The primary vein A passes through the engine casing 23 from one side to the other. Another portion of the air flow circulates within the secondary vein B which takes an elongated annular shape surrounding the engine casing 23, the air drawn in by the fan 20 being straightened by the straighteners and then ejected from the propulsion unit 1. In this way, the propulsion unit 1 generates thrust. This thrust can, for example, be used for the benefit of the aircraft 100 on which the propulsion unit 1 is attached and fixed.
[0045] Figure 3 illustrates an electrical system 4 distributed between the propulsion unit 1 and the aircraft 100 for supplying electrical energy to the electrical loads 400 of the engine 2 and / or the aircraft 100, typically by means of the direct current network. The electrical system 4 makes it possible in particular to provide the interface between the rotating bodies LP, HP of the engine 2 and the electrical network of the aircraft 100. The electrical system is in particular configured to meet the electrical power requirements of the loads 400 of the aircraft 100 and / or the engine 2 by mechanical tapping on the engine 2, and to assist the starting and / or the in-flight operation of the engine 2 using electrical sources of the aircraft 100 and / or the engine 2. In other words, the engine 2 is electrically hybridized.
[0046] The electrical system 4 comprises an electrical bus 40, or electrical power supply bus 40, connected to at least one electrical load 400 of the aircraft 100 and / or the engine 2, preferably a set of several loads 400 of the aircraft 100 and / or the engine 2, the bus 40 being configured to provide electrical power to the load 400 in the form of a continuous signal in order in particular to meet its power needs. In other words, the bus 40 is configured to allow a flow of electrical energy in the form of a continuous signal. The bus 40 may, for example, comprise a set of electrical conductors, typically a set of wire(s) or bar(s) and / or an assembly of wire(s) and / or one (or more) printed track(s) and / or some device which is used to conduct electricity.
[0047] The electrical system 4 further comprises several electrical converters 410, 420, 430, each connected to a respective electrical source 411, 421, 431, i.e. to an element configured to provide electrical power. The electrical sources 411, 421, 431 may be an alternating current generator 411, 421, and / or a direct current source 431. The alternating current generator 411, 421 and the direct current source 431 may belong to the engine 2, i.e. be controlled at the same time as the engine 2, or even be controlled by the engine 2. In this case, they are electrical sources 411, 421, 431 of the engine 2. Moreover, the direct current source 431 is not necessarily located in the engine 2 and may, for example, be housed in a pylon making it possible to fix the engine 2 to the aircraft 100. Alternatively, the direct current source 431 belongs to the aircraft 100, i.e. it is controlled at the same time as the aircraft 100.As visible in Figure 3, the electrical system 4 can thus comprise a first converter 410 connected to a first alternating current generator 411, a second converter 420 connected to a second alternating current generator 421 and, optionally, a third converter 430 connected to a direct current source 431. The third converter 430 and the direct current source 431 are optional in the sense that, in certain embodiments, they are absent or, in other embodiments, the direct current source 431 is unavailable. On the other hand, each of the converters 410, 420, 430 is, as visible in FIG. 3, connected to the bus 40. In fact, at least one, if not each, of the converters 410, 420, 430 is configured to regulate the bus 40 in voltage from, that is to say with the aid of, an electrical power supplied by the electrical source(s) 411, 421, 431 to which the converters 410, 420, 430 are connected.The number and type of converters 410, 420, 430 and electrical sources 411, 421, 431 is, of course, not limiting.
[0048] The voltage regulation of the bus 40 is critical. Indeed, the temporal evolution of the electrical voltage within the bus 40, during the operation of the electrical system 4, if it can occasionally vary around a given nominal value, must nevertheless remain within the limits of a template, which is the guarantee that all of the elements which are connected to the bus 40 operate correctly. The template defines, in fact, the upper and lower limits of voltage excursion, as a function of time, during the operation of the electrical system 4. The template may comprise limits defined for normal and / or abnormal operating conditions, which limits surround, symmetrically or not, a nominal electrical voltage level of the bus 40. In a diagram (not shown) providing the evolution of the electrical voltage as a function of time, a limit of a template is typically represented as a line, broken or not.Preferably, even if the limit does not define a constant electrical voltage value initially, in particular during the characteristic time of putting into operation (or starting) of the electrical system 4 or during the time of establishing a permanent regime in the event of a power transient, it is common for the limit to then define a constant electrical voltage value, in order to guarantee the stability of operation of the bus 40 and, therefore, of the electrical system 4. Such a template may, for example, be defined in a standard relating to the quality of the electrical system 4 and / or of the direct current network, but also be defined by specifications of an aircraft-type vehicle to which the electrical system 4 is connected, typically the requirements of the manufacturer of the aircraft 100 and / or of the engine 2 within which the electrical system 4 is integrated.
