Patent ID: 8772954

Claim:
An electric power supply system configured to deliver operating electrical power in a machine having an electric drive system, the electric power supply system comprising: a first generator and a second generator, each configured to receive an output provided by a prime mover; a first rectifier coupled to the first generator and having a first direct current (DC) output; a second rectifier coupled to the second generator and having a second DC output; a single DC bus to which both the first DC output and the second DC output are coupled, thereby providing an arrangement for the first rectifier and the second rectifier to simultaneously provide power to the single DC bus wherein the single DC bus has an operating voltage; a first ECM, including a first regulatory control for maintaining the operating voltage of the single DC bus at a target voltage, the first ECM being configured to: receive a first measured operating voltage of the single DC bus, and generate a first power command for controlling power output by the first rectifier, the first power command being generated by the first regulatory control in accordance with a first error value that is based upon: the target voltage, the first measured operating voltage, and a first voltage adjustment; a second ECM, including a second regulatory control for maintaining the operating voltage of the single DC bus at the target voltage, the second ECM being configured to: receive a second measured operating voltage of the single DC bus, and generate a second power command for controlling power output by the second rectifier, the second power command being generated by the second regulatory control in accordance with a second error value that is based at least upon: the target voltage and the second measured operating voltage; a power balancer module configured to: receive a first value indicative of a level of power output of the first rectifier, receive a second value indicative of a level of power output of the second rectifier, and generate a total voltage adjustment based upon the first value and the second value, and render the first voltage adjustment based upon the total voltage adjustment, the first voltage adjustment being used by the first ECM to counter an imbalance between the power output from the first rectifier and the second rectifier on the single DC bus.