公开(公告)号：US20240204594A1

公开(公告)日：2024-06-20

申请号：US18204112

申请日：2023-05-31

Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc

Inventor： David R TRAINER ,  Ellis FH CHONG ,  Mark SWEET ,  Gian INCERPI

IPC: H02K1/27 ,  B64D27/10 ,  H02K3/28 ,  H02K7/18 ,  H02K11/33

CPC classification number: H02K1/27 ,  B64D27/10 ,  H02K3/28 ,  H02K7/1823 ,  H02K11/33 ,  B64D2221/00

Abstract: Reconfigurable permanent magnet electrical machines and aircraft power and propulsion systems comprising such electrical machines are described. In one aspect, an aircraft power and propulsion system comprises: a gas turbine engine; a permanent magnet electrical machine comprising a rotor drivingly coupled to a spool of the gas turbine engine, and a stator comprising windings controllably switchable between a star configuration and a delta configuration; a DC electrical network; an AC:DC power electronics converter, an AC side of which is connected to terminals of the stator windings of the electrical machine and a DC side of which is connected to the DC electrical network; and a control system. The control system is configured to monitor at least one operating condition of the power and propulsion system and to control the switching of the stator windings between the star configuration and the delta configuration based on the at least one operating condition.

公开(公告)号：US20230182920A1

公开(公告)日：2023-06-15

申请号：US17988341

申请日：2022-11-16

Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc

Inventor： Gareth E MOORE ,  Paul R DAVIES ,  Stephen M HUSBAND ,  David R TRAINER ,  David P SCOTHERN ,  Luke GEORGE ,  Douglas M M HERBERT

IPC: B64D35/02 ,  B64D27/10 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64D31/06

CPC classification number: B64D35/02 ,  B64D27/10 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64D31/06 ,  B64D2027/026

Abstract: A twin-engine aircraft power and propulsion system including first and second propulsive gas turbine engines, each having combustion equipment and a first and second spool; first, second, third, and fourth electrical power generation sub-systems including electric machines respectively mechanically coupled with the first spool of the first propulsive gas turbine engine, the second spool of the first propulsive gas turbine engine, the first spool of the second propulsive gas turbine engine, and the second spool of the second propulsive gas turbine engine; and first, second, third, and fourth power channels respectively connected with distribution sides of the first electric machine, second electric machine, third electric machine, and fourth electric machine.

公开(公告)号：US20230278721A1

公开(公告)日：2023-09-07

申请号：US18165061

申请日：2023-02-06

Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc

Inventor： David R TRAINER ,  Francisco Javier CHIVITE ZABALZA ,  Ellis F H CHONG

IPC: B64D35/00 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64C29/00 ,  B60L50/60 ,  H02P5/74

CPC classification number: B64D35/00 ,  B60L50/60 ,  B64C29/0008 ,  B64D27/24 ,  H02P5/74 ,  B60L2200/10 ,  B60L2210/40 ,  B64D2221/00

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electric aircraft propulsion assembly for an electric vertical takeoff and landing, eVTOL, aircraft, the assembly comprising: an electric storage unit; a first electric motor connected to power a first propulsor; a first converter configured as a DC:AC converter for driving the first electric motor and a second electric motor connected to power a second propulsor, a second converter. A controller is connected to control operation of the first and second converters and is configured to operate in a first mode in which the first and second converters are operated as DC:AC converters to drive the first and second electric motors and a second mode in which the first converter is operated to drive the first electric motor to power the first propulsor and the second converter is operated to drive the second electric motor to provide a braking torque on the second propulsor.

公开(公告)号：US20230182918A1

公开(公告)日：2023-06-15

申请号：US17988538

申请日：2022-11-16

Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc

Inventor： Gareth E MOORE ,  Paul R DAVIES ,  Stephen M HUSBAND ,  David R TRAINER ,  David P SCOTHERN ,  Luke GEORGE ,  Douglas M M HERBERT

IPC: B64D31/06 ,  B64D27/24 ,  F01D15/10 ,  B64D27/10

CPC classification number: B64D31/06 ,  B64D27/24 ,  F01D15/10 ,  B64D27/10 ,  B64D2027/026

Abstract: Aircraft power and propulsion systems and methods of operating the systems, one method includes: operating electric machines of gas turbine engines as generators to extract mechanical power from spools and generating electrical power therefrom; meeting an electrical power demand of a plurality of electrical loads connected with an electrical system by supplying the plurality of electrical loads with electrical power generated by the electric machines; determining when there is an electrical system and/or the gas turbine engine fault and an amount of electrical power generated by the power and propulsion system is reduced to a lower level; and responsive to the determination: during a time period ΔT, controlling the plurality of electrical loads reducing the electrical power demand; and during the time period ΔT, meeting at least part of the electrical power demand of the plurality of electrical loads by discharging the electrical energy storage system.

公开(公告)号：US20240084710A1

公开(公告)日：2024-03-14

申请号：US18204068

申请日：2023-05-31

Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc

Inventor： David R TRAINER ,  Ellis FH CHONG ,  Mark SWEET ,  Gian INCERPI

IPC: F01D15/10 ,  B64D27/24

CPC classification number: F01D15/10 ,  B64D27/24 ,  B64D2027/026

Abstract: Reconfigurable permanent magnet electrical machines and aircraft power and propulsion systems including the electrical machines. An aircraft power and propulsion system includes: a gas turbine engine; DC electrical network; permanent magnet electrical machine including a rotor drivingly coupled to a spool of the engine, and a stator including windings controllably switchable between a star and a delta configuration; an AC-DC power electronics converter, an AC side is connected to terminals of the stator windings and a DC side is connected to the DC electrical network; an additional electrical power source connected to and controllable to supply electrical power to the DC electrical network; and a control system configured to control the switching of the stator windings between the configurations and to control the additional electrical power source to supply electrical power to the DC electrical network during a time interval when the stator is being switched between the configurations.