[0049] On the other hand, the voltage regulation of the bus 40 makes it possible to meet the power demands of the loads 400 connected to the bus 40. Typically, when the quantity of power drawn by at least one load 400 on the bus 40 is greater than the quantity of power injected onto the bus 40 by at least one converter 410, 420, 430, the voltage of the bus 40 decreases significantly. Conversely, when the quantity of power injected by at least one converter 410, 420, 430 on the bus 40 is greater than the quantity of power drawn onto the bus 40 by at least one load 400, the voltage of the bus 40 increases. Thus, regulating the voltage of the bus 40 makes it possible, in addition to ensuring the safety of the electrical system 4, to meet the power needs of the loads 400.In other words, each of the converters 410, 420, 430 is configured to continuously adapt the power that it injects or draws from the bus 40, according to the voltage of the bus 40, so as to exactly meet the power requirements of the loads 400 connected to the bus 40.
[0050] This injection or this withdrawal of power on the bus 40 by the converters 410, 420, 430 is notably permitted by their connection with the electrical sources 411, 421, 431. In fact, at least one, if not each, of the alternating current generators 411, 421 is connected to a rotating body BP, HP, of the engine 2 to allow an exchange of mechanical and / or electrical power between the rotating body BP, HP and the alternating current generator 411, 421, preferably to take mechanical power from the rotating body BP, HP and transform it into electrical power, which electrical power is then delivered to the first converter 410 and / or to the second converter 420 to be injected onto the bus 40.As the electrical power supplied by the alternating current generators 411, 421 is in the form of an alternating signal, each of the first converter 410 and the second converter 420 is configured to transform, reversibly, this alternating signal into a direct current signal suitable for being injected, then circulating, on the bus 40. Similarly, the direct current source 431 can deliver power in the form of a direct current signal to the third converter 430, which will still convert it, also reversibly, to shape it according to the constraints specific to the bus 40, then inject it onto the bus 40.Each, or at least one, of the alternating current generators 411, 421 may, for example, be a wound-rotor synchronous machine, typically comprising three stages, called a VFG (for "Variable Frequency Generator" in English terminology), driven by at least one of the high-pressure shaft 282 and the low-pressure shaft 280 of the motor 2, typically via the accessory box. Other types of electrical machines are conceivable, such as, preferably, permanent-magnet synchronous machines, called PMSM (for "Permanent-Magnet Synchronous Machine Drives" in English terminology) which have the advantage in particular of having a smaller mass, or such as asynchronous machines (or "Induction machine" in English terminology) or variable reluctance machines.Preferably, the first alternating current generator 411 is connected to the HP body, while the second alternating current generator 421 is connected to the LP body, 280. The direct current source 431 may, for its part, comprise a battery, a supercapacitor, a direct current generator and / or a fuel cell. The direct current source 431 makes it possible in particular to relieve the rotating bodies BP, HP, or to take over from them, when, for example, the level of withdrawal required to meet the power needs of the loads 400 is too high, but also makes it possible to absorb certain dynamics, such as sudden variations, in the behavior of the loads 400.
[0051] Figure 3 also illustrates that the electrical system 4 comprises a control device 412, 422, 432, 4000, connected to at least one, if not each, of the converters 410, 420, 430.
[0052] The control device 412, 422, 432, 4000 illustrated in FIG. 3 comprises a central member 4000 and a plurality of control members 412, 422, 432, each of the control members 412, 422, 432 being connected (or integrated) to one of the converters 410, 420, 430. Alternatively, the control device 412, 422, 432 may comprise only the plurality of control members 412, 422, 432, each of the control members 412, 422, 432 being connected (or integrated) to one of the converters 410, 420, 430.
