Power distribution system and method
A DC power distribution system has power sources, a DC power distribution bus with DC bus sections. The system has power switching assemblies to couple one of the DC bus sections to another and a system controller. An inverter is connected to one of the power switching assemblies to supply a consumer. The first and second terminals are electrically coupled to first and second bus sections. First and second semiconductor devices between the terminals control current flow and there is a current connection from each terminal to a power switching assembly controller for providing an indication of current. A control signal line is connected between the power switching assembly controller and each semiconductor device provides a signal to the semiconductor devices to control the current flow and an inverter coupler couples each current connection to the inverter. The inverter coupler has a feed from each current connection to the inverter.
1. A direct current (DC) power distribution system, comprising:
a plurality of power sources;
a DC power distribution bus comprising a plurality of DC bus sections; wherein at least one power source of the plurality of power sources is coupled to each of the DC bus sections;
one or more power switching assemblies; wherein one power switching assembly of the one or more power switching assemblies couples one of the plurality of DC bus sections to another of the plurality of DC bus sections, a system controller to control the plurality of power sources and the one or more power switching assemblies; and
an inverter connected to the one of the one or more power switching assemblies to supply a consumer;
wherein the one of the one or more power switching assemblies comprises:
a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal being electrically coupled to a first bus section of the DC power distribution bus and the second terminal being electrically coupled to a second bus section of the DC power distribution bus;
a first semiconductor device and a second semiconductor device electrically coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal to control current flow between the first terminal and the second terminal;
a current connection from each of the first terminal and the second terminal to a power switching assembly controller for providing an indication of current at the first terminal and at the second terminal;
a control signal line connected between the power switching assembly controller and each of the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device for providing a control signal to the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device to control the current flow through them; and
an inverter coupler for coupling the current connection from the first terminal and the current connection from the second terminal to the inverter; wherein the inverter coupler comprises a feed from the current connection from the first terminal and the current connection from the second terminal to the inverter.
2. The DC power distribution system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the one of the one or more power switching assemblies is configured to switch power in the DC power distribution bus.
3. The DC power distribution system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the power switching assembly controller is configured to receive an indication of current through the current connection from the first terminal and through the current connection from the second terminal and to control the first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device based on the received indication of current.
4. The DC power distribution system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first semiconductor device or the second semiconductor device comprises an insulated gate bipolar transistor.
5. The DC power distribution system according to claim 1 ,
wherein the at least one power source of the plurality of power sources comprises one of a prime mover, a generator, or an energy store.
6. A method of operating a DC power distribution system comprising a plurality of power sources; a DC power distribution bus comprising a plurality of DC bus sections; at least one power source of the plurality of power sources coupled to each of the DC bus sections; one or more power switching assemblies, each of the one or more power switching assemblies coupled between one of the plurality of DC bus sections and another of the plurality of DC bus sections, a system controller to control the plurality of power sources and the one or more power switching assemblies; and at least one consumer connected to one of the one or more power switching assemblies by an inverter connected to each of a first and a second terminal of the one of the one or more power switching assemblies; the method comprising:
detecting current at the first terminal and at the second terminal of the one of the one or more power switching assemblies;
based on the detected current, providing a control signal from a power switching assembly controller to a first semiconductor device and a second semiconductor device electrically coupled between the first terminal and the second terminal to control current flow between the first terminal and the second terminal to provide a required current level at one of the first terminal and the second terminal; and
supplying current to the inverter through an inverter coupler from the one of the first terminal and the second terminal at which the required current level is provided.
7. The method according to claim 6 ,
wherein current supplied to the inverter through the inverter coupler is supplied through a feed from a current connection from the first terminal and a current connection from the second terminal to the inverter.
8. The method according to claim 6 ,
wherein the system controller provides an instruction to the power switching assembly controller to supply power to a specific consumer.
9. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising:
monitoring voltages at the first terminal and the second terminal of the one of the one or more power switching assemblies to determine whether a fault condition has been corrected.
10. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising:
ceasing supply of power to the at least one consumer on receipt of a further instruction from the system controller.
11. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising:
comparing voltages at the first terminal and the second terminal and supplying current to the inverter through the inverter coupler from a terminal at which the voltage is higher.