Electrically driven distributed propulsion system
A method and system for operating a hybrid propulsion system, includes controllably providing a first power to a first bus and a first inverter, electrically coupling a first motor with a second inverter by way of a second bus, operably converting, by the second inverter, the first power received by the first inverter to a starting power adapted for starting the first motor, and increasing, by the second inverter, the starting power to match the first power received.
1. A method of operating a hybrid propulsion system, the method comprising:
controllably providing a first alternating current (AC) power to a first bus and a first inverter;
electrically coupling a first motor with a second inverter by way of a second bus;
operably converting, by the second inverter, the first AC power received by the first inverter to a starting AC power adapted for starting the first motor;
increasing, by the second inverter, a frequency of the starting AC power to match a frequency of the first AC power received; and
electrically coupling the first motor with a first bus when the starting AC power matches the first AC power received.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein electrical coupling further comprises electrically coupling, by way of at least a first switch and a second switch, the first motor with the second inverter.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein increasing the starting AC power comprises adjusting, by the second inverter, a phase of the AC starting power to match a phase of the first AC power.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein increasing the starting AC power comprises increasing, by the second inverter, a voltage of the starting AC power to match a voltage of the first AC power.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating, by a generator, the first AC power.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein increasing the starting AC power comprises adjusting, by the second inverter, a phase of the starting AC power to match a phase of the first AC power.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after electrically coupling the first motor with a first bus, electrically coupling a second motor with the second inverter by way of the second bus.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after electrically coupling the first motor with the first bus, electrically coupling an auxiliary power source to the first bus such that the auxiliary power source can operably inject additional power to the first motor by way of the first bus.
9. The method of claim 7 , wherein electrically coupling an auxiliary power source to the first bus includes electrically coupling the auxiliary power source to the first bus by way of the second inverter, and further comprising operably converting, by the second inverter, the additional power to additional power having a lagging power factor or a leading power factor.
10. A hybrid propulsion system, comprising:
a first inverter;
a second inverter electrically coupled with the first inverter and selectively couplable with either a first bus or a second bus;
a first motor selectively couplable with either the first bus or the second bus; and
a controller configured to:
electrically couple the first motor with the second inverter by way of the second bus;
operably convert, by controlling the second inverter, a first power received from the first inverter to a starting alternating current (AC) power adapted for starting the first motor;
increase, by controlling the second inverter, a frequency of the starting AC power to match a frequency of the first bus; and
electrically coupling the first motor with a first bus when the starting AC power matches the frequency of the first bus.
11. The hybrid propulsion system of claim 10 , further comprising a generator configured to provide the first power to the first bus.
12. The hybrid propulsion system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to increase a voltage of the starting AC power to match a voltage of the first bus.
13. The hybrid propulsion system of claim 10 , wherein the controller is further configured to adjust a phase of the starting AC power to match a phase of the first bus.
14. The hybrid propulsion system of claim 10 , further comprising, after electrically coupling the first motor with the first bus, electrically coupling an auxiliary power source to the first bus, and wherein the controller is configured to operably inject additional power to the first motor by way of operating providing power from the auxiliary power source to the first bus.
15. The hybrid propulsion system of claim 13 , wherein the controller is further configured to operably convert, by controlling the second inverter, the additional power to starting AC power having a lagging power factor or a leading power factor.
16. A vehicle comprising the hybrid propulsion system of claim 10 .