Dual-Winding Synchronous Reluctance Machine for Lighter Power Conversion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rotating field machines, such as variable frequency starter-generators, require coupling to a DC/AC converter for power control, leading to decreased reliability, increased weight, volume, and cost due to the need for managing all power flowing through the machine.
Innovation Solution
A dual-winding rotating field machine with a stator featuring separate excitation and power windings in electrical quadrature, allowing the power converter to manage only the excitation winding during generating mode, thereby reducing the converter's size, weight, and volume.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a conventional rotating field machine uses a single winding for both excitation and power, then the structure is simpler, but the power converter must manage all power flow leading to increased weight, volume, and cost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single winding into two separate windings: an excitation winding for generating the magnetic field and a power winding for power flow. This segmentation allows the power converter to manage only excitation power instead of total power, significantly reducing converter weight and volume while maintaining functional simplicity through clear separation of concerns
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the excitation function from the power winding, creating a dedicated excitation winding. This extraction enables the power converter to be sized for excitation power only, separating the excitation management function from overall power management and reducing the stationary component weight
2Device complexity
If a conventional rotating field machine uses a single winding for both excitation and power, then the structure is simpler, but the power converter volume increases due to managing all power flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single winding into two separate windings: an excitation winding for generating the magnetic field and a power winding for power flow. This segmentation allows the power converter to manage only excitation power instead of total power, significantly reducing converter weight and volume while maintaining functional simplicity through clear separation of concerns
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the excitation function from the power winding, creating a dedicated excitation winding. This extraction enables the power converter to be sized for excitation power only, separating the excitation management function from overall power management and reducing the stationary component weight
3Device complexity
If a conventional rotating field machine uses a single winding for both excitation and power, then the structure is simpler, but the cost increases due to larger power converter requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single winding into two separate windings: an excitation winding for generating the magnetic field and a power winding for power flow. This segmentation allows the power converter to manage only excitation power instead of total power, significantly reducing converter weight and volume while maintaining functional simplicity through clear separation of concerns
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the excitation function from the power winding, creating a dedicated excitation winding. This extraction enables the power converter to be sized for excitation power only, separating the excitation management function from overall power management and reducing the stationary component weight
4Device complexity
If a conventional rotating field machine uses a single winding for both excitation and power, then fewer components are needed, but the reliability decreases due to the power converter managing all power flow
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the single winding into two separate windings: an excitation winding for generating the magnetic field and a power winding for power flow. This segmentation allows the power converter to manage only excitation power instead of total power, significantly reducing converter weight and volume while maintaining functional simplicity through clear separation of concerns
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the excitation function from the power winding, creating a dedicated excitation winding. This extraction enables the power converter to be sized for excitation power only, separating the excitation management function from overall power management and reducing the stationary component weight
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration increases the reliability and reduces the cost and volume of the power converter, while maintaining efficient power management in both starting and generating modes, particularly beneficial in aeronautical applications.
Implementation Method 1
The first winding can be an excitation winding configured to receive an excitation current
Implementation Method 2
The second winding can be a power winding configured to accommodate power flow through the rotating field machine
Data Source
AI summary
A rotating field machine (200) including a stator (140) and a rotor (150) are provided. In particular, a dual-winding rotating field machine (200) in which the stator (140) includes two separate windings can be provided. In one example implementation, the stator (140) can include an excitation winding (220) configured to control an excitation current and a power winding (230) configured to control power flow to an electrical system. The dual-winding rotating field machine (200) can further include a starting mode and a generating mode. During the starting mode, both the excitation winding (220) and the power winding (230) can be coupled to one or more switching power converters (170). During the generating mode, the power winding (230) can be coupled to a variable frequency bus and the power converter (170) can be used to manage excitation power only.