[0053] The control device 412, 422, 432, 4000 is further advantageously configured to receive a signal V representative of a measurement of a voltage of the bus 40. To do this, the control device 412, 422, 432, 4000 can be connected to the bus 40 or to a voltage sensor connected to the bus 40, and receive the signal V from the bus 40 (or from this sensor). This signal V can be received via a physical or wireless link. This signal V represents in particular the evolution of the power requirements of the loads 400 connected to the bus 40. Typically, when a load 400 suddenly requires to be able to draw a significant amount of power from the bus 40, due to the response time of the electrical system 4 to provide the bus 40 with the power necessary to compensate for the power drawn, the voltage of the bus 40 will suddenly drop, and this drop will be fed back to the control device 412, 422, 432, 4000 via the signal V.In the same way, when a load 400 suddenly sheds a significant amount of power on the bus 40, due to the response time of the electrical system 4 to draw the necessary power from the bus 40 to compensate for this shed, the voltage of the bus 40 will suddenly increase, and this increase will be fed back to the control device 412, 422, 432, 4000 via the signal V. As a result, the signal V is typically a time signal, i.e. providing (or representing) the evolution of the voltage of the bus 40 as a function of time. Many loads 400, in particular so-called “active” loads 400, may exhibit this type of dynamic behavior, which may also vary during the different flight phases.
[0054] The changes in the voltage of the bus 40 are compensated by the action of the converters 410, 420, 430, which action therefore follows the change in the voltage, however sudden and fluctuating it may be. This is why this action is coordinated by the control device 412, 422, 432, 4000 to maintain the voltage of the bus 40 within the limits allowing stable operation of the electrical system 4.
[0055] To do this, each of the converters 410, 420, 430 receives from the control device 412, 422, 432, 4000 a setpoint which is specific to it, and from which the converter 410, 420, 430 regulates the voltage of the bus 40. The combination of the voltage regulations of each converter 410, 420, 430 thus makes it possible to constantly monitor the power requirements of the loads 400.
[0056] Thus, the control device 412, 422, 432, 4000 can be configured to control the converters 410, 420, 430 according to a sequence of sampling on the rotating bodies BP, HP, and possibly sampling on the DC voltage source 431, in order to compensate for a change in a voltage of the bus 40. In other words, the compensation for a change in the voltage of the bus 40 expressing a power requirement of a load 400 is carried out preferentially by one of the converters 410, 420, 430, up to a certain admissible sampling limit on the corresponding electrical source 411, 421, 431, then by one (or more) other converters 410, 420, 430 to compensate for the remainder of the change that the preferential converter 410, 420, 430 could not have compensated.In other words, the control device 412, 422, 432, 4000 arbitrates to determine which electrical source 411, 421, 431 will be first requested to regulate the voltage of the bus 40, the other electrical sources 411, 421, 431 not being requested, then, when this first requested electrical source 411, 421, 431 can no longer respond because it has reached its admissible power draw limit, the control device 412, 422, 432, 4000 will arbitrate to determine which of the other electrical sources 411, 421, 431 takes over, and so on as long as the voltage regulation of the bus 40 requires an injection of additional power on the bus 40 and the admissible limits of the electrical sources 411, 421, 431 successive loads are reached. In other words, at this stage, the existing electrical system 4 can no longer generate the power required by the loads 400.This allows the control device 412, 422, 432, 4000 to promote, or on the contrary to prohibit, the drawing on such or such rotating body LP, HP during the operation of the engine 2, and this in order to optimize the operating point of the engine 2, by managing, on a case-by-case basis, the impact that the drawing on a rotating body LP, HP can generate on the performance of this rotating body LP, HP. This optimization can also advantageously include the management of the performance of the direct current source 431.
