Method and system for managing an electrical output of a turbogenerator

Abstract

The system and method manages an electrical output of a turbogenerator in accordance with multiple modes. In a first mode, a direct current (DC) bus receives power from a turbogenerator output via a rectifier where turbogenerator revolutions per unit time (e.g., revolutions per minute (RPM)) or an electrical output level of a turbogenerator output meet or exceed a minimum threshold. In a second mode, if the turbogenerator revolutions per unit time or electrical output level of a turbogenerator output are less than the minimum threshold, the electric drive motor or a generator mechanically powered by the engine provides electrical energy to the direct current bus.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one embodiment of a system for managing an electrical output of a turbogenerator.

FIG. 2 shows illustrative schematic representations for corresponding blocks of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method for managing an electrical output of a turbogenerator.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of another embodiment of a method for managing an electrical output of a turbogenerator.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of another embodiment of a system for managing an electrical output of a turbogenerator.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of yet another embodiment of a system for managing an electrical output of a turbogenerator.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of another embodiment of a method for managing an electrical output of a turbogenerator.

Claims

1. A method for managing an electrical output of a turbogenerator, the method comprising: detecting revolutions per unit time associated with a turbogenerator;outputting electrical energy from a turbogenerator output to at least one of a rectifier and a direct current bus in a first mode where the detected turbogenerator revolutions per unit time meet or exceed a minimum threshold; andproviding the outputted electrical energy to at least one of an electric drive motor and a direct current port in the first mode.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising: outputting electrical power from a generator output at the direct current bus in a second mode where turbogenerator revolutions per unit time are less than the minimum threshold.

3. The method according to claim 1 further comprising: rectifying the outputted electrical energy from the turbogenerator output prior to applying it to the direct current bus in the first mode.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the providing further comprises inverting the outputted electrical energy for application to the electric drive motor.

5. The method according to claim 1 further comprising: regulating a second voltage level associated with an output port to differ from a first voltage level associated with the direct current bus.

6. The method according to claim 1 further comprising: sensing whether or not a vehicle is braking; andusing the electric drive motor to generate electrical energy during the braking of the vehicle in a third mode.

7. The method according to claim 1 further comprising: supporting simultaneous application of at least two of the first mode, the second mode and the third mode via a diode network.

8. A system for managing an electrical output of a turbogenerator, the system comprising: a first sensor for detecting revolutions per unit time associated with a shaft or a rotor of a turbogenerator;a direct current bus;a turbogenerator for outputting electrical energy from a turbogenerator output to feed the direct current bus in a first mode where the detected turbogenerator revolutions per unit time meet or exceed a minimum threshold;an electric drive motor for accepting the outputted electrical energy in the first mode; anda generator for outputting electrical power from a generator output to the direct current bus in a second mode where the detected turbogenerator revolutions per unit time are less than the minimum threshold.

9. The system according to claim 8 further comprising: a rectifier for rectifying the outputted electrical energy from the turbogenerator output prior to applying it to the direct current bus in the first mode.

10. The system according to claim 8 further comprising: an inverter for inverting the received electrical energy prior to applying it to the electric drive motor, where the electrical drive motor is associated with the direct current bus.

11. The system according to claim 10 further comprising: a switching system for forming an interconnection between the turbogenerator output and an inverter input of the inverter in the first mode.

12. The system according to claim 8 further comprising: a converter for converting for regulating a first voltage level associated with the direct current bus to a second voltage level associated with an output port.

13. The system according to claim 12 further comprising: a switching system for forming an interconnection between the turbogenerator output and a converter input of the converter in the first mode.

14. The system according to claim 8 further comprising: a rectifier;a second sensor for determining whether or not the vehicle is braking;a mode controller facilitating a third mode in response to vehicle braking in which the electric drive motor is coupled to the rectifier for generating electrical energy for the direct current bus.

15. The system according to claim 14 further comprising: a diode network to facilitate simultaneous application of at least two of the first mode, the second mode and the third mode.

16. A method for managing an electrical output of a turbogenerator, the method comprising: detecting an electrical output level associated with a primary generator;outputting electrical energy from a turbogenerator output to at least one of a rectifier and a direct current bus in a first mode where the detected electrical output level meets or exceeds a minimum threshold; andproviding the outputted electrical energy to at least one of an electric drive motor and a direct current port in the first mode.

17. The method according to claim 16 further comprising: outputting electrical power from a generator output at the direct current bus in a second mode where the electrical output level time is less than the minimum threshold.

18. The method according to claim 16 further comprising: sensing whether or not a vehicle is braking; andusing the electric drive motor to generate electrical energy during the braking of the vehicle in a third mode.

19. A system for managing an electrical output of a turbogenerator, the system comprising: a first sensor for detecting an electrical output level associated with a turbogenerator;a direct current bus;the turbogenerator for outputting electrical energy from a turbogenerator output to feed the direct current bus in a first mode where the detected electrical output level during an evaluation time window meets or exceeds a minimum threshold;an electric drive motor for accepting the outputted electrical energy in the first mode; anda generator for outputting electrical power from a generator output to the direct current bus in a second mode where the detected electrical output level is less than the minimum threshold.

20. The system according to claim 19 further comprising: a rectifier;a second sensor for determining whether or not the vehicle is braking;a mode controller facilitating a third mode in response to vehicle braking in which the electric drive motor is coupled to the rectifier for generating electrical energy for the direct current bus.