Aeronautical Power Converter Co-Housing for Shared DC Link Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of electric machines with varying power ratings in a gas turbine engine poses challenges due to spatial constraints, complex thermal management, and additional components like capacitor banks and electromagnetic interference filters, which complicate the integration process.
Innovation Solution
A co-housing arrangement is implemented where AC/DC converters from both high-powered and low-powered electric machines share common capacitor banks and EMI filters, with a single DC power link to a power distribution and monitoring unit, optimizing space and thermal management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate capacitor banks and EMI filters are provided for each electric machine, then each machine has dedicated power conversion capability, but the device complexity and spatial requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines capacitor banks and EMI filters into shared components that serve multiple electric machines simultaneously. The common capacitor bank provides power storage and voltage regulation for both high-powered and low-powered electric machines, while the common EMI filter handles electromagnetic interference from both machines, thereby reducing overall system complexity and component count.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements universal power conversion components that can handle power conversion for both high-powered and low-powered electric machines. The single DC power link and common converter assembly are designed to accommodate varying power ratings, providing multi-functional capability that reduces the need for machine-specific dedicated components.
2Reliability
If separate converter boxes are used for each electric machine channel, then each channel has dedicated power conversion, but the volume and thermal management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple converter boxes into a single integrated converter assembly that houses power conversion components for both electric machines. This consolidation reduces the total volume occupied by converter boxes and allows for shared thermal management resources, while maintaining dedicated power conversion pathways for each machine channel.
3Reliability
If separate DC power links are provided for each electric machine, then each machine has independent power delivery, but the device complexity and component quantity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple DC power links into a single common DC power link that serves both high-powered and low-powered electric machines. This unified power link reduces the number of separate electrical connections and components required, simplifying the overall power distribution architecture while maintaining reliable power delivery to both machines through shared pathways.
Data Source
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AI summary
An aeronautical power system (400) is provided. The aeronautical power system (400) includes: a first electric machine (402) having an EM1 channel; a second electric machine (404) having an EM2 channel; a first converter box (414) in electric connection with the EM1 channel and the EM2 channel.