[0057] In one embodiment, the control device 412, 422, 432, 4000 can be configured so that, even if an electrical source 411, 421, 431 is first requested, according to the sampling sequence, the other electrical sources 411, 421, 431 are not therefore free of request. In other words, in this embodiment, the regulation of the voltage of the bus 40 is carried out mainly by requesting the preferred electrical source 411, 421, 431, and to a lesser extent by the other electrical sources 411, 421, 431, and this until the preferred electrical source 411, 421, 431 has reached its admissible power withdrawal limit.Thus, the non-preferential electrical sources 411, 421, 431 are always subjected to a minimum demand, their regime oscillating around a minimum of electrical power exchanged with their respective converter 410, 420, 430, which avoids an oscillation around a zero electrical power value, which would be likely to damage the electrical system 4.
[0058] Furthermore, the control device 412, 422, 432, 4000 can be configured to perform a frequency filtering of a control current i, which is representative of the action required of the converters 410, 420, 430 to correct a difference detected between the signal V and a reference V_ref, for example associated with the template, as described in more detail below. In reality, the control current i is representative (or associated) with the voltage evolution of the bus 40 detected via the signal V.
[0059] However, the high-frequency component of the evolution of the voltage of the bus 40 requires an immediate and rapid response from the electrical system 4, while its low-frequency component requires a long-term background response from the electrical system 4. Typically, during operation of the engine 2, the power required by the loads 400 evolves with slow dynamics (low-frequency component), but may experience sudden and occasional calls for power (high-frequency component) from certain loads 400, for example the electric actuators of the wing flaps of the aircraft 100. Therefore, it may prove relevant to control the converters 410, 420, 430 by discriminating between these different components, by means of the frequency filtering of the control current i.
[0060] Generally, the low-frequency component of the change in the voltage of the bus 40 will determine the operating point of the motor 2, while the high-frequency component will rather be absorbed by the inertia of the rotating bodies BP, HP. For this, the control device 412, 422, 432, 4000 can further be configured to control each of the converters 410, 420, 430 in order to compensate for a portion of the high-frequency component and a portion of the low-frequency component. In other words, each converter 410, 420, 430 takes its share of the response to the power requirements expressed by the loads 400 and materialized by the evolution of the voltage of the bus 40. More precisely, each of the converters 410, 420, 430 can thus receive from the control device 412, 422, 432, 4000 a setpoint which is specific to it, and from which the converter 410, 420, 430 regulates the voltage of the bus 40.The combination of the voltage regulations of each converter 410, 420, 430 allows, in this case, an optimization of the operating point of the motor by constantly monitoring the power requirements of the loads 400. Thus, the rotating body BP, HP which would be the most sensitive to rapid fluctuations in mechanical power draw at certain operating points can advantageously be offloaded in favor of the other rotating body BP, HP or the direct current source 431, in order to allow an optimization of the operating point of the motor 2.
[0061] In this regard, the various strategies previously described can be implemented by the control device 412, 422, 432, 4000 in combination, as will be described in particular in more detail with reference to FIG. 6. Typically, the control device 412, 422, 432, 4000 can be configured to control the converters 410, 420, 430 according to a sampling sequence on the rotating bodies BP, HP, in order to compensate for the low-frequency component, and according to the same, or another, sampling sequence in order to compensate for the high-frequency component. Alternatively, or in addition, the control device 412, 422, 432, 4000 can be configured to control the converters 410, 420, 430 according to a sampling distribution instruction between the rotating bodies BP, HP, in order to compensate for the low frequency component, and according to the same, or another, sampling distribution instruction in order to compensate for the high frequency component.
[0062] In the electrical system 4 illustrated in FIG. 3, it is the central unit 4000 which is, in particular, configured to receive and then process the signal V, as illustrated in more detail in FIG. 6. Furthermore, the central unit 4000 is configured to transmit to each of the control units 412, 422, 432 a control signal CTRL_1, CTRL_2, CTRL_3, which can typically take the form of a control current, for controlling the converters 410, 420, 430. In the electrical system 4 illustrated in FIG. 3, the control is therefore carried out in a centralized manner. Alternatively, when the control device 412, 422, 432 only comprises the control members 412, 422, 432, each of the control members 412, 422, 432 is configured to, in particular, receive and process the signal V, and control the converter 410, 420, 430. In other words, the control is then carried out in a decentralized manner.