公开(公告)号：US20230421053A1

公开(公告)日：2023-12-28

申请号：US18323884

申请日：2023-05-25

Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc

Inventor： Francisco Javier CHIVITE ZABALZA ,  David R TRAINER ,  Mark SWEET ,  Matthew C MORRIS

IPC: H02M1/32 ,  H02M3/155

CPC classification number: H02M1/32 ,  H02M3/155

Abstract: A power conversion circuitry configured to detect an electrical fault, and methods of detecting an electrical fault in power conversion circuitry, the power conversion circuitry including: switching circuitry configured to control a current flowing along a current path between first and second nodes of the power conversion circuitry; a current sensor connected to the current path, the current sensor configured to measure a rate of change of the current flowing along the current path; and control circuitry connected to the current sensor and the switching circuitry, the control circuitry configured to: detect an electrical fault if a rate of change of the current measured by the current sensor exceeds a fault threshold, and configure the switching circuitry to adjust current flow in the power conversion circuitry when an electrical fault is detected.

公开(公告)号：US20240280414A1

公开(公告)日：2024-08-22

申请号：US18425008

申请日：2024-01-29

Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc

Inventor： David R TRAINER ,  Peter J COX-SMITH ,  Jonathan C NICHOLLS ,  Mark SWEET

IPC: G01K7/01 ,  H02M1/32 ,  F01D21/00

CPC classification number: G01K7/01 ,  H02M1/327 ,  F01D21/003 ,  F05D2220/323 ,  G01K2217/00

Abstract: The disclosure relates to estimation of junction temperatures of transistors in a power electronics converter. Example embodiments include a method of estimating a junction temperature of a transistor in a power electronics converter configured to convert between first and second supply voltages, the method comprising: providing a gate switching signal to the transistor; measuring a rate of change of current through the converter during a switching period of the transistor; and outputting an estimated junction temperature of the transistor based on the measured rate of change of current, wherein the rate of change of current is measured while a gate voltage of the transistor is above a gate threshold voltage and a drain-source voltage across the transistor is above a predetermined fraction of the first or second supply voltage whereby the rate of change of current is measured in a linear region.

公开(公告)号：US20230421054A1

公开(公告)日：2023-12-28

申请号：US18323878

申请日：2023-05-25

Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc

Inventor： Francisco Javier CHIVITE ZABALZA ,  David R TRAINER ,  Mark SWEET ,  Matthew C MORRIS ,  Zafer JARRAH

IPC: H02M1/32 ,  H02M7/219 ,  H02M1/00

CPC classification number: H02M1/325 ,  H02M7/219 ,  H02M1/0009

Abstract: A power conversion circuitry configured to transition between modes of operation during an electrical fault, including: switching circuitry configured to control currents flowing along a plurality of current paths between respective pairs of nodes, wherein the paths include first and second transistor-diode pairs; and control circuitry connected to the switching circuitry configured to: configure the switching circuitry to transition, when an electrical fault is detected, to a first mode of operation by configuring the transistors to switch to a non-conducting state so currents flow through the diodes, determine when current begins to flow through a diode, and configure the switching circuitry to transition from the first mode to a fault mode of operation by configuring the transistors to sequentially switch to a conducting state so currents flow through the configured transistors. Also, a method of controlling power conversion circuitry to transition between modes of operation during an electrical fault.

公开(公告)号：US20230167785A1

公开(公告)日：2023-06-01

申请号：US17940421

申请日：2022-09-08

Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc

Inventor： Paul R DAVIES ,  Gareth E MOORE ,  Stephen M HUSBAND ,  David R TRAINER ,  David P SCOTHERN ,  Luke GEORGE

IPC: F02K3/06 ,  F01D15/10

CPC classification number: F02K3/06 ,  F01D15/10 ,  F05D2220/36 ,  F05D2220/323

Abstract: A gas turbine engine for an aircraft comprises, in axial flow sequence, a compressor module, a combustor module, and a turbine module, with a first electric machine being rotationally connected to the turbine module. The first electrical machine is configured to generate a maximum electrical power PEM1 (W), and the gas turbine engine is configured to generate a maximum dry thrust T (N); and a ratio S of:


S=(Maximum Electrical Power Generated=PEM1)/(Maximum Dry Thrust=T)

is in a range of between 2.0 and 10.0.

公开(公告)号：US20230140274A1

公开(公告)日：2023-05-04

申请号：US17956924

申请日：2022-09-30

Applicant: ROLLS-ROYCE plc

Inventor： David R TRAINER ,  Mark SWEET

IPC: H02H9/02 ,  H01L35/10 ,  H01L35/32

Abstract: There is provided a current limiting diode 200 comprising a gate 206, a source 202, a drain 204 electrically connected to the source by an n-channel or p-channel 220 and a thermoelectric generator 208; wherein the source and the gate are electrically connected by a fill structure 210, and wherein the thermoelectric generator is configured to: generate a thermoelectric voltage by absorbing heat from the n-channel or p-channel and rejecting heat to a heat sink in a current limiting condition; and apply the thermoelectric voltage between the gate and the source.