Circuit and method for paralleling AC electrical power systems

Abstract: A control circuit for controlling the operation of a parallel source electrical power system produces a pair of load current signals (I LC1 , I LC2 ) representative of the load current delivered by corresponding phases (18, 24) of individual channels (10, 12) of the power system. At least one of the load current signals is scaled by a scaling factor (P₁) to obtain a scaled load current signal (I′ LC1 ) that is combined with the load current signal for the other channel to obtain a feedback signal. The feed­ back signal is used to control the output of one of the paralleled power sources such that the ratio of load currents (I₁ , I₂) delivered by the power sources is proportional to the scaling factor.

Description: This invention relates to control circuits and methods for paralleling AC electrical power systems and, more particularly, to such circuits and methods which are applicable to parallel AC power systems having channels with different power ratings. AC electric power systems are generally connected in parallel to increase total system rating, or in certain cases such as airborne power systems, to increase reliability. Typical aircraft AC electrical power systems include two or more identical power channels. These channels may include a constant speed generator with a constant speed drive (CSD) for frequency control, or a variable speed generator with a constant frequency electronic inverter (VSCF). To improve reliability and maximize efficiency, it is generally desired that the total system load be divided equally among the paralleled generators. Load division among AC generators is accomplished by controlling, in a closed loop manner, individual generator voltages and phase angles. Other types of electrical power systems which may be operated with parallel channels include photovoltaic, thermionic, fuel cell, or battery systems with inverter outputs such as used for space applications. All of these systems require active control of both real and reactive power flow between the paralleled channels. Controls for paralleling AC systems have been developed for paralleled AC electrical systems. These controls use current transformer loops to sense difference currents between channels. Frequency and voltage controls then drive the difference currents to zero. This type of control system will also work between channels of different power rating if apropriate current transformer ratios are chosen US 4510399 discloses a method and circuit as specified in the preambles of claims 1, 5 and 9, 14 respectively for controlling the operation of a parallel source power system. The circuit demodulates the real and reactive components of the unbalanced load currents and uses them to produce a control signal. The operation of the first power source is modified in response to the control signal such that the load currents delivered by the two power sources are balanced. Although it is possible to use such a circuit with power sources having different power ratings by choosing appropriate transformer ratios, the circuit is not effective where the power rating of one or both of the power sources varies. Advanced electrical AC power systems will require that the generating channels have a programmable power rating. Programmability will be needed to accommodate degraded power sources caused by failed rotating rectifiers in brushless AC generators, reduced cooling capacity, damaged fuel cells, etc. An object of this invention is to provide a circuit and method for paralleling channels of an AC electric power system wherein individual channels have variable power ratings. According to the invention this object is achieved by the methods specified in independent claims 1 and 5 and the circuits specified in independent claims 9 and 14. Control circuits which perform the method of this invention produce a pair of load current signals which are representative of the load current delivered by two channels of a parallel source electric power system. At least one of these load current signals is variably scaled by a variable scaling factor representative of the power rating or desired power contribution of one of the power system channels. The variably scaled load current signal and the other load current signal are combined to produce a feedback signal which is used to modify the operation of one of the paralleled power sources such that the ratio of the load currents delivered by the paralleled power sources is varied in proportion to the variable scaling factor. The scaling factor is varied in accordance with the power rating or desired power contribution of one of the individual power sources. It may also be controlled in order to reduce system transients during application or removal of one of the power sources from the system. The load current signals may be produced by current transformers and scaling can be accomplished by multiplying or dividing one of the load current signals by a digital or analog technique. The variably scaled load current signal and the other load current signal can be easily combined by applying them to opposite ends of a resistive branch circuit. The invention will become more readily apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof, shown by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic diagram, partially in block diagram form, of a paralleled AC electric power system having a control circuit constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a portion of the control circuit of the system of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a plot of the currents produced in one channel of the circuit of Figures 1 and 2; Figure 4 is a schematic diagram of an alternative circuit which may be used in the control circuit of the system of Figure 1; and Figure 5 is a plot of the currents produced in one channel of the system of Figure 1 using the circuit of Figure 4. Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a schematic diagram, partially in block diagram form, of a parallel AC electric power system having a control circuit constructed in accordance with the present invention. The system contains first and second power sources 10 and 12, which may be variable frequency, variable voltage power sources such as electronic inverters. The first power source 10 produces a three phase AC output on lines 14, 16 and 18. The second power source 12 produces a three phase output on lines 20, 22 and 24. A plurality of power bus conductors 26, 28 and 30 can be connected to the individual phase conductors of the first and second power sources by way of contacts K1, K2, K3, K4, K5 and K6. Current transformer 32 is inductively coupled to the phase conductor 18 in one channel of the power system. A burden circuit 34 including resistor R1 and capacitor C1 is connected across the current transformer 32 to produce a voltage signal between lines 36 and 38 which is proportional to current flowing in phase conductor 18. A first scaling circuit 40 applies a scaling factor from line 42 to the first load current signal on lines 36 and 38 to produce a first scaled load current signal on line 44. A second current transformer 46 is inductively coupled to phase conductor 24 of the second power source. Burden circuit 48 includes resistor R2 and capacitor C2 and is connected across current transformer 46 such that a second voltage signal representative of load current flowing in conductor 24 is produced on lines 50 and 52. A second scaling circuit 54 applies a second scaling factor received on line 56 to the second load current signal on lines 50 and 52 to produce a second scaled load current signal on line 58. The first and second scaled load current signals are applied to opposite ends of a branch circuit including resistors R3 and R4 and auxiliary contacts K3A and K6A. The resulting voltages appearing across resistors R3 and R4 serve as first and second feedback signals respectively which are amplified by amplifiers 60 and 62. The amplified feedback signal on line 64 is applied to the first control circuit 66 which modifies the voltage magnitude and phase angle of the outputs of the first power source 10 in accordance with known circuits and techniques, as illustrated in U.S. Patent No. 4,510,399. Similarly, the amplified feedback signal on line 68 is used by the second control circuit 70 to modify the voltage magnitude and phase angle of the outputs of the second power source 12. In operation, load current signal I LC1 is proportional to the current I₁ flowing in phase conductor 18 and load current signal I LC2 is proportional to the current I₂ flowing in phase conductor 24. P₁ and P₂ are scaling factors which are proportional to the power ratings (or desired power contributions) of the first and second power sources respectively. These scaling factors are applied to the load current signals to produce scaled load current signals I′ LC1 and I′ LC2 , which are the load current signals I LC1 and I LC2 divided by P₁ and P₂ respectively. When the scaled load current signals are applied to resistors R3 and R4 and auxiliary contacts K3A and K6A, the voltages appearing across resistors R3 and R4 are applied to the real and reactive control circuits of each channel. The action of these control circuits is to drive the voltages on resistors R3 and R4 to zero. This is possible only if: If scaling factor P₂ is constant, the load sharing of the system will be proportional to scaling factor P₁. This scaling factor may be either a digital or analog signal. Figure 2 is a schematic diagram of a portion of the first channel control circuit of Figure 1 which uses a digital scaling factor. This digital scaling factor P₁ is impressed on data lines 72 of the multiplying digital to analog converter AD7523 which is connected as a divider. The outputs of the multiplying digital to analog converter are applied to an amplifier 5160 to produce the scaled load current signal I′ LC1 proportional to I LC1 divided by P₁. One application of this invention is the reduction in system transients which occur when an unloaded generator is paralleled with a loaded generator. Even if the generators are fully synchronized, there will be a sudden load change on both machines, causing a transient. This transient can be eliminated using the programmable control circuit and method of this invention. Consider the system of Figure 1 where the power sources are of equal rating and the generator in the second power source 12 is fully loaded and the scaling factor P₂ = 1. Relay contact K1, K2, K3 and K3A are initially open. Scaling factor P₁ is initially set to a minimum value of 0.01. Assume that the two power sources are matched exactly in phase and amplitude before paralleling. This can be accomplished with known techniques which are not a part of this invention. When contacts K1, K2, K3 and K3A are closed to parallel the system channels, the generator in power source 10 will pick up only 1% of the load. If scaling factor P₁ is slowly increased toward a value of 1.0, the generator in power source 10 will pick up its share of the load as the scaling factor is increased. Since P₂ = 1; the load current I L is the sum of currents I₁ and I₂ ; and I₂ is equal to I₁ divided by scaling factor P₁ , then: Figure 3 is a plot of the currents in one channel of the system of Figure 1 as the scaling factor P₁ is linearly increased from 0.01 to 1.0. The digital scaling circuit of Figure 2 can be replaced by a multiplier receiving an analog control signal Q1 as illustrated in Figure 4. In Figure 4, an analog scaling signal is applied to terminal 74 and amplified by circuit 76 (comprising transistor TR1, capacitor C3 and resistors R5, R6, R7 and R8) to produce the analog scaling signal Q1. Multiplier 78 multiplies the load current signal I LC1 on line 36 by the analog scaling factor Q1 to obtain the scaled load current signal I′ LC1 . For the circuit of Figure 4, with R6=100Ω, R7=10KΩ, R8=1 MΩ and C3=10µfd , and with 10 volts representing a Q1 value of 100, Q1 is a signal of the form: Q1 = 1 + 99e -t/.1 sec (5) as the transistor TR1 is turned