[0063] Figure 3 further shows the presence of a general controller 7, which may for example be all or part of the system providing the interface between the cockpit of the aircraft 100 and the engine 2 (or FADEC or “Full Authority Digital Engine Control”, in English terminology), typically being the control unit of the engine 2, (or ECU for “Electronic Control Unit” in English terminology), which is integrated into the FADEC. The general controller 7 is connected to the control device 412, 422, 432, 4000, in this case to the central unit 4000, but could alternatively be directly connected to each of the control units 412, 422, 432 when the central unit 4000 is not present. In this case, the functions performed by the central body 4000 are either performed locally in the control bodies 412, 422, 432, or performed by the general controller 7.The general controller 7 determines not only the sampling sequence, but also additional constraints to be respected by the electrical system 4 to meet the power requirements of the loads 400. Thus, the general controller 7 can transmit to the control device 412, 422, 432, 4000 a setpoint Pref relating to the sampling sequence, but also a setpoint Cons for distribution of sampling between the rotating bodies BP, HP and the direct current source 431, and / or a threshold Se1, Se2, Se3 of maximum sampling on at least one, if not each, of the rotating bodies BP, HP and the direct current source 431, the threshold Se1, Se2, Se3 being, where appropriate, specific to each rotating body BP, HP and to the direct current source 431.More specifically, the Pref setpoint relating to the sampling sequence provides the order in which the generators 411, 421 and the direct current source 431 must be requested, while the Cons distribution setpoint indicates to the control device 412, 422, 432, 4000 the manner in which the total power to be taken from the motor 2 to meet the needs of the loads 400 must be distributed between the rotating bodies BP, HP, and the direct current source 431, and can typically take the form of a percentage.The sampling thresholds Se1, Se2, Se3 provide, for their part, and for each of the electrical sources 411, 421, 431, the maximum value of the power that the control device 412, 422, 432, 4000 is authorized to have sampled by their respective converter 410, 420, 430; that is to say a first maximum power value that can be taken from the motor 2 by the first converter 410, via the first alternating current generator 411, a second maximum power value that can be taken from the motor 2 by the second converter 420, via the second alternating current generator 421, and a third maximum power value that can be taken from the direct current source 431 by the third converter 430. The threshold Se3 associated with the direct current source 431 can typically take the form of a charge or discharge current draw limit if the direct current source 431 is a battery.The control device 412, 422, 432, 4000 is then configured to control the converters 410, 420, 430 as a function of this Pref setpoint relating to the sampling sequence, of this distribution Cons setpoint and / or of these thresholds Se1, Se2, Se3. In particular, as will be described in more detail below, the parts of the high-frequency component and of the low-frequency component which are compensated by the converter 410, 420, 430 are determined using the distribution Cons setpoint and / or the thresholds Se1, Se2, Se3.
[0064] The Pref setpoint relating to the sampling sequence, the distribution Cons setpoint and / or the sampling thresholds Se1, Se2, Se3 transmitted by the general controller 7 can change over time and make it possible to ensure that each of the rotating bodies BP, HP and the direct current source 431 provide the power necessary for the loads by optimizing the operating point of the engine 2. For example, during takeoff, which is a flight phase requiring high thrust from the fan 20, i.e. a phase during which significant power is transmitted by the BP body to the fan 20, the high-frequency part of the power will be taken preferentially, or even totally, from the HP body, the low-frequency part of the power being taken preferentially, or even totally, from the BP body, in order to avoid thrust oscillations on the BP body.On the contrary, during certain flight phases where the operability limits of the high pressure body HP are reached, it is preferable to take more power from the low pressure body BP. In any case, this Pref instruction relating to the sampling sequence, this Cons distribution instruction and / or these sampling thresholds Se1, Se2, Se3 may also prove necessary insofar as mechanical sampling has different consequences depending on the rotating body BP, HP from which the power is taken.
