Self-Excited Generator With Auxiliary Windings For GCU Power
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Brushless, self-excited generators for aircraft electric power generation require a separate permanent magnet generator (PMG) and lack an auxiliary source of electric power for the generator control unit, which is undesirable for efficiency and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A self-exciting electrical generator system with a main generator and exciter generator, where the main stator windings supply power to an electrical load bus and auxiliary windings supply power to the generator control unit, and the exciter generator uses permanent magnets for self-excitation, eliminating the need for a separate PMG and providing continuous power to the GCU during short circuits.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate permanent magnet generator (PMG) is used for self-excitation, then the main generator can be self-excited, but the device complexity increases and no auxiliary power source is available for the GCU
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the exciter generator and main generator into a single integrated unit, where the exciter stator windings are wound directly on the main generator stator slots. This merging eliminates the need for a separate PMG while maintaining self-excitation capability and providing auxiliary power to the GCU through the auxiliary windings.
Solution Approach 2:
The exciter stator windings serve multiple functions: they provide self-excitation for the main generator, supply auxiliary power to the GCU through auxiliary windings, and eliminate the need for a separate PMG. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity while maintaining reliability.
2Device complexity
If main stator windings are used to supply power to both load bus and GCU, then device complexity is reduced, but power supply reliability to GCU during short circuits deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the stator windings into three distinct sets: main stator windings for load power supply, exciter stator windings for self-excitation, and auxiliary windings specifically for GCU power supply. This segmentation ensures that the GCU receives reliable power from auxiliary windings even during main generator short circuits, while maintaining manageable complexity through functional separation.
Solution Approach 2:
The auxiliary windings are specifically designed with local quality optimized for GCU power supply, using appropriate wire gauge and winding configuration to ensure sufficient power delivery during fault conditions, while the main windings are optimized for load power supply.
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
The system ensures self-excitation of the main generator while meeting short circuit operation requirements for the GCU, eliminating the need for a separate PMG and maintaining normal generator performance by using auxiliary windings to supply power to the GCU, even during main generator short circuits.
Implementation Method 1
the exciter generator uses permanent magnets for self-excitation
Implementation Method 2
the main stator windings are configured to supply electrical power to an electrical load bus
Implementation Method 3
the auxiliary windings are configured to supply electrical power to a generator control unit
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure broadly relates to apparatuses and methods for generating electric power. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a self-excited electric generator. The self-excited electric generator may include auxiliary windings to provide a source of electricity to an associated generator control unit (GCU). The apparatuses and methods of the present invention may provide added benefits of reducing excitation requirements from the GCU. Thereby, the apparatuses and methods may reduce cost, weight, and size of an electric generator, and may increase reliability of associated systems.