off. Then the current in phase conductor 18 becomes: Figure 5 shows the currents in one channel of the system of Figure 1 when the analog scaling circuit of Figure 4 is used. Note that the current transitions in Figure 5 are smoother than those in Figure 3. Other types of load applications may be obtained by varying the scaling factors. Of course, this invention can be used to eliminate transients as parallel systems are isolated at shutdown or during system configuration changes. Although the present invention has been described in terms of what are at present believed to be its preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, in Figure 1, one of the power source channels could be uncontrolled. That is, the load current signal I LC2 could be applied directly to resistor R3 at an end opposite to the application of the scaled load current signal I′ LC1 . In that case, only the first channel would be adjusted by its control circuits to achieve the desired ratio of output currents between the first and second power sources. It should now be apparent that the circuit of Figure 1 performs a method for controlling the operation of a parallel source electrical power system wherein a first load current signal, representative of a load current delivered by at least one phase of a first controlled, variable frequency, variable voltage power source is scaled by a variable scaling factor representative of the power rating of the first power source to obtain a variably scaled load current signal. The variably scaled load current signal is combined with a second load current signal, representative of the load current delivered by a second parallel power source to produce a feedback signal. The operation of the first power source is then modified in response to the feedback signal such that the ratio of the load currents delivered by the first and second power sources is proportional to the variable scaling factor. It should be further understood that although control circuits are shown on only one phase conductor of the first and second power sources of Figure 1, identical control circuits can be added to each of the phase conductors to produce a multiplicity of feedback signals which can be used by the power source control circuits in accordance with known technology.

Claims: A method for controlling the operation of a parallel source electrical power system, comprising the steps of producing a first load current signal (I LC1 ), representative of the load current delivered by a first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source (10) in said parallel source electrical power system; and producing a second load current signal (I LC2 ), representative of the load current delivered by a second power source (12) in said parallel source electrical power system; characterized by the steps of scaling said first load current signal by a variable scaling factor (P₁) representative of the power rating or desired power contribution of said first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source, to obtain a variably scaled first load current signal (I′ LC1 ); combining said variably scaled first load current signal with said second load current signal, to obtain a first feedback signal; and modifying the operation of said first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source in response to said feedback signal such that the ratio of the load currents (I₁/I₂) delivered by said first and second power sources is varied in proportion to said variable scaling factor. A method for controlling the operation of a parallel source electrical power system, as recited in claim 1, characterized in that said scaling step comprises: varying said variable scaling factor from a first predetermined value to a second predetermined value during system configuration changes. A method for controlling the operation of a parallel source electrical power system, as recited in claim 1, further characterized in that said variable scaling factor is a digital signal and said scaling step comprises dividing said first load current signal by said digital signal. A method for controlling the operation of a parallel source electrical power system, as recited in claim 1, further characterized in that said variable scaling factor is an analog signal and said scaling step comprises multiplying said first load current signal by said analog signal. A method for controlling the operation of a parallel source electrical power system, comprising the steps of: producing a first load current signal (I LC1 ), representative of the load current delivered by a first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source (10) in said parallel source electrical power system; and producing a second load current signal (I LC2 ), representative of the load current delivered by a second controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source (12) in said parallel source electrical power system; characterized by the steps of scaling said first load current signal by a variable first scaling factor (P₁) representative of the power rating or desired power contribution of said first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source, to obtain a variably scaled first load current signal (I′ LC1 ); scaling said second load current signal by a second scaling factor (P₂) representative of the power rating of said second controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source, to obtain a scaled second load current signal (I′ LC2 ); combining said variably scaled first load current signal with said scaled second load current signal, to obtain first and second feedback signals; and modifying the operation of said first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source in response to said first feedback signal, and modifying the operation of said second controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source in response to said second feedback signal, such that the ratio of the load currents (I₁/I₂) delivered by said first and second controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power