[0065] Control process
[0066] Figure 4 illustrates more precisely the control method E which can be implemented by the control device 412, 422, 432, 4000 to enable the power requirements of the loads 400 to be met in real time, regardless of the operating phase of the engine 2, while respecting the constraints specific to the engine 2, and in particular to its rotating bodies LP, HP. Figure 5 and Figure 6 illustrate this control method E implemented within the central member 4000, but this is not, however, limiting since this control method can be implemented within one, if not each, of the control members 412, 422, 432.This control method E allows the electrical system 4 to correct a difference (or error) detected between a reference V_ref, which depends on the voltage gauge of the bus 40 and represents the state in which the bus 40 should be for normal operation, and a measurement of the voltage V of the bus 40, which represents the reality of the needs of the loads 400 as expressed by injection or withdrawal of power on the bus 40. In other words, this control method E, by correcting this difference between the reference V_ref and the measurement of the voltage V of the bus 40, ensures that the power needs of the loads 400 are satisfied by the power regulation of the bus 40.
[0067] More precisely, as seen in Figure 5 and Figure 6, a signal V representative of a measurement of the voltage of the bus 40 is received. This signal V can then be compared to a reference V_ref. If there is no difference between reference V_ref and measured signal V, it is because the voltage of the bus 40 does not have to be regulated. On the other hand, if a difference is observed, that is to say that the voltage of the bus 40 has undergone an evolution, it is necessary for the voltage of the bus 40 to be regulated. To do this, it is necessary to control the electrical sources 411,
[0068] 421, 431 in order to carry out this voltage regulation. This control (or this command) can, for example, consist of the transmission of a setpoint current, a setpoint power or even a setpoint torque. These instructions will determine the way in which the electrical system 4, and more precisely the electrical sources 411, 421, 431, will have to adapt its operation to carry out this voltage regulation. In this case, a setpoint control current i, easier to manipulate by the control device 412,
[0069] 422, 432, 4000, whether it is the central unit 4000 or the control units 412, 422, 432, can advantageously be generated and then processed according to the error detected in the signal V with respect to the reference V_ref. The processing can advantageously be implemented by a proportional-integral type corrector. Thus, the control current i is representative of the correction to be made by the electrical system 4 to reduce, or even cancel, the difference between reference V_ref and measured signal V, and thus compensate for the change in the voltage of the bus 40. However, this control current i only sets the general setpoint to be adopted by the electrical system 4, without however discriminating the role that each of the members of the electrical system 4, and more precisely the electrical sources 411, 421, 431, will have to play in the voltage regulation.
[0070] In this respect, the control current i is received E1 by a filtering member which can subject it to frequency filtering E2 so as to determine at least one low-frequency component i_BF and one high-frequency component i_HF, which components i_BF, i_HF are, in fact, representative, respectively, of the low-frequency component and the high-frequency component of the change in the voltage on the bus 40. In fact, the change in the control current i is representative of the change in the voltage of the bus 40, via the measured signal V. To do this, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the control current i is, for example, duplicated, then each of the twins of the control current i undergoes frequency filtering, one low-frequency and the other high-frequency. By high frequency, it is necessary to understand frequencies greater than or equal to 1 Hz and less than or equal to 1000 Hz, while low frequency refers to frequencies less than 1 Hz.
[0071] As visible in Figure 5 and Figure 6, whether the control current i has undergone frequency filtering E2 (Figure 6) or not (Figure 5), the setpoint Pref relating to the sampling sequence is used E3 to determine Pref_1 the preferred electrical source 411, 421, 431 to be requested to compensate for the voltage change on the bus 40. This preferred setpoint Pref_1 can be advantageously combined E5 with the sampling thresholds Se1, Se2, Se3, which can also, if necessary, be adapted Se1_BF, Se2_BF to the sampling for the low-frequency component or for the high-frequency component of the voltage change on the bus 40, as is the case in Figure 6. In this way, if the quantity of power to be injected on the bus 40 does not exceed its sampling limit, it is only the preferred electrical source 411, 421, 431 which is requested.Alternatively, while the electrical source 411, 421, 431 is predominantly (but not exclusively) used, the other electrical sources 411, 421, 431 are used up to a minimum threshold, which can for example be transmitted by the general controller 7, so that the sum of the powers to be injected onto the bus 40 makes it possible to compensate for the difference noted between the reference V_ref and the measurement of the voltage V of the bus 40. On the other hand, whatever the implementation mode considered (i.e., with single use or not of the preferential electrical source 411, 421, 431), if the quantity of power to be injected onto the bus 40 to ensure this compensation exceeds the withdrawal limit of the preferential electrical source 411, 421, 431, this preferential electrical source 411, 421, 431 will have to take from the power at its limit, and the remainder is taken by the other electrical sources 411, 421, 431.Here again the instruction Pref relating to the sampling sequence is used to determine Pref_2 the non-preferential electrical source 411, 421, 431 to be requested first, then second Pref_3, in this regard, the logic being repeated until the entire evolution of the voltage of the bus 40 has been able to be compensated, each electrical source 411, 421, 431 requested to do this being, or not, at the limit of the sampling that they can ensure. Typically, as visible in Figure 5 and in Figure 6, this logic can be implemented by modifying the filtered control currents (i_BF) or not (i). The resulting control currents i*_pref1, i*_pref2, i*_pref3, i_BF_pref1, i_BF_pref2 are then selected to be reallocated i*_1, i*_2, i_BF_1, i_BF_2 to each electrical source 411, 421, 431, being able to first undergo a final processing to correspond to the constraints specific to the converters 410, 420, 430.
