Thin haul hybrid electric propulsion system

1. A hybrid electric propulsion system comprising:

an independent speed variable frequency (ISVF) generator coupled to an alternating current (AC) bus via a first switch, wherein the ISVF generator is capable of generating an AC signal having a frequency that is independent from a rotor speed of the ISVF generator without performing a full-power rated power conversion;

a variable frequency independent speed (VFIS) motor coupled to the AC bus via a second switch, the system omitting circuitry to perform the full-power rated power conversion between the ISVF generator and the VFIS motor;

an alternating current direct current (AC/DC) converter coupled to the AC bus via a third switch;

a battery coupled to the AC/DC converter;

a second ISVF generator coupled to a second AC bus via a first additional switch, the AC bus coupled to the second AC bus via a central switch;

a second VFIS motor coupled to the second AC bus via a second additional switch, the system omitting circuitry to perform a full-power rated power conversion between the second ISVF generator and the second VFIS motor;

a second AC/DC converter coupled to the second AC bus via a third additional switch; and

a second battery coupled to the second AC/DC converter.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

an external power port coupled to the AC bus via a fourth switch.

3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

a direct current (DC) bus; and

a direct current direct current (DC/DC) converter coupled to the DC bus via a fifth switch.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the VFIS motor is configured to drive a propulsion load, the system further comprising:

a second VFIS motor coupled to the AC bus via a sixth switch, the second VFIS motor configured to drive a non-propulsive motor load.

5. The system of claim 4 , further comprising:

a sixth switch, the battery coupled to both the AC/DC converter and the DC/DC converter via the sixth switch.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first switch, the second switch, and the third switch are contactors, each contactor including an electro-mechanical circuit breaker or a solid-state power controller (SSPC).

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a first power channel and a second power channel, wherein the ISVF generator, the VFIS motor, the AC/DC converter, and the battery correspond to the first power channel, and wherein the second ISVF generator, the second VFIS motor, the second AC/DC converter, and the second battery correspond to the second power channel.

8. A method for hybrid electric propulsion comprising:

electrically connecting an independent speed variable frequency (ISVF) generator to an alternating current (AC) bus, wherein the ISVF generator is capable of generating an AC signal having a frequency that is independent from a rotor speed of the ISVF generator without performing a full-power rated power conversion;

electrically connecting an alternating current direct current (AC/DC) converter to the AC bus, the AC/DC converter electrically connected to a battery;

electrically connecting a variable frequency independent speed (VFIS) motor to the AC bus;

driving the VFIS motor using a combination of the ISVF generator and the battery without performing the full-power rated power conversion between the ISVF generator and the VFIS motor;

electrically disconnecting the ISVF generator from the AC bus;

electrically connecting a second ISVF generator to a second AC bus;

electrically connecting the AC bus to the second AC bus; and

powering the AC bus using the second ISVF generator.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

electrically connecting a direct current direct current (DC/DC) converter to a direct current (DC) bus, the DC/DC converter electrically connected to the battery; and

powering the DC bus using the battery.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

electrically disconnecting the AC/DC converter from the AC bus;

continuing to power the DC bus with the battery; and

powering the AC bus with the ISVF generator.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

electrically disconnecting the ISVF generator from the AC bus;

electrically disconnecting the VFIS motor from the AC bus;

electrically connecting an external power port to the AC bus; and

charging the battery using the external power port.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

electrically disconnecting the VFIS motor from the AC bus;

electrically disconnecting the AC/DC converter from the AC bus;

electrically connecting an external power port to the AC bus; and

starting an engine using the external power port to power the ISVF generator.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

receiving a reverse load from a propulsion load attached to the VFIS motor; and

charging the battery using a combination of the ISVF generator and the VFIS motor.

14. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

electrically disconnecting the VFIS motor from the AC bus; and

starting an engine using the battery.

15. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

electrically disconnecting a second AC/DC converter from the second AC bus, the second AC/DC converter electrically connected to a second battery;

electrically connecting a second DC/DC converter to a DC bus, the second DC/DC converter electrically connected to the second battery; and

powering the DC bus using the second battery.

16. A method for hybrid electric propulsion comprising:

coupling an independent speed variable frequency (ISVF) generator to an alternating current (AC) bus at a first switch, wherein the ISVF generator is capable of generating an AC signal having a frequency that is independent from a rotor speed of the ISVF generator without performing a full-power rated power conversion;

coupling a variable frequency independent speed (VFIS) motor to the AC bus at a second switch;

driving the VFIS motor using at least the ISVF generator without performing the full-power rated power conversion between the ISVF generator and the VFIS motor;

coupling an alternating current direct current (AC/DC) converter to the AC bus via a third switch;

coupling a battery to the AC/DC converter at a fourth switch;

coupling a second ISVF generator to a second AC bus at a fifth switch;

coupling the AC bus to the second AC bus at a sixth switch; and

powering the AC bus using the second ISVF generator.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

coupling an external power port to the AC bus via a seventh switch.

18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

coupling a second VFIS motor to the AC bus via an eighth switch, wherein the VFIS motor drives a propulsion load, and wherein the second VFIS motor drives a non-propulsive motor load.

19. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

coupling a third VFIS motor to the second AC bus via a ninth switch;

driving the third VFIS motor using at least the second ISVF generator without performing the full-power rated power conversion between the second ISVF generator and the third VFIS motor.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising:

coupling a fourth VFIS motor to the second AC bus via a tenth switch;

driving the fourth VFIS motor using at least the second ISVF generator without performing the full-power rated power conversion between the second ISVF generator and the fourth VFIS motor.