sources is varied in proportion to the variable ratio of said first and second scaling factors. A method for controlling the operation of a parallel source electrical power system, as recited in claim 5, further characterized in that said step of scaling said first load current signal includes the step of varying said variable first scaling factor from a first predetermined value to a second predetermined value during system configuration changes. A method for controlling the operation of a parallel source electrical power system, as recited in claim 5, further characterized in that said variable first scaling factor is a digital signal and said step of scaling said first load current signal comprises: dividing said first load current signal by said digital signal. A method for controlling the operation of a parallel source electrical power system, as recited in claim 5, further characterized in that said variable first scaling factor is an analog signal and said step of scaling said first load current signal comprises multiplying said first load current signal by said analog signal. A circuit for controlling the operation of a parallel source electrical power system, comprising means (32) for producing a first load current signal, representative of the load current delivered by a first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source (10) in said parallel source electrical power system; and means (46) for producing a second load current signal, representative of the load current delivered by a second power source (12) in said parallel source electrical power system; characterized by means (40) for scaling said first load current signal by a variable scaling factor (P₁) representative of the power rating or desired power contribution of said first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source, to obtain a variably scaled first load current signal (I' LC1 ); means (R3) for combining said variably scaled first load current signal with said second load current signal, to obtain a first feedback signal; and means (66) for modifying the operation of said first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source in response to said feedback signal such that the ratio of the load currents (I₁/I₂) delivered by said first and second voltage power sources is varied in proportion to said variable scaling factor. A circuit for controlling the operation of a parallel source electrical power system, as recited in claim 9, wherein: said means (32) for producing a first load current signal, representative of the load current delivered by the first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source in the parallel source electrical power system, includes a first current transformer coupled to an output conductor (18) of said first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source; and said means (46) for producing a second load current signal, representative of the load current delivered by the second power source in the parallel source electrical power system, includes a second current transformer coupled to an output conductor (24) of said second power source; and further characterized in that said variable scaling factor (P₁) is a digital signal and said means (40) for scaling said first load current signal by a variable scaling factor representative of the power rating or desired power contribution of said first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source, to obtain a variably scaled first load current signal, includes a digital dividing circuit for dividing said first load current signal by said digital signal; and said means (R3) for combining said variably scaled first load current signal with said second load current signal, to obtain a first feedback signal, includes a branch circuit electrically connected between said second current transformer and said digital dividing circuit. A circuit for controlling the operation of a parallel source electrical power system, as recited in claim 10, further characterized in that said branch circuit includes a resistor. A circuit for controlling the operation of a parallel source electrical power system, as recited in claim 9, wherein said means (32) for producing a first load current signal, representative of the load current delivered by the first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source in the parallel source electrical power system, includes a first current transformer coupled to an output conductor (18) of said first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source; and said means (46) for producing a second load current signal, representative of the load current delivered by the second power source in the parallel source electrical power system, includes a second current transformer coupled to an output conductor (24) of said second power source; and further characterized in that said variable scaling factor (P₁) is an analog signal and said means (40) for scaling said first load current signal by a variable scaling factor representative of the power rating or desired power contribution of said first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source, to obtain a variably scaled first load current signal, includes an analog multiplying circuit for multiplying said first load current signal by said analog signal; and said means (R3) for combining said variably scaled first load current signal with said second load current signal, to obtain a first feedback signal, includes a branch circuit electrically connected between said second current transformer and said multiplying circuit. A circuit for controlling the operation of a parallel source electrical power system, as recited in claim 12, further characterized in that said branch circuit includes a resistor. A circuit for controlling the operation of a parallel source electrical power system, comprising means (32) for producing a first load current signal (I LC1 ), representative of the load current delivered by a first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source (10) in