[0072] Figure 6 illustrates that the preferential sampling logic is applied to the low-frequency component i_BF, while the high-frequency component i_HF undergoes a sampling distribution logic. This may prove advantageous insofar as the low-frequency component of the evolution of the voltage of the bus 40 may tend to influence the operating point of the motor 2, while the high-frequency component of the evolution of the voltage of the bus 40 rather influences the regulation of the bus 40. However, this is not limiting, since both the low-frequency component i_BF and the high-frequency component i_HF may undergo the preferential logic, or the sampling distribution logic, or it is the high-frequency component i_HF which may undergo the preferential sampling logic, while the low-frequency component i_BF undergoes the sampling distribution logic.Furthermore, Figure 6 illustrates that only the alternating current generators 411, 412 are used, but what is described with reference to Figure 6 can of course be extended to the case where the direct current source 431 is also present.
[0073] In Figure 6, from a distribution Cons instruction received from the general controller 7, a part i_HF_1, i_HF_2 dedicated to each converter 410, 420, 430 is determined E4 for the high frequency component i_HF. This distribution Cons instruction takes in this case the form of a distribution Cons_HP / BP instruction imposing the distribution of sampling between HP body and BP body. Typically, the filtered control current is thus modified i_2_HF according to the distribution Cons instruction.Figure 6 also illustrates that the control currents i_BF_1, i_BF_2 from the preferential sampling logic and the control currents i_1_HF, i_2_HF from the distribution logic are summed, possibly combined E5 again with the sampling threshold Se_1, Se_2 corresponding to each of the generators 411, 421 requested to ensure that it will not sample beyond its limit, and advantageously processed i*_1, i*_2 again to correspond to the constraints specific to the converters 410, 420, 430.
[0074] Each converter 410, 420, 430 is controlled E6, for example using the final control current CTRL_1, CTRL_2, CTRL_3, in order to compensate its part of the voltage evolution.
Claims
CLAIMS 1. An assembly for an electrically hybridized turbomachine (2), comprising: a first rotating body (HP) forming a first source of mechanical power; a second rotating body (BP) forming a second source of mechanical power; and an electrical system (4) comprising: an electrical power supply bus (40) intended to be connected to at least one electrical load (400) and configured to supply electrical power to the load (400) in the form of a continuous signal; a plurality of electrical power sources (411, 421, 431) configured to transfer electrical power to the bus (40) and comprising: a first alternating current generator (411) connected to the first rotating body (222, 262, 282) for taking mechanical power from the first rotating body (222, 262, 282) and transforming it into electrical power capable of being transferred to the bus (40);a second alternating current generator (421) connected to the second rotating body (20, 220, 260, 280) for taking mechanical power from the second rotating body (20, 220, 260, 280) and transforming it into electrical power capable of being transferred to the bus (40); a plurality of converters (410, 420, 430) connected to the plurality of electrical power sources (411, 421, 431) and to the bus (40), the converters (410, 420, 430) being configured to regulate the bus (40) in voltage from an electrical power supplied by the electrical power sources (411, 421, 431) and comprising: a first converter (410) connected to the first alternating current generator (411), the first converter (410) being connected to the bus (40) and configured to regulate the bus (40) in voltage from an electrical power supplied by the first alternating current generator (411);a second converter (420) connected to the second alternating current generator (421), the second converter (420) being connected to the bus (40) and configured to regulate the voltage of the bus (40) from an electrical power supplied by the second alternating current generator (421); and a control device (412, 422, 432, 4000) connected to the converters (410, 420, 430) and configured to control the converters (410, 420, 430) in order to compensate for a change in a voltage of the bus (40) by successively soliciting the electrical power sources (411, 421, 431) according to a determined sampling sequence.; 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein: the plurality of electrical power sources (411, 421, 431) comprises a direct current source (431); the plurality of converters (410, 420, 430) comprises a third converter (432) connected to the direct current source (431) and to the bus (40), the third converter (432) being configured to regulate the bus (40) in voltage from a power supplied by the direct current source (431); and the control device (412, 422, 432, 4000) is connected to the third converter (432).
