Hydraulic Power Coupling for Aircraft AC Generator Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Paralleling multiple AC electrical generators in vehicles is complex due to the need for synchronization of voltages, frequencies, and phases, which is less challenging for DC generators.
Innovation Solution
Combining the output from multiple energy sources using hydraulics, where hydraulic pumps driven by gas-turbine engines pressurize fluid to operate a hydraulic motor, which in turn drives an AC electrical generator, synchronizing the power sources.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If multiple AC electrical generators are paralleled to generate electrical power, then the power generation capacity is improved, but the system complexity increases due to synchronization requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a hydraulic coupling system as an intermediary between multiple prime movers and the electrical generator. The hydraulic fluid acts as a mediator that automatically synchronizes the mechanical inputs from multiple engines to the generator shaft, eliminating the need for complex electrical synchronization controls while enabling parallel operation of multiple power sources
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic mechanisms to transfer and synchronize mechanical energy from multiple prime movers to the electrical generator. The hydraulic system uses fluid pressure and flow to automatically balance and synchronize the inputs, providing a simpler alternative to direct electrical paralleling with its voltage, frequency, and phase synchronization requirements
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 method reduces the complexity of paralleling multiple AC energy sources by synchronizing them through hydraulic fluid pressure, enabling efficient generation and distribution of AC electrical energy.
Implementation Method 1
hydraulic pumps driven by gas-turbine engines pressurize fluid to operate a hydraulic motor
Implementation Method 2
pressurized fluid from the hydraulic pumps may be combined and used to operate a hydraulic motor, which may in-turn drive an AC electrical generator
Data Source
AI summary
An example aircraft includes a plurality of gas-turbine engines mounted external to a fuselage of the aircraft, each gas-turbine engine of the plurality of gas-turbine engines including a respective hydraulic pump of a plurality of hydraulic pumps; a hydraulic motor disposed within the fuselage of the aircraft; a hydraulic distribution network configured to carry hydraulic fluid between the hydraulic motor and the plurality of hydraulic pumps to drive the hydraulic motor; and an electrical generator disposed within the fuselage of the aircraft and configured to be driven by the hydraulic motor.