said parallel source electrical power system; and means (46) for producing a second load current signal (I LC2 ), representative of the load current delivered by a second controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source (12) in said parallel source electrical power system; characterized by means (40) for scaling said first load current signal by a variable first scaling factor (P₁) representative of the power rating or desired power contribution of said first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source, to obtain a variably scaled first load current signal (I′ LC1 ); means (54) for scaling said second load current signal by a second scaling factor (P₂) representative of the power rating of said second controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source, to obtain a scaled second load current signal (I′ LC2 ); means (R3, R4) for combining said variably scaled first load current signal with said scaled second load current signal, to obtain a first feedback signal; and means (66) for modifying the operation of said first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source in response to said first feedback signal such that the ratio of the load currents delivered by said first and second controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power sources is varied in proportion to the variable ratio of said first and second scaling factors. A circuit for controlling the operation of a parallel source electrical power system, as recited in claim 14, further characterized in that said means for combining said variably scaled first load current signal with said scaled second load current signal further produces a second feedback signal, and said circuit further comprises: means (70) for modifying the operation of said second controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source in response to said second feedback signal such that the ratio of the load currents delivered by said first and second controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power sources is varied in proportion to the variable ratio of said first and second scaling factors. A circuit for controlling the operation of a parallel source electrical power system, as recited in claim 14, wherein: said means (32) for producing a first load current signal, representative of the load current delivered by the first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source in the parallel source electrical power system, includes a first current transformer coupled to an output conductor (18) of said first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source; and said means (46) for producing a second load current signal, representative of the load current delivered by the second controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source in the parallel source electrical power system, includes a second current transformer coupled to an output conductor (24) of said second controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source; and further characterized in that said variable first scaling factor (P₁) is a digital signal and said means (40) for scaling said first load current signal by said variable first scaling factor representative of the power rating or desired power contribution of said first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source, to obtain a variably scaled first load current signal, includes a digital dividing circuit for dividing said first load current signal by said digital signal; and said means (R3) for combining said variably scaled first load current signal with said scaled second load current signal, to obtain a first feedback signal, includes a branch circuit electrically connected between said means for scaling said second load current signal and said dividing circuit. A circuit for controlling the operation of a parallel source electrical power system, as recited in claim 16, further characterized in that said branch circuit includes a pair of series connected resistors (R3, R4). A circuit for controlling the operation of a parallel source electrical power system, as recited in claim 14, wherein: said means (32) for producing a first load current signal, representative of the load current delivered by the first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source in the parallel source electrical power system, includes a first current transformer coupled to an output conductor of said first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source; and said means (46) for producing a second load current signal, representative of the load current delivered by the second controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source in the parallel source electrical power system, includes a second current transformer coupled to an output conductor of said second controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source; and further characterized in that said variable first scaling factor (P₁) is an analog signal and said means for scaling said first load current signal by said variable first scaling factor representative of the power rating or desired power contribution of said first controllable, variable frequency, variable voltage power source, to obtain a variably scaled first load current signal, includes an analog multiplying circuit for multiplying said first load current signal by said analog signal; and said means (R3) for combining said variably scaled first load current signal with said scaled second load current signal, to obtain a first feedback signal, includes a branch circuit electrically connected between said means for scaling said second load current signal and said multiplying circuit. A circuit for controlling the operation of a parallel source electrical power system, as recited in claim 18, further characterized in that said branch circuit includes a pair of series connected resistors (R3, R4).

Inventors: FOX DAVID ALAN, FOX, DAVID ALAN
Applicants: SUNDSTRAND CORP, SUNDSTRAND CORPORATION
Application year: 1988
Main classification: H02J3
IPC codes: H02J3