3. Assembly according to one of claims 1 and 2, wherein each converter (410, 420, 430) comprises a control member (412, 422, 432) configured to control the converter (410, 420, 430), the control device (412, 422, 432, 4000) further comprising a central member (4000) configured to: receive an instruction (Pref) relating to the sampling sequence; and transmit to each of the control members (412, 422, 432) a control signal (CTRL_1, CTRL_2, CTRL_3) for controlling the converters (410, 420, 430), the control signal (CTRL_1, CTRL_2, CTRL_3) having been generated from the instruction (Pref).
4. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which the control device (412, 422, 432, 4000) is further configured to control the converters (410, 420, 430) as a function of a sampling threshold (Se1, Se2, Se3) specific to each of the electrical power sources (411, 421, 431).
5. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 4, in which the control device (412, 422, 432, 4000) is further configured to: receive a control signal (i) representative of a correction associated with a difference between a measurement (V) of a bus voltage (40) and a reference (V_ref), the difference being representative of the evolution of the bus voltage (40); and carry out a frequency filtering of the control signal (i) so as to determine at least one low frequency component (i_BF) and at least one high frequency component (i_HF), the control of the converters (410, 420, 430) being implemented from at least one of the low frequency component (i_BF) and the high frequency component (i_HF).
6. Assembly according to claim 5, in which the control device (412, 422, 432, 4000) is configured to control the converters (410, 420, 430) from the low frequency component (i_BF).
7. Assembly according to one of claims 5 and 6, in which the control device (412, 422, 432, 4000) is configured to control the converters (410, 420, 430) from the high frequency component (i_HF).
8. Assembly according to one of claims 1 to 7, in which the control device (412, 422, 432, 4000) is further configured to control the converters (410, 420, 430) according to a setpoint (Cons) for distribution of drawdown between the electrical power sources (411, 421, 431).
9. Method for controlling (E) an assembly according to one of claims 1 to 8, the method being implemented by the control device (412, 422, 432, 4000) and comprising the control (E6) of the converters (410, 420, 430) in order to compensate for a change in a voltage of the bus (40) by successively soliciting the electrical power sources (411, 421, 431) according to a predetermined sampling sequence.
10. Control method (E) according to claim 9, wherein the control (E6) according to a predetermined sampling sequence comprises the solicitation of a preferential electrical power source (411, 421, 431) among the plurality of electrical power sources (411, 421, 431) until reaching a sampling limit of the preferential electrical power source (411, 421, 431), the other electrical power sources (411, 421, 431) not being solicited, then the successive solicitation of other electrical power sources (411, 421, 431) once the sampling limit is exceeded.
11. Control method (E) according to claim 9, wherein the control (E6) according to a predetermined sampling sequence comprises the solicitation of a preferential electrical power source (411, 421, 431) among the plurality of electrical power sources (411, 421, 431) until reaching a sampling limit of the preferential electrical power source (411, 421, 431), the other electrical power sources (411, 421, 431) being further solicited at a minimum power threshold, then the successive solicitation of other electrical power sources (411, 421, 431) once the sampling limit is exceeded.